A comparison of US and Danish swine production practices

John T. Waddell, Sutton Veterinary Clinic, Sutton, NE

Denmark is the leading exporter of pork in the world. Denmark has achieved this position despite obstacles that have left their neighboring swine industries floundering. Denmark is less than 17,000 square miles (about one third the size of Iowa) but produces about one forth as many hogs as does the entire U.S. Denmark imports much of the protein it feeds to pigs and does not have the climate or growing season amendable to growing corn. Danish producers cannot use antimicrobials as growth enhancers and they cannot obtain antibiotics for therapy without a veterinarian's prescription. Danish producers are in the process of eliminating individual gestation stalls for sow housing as well as adapting to much more stringent welfare and environmental regulations than U.S. producers are accustomed to.

How does a country with such few natural advantages in livestock agriculture maintain a world class reputation in pork production? They decided a long time ago that if they were to survive and prosper, they would only do it by banding together and cooperating on all aspects of the swine industry. They organized their entire national swine industry into a unique in the world cooperative that controls every step of production from genetic improvement to export marketing. This presentation will compare and contrast the swine production practices of Denmark to those of the United States and attempt to explain how two swine industries a world apart have been able to grow and compete for world market share in very different ways.