PROBLEM
Fertility is essential in pork production. Farmers need
sows to produce at least four litters to be profitable,
but only about half do so before they are culled.
SOLUTION
Identifying genetic markers associated with earlier
puberty onset would improve selection practices and
increase the ability of sows to produce more litters.
RESEARCHERS
Daniel C. Ciobanu, PhD, University of Nebraska,
Lincoln
Clay A. Lents, PhD, USDA, U.S. Meat Animal
Research Center
Stephen D. Kachman, PhD, University of Nebraska,
Lincoln
Mathew L. Spangler, PhD, University of Nebraska,
Lincoln
Timothy J. Safranski, PhD, University of Missouri,
Columbia
FUNDING
USDA NIFA AFRI
National Pork Board
Nebraska Pork Producers Association