Genus Group: A pioneer in the global breeding stock industry

Genus plc, a British company founded in 1933, has grown into one of the leaders in the global breeding stock industry. As a multinational company focused on animal genetic improvement, Genus has achieved outstanding achievements in the field of breeding pigs and cattle through its subsidiaries PIC (Pig Improvement Company) and ABS (Accelerated Breeding Services). This article will take a deep look at the history of the Genus Group, its business scope, technological innovations, and its contribution to the future development of agriculture.

Historical evolution: from traditional animal husbandry to modern genetic technology

The story of Genus began in 1933, when it was a small agricultural service company that provided basic livestock management support to farmers. With the advancement of technology and changes in market demand, Genus gradually transformed into a company focused on animal genetics research. This transformation not only helped the company gain a foothold in the fiercely competitive market, but also established its leadership in the global breeding stock industry.

In the mid-20th century, Genus began to get involved in the field of cattle improvement and established the ABS subsidiary in 1958. ABS quickly became the world's leading cattle breeding company, providing high-quality germplasm resources for the dairy and beef industries. Then, in 1962, Genus acquired PIC, further expanding its influence in the field of pig breeding. PIC soon developed into one of the largest pig breeding companies in the world, providing advanced genetic solutions for the pig industry.

After entering the 21st century, Genus continued to increase its investment in research and development, especially in gene editing and precision breeding technologies. These innovations not only improve the production performance of animals, but also significantly improve their health and adaptability, thus making important contributions to the sustainable development of global agriculture.

Core business: PIC and ABS dual-wheel drive

Genus' core business is supported by two pillars - PIC and ABS, which are leading subsidiaries in the breeding pig and cattle sectors respectively.

PIC: The world's leading pig breeding company

PIC is one of the most important subsidiaries of Genus Group and a benchmark company in the global pig breeding industry. Since its establishment, PIC has been committed to improving the production efficiency and economic benefits of pig breeding through scientific breeding and technological innovation. Its products and services cover many countries and regions around the world, providing high-quality germplasm resources and technical support for the pig farming industry.

PIC's success is due to its unique breeding system and strict quality control standards. The company uses multi-generation pedigree records and data analysis methods to ensure that each generation of pigs can achieve continuous improvements in growth rate, feed conversion rate, reproductive capacity and disease resistance. In addition, PIC also actively applies genomic selection technology to make the breeding process more accurate and efficient.

In addition to providing high-quality breeding pigs, PIC also provides customers with comprehensive technical services, including farm design, feeding management, disease prevention and control, etc. This all-round support helps customers achieve higher production efficiency and lower cost investment.

ABS: A leader in the cattle breeding industry

ABS is another important subsidiary of Genus, focusing on the research and development of cattle breeding and reproduction technology. As one of the largest cattle breeding companies in the world, ABS provides a wide range of germplasm resources and advanced reproduction solutions for the dairy and beef industries.

ABS's breeding program is customer-oriented and focuses on improving the production performance and economic benefits of cattle. For example, in dairy cattle breeding, ABS focuses on key indicators such as milk production, milk fat percentage and protein content; while in beef cattle breeding, it places more emphasis on factors such as growth rate, carcass quality and meat flavor. By continuously optimizing breeding goals, ABS has successfully cultivated a series of high-yield and high-efficiency breeding cattle varieties.

In recent years, ABS has also vigorously promoted embryo transfer and artificial insemination technology to help customers achieve genetic improvement goals more quickly. The application of these technologies not only improves the utilization rate of breeding cattle, but also reduces breeding costs and enhances competitiveness.

Technological innovation: promoting sustainable agricultural development

As a company driven by technological innovation, Genus is committed to exploring cutting-edge technologies to solve the challenges facing global agriculture. Here are some highlights of Genus’ technological innovation:

Genomic selection technology

Genomic selection technology is a core technology that Genus has focused on developing in recent years. By analyzing the whole genome information of animals, scientists can more accurately predict their production performance and genetic potential, thereby achieving more efficient breeding decisions. Compared with traditional phenotypic selection, genomic selection technology has higher accuracy and faster speed, and can achieve ideal breeding results in a shorter time.

