Abstract: The methods provided herein relate to swine production. Specifically the instant invention provides methods for the production of terminal parent animals (i.e. terminal sires and terminal dams) for use in swine production herds. Also provided are methods for quickly and efficiently introducing and/or fixing one or more desirable traits or alleles in a swine herd. Alternatively, the present methods may be employed to eliminate a particular undesirable trait or gene. The invention also provides for herds that have been developed using any of the methods described herein. The invention also provides for the use of embryo transfer, including markerassisted embryo transfer to facilitate the transfer of genetic material, particularly when it is desirable to maintain the specific-pathogen free status of a herd.