Duroc Hampshire Landrace Yorkshire www.americasbestgenetics.com

What is America s Best Genetics? America s Best Genetics (ABG) is a subsidiary of the National Swine Registry comprised of membership with the most progressive purebred genetic system, but it is more than that. ABG is a complete genetic package offered to customers of the American purebred industry. Not only are members of ABG some of the world s premier GGP herds, but they also include leading A.I. and exporting companies. In addition, the technical expertise provided by NSR staff strives to deliver an unparalleled genetic services package to the international clientele of the American purebred industry. 2 America s Best Genetics

The National Swine Registry not only serves as the breed registry for the American Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace, and Yorkshire breeds, but provides its membership with the most modern and comprehensive genetic program available. In addition, its membership and their international customers are serviced through the National Swine Registry s subsidiary, America s Best Genetics. Specific services provided to its membership: Pedigree verification Comprehensive genetic program Swine Testing and Genetic Evaluation System (STAGES ) DNA marker and whole-genome testing and analysis Technical services Genetic Advisory Committee academic faculty representing Iowa State University Michigan State University North Carolina State University Purdue University International genetic evaluation International market development Marketing and promotion Customer technical service Coordination of international ABG Certificates of Registry The National Swine Registry is able to offer its members and their customers a level of technical services and support like never before. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact the staff of the National Swine Registry via any of the methods below: NATIONAL SWINE REGISTRY 2639 Yeager Road West Lafayette, IN 47906 : 765.463.3594 Fax: 765.497.2959 ABG@nationalswine.com www.americasbestgenetics.com www.americasbestgenetics.com 3

Purebred Terminal Sires Duroc The World s Terminal Sire The standard for growth, robustness, and muscle quality -0.05-0.08-0.11-0.14-0.17-0.20 0.0-1.0-2.0-3.0-4.0-5.0-6.0-7.0-8.0 Feed Efficiency Days to 250 lbs. All Duroc populations within America s Best Genetics are subject to comprehensive performance testing programs for growth, efficiency, composition and meat quality. Within the America s Best Genetics global GGP Duroc population, the top 50% of all boars tested in 2011 averaged: 149 days to 113.4 kg and 12.1 mm 10th rib backfat depth. 110 105 100 95 90 85 80 75 Terminal Sire Index 4 America s Best Genetics

Purebred Terminal Sires Hampshire America s Meat & Muscle Sire Muscling and leanness in an efficient package 112 110 108 106 104 102 100 98 96 94 92 Terminal Sire Index When used as a terminal sire, Hampshires offer the most effective method to increase primal yield, which leads to an increased premium in packer grids. When incorporated into a commercial sow base Hampshires have a proven record of increased durability and robustness, while contributing to superior carcass composition of the commercial market hog. www.americasbestgenetics.com 5

Purebred Maternal Breeds Foundation of the World s Breeding Females Landrace World s Maternal Breed Maximum maternal efficiency Number Born Alive 21-Day Litter Weight Swine producers seeking to produce a commercial breeding female with superior maternal ability through superb fertility, prolificacy, and milking ability must utilize Landrace as a component breed. Research has shown it is not only the number of pigs weaned, but the quality of those pigs that means profit to swine producers: the American Landrace is at the top in terms of milking ability. In 2011, the top 50% of purebred Landrace females in the America s Best Genetics global GGP population averaged: 12.2 pigs born alive, 10.5 pigs weaned per litter, and a 68.5 kg 21-day litter weaning weight. Number Weaned 6 America s Best Genetics

Purebred Maternal Breeds Foundation of the World s Breeding Females Yorkshire America s Complete Maternal Breed Superior lifetime productivity with added growth and leanness capability Number Born Alive Not only does the American Yorkshire excel in maternal efficiency via superior lifetime sow productivity and excellent prolificacy, but it also provides superior growth and efficiency in the commercial market hogs. Maternal Line Index In 2011, the top 50% of purebred Yorkshire females in the America s Best Genetics global GGP population averaged: 12.3 pigs born alive, 10.5 pigs weaned per litter, and a 68.3 kg 21-day litter weaning weight. Days to 250 lbs. www.americasbestgenetics.com 7

U.S. U.S. U.S. U.S. Duroc Hampshire Landrace Yorkshire 275,045 growth records 129,228 maternal records 111,687 growth records 101,876 maternal records 147,345 growth records 86,513 maternal records 497,268 growth records 324,989 maternal records Genetics Information Technology Support Performance Information Yorkshire Landrace Duroc F1 Female Hampshire Market Hogs 8 America s Best Genetics

Proven. Progressive. Purebreds. A performance pedigree from the NSR is more than a piece of paper it s a symbol of integrity. It documents a product backed by superior genetics and predictable performance. It s the life-blood of an entire industry, making it possible for you to have the leadership, research programs, services and support the membership and their customers have from the National Swine Registry. If you purchase seedstock for your production system, you owe it to yourself to ask for the performance pedigree. Why not take advantage of more than 100 years of genetic selection and performance documentation? The only NSR approved Certificate of Registry www.americasbestgenetics.com 9

Swine Testing and Genetic Evaluation System No genetic program is complete without a successful genetic evaluation system STAGES meets this need for the American purebred nucleus. STAGES has been developed and maintained for over 25 years by National Swine Registry staff geneticists in cooperation with leading swine geneticists at universities such as Iowa State University, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University and Purdue University. The STAGES genetic system is designed to provide the tools necessary for members of America s Best Genetics and their customers to achieve optimal genetic gain in a number of economically important traits. The traits included in the multi-trait genetic analysis include: Carcass and Efficiency Traits: Backfat Days to 113.4 kg Kilograms of Lean Feed Efficiency Meat Quality Traits: Color Minolta L* Marbling Score 24-hour ph Maternal Efficiency Traits Number Born Alive Number Weaned 21 Day Litter Weaning Weight Litter Birth Weight Wean to Estrus Interval Bio-economic Indexes: Sow Productivity Index (SPI) o Number Born Alive o Number Weaned o 21 Day Litter Weaning Weight Maternal Line Index (MLI) o Number Born Alive o Number Weaned o 21 Day Litter Weaning Weight o Days to 113.4 kg o Feed Efficiency Terminal Sire Index (TSI) o Days to 113.4 kg o Feed Efficiency 10 America s Best Genetics

Continual Progress To ensure users of STAGES are adapting to new technologies and an ever changing market, NSR staff and members of the Genetic Advisory Committee are constantly working to improve STAGES. This includes: Updates to genetic models and economic weights o Periodically due to changes in the market place Global genetic analysis o Beginning in 2009, database includes cooperative herds throughout the world New trait research o Addition of crossbred data to the STAGES database Crossbred data collection and breeding values for all 15 current STAGES traits, in addition to: Lifetime productivity 3-parity total born alive 3-parity stayability STAGES by the numbers 1985 STAGES was first introduced to the pork industry 15 Individual EPDs and indexes calculated nightly in STAGES for use by breeders and commercial pork producers 260 nightly STAGES genetic predictions per year (BLUP estimations are run every business day for the latest in genetic-improvement tools.) 1,700,000 Animal records submitted by NSR breeders for BLUP analysis 110 + Countries accessing the STAGES website in the past five years www.americasbestgenetics.com 11

Four breeds. Yorkshire Landrace Duroc F1 Female Hampshire Market Hogs One focus. Your success. 2639 Yeager Road, West Lafayette, IN 47906 765.463.3594 765.497.2959 fax www.nationalswine.com