The Association was formed in 2006 from the Danish Bacon and Meat Council, the Danish Livestock and Meat Board, and the Danish Poultry Council.

It is worried Danish producers will be increasingly exposed to hostile market conditions as its main European competitors, France and Holland, put national measures in place to help their pig industries.

Danish Crown has come under unprecedented pressure in recent months when its producers threatened to tear up their contracts unless the price they received improved 40 per cent.

Danish Crown said the demand was unrealistic in the current climate of oversupply and would hand market share to competitors.

Around 700 Danish Crown producers - including some of the country’s largest pig farmers - threatened to leave the cooperative. Some claimed it was more interested in its processing activities.

Producers have demanded a different corporate structure and a halt to any further takeovers.