Once again demonstrating its leadership in the area of meat quality research, Genetiporc has announced at the Banff Pork Seminar (Alberta, Canada) the completion of the RN gene eradication process from all its genetic lines. Genetiporc clearly showed the RN gene has an economic impact of more than 14$ US per carcass under the North American context, due to the reduced quality of fresh (colour, pH, drip loss) and processed meat (reduced yield). The eradication of this gene from Genetiporc pig populations will help producers across the Americas enhance meat quality attributes on their commercial hogs and will be beneficial for the entire pig industry. Genetiporc was also the first company world wide committed to eradication of the Halothane gene within all its genetic lines in the mid 80’s. That gene also affects meat quality, producing pale, soft and exudative (PSE) meat. Genetiporc was the first breeding stock company in the world to show the accuracy of the molecular test developed for the Halothane gene (Hal 1843tm) at the University of Toronto in 1991.
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Genetiporc published results on the frequency and impact of the RN gene for the pig industry in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Food Research and Development Centre (FRDC) in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. Recent results from studies carried out by Genetiporc and FRDC confirmed the RN gene is linked with the Hampshire breed. The Hampshire was removed from Genetiporc populations in 1997 after the study with FRDC documented the high prevalence (80%) of the RN gene within that breed. The gene is also absent from all other Genetiporc pig populations under study (Yorkshire, Landrace, Duroc, Large White, Composite Chinese Line). “It’s interesting to see the concern that is building in the industry around the RN gene because when we started this project with FRDC in 1996, nobody else was interested. Many were still in the process of eradicating the Halothane gene. But once we started showing the impact the RN gene was having on the industry, other stakeholders became very interested,” says Daniel Godbout, senior geneticist with Genetiporc.
Genetiporc Inc., is Canada’s largest swine genetics company. Genetiporc’s reputation for the sanitary status of its herd, the prolificacy of its sows, the quality of its meat and its ability to supply large numbers of animals from a single source has put the company in a prominent position on the world stage. Genetiporc is part of Breton Foods Canada which offers a comprehensive program specializing in hog feed, hog production, swine genetics and branded fresh and processed meat products. Its principal markets are Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Brazil.
