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FARM VISIT ▶▶▶


and becomes much stronger and can focus on a more global role.”


He uses a similar phrase about the customer base. Pedersen managed to retain a couple of customers inside Denmark, but explains that the majority of Møllevang’s customers are in other European countries such as Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.


Farm structure


Three different nationalities at Møllevang Farm: Lars Hviid (Denmark), general manager; Adriana ‘Ady’ Neculaes (Romania), data analyst; and Iurii Demchenko (Ukraine), farm manager.


Møllevang is built up from two farm locations that are about 8km apart. One site is the nucleus herd, the other a multipli- cation unit for the breeding of F1 animals. On the nucleus site, which Pedersen calls “the lab”, Møllevang works in three large barns with purebred Landrace (now called PIC L04), Yorkshire (PIC L05) and Duroc (PIC 800) lines. This is where new pure line animals are born and maintained. It’s not economies of scale that count here, he explains, but genetic progress. “For a female you just have more chances to get through than a male,” Pedersen describes the detailed process on the basis of genomic selection and breeding val- ues. In case of the male pigs, around one in 100 will be used for breeding purposes. All will grow up as boars – once the best specimens have been identified, the rest will eventually be sold for use in sausages, at a lower market value than conventional pigs as they could not be castrated. Although not too much had to be changed after joining with PIC, there have been a few aspects of the breeding process Pedersen likes to accentuate. • Something they already used to do was measure the weights of all the piglets. This information in the long run provides an idea about the development of mortality reduction.


• Leg scoring has become an important aspect in the breeding process.


Gestating sows are kept in groups and provided with straw.


• Counting the number of teats is closely monitored – and if possible enhanced.


The farm is run by 35 employees from three different nation- alities, Pedersen explains – from Denmark, Ukraine and Ro- mania. Most have found their way to work in Danish farms, managed to speak Danish and are keen to build up their fu- ture in the country too. “We have clear rules – whenever someone has been visiting their home country, they have to be in quarantine in Denmark for three days before they can start working on the farm again.”


Win-win situation?


Yorkshire gilts in group housing. 22


On paper, the cooperation with PIC was a win-win situation. What is the feeling after more than a year working together? Pedersen is clear about that. “I now have a more direct say in what is going to happen with my genetics. I’m still convinced I have made the right decision for the future of the Møllevang genes – and last but not least for me and my family.” So all in all, a fortunate man he is, in more than one way.


▶PIG PROGRESS | Volume 36, No. 2, 2020


PHOTO: PIC


PHOTO: PIC


PHOTO: VINCENT TER BEEK


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