AcuFast Vantage: The Road to Productivity
At AcuFast, we focus on creating realized genetic value, built on three critical pillars: our genetic portfolio, commercial measurement system, and technology platform. Today, we’ll explore the core of our business – our genetic portfolio, specifically the AcuFast Vantage.
Our journey towards achieving realized genetic value began decades ago with the establishment of our base germplasm, building the foundation of our business. Since then, we’ve been committed to continuous improvement, leading to the development of the AcuFast Vantage.
The AcuFast Vantage (Large White x Landrace) has its roots in Spiritwood, Saskatchewan, where founder Dr. Harold Fast and his wife Marjie started the first AcuFast (formerly Fast Genetics) herd in 1982. In an era when biosecurity and high health status were not common terms on North American farms, Dr. Fast recognized the significant production advantages that could be realized with a disease-free herd.
Originating from high-quality germplasm sourced from Ireland and England, these females have thrived in the high-health environments of our nucleus farms in northern Saskatchewan.
Key Milestones:
- 1982: Original populations imported from Ireland; piglets C-sectioned into a new, high-health status barn.
- 1990s: Introduction of semen from Canadian AI studs and strategic new introductions via C-sections.
- 2002: First introduction of French Large White genetics by embryo transfer.
- 2009: New definition of litter size introduced for selection, focusing on piglet survival.
- 2022: STgenetics, parent company of Fast Genetics, acquires Acuity and its genetic portfolio.
- 2023: Launch of AcuFast (Acuity + Fast Genetics) with a strong genetic portfolio, including AcuFast Vantage.
Selection Emphasis
From the beginning, Dr. Fast emphasized balance, resulting in females known for being prolific mothers with a significant favorable influence on wean-to-finish traits. This selection has produced a docile and robust female line that has stood the test of time.
The AcuFast Vantage is designed to address current industry challenges such as health issues, labor shortages, production mandates, and market volatility. Our focus areas include:
- Sustainable Litter Size: Our females produce litters with improved quality, quantity, and size of weaned pigs, offering a sustainable productivity advantage.
- Sustained Productivity: Key traits such as docility, longevity, and robustness ensure continued productivity throughout their lifespans.
- Full System Value: Our genetics enhance growth composition and efficiency, adding value across the production system.
AcuFast continues to invest in perfecting our genetic lines to remain competitive and prepared for future challenges.
- Expanded Nucleus Population: Establishment of a maternal population in the USA and a connected maternal boar stud network.
- Technological Enhancements: Lactation feed intake monitors in all farrowing rooms across our nucleus farms for data capture.
- Maternal Commercial Test Herd (MTH): Rigorous testing and validation to ensure our females excel where it matters most, our customer’s herds.
Our genetic portfolio is the core pillar of our realized value, interacting with all other pillars:
- The CTH’s performance data and the technology platform’s analytical capabilities synergize to facilitate continuous improvement of the genetic portfolio.
- Crossbred performance data from the CTH informs purebred selection, enhancing overall genetic progress.
- The technology platform enables intense data collection and analysis, directly informing and improving the genetic portfolio.
At AcuFast, our goal is to ensure our customers achieve their genetic potential with a competitive product prepared to face today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. We are committed to addressing the practical needs of the industry with a high-performing product like the AcuFast Vantage.
The AcuFast Vantage represents our dedication to providing maternal genetics that deliver real, measurable value in commercial settings. By combining a rich heritage of high health and balanced traits with ongoing investment in genetic improvement, we’re not just breeding sows – we’re breeding success for our partners.
