Pork Journal July/August 2010

PJJulyAug2010:PJJanFeb09 8/08/10 10:33 AM Page 1

Pork Journal

July/August 2010 Volume 32, Number 4

Pan Pacifc Pork Expo 2010 – Finding the Balance

Next generation energy – Biogas?

Victorian seminar addresses pig welfare and productivity

Australian pork industry starts national consultation on alternative farming practices

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Contents 8 MAIN FEATURE Next generation energy – Biogas?

In 2008 Jeremy Whitby’s QNPH farm at Grantham was invited to participate in a biogas research project using a floating waste lagoon pond cover to capture methane.

Peter Bedwell recently visited the farm with Alan Skerman, Principal Environmental Engineer, Agri-Science, Queensland to see how the project has developed. It has become obvious that there is great potential for biogas utilisation in the pork industry.

NEWS 4 Pan Pacific Pork Expo 2010 – Finding the Balance Alan Skerman

Pork Journal July/August 2010 Volume 32, Number 4 Editorial Enquiries Peter Bedwell or Rosemary Embery +6 1 2 9798 3078 Sales: Peter Bedwell Phone: +61 2 9798 3078 Mob: 0419 235 288 Fax: + 61 2 9798 2105 Email: ilvaril@iinet.net.au Website: www.primarymedia.com.au

The Pan Pacific Pork Expo – 2010 (PPPE) was held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach Queensland on June 16-17, 2010. In his opening address to delegates, Dr Rob van Barneveld, Chairman of the PPPE- 2010 organising committee and a director of both APL and the Pork CRC welcomed a ‘full house’.

14 Victorian seminar addresses pig welfare and productivity Improving the welfare and productivity of Australia’s pigs was the focus of an international seminar in Melbourne in July. The seminar was hosted by the Animal Welfare Science Centre and researchers presented the latest pig welfare research.

15 Australian pork industry starts national consultation on alternative farming practices.

Australia’s pork industry has announced the start of a comprehensive consultation process with its members, around some tough issues facing the industry, such as imports, labelling, labour and gestation stalls.

16 There’s something about pork Dr Roger Campbell, CEO of Australia’s Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), is increasingly convinced that fresh Australian pork has a range of largely untapped health and nutrition attributes.

17 Midlands woman acknowledged at National Rural Woman of the Year Award

PORK JOURNAL consists of a bi-monthly management magazine and an annual industry review.

Published by C D Supplies Pty Ltd (ACN 091 560 557)

Midlands pork producer Sue Middleton was recognised recently as one of the leading female contributors to rural and regional Australia when named winner of the 2010 Australian RIRDC Rural Women’s Award.

Production: Rosemary Embery Email: rembery@iinet.net.au

18 Alltech’s Pig Solutions breakfast at PPPE

OFFICE ADDRESS: 250 Hawthorne Pde, Haberfield NSW 2045 Ph: (02) 9798 3078 Fax: (02) 9798 2105 SUBSCRIPTIONS: AUSTRALIA One year – $66.00*.

Send payment and full details to: Pork Journal, GPO Box 1846, Sydney NSW 2001 Phone (02) 9492 7386 Fax: (02) 9492 7310 NEW ZEALAND One year – $NZ80.

OTHER COUNTRIES Asia Pacific including the Subcontinent – One year: Airmail – $A90; Rest of the World – One year: Airmail – $A90.

Please send payment in Australian dollars.

In conjunction with the PPPE 2010 program, Alltech hosted its regular Pig Solutions breakfast bright and early on the morning of Thursday June 17.

20 John Beevers retires from Directorship of PIC Paul O’Leary, the CEO of PIC Australia, announced the retirement of John Beevers from PIC Australia just prior to the close of the Pan Pacific Pork Expo (PPPE).

22 Inaugural Australian Ham Week leads the fight back for Australian grown pork In a bid to help confused Australian consumers and in a fight back for the country’s embattled pork producers, Australian Ham Week was launched on July 5.

*Australia subscription rate includes GST.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send details to: GPO Box 1846, Sydney NSW 2001, Fax: (02) 9492 7310 (Subscriptions only).

ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT (editorial and advertisements) and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of PORK JOURNAL, the publishers do not accept any responsibility or liability for the material herein.

23 Pork CRC makes bid for better welfare Research supported by Australia’s Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) suggests changes to how sows are managed and mated in lactation may enable a smooth transition from stalls to group housing, without reproductive performance declining.

PRODUCT NEWS 19 Auspac Ingredients to distribute Biorigin products in Australia 24 Tougher Salmonella control from Virkon S 25 New Birthright Decks and milk replacer program from Feedworks

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

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NEWS Pan Pacific Pork Expo 2010 – Finding the Balance The Pan Pacific Pork Expo – 2010 (PPPE) was held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach Queensland on June 16-17, 2010.

In his opening address to delegates, Dr Rob van Barneveld, Chairman of the PPPE- 2010 organising committee and a director of both APL and the Pork CRC (both key sponsors of PPPE along with DAFF) welcomed a ‘full house’.

“It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Pan Pacific Pork Expo -2010 with this year’s theme being ‘Next Generation Pork – Finding the Balance’.

“Our decision to continue with the revised Expo format introduced in 2008 has resulted in a sold out trade display, sold out sponsorship and record registrations.

“To all producers and sponsors alike, I thank you for your on-going support and I trust that your investment in this event reaps many rewards for your respective businesses,” Dr van Barneveld said.

“Pig prices are likely to continue to fall in coming months forcing a focus on efficiency, while at the same time demands from processors, retailers over the way pork is produced will gain further traction.

“As a proactive industry we need to meet these challenges head on and ‘Find the Balance’, so that Australian pork remains a preferred source of protein in the Australian and international diet.

“With this in mind, PPPE 2010 can play a pivotal role in the Australian pork industry’s evolution with many topical presentations and industry events supporting this change process,” he said.

Speaking later in the Plenary conference session on the topic of Research for ‘High Integrity Australian PorkAccounting for Financial and Collateral Costs of Production’, Dr Van Barneveld covered key topics that were to become recurring themes in other presentations.

“Efficient production without the need for sow confinement in stalls or crates or widespread use of antibiotic medication and the delivery of key nutrients to consumers through pork that safely enhanced health and well-being,” were key industry issues Dr van Barneveld said.

“Utilisation of revolutionary feed sources and effluent management systems resulting in for lower emission levels were also of critical concern,” he said.

In the Plenary session 1, ‘Industry

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Champions Forum’ first speaker Greg Hargreave, the nutritionist at Baiada Poultry (Australia’s largest broiler integrator) gave delegates a valuable insight into a very successful industry.

He spoke about different market segments that have emerged such as free range and Halal that have, along with competitive pricing assisted in sustaining consumer demand.

“Technical innovation is a constant undertaking, as genetic improvements provide additional annual gains of around 2% for growth rate and liveweight gain,” he said.

Next Paul Pattison, Managing Director of Australia’s largest pork producer, Rivalea, also a board member of both APL and the Pork CRC, is always worth listening to.

Not only is he a direct speaker who doesn’t avoid contenscious issues, where his company Rivalea goes, it’s fair to state that the industry overall will follow.

“As we all know, nothing stays the same: changing consumer preferences and changed import regulations for pork caused some serious review of the beliefs and attitude at Rivalea.

“Our output of commodity pork had to change: we had to move even further up the vertical integration pathway and in effect the only way forward was to turn our business model 180 degrees to be customer/consumer focused rather than just pig focused. We had to be a food company,” Mr Pattison said.

