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Opportunities and possible methods to improve reproduction in the pig

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

Rodger K. Johnson  and
Steven M. Neal
Rodger K. Johnson
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68583-0908
Steven M. Neal
Affiliation:
Agricultural Technical Institute, The Ohio State University, Wooster OH 44691
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Extract

Genetic selection for litter size received little attention either by scientists or commercial pig breeders until recently. Low heritability of litter size, its sex-limited expression and the fact that it cannot be measured until reproductive maturity are often given as reasons. But the major reason may be that the reproductive rate of pigs is already quite high, and the economic value of genetic changes in litter size have been small relative to those of efficiency and composition of growth.

The economics of pig production have changed and technological and biological advances have caused us to re-examine the economic value of traits. Reducing fat in the carcass and more efficient conversion of feed to lean meat have always been, and will continue to be, high priority selection objectives for pig breeders. But expensive, environmentally controlled gestation, farrowing and nursery houses are the norm of modern pig production and increasing litter size will result in a significant reduction in the cost of producing lean meat (Tess et al., 1983).

Type
Trait Improvement
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 12: Animal Breeding Opportunities , 1988 , pp. 221 - 237
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1988

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References

LITERATURE CITED

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