Efficient Estimates of Heritability from Paternal Half-Sib Correlations

Abstract

Factors influencing the efficiency and accuracy of heritability estimates based on paternal half-sib correlations have been examined. It is concluded that, in any one experiment, the number of offspring per sire, k, plays an important role in determining the sizes of the errors of estimate. Optimum values of k, k′, for different heritability levels are presented together with a method for calculating the best k value, k′_o, to use when heritability is estimated for several characteristics. Minimum numbers of offspring necessary for estimating heritability to a given accuracy are also discussed. Copyright © . .