News article, 26. November 2021
Highlights from this year’s Pig Congress 2021
This year’s Danish Pig Congress: sustainability in pig production, future food production and research into feeding methods for market development
This year’s Danish Pig Congress offered many presentations on topics ranging from sustainability in pig production, future food production, research into feeding methods for market development and an overview of the financial position of Danish pig producers over the past year.
How can climate and sustainability be integrated into Danish pig meat production? A presentation given by the Director of the World Resource Institute, Esben Lunde Larsen, focused on how the climate and sustainability can be integrated into Danish pig production.
Read also: Annual Report: an insight into Danish pig meat production in 2020
Looking to the future, consumers are likely to demand that food products are produced on the basis of green solutions. Consequently, climate and sustainability are regarded as two significant factors which will have high priority on the international agenda. For this reason, it may be beneficial for producers with an eye on competitive advantage to integrate sustainability and the climate into Danish pig meat production. These considerations were also among the key messages in the presentation on future food production, given by Danish Crown’s CEO Jais Valeur.
Read also: Danes willing to change behaviour to support the climate and sustainability
Feed consumption can contribute to sustainable and profitable pig production
Sustainable production should also be profitable. In a presentation given by Per Tybirk and Michael Holm from SEGES Danish Pig Research Centre, feed composition and feed consumption were mentioned as some of the key concepts for sustainable and profitable pig production. In this respect, the focal point is the carbon footprint of the raw materials that constitute pig feed. Feeding method also plays a role in sustainable pig production. Within the same context, another presentation covered new research into ad libitum feeding compared to restricted feeding.
Read also: Domestic protein alternatives
Focus on climate accounts
Technical solutions and new housing systems also play a part in more climate-friendly and sustainable pig production. Climate accounts need to be settled and reduced. How important is frequent discharge from housing units, air purification, and the role of other environmental technology in reducing ammonia emissions, odour and methane in pig production?
Read also: Pig production contributes to sustainable technologies of the future
Breeding, genetics and technological solutions
Sows and pigs also came under the spotlight at this year’s congress. Several presentations dealt with breeding and genetics and the sustainable sow. New farrowing pens, milking cup systems or a reduction in sow numbers are some of the many methods that producers can try out to cope with the increasing numbers of new-born piglets while not compromising on the sow’s welfare and sustainability.
Read also: Sustainable and climate-friendly pig meat production is achieved through breeding work
The Health Wheel. SOURCE: SEGES
The health wheel: a SEGES tool for maintaining a high standard of welfare in pig production
This year’s congress also demonstrated the new health wheel. The wheel is a tool developed by SEGES Danish Pig Research Centre in collaboration with INudgeYou. The tool will make it easier for stockpersons to take the appropriate action when handling sick and injured pigs. The tool helps to maintain a high standard of welfare in finisher production.
In-depth series of articles from the Pig Congress in the coming newsletters
Topics such as the phasing out of zinc, the Danish and international economy post-Covid, piglet production and the economics of organic pig production are some of the other areas covered at this year’s pig congress. Over the months ahead, a series of articles in our newsletter will cover various presentations from the congress in more depth.