The first step in changing the attitude of the company was to rebrand the business and to work with our people to under- w

PORK JOURNAL,July/August 2010

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5 1. Dr Rob van Barneveld. 2. Enzo Allara, Chairman APL. 3. Greg Hargreave, Baiada Poultry Nutritionist. 4. Paul Pattison, Rivalea MD. 5. Wayne Bradshaw (left) from Jefo and Ben Collins (right) present 2010 Ron Collins Award to Mark McLean, General Manager Riverhaven Enterprises.

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NEWS v stand the direction we were taking.

“Our focus was then to provide a quality food product to the consumer. But food is not just a lump of meat in a packet. “”Food, and particularly fresh meat needs to be supported by a ‘story’,” he emphasised.

“Various factors modify or shape the story and Rivalea undertook a process to evaluate the contributors to meeting or exceeding customer expectations and set about change,” Mr Pattison said.

The final speaker in the first plenary session was lamb industry ‘champion’ Dr David Pethick, Professor of Biochemistry & Nutrition, School of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, WA. His paper ‘Eating quality, does it matter – it does to the red meat industry!’ was both informative and very entertaining. Dr Pethick reviewed the factors that contributed to the recent success of the lamb industry and he went on to describe the latest research, where a balanced portfolio of consumer traits is being measured and managed to improve lamb even further.There were plenty of useful messages in Dr Pethick’s presentation for the Australian pork sector.

In the Plenary Session 2, Ms Feyi Akindoyeni, a corporate strategist and partner with researchers Kreab Gavin Anderson, Canberra spoke on the vital issue of ‘Strategies shaping our future – research into consumer perceptions of pork production.’

In 2009 APL commissioned research into consumer and retailer awareness, also perceptions of animal welfare in the pork industry.

In her paper Ms Akindoyeni reviewed key findings of this research from the consumer point of view, specifically on awareness of animal welfare issues and how they might impact on purchase behaviour, plus views on activist groups and what issues matter to retails, and how they rank.

Maybe one of the clearest signals at PPPE 2010 that the pork industry was moving to truly ‘Find the Balance’ was the presence and paper of the next speaker Melina Tensen, the Scientific Officer (Farm Animals) at RSPCA Australia where she is responsible for providing science based information, advice and comment on farm animal welfare at government and industry level.

“Increasing demand for animal welfare friendly foods has seen retailers and pork producers alike scramble to meet consumer expectations; but what exactly are these

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expectations and can they be met by Australian pork producers,” Ms Tensen asked.

“In developing standards for RSPCA’s Approved Farming Scheme, we are confronted with several challenges, namely ensuring that all our farms meet high animal welfare standards whilst balancing consumer expectations against what is achievable on the ground at a commercial scale to ensure the continued viability of the business,” she said.

“In addressing this challenge, the RSPCA’s key concern is that animal welfare is not compromised to meet consumer demand.

“By raising public awareness of animal welfare production systems, the RSPCA’s ‘Paw of Approval’ provides a clear and unambiguous label for discerning consumers to seek out.

“At the same time, it provides encouragement to producers to move towards systems that aim to satisfy the animals’ physical and fundamental behavioural needs. In doing so, achieving that balance between expectations and reality becomes a lot less daunting,” Ms Tensen said.

Dr Anne-Marie van Bussel has been managing research projects for pigs at the Sterksel Research Centre in the Netherlands, and has recently been involved with trials involving group housing of sows and alternative sow group housing systems.

In her paper Dr van Bussel looked at the various options available and the logistics involved with installing these systems.

Her conclusion however was, “The system is not the success – you are”.

Plenary session 3 was devoted to ‘Next CONTINUED PAGE 26 w

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5 1. Melina Tensen, Scientific Officer, RSPCA. 2. Dr David Pethick, Murdoch University WA. 3. Dr Anne Marie van Bussel. 4. Dr William van Wettere, University of Adelaide.

5. Well-known media identity Lyndey Milan congratulates APL’s Porkstar’s action man Mitch Edwards after the Celebrity Porkstar Chef Challenge.

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

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Alan Skerman explains the biogas collection and flaming unit.

Insert: Biogas collection box on pond cover.

Next generation energy – Biogas?

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ne of the papers at the Next Generation session of Pan Pacific Pork Expo (PPPE), June 16-17 on the Gold Coast was ‘Next Generation Energy – Biogas?’ delivered by Jeremy Whitby, Managing Director of Queensland Natural Pork Holdings (Marketing) Pty Ltd and Alan Skerman, Principal Environmental Engineer, Agri-Science, Queensland.

Jeremy, whose farm at Grantham in SE Queensland was visited by Pork Journal in March 2007, has enjoyed a long involvement with the pork industry and readily embraces innovative ideas and technology that improves his operation.

Today QNPH is a family owned operation consisting of 2000 sows and their progeny are housed in three breeder farms and nine contract grower units.

Back in 2007 our aim was to inspect the Mannebeck automated feeding system

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that boosted production and saved on labour costs at the QNPH Grantham farm.

In 2008 QNPH was invited to participate in a biogas research project using a floating waste lagoon pond cover to capture methane.

“As the project has developed since then, it has become obvious that there is great potential for biogas utilisation in the pork industry,” Jeremy said.

Alan Skerman is currently employed as a Principal Environmental Engineer with Agri Science Queensland, a service of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI).

In this role he provides environmental research and extension services to the intensive livestock industries.

Prior to moving into this role in 2001, he spent several years working in the water engineering field, assessing new feedlot and

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

piggery developments and establishing a dairy environmental extension service.

He currently leads APL research projects (administered by the RIRDC) focusing on improving piggery effluent management in addition to two ‘Methane to Markets in Agriculture’ (M2MA) projects investigating the use of biogas collected from a covered piggery effluent pond.

“The QNPH 700 sow breeder farm at Grantham transports weaner pigs at 28 days off site to grower units resulting in a total piggery capacity of 1400 standard pig units (SPU),” Mr Skerman said.

“Two current research projects supported by the Australian Methane to Markets in Agriculture program are investigating the capture and use and use of biogas at this piggery.

“A partial, floating impermeable cover w was retro fitted to an existing primary

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v anaerobic pond in February 2009.

“Since March 2009, biogas production has been monitored on a monthly basis, along with pond effluent, sludge characteristics and temperatures.

“The second phase of the research projects will examine options for effectively utilising the energy value of the biogas.

“Initially, it is anticipated that the biogas will be used to replace approximately half the current LPG used for heating on the farm, resulting in an energy cost saving of $22,000 a year based on current pricing,” Mr Skerman explained.

On June 18 after PPPE, APL’s Communications Manager, Emily Mackintosh and Janine Price who works with environmental issues at APL, organised a trip for farmers and media interested in the biogas research project.

The party first visited the QNPH Grantham piggery where Alan Skerman explained the project and its relevant details on site.

The pond cover is fabricated from 500mm high density polypropylene perimeter pipe, heat welded on site and then fitted with a 1.5mm thick cover welded to the flotation pipe material.

Lugs fitted to the perimeter pipe are used with stainless steel cables and posts on the pond bank to keep the cover in place.

Alan explained that a cheaper option would be to install the cover in trenches around the perimeter banks of a pond but that the advantage of the floating cover was that it could be moved for desludging.

The whole design of the experimental unit was based on using low cost and robust equipment, wherever possible.

At present the biogas is flared off but as the project proceeds the gas will be used for heating purposes and, Alan suggested, there is the potential to use the gas in internal combustion power units or even small gas powered turbines to generate electricity.

