Breeding for robustness as the way forward

Breeding strategies can be used to improve pig health. The method is to select individuals with improved response to a specific pathogen challenge – or animals with improved response to a number of diseases. This approach is known as ‘breeding for robustness’. What does that entail? Thriving despite a tough (pathogen) challenge; that sums up the benefits of the breeding strategy revolving around robustness pretty well. Dr Jenelle Dunkelberger, Topigs Norsvin’s geneticist for the United