Introduction: Why Future-Proofing Matters in Female Pig Genetics
For decades, pig production was primarily driven by a singular focus: output maximization. Genetic selection programs prioritized prolificacy, growth rate, and throughput, while producers worked to optimize feed cost per kilogram of gain. The objective was clear—produce more pigs, more efficiently.
However, the landscape of global pork production has evolved. Today, sustainability, resource efficiency, animal longevity, and innovation are not peripheral concerns—they are central to long-term profitability, regulatory compliance, and market access. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), livestock production accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and pork is responsible for approximately 9% of this footprint, making the sector a critical focus for climate action initiatives. Furthermore, consumer and retailer expectations increasingly demand traceable environmental metrics and animal welfare outcomes alongside performance indicators.
Recognizing these shifts, PIC reimagined the role of female genetics—not as a trade-off between sustainability and productivity, but as a convergent solution. Through a multi-trait selection approach that includes feed efficiency, sow longevity, structural soundness, and reproductive performance, PIC developed maternal lines that meet the complex demands of modern production.
As a result, producers no longer need to choose between high output and low impact, or between short-term performance and long-term resilience. Instead, they can access female lines—such as Camborough® and X54®—that deliver future-proof performance, supported by real-world data, environmental validation, and scalable technology.
In today’s environment, the most successful pork producers are no longer those who pursue marginal gains in isolation, but those who integrate genetic, economic, and environmental value into every sow and every litter.
Read more: The role of genetics in a more sustainable pork industry – PIC UK
Proven Sustainability Impact
Translating Genetic Efficiency into Environmental Value
Sustainability in pig production is no longer a theoretical goal—it is a business imperative. Across global markets, there is mounting pressure to demonstrate measurable reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, resource usage, and environmental footprint per kilogram of pork produced. Yet, few producers recognize that the foundation of true sustainability lies in genetics.
Genetic progress—unlike nutrition or management interventions—is cumulative, compounding year over year. PIC’s breeding programs emphasize simultaneous improvement in key traits: feed conversion ratio (FCR), piglet survivability, and carcass yield. This approach drives systemic efficiency improvements across production stages.
According to PIC’s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)-certified data, these multi-trait gains have resulted in:
• –12% reduction in GHG emissions per pig (2023 vs. 2016)
• An annual FCR improvement of 0.015, equivalent to ~9.8 kg of feed per year/pig
• An increase of +3.5 pigs/sow/decade with the Camborough® line
• Higher lean yield, which reduces waste and increases meat output per unit of input
These improvements don’t occur in isolation. Better FCR reduces the need for corn and soy, cutting the embedded emissions of feed. Improved survivability lowers energy and water waste associated with non-viable piglets. Enhanced carcass value maximizes product output per animal, reducing environmental cost per saleable kilogram.
Both the Camborough® and X54® maternal lines integrate these gains. Camborough® emphasizes cost-effective, low-impact production, while X54® increases output per sow space, especially in higher throughput systems—without sacrificing ecological efficiency.
Scientific perspective: According to MacLeod et al. (2020, FAO), improving productivity per sow is one of the most effective strategies to lower emissions intensity in pork production systems.
Read more:PIC Genetics Reduce European Pork Producers’ Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 7.7% – PIC UK
Longer Lifetime, Better Resource Use
Extending Sow Productive Life to Maximize Genetic Investment
The concept of sow longevity is often reduced to a health metric. In reality, it is a cornerstone of both sustainability and profitability. Every replacement gilt incurs environmental and economic costs before delivering a single piglet—via feed, space, medication, and acclimatization labour. Prolonging sow productive life dilutes these fixed costs and improves lifetime efficiency.
Research by PIC and partners shows that adding a single productive parity can yield:
• 15+ piglets per sow lifetime
• Up to €50 in avoided costs per pig (gilt development, medication, labour)
• Reduced GHG emissions/pig through amortized feed and energy inputs
Longevity is driven by genetics—but not just by one trait. PIC selects for structural soundness, reproductive rhythm, farrowing ease, and maternal behaviour, using large-scale, commercial data to validate durability in real-world conditions.
