Last week, we left sunny Son for an inspiring study trip with a group of young entrepreneurs. A coach full of enthusiastic pig farmers travelled to Denmark, where we were introduced to the Danish breeding organisation DanBred and met fellow entrepreneurs from the region.
We had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see how a young, modern breeding organisation like DanBred manages to bring predictability in animal breeding to an exceptionally high level, through extensive data analysis and in-depth research. Truly impressive.
Even more striking was the visit to Danish sow farms. These farms demonstrated what genetic progress looks like in practice when powered by such a breeding engine: operations with over 1,200 sows effortlessly weaning 43 strong, healthy piglets – piglets that go on to become highly efficient finishing pigs. In the barns, the young entrepreneurs received detailed explanations of how these farms consistently achieve such top-tier performance. It was a strong confirmation that the breeding engine is doing exactly what it's designed to: producing robust, efficient pigs for a delicious and healthy cut of meat.
And yes, we were also well looked after in terms of food and drink. We had the chance to taste for ourselves just how good that meat really is – and we noticed how efficiently Danish beer is poured, with hardly any of that 20% foam loss 😊.
On our final day, we visited another testing station where the top boars are evaluated – the candidates for tomorrow's peak performers. It offered a great insight into what lies ahead.
With our heads full of impressions, we began the journey home – tired, but thoroughly satisfied. History seems to be repeating itself: where England was once the cradle of global pig breeding fifty years ago, it’s now Denmark that has taken on that role. It’s no coincidence that Danish genetics are used worldwide by numerous breeding organisations.
All in all: a successful, enjoyable and educational study trip!
Due to the great success of our last trip, we are planning another one soon. Would you like to join us? Sign up in advance at: [email protected] and we will keep you informed once the date is confirmed.