Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2010
Total milk yield of sows is positively correlated with litter size (Bonsma and Oosthuizen, 1935; Wells, Beeson and Brady, 1940; Smith, 1952; Allen and Lasley, 1960) even though the amount of milk obtained by each pig decreases with increasing litter size. Positive correlations between sow milk yield and the creep feed consumption of her litter and between weaning weight and milk production have been reported by Bonsma and Oosthuizen (1935), and by Allen and Lasley (1960). Braude (1964) has comprehensively reviewed the literature on the associations between litter size, birth weight and weaning weight. Ward, Rempel and Enfield (1964) reported a positive correlation between weaning weight and post-weaning growth rate in swine.