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.
Data in Action: Industry Collaborations
Jennifer Patterson recently partnered with Sergio Canavate from PIC to do a deep-dive into industry data, focusing on the critical role of setting gilts up right for their lifetime and how this will impact future sow lifetime productivity. This project highlights the value of industry partnerships and our commitment to turning data into actionable insights. You can learn more about this across various PIC media platforms.
2026 Bentley Lecture at the Midwest Animal Science Meeting
Jennifer Patterson was honored to be selected to give the 2026 Bentley Lecture at the Midwest Animal Science Meeting in Omaha Nebraska, March 8-11th, 2026. This lectureship is in honor of Dr. Orville Bentley. The ASAS Midwest Section and ADSA Midwestern Branch held the first lectureship in 2013. Jennifer was delighted to be added to the list of presenters. In addition, she gave this as part of the Billy Day Symposium, a biennial event that honors the contributions of Dr. Billy Day (University of Missouri) in the field of reproductive physiology in animals. Dr. Day was also known for taking that knowledge and developing management techniques to increase reproductive efficiency. Gentec shares that thinking – applying science into practice is foundational to our work.
https://www.asas.org/foundation/funds/fund-detail/orville-bentley-appreciation-club
https://www.asas.org/foundation/funds/fund-detail/billy-n.-day-appreciation-club
The Midwest Meeting was a great success. We learned a lot – from lots of great science presented there with concurrent sessions making it difficult to catch everything! As always, the conversations and connections made between and outside the sessions with colleagues and old friends is an invaluable part of attending.
