A meta-analysis was conducted to summarize published heritability of estimates growth traits of zebu beef cattle of 186 reports. The factors affecting weighed heritability estimates were analyzed by the least square means method for a model including fixed effects. Breed and estimation method were the significant factors in the four traits (birth weight, weaning weight, weight at 365 days and weight at 550 days). Estimation method is always recommeded to summarize these estimates. The pooled heritability estimates for birth weight, weaning weight, weight at 365 days old and weight at 550 days old were 0.30±0.01, 0.23±0.01, 0.27±0.01 and 0.31±0.01, respectively. Meta-analysis techniques were recommended for polling of genetic parameters of zebu beef cattle.
genetic parameters; pooled estimates; zebu cattle
