UK v Denmark: How pig producers compare

Can UK pig production be compared with the Danish and what lessons can be learned from our Danish counterparts?

Many UK pig producers look to the Danish for ideas when it comes to operation and management systems to help improve on-farm performance.

But it is important to consider several factors, such as the difference in our end markets, before making like-for-like comparisons, says Dr Steve Jagger, ABN’s pig nutritionist.

“When we look at the infrastructure of the UK pig industry, and the market dynamics of the sector, there are several differences to take into account.

“For example, the fact our end markets are different is a big consideration. The majority of UK producers are rearing pigs from birth to finish, under specific contracts. Whereas, in Denmark almost half of all weaner pigs are exported to other EU states, mainly Poland and Germany,” he adds.

See also: How Danish pig farmer has cut ration costs and improved pig health

These differences could help identify why there are clear performance gaps between the two countries, says Dr Jagger.

“Consequently, to optimise returns and make the most of this market, Danish producers have had to focus on maximising number of pigs weaned per sow per year.

“This could be one answer why the average number of pigs weaned per sow per year is 4.89 piglets greater in Denmark than the UK. But, to achieve this, operation and management systems have been specifically developed in Denmark,” adds Dr Jagger.

“Alternatively, in the UK, production is focused on improving the efficiency of our finishing herd. A different skill set is needed, and genetics and nutrition have a key role to play here, for which advances are being made in this area all the time in the UK.”

While key performance indicators (KPIs) are critical to improving performance, comparing UK and Danish systems is not realistic because of their distinct differences, he warns.

“We can still look to Denmark for guidance, particularly with regard to improving growth rates and number of pigs reared per sow. But, comparing a predominantly weaner-based system to a finisher system is not necessarily realistic, and this is something we should be weary of when comparing ourselves with Denmark.

“At the end of the day, some of our top UK herds are already on a par with Danish recorded averages, so the gap isn’t as wide as people often think,” he adds.

See also: What EU ammonia rules could mean for UK pig producers    

Lisbeth Shooter, head of the feed efficiency department at the Danish pig research centre, says that doesn’t mean UK pig producers can’t learn from their Danish counterparts.

“One of the key areas that Danish producers are leading the way on is recording all performance data, and regularly analysing and using this information to adapt and improve on-farm performance, from individual feed curves to KPI statistics.

“We’ve worked hard to change the mindset of producers in Denmark, and inform them of the benefits of using this information to their advantage. And now they’re seeing the results,” she says.

“However, there is still room for improvement in the Danish pig system. As a nation we look for inspiration from other countries such as Holland and the US, for areas we can learn from to continue to improve performance.

“Having an awareness and understanding of how performance data could be used is a simple way to identify areas of a business that could be tweaked to help decrease costs and improve performance. This is something UK pig producers can definitely learn from,” says Ms Shooter.

Comparison of UK and Danish pig production systems