Code of Fair Practices | Blotter Card Collection Procedure | Barrow Classifications & Guidelines | DNA Sire Requirements | DNA Stress Test Policy | Test Mating Procedure
Buyers of purebred, registered boars and gilts buy them to be breeders. Many factors may affect an animal’s breeding capabilities. Many of these are not visible at the time of purchase. Some problems may be the result of management before the sale. Some the result of handling and management by the buyer after the purchase. Some may be hereditary. Because of this, adjustments need to be a sharing of responsibilities.
All adjustments are a matter between buyer and seller.
The National Association of Swine Records or individual registries assume no responsibilities for enforcement of these recommendations.
Standard Warranty
All purebred, registered hogs over 5 months of age (not used for breeding under 7 months of age) sold as breeding animals for breeding purposes, are sold with a warranty that they are capable of and will breed. If, and when, any said animal does prove to be a non-breeder, the seller shall make an adjustment to the satisfaction of the buyer, provided the buyer informs the seller of the situation within 90 days after purchase. In all purebred transactions, the registration certificate is an integral part of the transaction and shall be delivered to the buyer, properly transferred on the association records, at the expense of the seller. (These are only suggestions considered as generally acceptable within the industry. Other adjustments may be made if satisfactory to both the buyer and seller.)
Boars failing to serve or settle sows
1. Refund the difference between purchase price and market value as shown by sales receipt, if the boar is sold on the market.
2. Make a replacement of another boar satisfactory to the buyers.
3. Give the buyer credit (amount to be agreed on by both buyer and seller) on the purchase of another animal or animals.
Gilts sold as open
• If proven to be bred:
1. Refund of purchase price upon return to the seller.
2. Refund difference, if any, between price paid for gilt and value of a commercial bred sow.
• If proven to be a non-breeder:
1. Make a replacement of another gilt satisfactory to the buyer.
2. Refund difference between purchase price and market value of gilt as shown by a sales receipt, if gilt is sold at market.
3. Give buyer credit (amount to be agreed upon by both the buyer and seller) on the purchase of another gilt in the future.
Bred Sows
• Are expected to be bred to a designated boar on date of service. When proven otherwise:
1. Replace the sow with another sow satisfactory to the buyer.
2. Refund the difference between the purchase price and market value of the sow as shown by a sales receipt, if the sow is sold at market.
3. If the buyer desires to keep the sow, refund one-half the difference between purchase price and market value of the sow at the time of the purchase.
NSR Guidelines for boars sold for A.I. collection
These are only recommendations and the relationship between the buyer and the seller is the most important part of the whole process.
1. If a boar is determined to have a physical defect (including but not limited to an adhered or tied penis, limp penis, infantile penis, and coiling of the penis in the diverticulum), which would hinder proper delivery of semen, a full refund would be due the buyer. The boar must extend his penis without physical manipuation excluding the expression of the sheath fluid.
2. If semen quality of a boar is not up to the suggested performance standards listed below; the seller will be notified of the problem within 60 days of purchase and/or 60 days after the animal reaches 7 months of age, and the semen will be monitored up to 120 days following the date of notification. The seller may have 30 days out of the 120-day period to prove the animal reproductively sound.
3. Using a third party reproductive specialist as a consultant may be needed. This reproductive specialist would be agreed upon by the buyer and the seller. All costs involved with the use of the reproductive specialist would be divided equally between the buyer and the seller.
4. If the boar does not satisfactorily meet the suggested performance standards listed below in No. 1 (A or B) and No. 2; the seller would refund 100 percent of the purchase price less the dollar value of the semen that has been sold, or an agreed upon settlement with the buyer.
Suggested Performance Standards
1. A. 40 billion sperm cells (total) per week by 8 months of age.
B. 60 billion sperm cells (total) per week by 11 months of age.
2. 70 percent viable sperm produced. (This figure is a composite, calculation of motility times (x) normal morphology [normal heads, normal tails and proximal drops]).
