Swine Genetics Strategic Partnership Launched.

Jul 18, 2013

Donaldson International and Alliance Genetics South Africa Form Strategic Partnership.

Company news release.

Tavistock, Canada, AND Petoria, South Africa, July 17, 2013 – With the help of Donaldson International Inc., Alliance Genetics South Africa (AGSA) has been established and the two companies have formed a strategic partnership to co-operate in sharing Canadian genetics with South Africa.

“Alliance Genetics South Africa came to Canada for our genetics because of our independent third party testing program through the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement, providing unbiased data and our high health status,” says Jim Donaldson of Donaldson International. “We will also be assisting AGSA to market to their customers, comparing genetic selection programs, adapting test protocols for measuring intramuscular fat, and co-operate with the University of Guelph in boar taint research.”

On a recent trip to South Africa, Donaldson gave seminars to AGSA customers and advisors on Canadian genetics. Chris Crump of Ontario Swine Improvement discussed the technologies in measuring intra-muscular fat in pigs and Scott Robinson of Alliance Genetics Canada educated the South Africans on animal health, specifically how to eliminate mycoplasma in herds. AGSA will be building a new AI unit which will have elite AI quality genetics both from Alliance Genetics Canada and AGSA.

Partnership details are currently being finalized. A shipment of high quality Canadian genetics in the form of frozen semen was delivered on April 10^th, 2013 to South Africa, with a second shipment to follow. Next year, Donaldson International will be sending live boars and/or a nucleus herd of purebred Canadian genetics to support the South African herds.

Donaldson International has been shipping high quality swine genetics to over 50 countries around the world since 1979. Jim is a founding member of the Canadian Swine Exporters Association and past president of the Canadian Swine Breeders Association.

Video: Secure Pork Supply Plan | Preparing for the Future | U.S. Pork Producers

Join Jill Brokaw, a third-generation pig farmer and staff member of the National Pork Board, as she dives into the vital role of the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan in preparing the U.S. pork industry for potential foreign animal disease outbreaks. This video is an essential watch for pork producers who are looking to safeguard their operations against the threats of diseases like foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever, and African swine fever.

Why Should Pork Producers Care? An outbreak of foreign animal diseases in the U.S. could lead to severe restrictions and potentially result in industry-wide financial losses estimated between $15 to $100 billion. The SPS Plan is a collective effort to prevent such catastrophic outcomes by enhancing biosecurity, ensuring animal traceability, and promoting effective disease monitoring.

What You'll Learn:

The Importance of Preparedness: Understand why being proactive is crucial for maintaining business continuity during an outbreak. Enhanced Biosecurity Measures: Write a site-specific biosecurity plan that can serve as the first line of defense against potential outbreaks. Animal Disease Traceability: Learn about the significance of tracking animal movement and how acquiring a premises identification number (PIN) and using AgView can facilitate this process. Disease Monitoring: Find out how continuous observation and reporting can keep your herd healthy and disease-free.

Getting Started with SPS: The video breaks down the seemingly daunting task of preparing for a foreign animal disease outbreak into manageable steps. With free resources available at www.securepork.org, including templates and instructions, Jill guides producers on developing a customized plan to enhance their farm's defenses.

Expert Insights: Hear from Dr. Pam Zaabel on collaborating with your herd veterinarian to develop and implement your SPS plan effectively.

Takeaway: The Secure Pork Supply initiative is more than a plan; it's a commitment to the resilience of our food supply and the livelihoods within the pork industry. By embracing these proactive measures, we can collectively enhance our preparedness for foreign animal disease outbreaks.