The Danish Pigmeat Industry

Danish farmers produce approx. 25 million pigs annually. More than 85 % of this production is exported. This makes Denmark the world’s largest exporter of pigmeat. It also makes pigmeat one of Denmark ’s most important export products at around 6 % of total value.

High veterinary standards have been vital in maintaining the export of Danish pigmeat. The industry invests significant resources to protect its high health status. As a result Denmark is free from many pig diseases, which otherwise would have prevented access to major export markets.

Family holdings and owner-occupiers are characteristic of Danish agriculture. Pig production is no exception, and Denmark has some 10,000 pig producers.

There are still fewer pig producers, whereas the production has increased throughout many years. As a result of this development the number of large pig farms increases. However, environmental claims such as claims of balance between size and adjoining land, limits the size of the holdings.

There has been a parallel development in the slaughtering and processing industry. Thirty five years ago there were more than 70 slaughterhouse companies – to day just two remain. This development has followed a series of mergers and amalgamations, which aimed to ensure that the industry remained highly competitive by international standards.

The co-operative system plays a significant role in Danish agriculture. More than 90 % of the Danish pig production are slaughtered, processed and marketed by co-operative companies, owned and managed by the pig producers. Much of the further processing and other affiliated industries are also run on co-operative principles.

Exports
More than 85 % of the Danish pigmeat production is exported. Danish pigmeat and meat products are exported to all over the world, the principal markets being the EU-countries, in particular Germany, the United Kingdom, Franceand Italy . However, Japan, Russiaand the US are also significant markets.

Most Danish pigmeat is exported as chilled and frozen cuts. Bacon used to be the main export product. Today bacon only takes a smaller share of the total export. A wide range of canned and processed meats also account for a significant part of the overall export.

Most Danish pigmeat products are used as raw material for meat processing in the importing countries. Continuous efforts are made to meet the demands of the processing industry abroad by establishing quality measures of Danish pig production.

“Tailor-made” cuts – boneless, derinded, defatted or added value products – are produced to meet the requirements of today’s market and have replaced the trade in bulk commodity products.

Although commercial companies are responsible for the sales and marketing of Danish pigmeat products to export markets, Danske Slagterier organises a number of industry campaigns on markets such as Germany, UKand Japan . In the UKand Japan the well known “Danish” logo is used to promote Danish pigmeat products.

Organisation
Danske Slagterier (DS), known in English as the Danish Bacon & Meat Council, is the umbrella organisation for the two co-operative slaughterhouses, Danish Crown and Tican , and the pig farmers who own them. A number of companies related to the industry are also members of DS.

Danish Pig Production is responsible for the national research and development tasks relating to the live pig and for the presentation of the acquired knowledge.

Danish Pig Production is established by the three basic organisations Danske Slagterier, Danish Agriculture and the National Union of Danish Pig Farmers .