Revealing the True Value of Pork: Beyond the Price Tag

Pork: A Nutritional Powerhouse That’s Undervalued

Pork is the most consumed animal protein globally, and for good reason. It offers an excellent balance of affordability, taste, and nutrition. Rich in essential amino acids, the protein of pork plays a vital role in a balanced, healthy diet. It’s also versatile and adaptable across a wide range of cuisines and lifestyles.

Yet despite its nutritional benefits, pork often faces a perception challenge. Because it's typically less expensive than other meats, consumers may undervalue its quality. This mindset overlooks the science, effort, and innovation behind every pork chop—especially when produced with advanced swine genetics and a focus on sustainability from farrow to finish.

Why Pork Price Per Pound Doesn’t Tell the Full Story

In most industries, lower prices suggest lower quality. But in agriculture, especially in pork production, we shape pricing by transparency and global food accessibility. The pork industry has historically operated on a cost-plus basis to keep food affordable and reduce global hunger.

That affordability, however, masks the true value built into the system. From housing and feed to health management and labor, the cost of producing a high-quality swine carcass is significant. How do we therefore shift the conversation from price to value?

How Hendrix Genetics Swine Drives Real Value

Swine genetics play a critical role in creating long-term value across the pork value chain. At Hendrix Genetics Swine, we develop tailored genetic solutions that account for regional production systems, environmental pressures, and evolving market needs. It’s not just about pigs that perform well. It’s about pigs that thrive in their specific environments.

Breeding programs must test and select animals in the conditions they will live in, ensuring genetic gains translate into actual farm-level results. That’s why we focus on offering customized, high-quality swine genetics that support producers' goals—from piglet quality and robustness to feed efficiency and carcass yield.

By improving performance predictability and matching the right animals to the right systems, we help pork producers bridge the gap between cost and value. This results in better outcomes from farrow to finish.

Reducing Waste = Increasing Value

One of the biggest barriers to capturing pork’s true value is waste—especially during the grow-to-finish phase. High mortality rates, poor growth performance, and inconsistent pigs represent lost potential, wasted resources, and increased production costs.

At Hendrix Genetics Swine, we breed animals to be more self-reliant and resilient. Pigs that require less intervention from farm workers, foster mothers, or medical treatment not only reduce labor and input costs but also support higher overall system efficiency. Less waste means better economics and stronger sustainability across the board.

Moreover, animals that survive but struggle through production often have poor feed conversion. Pigs that suffer more from disease challenges will not grow or produce as well as stronger, more resilient animals.

These inefficiencies reduce the overall value of the pork supply chain. That’s why we focus on starting strong. We select for more resilient pigs with better social behavior, stronger immunity, and enhanced adaptability right from the start. Doing so helps us minimizing production delays and losses. These improvements directly impact the quality of the swine carcass and, ultimately, enhance the protein of pork offered to consumers.

Whether it’s a pig’s ability to convert feed efficiently or its potential to reach market weight with minimal loss, the goal is clear. We aim to increase the output of high quality pork while minimizing input costs and inefficiencies.

Genetics as the Starting Point

There’s no single solution to closing the value gap in pork production. But swine genetics—especially those tailored to real-world production environments—are a powerful place to start. That is where our Hypor and Danish Genetics brands play their role. Through smart genetic selection and a commitment to total system efficiency, we help unlock the full potential of each pig and deliver consistent, high-value results across the pork value chain.

By redefining how we measure success—not just in terms of pork price per lb, but in terms of protein quality, efficiency, and reduced waste—we can reshape the conversation and elevate the true value of pork in the current market.