Which factor is commonly used by producers to track heritable traits in animals?

Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) are a key tool used by animal producers to track heritable traits in livestock. EPDs provide an estimate of an animal's genetic contribution to the traits of its offspring and help producers make informed breeding decisions. This statistical measure combines data from various sources, including the individual's performance, the performance of relatives, and the average performance of the breed, to predict the genetic potential for specific traits.

By using EPDs, producers can select animals that are genetically predisposed to exhibit desirable characteristics, such as better growth rates, improved feed efficiency, or favorable reproductive traits. This makes EPDs particularly valuable for enhancing genetic quality over generations, as they reflect how traits are likely to be passed on to future offspring.

The other factors mentioned, while important in livestock management, do not serve the same purpose as EPDs in tracking the heritable traits. For instance, birthweight can indicate certain traits but does not provide a comprehensive genetic analysis. Calving ease relates to the ease with which cows give birth but is just one trait among many that can be assessed with EPDs. Meat quality is an important aspect of animal production but again, it cannot track heritability as effectively on its own without the