Abstract
Lifetime sow performance is a critical indicator for producers managing a commercial sow herd. It is comprised of sow longevity, lifetime piglets born alive, lifetime number of pigs weaned and lifetime non-productive sow days. Increased lifetime performance and longevity in sows reduces costs of replacement gilts and improves herd performance and profitability (Sasaki et al., 2008, 2011). One of the most critical factors driving the performance of sow herds is gilt management. Decisions regarding gilts have profound effects on sows’ lifetime performance. Age at first breeding of a gilt is a management decision that has been shown to affect performance and retention of the gilt in a herd.
 The main aim of this review is to establish factors affecting age of first breeding of gilts and its impact on lifetime performance.
Highlights
Gilts constitute a significant proportion of the breeding females in most sow herds and an improvement in gilt management is likely to have a significant effect on overall herd performance
Age at first breeding of gilts is a management decision and a factor to be considered for the initiation and retention of the gilts in a breeding herd
This large range appears to be too wide to be targeted on a well-managed sow herd because the number of estruses that gilts may be able to experience within this time range could be highly variable
Summary
Lifetime sow performance is a critical indicator for producers managing a commercial sow herd. It is comprised of sow longevity, lifetime piglets born alive, lifetime number of pigs weaned and lifetime non-productive sow days. One of the most critical factors driving the performance of sow herds is gilt management. Decisions regarding gilts have profound effects on sows’ lifetime performance. Age at first breeding of a gilt is a management decision that has been shown to affect performance and retention of the gilt in a herd. The main aim of this review is to establish factors affecting age of first breeding of gilts and its impact on lifetime performance
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