Tom Wise

Dr Wise works in two primary areas consisting of puberty and sow longevity. Delayed puberty and late return to estrus after weaning are considered problems in the swine industry. Physiological, nutritional, metabolic and endocrine data are collected on females as phenotypic markers for a genomic analysis. Puberty and return to estrus after weaning are complex traits involving numerous genes, thus a genomic approach is a productive way to alleviate these areas of inefficiency. These studies will yield quantitative trait loci associated with early puberty and return to estrus after weaning. Genetic markers related to age at puberty and return to estrus after weaning will help reduce these inefficiencies in swine production.