A farmer is raising rabbits. The average body weight in his population is 3kg. The farmer selects the 10 largest rabbits in the population, whose average body weight is 4kg, and interbreeds them. If the heritability of body weight in the rabbit population is 0.7, what is the expected body weight among the offspring of the selected rabbits?

The expected weight increase that is expected of offspring of selected parents is 0.7 kg

Explanation:

Given from the question:

The average body weight in his population of rabbits = 3 kg

heritability of body weight in the rabbit population (h^2)=0.7

Average body weight of the 10 selected largest rabbit =4 kg

(R) = response to selection

selection differential (S)= Average body weight of the 10 selected largest rabbit - The average body weight in his population of rabbits

selection differential (S)= 4-3=1 kg

But heritability of body weight in the rabbit population (h^2)=0.7

Then, Heritability of body weight in the rabbit population (h^2) can be calculated using the formula below;

Heritability of body weight in the rabbit population (h^2)=

response to selection (R) / selection differential (S)

response to selection (R) = Heritability of body weight in the rabbit population (h^2) × selection differential (S)

R= h^2 x S= 0.7 x 1kg= 0.7 kg

The expected weight increase that is expected of offspring of selected parents is 0.7 kg

Average weight of offspring = The average body weight in his population of rabbits + heritability of body weight in the rabbit population (h^2)

Average weight of offspring= 3 kg + 0.7 kg = 3.7kg

Therefore, the Average weight of offspring is 3.7kg and The expected weight increase that is expected of offspring of selected parents is 0.7 kg