Genetic correlations of abdominal fat with production traits of leghorn hens based on inbred line averages

Data from 16 inbred lines derived by three generations of full sib mating from a common outbred base population were used to estimate genetic correlations between body weight, abdominal fat content, follicle number, liver weight, egg weight and egg number using between-line variances and covariances. High genetic correlations were found between body weight, fat content and egg weight. Low genetic correlations were found between follicle number and all traits other than egg weights. Theoretical expectations and low correlations within lines led to the conclusion that environmental correlations among the traits considered were very low.