One pig, one team

Fast Genetics is a leader in the pig genetics business.Our business has grown significantly over the years with the recognition that the company offers a very healthy source of productive and prolific breeding stock.

H&M Fast Farms Inc. began in 1982 as a family-owned company with Dr. Harold Fast and his wife Marjorie as the sole owners and operators. After graduating from veterinary college at the W.C.V.M in Saskatoon, SK, Harold and Marjorie spent several years in private industry before choosing to return to the Fast roots in Spiritwood, SK to start a pig genetics company. Spiritwood was a logical choice of location for a genetics company given its abundance of feed grains and natural isolation from other pig farms.This separation from other pig farms still exists today allowing Fast Genetics to enjoy a bio-security advantage that is second to none. Fast Genetics owns 3700 sows in genetic nucleus and multiplication production in Saskatchewan. Our genetics are incorporated into sow herds and market hogs throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico. We have a fantastic staff of enthusiastic people. As we grow, it is important to reflect on our history. Hopefully you will agree and will gain an appreciation for what we are all about and have further assurance that our genetic program is built on a solid foundation and a sustainable future.

In 2001 the Fast family sold part of its interest in the business to Hytek Ltd. of LaBroquerie, Manitoba. Hytek is a pig production company that is well respected throughout North America and is now one of the largest pork producers in Canada. Ownership has continued to evolve since 2001 but the foundation and values of the company continue to remain solid with a strong focus on a profitable commercial customer.

Our distributors : Fast Pigs (West Canada and Mexico), Hytek Swine Management (Manitoba), Groupe Cérès inc. (Ontario, Québec and maritimes) and Hytek Farms (USA), represent Fast Genetics along with providing a premium customer service and helping our clients to get the best of their genetics.

Selection and Genetic Improvement

Our genetic improvement program is based on a combination of BLUP genetic evaluations for important quantitative traits, use of genetic markers and visual evaluations for traits such as soundness and underline. Genetic evaluations for over 15 traits in the areas of prolificacy, mothering ability, growth, carcass yield, meat quality and conformation. All Fast dam line and sire line pigs are halothane negative. All Fast Duroc boars are homozygous for the lean allele of the IGF2 gene. All lines are negative for the RN meat quality mutation.
Rapid generation turnover and intense selection on economically important traits are the cornerstones of our genetic improvement program. Nucleus sows are replaced when there is a more advanced gilt available, with most kept for 2 or 3 litters in the nucleus. Litter records from pure line sows in multiplication are used to improve accuracy for dam line traits. Boars are sampled on a carefully designed plan, then turned over to multiplier production or sale. EBV's are generated on the farm for immediate selection. All ultrasound technicians are tested and certified annually under the rules of the Canadian Swine Improvement Program and receive ongoing training in conformation evaluation and data recording.

Research and development

Fast Genetics commitment to ongoing research and development will help our customers improve production efficiency and product quality in a competitive and consumer oriented market place.
Our commitment is to aid our clients in becoming the most efficient, least-cost producers in North America.
We maintain an active research and development program using our nucleus herds, a 1,200 sow dedicated commercial research barn, 2 commercial research grow finish facilities and contract research with universities and the Canadian Center for Swine Improvement. Research is currently underway in these areas: Ovulation rates and embryo survival in hyper-prolific dam lines, Litter size and birth weight effects on piglet survival, growth and carcass characteristics, Disease resistance, Carcass and meat quality indicators, Growth and feed efficiency interactions by genotype, Optimizing nutritional and management requirements of Fast genotypes, Selection methods for feet and leg soundness, longevity of sows, survival to market weight.

Health

Health has always been a leading priority within the Fast herds. Fast Genetics enjoys a bio-security advantage second to none because of our distance from other pig farms and our natural isolation created by the Northern Canadian forests.
We have our own internal trucks, feedmill, and truck wash which allow us to be leaders in bio-security. Our nucleus herd was derived via c-section. No live animals enter this herd. New genetics may only enter now via embryo transfer.
To date, the nucleus and most of the multiplication herds remain free of not only PRRS and Mycoplasma but also many of the Suis problems commonly affecting hog production units. All nucleus and multiplication herds perform regular health, blood work and slaughter checks.

Groupe Cérès inc.
790, boul. Méthot
St-Nicolas (Qc)
G7A 3W4
Tél. : (418) 831-6070
1-866-341-0110
Fax : (418) 831-2377
info@gceres.com