Commercial boar development and management: a review of strategies

While boars constitute a relatively small portion (less than 0.005%) of the total swine herd, they have significant genetic influence on the swine population. An individual boar has the potential to sire thousands of offspring every year, yet when it comes to science-based recommendations for boar development from weaning to puberty, there is little in the way of recommendations. Similarly, the management and nutritional recommendations of today's boar population are based on studies that may not be relevant to current genetics or based on recommendations for gilts and sows. Historically with rapid genetic turnover in boar studs there has been little pressure to produce research in this area. However, with boar studs reporting increasing incidence of lameness and health related removals, rising developmental costs, and a need to maintain herd fertility it has created opportunities to increase the scientific understanding of boar development and management. In this literature review, we aim to overview development and management of commercial boars in the United States and highlight what is understood in the way of science-based research.