February 11, 2008

Pig farm sues US company for tainted semen samples

A pork farm in Columbia, Stumpf Pork Inc. has filed suit against Minnesota-based Genetiporc USA Inc. which it claims breached contract for the supply of semen which contained bacteria or other abnormalities.

The company claimed that there was a substantial decline in its productivity since the end of 2004 on account of bacteria contained in its supply of boar semen which has subsequently decreased farrowing rates.

The semen led to an increase in non-productive sow days, decreased pregnancy rates and decreased the overall health of Stumpf Pork's herd, the defendant said.

Although Genetiporc was earlier notified by the defendant, it advised that the problems were unrelated to the boar semen.

Stumpf then attempted to rectify the situation by re-inseminating the sows and gilts, buying replacement animals and selling the under-producing/non-productive sows and gilts at lower than the market rate.

When the problems persisted, the company called in veterinarians who later  concluded these problems were caused by a bacteria that was contained in the boar semen supplied, said Stumpf.

The company is now seeking over US$375,000 in compensatory damages plus punitive damages for wilful and wanton conduct.

In addition, a claim of negligence states that the defendant was allegedly aware that the semen was defective.