Norsvin opens new boar test station with CT technology

11th of March 2008 was a significant day for modern pig breeding. Together with partners and friends from Europe and America, Norsvin celebrated the opening of Norsvin Delta. Norsvin Delta, located close to the Olympic city of Lillehammer, Norway, is the name of Norsvin’s new boar test station. 3,500 boars will be tested annually at Norsvin Delta, all of which will end the test with more than 1,200 internal pictures each, providing Norsvin with detailed knowledge of each selection candidates meat, bone and fat content.

Why is this event worth celebrating? Because with the increase of test capacity with 40 % and the implementation of computer tomography (CT) in the ongoing breeding work, Norsvin predicts an annual increase in genetic improvement of 30 % for Norsvin terminal lines and 17 % for Norsvin maternal lines. This increase will benefit pig producers all over the world, depending on Norsvin for world class genetics. So what could be more natural than celebrating with those who will first see the results of Norsvin Delta?

At Norsvin Delta the power of CT, for carcass and meat quality measures, is combined with FIRE system feeders capturing growth and feed efficiency data. Today Norsvin is the only genetic company in the world utilizing CT-technology in this way. All 3 500 boars being tested at Norsvin Delta, will end the test going through the CT-scanner. And after they wake up following the scan, they will either be terminated or selected to enter Norsvin’s breeding system. But the path to the semen station is indeed a narrow path. From the 3 500 boars tested annually at Norsvin Delta, less than 3 % are selected as Elite boars – contributing to Norsvin nucleus herds in Scandinavia, Europe and the U.S.

After a hectic period of construction, organising and testing, Norsvin found the time to invite more than 200 guests from near and far to celebrate the opening of Norsvin Delta. It was a proud day for Norsvin, marking the start of the new test regime. But for those involved in the testing at Norsvin Delta, and the scientists at Norsvin, 11th of March was the day when the real job started. Shortly after the celebration ended, the first boars were moved to Norsvin Delta and a few days thereafter the CT was up and running. No other breeding company has such precise data for meat and carcass quality on the selection candidate itself. Now it the time to deliver the results predicted – and maybe then some. The future starts today!