Waldo-Whiteshire United

Waldo Farms, Inc. the worlds largest Duroc breeder located in DeWitt, Nebraska and Whiteshire Hamroc, LLC the worlds largest Yorkshire breeder located in Albion, Indiana, have formed an alliance to produce and market WALDO Duroc and WALDO Duroc component terminal boars and semen.   Waldo Farms has provided genetics for a jointly operated Duroc and White Duroc nucleus unit in Indiana.  The pigs will be produced and marketed under the Waldo Whiteshire United name.

Waldo and Whiteshire have built their genetic programs through generations of genetic testing, data analysis and selection based on BLUP technology (Herdsman and STAGES), individual animal data and general husbandry.  Both firms continue R & D in product development, meat quality evaluation and molecular genetics applications. Guided by generations of family leadership committed to the pork industry, the strength of both organizations is a consistent, balanced genetic improvement plan.

Both genetic companies have high performing maternal and terminal pure lines.  Additional lines include GGP, GP, Hybrid and composites. The expanded multi-site system will serve production systems of all sizes in the United States and abroad with healthy, productive breeding stock.  Complete genetic consultation and services will continue to be provided to producers and breeding companies

Waldo Farms, Inc. and Whiteshire Hamroc LLC will maintain their independent production sites and genetic improvement programs, while utilizing their combined genetic assets to more effectively serve customers.

 
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Welcome to WALDOnet! Our site has been designed to provide our customers and friends with the latest on WALDO products, customer services and industry ideas. Log on and learn about WALDO genetics, pig health, pig performance and carcass results. Discover common-sense ways to improve the profitability of your operation. Arrange your next delivery of WALDO boars and/or gilts. You can also get in touch with a WALDOai affiliate, read the latest WALDO and pig-industry news, download information and link to key government, university or pork industry sites. 

Return to WALDOnet often. Let us know how Waldo Farms can work with you to make your operation successful. Come for a visit. Stay to learn more about what WALDO Farms has to offer. You can go to the SERVICE page to contact us.

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PIC vs. WALDO Duroc: Carcass Lean Yield

Pig Improvement Company (PIC) genetics have a reputation for lean carcasses. However, it is also general knowledge that PIC pigs lack appetite and durability. And, unless conditions are ideal, their livability, growth and meat quality can also be suspect. Despite this, many producers continue to use PIC sire lines out of concern that other genetics cannot equal their carcass lean. DataShare records from eight pork producers who were exploring their genetic options document the lean yield of the latest PIC Gene Transfer (AI) lines compared to WALDOai Duroc on PIC C22 sows. Pigs were fed balanced, corn-soy diets (no PayLean). Grade and yield data were obtained on 24,942 pigs marketed at a 270.8 lb average. Pigs were marketed in 197 lots averaging 126.6 head each. These results confirm no practical difference in grade and yield premiums when PIC-and WALDO Duroc-sired pigs were marketed. However, there were significant differences in growth and handling qualities that favored WALDO Duroc. All eight producers switched sire-line genetics and are now feeding WALDO Duroc-sired pigs. When it comes to lean carcasses, WALDO Duroc EQUALS the best of PIC! Watch the NEXT issue of the WALDO Newsletter for closeout data (ADG, F/G, Days to Market).

Carcass Lean Yield¹

 
The WALDO Nucleus: Firm Foundation
Closed Herd & Whole-Herd Selection Key Success

Pig performance measurement at Waldo Farms dates back to 1937 when litter weights were first recorded and a simple pig identification system was established. In 1956, a whole-herd testing program was implemented to improve growth and reduce backfat. Since 1960, The Nebraska SPF Association has collected all performance test data. Waldo Farms uses the HerdsmanTM BLUP (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction) program to calculate Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) Indexes. WALDO records have established the value of a closed-herd program by documenting consistent year-over-year improvement in all economic traits. 

A nation-wide Swine Testing and Genetic Evaluation System (STAGES) sponsored by the National Swine Registry (NSR) is also used to monitor the Expected Progeny Difference (EPD=1/2 EBV) and relative rate of genetic improvement of WALDO Duroc, Large White and Landrace. STAGES records confirm the high genetic level of WALDO Genetics. Each year, Waldo Farms performance tests more Durocs than any other breeder or company and is ranked in the top five performance-tested Large White and Landrace herds. 

