They were delivered to Cotswold Japan, JSR Genetics' Japanese franchisee to maintain their nucleus genetic improvement programme.

Following the outbreaks of classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease in Britain, the absence of a health protocol prevented the supply of breeding stock to Japan direct from the UK.

Although replacement animals had been supplied from Canada and Australia, and Anglo-Japanese negotiations on the re-opening of this trade were well advanced, the need for further replacements had become critical.

The shipment followed a visit to Hyfarm JN Pty Ltd, a JSR company in Queensland, Australia - to view candidate animals - by Dr Manabu Sakanaka, president of Cotswold Japan, Mr Syunnji Kanno, nucleus breeding section manager and Lynn Evans, JSR Genetics export manager, who is responsible for the Japanese market.

Formal agreement has now been reached between the UK and Japanese ministries and further consignments of boars will now be delivered direct to Japan from JSR Genetics' units in the UK, the first of which is scheduled for November this year.

"Having access to our excellent genetics in other parts of the world has been really good for us and our customer, but the lifting of the foot-and-mouth restrictions is a huge relief and we can now look forward to further development of our business in Japan," commented Lynn Evans.

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Source: JSR Genetics - 30th July 2004