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Dr. Jamie Courter is your Mizzou Beef Genetics Extension Specialist

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By Jared E. Decker Many of you have probably noticed that things have been a lot less active on the A Steak in Genomics™   blog, but you probably haven't known why. In January 2021, I was named the Wurdack Chair in Animal Genomics at Mizzou, and I now focus on research, with a little bit of teaching. I no longer have an extension appointment. But, with exciting news, the blog is about to become a lot more active! Jamie Courter began as the new MU Extension state beef genetics specialist in the Division of Animal Sciences on September 1, 2023. I have known Jamie for several years, meeting her at BIF when she was a Masters student. I have been impressed by Jamie in my interactions with her since that time.  Dr. Courter and I have been working closely together the last 6 weeks, and I am excited to work together to serve the beef industry for years to come! Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from North Carolina State University and earned a master's degree in animal
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BIF 2016: Effects of timing and duration of test period and diet type on intake and feed efficiency

Dan Shike
University of Illinois

The correlation between the growing dry matter intake (DMI) and finishing dry matter intake was 0.56. This means 56% of the variation is shared between the two feeding periods.

Average daily gain is not that repeatable. The correlation between average daily gain in the growing period and the finishing period is only 0.11.

However, residual feed intake (RFI), a measure of efficiency, is  repeatable between feeding periods, with a correlation of 0.63.

Using 35 days on feed accounts for about 95% of the variation in feed intake from a 70 day feeding trial.

Intake seems to be very repeatable across stages of life and on different diets.

The residual feed intake (RFI) repeatability was 0.42 when comparing a forage diet to a grain diet.

Intake is repeatable. Gain is not repeatable between test periods.
Shorter duration intakes are strongly correlated to total feeding period intake.
Intake of forage is correlated to intake of grain, furthermore efficiency is also correlated between forage and grain diets.
This implies that intake and efficiency in the feedlot may have application to a cow-calf scenario.

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