Sow longevity has been an issue the industry has tried to improve over the last several decades with not a lot of success. With the high turnover rate of sows, we need a steady influx of replacement gilts to maintain production goals. Today, Dr. Benny Mote talks with Dr. Greiner about different methods of identifying the best replacement gilts, and new technologies that can help us get the most out of the replacement gilts we have available.

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What you will learn:

1. Changes or stands in sows’ longevity

2. Driving the profitability of the sow

3. Replacement of sows

4. Technologies to predict sows’ longevity

5. Methods of identifying individual animals

6. Technologies in the barn

7. How technology will help to select animals more efficient

8. Key points

Meet the guest: Dr. Benny Mote was raised on a small family farm outside of Happy, Texas, and it was there he first had contact with pigs. After high school, he served in the Army before finding his way to the undergraduate degree in animal science at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. In 2008 Iowa State University granted his Ph.D. in animal breeding and genetics. After his Ph.D., Dr. Mote worked as a molecular geneticist in Canada until he came back to the University of Nebraska and assumed the position as Assistant Professor and Swine Extension Specialist, which he still holds. His goal is to help the swine industry in Nebraska improve animal welfare concerns and sow longevity while simultaneously improving production. Priorities of his research include identifying genetic components that have not yet been investigated to improve pig production.