The Correlation between Feed Efficiency and Rate of Gain, a Ratio and Its Denominator

Abstract

Formulae are presented for the prediction of the correlation between a ratio and its denominlator in terms of the correlationi between the nlumerator and the denominator an-d of the coefficients of variation of these two variables. Graphs of the predicted values are shown for various ratios of the two coefficients of variation, as the primary correlation between numerator and denominator changes from -1.0 to +1.0. Experimental results from mice studies show reasonable agreement between the predicted and the actual correlation between gain in body weight and 'efficiency of feed use' when the latter is measured by the ratio, feed consumed/gain in body weight.