News Pig
Danish Crown finances stables to combat pig shortage
Not only in the Netherlands are slaughterhouses competing for the favour of pig farmers. Danish Crown is also doing everything it can to secure the supply of fattening pigs for both the short and long term. The Danish slaughterhouse recently announced various bonus schemes to fattening pig farmers in order to bind suppliers to it. It is now also investigating the possibilities of playing a role in the financing for the construction of new fattening pig houses.
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Early March, Danish Crown presented plans to make the supply of fattening pigs more attractive to suppliers. For example, it promised bonuses for pig farmers who want to grow or rent fattening pig stalls. There is also the possibility of signing a contract for the supply of heavier fattening pigs. This allows pig farmers to supply more kilos. This week, the company announced that it wants to finance the construction of new stalls in the future, possibly in collaboration with other investors.
Slaughter numbers shrink sharply
Danish slaughterhouses have seen a sharp decline in the number of slaughters in recent years. In 2021, 18,5 million pig slaughters were registered, in 2023 and 2024 the number of slaughters amounted to approximately 14,5 million. However, the export of piglets continued to grow strongly. In 2024, no fewer than 16,6 million piglets were exported to other countries.
Even if we look further back, a similar trend is visible. Around 2010, around 20 million pigs were slaughtered in the Netherlands and piglet exports amounted to around 8 million units per year. Although the number of slaughterings shrank by more than 25%, piglet exports rose by around 100%.
In order to keep more piglets in their own country, Danish Crown is now pulling out all the stops. The latest announced option should offer pig farmers the opportunity to obtain financing for the construction of pig houses for finishing pigs from Danish Crown. According to Danish Crown, the plan can ensure an additional supply of pigs for finishing within 18 to 30 months. According to the company, this supply is necessary to be able to operate cost-efficiently and profitably in the future and to be able to pay pig farmers the highest possible price.
High piglet export
The high export figures of piglets are a thorn in the side of the slaughter sector on the one hand, but at the same time they also offer opportunities. If the slaughter companies are able to bring sufficient value to the meat pigs, there will be enough domestic piglets available. With the announced measure, it hopes to be able to help companies that cannot obtain financing for new construction plans on their own. For the time being, the plan is not yet in a concrete elaboration phase, as the company itself indicates. A first meeting will be held soon for interested parties.