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

Part 1 Pig breeding

• 1.Assessing pig genetic diversity: Riccardo Bozzi, University of Florence, Italy;
• 2.Advances in understanding and exploiting the pig genome: Martijn Derks, Wageningen University, The Netherlands;
• 3.Advances in marker assisted selection in pig breeding: Xiaolei Liu, Huazhong Agricultural University, China;
• 4.Advances in understanding genetics of and breeding for improved disease resistance in pigs: Jack Dekkers, Iowa State University, USA;
• 5.Advances in understanding the genetics of and breeding for improved fertility/reproductive performance in pigs: Glen Almond, North Carolina State University, USA;
• 6.Advances in the genetic improvement of sow longevity: Susanne Hermesch, University of New England, Australia

Part 2 Reproduction

• 7.Improving the reproductive efficiency of boars: Karl Kerns, Iowa State University, USA;
• 8.Managing gilts to optimise reproductive efficiency: Jamil Faccin, Kansas State University, USA;
• 9.Understanding ovarian function in pigs: Aileen Keating, Iowa State University, USA;
• 10.Tools and strategies for optimizing the reproductive performance of sows: Rob Knox, University of Illinois, USA;
• 11.Reproductive biotechnologies and how they can be used to accelerate genetic progress: Bethany Redel, USDA-ARS/University of Missouri, USA;
• 12.Improving piglet survival: Kara Stewart, Purdue University, USA;
• 13.Nutritional strategies to optimize reproductive performance of the highly prolific sow: Laura Greiner, Iowa State University, USA;