Strengthening Gilt Development for Long-Term Productivity | Jennifer Patterson

About the Guest Jennifer Patterson obtained her MSc in Animal Science from the University of Alberta where she is currently a Research Associate and the Swine Industry Liaison for Livestock Gentec. This involves developing research projects that address current industry challenges and providing continued support to producers to implement results at the farm level, putting “science into practice”. Jennifer has worked with many pig industry groups around the world and her current focus is on gilt management to improve sow lifetime productivity and retention. She also loves working with farm production data, through which powerful insights can be developed to make data-driven decisions that positively affect overall herd performance. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? Why a strong gilt development program is key to narrowing the gap between genetic potential and on-farm performance. How early culling and poor retention after parity one are major roadblocks to sow lifetime productivity—and what can be done about it. The importance of proper puberty stimulation using boars, and why timing, technique, and training matter more than you think. What “fertility quadrant” targets you should hit for optimal breeding success—and why data and body condition tracking post-P1 are just as vital. Jennifer’s “golden nugget”