Modern sows stay for a short period of time in pig herds with approximately 50% of the herd females being replaced each year. The project aims to identify the gilt traits that aim to predict sow performance in relation to her productive potential, longevity and health and welfare.
Healthy sows are necessary to produce the next generation of pigs and provide them the best start in life. However, modern sows have their lifetime health, welfare and performance affected by having to rear large number of piglets, with litter size outnumbering the number of functional teats, produce high amounts of colostrum and high milk yields in successive cycles. Inadvertently these have profound effects on sow longevity. It has been suggested that, ideally, a sow should complete 8 parities and wean approximately 88 piglets before being replaced. Such situation would result in a sow herd replacing 30% of its females each year. However, sow replacement rate for the last 10 years has remained above 50% in the UK (and NI), with the top 10% UK herds having replacement rates above this average.
Whilst gilts that will enter the breeding herd are fed differently from gilts that are destined for meat production, there is no other selection criteria associated with their selection. The aim of this project is to identify which gilt traits are important to be destined as productive sows to ensure that the productivity, longevity and welfare is not compromised. This will be done by focusing on novel traits measured on gilts by using established and novel technologies.
1 We will interrogate a large dataset generated at AFBI on sow productivity; this process is ongoing. The dataset is based on longitudinal measurements on gilts and sows, for both productive and non-productive characteristics associated with their health and welfare. The dataset will be supplemented by additional novel traits such as udder conformation which will also be generated during the course of the project.
2 We will study the impact of gilt growth and cohort influence on gilt lifetime performance. As well as investigating the role of gilt growth during lactation (i.e, growth rate, weight gain from birth to weaning) the project will be the first to study the impact of the number of male siblings in a litter has on gilts' reproductive performance (the negative influence of in-utero testosterone from male siblings on females' reproductive capacity).
3 We will investigate whether udder health and colostrum quality during first lactation has an influence on piglet performance during lactation. Objective 1 above will have only provided indications about the relationship between these variables and subsequent piglet performance. We will use assessment of novel traits of udder health and colostrum quality, such as visual and morphological assessment combined with thermographic imaging assessment and study its impact on colostrum and milk composition, IgG content and yield, and on piglet pre-weaning performance and health.
4 We will provide recommendations for the traits that need to be included in future selection programmes of gilts in the productive herd.
Skills/experience required: This project would suit a graduate in a biological, veterinary or agricultural discipline with an interest in pig production and sustainability. Specific quantitative skills are not expected but an interest in developing these is important.
Start Date: 1 October 2023
Duration: 3 years
How to apply: Applications must be submitted online via: https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/user/u_login.php
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