History

In the spring of 1942, W.J. (Webb) Stewart hooked his homemade two wheel trailer to the back of his Chevy Coup and traveled to Ames, Iowa to the bred sow sale of Sunset Knoll Farms. Accompanying him was his wife Agnes and 2 year old son David. Coming home with them was their first Duroc sow Lassy Sunset. Each of the next several years, a bred sow was purchased on order by the Duroc Registry field staff. David recalls the excitement of going to the Burt, Iowa train depot to pick up these sows which were crated and shipped by rail.

In 1962 Stewarts submitted their 1st pen of pigs to the Iowa Swine Testing Station at Ames, Iowa. Soon pigs were continuously tested at all Iowa boar testing stations. “Progress through Testing” became both our motto and the basis of our breeding program. Stewart’s Durocs spoke for themselves as they continually topped the test station sales.

In 1984 upon graduation from Iowa State University, Douglas became the third generation Stewart to breed Durocs. He returned to Waverly to a 2nd farm purchased to split the herd for health security.

The Stewarts met and developed a close friendship with Carl Stein when he was herdsman for longtime Duroc breeder Joe Dimig. In 1988 Carl purchased a farm at Odessa, Missouri and from that day forward Stein and Stewart Genetics have partnered in raising SPF genetics.

On March 23, 1986 Stewarts submitted their first performance records to the STAGES whole herd performance testing program. Since that time all boars and gilts raised have been real-time ultra scanned and STAGES performance data submitted on every animal. Numerous boars produced by Stewart’s Duroc Farm and Stein and Stewart Genetics have been ranked as the top sires in the Duroc breed for both terminal and maternal traits.

Yorkshires, Hampshires, crossbred boars and white line gilts have been added to Stewart’s Duroc Farm and Stein and Stewart Genetics since 1990.

Adding New Technology
1962 First pigs submitted to Iowa Swine Testing Station
1965 First pigs exported – to Thailand
1966 First pigs scanned on farm with A mode machine
1976 First 21 day litter weights measured
1986 Whole herd performance testing started
1986 First STAGES submitted
1987 Stein and Stewart SPF herd developed
1990 Began using real-time ultrasound
1994 Began stress testing all lines
1998 First muscle quality work
1999 Began DNA banking all sires


Past Herdsires Ranked #1 in Duroc Breed
Years Sire Traits
1993-1994 Upbeat Days, MLI, SPI, #BA
1995-1998 Great Dane TSI, MLI
1995-1996 Universal Litter Wt.
1996-1998 St. Bernard TSI, BF
1998 Clydesdale TSI
1998-2000 Great Dane 164-1 Lbs. Lean
2000-2003 Triple Dane Lbs. Lean, MLI
2001 Cappone TSI, Days
2001-2003 Red Rock Lbs. Lean
2002-2003 Kobe TSI, MLI, Days
2003-2004 Next Level TSI, Days

TSI = Terminal Sire Index
MLI= Maternal Line Index
SPI= Sow Productivity Index
Days= Days to 250 pounds
BF= Backfat
Lbs. Lean= Pounds of Lean in Carcass
#BA= Number Born Alive
Litter Wt.= 21 Day Litter Weight