INTRODUCTION The Canadian pork industry is an important part of Canadian agriculture. It produces over 16 million hogs each year. Exports of Canadian pork, live hogs and breeding stock were worth more than $1.2 billion in 1995. The success of the Canadian industry, especially in export markets, owes much to advances made in Canadian genetic improvements and high health standards in the breeding sector. In the first half of the 1990's, genetic improvement was responsible for 80 percent of all the progress in backfat thickness and 67 percent in growth rate. Performance testing first began in Canada in 1928 and the Canadian National Swine Improvement Program evolved rapidly in the 1960's and 1970's. In 1985, the Canadian program was the first national genetic improvement program to use "Best Linear Unbiased Prediction" (BLUP) animal model technology. The Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement, or CCSI, is the national body in Canada that co-ordinates the Canadian National Swine Improvement Program. CCSI took over the responsibility from the federal government in 1995. CCSI is a non-profit corporation whose Board of Directors is made up of the most important associations in the Canadian pork industry. Active members of CCSI are the Canadian Pork Council, representing the interests of commercial producers, the Canadian Meat Council, representing packers, the Canadian Swine Breeders Association, representing breeders, as well as the regional swine improvement centres in Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The Government of Canada is an associate member. CCSI works in partnership with all these organizations as well as Canadian universities and research institutions on co-operative research and development, technology transfer and innovation as well as genetic services and evaluations. CCSI'S CANADIAN SERVICES National Genetic Evaluations CCSI carries out national genetic evaluations of growth rate, backfat, litter size and meat and carcass quality. It also develops indices of traits of economic importance to commercial producers and the packing sector. It integrates information on each animal tested and its relatives and computes Estimated Breeding Values, or EBV's. These EBV's can be compared across herds and this allows for clear and unbiased identification of the top breeding stock in Canada. National Data Base Management CCSI maintains a national data base of swine performance records and genetic evaluations. Data comes from tests performed on farms and at provincial test stations and packing plants. More than 100,000 purebred pigs were tested in 1995. Information is also collected on commercial pigs to verify the impact of genetic improvement in commercial herds and at the plants. Almost all of Canada's breeders participate. The national data base is updated every month and the genetic evaluations recomputed. The data base contains independent, verifiable information and is open to public scrutiny. It represents reliable data on the world's largest super-nucleus. National Standards and Data Quality Assurance CCSI sets out standards for data collection, recording and reporting for the national data base and, with the Regional Swine Centres, develops national standards for new performance traits. It also provides a technician accreditation program to ensure that the national data base contains accurate and consistent data. Research and Development CCSI is committed to remain at the leading edge of technological advances in swine genetics in order to pass on the knowledge and benefits to clients. CCSI operates a research program with industry partners, research institutions and Canadian universities. This co-operative approach results in a large cost-effective, co-ordinated research effort. Research projects include: genetic evaluations for meat and carcass quality; methods for measuring meat and carcass quality on live animals and at slaughter plants; breeding objectives and breeding standards; enhanced genetic evaluation methods for performance and sow productivity traits; selection for immune response for disease resistance and production efficiency; and molecular genetics projects on markers for carcass quality and feed efficiency. National Swine Health Information CCSI co-ordinates the National Swine Health Information Plan. At the heart of the plan is a database covering seven swine diseases and nine biosecurity measures monitored in each province. It publishes reports every quarter on swine health and biosecurity, including information on individual herds, provided by provincial government animal health authorities. It is now possible to know the health and biosecurity status of breeding stock, as well as their genetic performance. Consulting Services and Training CCSI works with clients to create customized breeding and genetic improvement programs and management systems, and to develop information technology systems and software. It also has expertise in data and statistical analysis. By combining in-house knowledge with links and alliances with outside experts in the pork chain, CCSI can provide clients with solutions to swine improvement questions, including areas such as health and bio-security monitoring, nutrition and feeding, operations management and environmental issues. CCSI also offers courses to swine practitioners interested in swine genetic performance recording and standards, and genetic evaluation and improvement. CCSI'S INTERNATIONAL SERVICES Genetic Evaluations CCSI works with organizations in other countries to provide advice on the development of national swine evaluation systems. This includes the sale or licensing of CCSI software to run evaluations as well as the provision of any associated training. As an alternative, international clients can run genetic evaluations by accessing CCSI via the Internet. Data Base Development CCSI has considerable experience in the development of databases for use in swine improvement as well as access to advance technology for electronic access. With a Web browser, international clients can, for example, search for specific animals and generate pre-defined reports and charts. This can be done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. International Genetic Evaluation Software More than 50 countries around the world buy Canadian swine genetics. To support Canadian genetic technology, CCSI has developed international genetic evaluation software called CIGES for within herd animal evaluation parallel to the system for Canadian producers. The software can be run on a microcomputer. CIGES has a modular design that includes animal identification, performance recording and genetic evaluation. It computes Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), using BLUP technology (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction), for all animals. There is an optional link to the Canadian herd book for purebred animal registration and evaluation. International users can compare results of their genetic evaluations with those for Canadian animals. Instead of doing genetic evaluations at their home base, clients can, if they wish, use CCSI's Web site connection. This International Genetic Evaluation software is available on a purchase and/or license basis. Standards CCSI, directly or through its member organizations, provides training on performance recording and use of ultrasonic equipment to swine producers and organizations from abroad. The development of standards for data acquisition and the reporting of evaluations that are specific to the particular needs of CCSI's foreign clients can also be arranged. Research and Development Projects CCSI organizes international research and pilot projects to help clients develop effective swine improvement programs in foreign countries. Clients can work directly with other Canadian or foreign organizations, such as universities, research institutions, training schools or national breeding associations. General Consulting Services and Training CCSI works with international clients in all areas of swine improvement so that the gains from improved genetics can be fully captured. CCSI can provide assistance in health monitoring, nutrition, environmental controls and project planning as well as genetic improvement. Usually, CCSI organizes a team with specialized partners in Canada to ensure the best possible delivery of services. To support CCSI's services, international swine practitioners can receive training either in Canada or in the clients' country on almost any aspect of swine operations. In particular, training principles of swine genetics, evaluations, data acquisition, management and standards to specific use of CCSI's international genetic evaluation software. STAFF Teams of first class people are available at all times. Swine genetics experts are on staff, on contract or working on joint or sponsored projects at Canadian universities and research institutions. Well trained, nationally accredited technicians at the Regional Swine Centres do performance testing so that the national data base contains reliable and up to date information. Computer professionals and statisticians, both staff and consultants, ensure that access and use of the national data bases and evaluation software is easy and reliable. Because CCSI is a non-profit corporation and operates with a small permanent staff, overhead expenses are closely controlled. Cost-effective delivery of comprehensive programs is made possible through a co-operative approach with industry and research partners. FACILITIES CCSI offices are in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital city. Ottawa is also home to the Canadian Pork Council, the Canadian Meat Council, the Canadian Swine Breeder's Association, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. CCSI can, therefore, more easily link clients to the Canadian pork industry network. The computer facilities include a Hewlett Packard HP L100 with 1.75 GB of memory and 160 GB of disk space. Staff and consultants work at Unix work stations and personal computers. CCSI has a World Wide Web site and its address is http://www.ccsi.ca/. BENEFITS TO CLIENTS Expertise in the development of world-class systems for swine genetic improvement; Customized consulting services and training programs; Rapid and effective access to new technology; Expertise in the development of recording systems for productivity, carcass, meat quality and health information; Single window to the Canadian pork industry.