After more than 15 years of development, The Maschhoffs LLC announced that it will now offer its proprietary, production-focused swine genetics via a new stand-alone business: Acuity.

In 2003, Maschhoffs chief executive officer Bradley Wolter began exploring opportunities to create a portfolio of swine genetic solutions aimed at meeting the increasing needs of a pig production system.

This pursuit of swine genetics built for commercial performance has culminated in the Acuity brand of genetics, the company said.

“Acuity grew from a need to build a genetic platform with commercial performance at its core,” Wolter said. “This genetic program has been a key part of The Maschhoffs’ success. Through the Acuity brand, we are now ready to partner with other pork producers who desire this same level of production-focused genetic performance.”

From the start, Acuity will provide a number of genetic resources, including the Acuity Duroc terminal line. Years of testing data confirm the Acuity Duroc’s high level of performance in a commercial system, the company said.

“In 2014, we developed our commercial test herd. This is the cornerstone of our genetic improvement program and allows us to verify individual performance from the boar stud all the way to the packing plant,” Acuity president Clint Schwab said. “This rapidly growing commercial data stream allows a detailed systems-based view of genetic performance in a standard commercial environment, where it matters. Ultimately, it provides real-time data to back up Acuity’s claims of important financial drivers such as fertility, survival, carcass yield and feed efficiency.”

Maschhoffs vice president of health and operations Jay Miller added that some of the more nuanced production characteristics of Acuity genetics help drive The Maschhoffs’ success.

“Our production team is confident they have a pig that performs in the key areas that drive profitability,” Miller said. “Many genetics companies focus solely on the macro drivers of profitability. With Acuity genetics, the macro drivers are there, but we have the added benefits of more refined production characteristics that drive performance. For example, Acuity pigs get up on feed quickly after weaning. Survivability is good, and finisher groups are uniform.”

Miller and his team also pointed to the contribution of a maternal program designed to deliver integrated value. “The Acuity platform has resulted in a pig with higher yields, which is appreciated by our packer customers,” Miller said. “What’s different is how the genetic solutions are created and deployed. Acuity continuously strives to get more out of their genetics, and their solutions are backed by a wealth of research that’s been conducted in a commercial environment.”

Wolter noted, “Today, every producer is looking at the cost side of the equation — particularly in light of the current industry economic environment. That’s where The Maschhoffs has been able to generate an advantage. We have developed a pig that creates a cost advantage for a commercial system. Now, through Acuity, we are seeking long-term partners within the industry who share our passion for a platform of swine genetics developed by commercial producers for commercial producers.”

The Maschhoffs is a hog production company headquartered in Carlyle, Ill., with more than 100 years of hog production experience. It is one of the largest family-owned hog producer networks in North America, with 180,000 sows and market hog production sites in seven states.