Jenny Patterson spoke at the 2025 Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop (RDSTW) on October 8th, 2025, an annual event hosted by Alberta Pork.
It was another successful meeting this year, with over 165 local producers and farm team members in attendance to hear presentations from industry experts and to network with those in the local industry.
Jenny’s topic was “The Fertility Quadrant” and it was highlighted in the Prairie Hog Country Magazine in their December 2025 edition. Her summary is below.
Set gilts up for Success
Developed in collaboration with Dr. Sergio Canavate from PIC NA, the “Fertility Quadrant” is a concept that integrates the four critical traits of gilt development.
- Age at puberty
- Estrus at service
- 1st service weight
- 1st service age
It is important to note that while specific recommendations may vary by genetic supplier, the underlying principles remain the same, to support gilt development to maximize sow lifetime productivity.
These traits are not four independent targets, rather, they interact with each other to influence a gilt’s future productivity and retention. The concept also encourages producers to shift the focus from short term results, such as first litter size, toward a broader outcome of long-term productivity and retention over the lifetime of a female.
The “Fertility Quadrant” concept recognizes that gilt development is also about achieving balance between breeding gilts with the optimal mix of these targets while managing the reality of meeting breeding targets and the challenges and/or opportunities within any given farm and production system. It requires on-farm decision making in achieving these targets, while understanding the tradeoffs when one or more benchmarks are not met.
Ultimately, we believe by setting gilts up for success early, they will have a long and productive life in your herd.
https://www.prairiehogcountry.com/2025/12/03/alberta-pork-hosts-red-deer-swine-technology-workshop/
Jennifer Patterson