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Near 900 high genetic merit breeding pigs have flown to China in a 747 specially chartered by JSR Genetics, the leading UK pig genetics company.
The animals were on route to Hubei Jinxu JSR Breeding Limited, the joint venture between JSR and Chinese pig producers Hubei COFCo, to create a brand new Nucleus herd.
“We are delighted be establishing a nucleus herd here in the Hubei Province,” says Paul Anderson, JSR’s International Sales Director. “A strong presence here is very important to us. China is home to half the world’s pigs and pork consumption is still growing. JSR is certainly is targeting China as a major growth area in the coming years. The Hubei Province is centrally located with an excellent distribution network, so success here is crucial.”
The animals are the latest major consignment of JSR pigs sent to China and follow a delivery in March 2011 of over 800 JSR Genepacker GGP Gilts and JSR Geneconverter GGP Boars to stock a new breeding Nucleus farm with the Guangzhou Animal Husbandry Company (GZAH), based in Guangzhou province.
This latest delivery of 885 animals for Hubei Jinxu JSR comprises of JSR Genepacker 1 and 2 dam lines and JSR Geneconverter 500 and 700 sire lines. It will enable the nucleus herd to breed not only Genepacker 90 gilts – known for their consistent lifetime performance – but establish new markets by using the Geneconverter 700 boar to increase carcase yields.
The pigs were accompanied at every stage of their 12 hour journey by Darren Farnsworth, JSR’s Export Co-ordinator. “We were able to quickly load and unload 28 double-decker pallets that we could then despatch onto lorries straight to the new nucleus farm. Once there, the pigs all quickly settled into their 45 day quarantine period. A lot of work, a lot of detail, goes into an international delivery like this – from export licences and health checks to flights and quarantines - but the end result is well worth it. The whole operation went very smoothly. ”
Darren was assisted by Yolanda Hou who, having joined JSR as part of a government scheme to employ top Chinese graduates, is now their International Key Account Manager in China. Yolanda liaised with officials including Chinese State vet official Dr. Tan who monitored the UK quarantine, ensuring compliance with Chinese health regulations.
The new 900 sow nucleus unit – based on a 66 hectare site – will be run by General Manager Mr Zhang and a strong, enthusiastic team of around 30 staff.
The team has undergone two periods of training with JSR in the UK, covering every aspect of production, and also has the added advantage using the Mandarin version of ‘JSR Select’, a flexible database of genetic traits, designed to optimize genetic improvement.
“Being able to use such advanced technology to manage our breeding programmes is an enormous advantage in terms of accelerating genetic development,” says Mr Zhang. “The fact that there is now a Mandarin version is even better for us and typical of the strong technical support that JSR provides.”
As well as English and Mandarin, JSR Select is now also available in Russian and Spanish, reflecting the increasingly strong global scope of the JSR business.
“Taking deliveries of this scale in our stride, having International Account Managers such as Yolanda to improve communications, technical support in the right language – this all demonstrates that our capability, and focus, is truly international,” concludes Dr Grant Walling, Managing Director of JSR Genetics, “and the benefits work both ways. Our breeding programmes here in the UK – such as the one that has recently produced the ‘faster finishing’ Geneconverter 800m boar line - are constantly enriched by our global experience.”
July 20, 2012 - JSR Genetics Ltd
