North America has been unable to capture the true production potential of superior dam-lines. This can be attributed to public environment concerns and welfare issues. Environmental monitoring processes, more environmentally sound methods of production, and welfare practices are going to offset the cost of production. Producers also need to find the correct balance between pig quality and number of weaned pigs in order to break the myth that simply more weaned is better. There is a “push” concept of breeding herd management, where a constant influx of quality gilts stabilizes the parity structure of the breeding herd. The ultimate goal of the hyper-prolific sow is to obtain quality litters with low variability. Genetic improvement has predicted an extra half a pig per litter per year, which has not been realized as of yet. There are two probably reasons: 1) Lack of appropriate management of dam-line females (rather than improving reproductive performance to make up for any economic loss, producers will tend to increase throughput in the finisher stage as a simpler fix); and 2) Changes in lean tissue growth rates in dam-line females (terminal pigs are getting increased lean growth, and this trend is present to at least some degree in replacement gilts). The problem with this is that it may have an effect on the onset of the sexual maturation. Weaning-to-estrus interval has always been a problem in production systems. Feed restriction at any time during lactation can increase this time, as can inadequate suckling. This same restriction in feed can lead to a significant reduction in ovulation rate and a reduction in embryo survival and development for the subsequent breeding. Collectively, these lactation management follies can compromise even these hyper-prolific dams.