Page 15 - Turiroa Angus Sale 2021 ebook

Heritabilities of Traits in Angus Group TACE (TransTasman Cattle Evaluation)

Only part of the variation that we observe among Calving Ease Dir 14% 86%
animals is due to genetic differences. The majority Gestation Length 65% 35%
of the variation is generally due to non-genetic
factors such as differences in environment and Birth Wt 32% 68%
nutrition. 200-Day Wt 12% 88%
The degree to which genetic differences influence 400-Day Wt 23% 77%
performance varies from trait to trait. This is 600-Day Wt 35% 65%
explained by differences in the “heritability” of the Mature Cow Wt 40% 60%
traits. Milk 10% 90%
Growth and carcase traits tend to have moderate to
high heritabilities (i.e. 20 to 60%), whilst maternal Scrotal Size 39% 61%
traits have low heritabilities (10% or lower). Days to Calving 7% 93%
Angus TACE takes into account the different Carcass Wt 41% 59%
degrees of heritability of various traits, and the Eye Muscle Area 34% 66%
known genetic relationships between the traits. Rib Fat 45% 55%
The amount of genetic Rump Fat 32% 68%
influence in a trait.
Retail Beef Yield % 60% 40%
The amount of environmental
(non-genetic) influence in a trait. Intra-muscular Fat % 32% 68%