NORSVIN SELECTION TEAM
Magnus Haandlykken and Lars Terje Bogevik, Norsvin February 11, 2014.
History
Optimal selection of boars and sows in the Norsvin populations (Landrace/Duroc/Yorkshire) is
important to get as fast genetic improvement as possible due to the current breeding goal and the
EBV’s estimated through the main defined traits and their correlated traits.
The Norsvin Yorkshire population has played an important role in the LY gilt production in the US market more than 10 years
as a component to the Norsvin Landrace
Since 2006 the Gencont program was introduced in the boar selection by Norsvin Landrace and
Norsvin Duroc nucleus populations in Norway. Norsvin is using the theory of Optimal Contribution
when controlling inbreeding. The program Gencont is used weekly to calculate the average
inbreeding coefficient of the populations. The aim is to have maximum genetic progress (∆G) keeping
the change in inbreeding (∆F) on a desired level.
In the daily selection work in the nucleus herds in Norway (gilt and sow selection) and also to keep
tested boars at Norsvin Delta the Selection Value is used to rank and compare the selection
candidates. The Selection Value is composed as 75% multiplied into Total Breeding Value (EBV) plus
25% multiplied into Relationship Value (the certain pig’s average relationship compared to all active
pigs in the population).
In the Norsvin breeding populations abroad the Total Breeding Value (EBV) is used, not the Selection
Value.
Three genetic technicians whom all have contributed as the link between Norway and USA. From left Lars Terje Bogevik
stayed one year in Minnesota from September 2012 to August 2013 working full time at Norsvin USA, Arild Tronhus was in
the Norsvin board as the elected employee and Hans Trøstheim was the first Norsvin employee in Norsvin staying long term
first quarter 2004 at the Cheyenne nucleus in South Dakota.
Norsvin has the two last decades had their breeding populations represented in foreign markets as it
started in Sweden (AP) and Lithuania (Norsvin Lietuva) in the early 1990’s, and then later in USA
(Norsvin USA) in 2002, Finland (FinnPig) in 2005 and Spain (Batallè) in 2008.
In 2007 Norsvin received several concerns from the markets (USA, Finland and Sweden) both to teat
quality and exterior traits. The selection rates (number of culled after selection of replacement gilts
into herds and boars into boar studs) were fair too high because of hardships due to structure and
robustness. This resulted in a workshop at Norsvin in November 2007 where both Kim Tarvonen from
FinnPig and Darwin Tilstra were participating together with the Norwegian offtest technicians,
exterior scorers at Norsvin Delta and part of the R&D team. The main objective was to discuss the
biggest challenges mainly because of the environmental differences to raise and run Norsvin breeds
in a rough and demanding environment in larger units abroad compared to the main standards for
pig production in Norway.
As a result from this, The Selection Team (Darwin Tilstra, Helge Prestrud, Lars Terje Bogevik, Oluf
Maurud, Arve Sunde and Magnus Haandlykken) was established early 2008 to focus on the balance
between the EBV selection and the functionality/robustness/exterior development in the Norsvin
genetics. The main purpose was to establish a group of persons covering all the areas in the selection
in the Norsvin system and report back their experiences back to the Norsvin administration.
The persons in the team in 2008
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Magnus Haandlykken (coordinator and at that moment in charge of the boar selection
theoretically and leading the field testing in Norway).
Oluf Maurud (manager at Norsvin Delta and responsible for the daily boar selection there)
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Lars Terje Bogevik (genetic technician at the breeding herds in East/Southern part of Norway
and long term experience being working at a big Landrace multiplier)
Helge Prestrud (manager at the boar stud in Norway)
Arve Sunde (long term experience as manager at a Landrace nucleus herd in Norway and
been the best proven nucleus herd for decades)
Darwin Tilstra (genetic improvement manager in charge of the boar selection and gilt/sow
selection by Norsvin breeds in the US market and long term experience in the pig production
in US)
Selection Team visiting Christensen Farms (CF) in December 2008. First row from left: Lars Terje Bogevik, Oluf
Maurud and Magnus Haandlykken. Second row from left: Norm Malecek (CF), Helge K. Prestrud, Arve Sunde
and Darwin Tilstra.
