Why are reproductive traits such as litter size only occasionally selected for?
reproductive traits normally have low heritability, but things like litter size is economically very
important. Because of the low heritability it’s not easy to improve, but the litter size is still a focus
for producers to improve. It’s so economically important to get more piglets born.
Challenges: lots of small producer, it challenges how we communicate with them including policies
and how to deal with research requirements.
So many producer without registering or appropriate approval to keep pigs or raise pigs, which has
a high security risk for the industry.The small groups of producers has increased.The price of pig
gets lower while pretty high cost of production.
Now 80% of the sows are housed in groups from five days after mating.
That is because the right thing to do by the sows. The sites gave us information, data that allows
producers to learn to manage cells in group housing.
Husbandry practices
Now we are getting governments to review our moral code which is the legally minimum standard
and animal welfare that producers need to comply with. Asking them to update, reviewing, redoing
the legislation.