WPX26: National Swine Registry expands global reach through genetics, exports
From exporting breeding stock worldwide to hosting one of the industry's largest swine exhibitions, NSR strengthens the future of the pork sector
9 June 2026
2 minute read
By: Dr. Douglas Newcom, Vice President of Genetics and Technology at the National Swine Registry, recently spoke to The Pig Site’s Sarah Mikesell at the 2026 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
Tell me about the National Swine Registry?
The National Swine Registry was formed in 1994 as a collaboration between the American Yorkshire Club, the Hampshire Swine Registry and the United Duroc Swine Registry. This was done as a joint effort to leverage their funding, staff and resources and come together as the pedigree association for the three breeds. In 1998, the Landrace Association joined. So, National Swine Registry is the performance pedigree association for Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace and Yorkshire purebred pigs here in the US.
What are your activities from an international marketing perspective?
We travel around the world promoting our products from our membership. We do have several members that produce breeding stock for export to different countries around the world. I spend a lot of time in Southeast Asia. We'll ship pigs routinely to Vietnam, Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand, and a lot go to China.
We also have members in those countries who are recording pigs with us and utilizing our STAGES program to enhance their breeding stock operation. The testing and genetic evaluation program aims to help producers raise better commercial pigs for their customers.
Do you send live pigs internationally?
Yes, depending on size, you can put somewhere between 800 and 1,000 live pigs on a 747 cargo plane. In 24 hours, they arrive and they’ll go through and isolation quarantine and then be right on the farm. Some places will ship semen, fresh or frozen. Embryo technology in pigs works, but the success rate is not as good as it is in cattle, so we don't do that very often with pigs with our members.
Tell me about your upcoming show after World Pork Expo.
Yes, we host The Exposition Open Show next week (June 7-12, 2026). We'll have about 2,000 pigs and 700-800 junior exhibitors. We will start unloading on Saturday morning and have shows all week. It will culminate Friday night in an open boar and gilt sale from our senior exhibitors.
We haven't held The Exposition here since 2023, and we were actually in Indianapolis, Indiana the last two years. We're back here in Des Moines at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the next three years right after the World Pork Expo. We're excited to have junior exhibitors showing, and we'll have a small trade show with a lot of exhibitors.
We’re trying to teach kids that if you want to stay in agriculture, you don't necessarily have to be a veterinarian. There's nothing wrong with being a veterinarian, and we have a massive shortage of large animal veterinarians. But kids can learn that they can sell feed or vaccines, and that there are a lot of opportunities besides being a veterinarian once their show career is finished.
Tell me more about The Exposition Open Show.
We have webcasting and a live stream of all of our shows. This is really helpful for family members who may not be able to attend and want to watch their kids or grandkids participate.
We'll also have people that will watch the open shows and do online bidding, so they don't ever have to leave the comfort of their own home to watch the pig show, watch the sale and buy something.
Tune in throughout the year
If anybody wants to tune in, they can just go to waltonwebcasting.com and watch our Exposition shows livestream, along with all of our shows throughout the year.
