May 13, 2008

ACMC to show use of genetically superior pig stock at Fair
 

UK pig breeder ACMC is set to demonstrate at the British Pig and Poultry Fair of how the use of genetically superior pig stock can reduce production costs.

The company tests its sire and dams with the complex Feed Intake Recording Equipment (FIRE) system.

The system is expensive but has a considerable impact on the speed of genetic improvement, according to ACMC's technical director Ed Sutcliffe.

This selection method of incorporating feed recording could improve overall accuracy of selection by 10 percent and increase the improvement rate of feed conversion rate by as much as 60 percent, said Sutcliffe.

"The significance of genetic improvements is that they are 'locked in' to the breeding stock¡¯s make-up so producers can continue to benefit from them," said Sutcliffe.

"Recording feed on dam lines is as important as doing so on sire lines as they contribute just as much to the makeup of the slaughter pig. With high feed prices it is no longer sufficient for dam lines to simply rear high numbers, they must also be efficient pigs to finish," Sutcliffe added.