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Differences in mammary gland weight and litter performance between Large White sows selected for different traits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

S. C. Whitehead
Affiliation:
The University of Leeds, Centre for Animal Sciences, LIBA, School of Biology, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
H. M. Miller
Affiliation:
The University of Leeds, Centre for Animal Sciences, LIBA, School of Biology, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
P. C. Penny
Affiliation:
JSR Healthbred Ltd, Southburn, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 9ED, UK
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Extract

Genetic selection has increased pig lean tissue growth rate, the most extreme animals comprising the ‘sire’ lines of breeding stock. However such improvement has not been without cost in other areas of production. Sire line sows are characterised by smaller litters with poorer pre-weaning growth rates than dam line sows of the same breed. The aim of this experiment was to determine whether reduced pre-weaning growth rate of sire line piglets was due to poor lactation performance of the sow or reduced vitality of sire line piglets.

Type
Genetics
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2003

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References

King, R. H.; Mullan, B. P.; Dunshea, F. R. and Dove, H. 1997. The influence of piglet body weight on milk production of sows. Livestock Production Science 47:169174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar