Spanish company invests in sow multiplier herd

Agapito Torrego Cuerdo invested in 440 sows to meet demand for breeding gilts in Spain.

A 440-sow multiplier herd was established near Segovia in central Spain by Agapito Torrego Cuerdo, a privately-owned company, at a capital cost of €1,459,000 (US$2.08 million) to meet demand for AC1 gilts from British-based international pig-breeding company, ACMC Ltd.
By October or November, the herd will be capable of producing more than 3,500 AC1 breeding gilts per year for sale to independent farmers across Spain, but mainly within the Segovia region. Although the Spanish pig industry has been in crisis for the past three years, due to poor prices, it is still — along with Germany — the largest pork producer in the EU.