Impact of Modern Reproductive Technologies on Productivity in Pigs: a Review

The main objective of modern reproductive technologies in pig reproduction is to increase reproductive efficiency and rates of genetic improvement. They also offer potential for greatly extending the multiplication and transport of genetic materials and conserving unique genetic resources in reasonably available forms for possible future use. The development and improvement of these technologies are concentrating on gamete and embryo collection, sorting and preservation, in vitro production of embryos, culturing, manipulation of embryos (splitting, nuclear transfer, production of chimeras, establishment embryo stem cells, and gene transfer) and embryo transfer. Also, the development of these novel technologies is facilitated by modern equipment for ultrasonography, microscopy, cryopreservation, endoscopy, and flow cytometry, microinjectiors, micromanipulators and centrifugation. This review will concentrate mainly on reproductive and molecular technologies that do not alter the genome other than through the standard processes of selective breeding. The reason for not discussing transgenic or genetic modification technologies in great length is because it is unlikely, in my opinion, that these techniques will be used for swine improvement in the next ten years. This prediction is based both on technological and consumer attitude. Components of Sow and Boar Productivity