“One of the challenges in the utilisation of the biogas produced at the project will be to remove hydrogen sulphide from the biogas supply,” Alan stated.

“Output from the pond collection system is about 70 cu metres per day consisting of around 70% methane and 30% Co2.

“Waste is released from the pits in the sheds once a week and the loading rate of volatile solids is 200 gm per cu metre per day.

“Apart from the obvious savings in heating cost Jeremy Whitby, being a progressive farmer, sees a potential marketing advantage in the future by reducing carbon emissions,” Alan said.

This project is supported by the Australian Methane to Markets in Agriculture program (AM2MA) w

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Top: Pond cover in position in primary waste pond at QNPH Grantham.

Centre: Biogas flaming unit with pump and flame arrestor. Above left: Jeremy Whitby, Managing Director of QNPH Pty Ltd with Mannebeck automated sow feeding units.

Above right: Steve Weideman and Glen Pope from FSA Consulting were on hand at Grantham.

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

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v administered by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).

This program is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) from the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Landcare Program.

Steve Weideman and Glen Pope from FSA Consulting were on hand at Grantham to expand upon the environmentally beneficial potential for biogas capture and utilisation.

“With effective biogas capture a pig farm could reduce its carbon footprint by between 30 to 45%,” Steve said.

Summarising the benefits of biogas capture in piggeries, Alan revealed “that recent National Institute of Water and Atmospheric (NIWA) New Zealand research studies suggest that the installation of covered anaerobic pond (CAP) systems supplying biogas to co-generational units (producing electricity and heating) can reduce total energy costs in small to medium sized piggeries by up to 50%”.

“Pay back periods from two to five years were predictable, without accounting for renewable energy credits or carbon tax reductions.

“Other benefits of biogas systems incorporating CAPs include odour reduction, high pond loading rates – so possible reduced pond size, more complete digestion of piggery effluent and sludge fertiliser/soil conditioner value, also improved regulatory compliance, lower carbon footprint delivering cleaner production as well as potential marketing advantages.”

“As biogas technology continues to advance and the cost of cover materials and hardware falls, it is anticipated that biogas will provide a viable renewable energy resource that is just too valuable to continue ignoring, in the new generation of cleaner greener piggeries,” Alan concluded.

Leaving the Grantham piggery, the party then visited the Agri-Science Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) facilities at Toowoomba where further information was provided on biogas production and current lab-based and future on-site odour measurement techniques for use in intensive livestock industries.

Preethi Gopalan, PhD Student from the Advanced Water Management Centre, University of Qld, revealed details of her research examining the biogas potential of pig manure in different production systems.

APL supports Ms Gopalan’s studies as part of the research projects on biogas and associated benefits.

This was followed by a visit to the air quality laboratory where more a more practical objective and cost effective method of odour measurement is being developed

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for on-site monitoring.

This advanced electronic nose, or artificial olfaction system, will complement standard lab-based odour measurements that rely on human ‘sniffers’ in order to assess odour concentration, in a process called dynamic olfactometry.

Michael Atzeni, an environmental modeller with Agri-Science Qld, DEEDI, explained the use of the dynamic olfactometer for their research projects and Dr Jae Ho

Sohn, Senior Environmental Scientist, Agri-Science Qld, DEEDI explained an articficial olfaction system that had been developed for intensive livestock odour research and management purposes.

Finally, the group was shown a 3dimensional sonic anemometer used by Dr Matthew Redding, Principal Enviromental Scientist also from Agri-Science Qld, DEEDI, in research projects investigating greenhouse gas emissions.

Top left: Preethi Gopalan, PhD student, discusses her research. Top right: Three dimensional sonic anemometer. Centre: Dr Jae Ho Sohn, Senior Environmental Scientist discussing artificial olfactory system. Above right: Michael Atzeni, Environmental Modeller, explaining odour sample collection. Above left: Janine Price, APL’s Manager Environment and Climate Change.

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

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NEWS Victorian seminar addresses pig welfare and productivity Improving the welfare and productivity of Australia’s pigs was the focus of an international seminar in Melbourne on July 9, where researchers presented the latest pig welfare research to industry representatives.

The seminar was hosted by the Animal Welfare Science Centre (AWSC) – a partnership of the University of Melbourne, Monash University, The Ohio State University and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

Pig welfare is becoming increasingly more important in the pig industry, not only for the animals benefit but also because scientists are finding that improving the welfare of farm animals can have profound impacts on their productivity and as a result, the economic return of the industry.

Professor Paul Hemsworth from the University of Melbourne and Director of the AWSC explained that negative emotional states like fear create high stress levels and consequently the release of hormones that can disrupt an animal’s metabolism.

“This stress response can have adverse effects on growth, health and reproduction, limiting animal welfare and productivity,” he said.

Internationally recognised experts from Australia and overseas, presented a range of information on relevant pig welfare issues that may impact a piggery’s productivity.

Professor Hemsworth opened the seminar with a presentation on the effect of housing styles on the welfare of sows.

He explained that there are few rigorous recommendations in the scientific literature on the optimal design features of sow group housing.

“From a welfare perspective, group housing of sows is favourable as pigs are social animals but problems such as increased aggression tend to arise when sows are housed together,” he said.

Professor Hemsworth presented data from a range of previous studies that looked at the impact of design features of housing including space, group size, provision of feeding stalls, time of mixing and individual sow characteristics on aggression levels in sows.

“This knowledge is essential for us to be able to make science-based recommendations to optimize welfare of grouphoused sows,” he says.

Dr Greg Cronin from the University of Sydney spoke about reducing pain associated with husbandry procedures such as castrating, tail-docking, teeth clipping and ear-

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notching in piglets.

Dr Cronin outlined a research program being undertaking at the University of Sydney investigating the effectiveness of applying a topical anesthetic spray to wounds following or during the procedure.

“It’s low cost, practical, easy to apply and results show it may provide effective pain relief,” he said.

Graeme Pope from Rural Solutions in South Australia focused on the humananimal interaction as he presented results from evaluation surveys following the implementation of ProHand – a computer based training program which aims to improve the attitudes and behaviour of industry stock people.

With assistance from Grahame Coleman of the AWSC and Monash University, Graeme conducted a study to evaluate how successful ProHand training was in changing attitudes of stockpeople towards their animals.

Analysis of questionnaires revealed that the training was successful in improving stockperson attitudes towards pig handling which, in turn, will reduce negative handling and improve both productivity and pig welfare.

Professor Knut Boe and Associate Professor Inger Lise Andersen from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences discussed a range of techniques that can maximise piglet survival in farrowing pens, from thermal requirements of piglets to the impact of sow behaviour.

Professor Boe explained that the provision of roughage during pregnancy improves piglet survival as nest building can improve maternal behaviour and provide a warm, safe area for piglets to rest.

Also focusing on piglet survival, Rebecca Morrison from Rivalea Australia outlined a research program she is working on that explores alternatives to farrowing crates.

Dr Morrison explained that although farrowing crates can protect piglets from being crushed, they restrict sow’s movement and therefore may be construed as a welfare problem.

“We are consolidating information on the alternatives to farrowing crates and trialing appropriate alternatives,” she said.

Kathleen Plowman from Australian Pork Limited outlined the industry’s new pig welfare assurance system called PigCare, which is part of the Australian Pork Industry Quality Assurance (APIQ).

