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Swine genetics and reproduction
The performance of pigs is the result of two influences: genetics and environment. Because the genetics of a pig plays an important role in its performance and meat quality, all pig producers should be familiar with the potential and application of genetic selection.
The genetic potential of pigs can have a major influence on the productivity and profitability of a pig enterprise. It is the combination of genetics, nutrition, health, environment and management that influences such factors as litter size, growth rates and carcass quality.
The reproductive herd is for the multiplication of maternal and paternal lines that are prized for economically valuable reproductive traits, or, traits that generate desirable offspring reliably. Typically, prized reproductive traits include litter size, particularly total number of pigs born, and pigs weaned, weight of the litter of piglets at birth and weaning, wean-to-estrus interval (WEI), and pigs per sow per year (PSY). In more recent years, length of time a sow remains productive in the herd (longevity or survivability) is increasing in priority for major genetic lines. These traits are prioritized due to the impact on value of the sow to the herd.
July and August are months when pig producers should start thinking about autumn infertility. Rapidly-falling day lengths are one of the triggers leading to increased returns in sows over the autumn period. "One of the measures to reduce the problem is to put sows and gilts on a 16-hour light/8-hour dark cycle, using at least 200 lux light intensity in the service and dry sow house", says Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company, ACMC...
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Marine and plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids have been evaluated for their effects on reproductive and other traits. Therefore we evaluated the effects of two sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the composition of the pig endometrium and conceptus. Treatments were Control, a corn-soybean meal diet; Flax, Control diet plus ground flax (3.75% of the diet); and PFA, Control plus a protected marine source of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (Fertilium®, 1.5% of diet). Supplements...
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Hypor, the pig breeding division of Hendrix Genetics, has concluded its acquisition of France Hybrides from Groupe Glon. The acquisition of France Hybrides fits with Hypor’s strategy to having leading positions in significant pork production markets in the world. The combination of genetic resources with local market focus is also consistent with Hypor’s mission as “The World’s Local Breeder”. Under terms of the agreement, France Hybrides, which is known worldwide as a...
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Swine farms in Virginia have become increasingly sophisticated and employ a variety of modern reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination (AI). Use of AI offers swine producers numerous advantages over natural mating systems. For example, AI allows more extensive use of superior sires, therefore enhancing the rate of genetic improvement and in terminal mating systems, increasing the consistency of market hogs produced. Nationwide, the proportion of sows bred via AI increased from...
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Hypor is pleased to announce that it has signed agreements in the Republics of Serbia and Croatia for the production and distribution of breeding pigs. In Croatia, Dimar d.o.o received Hypor breeding pigs in December 2007 and the nucleus farm is already in full production. Dimar’s Managing Director, Mr. Dean Preradovic, said Hypor genetics and their tailor-made products will soon take a leadership role in modernizing the Croatian pork production industry. The Croatian pig production...
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In June TOPIGS organised an international symposium with the title "The added value of modern genetic suppliers for global players in the pig industry". About 200 international relations of TOPIGS met in the village of Haren in the South of the Netherlands to discuss the role of genetics in the future pig industry. With external speakers Daan Van Doorn, of Vion Food Group (the Netherlands), Plínio Barbarino, of Seara (Brasil), Zhang Sanping of Yurun Food Group (China) and...
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Two open evenings at a new 90 place Cyprian boar stud have proved an outstanding success. Response from producers to the initial invitation to view the new EU standard stud, developed by pig production company LA Top Genetics, was so enthusiastic that an extra date had to be arranged and, within days of the events, production of the new JSR Geneconverter 700 semen was totally sold out with orders placed by both existing and new customers. “We have worked closely with JSR...
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A lot of strides have been made in the improvement of pigs in the past few decades. The advent of the use of BLUP in the early 90's in particular gave a boost to the slow progress seen in those traits with low heritability, particularly reproductive traits. BLUP gave breeders increased accuracy in the estimation of genetic values, and therefore higher reliability of selection decisions. Hence, as will be observed in many breeding programs litter size, a trait that was previously very slow to...
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Simultaneous advances have been made in the number of pigs a sow can produce each year, predominantly due to management, and in lean (growth rate and percentage), predominantly due to genetics. Today’s gilts grow faster, reach puberty at heavier weights, and are mated both younger and leaner. Therefore, we are ultimately managing a more prolific mature sow that may be both leaner and larger in mature body size. For gilts to be successful in the breeding herd, young breeding females must be...