All genetics programs are not created equal. For example, consider the Duroc NSR-STAGES data in the table below. Nationwide, only 26% of Duroc herds participating in STAGES submitted any growth and backfat test records. The number of herds that implement a whole-herd testing program is even less. Note that only 51% of the sires and 44% of the dams with STAGES maternal records have had their offspring performance tested for growth and backfat. In contrast, the WALDO nucleus is whole-herd tested with 100% of WALDO Duroc sires and dams given the opportunity to contribute tested progeny for BLUP analysis. 

Over the past three decades, most pig genetics suppliers have been obsessed with reducing backfat, despite the known negative correlations with feed intake, growth and durability. In contrast, Waldo Farms implemented a balanced selection program that considers all economic traits (including mothering ability, durability and pork quality). The WALDO nucleus is also HAL-1843tm (PSS-stress) gene free. New selection methods are incorporated into the WALDO selection program as they evolve from genetic, molecular and genomic studies. 

 
WALDO DataShare Now Available

How do pigs with WALDO genetics perform under real-world production conditions? How does the performance, lean yield and economic value of your pigs compare with those from other producers? What management systems can improve pig performance and profitability? WALDO DataShare is designed to answer these questions.  

What is WALDO DataShare? It is a way for WALDO customers and test herds to share their production data with Waldo Farms. Information obtained from this joint data and analysis sharing enables producers to manage their operations more effectively. Waldo Farms uses what is learned to improve WALDO genetics products and services. Records on the reproduction, growth and carcass merit of pigs are submitted on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis. 
 

DataShare Deadlines 

Send in your records TODAY!

WALDO Durocs Dominate STAGES!

West Lafayette, IN - The National Swine Registry (NSR) has released the Winter STAGES Duroc Sire Summary.  The list includes Trait Leaders from the top breeders in the United Sates.  In this STAGES summary, WALDO Duroc genetics dominates the EPD days to 250 and Terminal Sire Index (TSI). WDF9 Kobe, the featured display boar for the Duroc breed at the 2000 World Pork Expo died last year. However, his influence continues through his sons, daughters and their offspring.
 

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Des Moines, IA — The hands-on program “Pork 101” will again be offered this year for pork producers, packers, animal health and food company representatives, merchandisers and all others engaged in the pork value chain.

The Pork Checkoff-funded course emphasizes pork quality from the farm to the end product and the need for cooperation and coordination through the value chain, the announcement said. “Pork quality begins on the farm and must be pursued from the live product through hog and pork plants to marketing and sales at restaurants and retail stores”, explains Dr. David Meisinger, Assistant Vice President for Pork Quality at the National Pork Promotion & Research Board. Pork 101 has been developed by the Pork Board and American Meat Science Assn. and is a three-day course.

It will be held:
March 8-10, 2004 - Iowa State University
Ames IA

April 20-22, 2004 - University of Nebraska
Lincoln NE

May 25-27, 2004 - Texas A&M University
College Station TX

Contact Meisinger at (515) 223-2767 or by email at david.meisinger@porkboard.org

 
More Farmers Are Using Computers and the Internet

The USDA reports that the use of computers on farms grew from 38%in 1997 to 55%in 2000. Twenty-four percent of all farms actively use the Internet as a management tool for their operations. The Internet allows farmers to find new ways to build business partnerships, obtain management information, purchase inputs and sell products. The survey showed that 98% of farm computer owners were using their computers to access information from the Internet. Other areas of expanded usage include communication with other farms by email and on-line record keeping and/or data transfer. You can Download the entire article to get all the details.  Click for entire article
  

Pigs on Wheels

Interstate shipment of early-weaned pigs has become a vital part of U.S. pork production. According to Iowa Department of Agriculture statistics, 12.5 million feeder pigs were imported into the state in 2001. That represents an 11% increase over last year and a 43% gain in three years. Nearly half of all Iowa finished hogs originate outside the state. Most of the imported pigs came from Missouri, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Illinois, Canada, North Carolina and Nebraska.