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Identifying Early-Life Behavior To Predict Mothering Ability In Swine Utilizing Nutrack System, Savannah Millburn
Identifying Early-Life Behavior To Predict Mothering Ability In Swine Utilizing Nutrack System, Savannah Millburn
Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Early recognition of indicator traits for swine reproduction and longevity supports economical selection decision making. Gilt activity is a key variable impacting a sow’s herd life and productivity. The purpose of this study was to examine early- life behaviors contributing to farrowing traits including gestation length (GL), number born alive (NBA), number weaned (NW), and herd life (HL). Herd life was a binary trait representing if a gilt was culled after one parity. Beginning at approximately 20 weeks of age, video recordings were taken on 480 gilts for 7 consecutive days and processed using the NUtrack system. Activity traits include …