Articles - Genetics and reproduction

From their respective academic and on-farm perspectives, Josep Gasa and Josep Casanovas comment on a recent study regarding the effect of heat stress on sows: Which weeks does it affect the farrowing rate the most? What about the weaning-to-first-service interval? Are there differences depending on parity?

Understanding the farrowing process and recognizing the signs for the different stages of birth, help us to develop management plans to improve the likelihood for live born piglets.

Currently, only the sperm-rich fraction is used. This article analyzes the possible use of the other fractions.

We continue our comparison of production data between sow farms in Spain and the United States. This time we focus on replacement rate, pre-weaning mortality, and weaning weight.

A comparison of Spanish and U.S. main production numbers on sow farm

Here's how ultrasound can be used to visualize ovarian structures, assess the state of puberty, and diagnose ovarian pathologies.

The most frequent problems are reproductive and locomotive. What should I do if the percent among sows serviced is greater than 2%?

What should I do if the percentage of empty sows among the sows serviced is greater than 1%?

What could be causing abortions that are not seasonal and that are not affecting a certain phase of gestation in particular?

User responses of the 333 survey on gestation length in sows reveal gestations are trending around 115.5 days.

To conclude this series of articles, swine reproduction and artificial insemination specialist Javier Gil explains the importance of proper post-service management in terms of when to move sows and how to feed them.

What could be causing the abortions happening at a particular point in the gestation?

What can I do if the abortion rate is greater than 2% and the abortions are concentrated around a specific time of year? How can I combat seasonal abortions?

When multiparous sows are affected, not as many need to be culled as in the case of gilts (which we saw in the last article). Generally sows will eventually show signs of heat, but with a considerable delay compared to a normal heat.

The incidence and distribution of small litters and factors affecting the number of piglets born alive on swine farms.

Why are there more abortions occurring in first parity sows?

Lack of estrus in gilts is a common cause for culling, which increases the need for gilts and the cost of gilts. Let's take a look a what causes anestrus:

This article lists the main non-infectious causes that can lead to irregular returns to estrus.

This article covers the main semen- or boar-related factors that can cause regular returns to estrus.

Turopolje pig is a fatty-type pig breed created during the Middle Ages in Turopolje region in Central Croatia. Due to its modest demands, resilience and good adaptation to outdoor rearing, the Turopolje pig has been an important food source for the local population for centuries.

Total returns to estrus should not exceed 8%; if they do, we must ask ourselves when they occur.

The traditional, local breed Schwäbisch-Hällisches Schwein, was developed about 200 years ago in the region of Hohenlohe in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

For several years now, post-cervical insemination has become common on most pig farms. In this article we review with Javier Gil, a specialist in swine reproduction and artificial insemination, what to keep in mind in order to do this technique correctly.

Sarda pig breed (a.k.a. Suino Sardo) is a local breed from Sardinia Island (Italy) with its ancestors dating back to to 2nd millennium BC.