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Due to the disruption caused by foot-and-mouth and very poor cull sow prices, lots of pig farmers have held onto older sows for too long. As a result the parity structure in many breeding herds is now seriously out of balance. “Ideally, most sows should be replaced after their sixth litter, but we are seeing dams which are into their eighth or even ninth parities,” said Malcolm Stead, production director of ACMC. “Keeping sows for this length of time results in...
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A Longer Adaptation Period to a Functional Amino Acid-supplemented Diet Improves Growth Performance and Attenuates Acute-phase Response in Salmonella Typhimurium-challenged Pigs
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Non-productive days (NPDs) accumulate for females that are not pregnant or lactating and include the period between entry of a gilt into the "gilt pool" and her first service, and the interval between weaning and mating in sows. To enhance reproductive efficiency in the breeding herd, NPDs must be minimized. P.G. 600, a non-prescription drug marketed by Intervet America Inc. (Millsboro, DE), is used to stimulate the onset of heat and ovulation in prepubertal gilts and weaned sows and...
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The optimum ambient temperature for swine in the breeding herd is approximately 65° F (range of approximately 55 to 75° F). Thus, the elevated environmental temperature and humidity associated with summers in Virginia can severely affect swine reproduction. Breeding operations often experience a "summer slump" during which reproductive efficiency is compromised. The adverse effects of "heat stress" are manifested in both the male and female. In this Livestock Update, I'll focus on the...
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Consider for a moment the life of replacement gilts from birth to the point at which they farrow their first litters of pigs. At any point within that spectrum of time, modern swine production has benefited from many years of research attempting to define the optimum environment (number of pen-mates, size of pens, temperature, etc.) in which gilts are raised so as to ultimately maximize their reproductive efficiency. For example, litter size in which gilts are raised impacts the size of the...
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A new boar bred by UK's pig genetics company JSR Genetics, is consistently achieving a record breaking reduction in feed conversion rates (FCR) - 13.4 per cent less than the UK average - and the lowest achieved by any pig, anywhere in the world. Dubbed 'the world's most efficient pig' the new JSR Geneconverter 700 will be launched at next month's Industry shop-window the British Pig & Poultry Fair. It brings to fruition years of research and development by the company's geneticists....
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Cross breeding is a better alternative to in-breeding even for backyard pig farms, a British expert said during the recently concluded hog convention. Dr. Rex Walters of the British Pig Association said that while in-breeding—allowing swine and sow from the same breed to mate and reproduce—is commonly practiced by pig farms, it increases the possibilities of animal defects and lesser litter yield per year. Cross breeding, however, improves survival rate of piglets and increases...
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11th of March 2008 was a significant day for modern pig breeding. Together with partners and friends from Europe and America, Norsvin celebrated the opening of Norsvin Delta. Norsvin Delta, located close to the Olympic city of Lillehammer, Norway, is the name of Norsvin’s new boar test station. 3,500 boars will be tested annually at Norsvin Delta, all of which will end the test with more than 1,200 internal pictures each, providing Norsvin with detailed knowledge of each selection candidates...
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Dutch pig farmers with TOPIGS sows achieved an average production of 26.36 weaned piglets per year in 2007. Compared with 2006, this is an increase of 0.65 piglets. This picture emerged from the technical results of 942 farms with a total of more than 368,000 sows. The top 25% of farms realised an average of 28.52 piglets per sow in 2007. A result of 30 or more piglets per sow per year was achieved at 22 farms. In 2006 only 9 farms achieved a result of 30 piglets or...
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Sociable pigs can now be bred thanks to a method developed jointly by the Institute for Pig Genetics (IPG) and the Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre of Wageningen University. Researchers have developed a mathematical model that allows the social behaviour between pigs in a pen to be included in selection decisions. Up until now, pigs were bred solely on the basis of individual performance. The results show that social interactions between pigs are inherited and can make a significant...
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Individual housing of pregnant females is a common practice in the swine industry. Barnett et al. (2001) estimated that at least 60 to 70% of U.S. sows are housed in stalls throughout gestation. The use of gestation stalls is currently one of the most contentious welfare issues facing pork producers. Typical gestation stalls are approximately 2' wide and 7' long and physically limit sows to standing, sitting, and lying. This severe restriction of freedom of movement has been robustly...
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The effective operation of a commercial stud requires that young boars be easily trained to mount an artificial sow and allow semen collection. Once trained, it is essential that boars consistently mount in an expeditious manner. Indeed, the efficiency of a stud is compromised when boars display a reluctance or refusal to mount an artificial sow. On many swine operations, commercially-available prostaglandin products are used in attempts to expedite mounting behavior, as well as restore...
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