New breeding goal will improve sows' ability to care for more piglets

Litter weight gain is a new robustness trait in the breeding goal for DanBred Landrace and DanBred Yorkshire. The new trait will increase the number of weaned piglets per weaning by half a piglet annually and will support higher and stable growth in the litter until weaning.

A new trait implemented in the DanBred breeding goal focuses on increasing the number of piglets weaned per weaning to secure the high nursing ability of the DanBred sow. The trait, called litter weight gain, will have a significant effect and is expected to increase the litter weight at weaning by 3 kg per year, corresponding to half a piglet more weaned per weaning.

"Litter weight gain has a significant potential. Substantial breeding progress for this trait is expected, as it is positively correlated with nearly all other traits in the DanBred breeding goal and has a high economic value. This trait aligns perfectly with the DanBred breeding goal and will help ease the work in the farrowing unit," explains Tage Ostersen, Development Manager at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Breeding & Genetics.

Litter weight gain has a positive impact on the robustness of the piglets, while increasing productivity in the farrowing unit. DanBreds customers will progressively see the effect of litter weight gain, when the herd replaces older sows with new gilts.

From master thesis to breeding goal

A master thesis in 2022 by Line Busk Jensen laid the foundation for litter weight gain as part of the DanBred breeding goal. Since then, extensive research, based on several years f data collection in DanBred's breeding herds, has paved the way to the result.

"With litter weight gain, we measure the sow’s ability to nurse the piglets she gets at litter equalization. By breeding for litter weight gain, we expect the sow will have a greater milk yield as well as improve the ability to nurture more piglets," explains Line Busk Jensen,
project manager at Breeding & Genetics.

The sow can nurse more piglets

Increasing the number of piglets weaned per weaning will reduce the workload in the farrowing unit, where the sow can nurse more of her own piglets. At the same time, the litter will achieve a more stable growth until weaning. In this way, litter weight gain contributes to an easier workday by creating a balance between the excellent piglet survival and the need for foster sows.

Litter weight gain is a new trait in the breeding goal for DanBred Landrace and DanBred Yorkshire. The trait is expected to increase the growth of the litter from litter equalization to weaning by 3 kg per year, corresponding weaning half a pig more per weaning each year.

Litter growth is measured as the difference between the weight of the litter after litter equalization and the weight of the litter at day 21 of lactation.