The new program has been developed

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

Top: Dr Rebecca Morrison, Rivalea Australia and A/Prof Inger Lise Anderson from Norway. Above: Prof Paul Hemsworth, University of Melbourne. to support inclusion of animal-based indicators in audits.

Dr Roger Campbell, Pork Cooperative Research Centre CEO, explained the re-bid process surrounding the proposed ‘new’ Pork CRC which will focus on High Integrity Australian Pork. The vision for the proposed CRC is the production of Australian pork which is healthy for the consumer, produced in an environmentally sustainable manner under optimal welfare conditions including confinement-free sow accommodation.

Following the series of talks, a lively discussion took place in which industry representatives had the chance to ask experts in the area questions.

Professor Hemsworth and Professor Alan Tilbrook, (Deputy Director of AWSC, Monash University), closed the seminar, highlighting the link between animal welfare and productivity.

All presentations are available for viewing at http://www.vimeo.com/awsc

PJJulyAug2010:PJJanFeb09 8/08/10 10:33 AM Page 15

NEWS Australian pork industry starts national consultation on alternative farming practices Australia’s pork industry has announced the start of a comprehensive consultation process with its members, around some tough issues facing the industry, such as imports, labelling, labour and gestation stalls.

“The consultation process will be known as ‘Shaping our Future’ and will take place over the next five months in the lead up to the industry’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in November,” said APL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Spencer.

He said the gestation stalls issue cannot be viewed in isolation.

“If sow stalls are phased out, it is likely that pork producers will experience a decrease in productivity and there will be both dual increased demands for labour and for skilled staff to meet the specialist needs of other housing systems, consequently labour costs for producers will increase.

As a result the price of Australian pork could increase while the cheaper pork

products from overseas would continue to maintain pressure on the market.

These are all issues Australian pork farmers need room to debate, discuss and map out for a future path for their industry.

“This comprehensive consultation will provide an opportunity to assess the industry’s and other key sector stakeholders views around these complex issues.

“Should producers ultimately agree to move down the path of a gestation stall free environment, the industry will need strong support from retailers as well as both state and federal governments.

Any possible change cannot happen in isolation”.

Mr Spencer said “I need to make it very clear that the industry is driving the consultation and it is our producers who will determine what changes need to be undertaken.

“APL’s role is to facilitate discussion with relevant stakeholders; producers,

APL CEO Andrew Spencer retailers, regulators, credible welfare organisations and others.

“The industry’s decision to move forward on the consultation process was not made lightly and followed research initially undertaken with producer groups in four out of the six pig producing states in Australia.

“This was followed by further APL Delegate and APL Member meetings at the industry’s largest science and technology forum Pan Pacific Pork Expo, recently held on the Gold Coast, Queensland”.

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NEWS There’s something about pork Dr Roger Campbell, CEO of Australia’s Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), is increasingly convinced that fresh Australian pork has a range of largely untapped health and nutrition attributes.

“There’s just something about pork,” he said, after welcoming almost 500 people to the 2010 Pan Pacific Pork Expo (PPPE) on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

The Pork CRC supports research into such pork qualities as its role in improving thiamine status and reducing heart disease and type two diabetes, plus the possible benefits of its selenium content and its effect on satiety.

“These are just some of the things we’re studying, researching and reviewing, particularly as part of Pork CRC Program Three, which is managed by Heather Channon of APL,” Dr Campbell said.

“Everything we do is really about health, as we need a healthy animal to feed nutritious pork to enhance human health, while maintaining a healthy environment and a healthy economic platform to support investment and capture value for stakeholders up and down the chain, from producers to consumers.”

A central theme of the Pork CRC’s bid for a second term is a commitment to refine and focus its attention on motivating and up-skilling Australia’s pork industry to produce pork more efficiently, more ethically, more sustainably and more economically.

“We would do this while keeping the health of our pigs, our people and the environment top of mind,” Dr Campbell said.

In keeping with the 2010 PPPE theme, ‘Next Generation Pork – Finding the Balance’, the Pork CRC sponsored ‘Pork Power’ a day two concurrent session which analysed the importance of maintaining healthy pork for a healthy market.

Associate Professor Karen Charlton, School of Health Sciences, Wollongong University, NSW, revealed that pork had a more positive effect on PYY, one of the human hormones controlling appetite, than chicken and a similar effect on satiety, or feeling of fullness, as lean beef and chicken.

With two thirds of adult Australians obese and childhood obesity increasing, this represented a new marketing opportunity for the pork industry in the context of consumer demand for foods to improve health and wellbeing.

Professor Peter Howe and Dr Karen

16

Murphy, both of the University of South Australia, presented on the possible cardiometabolic health benefits of eating fresh pork during the Pork CRC supported ‘Pork Power’ concurrent sessions.

With high protein, meat-based diets commonly promoted for weight loss and pork being the world’s most eaten meat, their early stage research studied the health impact on overweight/obese individuals of increased pork consumption.

Initial results showed subjects on porkbased diets actually lost weight, in the form of body fat, during the study, but subjects on control diets gained weight.

According to Dr Campbell, this was put into perspective by Dr Murphy, who concluded that the outcome meant those including pork in their diet could “pull their belts in one or two notches” at the end of the study.

“There’s something about pork and the University of South Australia, with Pork CRC support, will now compare the effect on body composition of regular consumption of lean pork versus chicken and beef,” Dr Campbell said.

CSIRO nutritional and exercise scientist Thomas Wycherley revealed that a higher intake of lean pork as part of a high protein, lower carbohydrate diet plan, combined with resistance exercise training, provided advantages for optimising weight and fat loss in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes.

His research confirmed that pork contained up to 10 times the thiamine level as other meats and while the thiamine status of subjects on the control diet and exercise program declined over time, the thiamine status of subjects on the pork diet was maintained throughout the study.

Several Pork CRC supported students participated in the 2010 PPPE Day One Plenary Session, titled ‘Next Generation Scientists’, where they showcased their undergraduate and post-graduate studies and research.

They included University of Queensland PhD student Mitchell Groves, who is developing techniques to detect and characterise zoonotic bacteria in pigs.

His research aims to improve pig disease diagnostics and worker safety, while boosting consumer perceptions of the quality and safety of pork products.

Dr William van Wettere, awarded a Pork CRC post-doctoral fellowship in 2006, now manages six Pork CRC supported

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

University of South Australia Industry Research Fellow, Dr Karen Murphy (top left), CSIRO nutritional and exercise scientist, Thomas Wycherley, Pork CRC Program Manager, Heather Channon, Professor Peter Howe of the University of South Australia and Associate Professor Karen Charlton of the University of Wollongong, NSW show their support for the Pork CRC at the Pan Pacific Pork Expo 2010.

students while also lecturing at the University of Adelaide, outlined his experiences in the pork industry and where he believes he can contribute.

According to Dr Campbell, the Pork CRC eagerly anticipates developing the platforms required to make the changes Australian pork producers need.

“While our farmers produce pork with similar efficiency and cost effectiveness as their peers overseas, change is inevitable and the Pork CRC commits to work alongside producers to innovate to meet the challenges for next generation pork.”

Dr Campbell described the 2010 PPPE as an outstanding success and he congratulated the organisers, attendees and sponsors, in particular APL and 2010 PPPE Chairman and Pork CRC Board Member, Dr Robert van Barneveld.

PJJulyAug2010:PJJanFeb09 8/08/10 10:33 AM Page 17

NEWS Midlands woman acknowledged at National Rural Woman of the Year Award Midlands pork producer Sue Middleton was recognised recently as one of the leading female contributors to rural and regional Australia when named winner of the 2010 Australian RIRDC Rural Women’s Award.