The main objectives defined by the Selection Team in 2008
- carry out the boar selection as optimal as possible taking into consideration both genetic level
(EBV/Selection Value) and functionality (exterior, teat quality, durability) both in the Norwegian
domestic market and in foreign collaborating markets
- carry out the boar selection as optimal as possible taking into consideration markets demanding
specific customized profiles (traits) and develop tools to rank the boars for specific traits (customized
indexes) both in the Norwegian domestic market and in foreign collaborating markets
- carry out the sow/gilt selection as optimal as possible developing tools and sharing knowledge
between the herdsmen and back to Norsvin Breeding Department
- develop existing exterior evaluation systems both in offtest and at station test (boars)
- communicate information/observations back to the Norsvin Breeding Board (Avlsraadet)
Darwin Tilstra at Norsvin Delta, September 2008 participating at the Selection Team’s first meeting
The first priorities
Especially, the traits standing under, rigid pasterns hind legs and motorics were frequently discussed
when the group had meetings/training sessions in 2008. This combined with Bjarne Holm’s long term
stay in US made Norsvin to run quite efficient and convincing processes to improve the
implementation of Norsvin genetics into US market. This resulted in a trip to US in December 2008
involving the Selection Team and Bjarne Holm. The main purpose was to visit the two first
Powerhouses as clients to Norsvin (Christensen Farms and Maschhoff’s/TML) and Norsvin’s own
nucleus herd Cheyenne. They challenged Norsvin to improve the structure of the pigs as they were
satisfied by the performance of the production and prolificacy trait areas, but very disappointed
about their experience in the exterior traits as their culling rates were fair too high both at boar and
gilt side. This made a kick-off to the necessary processes to be run in Norsvin since then. It was a
question to quit cooperation or continue the cooperation to Norsvin.
Customized indexes
Norsvin started to use customized indexes in close cooperation with Norsvin USA for purebred lines
in 2008. This as a result of concerns in exterior/robustness traits especially defined by two critical
traits: standing under (C1) and straight/rigid hind leg pasterns (C2) by Norsvin Landrace.
The C3-index was developed in cooperation with Maschhoff’s in mid 2008 by Norsvin Landrace and
evaluated by the Selection Team December 2008. They wanted an alternative to the total EBV in
their selection at their herd more suited for the traits of importance for their market. There were
some customized indexes designed for LD-boar terminal sire selection at the introduction of Norsvin
genetics into US market in 2003, but these quitted after the stop of LD-boar production in 2012.
The C5-index was introduced mid 2012 by Norsvin Duroc. This is a specific hog index paying attention
to the major fattener pig traits in US. The main purpose is to make the Norsvin Duroc as a more
competitive pure terminal sire or as a component of a crossbred terminal sire. Important major traits
are daily gain and feed efficiency.
Main activities
Norsvin has been through some processes and staff changes internally the last years and the
Selection Team has not met frequently as they did the first years. But the communication between
the different key persons of selection has improved a lot since then:
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Darwin, Helge and Magnus are cooperating close to select the best donor boars from Norsvin
boar stud into the breeding herds in US (Cheyenne and CMS). When Darwin is visiting
Norway, him and Helge are examining the boars at the boar stud and pre-select boars for the
Pentagon and Capitol Hill rooms at the Norsvin boar stud. Darwin brings back important
information and knowledge back to the Norsvin USA team (Lance and Darwin in the selection
and Darwin is the key person back to the Sales Team)
Anne Mette Nøkleholm, Øystein Rognstad and Kjersti Wold at Delta have been the
successors for Oluf, and the two first ones are working as technicians and are the responsible
persons for the detailed exterior scoring of all the Duroc and Landrace boars through Delta.
