13 Story Idea? Contact Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Pork | August 2024 Focusing on preweaning survival more than initial litter size has a direct impact on animal welfare as well as economic returns for the producer. Animal breeding literature supports this decision, from historical selection experiments illustrating that increases in total born do not necessarily increase the number weaned. We can also improve piglet quality through an increase in piglet birth weight, reduction in birth weight variation, and reduction in runt piglets. Introduction Litter size is an important part of the maternal objective of pig breeding companies. Pigs weaned/mated female/year (PSY) is the main KPI that defines maternal efficiency for sow farms. Unfortunately, PSY is not a measurable trait on individuals. The main decision for breeding companies is deciding which trait(s) should be used to increase maternal efficiency. In the very early days (1970s), it was questioned if selection for litter size was possible due to the very low heritability of these traits. Keep in mind this was prior to the powerful BLUP statistical methodology and genomic selection we utilize today. Most litter size traits have a heritability BALANCING LITTER SIZE BALANCING LITTER SIZE WITH PREWEANING SURVIVAL STRATEGIES IN BREEDING By AUSTIN PUTZ Hypor photo
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