Danish approach boosts NI pig performance

摘要

Increasing numbers of pig producers are using Danish genetics in Northern Ireland, with the aim of producing pigs with higher daily liveweight gains, bigger litters and high lean-meat percentage. Derek Warke manages a 1,200-sow unit for Malcolm Keys at Clogher, near Omagh, County Tyrone, and began using Danish (DanBred) semen two years ago. The business operates a Landrace nucleus within a herd of PIC-bred stock and in 2011 these sows were served with DanBred semen. The DanBred breeding programme uses performance, fertility and carcass traits as selection criteria.