Introduction of post-cervical insemination has a very significant economic impact on the whole of the pork industry, and is a challenge of parallel magnitude to that raised by the transition from natural service to artificial insemination.
Meeting batch breeding targets requires availability of enough service-ready weaned sows and gilts.
This article lists the critical points that must be considered for a successful post-cervical insemination in sows.
Neonatal mortality does not only depend on the design of the farrowing crate, but also on genetic and management factors, as well as litter size, especially with the increased use of hyper-prolific dam lines.
The month of the sow's birth affects the number of piglets born alive in the first farrowing.
It is necessary to find alternatives to definitely implement this technique in primiparous sows and start its use in gilts.
Purchasing decisions are complex because, even though some consumers prefer meat with no fat in sight, they prefer the meat with the highest marbling degree when they taste it.
Traits of high or moderate heritability are easily improved by testing and selection. However, for traits of low heritability, improvements come from exploiting heterosis and by the use of BLUP.
