Estimation of economic values of performance traits in swine

Data of Large White, Landrace and Duroe swine breeds were used to estimate the economic values for adjusted weight at 70-days old (AW70), average daily gain (ADG) and backfat thickness (BT). The economic values were obtained by the partial derivative of the profit equation for each pig in relation to AW70, ADG and BT. The economic values for AW70 (a(AW70) = 0.13 R$/kg), ADG (a(ADG) = 0.0052 R$/g) and BT (a(BT) = -3.70 R$/cm) are according to the objective of the swine industry, which consists in obtaining an animal with a greater amount of lean meat by selecting with more emphasis upon BT than ADG.