Disclaimer of Warranties
Except as specifically stated in these provisions, the NSR, a partnership of the American Yorkshire Club, Hampshire Swine Registry, American Landrace Association and United Duroc Swine Registry make no warranties, either express or implied, regarding any animal consigned for sale. The aforementioned participating breed associations do not make, and hereby expressly disclaim, any warranty, whether express or implied for merchantability or of fitness for any purpose. The descriptions and other information contained in the sale catalog, to be distributed the day of the sale, regarding individual animals has been supplied by the individual consignors, and the participating breed associations neither warrant, nor assume, any liability for the accuracy or completeness of such information.
These instructions are intended to assist National Swine Registry breeders in collecting samples for submission to the NSR office and meet DNA requirements for sires when registering purebred Duroc, Hampshire, Yorkshire and Landrace litters. National Swine Registry only accepts official NSR Blotter Cards to meet these requirements. Cards must be purchased from the NSR office for $4 each. To order your cards via the web, click here.
NEW Blotter Card Requirement
NSR has updated the blotter card used to submit DNA samples for banking and testing requirements to a new, larger card. The process for collecting samples has not changed. However, as of March 1, 2010, the old version of the card, along with any substitute cards from other labs, will no longer be accepted by the NSR to meet the DNA banking requirements for boars. The DNA testing fees remain the same.
1.
Locate a vein on the ear. Clean the area with a cloth moistened with water or rubbing alcohol to remove dirt and other debris that may contaminate blotter card sampling. Wipe dry.
2.
Pierce the vein with the sharp end of the disposable lancet (provided) or a clean, sterile hypodermic needle.
3.
Withdraw the lancet and allow blood to collect on the skin's surface.
4.
Allow blood to drip onto the center of the blotter card paper. You may also carefully dab the card against the blood. Make certain the blood soaks through the blotter paper for proper sample colllection.
5.
Make certain that the sample is correctly identified with the owner, breed, ear notch and registration number.
6.
Return the blotter card to the NSR office with the DNA Submission Form, and indicate the blood banking and/or diagnostic tests requested for the corresponding sample.
Blotter Card
As of March 1, 2010, only the new blotter card will be accepted by the NSR.
Complete the space on the blotter card for Owner, Breed, Ear Notch and Registration Number immediately to assure that sample is properly identified. Complete the breeder information on the NSR Testing Form with the sample ID and Breed, and indicate the blood banking and/or diagnostic tests required for each corresponding sample.
Duroc
1. Must be red in color and possess Duroc Breed Character. (ears must be down and medium size)2. Must be earnotched within seven days of birth.
3. Must NOT have any white hair located on the animal.
4. Must NOT have any black hair.
5. Must NOT have more than three black spots on the skin and none of these spots can be larger than two inches in diameter.
6. Must NOT have any shading or indication of a belt.
7. Must be stress negative.
Hampshire
1. Must be black in color with a white belt starting on the front leg. The belt may partially or totally encircle the body. (Animal is eligible if the head is black and the body is totally white.)2. Must possess Hampshire Breed character. (Ears must be erect and not rounded)
3. Must be earnotched within seven days of birth.
4. Must NOT have any white hair or indications of streaking on the forehead.
5. Must NOT have any red hair.
6. Must be stress negative.
Landrace
1. Must be white in color and possess Landrace Breed character. (ears must be down)2. Must be earnotched within seven days of birth.
3. Must NOT allow any color hair other than white.
4. Must NOT allow more than three spots of skin pigmentation.
5. Must NOT allow any spot of skin pigmentation larger than one U.S. minted quarter.
6. Must be stress negative.
Yorkshire
1. Must be white in color and possess Yorkshire Breed character. (ears must be erect)
2. Must be earnotched within seven days of birth.
3. Must NOT have any colored hair other than white.
4. Must NOT have colored skin pigmentation larger than one U.S. minted silver dollar.
5. Must NOT have masking above the eyes larger than a silver dollar.
6. Must be stress negative.
NEW Policy on Sire DNA
NSR has updated policy on sire DNA requirements for recorded litters, effective Jan. 1, 2010. This change applies primarily to situations where a sire has died or was culled before DNA was collected, but also to instances where the DNA lab is unable to obtain a test result due to poor DNA quality. Since Jan. 1, the following must be met to satisfy the sire DNA requirement in instances where a quality sire DNA sample is not available:
a. A minimum of four pigs from the litter must be tested and subsequently banked. If there are less than five head in the litter, 100 percent of the litter must be tested. *For litters recorded out of A.I. Hampshire boars, this requirement also includes the color testing requirement.
c. All financial obligations for meeting sire DNA requirements are the responsibility of the member/firm issuing the AI certificate. Also, remember all sires must be documented free of the stress gene by an approved DNA lab, and all DNA cards will automatically be sent to the lab for stress testing, unless stress results are submitted with the blotter card.
