Feed efficiency: A breeding goal for dairy cattle

The cost of feed constitutes a major component of variable costs associated with the dairy industry. Thus, selection for improved feed efficiency is essential to enhance profitability in dairy farms. In addition to cost reduction, genetically improved feed efficiency minimises the environmental impact, reduces nutrient and greenhouse gas emissions per animal, and optimises land and resources. However, due to the lack of accurate individual feed intake data on a large number of commercial dai