Big Sky Farms started a “30 Pigs Group” in late 2001 to improve replacement gilt performance, and to target 30 pigs weaned per mated female per year. The group has conducted on-farm trials, and held training workshops to improve farrowing performance. Big Sky Farms also implemented an enhanced genetic improvement system in their 650 sow nucleus herd using individual estimated breeding values (EBV) based on a best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) system. Currently Big Sky’s BLUP program is based on the number of pigs born and born alive, the percentage of pigs weaned, and age at first mating, with strong emphasis on the number of pigs born. Big Sky Farms also implemented a prolific program in their multiplication herd in the fall of 2003. Big Sky’s prolific program, preferentially selects gilts from litters of 13+ total born. To date, an increase in 0.15 total born and 1.5% units in farrowing rate (91 to 92.5%) has been achieved. Hi-prolific semen, used in 50% of sows at the multiplication level, has increased total born from 10.9 to 11.8, and farrowing rate from 81% to 88%. Emphasis has also been placed on selection of replacement gilts with a minimum weight of 115 kg upon entry into commercial units, and a target entry to service interval of about 32 days. Another system (The Danish system) weans 30+ pigs per sow per year and believes that several key components contribute to this achievement. These include the use of hyperprolific dam lines; breeding gilts at an older age (270+ days) and a heavier weight (160+ kg); paying close attention to the sow at farrowing to minimize stillbirths, and assist where necessary; split-suckle to ensure all piglets receive sufficient colostrums; extend gilt lactation length to 30 to 35 days by weaning their litter at ~20 days and fostering on a litter of 5 to 7 day old pigs; Feed sows a high-density diet (6% added fat and 0.85% digestible lysine) three times daily to optimize feed intake and finally, good management and production teams that are committed to the system’s goals. Although a few systems are achieving 30 weaned pigs per sow per year, on average the industry is still a long way from this goal.