Tests cannot be done overnight, so plan accordingly for registrations and show or sale deadlines.
DNA Sire Requirements
As the result of a NSR Executive Committee decision, all sires must be DNA banked before any litters can be recorded, effective with all litters farrowed after July 1, 2002. This new requirement will provide for the establishment of an incredible DNA data bank for the four NSR breeds, as well as help us in our effort to maintain breed purity.
This decision was made after much discussion, and was the result of a recommendation from the NSR Shows and Services Advisory Board, where it passed unanimously. All segments of our industry have weighed in on this issue, and it appears to be helpful for all members in the long run. Through the establishment of this DNA resource bank, Yorkshire, Duroc, Hampshire and Landrace breeders will have access to the largest and most-diverse DNA parentage bank in the industry.
As we continue to uncover more information about the genetic make-up of our hogs, and as the genetic map is more clearly defined, NSR members will be in a position to take advantage of any new discoveries that may impact genetic selection in the future. Whether it might be in the area of pork quality, disease resistance or production traits, the development of new genetic markers can quickly be matched to our existing genetic lines. It will position our breeds to once again be the leader in genetic improvement.
In addition to the selection opportunities it provides, this DNA data bank will also help maintain the purity and integrity of our breeds. This data bank might be utilized to verify the parentage of a pedigreed barrow that was named champion at a major show. On the other hand, it might be used to help a breeder, who after losing his breeding records, needs to use the DNA genotypes to match up offspring on some matings. Regardless, this DNA information will be a valuable resource to all of our breeds and members.
In an effort to minimize the expense and time required for this new regulation, your NSR Executive Committee has approved the use of “blotter cards” for the collection of this DNA material. Rather than contacting your veterinarian to draw blood from each of your sires, you will simply prick the ear of your animal and dab a small amount of blood on a blotter card, and submit to the NSR office for storage. There will be a nominal fee of $10 for each sample submitted to help defray the costs of the blotter card and storage records.Please contact the NSR office to request the blotter cards for your boars that need to be DNA banked. If you have any questions please contact Mike Paul at the NSR office.
As a requirement for registration of litters that are farrowed on or after July 1, 2004, all sires (Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace and Yorkshire) must have a negative stress status on file (by DNA test or parent verification) before the litter can be registered. No animals will be grandfathered in with this policy.
1. As of April 1, 1998, no known stress positive or stress carrier animals will be allowed to be exhibited or sold at any NSR-sponsored event. (If an exhibitor places this information on his pen card or states that this animal is a stress positive or a stress carrier, he will be asked to remove this animal from the barn, and he will not be allowed to exhibit or sell this animal.) If any animal sold at a NSR-sponsored event is found to be stress-gene positive or a carrier of the stress gene, the purchaser has the right to receive a full refund of the purchase price.
DNA testing for the stress gene must be done within 90 days of the sale, and all cost associated with this test must be paid by the purchaser. The seller has the right to review the test results and the right to re-test the animal at a laboratory of his choice. Cost associated with the re-test by the seller is at the seller’s expense. There will be no refund of NSR commission from stress-positive or stress-carrier animals. * As of Jan. 1, 2000, the NSR requires the DNA stress gene status of A.I. sires to be declared on all A.I. Certificates issued for the registration of litters. All A.I. certificates issued after Jan. 1, 2000, must include the HAL 1843 test status of the sire, regardless of when the boar was placed in service. Test results must be reported as one of the following: 1) nm=normal, 2) mm=carrier, or 3) dm=homozygous positive. The NSR also recommends that owners of A.I. sires make this information available in their promotional literature.
