The Science Page this week is a collaboration between the University of Alberta and Hendrix Genetics regarding low litter birth weight phenotypes in sows.
Key points
- In every herd there is a population of sows that produce low birth weight piglets independent of the litter size
- The litter birth weight phenotype (LBWP) is a sow-related phenotype
- Low LBWP sows show delayed embryonic and placental development on day 30 of gestation