Selection for feed efficiency is the goal for many genetic breeding programs in beef cattle. Residual feed intake has been included in genetic evaluations to reduce feed intake without compromising performance traits as liveweight, body gain or carcass traits. However, measuring feed intake is expensive, and only a small percentage of selection candidates are phenotyped. Genomic selection has become a very important tool to achieve effective genetic progress in these traits. Another effective strategy has been the implementation of multi-trait prediction using easily recordable predictor traits on both reference animals and candidates without phenotypes, and this could be another inexpensive way to increase accuracy. The objective of this work was to analyse and compare the prediction ability of two alternative different approaches to predict GEBVs for RFI. The population of inference was Hereford bulls in Uruguay that were genotyped candidates for to selection. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.