There is complete calm in the barn at Gråbjerggård in Denmark during vaccinations. Here, work is carried out quietly and in a controlled manner, and this is far from coincidental. At the farm – better known as The Black Diamond – keeping the pigs calm is a fundamental part of the daily routines.
The staff pay close attention to treating the 1200 sows with respect and kindness everyday. In a busy daily schedule, the pace can easily become too fast, but at Gråbjerggård and the 25 other farms producing both weaners and finishers under Kjær Knudsen Agro, calmness is always a priority. Stressed pigs come at a cost, both in welfare and on the bottom line.
In the barns, the staff move calmly among the pigs, always carrying a piece of candy in their pocket, and this approach makes the pigs easier to handle. The difference can both be seen and felt in the results at one of Denmark’s largest pig producers, who use DanBred genetics across all their herds in Denmark.
Focus on the farrowing unit and survival
In the farrowing unit, piglet survival exceeds 90 %. A large part of this success is attributed to the supplementary feed used, explains Jonas Juhl. Especially after introducing MaxImprove from Tierraproducts, the number of stillborn piglets has dropped significantly, and piglet survival until weaning has increased.
This requires structure and overview, which is why each sow herd has its own manager. It is an expensive setup, acknowledges Jonas Juhl, but he believes that cutting costs in this area would ultimately be more expensive. Among the sow herds, survival rates vary from 90 to 96 % depending on the herd. Several factors may explain these differences, but Jonas Juhl is always in close dialogue with the responsible manager about results and opportunities for each herd.
DanBred manuals and practical tips make a difference
Practical solutions also play an important role in daily work. In the farrowing unit, the carpenter’s belt is always part of the work uniform. This means small problems can be fixed immediately. If staff first have to walk to the other end of the barn to fetch tools, the task risks being forgotten or postponed – and a small issue can quickly grow into a larger one than necessary.
As part of the daily routines, Gråbjerggård uses DanBred’s manuals as an easy and practical guide to caring for DanBred pigs. The manuals help ensure consistent routines and a high professional standard – gaining pigs, employees, and results.
Motivated employees and room to learn
Employee motivation and continuous training are another key focus area. A combination of internal competitions, recognition, and further training – including through knowledge-sharing groups – helps ensure that staff thrive at work. Employees are involved in everyday decision‑making, contributing to a good working environment and a strong sense of shared responsibility.
Sharing experiences is also high on the agenda. Although it can be frustrating when an employee makes a mistake, Jonas Juhl prefers openness over silence. There is room for mistakes – as long as the person has tried to solve the task instead of shrugging it off or postponing the problem until tomorrow.
Gråbjerggård is also one of the many herds that open their doors to guests during Open Farm events in Denmark, and they frequently host visitors from Denmark and abroad in cooperation with DanBred due to their size and strong results. Transparency is a core value at DanBred and in Danish pig production, and Gråbjerggård is happy to support that. In doing so, they help educate others who want to achieve the best possible results with DanBred genetics and showcase what Danish pig production has to offer.
