Evolution of Sow Productivity and Evaluation Parameters: Spanish Farms as a Benchmark.

This study examines the global evolution of sow productivity, with a particular focus on Spain. The analysis is based on key performance metrics such as piglets weaned per sow per year (PWSY), prolificacy, and pre-weaning mortality, utilizing data from literature reviews, the InterPIG, and BDporc databases. Globally, significant advancements in genetic selection and management practices have led to productivity increases across major pig-producing countries, with notable improvements in prolificacy.

Insights into genetic determinants of piglet survival during a PRRSV outbreak.

Breeding animals to produce more robust and disease-resistant pig populations becomes a complementary strategy to the more conventional methods of biosecurity and vaccination. The objective of this study was to explore the ability of a panel of genetic markers and immunity parameters to predict the survival rates during a natural PRRSV outbreak. Ten-week-old female Duroc pigs (n = 129), obtained from 61 sows and 20 boars, were naturally infected with a highly pathogenic PRRSV genotype 1 strain.

Long-Term Effects of Early Low-Phosphorous Nutritional Conditioning on Broiler Chicken Performance, Bone Mineralization, and Gut Health Under Adequate or Phosphorous-Deficient Diets.

Phosphorous is essential for many metabolic functions and the constitution of bones. Poultry have limited ability to use phosphorous from diets, which is mainly excreted and causes environmental concern. For this reason, diets are commonly supplemented with inorganic phosphorus and phytases.

The impact of herd age structure on the performance of commercial sow-breeding farms.

Background: The herd age structure, i.e., distribution of sows within a farm based on their parity number, and its management are essential to optimizing farm reproductive efficiency.