September 12, 2014

Riverstone partners Genus

River Stone Farm (Shandong) Co has entered into a strategic partnership with global animal genetics company Genus, in an agreement which will see Genus's first commercial multiplier in China.

The new partnership will see Genus's swine genetics division, Genus PIC, exclusively stock and sustain Riverstone's new swine production project in China. The total sow population is expected to be 24,000.

Riverstone is a joint venture between Black River Capital Partners Food Fund Holdings (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Pipestone System, a leading United States swine management company.

The project comprises four breeding farms in Shandong, which are capable of producing more than 600,000 pigs annually. It also includes a dedicated artificial insemination stud to house sire line boars for commercial swine production and dam line males for great-grandparent and grandparent matings.

The first module of 6,200 pigs will be ready for stocking in the first quarter of 2015, and will produce grandparent and parent gilts for both Genus and Riverstone as well as supplying the market with prime slaughter pigs.

Wei Guo, director, Riverstone, said, "Genus represents the industry leader in porcine genetics and we are excited to be working with Genus in order to achieve the growth opportunities in China. Riverstone's aim is to produce safe pork in an efficient and environmentally-friendly way. Partnering with Genus will enable us to focus on our commercial production to achieve this aim."