A Saskatchewan-based pig genetics company has taken control of its destiny.
National Pig Development (Canada) Co., whose majority shareholder is the Saskatchewan Crown Investments Corp., announced this week it is now a stand-alone company.
Formerly, it held a franchise from its parent company National Pig Development in Britain. However, in 1995, the parent was bought by PIC, a competitor in the pig genetics business.
In Canada, that resulted in two PIC companies, the original PIC Canada and NPD Canada. Instead of fighting in court, NPD bought its franchise, said NPD president Ed Johnson.
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“So now we are back in the position we were before the spring of 1995. We are in competition again,” he said from Regina.
NPD now has 11 years of exclusive use in Canada of NPD-originated genetics and the right to market around the world, except in the United States.
NPD Canada will invest $1 million in research this year and is establishing relationships with Agriculture Canada and university scientists.
It has about 35 percent of the Canadian market and aims to build to a 40 percent share. Offshore, it has targeted Brazil and other South American countries plus China and Vietnam.
National Pig has facilities in Saskatchewan and a dealership network across Canada.
