Patterson Jennifer, Foxcroft George
AFNS, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
Animals (Basel). 2019 Jul 9;9(7):434. doi: 10.3390/ani9070434.
Substantial evidence supports successful management of gilts as an absolutely necessary component of breeding herd management and the pivotal starting point for the future fertility and longevity of the breeding herd. Therefore, gilt management practices from birth have the potential to influence the future reproductive performance of the sow herd. A good gilt management program will address several key components such as birth traits that determine the efficiency of replacement gilt production; effective selection of the most fertile gilts for entry to the breeding herd; effective management programs that provide a consistent supply of service eligible gilts; and appropriate management of weight, physiological maturity, and a positive metabolic state at breeding. Good gilt management can largely resolve the existing gap between excellent genetic potential and the more modest sow lifetime productivity typically achieved in the industry. Investment in good gilt development programs from birth represents a foundational opportunity for improving the efficiency of the pork production industry.
大量证据表明，后备母猪的成功管理是种猪群管理绝对必要的组成部分，也是种猪群未来繁殖力和使用寿命的关键起点。因此，从出生起的后备母猪管理措施有可能影响母猪群未来的繁殖性能。一个良好的后备母猪管理计划将涉及几个关键要素，例如决定后备母猪生产效率的出生性状；有效挑选最具繁殖力的后备母猪进入种猪群；有效的管理计划，确保有稳定的符合配种条件的后备母猪供应；以及在配种时对体重、生理成熟度和良好代谢状态进行适当管理。良好的后备母猪管理在很大程度上可以解决优秀遗传潜力与行业中通常实现的较为一般的母猪终身生产性能之间存在的差距。从出生起就投资于良好的后备母猪培育计划，是提高猪肉生产行业效率的一个基础性机遇。
