Randers, 3 november 2014
Just 10 years after slaughtering the first pig in Horsens, at the most modern pig slaughterhouse in the world passes the 40 million mark tomorrow.
The cutting edge slaughterhouse was built outside the city next to the motorway and its growth has been impressive since taking over from the old slaughterhouse in 2004. The old slaughterhouse was the first cooperative pig slaughterhouse and it was situated in the middle of Horsens city.
- 23 September 2004 was the first day of slaughtering and following a start-up phase the official opening took place in May 2005. At the old slaughterhouse in Horsens they slaughtered 47 million pigs in 117 years. Today we pass 40 million pigs in ten years and this naturally says something about development at Danish pig slaughterhouses for more than 125 years, says plant director Per Laursen from Danish Crown, Horsens.
- In 1887 eight pigs were slaughtered in the old slaughterhouse on the first day of operation and in the new plant we slaughtered 118 pigs on the first day. In both cases the start-up was moderate, but I am sure that were just as proud on 23 September 2004 as they were in 1887, says Per Laursen.
Around the world twice
Even though the slaughterhouse is placed next to the motorway the many thousand kilometres of asphalt at the E45 motorway is not enough if you place the many pigs that have been slaughtered in line. 40 million slaughtered pigs will measure twice around the world if lined next to each other.
Danish Crown in Horsens has since its first day been through a number of expansion and can now slaughter app. 100,000 pigs per week. Presently tradesmen are working on extending the cooling capacity in Horsens to ensure that the cooling areas can handle the many tons of meat that pass through the slaughterhouse every day.