The Newsham model has long been scientific selection of the genetic traits that will bring the most benefit to pork producers.

That's exactly the philosophy Newsham applied to acquiring Monsanto Choice Genetics in late 2007: Bring together two of the best swine genetics companies and apply sound scientific research to supply pork producers with genetic lines that provide ever-increasing value.

The combination of the two organizations has resulted in a synergy that brings Newsham Choice Genetics to critical mass.

"We believe we're bringing our customers the best technology platform available in the marketplace today for the application of genomics in pork production," says Mark Weaver, DVM, co-CEO of Newsham Choice Genetics.

"Monsanto has a strong history in research and development which fits perfectly with our drive to provide value to our customers," he adds. "The work they've done in mapping the swine genome will bring real benefits to our customers today and as they continue herd improvement in the future."

Co-CEO, Brent Mitchell, agrees. "Over the past five years, Newsham has grown both in business volume and reputation to the point where it was time to do more. We felt that Monsanto Choice Genetics had made tremendous strides in measuring genetic traits for lean growth, feed conversion and production value, so it was the perfect compliment to the outstanding Newsham genetics lines."

"The impact of selecting for specific traits at the genetic level has been many years in the making, and it's only over the past few years that results have been realized by pork producers," he says. "Newsham Choice Genetics is positioned to step up to the next level of trait selection that will create significant opportunity for producers in ways we're just now beginning to identify."

While these exciting developments at Newsham Choice Genetics are focused on the future, one thing that won't change is the company's dedication to exemplary customer service and continual process improvement.

"Our success is directly dependent upon the success of our customers, and we are completely dedicated to that," Weaver says. "We are opening great new opportunities for pork producers in the future with the "Power of Two", but our customer relationships are paramount in our minds today and every day."

As futuristic as it sounds, gene mapping is making tomorrow's swine herds stronger today. According to Archie Clutter, Ph.D., of Newsham Choice Genetics, the discovery process of mapping the swine genome has been in progress for about 15 years.

"This is one of those really complicated processes in which each discovery peels off a layer to expose an even more complex problem," he says.

"But that's also the really exciting part. We know the response to the selection for specific traits that we've begun to practice is cumulative, so we can deliver accelerated improvement as we continue to unravel the complexity of these traits," he says. "The impact on herds has just started to be realized over the past five years."

Newsham Choice Genetics now has the data in place to move to the next level in genomic trait selection, a process which Clutter believes will go even faster in the coming years.

"Unlike genetic modifications used in crops like corn, we're not transforming species but rather more accurately measuring the value of specific genes that breeding animals possess," he says. "That takes a great deal of time out of the equation because we don't have to pass through the regulatory process."

"So far, producers have been able to benefit from our novel trait selection to improve lean growth rates and feed conversion," he says. "We see the next level including selection for qualities such as robustness and response to health challenges."

What this all means to the producer is that researchers expect the data to point them in directions that will help improve things like herd health, pigs per litter and sow durability - which translates to less death loss and more pigs to market.

"We're convinced that this is the right approach to improving swine performance and health," Clutter says. "As researchers, we foresee a continuation of value growth for our customers."