Pigs
Cooperatives and privately owned companies organise the pig breeding industry in Europe. They are world leaders in their sector.
Pure bred animals of several specialised sire and dam lines in nucleus herds form the top of the breeding pyramid. These are providing the animals used for cross-breeding for the production level. The breeding goals have evolved from highly heritable traits, such as growth, feed efficiency and carcass composition to now include sustainability related traits, such as litter size, piglet vitality, sow longevity and meat quality.
Pure bred animals of several specialised sire and dam lines in nucleus herds form the top of the breeding pyramid. These are providing the animals used for cross-breeding for the production level. The breeding goals have evolved from highly heritable traits, such as growth, feed efficiency and carcass composition to now include sustainability related traits, such as litter size, piglet vitality, sow longevity and meat quality.