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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
The relationship of efficiency to weight and feeding rate has been studied in 38 twin calves from 2 to 18 weeks of age. Following birth or weaning heavier animals were more efficient, but tended to be slightly less efficient when fully established on a diet. On balance, they possessed an advantage.
Heavier twins and heavier pairs were also on average more efficient. The increase in mean efficiency for contemporary animals was about 1% for each 1 lb. superiority in weight over the 4-month period. These results contrast with the well-known decline in efficiency as animals increase in weight. Different pairs declined in efficiency with increasing live weight at distinctly different rates judged by the resemblance of twin and co-twin, but evidence for genetic control was slight.
More efficient animals were associated with a relatively more rapid decline in efficiency, leading to a general convergence in efficiency as animals grew heavier.
The relationship of efficiency to feeding rate was very similar to the relationship with weight.
