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February 5, 2010
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France cites Philippines' potentials for hogs
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Swine raisers in France, currently participating in a livestock and feed exhibit, have described the Philippines as a potentially lucrative market for hogs.
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Isabelle Colin, export manager of pig breeding company ADN-Genetics said the country is a "very interesting market for purebreeds because the race is already being bred here" and "the country is no longer a new market for this swine business."
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Colin said while local firms are no longer new in the business, the Philippines -- as a developing country -- has a huge growth potential that the company can tap.
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She said the hogs that will be imported from France can easily adapt to the tropical climate of the country and that French pigs will "improve their genetic level" making them more productive and resistant to disease.
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ADN, said to be one of the leading hog breeders in Europe, currently exports breeder pigs and semen to Canada, Germany and eastern European countries.
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The company is currently expanding and is looking at potential partners who will import their swine in Asia.
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Getting Filipino partners is likewise the goal of IMV Technologies Group which claims to be world leader in reproduction biotechnologies.
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IMV Asia Director Xavier Mear said the problem facing the swine industry globally is that a lot of countries observe poor practices in artificial insemination, hence increasing the risk of having a "weak swine."
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IMV -- whose expertise lies in the field of assisted reproduction biotechnology through artificial insemination technique and embryo transfer, among others -- is offering to help local farmers produce hogs that have "higher fertility rate."
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He added that IMV has developed a technology that can help reduce contamination during artificial insemination.
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This, Mear said, has been tested in tropical countries where results showed a 5% improvement in hogs' fertility rate.
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Mear also said the need to make pigs more resistant to disease especially the Philippines which have high humidity, making the piglets prone to contamination.