Longevity Metrics:
Camborough®:
• 5 average parities in elite commercial herds
• <8.5% sow mortality in high-performing operations
• High retention under loose housing and welfare-focused systems
X54®:
• 9.9% average mortality across 50,000+ sows in commercial settings
• <8.7% in top quartile herds
• Consistently weaning 35+ piglets/year across multiple cycles
This longevity translates into lower herd turnover, more predictable farrowing room planning, and fewer disruptions—all while reducing the total number of replacements and their associated carbon burden.
Case studies from PIC Europe (2023) confirm that systems with high parity structure and low sow turnover produce pigs with 8–10% lower embedded GHG emissions compared to high-replacement systems.
Read more: https:Data Makes the Difference: PIC Seeks Answers to Environmental Impact of Genetics – PIC UK
Feed Smart, Not Hard
Genetic Gains in Feed Conversion Drive Both Profit and Sustainability
Feed is the single largest contributor to both production cost and environmental footprint in pig farming. Depending on geography and diet formulation, feed can account for 60–80% of total GHG emissions associated with pork. Improving feed efficiency thus creates a direct path to profitability and sustainability.
PIC’s approach goes beyond simplistic FCR selection. Feed intake and gain are monitored individually using automated feeders and scales, generating precise, trait-linked data. This feeds into a multi-trait selection index that also considers carcass quality, robustness, and reproductive performance—avoiding the pitfalls of over-selecting for feed traits alone.
FCR Progression:
Camborough®:
• 5% FCR advantage compared to EU regional benchmarks
• Continuous progress: –0.015 FCR per year (10-year trendline)
• Preserves carcass traits while improving efficiency
X54®:
• Maintains terminal FCR gains while increasing pigs weaned/sow/year
• Reduces litter variability, enhancing uniform feed efficiency
• Ideal for systems targeting high output with constrained resources
Lower FCR means less feed per kg of pork, reducing land use, nitrogen excretion, and transport emissions. It also aligns with circular economy principles, minimizing inputs and waste at every stage.
According to Nguyen et al. (2011, Animal), reducing FCR by 0.1 can cut GHG emissions by up to 5% per pig in intensive systems.
Innovation for Every Farm
Data-Driven Tools That Make Genetics Work Harder
The future of pig farming isn’t only about better pigs—it’s about better decisions. Genetic potential can only be realized if paired with precise, timely insight. That’s why PIC® is investing heavily in applied innovation: Technologies that starting at the genetic farms translate into real value on real farms.
Technologies That Deliver:
• Digital Sow Scoring: AI-supported computer vision tools assess leg structure, teat count, and behaviour, increasing consistency in gilt selection—especially critical for group housing systems.
• Behaviour Monitoring: Video analysis captures early indicators of stress, mobility, or poor performance, enabling pre-emptive decisions.
• GNX Maternal Platform: Connects genetic predictions with commercial performance through crossbred daughter testing, measuring traits such as sow retention, lactation intake, and robustness.
Innovation Pipeline:
• PRRS-resistant pigs: Via gene editing, PIC has produced pigs lacking the CD163 receptor, rendering them resistant to PRRS infection and transmission.
• Metabolomic profiling: Under research to predict traits such as immune robustness, lactation efficiency, and fertility using blood-based metabolic biomarkers.
• Sexed semen for swine: In development to enable gender-optimized litters tailored to system needs (e.g., gilt development or terminal growth).
These tools are scalable and practical, requiring no specialized infrastructure, and are already in use across PIC’s commercial networks.
PIC internal data from >500 farms using digital sow scoring show a 15–20% increase in gilt retention accuracy compared to manual assessments.
Read more: Innovative technologies for robust animals and sustainable production – PIC UK
Own Performance That Lasts
n today’s pork industry, performance isn’t just about numbers. It’s about how you deliver those numbers: with fewer inputs, lower emissions, longer-lived sows, and smarter tools that fit your farm.
PIC’s female lines—Camborough®, Camborough®22, Camborough®50 and X54®—are built for exactly that. They don’t just deliver pigs. They deliver future-ready results.
Because today’s pig farmers shouldn’t have to choose between efficiency and sustainability, or between productivity and practicality: They need one partner for every farm.
Contact your PIC representative to see how future-proof performance starts in your sow barn.