In the world of animal genetics, a revolutionary tool has quietly been making waves – PICtraq. If you’re unfamiliar with it, imagine a comprehensive genetic database that houses information on every animal, including their pedigree, production data, and more. PICtraq is not just a herd recording system; it’s the backbone of genetic improvement and a game-changer in the industry.
The Evolution of PICtraq
PICtraq’s roots trace back to its original start as “PICtails”, created by Hans Herman Timm in Germany. The exact year of its inception might be a bit hazy, but it was eventually rebranded as PICtraq in 1998. The primary objective was simple: establish a database for crucial genetic information to drive improvement in animal genetics. Today, there are almost 500 boar studs and over 600 sow herds that PICtraq actively index-manages across the globe.
Empowering Our Customers
At its core, PICtraq empowers customers to make informed decisions. It plays a pivotal role in managing boar studs and multiplication farms, where inventories are carefully monitored. The Genetic Service team is comprised of more than 30 experts speaking over 10 languages worldwide. PIC’s Genetic Service teams manage on-farm implementation of the genetic program in customer herds, communicate PIC’s genetic program, and provide support around product positioning and value-added programs. Moreover, they play a key role in relation to optimizing data integrity/accuracy that supports the genetic program. They provide essential updates on what animals to cull and what to keep, which reduces genetic lag and enable farms to never stop improving their genetic programs.
This data-driven approach allows customers to make decisions that ultimately result in better-quality pigs to market. For multipliers, PICtraq helps determine whether to breed pure, cross, or replace animals. It’s all about managing the genetic indexes of their herds to maintain the ongoing progress. The day-to-day use of PICtraq varies among customers but in any case, PICtraq works quietly in the background to provide valuable genetic insights.
The Road Ahead
Looking ahead, PICtraq’s future is bright. The pace of genetic improvement is accelerating, making herd management increasingly critical. The integration of PICtraq with herd recording systems will likely deepen, offering more tools to evaluate the impact of genetic programs on overall performance. The development of new technologies, some already in use such as PIC’s digital phenotyping cameras will continue to provide real time data to help animals better achieve their genetic potential, with sensors on farms providing real-time data for even more accurate genetic estimations. PICtraq will continue to improve the execution of genetic programs.
In the world of animal genetics, PICtraq is more than just a database; it’s a catalyst for change. It empowers customers to unlock the genetic potential of their herds. As the industry continues to evolve, PICtraq remains at the forefront, driving advancements in animal genetics, one data point at a time. PICtraq will continue to help PIC and our customers maximize their genetic potential. For more information about PICtraq or our Genetic Services team, contact us.
