Since the New Year, shipments to The Netherlands have continued to grow growth, despite a 20 per cent reduction in the Dutch national pig herd, while sales to Germany have risen by over 300 per cent.

Healthy increases have also been recorded in Belgium, Italy and Spain, with one Spanish company taking 150 of JSR's special Duroc sire line boars in a single order. This line is used for the production of high-quality fresh Spanish 'table meat' sold through specialist butchers.

"Customers who tried different genetics during the restrictions imposed by the British foot-and-mouth disease outbreak have returned to us. However, the over-riding influence has been the consistently good performance of JSR stock as published in the report of the highly-respected and independent Warentest ('Haus Düsse') carried out in Germany," commented Brian Edwards, JSR Genetics International business director.

The strengthening of the euro against the pound sterling has also removed a restraining influence, he pointed out.

Source: JSR Genetics - 21st April 2004