Gentec Swine at the Banff Pork Seminar
The Gentec Swine Group kicked off the New Year at the Banff Pork Seminar (January 6-8th, 2026).
Our team presented three posters that highlighted latest results from our research collaboration with Hendrix Genetics Swine. Funded by NSERC Alliance, this work is focused on gilt development and sow lifetime productivity, with the goal of improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the Canadian pig industry.
We are proud of their achievements and dedication to their work!
Sonja Allen (PhD candidate)
“From Growth Curve to Breeding Decisions: Linking Gilt Development to Parity One Success”
Sonja’s poster highlighted the opportunity to utilize gilt growth curve modeling, to identify key biological signals, to help 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 explored the possibility of earlier selection against sows with low litter birthweight phenotypes (LBWP) to support 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 highlighted 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.