The Gentec Swine group is excited to showcase our latest results from our research collaboration with Hypor Hendrix Genetics Swine at the Banff Pork Seminar (January 6-8th, 2026).
This collaborative work is focused on gilt development and sow lifetime productivity, with the goal of improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the Canadian pig industry.
Come by and see the posters and chat with the students.
BPS is always an excellent event for bringing the industry together. Our team will be represented by Michael Dyck, Jennifer Patterson, Sonja Allen, Kayla Patey and Morgan Rioch. We look forward to seeing you there!
There will also be a RDAR Research Showcase January 21, 2026. The event will be held in person at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel, with a virtual attendance option available. Please see link here for registration and event information. The event will include some interesting presentations and a fireside chat and Q&A with Deputy Minister Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Jason Hale. After closing remarks there will be a poster session and networking event. Look for some of the Gentec team at the event.
Banff Pork Seminar Materials
Sonja Allen (PhD candidate)
“From Growth Curve to Breeding Decisions: Linking Gilt Development to Parity One Success”
Sonja’s poster highlights the opportunity to utilize the inflection point from gilt growth curve modeling as the key biological signal to time first breeding, which is essential for improving P1 outcome, sow retention, and profitability.
Kayla Patey (MSc candidate)
“Identifying Birthweight Phenotype in Sows to Improve Replacement Gilt Management”
Kayla’s poster explores the possibility of earlier selection against sows with low litter birthweight phenotypes (LBWP) to predict future average litter birthweight patterns, supporting more efficient gilt selection and herd management.
Morgan Rioch (BSc undergraduate student)
“Feed Intake in First Parity Lactation: Impact on Weight Loss and Subsequent Performance“
Morgan’s poster emphasizes the importance of feed intake during lactation in parity 1 sows as a critical component of parity 1 management, and how it impacts sow weight loss during first lactation, breeding efficiency and subsequent reproductive performance.
We want to thank Morgan for all her hard work over the past two years as our undergraduate summer student. Congratulations to Morgan as she finishes her Bachelor of Science in Animal Bioscience, at the University of Saskatchewan this December. Lucky for us, she won’t be going far, she will be joining the Gentec Beef Team to start her Masters of Science in January.
Take a look at some of Livestock Gentec’s material from the 2025 Banff Pork Seminar (BPS highlights 2025)
