Glen Almond

This book features four peer-reviewed reviews on optimising reproductive efficiency in pigs. The first chapter highlights some of the main factors which are known to affect reproductive efficiency in pigs, including gilt development, litter size, control of the weaning to oestrus interval and season infertility. Management strategies designed to help producers continue to make a profit are also discussed. The second chapter introduces the concept of artificial insemination and details its importance in mitigating future challenges encountered by the global pig industry. The chapter also considers a range of factors which can affect the reproductive efficiency of boars, including low sperm count and semen quality. The third chapter reviews the advances and trade-offs of genetic selection for improved reproductive performance in modern sows, such as an increase in piglet mortality rates. The chapter also includes informed discussions on breeding for improved conception rate, litter size and maternal behaviour. The final chapter summarises the basic physiology of porcine female reproduction, including ovarian structure and function, folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. It also describes stages of the porcine oestrous cycle. Further, emerging exposures and alterations to ambient temperatures and how they affect porcine female reproductive function are included.

This collection features four peer-reviewed reviews on alternatives to antibiotics in pig production. The first chapter provides a brief overview of antibiotic use in pig production and addresses the consequent development of antibiotic resistance. The chapter reviews recent advances in developing non-antibiotic means of controlling bacterial infections in swine, such as the use of phage therapy. The second chapter considers the use of prebiotics to optimise gut function in pigs. The chapter summarises current knowledge on the effects of prebiotic oligosaccharides on porcine gut function and health, as well as the modes of action of the commonly used prebiotics in pig production. The third chapter reviews advances in nutritional strategies to boost immune function in pigs, including the use of lipopolysaccharide to stimulate the immune system. The chapter considers the need to reduce the use of antimicrobials in swine diets and reviews the effect of dietary supplementation during key stages of a pig’s life to enhance immunity. The final chapter reviews the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract of the young pig and the important role it plays in the early stages of life. The chapter considers the use of probiotics and prebiotics in the post-weaning period of piglets to optimise gut function, animal health and performance.

This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on developing immunity in pigs. The first chapter provides an overview of the latest research in gut function and immunity in pigs, as well as the role of the gut microbiota in shaping intestinal immune responses. The chapter also reviews recent advances in the development of novel tools to investigate the function of the pig gut. The second chapter describes the enteric and mucosal immune systems of pigs and presents evidence from experimental studies of the links between the immune system and microbiota. It examines the microbiome and metabolism of pigs and highlights its importance in the development of pig immune systems. The third chapter reviews advances in nutritional strategies to boost immune function in pigs, including the use of lipopolysaccharide to stimulate the immune system. The chapter considers the need to reduce the use of antimicrobials in swine diets and reviews the effect of dietary supplementation during key stages of a pig’s life to enhance immunity. The final chapter assesses methods of improving gut function in pigs to optimise health, prevent pathogen colonization and optimise immunity. The chapter discusses research on genes associated with pathogen resistance and porcine immune response and reviews the role of dietary and nutritional strategies in preventing intestinal pathogen colonisation.