As Western Australia’s state winner of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Award, Ms Middleton was among 300 guests at the Awards Dinner in the Great Hall at Parliament House.

Alana Johnson, a rural philanthropy advocate from Victoria, is the national Award runner up.

Sue spent a week in Canberra with other state finalists, participating in an AICD leadership program along with developing media skills and building their capacity for managing their rural business.

“What I learnt during tha week in Canberra will certainly be of benefit for our business and my own leadership skills,” Sue said.

“Being able to bring this award home

to Western Australia and to acknowledge the excellence and contribution of agriculture to our economy was a highlight of the week.

“It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I will be encouraging other women to enter the program,” she said.

Westpac’s State General Manager Commercial and Agribusiness, Ben Marini, attended the dinner to support Western Australia’s candidates for the Award and warmly congratulated Sue. “Sue’s achievements are remarkable, not only for her own business, but for the wider community,” Ben said.

“Inspirational women such as Sue Middleton are part of the reason Westpac announced this week our partnership with RIRDC for the 2011 Awards.

“Women contribute more than 49% of the total value of agricultural output in Australia and we are looking forward to encouraging more successful rural women like Sue to be part of the RIRDC Rural Women’s Awards this year,” he said.

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Sue Middleton and Eddie Fenson from Austtralian Waste Engineering (right) chat to a pork producer.

Canada supports innovation in agriculture While Australian governments at all levels do their best to destroy the Australian pig industry through imports (Federal) and ethanol subsidies (State) Canada has other ideas.

The governments of Canada and Quebec have launched two new programs to support innovation in the agriculture and agri-food sector under the Growing Forward bilateral agreement.

“By investing in innovation, the Government of Canada has made a

pertinent decision. It helps create new markets for the agriculture and agri-food sectors. It also makes these sectors more competitive, boosts demand for agriculture products and helps open previously untapped markets,” said Minister of Minister of State (Agriculture), Jean-Pierre Blackburn, citing that the Growing Forward agriculture policy framework makes science and innovation key elements of a new and dynamic vision for the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

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PJJulyAug2010:PJJanFeb09 8/08/10 10:33 AM Page 18

NEWS Alltech’s Pig Solutions breakfast at PPPE Fans for intensive livestock industries manufactured in Australia to suit Australian conditions.

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In conjunction with the PPPE 2010 program, Alltech hosted its regular Pig Solutions breakfast bright and early on the morning of Thursday June 17.

With more than 50 people in attendance, from pig producers to consultants and feed mills, the audience enjoyed a hot breakfast and networking opportunities before the official proceedings commenced.

Dr Andreas Kocher (Alltech Australia) chaired the meeting and introduced Keith Filer, Project Manager for Research, Alltech. Keith explained the advances in nutrigenomics and how the understanding of the influence of nutrients on gene expression has allowed for new product development.

The understanding of the effects of specific feed additives at gene level is a new and very exciting tool for evaluating nutritional strategies for pigs.

For example researchers at Alltech have developed replacement strategies to Vitamin E in antioxidant control, EconomasE, as well as tools to maximise nutrient utilisation in the form of Actigen.

Dr Bruce Mullan, Royston Consulting, looked at ‘Old challenges, new solutions’ and reflected on the changes we have seen in the pig industry from 1980 to 2005; namely pork quality and bottom line growth and performance.

“Looking forward to the future and to 2020 when we will have more mouths to

feed, we are likely to see an increase in the demand for animal protein and the amount of pork and poultry consumed will rise.

“By looking at the strategic use of technology across nutrition x health x genetics we can prepare for future demands through management, feeding and environmental strategies.

Our biggest challenge is determining what action to take and how to monitor the impact.

Megan Edwards, ACE Livestock Consulting, presented to the audience some of her findings of her research into early nutrition.

Nutrition for weaner pigs younger than seven weeks of age, must not only provide nutrition for growth, but must accommodate the physiological contraints of the pig, and support and promote digestive and immune development to maximise performance.

Megan shared with the audience the results of her PhD work in which she demonstrated that the inclusion of functional nutrients such as NuPro have a positive impact on immune status and daily gain of piglets.

The breakfast proved very worthwhile for those able to jump out of bed after a big night for Queensland in the State of Origin the previous night! For more information on topics covered at the breakfast, contact Alltech on (03) 9767 2800.

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Above: (LtoR): Megan Edwards, ACE Livestock Consulting, Dr Bruce Mullan, Royston Consulting and Keith Filer, Project Manager for Research, Alltech at the PPPE Alltech Breakfast.

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

PJJulyAug2010:PJJanFeb09 8/08/10 10:33 AM Page 19

NEWS Auspac Ingredients to distribute Biorigin products in Australia AusPac Ingredients has been appointed distributor for the Biorigin range of products in the Australian and New Zealand market.

Biorigin is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zilor, a Brazilian based producer of sugar and alcohol founded in 1946.

Zilor processes cane grown from a production area totaling 150,000 ha and is one of the largest processors in the market. The production volume is more than 500,000 tones of sugar, and more than 500 million litres of alcohol.

As a result of this internal capacity, Biorigin was founded in 2003 to add value to these raw material streams through the production of yeast products.

Biorigin invested heavily in the first primary fermentation plant built in Brazil. Subsequent investment has seen a doubling in fermentation capacity with production volumes of 35,000 Mt per annum achieved in 2008.

Biorigin produces a range of products for the food and feed industry and is heavily focused on production quality and safety, a point made by Dr Goetz Gotterbarm when he attended PPPE on the Gold Coast recently.

“Being an integration, we can control all aspects of the process and importantly we own the feed stock, the fermentation facility and output.

“We don’t outsource any part of the process and we manufacture to exacting food grade standards, vital to ensuring high quality production.

“Biorigin ensures quality assurance through ISO 9001, GMP and HACCP. The company also has gained certification as Kosher, Halal and ensures GMO free status through a program known as STOP. Being a food grade facility we control our production to exacting standards and there are no antibiotics used in any part of the process” Dr Gotterbarm said.

Research and development has been an important part of the success of the company which has developed working synergies with the most renowned research institutes in Brazil and worldwide.

The company has invested heavily in well equipped labs to assist in yeast strain selection, identification of cell wall characteristics such as mannan and glucan profile, in vitro pathogen agglutination and toxin absorption. Additionally there is significant capacity for research into mycotoxins and RNA and nucleotides.

AusPac Ingredients Pty Ltd will be focusing on five key products from the Biorigin range. ActiveMOS – a mannanoligosaccharide rich product with high levels of mannan and low solubility.

Nutricell – inactivated dry yeast for use as quality protein source, Hi-cell – inactivated dry yeast for use as quality protein source with very high digestibility due to high solubility, Polysorb – an excellent performing broad spectrum toxin binder and Biotide – an excellent amino acid source with elevated nucleotide levels.

These products will assist the producer in maximizing animal performance while at the same time reducing costs. Information on these products including full profile data sheets and performance data can be obtained by contacting AusPac ingredients Pty Ltd on 02 67627708 or by email sales@auspacingredients.com.au

Sponsorship opportunities at Victorian Pig Fair 2011 Over the past 16 years the Victorian Pig Fair (VPF) has established its Biennial Fair as one of the most noteworthy events in the Australian pig industry calendar.

It is attended by a combination of pork producers and representatives from both national and international service industries.

Such events rely heavily on support from the international and Australian pork industry.

