Maintaining pig quality with increasing litter size is an issue currently facing the swine industry. This is in part due to the negative relationship existing between litter size and pig weaning weight.1 One management practice that has been implemented to manage large litter sizes is cross-fostering, where some pigs are placed on nurse sows when the birth sow may be unable to nurse her pigs. How this protocol and other management practices are executed may impact wean pig quality. Weaning weight isan indicator trait for pig quality. Heavier weaning weight has been associated with faster growth rate and fewer days to market.2,3 Understanding the factors that affect pig weaning weight can aid producers in enhancing pig quality. The objective of this study was to examine factors that influence pig weaning weight.
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