Swine breeding

Publication date: Nov. 1, 2018

How much advantage for a particular trait do superior animals transmit to their offspring? Heritability estimates help us answer this important question. This publication explains the meaning of heritability estimates, how they are calculated and ...

Publication date: Nov. 1, 2018

Various mating schemes of animals are classified under two broad categories — inbreeding and outbreeding. Classification depends on the closeness of the biological relationship between mates. Within each category, a wide variation in intensity of ...

Publication date: Nov. 1, 2018

Reproductive performance of a herd boar depends upon proper care and management. Boars are frequently neglected, especially newly purchased boars en route and after they are brought home. There are essential steps in the care and management of a herd ...

Publication date: Nov. 1, 2018

Success in commercial swine production is determined by a pork producer's ability to use resources efficiently. However, the level of efficiency that can be obtained is set by the genetic merit of the breeding herd. The genetic merit of the breeding ...

Publication date: Nov. 1, 2018

Any time a sow farrows prematurely, there is the fear that additional litters will be lost. An abortion rate of less than 2 percent is considered an acceptable level in most herds. Premature farrowing usually results from nutritional, genetic or ...

Publication date: Nov. 1, 2018

Artificial insemination (AI) in swine is not a new technique. There are reports as early as the 1930s of collecting semen for insemination. However, use of AI in the United States has skyrocketed in the past decade. It is important to remember that ...