Large White (LW), Landrace (LD) and Duroc (DU) swine data were used to estimate the variance components for adjusted weight at 70-days of age (AW70), average daily gain (ADG) and backfat thickness (BT). The (co) variance components were estimated by the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method. These components were used to calculate the estimates of heritabilities; common litter effect; and genetic, common litter and residual correlations. The heritability values ranged from medium to high, indicating the possibility of genetic gains by selection. The genetic correlations between AW70 and ADG (LW = 0.46; LD = 0.08; and DU = -0.47) and between AW70 and BT (LW = 0.48; LD = 0.31; and DU = 0.47) indicate that a pre-selection performed when pigs are 70-days of age can affect selection for ADG and BT. Correlations between ADG and BT (LW = 0.31; LD = 0.33; and DU = 0.02) indicate the necessity to work with multivariate methodologies or procedures to select these traits in genetic improvement programs.
genetic parameters; REML; swine
