This time next year, the first generation of hogs with prolific Chinese genetics are expected
to be in prairie hog barns.
Genex Swine Group Inc., formerly known as National Pig Development (Canada) Co. Ltd.,
has been working at integrating the Meishan genetics from a Chinese breed of hogs for two
decades.
Breeding stock containing the genetics is in the final stage of development, said Spish
Legowski, the company’s key account manager for Western Canada.
The new line of genetics will have the potential to increase sow production to 28 to 30 hogs
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federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
per sow per year, said Legowski. Current Genex lines can produce 26 hogs per sow per
year, he said, while the national average is 22 per sow per year.
Legowski was at Manitoba Hog and Poultry Days Dec. 6-7 plugging Genex’s newest
dealership, a Manitoba partnership with Hytek.
Hytek, formerly known as the Vielfaure-Janzen group, is a family-owned production
company in La Broquerie, Man. According to Successful Farming magazine, Hytek is the
34th largest hog producer in North America, with 20,000 sows, and the fifth largest in
Canada.
Hytek is building a new multiplier barn that will grow the first generation of Meishan hogs.
The company has long used Genex breeding stock. Now, it will also sell it to hog producers
outside its production system.
“We found there was a need to have retail sales of high quality breeding stock in Manitoba
to both system-type operations and independent producers,” said Lloyd Wiebe, director of
operations for Genex Manitoba.
Elite Swine Inc., the largest hog producer in the country, also sells Genex breeding stock to
its Manitoba producers, said Legowski. He hopes the new arrangement with Hytek will
increase Genex sales.
Genex now controls 25 percent of the Canadian swine genetics market, said Legowski. But
the company hopes to increase its share to 40 percent in eight years.
Legowski expects a tough fight to gain market share, pointing to the dozen or so other hog
genetics company also plying their wares at the trade show.
But he said the Meishan genetics will also help the company’s reputation for having strong
research capabilities.
An impending downturn in the price cycle and continuing difficulties in siting hog barns
may be hurdles to the company’s expansion.
“It’s a very emotional subject at the moment, very emotional,” said Legowski, referring to
local battles across the Prairies over proposed hog barn sites.
