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Abstract

In the current pig industry, the level of productivity is notorious, providing the offer in the market of high-performance hybrid animals, the result of advances in genetic improvement. Today, modern pig farming aims at the maximum viable piglets / sow / year, but it is known that numerous piglets generate low viability animals (lower birth weight / refuse), not being a favorable resource for pig production. There are also other factors that can influence birth weight and compromise the herd. The purpose of the review is to address the characteristics of piglets with lower birth weight and the factors that interfere with their satisfactory performance until slaughter.