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The 2014 PIC Symposium which was held on 19th and 20th of October, in the city of Xi’an, China, was acclaimed a great success by the more than 250 representatives from top Chinese producers and integrators who attended. An impressive array of expert speakers from both PIC and the Chinese industry shared their latest approaches and new ideas about genetic improvement, disease control, wean to finish management, important traits measurement, AI boar stud construction & management and pig production models.
Jerry Thompson, COO for Asia, opened the conference with a look at the business of swine genetic improvement and the important role played by PIC's comprehensive technical service offering. In addressing the question "Why PIC?" his answer can be summarized: ”Customers from all over the world choose us because they can be more profitable with PIC than anybody else.”
Dr. David Casey, PIC Global Genetic Services Director, extended the horizon to 2025 explaining the process and key points of genetic improvement, changing marketplace demands, emerging technologies and how to ensure genetic delivery with a prediction of exceptional gains in the future. Dr Casey also shared his opinion about how to measure the economically important traits in pig production. PIC is dedicated to improving the performance of the breeding herds on both PIC and customers’ farms by continually capturing and using accurate data.
Brian Melody, Technical Services Director for PIC North America, urged greater focus on unlocking the genetic potential of the pig after weaning. His team has landed on 3 key areas to optimize performance during the wean-finish period: Feed Availability and Feeder Design, Air Quality and Temperature, Water Availability and Quality. Chinese producers used to consider PSY as the most important factor, but now more attention needs to be paid to wean-finish management.
Zhenfang Wu, General Manager of Wens Company, offered his advice for the future of swine production in China, explaining that Chinese pig corporations will have to position their business either as a professional breeding company or commercial pig producer.
Professor Hanchun Yang, of the China Agriculture University, addressed the perennially topical issue of pig health in China, citing the prevalence of a number of economically damaging diseases. Strict biosecurity was promoted as a major weapon in the battle against infection: put simply but effectively – "Keep your pigs away from diseases!"
An engaging series of presentations followed from PIC China customers, describing their different – but invariably positive – experiences. Chongxing Ji, Vice President of agribusiness giant NEW HOPE LIUHE, introduced a new concept of pig production called CLUSTER, which involves almost all producer segments in the pork supply chain. Xihui Wei, Vice President of JIANGSU LIHUA ANIMAL HUSBANDRY CO., LTD, explained their ”Company+Base+Farmers” cooperation model dedicated to food safety, better biosecurity, less excretion and land occupation. Qingsen Chen, Genetic Director of YANGXIANG revealed the design and management of YANGXIANG’s Boar Stud with emphasizing the value of genetics and biosecurity.
PIC China Operations Director, Catalin Lapuste closed the event with a review of PIC’s effort over the past thirty years in China, and pledged to "Never Stop Improving" the genetic value created for PIC's customers in China and the world-class technical services team committed to the realization of that value. Thanking the audience he concluded, "PIC is indeed fortunate to have you as our customers and we are dedicated to working with you to produce the best quality meat for the Chinese people at the lowest cost of production."
