PIC ABS Contact us

About us

Across Genus, we are pioneering animal genetic improvement to sustainably nourish the world.

We use cutting-edge science and technology to accelerate genetic improvement and help farmers breed animals with desired traits (e.g. feed conversion efficiency, disease resistance and faster growth). We then help customers make the most of those genetics within their herds through our world-class range of supporting products, services and day-to-day advice.  ​

We operate in 30 countries, across six continents, and reach a further 50 markets through distribution partners. We do so through two business units: ABS (focused on dairy and beef cattle) and PIC (focused on pigs). Our work helps them produce more milk and meat, more effectively and efficiently, while using fewer natural resources than ever before. ​

Our superior genetics and supporting services help customers increase profitability, enhance the global supply of high-quality milk or meat and reduce the environmental impact of animal protein production.  ​

How we do it

We use a process called genomic selection to drive continuous genetic improvement in our elite animal herds. We analyse each animal’s DNA to identify the presence (or absence) of specific genetic markers that are known to be linked to certain characteristics. By aggregating the presence (or absence) of these markers in an animal’s genome, we can calculate an Estimated Breeding Value (“EBV”) for each individual. The higher the EBV, the greater the genetic potential of the individual. We then iteratively improve our herds by breeding together those individuals with the highest EBV scores.

In addition to genomic selection, we develop proprietary technologies that accelerate genetic gain and/or deliver other value-added services or products to farmers. A good example is our sexing technology, which enables semen to be sorted into female sex (valued by the dairy industry) and male sex (valued by the beef industry).

Our customers access our genetics through the provision of live animals, semen or embryos. We apply our technological solutions prior to sale or license them to customers for their own use.

Our competitive advantage

Our proprietary herds, intellectual property and technical know-how create a significant barrier to entry. Our global supply chain is also a key differentiator because customers trust us to supply large volumes of elite genetics with high health status. The scale of our business means we can also increasingly leverage our phenotypic and genotypic data collection to improve the precision of our genomic selection, thereby accelerating genetic gain. Many of our customer and research partner relationships have been nurtured over decades of mutual collaboration.