AI in Pig Production and More Robust Sows: What the Future of Pig Breeding Looks Like

The merger of Danish Genetics and Hypor into Hendrix Genetics Swine brings together decades of breeding expertise, technical knowledge and operational excellence under one global organization. But the true strength goes beyond combining two swine breeding programs. As part of Hendrix Genetics, the swine business also benefits from a unique multi-species network of geneticists, data scientists, engineers and researchers working across poultry, fish, turkeys and swine.

This shared expertise helps us develop new technologies and improve selection accuracy. A good illustration of this is the multispecies SNP chip, developed together with Illumina (one of the leading global players providing genetic and genomic solutions), which enables faster and more cost-effective genotyping across species and increases the use of genomic selection, ultimately accelerating genetic progress for our customers.

This collaborative mindset is also evident in our approach to research and development. Every project starts with a simple question: can we measure something better, and can that help us breed better pigs?

One example is Digi-Sow, where cameras and artificial intelligence continuously monitor sow movement. Instead of relying on occasional visual assessments, we can collect objective information about leg health throughout a sow's life. This opens new possibilities for improving robustness and longevity.

Another project, Farrowing Timelapse, uses computer vision to automatically record farrowing events. By measuring factors such as farrowing duration and intervals between piglet births, we can gain new insights into maternal performance and identify traits that may contribute to easier farrowing in the future.

With Infrared Thermography, researchers investigate how efficiently pigs use energy. Thermal cameras measure heat emission, helping identify animals that convert feed into growth more efficiently rather than losing energy as heat.

Some research projects have already become part of our breeding goals. Through Individual Birth Weight Registration, individual piglet weights are recorded at birth, allowing selection for more uniform litters. More uniform piglets generally have better survivability and require less intervention.

Similarly, Teat Functionality focuses not only on how many teats a sow has, but how many are actually functional. This trait is now included in our breeding goals to better support larger litters and improve piglet survival.

Other projects look even further ahead. Sow Lifetime Productivity aims to identify early-life indicators of long-term sow performance, while HeatGuard explores how nutrition, management and genetics can help animals cope with heat stress in a changing climate.

Whether it is improving piglet survivability, increasing sow longevity, enhancing feed efficiency or preparing animals for future challenges, every project has the same goal: helping our customers succeed.

By combining the expertise of Hendrix Genetics Swine and its global parent company, Hendrix Genetics, we continue to translate research into genetics that deliver value on farm, generation after generation.