BHZP

What BHZP does

BHZP GmbH (Bundes Hybrid Zucht Programm) is a privately held German pig breeding and genetics company founded in 1990, headquartered in Dahlenburg-Ellringen, Lower Saxony. The company self-describes as the German market leader in the boar semen (Besamungsebersegment) segment and operates a vertically integrated stack of products: proprietary registered genetic lines (db.77, db.7711, db.Siegfried, db.Carl boars; db.Viktoria, db.Klara sows), four company-owned artificial insemination (AI) stations (Wilsum, Bösewig, Rätzlingen, and a fourth), a central performance testing station (Leistungsprüfungsanstalt Spranz), a proprietary climate-controlled transport fleet, and the db.Ego self-replacement concept. It runs what it claims is Germany's largest progeny testing program — over 500 AI boars tested annually across 40+ test farms and more than 10,000 sows, producing 26,000 litter records, 55,000 slaughter records, and 11,000 fertility/anomaly records per year, which feed into BLUP-based breeding value estimation.

The company's second pillar is the db.Software suite — db.Planer (Windows sow management software), db.Plus (full-cost accounting and regulatory reporting), db.Mobil App (Android/iOS with RFID integration), db.Apps Easy (HTML5 cloud), db.Smart cloud accounts, and db.WebTransfer — distributed primarily via annual rental contracts with a free 90-day trial. The software integrates natively with the German national HI-Tier animal database and the TAMM veterinary medicines database for regulatory compliance, and with five electronic sow feeding systems (Jyga, Mannebeck, Schauer, Big Dutchman, Nedap). Revenue is generated from transaction-fee boar semen and breeding pig sales, subscription/rental software licenses, advisory and training services, and proprietary transport services, sold through a field sales force (Außendienst), state-level breeding animal sales partners across all German Bundesländer, direct download, and AI station network — all restricted to a single-country, domestic German market.

Name

BHZP

Legal name

BHZP GmbH

Website

https://bhzp.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BHZP GmbH is a German pig breeding company that develops proprietary genetic lines (boar and sow), operates four artificial insemination stations, and sells db.Planer farm management software to pig farmers, consultants, and veterinarians across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Swine Breeding Genetics

NAICS

Hog and Pig Farming (112210)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Boar Studs & Semen Production (AFAEAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

High-Health/Biosecure Hog Production (SPF/Pedigree Nucleus) (AFAEAEAL)

Keywords

• Pig breeding genetics
• Boar semen production
• Swine farm software
• Artificial insemination services
• Livestock breeding program

Headquarters

HQ city

Dahlenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Boar Semen (Ebersamen) Sales: Sale of semen doses from top-genetics AI boars to pig farms. Semen is produced at four proprietary AI stations in Germany, processed under strict hygiene protocols, and delivered via climate-controlled courier. The boar semen segment is described as the company's core business, with BHZP claiming to be German market leader.
2. Breeding Pig Sales (Zuchtschweine): Sale of breeding pigs (sows and boars) including db.Viktoria, db.Klara, and breeding gilts to pig farms. Covered under specific sales conditions with health guarantees, delivery via specialized climate-controlled transport vehicles.
3. db.Software Rental (Mietvertrag): Software (db.Planer, db.Plus) is distributed primarily via annual rental contracts. Rental includes automatic annual program updates and license delivery via db.Smart account. The subscription model provides recurring revenue and ensures customers stay on current software versions.
4. db.Plus Berater/Tierarzt Edition License: Separate license versions for consultants and veterinarians managing multiple pig farms, with additional functionality for multi-farm data management and benchmarking.
5. Advisory and Consulting Services: BHZP provides breeding advisory services, scanner services, AI training courses (Eigenbestandsbesamungs-Lehrgänge), reproductive consulting, and operational support services. These professional services complement the genetics and software offerings.
6. Transport Services for Breeding Animals: BHZP operates a proprietary fleet of high-end climate-controlled transport vehicles for delivering breeding animals and boar semen, ensuring biosecurity during transit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BHZP is a German pig breeding company that develops, breeds, and sells proprietary pig genetics including Pietrain (db.77®), Duroc (db.Siegfried), crossbred (db.Carl), and hybrid sow lines (db.Viktoria, db.Klara) through Germany's largest progeny testing program. The company operates four proprietary AI (artificial insemination) stations that produce and distribute boar semen to pig farms across Germany, and sells breeding pigs directly via a federal-state sales partner network. BHZP also develops and licenses farm management software (db.Planer, db.Plus, db.Mobil App, db.Apps Easy) for pig producers and provides breeding advisory services.