Currently, Genus has widely applied genomic selection technology in the breeding programs of PIC and ABS. This technology not only improves the production performance of breeding pigs and cattle, but also significantly improves their health and adaptability, providing strong support for the sustainable development of global agriculture.

Gene Editing Technology

Gene editing technology is another important research direction of Genus. Through tools such as CRISPR-Cas9, scientists can precisely modify animal genes to give them specific excellent traits. For example, Genus is studying how to enhance animals' disease resistance, reduce the use of antibiotics, and reduce environmental pollution through gene editing technology.

Although gene editing technology is still in its development stage, its potential value has been widely recognized. Genus hopes to bring revolutionary changes to global agriculture through this technology, helping farmers cope with major challenges such as climate change, resource shortages and food security.

Data-driven smart agriculture

With the rise of big data and artificial intelligence technologies, Genus has also begun to apply them to agricultural production. By collecting and analyzing massive amounts of animal health, growth and environmental data, the company can better understand the needs and behavior patterns of animals, thereby formulating more scientific and reasonable management plans.

For example, in PIC's pig farms, sensors and cameras are used to monitor the pigs' body temperature, activity level and diet in real time. After processing, these data can be used to detect abnormalities in a timely manner and take corresponding measures, thereby effectively preventing the spread of diseases and improving production efficiency. Similar technologies are also used in ABS's breeding process of breeding cattle to help customers achieve more refined management.

Social responsibility: Promoting sustainable development of global agriculture

As a responsible company, Genus is aware of its important role in promoting sustainable agriculture around the world. To this end, the company has developed a number of strategic initiatives to reduce environmental impact, improve animal welfare and promote social equity.

Environmental Protection

Genus is committed to reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment through technological innovation. For example, the company has developed low-emission pig and cattle breeds that can help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption. In addition, Genus is actively involved in international cooperation projects, sharing best practices and research results to jointly address global climate change issues.

Animal Welfare

Animal welfare is one of the key areas of focus for Genus. The company believes that healthy animals can not only provide better production performance, but also improve the overall farming efficiency. Therefore, Genus pays special attention to the health and comfort of animals during the breeding process, and strives to cultivate breeds with strong adaptability and disease resistance.

At the same time, Genus also encourages customers to adopt scientific feeding and management methods to ensure that animals are well cared for during their growth. This people-oriented concept not only wins the trust of customers, but also sets a good example for the development of the industry.

Social Responsibility

As a multinational company, Genus is well aware of its important position in the global agricultural value chain. To this end, the company actively fulfills its social responsibilities and helps small farmers improve their production capacity and increase their income sources through training and technical support. In addition, Genus also participates in a number of public welfare activities, provides education and medical assistance to poor areas, and contributes to building a harmonious society.

Future Outlook: Leading New Trends in the Breeding Industry

Looking ahead, Genus will continue to uphold the concept of innovation-driven development, actively explore new technologies and new models, and inject more vitality into the sustainable development of global agriculture. Specifically, the company will focus on promoting the following aspects:

• Deepen genome research : further explore the potential value of animal genomes and develop more new varieties with excellent traits.
• Expand international markets : Increase investment in emerging markets and help more countries and regions improve their agricultural technology.
• Strengthen social responsibility : Continue to practice the concept of green development and promote the transformation of agriculture towards a low-carbon and environmentally friendly direction.
• Strengthen cooperation and exchanges : Carry out extensive cooperation with scientific research institutions, universities and peer enterprises to jointly overcome technical difficulties and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

In short, Genus Group has become a leader in the global breeding stock industry with its profound technical accumulation and keen market insight. In the future, we have reason to believe that this company will continue to lead the industry trend and create a better life for mankind.

If you want to know more about Genus, please visit its official website: www.genusplc.com .