Topigs Norsvin is the originator of Balanced Breeding—a philosophy that has guided our genetic program for more than three decades.
Balanced Breeding combines economic progress with biological balance and long-term sustainability across the pork value chain. Rather than focusing on single traits, it integrates production efficiency, robustness, welfare, meat quality, behavior, and environmental impact into one coherent breeding strategy.
Our breeding program follows a clear blueprint for turning breeding goals into measurable genetic progress in pigs.
It is built to optimize Delta G over time and to ensure that progress is not only achieved at nucleus level but consistently realized across generations and production environments of our customers.
It connects data, technology, infrastructure, and breeding decisions in one integrated system. Large-scale phenotyping, advanced analytics, and global data flows work together to generate accurate breeding values and support precise, responsible selection.
Our breeding program is designed to establish and consolidate product leadership in the main global market segments. The blueprint behind it ultimately determines the genetic progress we deliver.
The rate of genetic progress has more than doubled over the past 10 years. Key drivers behind this development include continuous upgrades in breeding infrastructure, the adoption of advanced selection technologies, and major investments in Delta Norway, Delta Canada, and Innova Canada.
Our lines are selected for
Total Feed Efficiency is defined as the total amount of feed used at all stages of production, divided by the final number of kilograms of pork delivered to the slaughterhouse.
Through genetic improvement across the entire pork production chain, Topigs Norsvin delivers measurable impact.
Key results in 5 years:
A company delivering 1.5 million pigs annually saves approximately 24,000 tons of feed compared with five years ago.
Our lines are selected for
Topigs Norsvin leads the way in enhancing robustness through swine genetics.
We breed pigs that maintain health and performance despite biological and environmental challenges.
Through balanced breeding, traits such as structural integrity, survival, and robustness are systematically included in selection decisions. The result is pigs that remain functional, resilient, and predictable in performance across a wide range of production environments.
A recent example is the development of genetic disease resilience; the intrinsic biological capacity of pigs to respond to health challenges like PRRS virus.
Beyond Feed Intake:
While traditional selection has significantly improved how efficiently pigs convert feed into growth, the next step is improving how effectively nutrients, particularly protein (amino acids), are digested and utilized.
Research has shown that protein digestibility is heritable and can be included in breeding programs. Using technologies such as Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), nutrient absorption can be measured at scale, enabling selection for improved protein efficiency.
Our lines are selected for
A strong start is essential for profitable pig production. The Topigs Norsvin terminal sires produce offspring with impressive birth weights, uniformity, and high survival rates. All this ensures an ideal beginning and a smooth transition to the finishing phase. The finishing pigs offer unmatched ease of management in today’s demanding pig production.
Topigs Norsvin is committed to the principles of Code EFABAR, the European Code of Good Practice for Responsible and Balanced Farm Animal Breeding .
Code EFABAR defines clear guidelines for responsible breeding across six pillars, including animal health and welfare, environmental impact, efficient use of resources, genetic diversity, product quality, and food safety.
These principles align closely with our Balanced Breeding philosophy and are embedded in our breeding policy and daily practice .
Free farrowing and free lactation are successfully implemented in Topigs Norsvin's genetic nucleus unit Innova Canada. "Nowadays, when our sows are entering the farrowing pen, it's fully open," explains breeding program geneticist Laura Vargovic.
Feed efficiency runs deep in Topigs Norsvin’s genetics. Benchmarking trials in Brazil confirm that TN Duroc’s efficiency advantage delivers real-world savings, driven by a balanced breeding program refined over decades.
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