“Occasions such as the VPF that allow industry representatives to be able to congregate are gradually diminishing,” said Pat Mitchell, President of the 2011 committee.

“Now more than ever, events such as the VPF are one of the few ways where industry as a whole is able to meet, gather support and information as well as strengthen their networks.

“To ensure the continued success of the Fair we are again relying on industry sponsorship to maintain the success of this important industry gathering.

“The committee is proud to announce that APL and the Pork CRC will be joint Gold sponsors for the Victorian Pig Fair in 2011.

But we are offering an additional two levels of sponsorship, Silver and Bronze. Please contact Pat Mitchell on (03) 5488 2306 or 0402 794 912 for more information.

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

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NEWS John Beevers retires from Directorship of PIC Paul O’Leary, the Chief Executive Officer of PIC Australia, announced the retirement of John Beevers from PIC Australia just prior to the close of the Pan Pacific Pork Expo (PPPE) on June 17, 2010.

Paul outlined the huge contribution that John Beevers had made not only to PIC in Australia but the industry in general.

Following the announcement at PPPE, Paul reported that prominent industry figures, producers, consultants, as well as past and present PIC staff, travelled from across Australia during July to celebrate John Beevers’ contribution to PIC Australia between 1980 and 2010.

“John’s initial role in Australia was as General Manager, followed by appointments to the positions of Chief Executive Officer and, most recently, Strategic Development Director,” Paul said.

“On a Saturday evening in July anecdotes and splendid memories were shared by Liam Flanagan, John Gaskin, Simon Macgugan, Paul O’Leary, Robert Johnston, Helen Ryan and Paul Noone.

“The evening provided many opportunities to reminisce and rejoice at John’s many achievements,” he said.

“Since John first joined the Pig Improvement Company in 1972, the business has continued to expand globally and now delivers genetic improvement in thirty countries on six continents.

“Touching tributes from Scott Newman and Bill Christianson, Genus PIC, were presented on behalf of PIC internationally and recognised John’s dedication to the principles of PIC and its ongoing genetic and technical advancements in pig breeding,” Paul concluded.

John arrived in Australia to expand PIC’s operations in January 1980 having worked with the company in the UK, where PIC had improved pure lines that subsequently contributed significantly to far greater efficiencies in an industry that underwent a major transformation from the fifties to the late seventies.

Asked by Pork Journal, “What was it that gave PIC such leadership in genetic supply in Australia and other major markets?” John stated that, “strict adherence to scientific principals in pig breeding, then developing a sustainable business model for the multiplication of improved genetics and genetic material had been the cornerstones on which PIC had

20

Above: (LtoR): Paul O’Leary, John Beevers and Simon Hall at PPPE. built its success.

“In the UK the transformation of the industry from basically small semi intensive pig units with just a few pigs in the early 1950s, to an intensive industry that needed to ignificantly increase production, took place in the following 25 years.

“This lead to not only better and more efficient management practices to improve animal heath and production, it logically lead to the creation of better genetics that suited intensive operations,” he said.

“While the UK pig industry was building its intensive industry with the help of PIC genetics, in the mid 1970s there still existed a more traditional group of farmers running the traditional Wessex Saddleback breed on extensive farms on the chalky hills of Britains’ South Downs.

“With good levels of reproduction but very poor progeny efficiency, the existence of these farms as viable commercial enterprises was under threat but two factors gave these farms a new lease of life,” John said.

“The first was to improve progeny efficiency with the introduction of genetically improved Duroc, Large White, and Landrace lines from PIC. The second factor was the emergence of moveable and reliable electric fencing allowing for more efficient management of paddocks therby making the integration of pigs as a valuable part of the crop rotation of their farms a reality.

“Portable huts, better genetics and paddock management have all lead to the survival and expansion of outdoor pig herds.”

These developments would be very significant to John Beevers who more recently has applied his experience with what could have been a dying industry in

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

the UK, to provide choices for Australian consumers who find the idea of fresh pork derived from free range bred herds attractive.

“In 1992 I was involved in the setting up of The Pastoral Pork Company raising pigs using the free range bred methodology where sows live outdoors and give birth in portable farrowing huts.

Weaner pigs are then transferred to straw based shelters for the grow out phase – these extensive rearing methods are recognised by the RSPCA and our farms not far from the Otaway Ranges, south west Victoria and Edenhope near the South Australian border, were the first to acquire the RSPCA ‘Approved Farming Brand’.”

“Commencing with 500 sows using PIC stock, the business expanded rapidly and in 2001 we launched the Otway Free Range Bred Pork brand, now Australia’s top selling free range bred pork available from supermarkets in most Eastern states.

“Despite being available for some time it has only been in the last few years that supermarkets have fully recognised that some consumers appreciate welfare friendly free range bred pork,” John said.

Apart from his interest in The Pastoral Pork Company, Mr Beevers owns his own extensive pig farm Little River Pork, so though he is retired from PIC Australia, there is plenty to keep him busy in the industry he loves.

Asked by Pork Journal, “What did he consider to be key issues for the Australian pig industry?” his answer was short and direct.

“Imports and the maintenance of the current situation for the Australian fresh pork market,” he replied.

PJJulyAug2010:PJJanFeb09 8/08/10 10:33 AM Page 21

NEWS Australian pork farmers call for Coles to avoid double standards Australian Pork Limited (APL) has for some time recognised the community and consumer concerns around the use of gestation stalls.

The issue of gestation stalls is being debated nationally right now by Australian pork farmers as part of a comprehensive consultation process around the future direction of the Australian pork industry.

The consultation also includes discussion around related issues like imports and labelling.

Extensive consultation has also been undertaken with retailers, regulators and supply chain partners, including animal welfare groups in an effort to hear their views as well. This is a complex issue which requires thought, close co-operation and involvement with all parties along the supply chain to ensure it delivers the best outcomes. Individual statements such as Coles announcing it will support sow free stalls for Australian produced pork, are unhelpful in this process.

APL is aware that some pork producers

New identity and logo for Jefo Jefo has introduced a new corporate identity to highlight an important stage in the company’s evolution.

“Our new positioning is based on strong operational pillars and corporate values.

“We’re convinced it was time to bring the various divisions under one consistent brand,” said President, Jean Fontaine.

“United Nutrients Corporation, part of the Jefo group of companies, will now operate under the Jefo brand.

“The new identity is based on the idea of the natural cycle, the continuity of life.

Both humans and animals are part of this cycle, and their interaction is an apt example of balanced responsibility; giving the best to the animal because it is ultimately, given back to us.

“With this philosophy in mind, the new logotype reflects Jefo’s interest in and respect for each animal species for which the company develops highly specialised feed products.”

have already undertaken changes to their farming practices to gradually phase out the use of gestation stalls.

APL CEO Andrew Spencer has called on Coles to extend the application of its new pork policy to its imported pork products, following the retailer’s announcement that it will only source pork from stall free production systems.

Mr Spencer said Coles must now confirm that it intends to place the same sowstall free restrictions on imported pork used to make ham and bacon products.

“Currently more than 70% of ham and bacon products are made from imported pork produced in countries such as Denmark, Canada and the US. These countries continue to use and have no plan to stop using gestation stalls.

“If Coles believes this move is about animal welfare, then consumers should demand the same standards apply for their ham and bacon products.

“If Coles does not move to do so, the

retailer would leave itself open to claims of double standards by Australian consumers and farmers.”

“Australian pork farmers adhere to some of the highest welfare standards around the world, as required by the national Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Pigs and regulated in states.

