While many components factor into seasonal infertility in swine, for the past several years, Iowa animal scientists have been advancing their research on the livestock malady and zeroing in on its causes, giving the state’s farmers hope for its overall management.

“There is a lot research happening at Iowa State and other places focused on understanding how heat stress and seasonal changes affect reproduction in pigs,” Jason Ross, Iowa State University (ISU) assistant professor of animal science and director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center, told the Spokesman.

“Anestrous, longer wean-to-estrus intervals and reduced farrowing rates are all components of seasonal infertility,” he added. “Understanding how heat stress alters the biological networks that regulate reproduction in pigs is a critical area of...