Advances in pig breeding and reproduction

Description

In recent years, there have been significant developments in the way that pigs are bred. This is primarily as a result of a shift in focus from production traits, such as meat quality, to other traits such as improved feed efficiency, reproductive performance and disease resistance. In light of this shift, a greater understanding of reproduction efficiency in pigs is required.

Advances in pig breeding and reproduction provides a comprehensive overview of the key research undertaken in these important areas and considers how reproduction efficiency can be optimised to achieve the desired breeding outcomes. The book also addresses recent advances in understanding how genetics can be engineered to breed pigs with an improved resistance to major diseases affecting pigs, such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

Table of contents

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Part 1 Pig breeding

• 1.Assessing pig genetic diversity: R. Bozzi, F. Tiezzi and M.C. Fabbri, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy;
• 2.Advances in understanding and exploiting the pig genome: Martijn F. L. Derks, Wageningen University & Research/Topigs Norsvin Research Center, The Netherlands;
• 3.Advances in genomic selection in pig breeding: Xiaolei Liu, Lilin Yin, Dong Yin, Xinyun Li and Shuhong Zhao, Huazhong Agricultural University/Hubei Hongshan Laboratory – Wuhan, China;
• 4.Advances in understanding the genetics of and breeding for resistance to infectious disease in pigs: Jack C. M. Dekkers, Iowa State University, USA;
• 5.Advances in understanding the genetics of sow prolificacy: reproductive performance, trade-offs, and management solutions: Glen W. Almond, North Carolina State University, USA; and Diego F. Leal, University of São Paulo, Brazil;
• 6.Advances in the genetic improvement of sow longevity: Luiz Brito, Purdue University, USA; and Susanne Hermesch, AGBU a joint venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries and University of New England, Australia

Part 2 Reproduction

• 7.Improving the reproductive efficiency of boars: past, present, and future: Ian Shofner and Karl Kerns, Iowa State University, USA;
• 8.Gilt development to improve offspring performance and survivability: Jamil E. G. Faccin, Mike D. Tokach, Robert D. Goodband, Joel M. DeRouchey, Jason C. Woodworth and Jordan T. Gebhardt, Kansas State University, USA;
• 9.Understanding ovarian function in pigs: María Estefanía González-Alvarez, Zöe E. Kiefer, Jamie M. Studer, Jason W. Ross and Aileen F. Keating, Iowa State University, USA;
• 10.Tools and strategies for optimizing the reproductive performance of sows: Robert V. Knox, University of Illinois, USA;
• 11.Accelerating genomic improvement in pigs by using reproductive biotechnologies: Bethany K. Redel and Paula R. Chen, USDA-ARS, Plant Genetics Research Unit, USA; Bhanu Telugu, Caroline Gomes Lucas, Kiho Lee, Kristin M. Whitworth and Randall S. Prather, University of Missouri, USA;
• 12.Neonatal piglet nutritional supplementation to increase growth and survival: a review: Kara Stewart, Purdue University, USA;
• 13.Nutritional strategies to optimize reproductive performance of the highly prolific sow: Laura L. Greiner and Caitlyn Wileman, Iowa State University, USA;