Pork Markets Today

Meeting the Packer's Needs

Today, several different pork markets exist, and each requires distinct pork attributes. These markets can generally be divided into three segments. First, very lean animals, free of the PSE gene, are required for manufactured pork products or pumped pork. This type of animal has the maximum amount of lean muscle with the least amount of backfat or intramuscular fat. Second, there is the "daily consumption" fresh pork segment. This market requires a high yielding animal, with a moderate amount of backfat and slightly more intramuscular fat, barely visible to the consumer. Finally, there is the white tablecloth or Japanese market, requiring greater intramuscular fat and backfat for juiciness and flavor. Our nucleus lines cover the entire scope of these requirements.

As pork markets have matured, Babcock has recognized that the requirements for each packers’ markets have also become more specific. Some packers require a higher percentage of one carcass type than others. In order to satisfy the demands of these specific markets, Babcock has developed the Genetics Blueprint Program that allows packers to designate specific carcass requirements for specific herds. As an example, a packer that required a higher number of carcasses to meet the needs of a premium fresh pork market designated a certain number of herds to produce this premium pork. The packer determined their carcass requirements, and selected specific herds to produce these animals. Babcock designated an exclusive line of boars for use by these herds.

Under this system, packer representatives work closely with Dr. Jim Schneider, our senior geneticist, using the Genetics Blueprint worksheet to continually fine-tune their specific requirements. These criteria are entered into Babcock’s selection software, and an exclusive animal profile is created. The result of this system is an animal designed specifically by and for each packer, and each packer’s markets.

As consumer demands change, the packer’s criteria also change. The Genetics Blueprint Program is designed to adapt to accomodate these changes. Once the new criteria are determined, Babcock replaces the boars in the boar stud(s). Within 11 months, the new product is moving across the kill floor.

Minimal genetic lag occurs because of our Closed Herd™ System. Genetic improvements and changes can be transferred from the nucleus herd to the commercial herd in as few as ten months. Babcock is the only major genetics supplier able to match each packer’s evolving needs as they occur, with the shortest interval to the kill floor.

While the animals are designed for each packer, the genetic performance traits that are critical to producers, such as feed conversion, growth rate and litter size are, as always, continuously improved to ensure on-going production efficiency. Babcock’s Closed Herd™ System combines least-cost production with profitable