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After 9 months of extensive work with some of the world’s leading experts in genetics Danish Genetics is ready to announce their updated breeding program and breeding goals for both maternal and terminal lines.
"The aim of the breeding program is to provide superior genetic material that maximizes the profitability of our customers along the whole pork value chain. This is achieved by our breeding objective which focus on breeding for robustness, reproduction, mothering ability, efficiency, growth, and carcass quality. Our Danish Genetics Index (DGI) is a specialized index that combine economically important traits in a balanced way to maximize the genetic progress towards a more economically profitable pork production for the pig producers globally,” explains Lars Dall, CEO of Danish Pig Genetics.
The breeding company explains that the breeding goal traits are specifically considered to have economic importance to pork producers and has great genetic potential for genetic improvement towards the market demand. The economic emphasis on the breeding goal traits are obtained through Danish Genetics bio-economic model. The economic parameters are updated regularly to consider all the economic aspects and future trends in the market to ensure our customers get maximum profit from the pig production.
Maternal Index
Danish Pig Genetics have designed the breeding objective for maternal lines of Danish Landrace and Danish Yorkshire by having sow producers in mind.
“The maternal index stands for maternal characteristics that produce the optimum crossbred F1 sow in the market. The objective is to produce strong and high productive sows that optimize the production profitability. Therefore, the emphasis is on robustness, reproduction, and mothering ability as well as growth and efficiency,” explains Dr. Mahmoud Shirali, Senior Geneticist at Danish Pig Genetics.
This index is expected to yield substantial genetic trends for both maternal breeds.
Danish Genetics Landrace is known for long and large body size with excellent number of teats and milking ability with offspring that grow fast and are efficient. Danish Genetics Yorkshire are known for compact and muscular body that yield more viable piglets which combined with robust body structure make them a breed with excellent stayability
As result of this updated breeding program, Danish Genetics Landrace and Yorkshire sows are expected to have higher mothering ability, and stronger body structure and longevity with stronger and more viable live piglets with fast growth and high efficiency.
Terminal Index
The breeding objective for terminal line of Danish Duroc is to maximize the profitability for slaughter pig producers, slaughterhouses and meat processing companies, and consumer satisfaction. This is achieved through putting emphasis on trait categories such as growth, efficiency, and carcass quality.
“Danish Genetics Duroc breed is internationally known for its excellent growth, efficiency and superior carcass and meat quality. The updated breeding program is capitalizing on this genetic excellence and pushes further with efficiency and growth as well as fertility in Duroc male as more viable slaughter piglet has substantial economic value for the pig producers globally,” Senior geneticist Dr. Mahmoud Shirali at Danish Pig Genetics explains.
"Danish Genetics is committed to providing superior genetic material to the global pig market with exceptional performance and resilience in range of environments. This is achieved through our extensive breeding program that balances the trait emphasis and diversifies the breeding goal traits,” says Lars Dall.
April 2020 - Danish Genetics
