Worth over €400,000, the order was won against fierce competition from other international breeding companies. It is JSR's largest ever export order to that country.

The Welvaarts family purchased 1840 Genepacker 90 gilts and 60 dam line purebred Large White gilts for restocking their two farms to establish specific pathogen free (SPF) herds near Boxtel in the south of the country.

Health was a prime consideration and the family used a consultant veterinarian from the University of Utrecht to establish the health status of the supplying herd before agreeing the purchase.

The Welvaarts business sell weaners into Germany and were impressed by JSR's good results in the Federal Republic's Haus Düsse (Waren) test. This product evaluation procedure showed that, at €120.4, JSR pigs gave a higher margin from breeding and feeding than those of any other company taking part in the test.

The reduction in pig population in the south of The Netherlands has provided an opportunity to set up high-health herds in situations of relative isolation.

"This delivery confirms our belief that good genetics and high health status is the right combination to ensure least cost production in today's climate," commented Brian Edwards, managing director of JSR Genetics' sister company, JSR Healthbred.

Source: JSR Genetics - 14th Jan 2003