Product overview

BHZP offers a platform-plus-modules software portfolio centered on db.Planer, a Windows-based sow management system, complemented by add-on modules for economics (db.Plus), mobile access (db.Mobil App), and online access (db.Apps Easy). The software integrates with regulatory databases for mandatory reporting. Alongside software, BHZP provides pig genetics including boar lines (db.77® and variants db.7711, db.77® Teamplayer, db.Siegfried, db.Carl) and sow lines (db.Viktoria, db.Klara), plus AI insemination services through four company-owned stations. The db.Ego self-replacement concepts enable farms to manage breeding internally using BHZP genetics and software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• db.Planer: Sow management software with traffic light approach for piglet production and breeding farms
• db.Mobil App
• db.Plus
• db.Planner
• db.Smart
• db.Swin
• db.Apps Easy

Products and services

• db.Planer Windows-based sow management software featuring a traffic-light approach for piglet production and breeding farm management. Includes integrated production analysis, data collection via keyboard/mouse/touchscreen, batch management, ASP compartmentalized production tracking, feed system data export, and integration with mobile apps. Distributed via annual rental contracts that include automatic program updates and license delivery through db.Smart accounts.
• db.Plus Economic analysis module that provides full cost accounting for piglet production, integrated invoice generation, livestock register (VVVO), drug inventory management, and regulatory reporting to HIT and TAM databases. Supports BRS-standard calculation methods and branch-level evaluations. Available in specialized Consultant (Berater/Tierarzt) editions with multi-farm data management and benchmarking functionality.
• db.Mobil App Smartphone application for Android (5.0+) and iOS devices enabling data entry directly in the barn via manual input, barcode scanning, or RFID transponder reading (with compatible Bluetooth RFID readers). Syncs with db.Planer via db.Smart account through db.WebTransfer. Available on Google Play, Apple App Store, and as direct APK download for devices without Play Store access.
• db.Apps Easy Online browser-based version of db.Planer accessible from any device with HTML5 browser and internet connection. Provides device-independent access to db.Planer and db.Plus functionality without software installation, enabling multi-device simultaneous access and regular automated backups.
• db.Smart Cloud-based account system for data backup, license management, and secure data sharing with advisors and veterinarians. Enables automatic software updates and cross-farm benchmarking through db.Swin internet-based sow planning functionality.
• db.WebTransfer Desktop application for synchronizing data between db.Planer and mobile apps, managing software licenses, and facilitating automated updates from the db.Smart cloud service. Distributed via downloadable installer from bhzp.de.
• db.77® Purebred Pietrain boar genetic line known for stress resistance, superior meat content, vital piglets, and excellent feed conversion. One of the most widely used boars in Germany, available in Top Genetics class. Achieves daily gain of 1,125g with feed conversion of 2.08 kg/kg at 120kg test weight. Suitable for AutoFOM marketing with high ham, loin, and belly weights.
• db.77® Teamplayer Robust Pietrain variant of db.77® specifically selected for calm temperament and behavioral traits. Designed for farmers experiencing behavioral issues such as tail biting who value easier animal handling while maintaining the slaughter and growth performance of the db.77 line.
• db.7711 Special selection of db.77® boars with reduced risk of boar taint (androstenone and skatole) using BLUP breeding value estimation, enabling immunocastration-free production with minimal odor issues. Top 20% of db.77® boars by breeding value for boar odour receive this label.
• db.Siegfried Modern Duroc boar genetic line characterized by exceptional stress tolerance, calm temperament, and high intramuscular fat content. Achieves daily gain of 1,213g with feed conversion of 2.2 kg/kg at 126kg test weight. Suitable for direct marketing and operations with variable barn climate.
• db.Carl Crossbred boar combining Pietrain (db.77®) and Duroc (db.Siegfried) genetics for balanced temperament, high growth rates, and quality carcasses. Stands for 'cool, balanced, robust, performant' characteristics, combining Duroc's calm temperament with Pietrain's slaughter carcass quality.
• db.Viktoria Hybrid sow line combining db.01 (Landrace) and db.03 (Large White) genetics. Known for exceptional mothering, low piglet losses, calm temperament, and balanced performance across fertility, health, and carcass quality. Suitable for group housing and free-farrowing systems. Described as the top maternal line from BHZP.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55,000 slaughter pigs per year individually assigned to their sire (~100 per test boar), enabling precise breeding value estimation
• +6 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• Bundesverband Rind und Schwein e.V. (BRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRS is the German Federal Association for Cattle and Pig Production. BHZP collaborates with BRS to incorporate BRS-standard calculation methods into db.Plus. The BRS standardization enables consistent, comparable reporting across pig farms using BHZP software.
• VzF GmbH, UelzencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVzF GmbH (Vereinigte Zuchtfarmen) is a major producer ring in Uelzen that collaborates with BHZP in multiple ways: (1) the Mastplaner software that integrates with db.Planer/db.Plus is provided by VzF GmbH; (2) BHZP's progeny testing uses producer ring evaluation data; (3) db.Plus is used in northern German producer rings for branch-level evaluations according to Verdener Berichte; (4) vzf:professional is the recommended farm analysis tool for the BHZP Eberstrategie.
• HI-Tier (HIT) DatabasecoreTechnology or IntegrationThe HI-Tier (Herkunftssicherungs- und Informationssystem für Tiere) is the national German animal database mandated by the Viehverkehrsverordnung. BHZP's db.Plus enables direct electronic submission of livestock movements and inventory data to HI-Tier via Internet, ensuring regulatory compliance for pig farmers.
• TAMM (Tierarzneimitteldatenbank)coreTechnology or IntegrationTAMM is the German Veterinary Medicines Database. BHZP's db.Plus supports drug inventory management and reporting obligations required under the Arzneimittelgesetz (Medicines Act), enabling pig farmers to comply with regulatory requirements.
• Jyga, Mannebeck, Schauer, Big Dutchman, Nedap (Feeding System Integrations)moderateTechnology or IntegrationBHZP db.Planer integrates with electronic sow feeding systems from Jyga, Mannebeck, Schauer, Big Dutchman, and Nedap. Production and stock data can be exported directly from db.Planer to these feeding systems, saving labor in farms with automated feeding installations.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Topigs Norsvin: Dutch-headquartered global pig genetics company producing AI boars, sire and dam lines, and breeding programs — a direct competitor to BHZP in the European boar semen and pig genetics segment, with overlapping product architecture (Pietrain/Duroc terminal sires and maternal lines).
• Danbred: Danish pig genetics cooperative supplying Danbred AI boars and breeding animals across Europe with a comparable nucleus/AI station/progeny testing business model to BHZP, including integrated farm management tools for member farms.
• German Livestock Association / German AI Stations (e.g., Bayern-Genetik, GFS): Regional German AI cooperatives (e.g., GFS Top-Genetik, Bayern-Genetik) operating boar AI stations that supply semen to German pig farms — directly competing with BHZP's four AI stations in the same domestic market.
• Axiom (Choice Genetics / Axiom): French-origin pig genetics company (formerly Choice Genetics) producing Pietrain, Duroc and Large White lines with AI station infrastructure across Europe, directly competing with BHZP in boar genetics and semen.

