DNA Sire Requirements
All Purebred
litters recorded with NSR since July 2004 are required to be sired by a boar
that is negative of the Stress Gene. If
you have a boar that you are using to breed sows within your herd, a Stress
Gene test must have been completed prior to recording litters.
To fulfill
these requirements, you can order a DNA card from the National Swine Registry for
$4. Once you receive the DNA card, you
will notice there are 4 circles on the DNA card. Please get DNA in all 4 circles. The most preferred form of DNA is blood,
because it lasts longer on the DNA card and is much easier for the lab to
read. Another acceptable form of DNA is
semen. If you choose to submit semen as
DNA, you must use raw semen that does not have any extender in it. Once you get DNA on the card, let it dry for
24 hours before sending it in. If you do
not let it dry, mold develops on the card, which kills the DNA and could cause
your sample to be unreadable. If you are
not able to get blood or semen from your boar, the third form of DNA we can
accept is hair. If you plan to send in
hair as DNA, please contact us for a DNA hair collection card, as these are
different from the cards used for blood or semen. You will need to send at least 15-20 pieces
of hair and you MUST get the follicles. The DNA is ONLY in the follicle of the
hair.
You can send
your DNA samples directly to the NSR office.
Once we receive your sample, we will automatically blood bank your boar,
which is storing the card in our office in case any future parentage testing is
needed. Then, we will send the sample to
the lab for a Stress test. The Stress
test generally takes 2-3 weeks. The cost
of blood banking is $6 and the cost of the Stress Gene test is $25. Blood banking and Stress tests are the two requirements
for all sires. If you plan to sell semen
from your Hampshire boar, you will also need to order the Hamp Color test.
If you need
your DNA testing expedited, please contact me before sending it in for special
rush instructions.
Please let
me know if you have any questions.
Hampshire/Landrace/DNA Secretary
