Bob Weaber (Kansas State University): Heterosis has the tendency to impact traits that have low heritability, or, from a genetic improvement perspective, traits that we can't improve through traditional selection tools like EPDs. Heritability describes the portion of variation that's under genetic control. Since we have a number of economically important traits in the beef value chain that are lowly heritable, crossbreeding presents an opportunity to improve those. Examples of those traits might include traits like longevity and fertility that we know have major economic impacts in terms of profitability for the commercial cow/calf producer.
Link to Content
Label