Others

• Big Dutchman: Global livestock equipment and feeding systems vendor whose electronic sow feeding systems integrate with BHZP's db.Planer; comparable as an adjacent ecosystem partner influencing the same pig farm software/hardware stack.

Broad incumbents

• Genus plc: UK-listed global animal genetics company (parent of PIC) — a broad incumbent investing heavily in genomic selection for pigs, comparable to BHZP as a competitor and benchmark for valuation/scale in the same industry.
• Hendrix Genetics (Hypor): Hendrix Genetics' swine division Hypor is a global multi-species genetics supplier offering pig AI boars, dam lines, and breeding support; comparable to BHZP as a full-line pig genetics competitor but operating across multiple species and geographies with broader R&D scale.
• PIC (Pig Improvement Company): Genus-owned global pig genetics supplier with proprietary sire and dam lines, AI services, and technical support for commercial pork producers — a much larger incumbent competing with BHZP for German and European pig farm customers.

Emerging players

• Cloudfarms: Cloud-based livestock management software platform serving pig and poultry producers globally — comparable to BHZP's db.Apps Easy cloud offering but a newer entrant without an in-house genetics business.

Regional players

• AgroSoft: Danish provider of pig and dairy farm management software — comparable to BHZP's db.Planer/db.Plus suite but primarily serving Scandinavian markets rather than directly competing in Germany.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bhzp.sausolide
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bhzp-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BHZP