Welcome to this issue of our multi-breed, National Genetic Evaluation Trait Leader List. The National Swine Registry (NSR), along with Purdue University, proudly presents the most-comprehensive evaluation of economic traits available in the swine industry.

This October 2006 edition is based on all performance data submitted to the NSR through Oct. 15, 2006. Featuring the four major swine breeds – Yorkshire, Duroc, Hampshire and Landrace – it represents the largest pedigree-based database available in the swine industry, with over 1.50 million performance records. Trait leaders are listed for EPDs for backfat, days to 250 pounds, pounds of lean in a 185-pound carcass, number born alive and litter weight at 21 days, all economically important traits to the industry. These EPDs are combined to form bio-economic indexes, and index leaders are listed for a terminal sire index, sow productivity index and maternal line index. Each breed also publishes a "Young Sire" listing, acknowledging future trait leading sires.

Highlights of this summary include the addition of several new herds to the STAGES testing procedure in the last six months. These participants joined with previous STAGES users to add over 20,000 performance records to the data base. These numbers attest to the acceptance of EPDs and performance testing within the industry.

One feature we'd like to draw your attention to is the Young Sires Listing for each breed. These highlight future trait-leading sires, including high-ranking Yorkshire and Landrace sires in Maternal Line Index (MLI), and Terminal Sire Index (TSI) leaders for the Duroc and Hampshire breeds. Many of the breed trait-leading sires had their initiation to this Genetic Evaluation Listing on the "Young Sires" page. Proof again that use of EPDs is an effective tool to increase the performance of your herd.

The NSR wishes to thank the NSR Genetic Advisory Committee, without whose guidance this summary could not be published. Committee members include Dr. Maynard Hogberg, Iowa State University; Dr. Allan Schinckel, Purdue University; Dr. Ron Bates, Michigan State University; Dr. Ken Stalder, Iowa State University; and Dr. Todd See, North Carolina State University. Their combined dedication has enabled NSR to greater serve the swine industry.

Please take a few minutes to read about and understand the information this evaluation presents. A special feature is the article "Using Expected Progeny Differences as a Tool for Breeding Stock Selection."

For a complete list of EPDs on all of the animals in the NSR breeds, you may visit the searchable STAGES database, available on the STAGES Web site, http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/stages/. You may also access this through the NSR Web site, http://www.nationalswine.com by clicking on the Commercial Industry Services tab and follow the links to the STAGES site. We invite your use of this site and appreciate any comments.

We believe that STAGES offers the most effective, predictable genetic evaluation available in the swine industry, and we invite you to utilize the numbers for the benefit of your swine breeding program. Success in this swine industry will require use of all available technology.

If you have specific questions regarding the information presented in this publication, feel free to contact Darrell, Rick or Mike at the NSR office at 765.463.3594 or by e-mail at nsr@nationalswine.com.

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