Piglet survival - Implications of large litter sizes: Genetic Focus on What is Happening as Litter Sizes Increase to Levels That Create Challenges to Survival

Introduction As an industry, our success in selecting for increased litter size is coming back to haunt us. Data from breeders’ herds in Ontario and reports from elsewhere show that there is a non-linear relationship between litter size and piglet survival, especially peri-natal survival (e.g. Robinson and Quinton, 2002, Lecour. 2000). Data from Robinson and Quinton (2002) reproduced below as Figure 1 suggest that if we continue to increase litter size without worrying about survival, we can expect a corresponding and more rapid increase in piglet mortality in the peri-partum period at least.