Abstract
Abstract Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) procedures for multiple trait animal models were used to estimate heritabilities, genetic correlations, and common environmental effects for average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BF), and number of pigs born alive per litter (NBA). Data included 5561 litter records and 38622 ADG and BF individual performance records for on‐farm‐tested Large White, Landrace, and Duroc pigs fed ad libitum from three New Zealand nucleus herds recorded over the period 1980–93. A bivariate animal model for ADG and BF contained fixed effects for herd‐year‐season (HYS) of test, sex, and age as a linear covariable, as well as random litter and animal effects. The NBA model included fixed season of farrowing and parity effects, and random animal (sow) and permanent environmental effects. Repeated records for NBA were accommodated by fitting a permanent environmental effect, uncorrelated to additive genetic effects, for each sow. The estimates of heritability (h 2) for ADG were 0...
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