How Q-PorkChains improves pig production

The direct impact of this project from a farmers view includes the development of

A diversity of sustainable production systems (at farm level)
New tools to predict the meat quality resulting from particular breeds and production systems. These systems and tools will be developed to correspond with the market and society demands.

Improved production systems are achieved by analysing and optimising existing systems in order to enhance their reactivity to market and societal demands. It is anticipated that increased diversification and flexibility will enable the design of a variety of production systems better suited to the local conditions and the specific market segments.

Initially, tools for the integrated assessment of the various dimensions of sustainability like environmental impact, social acceptability and economy is developed. Then the sustainability of contrasting existing pork production systems, intensive vs extensive, welfare friendly vs standard, low cost vs high quality products, is evaluated.

In relation to product quality the impact of breed, production systems and slaughter methods are evaluated by analysing the regulation of thousands of genes throughout the lifetime and slaughter of the pig, and follow how this is reflected in the meat quality. Such a quality criteria will provide a better foundation for quality rating and pricing of the product.

On the basis of these investigations improved systems towards a better market and sustainability orientation is developed.

Finally, this will result in improved and innovative quality assurance strategies for production systems and product quality.