In addition to the previous steps, the following policy was adopted by the Board of Directors of the American Yorkshire Club, the American Landrace Association, the United Duroc Swine Registry and the Hampshire Swine Registry with the effective dates indicated.
3. Any Yorkshire or Landrace that is farrowed on or after Jan. 1, 2000, that is proven to be a stress positive or stress carrier by a documented DNA test from a certified lab, will have its pedigree cancelled. Any Duroc farrowed on or after Jan. 1, 2001, that is proven to be a stress positive or stress carrier by a documented DNA test from a certified lab, will have its pedigree cancelled. Any Hampshire farrowed on or after Jan. 1, 2002, that is proven to be a stress positive or stress carrier by a documented DNA test from a certified lab, will have its pedigree cancelled. The purchaser has the right to receive a full refund of the purchase price. DNA testing for the stress gene must be done within 90 days of the sale, and all cost associated with this test must be paid by the purchaser. The seller has the right to review the test results and the right to re-test the animal at a laboratory of his choice. Cost associated with the re-test by the seller is at the seller’s expense.
Any warranty regarding the stress gene status of the animal is solely that of the seller and not that of the American Yorkshire Club, American Landrace Association, Hampshire Swine Registry or the United Duroc Swine Registry. The American Yorkshire Club, American Landrace Association, Hampshire Swine Registry and United Duroc Swine Registry assume no liability in connection with such warranty by the seller.
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Applications for approval of boars for use in artificial insemination
Application for Approval of Hampshire Boar(s) For Use In Artificial Insemination
The Hampshire Swine Registry (HSR), in order to ensure and preserve the purity of Hampshire swine resulting from the artificial insemination of sows by a boar not owned by the owner of the sow at the time of breeding, requires that such boar must meet the DNA color test requirements set by the HSR Board of Directors. No pigs will be registered from a litter resulting from artificial insemination if the DNA color test requirements has not been completed. All imported Hampshires (boars, gilts and/or sows) must meet the DNA color test requirements and stress requirements set by the HSR Board of Directors.
For more information, click here.
Application for Approval of Landrace Boar(s) For Use In Artificial Insemination
The American Landrace Association, in order to ensure and preserve the purity of Landrace swine resulting from the artificial insemination of sows by a boar not owned by the owner of the sow at the time of breeding, requires that such boar must be test mated successfully to one Duroc, Hampshire or Duroc/Hampshire sow or two dark cross sows and that there be at least eight live pigs born; and that none of the pigs born in any of the litters have any solid color. "Solid color" means hair color other than white or roan. No test breeding to Spots or any white breed will be accepted. After the test matings, the affidavit attached here must be filed with the American Landrace Association by the owner of the boar. No pigs will be registered from a litter resulting from artificial insemination by a boar not owned by the owner of the sow on the date of breeding, if this affidavit is not on file with the American Landrace Association. The affidavit must be filled out completely, signed by the registered owner of the boar and returned to the National Swine Registry. All imported Landrace (boars, gilts and/or sows) must complete the appropriate test mating requirements and stress requirements set by the ALA Board of Directors.
To download an application, click here.
Application for Approval of Yorkshire Boar(s) For Use In Artificial Insemination
The American Yorkshire Club, Inc., in order to ensure and preserve the purity of Yorkshire swine resulting from the artificial insemination of sows by a boar not owned by the owner of the sow at the time of breeding, requires that such boar must be test mated successfully to one Duroc, Hampshire or Duroc/Hampshire sow or two dark cross sows, that there be at least 8 live pigs born; and that none of the pigs born in any of the litters have any solid color. "Solid color" means hair color other than white or roan. No test breeding to Spots or any white breed will be accepted. After the test matings, the affidavit attached hereto must be filed with the American Yorkshire Club, Inc., by the owner of the boar. No pigs will be registered from a litter resulting from artificial insemination by a boar not owned by the owner of the sow on the date of breeding, if this affidavit is not on file with the American Yorkshire Club, Inc. The affidavit must be filled out completely, signed by the registered owner of the boar and returned to the National Swine Registry. All imported Yorkshire (boars, gilts and/or sows) must complete the appropriate test mating requirements and stress requirements set by the AYC Board of Directors.
To download an application, click here.