“If consumers do want to source pork made from Australian grown pork, especially ham and bacon, they should look for the hot pink Australian Pork PorkMark label.

This is a mark that guarantees the pork in the pack or the deli cabinet is Australian grown”.

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PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

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PJJulyAug2010:PJJanFeb09 8/08/10 10:33 AM Page 22

NEWS Inaugural Australian Ham Week leads the fight back for Australian grown pork In a bid to help confused Australian consumers and in a fight back for the country’s embattled pork producers, Australian Ham Week was launched July 5.

Australian pork producers have for some time now been battling against the flood of subsidised imports from Denmark, for bacon and the US and Canada for leg meat (ham).

More than $10 million worth of pork imports, or more than 2.6 million kg of frozen pork, arrives by boat in Australia every week. In fact this imported meat represents more than 70% of Australia’s ham, bacon and smallgoods consumption.

APL believes it is time to fight back and regain some of this lost ground. The initiative to do this has been launched by the Australian pork industry producer body and has been called Australian Ham Week.

This initiative was also timed to coincide with the month-long Christmas in July celebrations.

Australian Ham Week highlighted the Australian PorkMark label. The hot pink Australian PorkMark logo is a sure fired way to guarantee what is in the packet is 100% Australian home grown and manufactured ham.

The inaugural Australian Ham Week was heralded with the announcement of the winners of the Australian PorkMark Ham Awards for Excellence.

Consumer research has shown that 87% of Australians prefer to buy Australian grown food if they could identify it, but the existing country of origin labelling regulations makes it difficult for consumers to do this.

APL CEO Andrew Spencer said: “Traditional Australian grocery labelling laws are vague and very confusing for consumers. The square, pink Australian PorkMark is a no-ifs-no-buts guarantee of Australian origin.”

“To- date there are 178 butchers and smallgoods manufacturers Australia wide that are licensed to display the PorkMark logo on their products, which are the finest smallgoods available in Australia.

“As an essential part of the Yuletide feast, central to Christmas in July celebrations and throughout the ensuing cold months, Australian Ham Week not only showcased quality Australian ham but raised awareness of the importance of supporting the local Australian pork

22

Top right: Preparing the hams for judging. Top left: Tasting the canapes. Above: LtoR: The three judges, Simon Bestly, Paul McDonald, and Horst Schurger

industry,” said Mr Spencer.

Open to all smallgoods processors that make their ham from Australian grown pork, the entries for Australian PorkMark Ham Awards for Excellence were divided into two categories: bone-in and boneless; and judged against key criteria, including appearance, texture, aroma and taste.

The judges were two chefs with broad international experience including working in Michelin starred restaurants, cruise liners and premier teaching institutions, Simon Bestly and Paul McDonald and a Fleischmeister with a Masters degree in Butchering and Smallgoods from the Master College in Monchen Gladbach Germany, Horst Schurger.

The winners of the Awards for Excellence were announced on the evening of July 5 at Aperitif Restaurant in Sydney’s Potts Point. Guests were treated to ham carving demonstrations and sampled the winning hams together with ham-inspired canapés from Aperitif chef Derek Baker –

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

all accompanied by Piggs Peake wines.

The winners of the Inaugural Australian PorkMark Ham Awards for Excellence (2010) are: Australian boneless Ham: • Reg Barkly - Barkly Smokehouse Pty Ltd (barklysmokehouse@bigpond.com) • Larry Sankey - Pastoral Ham & Beef Pty Ltd (pastoralham@hotmail.com) • Greg Behrendt – Gregs Tender Joint (sales@gregstenderjoint.com.au) Traditional Australian bone-In Leg ham: • Michael Farinaccio - CutFresh (mgf@cutfreshbutchers.com.au) • Andrew Quin - Quin’s Gourmet Butcher (aquiny@blue1000.com.au) • Darren Simmons - Simco Meats (simcofm@bigpond.com.au) Overall Winner and Australia’s best Ham Award: • Barkly Smokehouse Pty Ltd (barklysmokehouse@bigpond.com)

PJJulyAug2010:PJJanFeb09 8/08/10 10:33 AM Page 23

NEWS Pork CRC makes bid for better welfare Research supported by Australia’s Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) suggests changes to how sows are managed and mated in lactation may enable a smooth transition from stalls to group housing, without reproductive performance declining.

Addressing an Animal Welfare Science Centre pig welfare seminar in Melbourne on Friday, July 9, Pork CRC CEO, Dr Roger Campbell said the new technology, developed by Sydney University researchers, formed the basis of a major program in the CRC’s rebid application recently submitted to the Australian Government.

“One of the program’s core objectives will be the development of cost effective

APL kicks off membership drive In accordance with the Australian Pork Limited (APL) constitution, every three years members of APL are required to renew their membership.

This membership drive also provides the opportunity for new members to join.

APL CEO Andrew Spencer said “there is a very common misunderstanding that if you sell pigs and pay a pig slaughter levy that you are automatically a member of APL. To become a member of APL you are required to complete a membership form which contains a statutory declaration”.

Why Join APL? By joining APL, members have a say. Members can attend, speak and vote at the annual general meeting, vote on changes to APL’s constitution and Pig Slaughter Levy, and present concerns directly to the APL Board and management through their delegates.

Mr Spencer said “basically APL carries out functions that single pork producers find impossible to achieve on their own.

We work with all levels of government to enhance industry interests in the areas of trade, animal welfare, animal health, environmental and planning issues.

Management of the industry’s quality assurance programs, on farm and along the supply chain is also an important part of our work to assure Australian pork’s quality and integrity to customers”.

Contacting APL on Toll Free 1800 789 099 or download a copy from the website.

management and housing systems that have no adverse effects on reproduction or cost of production, but will improve the welfare of sows and their progeny,” he told about 50 delegates.

The ‘Confinement Free Systems’ program will involve leading international researchers, commercial production companies, animal welfare organisations and food retailers.

Dr Campbell said the pork industry had been challenged by animal welfare advocates, retailers and consumers, particularly regarding housing of sows in stalls and the issue needed to be thoroughly debated and addressed fairly by all stakeholders.

However, simply moving to group housing of sows would not necessarily improve the situation or make the industry more viable, he warned.

“Given the capital costs involved, plus the many unknowns, including the probability of significant declines in reproductive performance, changing housing systems because you are forced to could further hasten the decline of pork production in Australia.”

Although early stage, the technologies, developed with Pork CRC support, suggest sow welfare and productivity can be simultaneously improved.

“The proposed research will enable Australian producers to get ahead of their

international competitors, because it’s likely changes to sow management and housing will occur globally and it’s always better to be ahead of the curve than sliding down it,” Dr Campbell said.

“We have the opportunity of leading the world and helping ensure Australian pork producers and consumers are rewarded in terms of profitability and the quality and cost of food available.”

Commencing his address, Dr Campbell said the Australian industry faced increased competition from pork from Denmark, Canada and the USA, with imported pork already representing 70% of all manufactured pork products currently sold in Australia.

“Without improvements in the efficiency of production and cost competitiveness on a global basis, the Australian pork industry is likely to continue to decline in size and, ultimately, face the threat of fresh pork imports, which could devastate producers by slashing their already tight margins and threatening their future sustainability”.

The current Pork CRC has concentrated on improving the efficiency of pork production and the global competitiveness of the Australian pork industry.

“We hope that by reducing the collateral costs associated with pork production that Australian producers will gain market advantages over other meats and those countries exporting pork to Australia,” Dr Campbell said.

