Asia - JSR plays key role 'growing' Vietnamese market

JSR has set up a franchise for JSR Genetics stock in Vietnam - Asia's second largest pig producer after China - in partnership with Korea's largest pig breeding company Darby Genetics. "JSR is delighted to have signed an agreement with such a large and well-established organisation. The deal provides us with a fantastic opportunity to accelerate our progress in Asia and to further reaffirm the international standing of the UK's genetics," said JSR chairman Tim Rymer. JSR has exported 500 grandparent stock, which produce parent stock gilts and Duroc Terminal boars, to Vietnam to allow Darby to open its second pig farm in the country. Vietnam is ripe for opportunities to invest in pig farming according to the director of Darby CJ Genetics, Chan Hoi Park. The country is home to 25 million pigs and Vietnam's per-capita pork consumption reached 20kg in 2005. "During the past six years, Vietnam's pig industry has grown at an annual rate of 12%, making it an ideal place for investment in pig farming," said Mr Park. "In order to expand we recognised a need for highly productive stock and, after looking at the market, we decided that JSR was the best company to supply the genetics - and the service - that our investment required. The JSR team offered the best combination of effective science and excellent logistical and customer support." "We've been working with JSR for 10 years in Korea and they have always supplied superior pig genetics, as well as on-going support and consultancy to help us get the best from its genetic programme and to ensure that the resulting pigs suit the Korean market," added Darby CJ Genetics' Il-joo Lee. Located on Ben Cat district in the Binh Duong province, about 60km north of Ho Chi Minh City, Darby CJ Genetics began operations in Vietnam in October 2005. And some gilts and boars have already been supplied to Hanpork Breeding Co, just 5km from Darby CJ's farm. Hanpork has sites for breeding and finishing pigs. The breeding farm, which occupies a 5.5-ha plot with 11 sheds, has 1,000 sows that produce 25-30kg piglets for the finishing unit. The finishing unit is leased, has eight sheds and grows the piglets to 90-100kg. "We're impressed by JSR's breeding programme, which produces stock that performs well and suits our particular market requirements," explains Chan Hoi Park. It now takes 165-170 days to finish the pigs at a market weight of around 90kg, considerably less time in comparison to the previous genetic stock. "And, since the finishing farm produces between 1,000 and 1,200 pigs each month, using JSR grandparent stock represents a considerable cost saving to the business," he adds.