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Meidam in the Philippines:
Fulfilling the promise of prolificacy
Changing global consumer trends and demands have led many pig genetics companies to develop animals that are efficient and profitable producers. ACMC UK Ltd, one of the leading pig genetics companies in the world, has now made available to the Philippines a new breed of pigs that promises prolificacy and better meat production.
ACMC UK Ltd Executive Chairman, Stephen Curtis, announces the first Philippine production and sales of the highly prolific AC1 F1 Parent Gilts from Wellisa Farm, the first ACMC franchise in the country.
The AC1 F1 is produced by crossing the Meidam – the world’s most advanced purebred GP damline breed, with the Volante Large White GP, a purebred selected primarily for its prolificacy as well as its excellent carcass and conformation and a product of rigorous performance testing.
Wellisa Farms is located in the highly secure Batayan Island of Cebu province. Its owners, Wellington and Rudy Chan Lim, are proud of the island-born performance of the ACMC Meidam GP as it represents a fulfilment of the promise of prolificacy to the local pig industry – the “Meidam effect” finally in the Philippines. Latest performance figures using PIGCOM Pig Management software, ACMC’s own windows-based pig management and recording scheme, show that for the past months, the farm achieved an average of 12.1 piglets born alive (with highs of 16-17 piglets born alive, 11-14 quite common). A six-month interpolation yields an average of 10.0-11 piglets born alive.
The farm’s nucleus stock, all of which are high health status, arrived in two batches in April and August 1005. ACMC provides on-going technical support from the UK, including the analysis of performance test results that are used to identify genetically superior animals which will be retained to produce the next generation of breeding stock. In addition, as part of the package, Wellisa has complete access to PigCom software. Again, data will be analysed at the company’s headquarters in the UK. Furthermore, the Wellissa herd and the UK herd are also linked by GEP (Gene Evaluation Program), another exclusive pig genetics software from ACMC. From this genetic base, the farm will expand into a targeted 100 sow nucleus and 600 sow multiplier unit.
The AC1 F1, the ACMC 2-way cross parent gilt, is a proven performing female as it bears the prolific genetics of the Meidam including more functioning teats, longevity in production and a docile temperament. Wellisa has locally bred the AC1 to adapt to the local climate and environment. The goal is to provide the Filipino pig farmer with a locally bred F1 with excellent prolificacy and adaptability to climate and environmental changes.
Wellisa Farm is also franchised to produce, using an exclusive boar nucleus, the Vantage FC purebred terminal sire.
The Vantage FC selection has focused on lean tissue feed conversion, lean tissue growth rate and muscle depth. Meat quality traits are also included in the selection procedures. The Vantage, with the Meidam and Volante LW completes the ACMC “Tri-Breed” program. This programme is designed to provide maximised heterosis at the slaughter generation level while at the same time maximising uniformity of the slaughter pig.
ACMC UK, the newest and fastest growing pig genetics company in the UK is the exclusive source of the Meidam. Established in 1990, in the heart of British pig country, ACMC is a family-owned pig production company. It is an international operation offering a complete in-house breeding programme designed to create high quality stock. Its worldwide operations include franchises in Romania and Poland with the US-based Smithfields Foods and Elite Swine of Canada.
“The Asian pig industries are growing rapidly and becoming increasingly sophisticated”, commented Stephen Curtis, ACMC Chairman. “The importance of healthy, genetically-advanced, prolific stock for successful production is now well recognised by progressive farmers, who are responding to encouragement by the Philippine government for a national increase in pigmeat output”.
Article in Asian Pork Magazine
December 2006
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