CAN GENETIC SELECTION ENHANCE NUTRIENT EFFICIENCY?
A systems effort that incorporates all components of the farming enterprise is needed to minimize environmental risk. Engineering solutions for the handling, treatment and application of manure and systems of cropping and soils management have received extensive scientific attention in recent years (NCSU, 1999). Improving the efficiency of nutrient utilization by animals is also a feasible approach. Feeding programs that influence nutrient excretion have recently been studied and described (van Heugten and van Kempen, 2000). Genetic selection is another method that can be utilized to improve efficiency of nutrient utilization by animals thereby decreasing amount of nutrients excreted in urine and feces and reducing total nutrient output from the farming enterprise and increasing efficiency of production. The objective of this article is to review genetic opportunities to influence nutrient efficiency for concentrated animal feeding operations Areas of Opportunity Efficiency of Nutrient
