Danish and UK Pig Production Insights

Pig Welfare and Costs of Production

• Objectives:
  • Discuss the impact of welfare on pig production economics.
  • Discuss if welfare and economics are opposing objectives.
  • Identify differences in UK pig production systems compared to other countries.
  • Analyze the pork market in 2023 (using infographics).

Comparative Analysis

• UK pig sector often argues that higher welfare standards are more costly, making them uncompetitive with EU rivals. They may either have different rules or disregard applicable EU regulations.
• Netherlands and, especially, Denmark (Danish Bacon) are seen as the most competitive rivals, contributing to reduced margins in the UK.

UK Total Pig Herd

• Data shows a fluctuating total pig herd in the UK from 2000-2023.
• Graph displays weekly estimate of the GB slaughterings clean pig numbers (000 head) from 2022-2024.

EU Pig Producer Comparison - Numbers

• UK:
  • Total Pig Holdings: 11,300.
  • Breeding Sow Holdings: 6,000.
  • Total breeding Herd (Heads): 407,000.
• Denmark:
  • Total Pig Holdings: 3,861.
  • Breeding Sow Holdings: 672.
  • Total breeding Herd (Heads): 782,000.

EU Pig Producer Comparison - Buildings

• UK:
  • Producers must comply with DEFRA and "Red Tractor" standards.
  • Ammonia and odour legislation is to be introduced.
  • Majority straw-based systems.
  • 40% outdoor bred pigs.
• Denmark:
  • Strict environmental legislation to reduce ammonia and odour.
  • Majority part slatted or drained floor systems.
  • < 10% outdoor bred pigs.

EU Pig Producer Comparison - Markets

• UK:
  • Majority of producers fulfill "finishing contracts" with various suppliers with differing specs.
  • 8.1 million pigs finished for slaughter in 2023.
• Denmark:
  • Danish Crown and Tonnies are primary farmer-led cooperatives.
  • 90% of Danish Pork production is through these two cooperatives.
  • 28 million pigs finished for slaughter in 2015 (last data available).
  • ~11 million weaners exported to EU states (mostly Poland & Germany) in 2015.

EU Pig Producer Comparison - Genetics

• UK:
  • Majority of breeding sows are Landrace, Large White, and Duroc hybrids.
  • Focus is on fat levels, lean meat percentage, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and daily live weight gain (DLG).
• Denmark:
  • Majority of breeding sows are Danbred.
  • Focus is on feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily live weight gain (DLG), and lean meat percentage.

EU Pig Producer Comparison - Nutrition

• UK:
  • Focus on improving efficiency of nutrient use.
  • Feeding sows during lactation is a key focus area.
  • Current ABN research priorities incorporate improving piglet viability, transition feeding, and relationship between nutrient level and performance response.
• Denmark:
  • DanBred genetics require producers to continually address nutritional requirements for optimal results across all phases of feeding, targeting diets for gilts and sows throughout their breeding cycle.

EU Pig Producer Comparison - KPI

• UK:
  • Average pigs born alive per sow: 29
  • Average pig born alive per litter: 12.65
  • Average pigs weaned per litter: 11.22
  • Average Litters per sow per year: 2.29
  • Average pigs weaned, sow / year: 25.71
  • Average weaned piglet weight: 7.25 kg
• Denmark:
  • Average pigs born alive per sow: 35.3
  • Average pig born alive per litter: 15.6
  • Average pigs weaned per litter: 13.4
  • Average Litters per sow per year: 2.26
  • Average pigs weaned, sow/year: 30.6
  • Average weaned piglet weight: 6.9 kg

EU Pig Producer Comparison - Cost of Production

• UK:
  • £135 per kg dead weight.
  • 58% of cost is feed.
• Denmark:
  • £119 per kg dead weight.
  • 59% of cost is feed.

"The 5 Freedoms"

• Applied by DEFRA as a basis.
  • Suitable environment (housing).
  • Suitable diet (feed and water).
  • Ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns (e.g., foraging).
  • Protection from pain, suffering, injury, disease.
  • Needs to be housed with or apart from conspecifics if appropriate.

Higher Welfare Indoor Systems

• Pigs are kept in groups with straw/bedding for rooting.
• Opportunities for natural behaviours are improved (free movement, less crowding), but outdoor access is typically not provided.
• Deep-bedded systems can offer foraging and comfort.
• Sows may still farrow in crates or huts/pens in some systems.

"Lower Cost" Systems

• Slatted floors are used to reduce waste management.
• Waste accumulates under the pigs (in a midden) and is removed periodically (e.g., with a slurry tanker).
• Some concerns about potential noxious gases and odour produced in these environments.

Higher Welfare Pig Housing

• Housing features deep litter (straw, peanut shells), use of outdoors (Pigloos), soil enriched pens for play, bales of straw, footballs or feed dispensers, and interactive feeders.
• Emphasis on allowing natural behaviours (e.g., rooting, foraging).

Pig Health

• Pigs are susceptible to various notifiable diseases, including African swine fever, anthrax, Aujeszky's disease (pseudo rabies), classical swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, rabies, swine vesicular disease, Teschen disease (pig encephalomyelitis), and vesicular stomatitis.

Emerging Health Issues

• Porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDv).
• African swine fever.
• Porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome.

Summary

• Pig welfare is a UK priority even if it potentially impacts production economics.
• Disease control in pigs is essential due to transmission to and by human vectors.
• Pig production economics are linked but not entirely driven by welfare.

The Danbred Breed

• This breed combines Yorkshire, Landrace, and Duroc genetics. Crucially, it is often associated with high output results.

Slatted Flooring - Welfare Economics

• Details of this pig-housing system are included.

Potential Effects from Pig Slurry

• Potential issues associated with the gaseous combustion of pig slurry under slatted floors are addressed.

Weekly Estimated GB Slaughterings

• Charts of estimated UK pig slaughterings (clean pigs) in 000 heads from 2022 to 2024, shown by week, are presented.

African Swine Fever Map

• A map highlighting the global presence of ASF in 2023 is provided.

5 Freedoms (Detailed Table):

• A clear table provides the 5 freedoms with the corresponding domains (Nutrition, Physical Environment, Health, Behavioural interactions, Mental state). This is a concise, easily-understood breakdown of the categories.

Test your knowledge on the key aspects of pig production in Denmark and the UK. This quiz covers important statistics, genetic focuses, and production standards relevant to both countries. Ideal for students and professionals in agricultural science.