Selection for food conversion in broilers: Predicted responses to selection for economic efficiency

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Abstract
1. Two selection indices which included a measure of food conversion efficiency in broiler production, were formulated: one index (I1) used individual 9‐week body weight and 5‐ to 9‐week food consumption (FC); the other (I 2) used individual 9‐week weight and sire‐family average food consumption (FC). 2. Three empirical parameter sets and 10 hypothetical data sets were used in calculating the indices and in predicting selection responses. 3. The three empirical parameter sets gave relatively similar index coefficients for I1 which were proportional to the relative economic weightings to the two traits. 4. Predicted economic responses to selection based on I 2 were negligibly superior to selection for body weight alone for nearly all data sets, whereas selection based on I1 was always superior in economic response. 5. Predicted economic response to selection based on I1 calculated from typical published estimates of genetic parameters was 20% greater than predicted response to selection for body weight alone.