Page 114 - Calculating Agriculture Cover 20191124 STUDENT - A

11-2 Large Animal: Beef, Swine and Sheep CH 11]

Table 11.1 Heritability estimates
Approximate
Animal Class Characteristic Heritability %

BEEF CATTLE Efficiency of gain 60
Birth weight 55
Weaning weight 28
Final feed lot weight 76
Rate of gain 65
Slaughter grade 45
Carcass grade 36

DAIRY CATTLE Butterfat test 50
Birth weight 55
Lactation yield milk 25
Lactation yield butterfat 20

POULTRY Egg size 35
Hatchability 20
Egg production 10
Maturity 25
Body weight 30

SHEEP Face covering 55
Grease fleece weight 40
Weaning weight 30
Birth weight 25
Conformation 13
Staple length 40

SWINE Backfat thickness 50
180-day weight 30
154-day weight 25
Conformation 20
56-day weight 15
Number farrowed 15
Number weaned 15
Birth weight 5

The level of performance for a trait in an animal is dependent upon the species average, the
parents' performance, and the heritability estimate.

Table 11.2 Dairy Cattle Milk production by Breed
% Annual pounds Annual gallons
Breed Butterfat of milk of milk
Ayrshire 3.86 17,000 2,000
Brown Swiss 4.04 21,000 2,450
Guernsey 4.51 14,700 1,700
Holstein-Friesian 3.65 28,000 3,260

Jersey 5.00 16,000 1,860

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