Design of experiments to estimate offspring-parent regression using selected parents

Abstract

SUMMARYHeritability or the genetic regression of one trait on another, for example live-weight gain in field v. performance test station conditions, can be estimated efficiently by rearing offspring only from high- and low-ranking individuals, and estimating the regression of offspring on parent performance. Formulae are given for the optimum proportion of available animals to select as parents when the relative numbers of individuals in the parent and progeny generation are fixed. Although the optimum depends on the value of the parameter to be estimated, the designs are very robust to poor estimates.