Breeding stock: A strategic lever for the livestock system

Over the past 10-20 years, the pig production sector has undergone a profound transformation, shifting from experience-based practices to systems driven by data, technology, and genetics. At the heart of this transition, breeding stock is increasingly recognized not merely as an input, but as the foundation that determines the productivity ceiling of the entire system.

At the first National Conference on Livestock and Veterinary Science and Technology, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Nhien, Head of Genetics and Breeding at GREENFEED Vietnam, noted that about 15 years ago, when pig production in Vietnam was still in the early stages of industrial development, many large-scale farms faced systemic challenges.

These included uneven newborn litters, high post-weaning mortality rates, significant variability in productivity across farms, and suboptimal feed efficiency. Improvements in feed or housing brought partial gains, but could not break the “productivity ceiling” without a sufficiently strong genetic foundation.

In response, GREENFEED made a strategic, game-changing decision: shifting from a “pig farming” mindset to “genetic management.” Rather than focusing solely on operational optimization, the company rebuilt its entire system around three core pillars: genetics, biosecurity, and data management.

These elements were not treated as separate components but designed as an integrated, closed-loop system, where genetic progress is safeguarded by disease control and fully leveraged through production data.

On that foundation, a structured breeding pyramid model was implemented, from nucleus and great-grandparent stock to grandparent and commercial herds, enabling tight control of genetic flow and accelerating genetic improvement across generations. Collaboration with international genetics companies such as PIC has further enabled access to superior genetic lines.

“The key difference lies in localizing the selection process to suit Viet Nam’s climate, disease conditions, and market demands,” Ms. Nhien emphasized, adding that the outcomes of this transformation are clearly reflected in technical performance indicators.

The number of weaned piglets per sow per year has increased from around 24 in 2015 to 28-30 at present. Feed efficiency has improved significantly, with the feed conversion ratio (FCR) reduced from approximately 2.7 to 2.4-2.5. Average daily gain has risen by 8-12%, while herd uniformity has markedly improved.

Notably, productivity gains have been achieved without compromising herd health and biological robustness - factors that are often sacrificed in breeding programs focused primarily on output.

Another important shift, according to Ms. Nhien, is that breeding orientation is no longer based solely on pure productivity. Under Viet Nam’s hot and humid tropical conditions, coupled with high disease pressure, traits such as adaptability, disease resistance, and stress tolerance have become just as important as growth rate or lean meat percentage.

Optimizing this combination of traits helps create pigs that are “easier to raise,” reducing operational risks and better aligning with real production conditions.

Biosecurity is also identified as a prerequisite for preserving genetic value. Breeding farm systems are strictly tiered, with controlled movement flows and clear separation between herd levels to minimize cross-contamination.

Controlling key diseases not only helps maintain healthy breeding stock but also reduces the risk of transmission through environmental factors such as ventilation - often a weak point in large-scale production systems.

This approach reflects a broader trend in modern livestock production, where data is at the center. Reproductive performance, growth, feed efficiency, and health indicators are continuously recorded to support selection models such as BLUP and selection indices. As a result, breeding decisions are no longer based on intuition but on estimated breeding values, enabling the simultaneous optimization of multiple objectives.

Despite these achievements in pig production, allowing GREENFEED Viet Nam products to often command prices above the market average, the company acknowledges that the sector still faces significant challenges.

African Swine Fever (ASF) remains uncontrolled, posing a persistent risk to production systems. At the same time, increasing demands for sustainability, emissions reduction, and traceability are requiring companies to invest more heavily in technology and management.

In this context, future directions are becoming clearer, including the application of advanced genetic technologies such as genomics and artificial intelligence in breeding, the development of more disease-resistant pig lines, and the full digitalization of farm systems to optimize efficiency and reduce emissions.

“This is not only the next step for a single company, but a reflection of the entire sector’s transition—from production to a livestock economy, where value is created through the integration of genetics, technology, and system management,” Ms. Nhien emphasized.