April 25, 2007

ACMC to supply breeding stock to UK's major hog processor

Yorkshire-based genetics company ACMC Ltd, has won the nod of Bowes of Norfolk Ltd, one of UK's largest farming and pig-processing enterprises, to supply 1, 660 AC1 gilts over the next 12 months.

The AC1, containing Chinese Meishan genes, is renowned for its prolificacy as Bowes were also impressed by the stock's growth efficiency and carcass quality. Charles Bowes, the company's director for pigs said these traits that can be managed on both indoor and outdoor units.

Once the stock is integrated and in full production it will have the capability of producing more 35,000 finished pigs annually.

Bowes of Norfolk, is an integrated pig business with its headquarters at Watton. Its pig farms totalled 4,000 acres and employ over 700 people and processes around 10,500 pigs a week. It also supplies pork products to major retailers including Tesco and produces four ranges sold under brand names "Finest", "Outdoor Bred", "Standard" and "Value" labels. It also exports pork products to Europe, Russia, South Africa and the Far East.