As part of a joint venture with a Chinese company, Hypor Canada, one of the world's leading suppliers of swine genetics, recently flew 816 breeding pigs into Qingdao, China.

Hypor Canada recently flew 800 pigs into China.

"We have sold 3,000 pigs there over the past five years and this is a big step towards establishing our own herds in China, and the local distribution of pigs," said Marc Broadbent, general manager of Hypor China.

"Effectively, we can start to grow a business in China now like the business we have in Canada," he added.

The logistics of pushing through such a large shipment are incredible. And Hypor says that it is only possible through the professionalism and diligence of people managing the pigs from the barns in Canada, their transportation via road and air, all the way to their new home in China. All 816 pigs arrived alive and in good health.

On the ground in China, production manager Geert Rutten, together with farm manager Wenbo Zhang, made preparations to move the high-health animals to the farm. Fifteen flat bed trucks were hired to transport the pigs to the farm. The trucks were cleaned and disinfected, and the truck drivers as well were disinfected with showers and new clothing.

The Boeing 747 filled with Hypor breeders arrived on October 16, unloading started promptly and the team worked until all the pigs were unloaded, watered and fed. The Hypor JV pigs are now resting in their new home. We expect to start production of Hypor offspring in China by the middle of December.

In recent years, the Chinese swine market has surged. In response, Hypor began selling its breeding pigs to establish a market. This shipmentis the first of two to stock two joint-venture projects between Hypor and Chinese companies.