One of the Asia Pacific region’s largest agribusiness conglomerates, Charoen Pokphand Philippines (CP), has taken delivery of 1,500 genetically-improved AC1 gilts from the locally-based subsidiary of the British pig breeding and genetics company, ACMC.
The gilts are being used to supply CP’s contract finisher farms with the deal being confirmed following “rigorous scrutiny” and a visit by CP Philippines’ president Attapol Boonsith to the breeding company’s Wellisa Farms nucleus unit. This is located on the remote island of Bantayan in Cebu Province.
“Biosecurity and the link to ACMC’s UK genetic programme was a big factor,” said the managing director of ACMC’s Philippines operation, Dr Danny Silbor. “The farm maintains one combined nucleus and multiplication unit in Mojon village and a second multiplication unit at a separate location on the island. They have a combined total of 1,000 genetically-improved sows supplying its internal breeding requirements as well as outside commercial operations.”
The company said that with a population of 100m people and a fast-growing economy, Philippines’ pork consumption is increasing, despite the fact that pork is already the dominant meat in the country, accounting for over 60% of total livestock production.