Five steps to maximise gilt conception

摘要

Breeding decisions have a huge influence on the future productivity of gilts, so getting reproduction right at this stage is important. Debbie James reports.Breed a gilt too early and she will produce small litters over successive parities, not just the first. But age is by no means the only factor that must be spot on to fully exploit the animal's future potential.Get the age, weight or body condition wrong and the gilt will be programmed to underperform, warns Alan Stewart, senior pig lecturer at Harper Adams University.