They are also examining (watching the development in the exterior) the pre-selected boars
before they are selected by Gencont into the boar stud quarantine. Kjersti the manager at
Delta substituting Oluf and is responsible for the Gencont selection since 2013 as Magnus’
successor. Magnus, Erling Sehested and Dan Olsen are doing the Gencont selection as a team
since January 2014 as Kjersti is on maternity leave.
Lars Terje has been contributing detailed into the development of the new exterior score
system introduced for use at offtest. This started late 2010.
Arve is a person whom really handles the gilt/sow selection in his Norsvin Landrace nucleus
herd both genetically (Selection Value selection/mating plans) and structurally. Arve’s
employer, The agricultural school Hvam, has played an important role as a Norsvin Landrace
nucleus herd for more than five decades.
The R&D team has also been very supportive as key persons like Dan Olsen in cooperation
together with Magnus. Dan was implementing the Gencont software in all stages at the boar
selection and also been developing the Selection Value, and Magnus has been running the
boar selection as a routine before Kjersti took over in 2013.
Torunn Aasmundstad is the key person from the R&D team to analyse and
develop/implement activities at the exterior judgment platform both in boar test at Delta
and the field test.
The Selection Team has also developed information as the Selection posters (see
attachment)
Darwin Tilstra and Lars Terje Bogevik visiting a Landrace multiplier in Norway, 2011.
Selection Team to be more active again in 2014
As Norsvin is looking forward and wants to stay competitive, there are several reasons to re-organize
the Selection Team and improve the communication further more.
In that occasion there is planned a following-up workshop in US week 15, 2014 very similar to the
workshop in December 2008 that resulted in necessary improvements by the Norsvin breeds to make
them even more competitive and attractive and also give Norsvin a better reputation compared to
the main competing breeding companies like PIC, Danavl, Hypor, Newsham etc.
The persons in the team in 2014
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Magnus Haandlykken (coordinator and at that moment in charge of the boar selection
theoretically and leading the field testing abroad).
Kjersti Wold (manager at Norsvin Delta and responsible for the daily boar selection there,
maternity leave 2014)
Lars Terje Bogevik (genetic technician and also half time working in the market abroad)
Helge Prestrud (manager at the boar stud in Norway)
Arve Sunde (long term experience as manager at a Landrace nucleus herd in Norway and
been the best proven nucleus herd for decades)
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Darwin Tilstra (genetic improvement manager in charge of the boar selection and gilt/sow
selection by Norsvin breeds in the US market and long term experience in the pig production
in US)
Anne Mette Nøkleholm (technician at Delta and main scorer of exterior)
Øystein Rognstad (technician at Delta and main scorer of exterior)
Lance Peterson (genetic technician in US and responsible for the selection at the CMS herd)
Torunn Aasmundstad (researcher and key person in the development of the analysis and
tools for exterior evaluation)
Kim Tarvonen from FinnPig and Lance Peterson at a brainstorming workshop in Lithuania 2010 preparing for the new offtest
platform (exterior and scanning) to be introduced late fall 2010.
Lars Terje and Magnus are preparing an outline for the visit together with Darwin and Lance, but it is
also important to plan how the group should work together after the visit
(meetings/workshops/mandates). That will be a part of the week 15 visit as well.
The current issues to work on at the week 15 visit
Sow farm visits:
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Landrace and LY females
Selection of gilts, offtest if possible
farm walk, gestation and farrowing department
Boar stud visit:
 structure issues (exterior and soundness)
 follow up feedback on hind leg issue, high culling rate etc.
 differences in stalling environment and routines/methods in semen collection
Internal workshop at main office in Burnsville:
 Main improvements and brain storming for new trait recordings and developing tools in the
selection like split Longevity sub-index into health and exterior
 Revise the Customized Indexes and evaluate need for new ones
 The breeding plan for the Norsvin Yorkshire
 Action plan for the Selection Team going ahead including bringing back observations to
Avlsraadet and R&D team