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Swine genetics and reproduction
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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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High conception rates are vital to productivity on any sow farm, be it a farrow-to-wean, farrow-to-feeder pig, or farrow-to-finish unit. Indeed swine farm enterprise record services show that higher profit farms are those that consistently have good to excellent breeding performance. Management areas that have impact on breeding performance may be broadly classified to include factors related to timing (including frequency) of matings and quality of matings. For properly timed sow...
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For more than 20 years, intensive genetic selection has led to an increase in both litter size and birth weight in swine. However, prenatal death and fetal growth restriction remain important factors that limit maximum reproductive performance in swine. New research, funded by USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), shows this problem may be alleviated by dietary adjustments that can enhance placental growth, thereby promoting an optimal intrauterine...
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Hypor, the pig breeding division of Hendrix Genetics BV has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire France Hybrides from Groupe Glon. The deal should be completed first half of 2008, although remains subject to various customary conditions, including due diligence, necessary consents and approvals. The acquisition of France Hybrides mirrors Hypor’s strategy to have leading positions in significant global pork production markets. The combination of genetic resources with...
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An Embro, Ontario based swine producer reports genetic selection will play a key role in the level of aggression displayed by sows housed in group based production systems. In 1996, to adopt more welfare friendly housing which would allow sows to exhibit normal instincts such as rooting and socializing, Heronbrook Farm shifted from conventional sow housing to a group based system. Chris Cockle says the role of genetics on aggression and health and welfare under the group system...
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What is the proper management for anaestrus in gilts? They seem to be well-feeded and healthy… so, what’s the problem? I hear any comment... ...
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Genetic markers significantly associated with growth, leanness and meat quality are now available to all U.S. pork producers. The Iowa State University Research Foundation has recently signed a licensing agreement with GeneSeek Inc. of Lincoln, Neb., that licenses the use of DNA markers in four genes. All of these markers have been previously tested and have been commercially validated by a large pig breeding company. The first gene marker is MC4R and it controls growth and...
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Individual sow nutrition is one of the aspects of maximizing sow herd performance in terms of pigs produced per litter, and in the quality of the pigs produced. The requirements of gilts in getting them developed to mating and on to delivery of their first litter is a whole and complete topic in itself and will be discussed later. In a rather extensive paper by Dana R. Cooper and John F. Patience at the Prairie Swine Centre titled “Sow Body Weight - Changes in Gestation”, it was...
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Commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (NLV), the Animal Sciences Group at Wageningen UR is researching (new) methods of castrating young piglets under anaesthetic. Anaesthetising the animals with a low concentration of CO2 (gas), is one of the short-term solutions. Progress is also being made in the search for a long-term solution: genetic selection. In time, this will make castrating young piglets unnecessary and so this practice may possibly be banned....
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Scientists at the University of Leeds, renowned leaders in the field of reproductive biology, have joined forces with JSR Genetics in a project that could improve embryo implantation rates - in pigs and eventually humans. Pregnapause, a Techtran/IP Group funded spin-out company led by Dr Nicolas Orsi, Dr Nadia Gopichandran and Mr David Brooke have teamed up with Dr Grant Walling, JSR's Director of Research and Genetics. The now seven-strong team commenced their collaboration in October...
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Hypor, one of the world's top pig breeding companies, has delivered the largest single shipment of live hogs into China by air. This is also the largest shipment by air from Canada to China. The breeding stock of 816 pigs made their way from the company's nucleus farm in Saskatchewan, Canada via Chicago (US) and landed in Qingdao, Shandong province in China. The arrival of these Great Grand parent (GGP) sows and boars is the first stage of stocking Hypor's joint venture farms in...
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Hi.
My problem is weaned sows that either cycle in farrowing crates or cycle late like 10 - 15 days after weaning. I wean at 22.5-24 days old. Up till a month and a half ago I was averaging over 94 bred by day seven, but the month following this I have been struggling to get 70 bred by day seven. Obviously the weather has been awfully warm and consequently feed intake is down a bit, but considering temperature (85 - 95F) feed intake is still very solid. Farrowing location has drip system to...
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Newsham Genetics, LC announced that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Monsanto Choice Genetics, Inc. The transaction will be completed as soon as practical. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The acquisition of Monsanto Choice Genetics, Inc. (MCG) will further strengthen Newsham’s expanding base of business, according to Newsham Genetics Co-CEO Brent Mitchell. “Additionally, we’ll be able to add new products and lines that complement our current...
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The efficacy of organic trace minerals in swine nutrition has not been adequately evaluated, particularly during the reproductive period. However, the research to date has generally used a combination of inorganic and organic mineral mixtures. This procedure does not evaluate either source independently and may be confounded further because both inorganic and organic trace minerals may be found in several forms. The bioavailability of each is influenced not only by its form but the...
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'Putting Science into Practice' is the topic for JSR Genetic's 18th Technical Conference to be held at the University of Nottingham on 18th September. Hosted by JSR Chairman Tim Rymer, at the Sutton Bonnington Campus, the event will bring together many of the industry's most innovative thinkers. • Professor Chris Pollock of the University of Wales will be investigating how agriculture can deliver within the context of England's 'green and...
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Orders for breeding stock from Russia, worth £1 million to Yorkshire-based pig-breeding company ACMC and due to be shipped in September and November, have been placed in jeopardy as a result of the foot-and-mouth (FMD) outbreak, says the company. It also predicts severe financial upheaval for the pig industry as a whole. "Parts of the pig carcase which have little or no value on the home market are exported to the Far East. If this export market is closed, British pigmeat...
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TOPIGS is pleased to announce the appointment of Rik Verweij (41) as manager for TOPIGS Russia, with effect from 15 July 2007. Mr Verweij will be responsible for the further development of the activities of TOPIGS in Russia and other countries in the region.
Mr Verweij has considerable experience managing livestock companies in Russia. For the last 10 years he worked for several companies producing and selling livestock in Russia. He is therefore intimately acquainted with the practice of...
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