Dr. Thomas E. Socha

Largest Duroc Breeder Most Litters recorded each Year More Genetic Diversity than other Duroc

Breeders Continually out perform other Duroc

breeders▪ National Barrow show▪ Other NPPC tests

Six A.I. Centers use only Waldo Duroc or Duroc Cross terminal sires

Use pooled semen for commercial producers

Approximately 1,000 boars per yearLarge producers use only Waldo

boars in their private A. I. centers

Several National Tests have proven Waldo’s are the best

Best for Growth RateBest for Feed EfficiencyBest at National Barrow Show based

on the performance of their OffspringHave been Tested against other

Durocs, PIC, Danbred and other companies

Herds Originated from Caesarean derived pigs

Herd additions are by lab or A.I. onlyNo live pigs are brought into the

Nucleus herdsContinual Blood Testing and

Slaughter inspections

Growth RateFeed EfficiencyCarcass Lean PercentageMeat QualityBody ConformationContinual Selection for Economically

Important Traits

Duroc are fastest growing of all pigs

York and Landrace are the fastest growing of York and Landrace in the U.S. Based on data from National Swine

Registry

Fewer Days for getting to Market weight

From 30kg to Market – Groups average daily gains are .8 - .9 kg / day

Reduce the amount of Finisher Space Needed At .6kg per day you need space for 121 days At .8kg per day you need space for 91 days

Results from Rapid Lean Growth Growth Rate and Leanness are related to

Efficiency by 30% Saving 10% in Feed Usage can result in

90rmb per pig or 810-900rmb per litter This is worth more than getting 2 more

pigs per litter Best way to DECREASE production costs

Presently most pigs are at 3.0 feed conversion Waldo pigs can be 2.7 – 2.8 conversion Save .3kg of feed for each kg of pig weight 100 kg pig will save 30 kg of feed At 3rmb per kg of feed (3 X 30 = 90rmb) Each litter has 9-10 pigs (810 – 900rmb / litter) 2 extra pigs / litter 350rmb (175rmb / pig) Improved feed efficiency is more important than

increasing litter size

By the U.S. system Waldo Pigs average 56 – 60 % lean This is at 130-140 kg

This is considered the ideal lean percentage for commercial pigs Pigs that are too lean cause problems in

skinning and in having thin bellies

Started testing 1992High pH ValuesHigh Intramuscular Fat PercentageGood Color Scores (Visual & Minolta)Thick Belly Walls that are FirmExcellent Meat Flavor

Proper feet and leg structure for longevity

Higher percent of high value cuts Loin, Ham and Belly

Ability to grow fast and stay lean at heavier weight which may become more important in China than what is considered today

Growth rate, Leanness, and litter size Have proven Continual Genetic

improvement over the last twenty years Customers can be assured that the

Genetics they get in the future will be improved above the current Genetics

Changes made in the selection techniques over time will reflect what is best for the swine industry

Many factors are used to produce the best pigs

Waldo pigs in China will follow the same procedures as those used in the U.S.

Many of the procedures have been used for over 40 years in the U.S.

Data collected on over 95% of all pigs raised on the farm

Growth rate and backfat -1960Litter traits added 1980Loin size added 1992

Need to test as Many pigs as possible to find the very BEST

Methods must be as easy as possible to help get the job done Could be testing 300 pigs per week At 60 pigs/ hour – 5hours per week

Need to Adjust all Records to a Standard Backfat at 100kg Days to 100kg Loin size at 100kg Litter weaning weights at 21 or 28 Days

The Most Important item in a Selection program is MAKING GENETIC improvement

A Consistent program must be followed over time

When Methods of Evaluation, testing procedures and Indexes are decided, they should not change for at least 5 years

Re-evaluation of all procedures is required every 5-10 years

Boars

Gilts – Top 25%

+1 +2 +3 +4

-4 -3 -2 -1

mean

Growth- heritability = .35 Days to market - standard deviation = 10 days Feed efficiency

Leanness – heritability = .50 Backfat – standard deviation = 2.0 mm Loin eye size

Reproduction – heritability = .20 Number of pigs born and raised – standard deviation =

2.0 pigs

Days to market 1979-160 days to 100 kg 2009-148 days to 115 kg About 1 day per year improvement

