March 2017 saw Kingsgate Nutrition on a study tour further afield than normal. We were kindly invited to Winnipeg, Canada by Genesus a leader in world genetics to view their units. Genesus were an amazingly accommodating and open company. We stayed in their wonderful Boars Head House, where we of course tested the succulent pork.

The Boars Head, a bit like a Tardis!

Jim Long and Paul Anderson took us to tour their dam nucleus unit, their nucleus boar grow out unit where all animals undergo stringent growth rate testing and we also managed to squeeze in a vast commercial unit.  Dr Bob Kemp gave an enlightening talk on genetic progression and Genesus’ core values in the selection process. The fact that they only use Yorkshires and Landrace for dam lines and Duroc for boar line and work to continued development rather than new lines was received very well by producers.

Durocs all looking very relaxed, even with a group of strangers walking through the sheds.

Going so far, we obviously needed to make time for some tourist attractions, the polar bears at the great Manitoba zoo were a firm favourite. Seeing the bears swimming underwater was a very special moment.

All young male polar bears.

It was a long way to go, but very worth while. Thank you to Genesus for their uncompromising hospitality.

The perfect tour bus