Hermitage Genetics
Hermitage Terminal Lines – No. 1 for The Traits of Economic Importance ....March 2008
Hermitage Maternal Lines have been developed since 1958, representing almost 50 years intensive selection and testing for reproductive performance traits. The underlying Hermitage Maternal Line breeding programmes and BLUP selection indices have been specifically formulated to ensure the GGP and GP lines are produced with the genetic potential to maximize the number of pigs born and reared in a commercial environment.
Many producers are now opting to exploit this Genetic potential in their own herds by using the ‘Hermitage Closed Herd GGP’ programme. In this system, the herd contains a nucleus of purebred sows (GGP), which are used to produce the replacements for the sow herd. The Hermitage technical team setup and run the BLUP programme for the herd, generating the breeding values and ensuring that the best sows in the herd are selected based on their own performance and the performance of their relatives in the herd and the performance of their relatives in all Hermitage stocked herds worldwide.
A list is then produced each quarter which ranks the sows in the herd according to their ‘Breeding Values’ and in turn a mating selection matrix is produced identifying the best AI boar to use on each GGP sow in the herd to eliminate any inbreeding and maximize the units physical performance and economic returns.
Producers using the Closed herd Programme, significantly reduce their genetic cost per F1 gilt produced, saving over €50 per gilt selected when compared to traditional purchasing of replacement females.
A number of producers who restocked their herds and are currently using the Hermitage Closed Herd BLUP programme are producing over 30 pigs per sow per year.
Hermitage Closed Herd BLUP Programme
- Producing F1 gilts
- Optimise your herds performance
- Direct link to Hermitages BLUP selection programme
- Maximise your herd biosecurity
- Produce uniform, high performing herd replacements
- Direct access to Hermitages genetic and production team
- Maximise genetic potential of F1 Hybrid gilts
- Significantly increase the accuracy of selection each generation
