Illinois-based swine genetics company founded by The Maschhoffs is acquired

Fast Genetics, a Canadian-based swine genetics company wholly owned by STgen, has acquired Acuity, an Illinois-based swine genetics company founded by The Maschhoffs. 

STgen purchased Fast Genetics in 2015 from HyLife, a Canadian-based pork producer, processor, and important customer. Fast Genetics will continue to lead the industry in providing producers with the most stable supply of high health, balanced, and efficient genetics while utilizing the industry’s most innovative and impactful technologies, such as sex-sorted sperm and advanced DNA testing.

The addition of Acuity further increases Fast Genetics’ footprint in the U.S. marketplace and will better allow both parties to serve pork producers across North America and worldwide.

Fast Genetics and Acuity customers will now have access to genetic lines from both entities, as well as gene transfer centers, multiplication supply, technical services, genetic teams, and transformational technology.

“Fast Genetics’ acquisition of Acuity Ag Solutions from The Maschhoffs is one more step in our commitment to ‘Create the Future’ with the utilization of advanced technologies,” says Gregg BeVier, chief executive officer of Fast Genetics.

The complementary nature of Fast Genetics and Acuity’s supply chains, sales infrastructure, genetic line sizes, nucleus farm locations, and personnel will significantly benefit their customers.

Fast Genetics and Acuity share the same belief and passion for delivering the most value to customers through a “commodity plus strategy.”

The Maschhoffs formed Acuity in the mid-2000s with that strategy in mind. They selected for a full-value pig tailored to their commercial production system and successfully launched the availability of their products to the rest of the industry in 2020.

The Maschhoffs are the largest family-owned pork producer in the U.S., with about 180,000 sows. They were ranked No. 7 on the 2021 Top U.S. Power Powerhouses Rankings.

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Acuity is credited for developing a novel genetic selection program capable of using a Commercial Test Herd to establish a proven crossbred EBV program.

“We are excited about this next phase of genetic development within The Maschhoffs system. This new alignment with Fast Genetics will add considerable value to our pork value chain,” says Bradley Wolter, chief executive officer of The Maschhoffs.

Acuity will continue to provide genetics for The Maschhoffs system.

“Our new partnership will give producers a wider variety of products to access and will increase our nucleus herd size for more rapid genetic improvement. With the best people, genetics, and technologies, we are well-positioned to grow our global distribution together,” says Juan F. Moreno, chief executive officer of STgen.

“Through the transition phase, both Fast Genetics and Acuity will operate independently and continue to deliver value to our customers.”