The VITAGRO Group and DanBred have signed an agreement to establish a new multiplier farm in Ukraine. After two years of collaboration, the project is now officially launching, bringing top genetics closer to producers in Ukraine.
Located in the Khmelnytskyi region, the farm will house three DanBred breeds: DanBred Yorkshire, DanBred Landrace, and DanBred Duroc. It will produce DanBred Hybrids and DanBred Duroc terminal boars, making the full range of DanBred breeding pigs available to Ukrainian producers. DanBred Duroc semen will also be offered in the future. Two batches of purebred pigs have already been delivered, with a third expected by the end of June.
“Our pig business has worked with DanBred genetics from Denmark for over 10 years. Now, we are transferring it back to DanBred and taking it to the next level by offering world-class genetics directly in Ukraine,” says Ivan Varvarchyn, project manager. He adds that the agreement shows global companies are willing to invest in Ukraine when they find reliable partners, despite the current challenges.
Construction of the farm began in 2023. At the same time, DanBred aimed to be closer to its customers and sought a local partner capable of delivering DanBred genetics to Ukrainian producers. The multiplier farm will house 1,000 sows and produce 9,000 DanBred hybrid gilts and 250 DanBred Duroc boars annually. First farrowings are expected in late 2025, with sales beginning in early 2026.
“This is a key step in our strategic development and a sign of our commitment to Ukraine. It also reflects our desire to invest in the development of Ukrainian business even during the war. We are confident that the industry is expected to develop rapidly,” says Stefan Derks, Regional Director Europe.
Oksana Yurchenko, President of the Ukrainian Pig Breeders Association, agrees: “The arrival of companies like DanBred shows that Ukraine remains attractive to foreign investors. Our pig industry is already a high-tech business that understands the value of genetics and applies them in our work.”
DanBred now operates local breeding programs in over 20 countries, with Ukraine joining this global network. The company is co-founded by the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, which has over 120 years of experience in pig genetics.
About DanBred
DanBred delivers world-class pig genetics and service solutions to professional producers worldwide. With over 120 years of experience in targeted breeding, DanBred aims to support sustainable pig production and improve profitability for pig producers.
About VITAGRO
VITAGRO is one of Ukraine’s largest industrial groups, active in agriculture, energy, processing, construction, and chemicals. Founded in 1998, it operates across several regions and cultivates around 90,000 hectares of land. The company is engaged in animal husbandry, agriculture, renewable energy, fertilizer and animal feed production, as well as construction and building materials manufacturing. VITAGRO has launched five new processing plants and is headquartered in Khmelnytskyi.
