New Gene Selections for Japan Counterpart
Hypor has embarked on a project with its Japanese counterpart to bring in new genes from the Hypor worldwide gene pool and increase the future genetic potential in the Japanese breeding population. This will give Hypor Japan customers access to a high quality product selected according to their specific market needs.
Hypor is a leader amongst pig breeding companies in the Japanese market. The nucleus population in Japan has an SPF (Specific pathogen free)-level and there are strict import rules for entering new breeding stock into the Japanese market.
The Japanese meat market is a specific niche market. There is a special focus on meat quality and taste with high attention for intramuscular fat and marbling. Hypor has designed a specific BLUP (Best Linear Unbiased Predictions)-index for the Japanese market and has implemented this index in their selection program. Since the early nineties this index has helped Hypor Japan meet the specific needs of their market. In the boar lines it has resulted in the Japanese AB-boar, which has an excellent reputation in the Japanese market.
Within the Hypor breeding program, worldwide linkage of breeding population and exchanging the best genes is paramount, says Benny van Haandel, Chief R&D officer for Hypor. With the Japanese market, normal semen exchange is difficult due to very strict health regulations. Hypor had discussed the need and possibilities for gene transfer to Japan and decided that an SPF-project was the solution.
A delegation from Hypor Japan travelled to the Netherlands to investigate the possibilities for bringing improved genes into Japan. “Japanese health requirements mean that all pigs brought into the current Nucleus population in Japan need to have SPF-status. Therefore, a decision was made to perform SPF C-section operations to produce disease free piglets,” said Geert Rutten, Hypor’s international sales manager.
The objective was to produce 8 SPF C-line litters and 4 SPF D-line litters. For each line two farms were selected for the project: One of them had preference and the other one was used as a backup. All sows were synchronised so would be 113 days pregnant on the scheduled dates for operation. Operations were planned on 3 consecutive days. Also, an extensive screening protocol for PRRS was put in place.
On November 2, 3 and 4 the C-sections were done as planned at the farms of first choice of origin. The results of the operations were excellent: A total of 13 sows were operated: 9 C-line and 4 D-line sows. In total 180 pigs were born alive, which means an average of 13.9 piglets per sow.
This project for the Japanese market shows once more that Hypor can offer a customized tailor made breeding solution through the EuriBLUP program to meet specific market requirements. It also proves that Hypor is capable of organizing effective linkages between high health status nucleus barns worldwide to strengthen their program.
Judith Maas was appointed as head of the project team that was formed for this project. Other members Wouter Deley, Konrad Broekman, Tom van Hecke and Peter Wagenaars respectively took responsibility for veterinarian issues, genetic issues and production and selection on the project.
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