Genetics and reproduction

Swine fertility has a significant effect on farm profitability. Along with other factors, the number of pigs produced per sow per year defines the production cost per pig.

With the turning of the Chinese New Year, we run down the biggest events across Asia in the Year of the Pig.

Gene editing is being subject to controversial regulation, but could it be a lifeline for an unsustainable pig industry?

New genetic techniques are increasing the productivity, efficiency, and yield of PIC pigs at a remarkable rate.

A large Croatian agricultural group has just introduced a new 1,350 sow herd to its already established range of livestock and grain farming enterprises.

Dr Craig Lewis, chair of the European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders and PIC Genetic Services manager answers your questions.

The ultimate aim of pig breeders is to have large, healthy litters, but what can be done to maximise the number of healthy piglets born?

An insight into the facilities and processes of a boar stud and artificial insemination (AI) centre based in Northern Ireland.

A ban on routine castration in Europe by the end of 2018? Will boar taint affect the sales of pork and what are the potential alternatives to surgical castration.

The analysis of meat inspection data at slaughter suggests there are links between genetic variation and the most common indicators of poor animal welfare.

2nd Edition. Dr Phillip Sponenberg, Alison Martin and Jeanette Beranger

Influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S) remains among the top health challenges facing the US swine industry and, worse yet, it may be on the increase.

Presenting at a recent meeting of the North Yorkshire Pig Discussion Group, Dr Simon Turner, based at SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College), posed the question: “What determines pigs’ fighting and how do we…

Volume 2: Animal breeding and nutrition

Using more prolific genetics as well as increasing the feed intake to lactating sows has helped boost the overall pig herd performance in Northern Ireland over the past few years, writes Chris McCullo…

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically significant disease that can impact both the breeding and the wean-to-finish phases of production. (1)

According to scientists we are living in a VUCA world, a world that is more and more impacted by increasing levels of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.

Potassium diformate, a double-salt of formic acid, has been shown in numerous trials to improve health and performance in piglets, growing-finishing pigs and sows. Thus, potassium diformate (KDF) has …

There has been an increase in the culling of sows due to lameness. Three presentations discussed this topic during the 24th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress in Dublin, Ireland in 2016.

Social interactions among individuals are often mediated through acoustic signals. If acoustic signals are consistent and related to an individual's personality, these consistent individual difference…