Danish Genetics breeding goal improve the nutrient utilization

Danish Pig Genetics makes pig production more sustainable by increasing feed efficiency, as “Saved Feed” is a part of the breeding programs for all Danish Pig Genetics’ three breeds. By selecting for Saved feed, Danish Genetics further increases the genetic progress on efficiency, and subsequently improves slaughter pig producers profitability and decrease the environmental pollution of pork production.

Saved Feed

Selection for Saved feed increases the genetic progress for a more efficient pork production. Saved feed is described as gram of feed saved per day that is not used for gain of valuable lean meat and maintenance.

Saved feed looks into the feed intake consumption and defines how much of the diet is allocated to weight gain during growing and finishing period, fat content, and maintenance requirements. Therefore, Saved feed will be independent of growth and carcass quality traits, therefore, a faster response in genetic development is expected to be made on net feed efficiency.

Economic and Environmental Sustainability

The breeding goal, Saved feed, contributes to a more sustainable pig production in both economic and environmental areas. Feed constitutes for around 60 % of the total costs to pig production and thereby a high feed efficiency is essential to increased profit of pig producers.

With Saved feed, which increases the genetic progress further, the pig producers can decrease their costs to feed. This will at the same time have a positive impact on the environment as it will decrease the amount of land needed to grow feed for the same number of animals.

Additionally, it is expected that the new breeding goal will decrease the pollution of greenhouse gases and nutrients. Thereby the involvement of the breeding goal, Saved feed, in the breeding program contributes to a more sustainable pig production.