Matt Claeys, the CEO of the National Swine Registry, spoke to The Pig Site’s Sarah Mikesell at the 2023 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

Who is the National Swine Registry?

“National Swine Registry wears a number of hats,” said Matt Claeys, CEO of National Swine Registry. “We are the pedigree association for the Duroc, Hampshire, Yorkshire and Landrace hogs.”

National Swine Registry has an open membership of breeders that provide purebred genetics and crossbred genetics, a purebred-influenced crossbred type of hogs.

“We have the show operation in the junior program,” he said. “The purebred hogs are really a large part of that program. We've got the purebred shows for open and junior participants.”

“National Swine Registry works with the youth organization to provide educational materials and guidance to help develop the young people through the utilization of the animal project,” Claeys explained. “In addition, we have commercial producers who are selling purebred genetics, both domestically, as well as in several different countries and regions like China, Taiwan, Philippines and Africa, and we are expanding into Central America. We also just visited with a gentleman from Canada.”

National Swine Registry is getting ready to launch the Certified Duroc Pork program which will be a branded, differentiated, product that focuses on quality and a good-eating experience for the consumer. 

Benefits of membership 

Matt Claeys reviewed the various membership benefits by program:

Juniors

• Local, jackpot, regional, and national shows
• Educational programs and contests
• Build leadership skills
• Meet new friends and form life-long relationships
• Develop decision-making and communication skills
• Be part of the largest youth livestock organization in the US
• Opportunity to be part of the Premiere Breeder Program
• Opportunity to serve on the Junior Board of Directors
• Scholarship opportunities

Breeders

• Purebred litter registration and sow productivity
• Crossbred registration
• DNA testing and banking
• Stress testing
• Transfers of ownership
• Seedstock Magazine Subscription
• Advertising opportunities
• National picture judging contest
• Pedigree supplies
• Resources

Commercial Industry

• NSR through Certified Duroc Pork Program
• Resources

Consumers

• Differentiated products

Global

• Share high performing genetics
• Assist with production techniques
• Interaction with different people within the industry

International efforts

“National Swine Registry maintains international registrations,” said Claeys. “We maintain pedigrees, purity testing and DNA records as to where they are and what they register as a purebred. Since COVID, we've been limited in our services due to travel restrictions,” he said. “Doug Newcom, our international expert, typically goes to foreign countries four to six times a year to ensure the most progressive genetics are available in different countries. For example, in November, he was in Germany.”

National Swine Registry events

“We host two national events through the summertime,” said Claeys. “We have The Exposition, which is right after the World Pork Expo (June 11-17, 2023) in Des Moines, Iowa this year. Then the next two years, it will be held in Indiana due to a scheduling conflict at the State Fairgrounds. We also hold our National Junior Summer Spectacular Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, USA during the week of July 4th.”

The summer conference offers a Skill-A-Thon, speech contests, marketing and graphic design art projects for young people. In addition, juniors can exhibit hogs and participate in showmanship contests.

“We've got the best in the country, if not the world, exhibiting at these events. I’m not just talking about the hogs, but the young people that we're helping to develop. We're really trying to develop labor and leadership resources for the future of the industry,” said Claeys.

If you'd like to view The Exposition pig shows live on Walton Webcasting, click here for more information.