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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.
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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We are sciencing the global food challenge - Because it's all about life | Evonik
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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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Will New Version of GMP Boost the Veterinary Drugs Industry?
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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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We are sciencing the global food challenge - Because it's all about life | Evonik
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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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Will New Version of GMP Boost the Veterinary Drugs Industry?
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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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The creator of Dolly the sheep has called for farmers to take up cloning as a way of producing cheap food. Professor Keith Campbell believes the country's farms should be populated by superstrong, super-sized offspring of clones. The US expects to be eating clone-farmed burgers, pork and bacon within two years, and supporters of the method say Europe must follow suit. A US clone cow has already been born on a British farm for the first time, making Frankenstein Farming a...
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Hypor signs deal to ship thousands of pigs to Russia Hypor B.V, a Hendrix Genetics company and Znamensky Selekcionno-Gibridny Center LLC, an Exima company have signed an agreement to co-operate in the field of pig breeding in Russia. After a careful selection of potential suppliers of genetics, Exima JSC which owns the Mikoyan meat processing plant, has chosen Hypor as the supplier of purebred animals to produce (Great)Grand Parent...
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Advances in swine productivity through genetic selection, management, health and nutritional strategies have resulted in reproductive performance once unimaginable. Feed efficiencies during the growing and finishing phase of production have improved in the range of 25% over the past 15 years (Fremaut, 2003). Sow reproductive efficiency has shown equal improvement and the biological potential of today’s modern, hyperprolific genotypes is truly staggering (Close and Cole, 2001; Johnson, 2006;...
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Britain's leading pig breeding company, JSR Genetics, welcomed delegates from around the world to a two day World Partners Conference in Yorkshire. Delegates from ten countries including Japan, South Korea and The Netherlands came together as part of JSR's growing franchise business, which now operates in over 20 countries. Under the theme "Making Pork more Profitable" delegates undertook a wide range of activities including updates on JSR's extensive portfolio of research projects. Led...
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