I’m writing this article as over 600 delegates mingle at the annual Banff Pork Seminar. Interestingly a similar event takes place every two years in Herning, Denmark when producers, advisers, technicians and allied industry folk gather to get updated on topical issues related to Danish pig production. The event is organized by SEGES, the Danish pig research and advisory body, formerly known as VSP.

Pork exports are vital to the Danish economy and hence the industry has a large organization, SEGES which carries out research and gives advice to producers. SEGES has 160 employees with an annual budget of 15 million euros. It is not government funded but is paid for by production levies and by sales of Danish breeding stock and semen.

The conference runs over two days and for the last few years papers have been presented both in Danish and English. This is a reflection on the fact that many of the employees on Danish units are from Eastern Europe, Russia etc. and hence English is the spoken language on farms. Employees are encouraged to attend the conference as many of the papers relate to practical problems occurring daily on Danish units. The financial situation could be a lot better on many Danish farms, but even so the Conference had its usual buzz. The Danes have a history of pulling together which is a big help when there is too much red on the balance sheet.

DANISH PIG PRODUCTION –THE FACTS

“Pig production has not been profitable in Denmark since 2006,” stated SEGES expert Finn Udesen. Hardly something that his audience wanted to hear, but facts are facts. Many farmers are still struggling with borrowings from the 2008 financial crisis, hence investment has been at a low level over the last seven years. Exports of 30kg pigs have risen steadily each year from 5.3 million in 2008 to 10.8 million in 2014.

These pigs go mainly to Germany and Poland for growing on to slaughter, with some also travelling to the Netherlands and Italy and in fact Udesen predicts that 30kg pig exports will reach 15.4 million by 2020. On the other hand, slaughter pig numbers have fallen each year over the same period from 21.1million in 2008 to 18.7 in 2014 although total production has risen from 27.4million to 29.9. To boost exports of pork and to make incomes more stable Danish pig politicians brought in incentives in the autumn of 2013.

The “Herning Agreement” was aimed at reducing live exports and increasing home slaughter numbers. However, as the figures show, this initiative did not produce the desired result. As in most countries, Danish units have got bigger over the years but producer numbers have fallen, from 25000 in 1995 to 5000 ten years later. Karsten Fleming, another SEGES economist stated in his presentation that for 2016 EU pig meat production would remain stable that demand would be strong in China plus Denmark would have increased competition in export markets. Danish slaughter pig prices in 2016 would initially be lower than 2015 but would recover in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Claus Fertin is the new head of SEGES and he announced a new initiative designed to get producers to reduce 30kg exports and increase the production of slaughter pigs on Danish farms, which would mean more farm jobs and also increase jobs in the slaughter & processing sectors.

This initiative would increase stability in terms of margins and also increase Danish pig meat exports. How will this happen? Fertin explained that EU grants currently funding environmental schemes would be diverted to help fund new finishing accommodation and create much needed new investment.

MORE PIGLETS WILL SURVIVE ON DANISH FARMS

The very high litter size of DanAvl/Danbred is one of the key attractions of Danish seed stock. However increased stillbirths and high pre-weaning mortality go hand in hand with prolificacy and the Danish press has highlighted these losses, resulting in robust debate on this topic in the Danish parliament and by the general public, as welfare issues have a very high profile in Denmark.

In 2014, 78 per cent of piglets were alive at weaning. Moving forward, the industry, producers, vets and advisers are making big efforts to increase survivability and reduce losses.

“If anyone has an interest in ensuring improved survival, then it’s the pig producers themselves. There are clear benefits here,” commented Claus Fertin, Director of SEGES Pig Research Centre. The Danish Veterinary Association and SEGES Pig Research Centre estimate that as a result of this new agreement at least 500,000 extra piglets will survive each year thereby generating significantly increased earnings for the industry. Improved supervision of the sows at farrowing, better veterinary advice better sow and litter management and more training will all help keep more piglets alive and boost output.

REDUCING ZINC IN FEEDS

Although Danish pig producers currently use less zinc than that permitted, the industry is looking into the possibility of further reducing levels of zinc in the feed. According to SEGES, The Danish Pig Research Centre, it is important that the EU should follow a similar path.

The addition of zinc at weaning to treat outbreaks of diarrhea as an alternative to using antibiotics has been ongoing for some time. However, in addition to its prescription of zinc as a feed additive, some compound feeds used for finishers also contain zinc. SEGES is now seeking to reduce these levels.

“Around 70 per cent of the total zinc used is as a low level additive in all feed. This therefore is the right place to start. Last year we informed the European Food Agency that Denmark sees an opportunity to reduce the amount of added zinc in finished pig feeds. So far there has only been small scale research in the Netherlands to help plan for an overall reduction.

Consequently we’re now launching a larger trial and we expect the results to be available next year. This will enable the authorities both in Denmark and other countries to have a much better basis on which to make a decision. It is of course, important that the regulations are similarly applied throughout Europe, says Claus Fertin, SEGES’ Pig Research Centre Director.

In 2003, the maximum permitted level of zinc in pig feed was reduced from 250mg/kg to 150mg/kg, a reduction of 40 per cent. Today, about 80 per cent of the maximum amount is normally used in Denmark. The new trial will also determine whether the amount of zinc can be reduced from the maximum of 150mg/kg to 70mg/kg without compromising the pigs’ well being and growth.

Adding phytase to pig feeds is commonplace in Denmark. Initially this was done to aid the release of phosphorus in the feed. However, it has subsequently been discovered that phytase improves the digestibility of zinc in the feed, which is why Fertin is optimistic about the outcome of the trial. “One of the cornerstones of Danish pig production is that we use as little as possible and as much as necessary – regardless of whether we are talking about antibiotics – or zinc. I hope that our research will provide usable information, which may then inform discussions at an EU level,” commented Fertin.

A recent report from Aarhus University highlighted the increasing levels of zinc and copper that are building up in the soil, applied via pig slurry, and that in the long term these mineral levels should be reduced as these minerals then get absorbed by crops and eventually into the food chain. The Herning Congress keeps Danish producers up to speed plus of course is great for networking and the 2017 event will undoubtedly be eagerly awaited. •

—By Norman Crabtree