There is growing external pressure to abolish the farrowing crate, however alternative
farrowing systems need to equal or surpass the performance (ie piglet survival) of more
restrictive systems. In order to achieve consistent improvement in piglet survival genetic
selection strategies targeting specific survival traits could be used. One of the key
components of survival in alternative, loose-housed farrowing systems is maternal
behaviour and understanding the characteristics of sows that influence survival in such …