Dale Rozeboom Michigan State University

Publish Date: March 27, 2009

Longevity of a breeding female is influenced by a wide variety of factors, one of which is the nutritional management of the female throughout her productive life. In modern pork production, the female becomes a part of the breeding herd at birth. Hopefully, several reproductive cycles follow before her removal from the breeding herd.

Publish Date: March 25, 2010

The nutritional program for replacement gilts has a direct effect on sow lifetime productivity. How females are fed in development affects prolificacy and consistency of future reproductive cycles and can predispose them to feet and leg problems during later parities. Increased culling of breeding females due to problems with reproductive performance, health, or structural soundness can be very expensive. Purchasing premium-priced replacement gilts adds to the cost of production, while producing and raising gilts from within the herd takes considerable time, management, and an investment of resources.