Eco-Efficient Pork: The Role of Genetics in Cutting Carbon Emissions

Jan 27, 2025

Reducing our global carbon emission is crucial for a number of reasons including climate change mitigation, sea level rise prevention, and air quality improvement. Addressing these concerns is a global responsibility to protect future generations. To do our part, we have now completed a report using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology to quantify the real impact of genetic improvement of Hypor pigs.

It is well known that animal protein production is a significant contributor to carbon emissions and in the past, efficiency of livestock systems was mainly driven by economic incentive. We are now committed to sustainable swine breeding that considers total impact including economics, ethics, and environmental impact. Choices we make in animal genetics today impact the future and are multiplied in the thousands or even millions of animals.

Where can genetics make an impact ?

Studies have demonstrated that genetic improvement leads to a visible reduction of the ecological footprint of the animal protein value chain. Feed is the main contributor to the ecological footprint of animal protein, and we sought out to answer the question: how do improved FCR rates contribute to lower CO2 emissions and reduced land usage by the commercial customers of our products?

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Video: Hendrix Genetics Swine Raises the Bar: Delivering Robust Genetics for Pork Producers

The swine genetics landscape is evolving rapidly, and Hendrix Genetics Swine is leading the way. In this exclusive interview, Bryce Martin discusses how the integration of Hypor, Danish Genetics and the newly introduced Nexus product line is creating one of the industry's most comprehensive genetic portfolios. Producers across Canada, the United States and Europe are facing increasing pressure to improve efficiency, animal health, survivability and profitability, and Hendrix Genetics Swine is responding with genetics designed to meet those challenges.
Martin explains how the strengths of Hypor's balanced and sustainable breeding approach combine with Danish Genetics' reputation for robustness, growth performance and productivity to deliver solutions tailored to a wide range of production systems. The discussion also explores the launch of Nexus 100, a new sow developed from the combined expertise of both genetic programs and designed to improve predictability, survivability and total system profitability. For more information visit: https://swine.hendrix-genetics.com/en/