The Heritability Percentage of a Number of Traits
Maxine Kinne

This chart was compiled from a variety of print sources.


Heritability Ranking
up to 10% = Low Heritability
20% - 30% = Medium Heritability
30% and over = High Heritability
(Low heritability means that it takes
a lot of time to make genetic progress.
)

Species Abbreviations
B = Beef Cattle
D = Dairy Cattle
DG = Dairy Goat
G = Goat (general)
P = Pigs
S = Sheep


Fitness Traits

Sound feet, legs
Eyes
Longevity
Good disposition/personality
Early maturity
Natural fleshing ability
Conception ease
Annual production of offspring
Uncomplicated pregnancy
Easy delivery
Strong mothering instinct
Sound teat & udder conformation

% Reproduction % Growth % Phenotype
61
55
12
55
03
05
10
25
55
08
45


20
30
45
50-75
15
17
13
10
5


32
59
40-70
Pelvic area (B)
Pelvic area(D)
Smoothness of pelvic arch (?)
Conception probability (S)
Breeding problems (D)
Cystic ovaries (D)
Fertility (S)
Ovulation rate (S)
Age at first kidding (G)
Calving interval (B)
Gestation length (S)


Litter size (S)
Birth weight (S)
Birth weight (B)
Maternal contribution to fetal size
Maternal rearing ability (S)
Preweaning mortality (P)
Number of lambs reared (S)
Live to weaning, dam trait (S)
Live to weaning, offspring trait (S/B)

 
Age at puberty (B)
Male libido & mating ability (D)
Scrotal circumference (B)
 
44
27
10
30
63
17
86
40
30
30
35
43
50
46

 
50
44
10
38
40
30


 
50
40

Young
Weaning weight (G)
Weaning weight (B)
60-Day weaning weight (S)
100-day weight (S)
7-month weight (G)
Body condition at weaning (S)
Weaning height (B)
Postweaning feedlot gain (S/B)
Pasture gain (B)
Rate of gain/day (S/B)
Feedlot gain efficiency (B)
Final feedlot weight (B)
Feed efficiency (S)
Feed efficiency (B)

Yearling
Yearling weight (B)
Yearling weight, pasture (B)
Weaning type score (S)
Weaning type score (B)
Yearling type score (S/B)
Yearling score, pasture (B)



Adult
Mature body weight (G)
Mature body weight (S/B)

52
40
29
24
40


31
20
06
12
13
27
32
25
17
21
14
06
15
19



10
25
12
10
16
25
19
70
33
10
38
36
Stature (DG)
Upstandingness (S/D)
Strength (DG)
Dairy character (DG)
Dairy character (D)


Body length (S)
Body depth (D)
Typical head (D)
Head strength (D)
Shoulder tightness (D)
Rump width (DG)
Rump angle (DG)
Rump angle (D)
Rump levelness (D)
Rear legs (DG)
Hock straightness (D)
Straight rear leg set (D)
Rear leg set (D)
Thurl height (D)


Mammary System
Udder quality (D)
Fore udder attachment (DG)
Fore udder attachment (D)
Fore udder length (D)
Rear udder attachment (D)
Rear udder height (DG/D)
Rear udder arch (DG)
Rear udder length (D)
Suspensory ligament (DG)
Udder halving (D)
Teat diameter (DG)
Teat placement (DG)
% Diseases & Defects % Milk % Carcass
 
03
05


 
10
03
09
17


 
32
38
Reproductive
Breeding problems (D)
Cystic ovaries (D)


Metabolic
Mastitis (D)
Milk Fever (D)
Ketosis, first lactation (D)
Ketosis, repeat same cow (D)


General
Parasite resistance (S)
Infection resistance (S)
39
20
25
32
25
50
06
20
40
50
62
23
Milk yield/lactation (G)
Milk production (B)
Milk production (D)
M.E. milk (D)
Butterfat yield (D)
Butterfat percentage (D)
M.E. fat (D)
Protein yield (D)
SNF protein yield (D)
Protein percentage (D)
Milking time (G)
Milking speed (D)
22
11
65
12
50
60
50
40
57
39
30
55
50-53
45
23
43
Weight/day of age (S)
Dressing percentage (S)
Percent retail product (B)
Grade (S)
Grade (B)
Tenderness
Leanness (P)
Marbling (B)
Fat weight (B)
Lean weight (S)
Bone weight (S)
Bone percentage (B)
Loin eye area (P/S)
Ribeye area (B)
Loin fat thickness (S)
External fat thickness (B)



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Updated 2000
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