Texas FFA Livestock Judging PracticeTest

Which trait has the highest heritability estimate in cattle?

1. Milk production

2. Post weaning rate of gain

3. Birth weight

4. Carcass quality

The correct answer is: Post weaning rate of gain

The trait with the highest heritability estimate in cattle is post-weaning rate of gain. Heritability measures the proportion of phenotypic variation in a trait that can be attributed to genetic variation among individuals in a population. In cattle, traits like weight gain after weaning are significantly influenced by genetics, making them highly heritable. When cattle are selectively bred for traits that exhibit high heritability, such as post-weaning weight gain, the genetic progress for those traits can be substantial over generations. This is crucial for producers aiming to improve growth rates and marketability of their animals. While traits like milk production, birth weight, and carcass quality also have heritable components, they generally have lower heritability estimates compared to post-weaning rate of gain. The ability to predict and select for post-weaning growth effectively allows breeders to enhance overall performance in beef cattle operations.