Selection for Economically Important Traits

Introduction

The primary objective of a seedstock producer should be to make genetic improvement. Genetic improvement occurs when the average genetic value of the offspring (e.g. the current calves) is higher than the average genetic value of the previous generation from which the parents were selected.

In other words, the calves are genetically superior to their parents. Genetic improvement can be made to either an individual trait or across a range of traits.

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