Make 25 pigs a sow your standard for next year

摘要

Pig farmers over-estimate the part played by modern genetics in sow performance. No, that's not a silly statement; neither is it controversial! This is because the potential sow prolificacy built in to any modern breed or strain is so high that only the top 5 per cent get anywhere near achieving it (Table 1). And it was ther e in the genetics of 1982 - it must have been, as we got to 27 weaned a sow a year across two six-month periods in 1982 and 1984 at RHM's Dean's Grove Farm.