IGL has been exporting elite breeding swine worldwide for over 20 years and is one of Canada’s leading exporters of purebred Yorkshire, Landrace and Duroc animals.
IGL has the highest health status. IGL has developed a complete nucleus herd and multiplication system including an AI centre on Prince Edward Island. A 13 km bridge separates our operations from the rest of Canada, guaranteeing the superior health of our animals. IGL swine are leading performers on the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement Program (CCSI). We export only the highest health and top genetic performing animals, and we have established nucleus herds in Europe and Latin America.
Carcass quality is one of the most important aspects today in the production of lean swine meat. Our hogs are being tested for loin eyesize and also for lean meat and muscle depth with excellent results.
Our animals have large litters, grow fast and efficiently convert feed to meat. IGL pigs have performed extremely well in all areas of the world including Asia, Russia, Europe and Latin America. Our customers continue to work with IGL – proof that we supply a complete package of healthy, high quality genetics, service and a commitment to ensuring top production results for our customers.
Breeds
- Canada’s most popular breed
- Canadian Yorkshire crossed with the Canadian Landrace produces the very popular and highly prolific Canadian F1 female (Y x L) used on commercial farms
- The leanest genetics in the world
- The fastest growing pigs with fewer days to market
- Known for their body length, excellent mothering ability and very good temperament
- Excellent feed conversion
- One of the most prolific breeds in Canada
- Litters are large at birth and the piglets are extra heavy at weaning due to sow milking ability
- When crossed with the Canadian Yorkshire, the best commercial sow is produced
- Genetically selected for strong feet and legs to make it durable to stand on slatted floors
- Excellent feed conversion
- Used as a terminal sire line to produce market hogs, which results in consistent high quality carcasses
- Progeny have a high percentage of lean meat
- Recognized for its intra-muscular fat which helps to improve meat flavour
- Efficient in converting feed to meat and has an excellent average daily gain
- Produces one of the best carcasses available
- Most popular terminal sire line used in the Canadian breeding program
Performance
Performance testing first began in Canada in 1928 and the Canadian National Swine Improvement Program evolved rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1985, Canada developed the first national genetic swine improvement program using “Best Linear Unbiased Prediction” (BLUP) animal model technology. This program is now used worldwide.
The Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement (CCSI) carries out national genetic evaluations for growth rate, back fat, litter size and meat and carcass quality. It integrates information on each animal tested and its relatives and computes Estimated Breeding Values, or EBVs. In Canada EBVs are compared across herds and this allows for clear and unbiased identification of the top breeding stock in the country.
Health
The Canadian government places huge importance on animal health and IGL shares this commitment to producing healthy stock. Carcass quality is one of the most important aspects today in the production of lean swine meat. Our hogs are being tested for loin eye size and also for lean meat and muscle depth.
With its reputation for animal health research excellence, Canada has been able to keep out serious swine diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, swine brucellosis, hog cholera, vesicular disease and pseudorabies.
| Disease | Pathogen | Monitoring | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enzootic Pneumonia | Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae |
|
Negative |
| Pleuropneumonia |
|
|
|
| PRRS | PRRS virus |
|
|
| TGE /PRCV | TGE virus |
|
|
| Mange | Sarcoptes scabie var suis | Clinical 12 x year | Negative |
| Swine Dysentery | Brachyspira hyodysenteriae | Clinical 12 x year | Negative |
| Progressive Atrophic Rhinitis | Pasteurella Multocida |
|
|