Backfat 1979-20mm at 100 kg 2009-14mm at 115 kg About 0.3 mm decrease per year

Requires Labor and DedicationLitter Birth weightsNumber Born Alive21 Day litter weightsNumber at 21 DaysWeight, Backfat, Loin Size at about

140-150 daysMeat Quality Traits

Sow Productivity Index (SPI) In Herdsman program (sow index) Litter birth weight Number born alive 21 day litter weight Survival at 21 daysUsed for evaluating and culling sows

Terminal Breeds – used for sire side Growth rate 50% Leanness 30% Litter traits 20% (SPI values)

Maternal Breeds – Used for female side Litter Traits 40% (SPI values) Growth rate 40% Leanness 20%

Selection Keeping the best animals▪ Boars▪ Gilts

Culling Sell poorest animals▪ Performance of Offspring▪ Reproduction of females

Rank each sex by their breed index after testing - most important part of selection

Determine how many of each sex must be selected

Evaluate 200% of needed boars-phenotype If we need 2, we select the top 4 to evaluate

Evaluate 150% of needed gilts-phenotype If we need 20, we select the top 30 to evaluate

Length of body Loin Width Levelness of the top Levelness of rump Width of hams

Too large can affect the ability to move or to decrease longevity in breeding system

Too small can reduce overall leanness and decrease high quality meat cuts

Depth of chest

Genetic Change = Selection intensity X heritability X standard deviation

Change per Year = Genetic Change / generation interval Age of parents when replacements are

born

Ideally the generation interval should be about 1.50 -1.75 years

We need to make genetic progress, so we need to turn generations as quickly as possible

Boars should generally be used for 9 – 12 months

Females should generally be used to produce 2 -3 litters

If we keep the same animals around for three years we make no progress during that time

We expect the next generation to be better than the last if we are selecting properly

Cull boars based on breeding percentage, offspring performance and feet and legs

Females should be culled based upon SPI

values and for injury problems Should cull 20% of each group weaned Each female will farrow 2.4 times / year This will mean culling 50% per year

Breeder herd progress

Buyer herd

Generations of Breeding

One generation behind

Maternal Effects Litter size Milking Ability York and Landrace

Terminal Effects Growth Rate Feed Efficiency Duroc is the Best

Advantages of crossbred pigs Heterosis effects – greatest for traits

with lower heritabilitiesTwo breed gilts

One extra pig born – Y=11.9, L=11.8; then Y X L = 11.85 + 1 =12.85

Three breed market hogs 100% heterosis = 7 days faster to

market

If all replacements come from Nucleus herd

Maternal traits Must produce Must raise pigs

Culling 15% in each group Annual culling about 35-40%

Rations need to have all essential ingredients Protein Energy Vitamins Minerals

Testing of PigsAll Pigs have performance dataTested at 100 kg (120-130 kg)GrowthBack fatLoin eye areaUltra sound equipment

Aloka 500

Mr. Fu, owner of Liuma-Waldo JV farm at Beijing

Need five or six different rations Starter feed N1 (10 – 15 kg) N2 (15 – 30 kg) F1 (30 – 70 kg) F2 (70 – 100 kg)

Feed Full Feed (ad-lib) until 120kg

Limit Feed from 120 kg to breeding 2.5 kg per day Want gilts to gain 450 grams per day

Increase feed two weeks before breeding Flushing effect to improve litter size

Limit feed from breeding to 100days 2.5 kg per day

Feed 0 kg on day they farrow

Bring up to full feed York and Landrace – about 5 days▪ Increase 1.5 kg per day

Duroc – about 7 days▪ Increase 1.0 kg per day

Weight loss in Lactation- 18 – 20 kg

Protein

Milk

Body

Reproduction

Farrowing House Fill in one week

Nursery Fill in 1 – 2 weeks Can be from 2 farrowing rooms

Finisher Fill with 1 – 2 weeks ages

Must circulate and change air

Sow Housing And Finishing Cool Season – use natural ventilation Hot Season – use tunnel ventilation with

cool cells

Farrowing and Nursery Use multiple inlets with fan exhaust Could have cool cell for hot weather