The race toward the perfect balance

Efficiency Built on Robustness in Modern Danish Pig Production

For years, the balance between efficiency and robustness has been a central theme in Danish pig production. Many have seen it as a contradiction: that you had to choose between high efficiency or strong robustness in the herd.

But the truth remains the same as we have said since 2018: Robustness is not the opposite of efficiency, it is the foundation for it.

At Danish Genetics, we have for years invested heavily in traits such as sow longevity, health robustness and piglet survival. It’s a choice that has paid off, not only for us, but for the Danish farmers who today reap the benefits of stronger animals, better survival, and greater production stability.

A New Starting Point: We Already Lead in Weaning Performance

In recent years, Danish Genetics herds have undergone a significant shift: we already wean more pigs per sow per year on average than the Danish competition.

This is not a coincidence. It is the result of:

• Lower sow mortality
• Higher piglet survival
• Stable production in practice

When the foundation is strong, weaning performance is the first place it becomes visible. And that is exactly why we are now in a completely different place than just a few years ago: Efficiency now has a stable foundation and we can build further.

The Next Step: more liveborn, without compromise

With a strong and well‑documented lead on weaning, the next natural development path opens: increasing the number of liveborn piglets per litter.

In the past, such a strategy might have been risky. More liveborn without the necessary robustness would lead to lower survival, more pressure on the sow, and increased workload.

We are also seeing Danish competitors now redirecting their breeding focus toward robustness, an important and necessary shift, although such transitions often come with a temporary reduction in liveborn numbers as herds rebalance.

But today the reality is different:

• Our sows already have significantly higher survival than the Danish market.
• Piglet survival has increased over the years through targeted selection.
• Stability within Danish Genetics herd means that more liveborn in the future will actually become more weaned.

This is precisely why we can now place greater emphasis on the number of liveborn without weakening the traits that drive on‑farm economics.

What Does This Mean for the Farmer?

It means one central message:

When robustness is in place, every additional liveborn piglet becomes real value.

In practice, this results in:

• More pigs leaving the barn
• Greater production potential per sow per year
• Lower risk and greater predictability
• Better economic return in periods of market pressure

It also means that Danish farmers can have the best of both worlds:

• A breeding program that delivers stable sows and strong piglets
• A rising number of liveborn with high survival
• A long‑term strategy where progress happens in balance not through compromises

Why Is This Important for Danish Production Now?

Because Danish pig production is in the middle of a decisive race.

Not only against other countries, but against the increasing demands of society:

• Lower environmental impact
• Fewer losses and higher animal welfare
• Greater economic robustness in volatile markets

Therefore, it is no longer enough to be the most efficient on paper. You must be the most efficient in practice every day, in every section, in every type of herd.

This requires genetics that can withstand real‑world conditions and robustness as the foundation, and it requires a next step that builds on that strength.

This is where the next generation of Danish pig production takes shape:

Stronger animals, greater potential, and an even more sustainable efficiency.