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PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

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NEWS Tougher Salmonella control from Virkon S DuPont’s Head Office in the UK has announced that its veterinary and livestock disinfectant Virkon S has been re-evaluated at Wageningen University in the Netherlands to specifically address the upcoming stricter EU legislation on Salmonella control.

“Misting, aerial spraying, cold and thermal fogging are all key processes for the control of infectious microorganisms including Salmonella, which can often be introduced into pig units during setting up procedures or left behind after all-in, allout depopulation,” said Andy Deeks, Marketing Communications Leader, DuPont, UK. “The latest EN 1656 Salmonella studies confirmed that Virkon S acheived excellent results with dilution rates of 1:100 and 1:200 against all of the five most prevalent strains of Salmonella-S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium, S.virchow, S.infantis and S.hadar.

“Contamination with the five

Salmonella strains are known to be associated with regular human food poisoning.

With the new Salmonella EU legislation taking force for fattening pigs in 2010 it is now important for producers to reassess, fine tune and implement an effective routine Salmonella biosecurity strategy,” Mr Deeks said.

“Potentiallyinfectious Salmonella particles can contaminate inaccessible areas of the pig unit even when lodged in dust particles. If disturbed, the dust has the potential to infect the next batches.

“A fine mist sprayer of thermal fogging machine can apply Virkon S disinfectant solution evenly to these diffcult to reach areas and a number of misting studies by leading researchers in the USA have demonstrated the superior efficacy of Virkon S for the control of Salmonella in a variety of agricultural or veterinary settings.

“For misting in the precence of animals, Virkon S can be used at a dilution rate of 1:200 (0.5%) using a cold fogger or mister,

L to R: Nick Lienert, Jason Edwards and Mike Pritchard on the Lienerts stand at Pan Pacific Pork Expo. Lienert Australia is the local distributor for Virkon S.

as the noise of the thermal fogger may disturb the animals’ behaviour.

“DuPont is currently focusing on Salmonella control by providing producers with practical, pictorial advice on how to clean and disinfect pig units on the DuPont website www.dupont.com DuPont recommends that you should always read the label for local applications and safety.

Diabetic test to help pork producers A simple glucose meter, or glucometer, commonly used by diabetics to measure blood glucose levels, is set to help Australian pork producers more efficiently feed their pigs.

Supported by Australia’s Pork Cooperative research Centre (CRC), Dr Peter Sopade (pictured) of the University of Queensland has developed a simple, robust, efficient technique, using a glucometer, that measures the amount of glucose and therefore digested starch, produced by digestive enzymes.

It was one of the key outcomes of the Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) project, ‘Processing Methods for Improving the Utilisation of Cereal Grains by Pigs’.

Principal Investigator, Professor Mike

Gidley, said developing a rapid in-vitro starch digestion technique for animal feed involved examining pig digestion of cereal grains based on the need to maximise available energy for pig growth from grainbased feeds.

Dr Sopade said that with cereals in pig diets potentially containing 17MJ/kg energy from starch, it was important to quantify how easily that starch would be digested.

The new method, based on glucometry, could speed up analysis of starch digestion and help processors, nutritionists, pork producers and ingredient suppliers maximise energy delivery and therefore feed conversion ratios.

“To investigate the suitability of the

Agricultural trainees from Ukraine are seeking work in Australian piggeries for 12 months.

Have worked in Danish piggeries for a similar period of time.

For further information contact: AUSTRALIAN & INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXCHANGE Phone: (03) 9818 2395

24

Email: auintagx@bigpond.com

PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

glucometer, we looked at changes in processing, raw material, formulation, grain particle size and digestion time.

“We assessed the variability of detection speed, accuracy, sensitivity, and analyte volume, as well as developing an equation to calculate digested starch.”

Dr Sopade said the new method was easy-to-use, making it an invaluable tool for anyone involved in feed formulation and manufacture.

“Existing techniques for in-vitro starch digestion, particularly in measuring glucose released, are expensive, cumbersome and slow.

“Our team at the University of Queensland, along with the Pork CRC, identified a need for a simpler, more robust, faster method and what we developed is ten times faster.”

Dr Sopade said the new technique could be established as part of quality control in feed processing and was exciting for anyone considering assessing digestion and choosing ingredients and additives to maximise energy delivery to pigs from cereal feed grains.

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PRODUCT NEWS New Birthright Decks and milk replacer program from Feedworks Almost anyone with a reasonable system can raise the top 70% of piglets born. The challenge is to raise and capture profit from the remaining bottom 30% of piglets …that is where the bottom line is determined.

“We have to consider that the sow is not the perfect rearing machine,” said Mal Mottram, Managing Director of Feedworks.

“Sows do not always expose every nipple on the bottom row so individual pigs can miss out.

“Sometimes there are plenty of nipples, but there is not enough physical space at the udder. Individual piglets can be crowded out.

“The milk flow is not even along the udder. The front nipples give more milk and the heaviest pigs get the front nipples.

If you want a nice uniform litter, you must supplement milk.

“Many times, more pigs are born than the sow has nipples and individual nipples can be damaged.

“Thus supplementing milk is a very important tool to optimise profitability for pig producers. Obviously the importance of the quality of milk replacer is critical,” Mr Mottram said.

“The Birthright milk replacer formulation that has such an exceptional track record in the USA will now will be available in Australia from Feedworks.

But providing milk is not the complete story. Used in combination with the Birthright decks the following added benefits can be captured: • You save more pigs, the obvious and initial benefit.

• Catch the smallest pigs up with the rest of production. Thus you’ll get more uniform pigs at the finishing end…no long tail of runts • Improve health of litters left on the sow.

A lot of sickness and disease comes into the litters via the smaller pigs. These pigs usually get ‘crowded out’ and may not get colostrum. They are the ‘typhoid Mary’s’ in the farrowing shed. Removing the small pigs and dealing with them separately may improve the health of litters left on the sow.

• Improve weaning weights of all pigs left on the sow. If you take one pig per litter away, the pigs remaining on the sow have more milk to divide.

• The Birthright Deck pigs can be combined with their littermates at weaning.

Birthright Deck system on show at PPPE (left) and set up in a piggery.

It’s probably worth expanding a little on milk replacers and giving them the best opportunity to play the role proposed above. Following are a few important points to consider.

• Pigs do not like to drink whey based milk replacers. It usually takes 5 to 6 days to get pigs started on whey based milk replacers.

Yet pigs will readily consume Birthright. It is important to get pigs started on milk replacer as soon as possible because 60% of all baby pig mortality occurs in the first 3-4 days after birth.

• Some pigs thrive on whey based milk replacers, other do not. There is more variation in the pigs on whey based milk replacers at weaning.

• Pigs on whey based milk replacers do not

put on as much gain for each Kg of milk powder consumed. The feed efficiency on whey based milk replacers is sometimes above 1.2. The feed efficiency on Birthright is 1.0. Feed efficiency is one of the most important figures to monitor when evaluating baby pig milk replacers.

• Pigs on whey based milk replacers are more prone to scour because the milk replacers do not clot and this is especially crucial in the extremely young pig. .

“So in summary using a system to capture profit from as many piglets born alive is critical to the overall performance of any operation. The combination of Birthright milk replacers and decks offers producers the best opportunity to get off to a great start,” said Mr Mottram.

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PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

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5 1. Exhibitors Herb Schwarz, MIK Flooring (left) and Cameron Burgess from Biowish Australia. 2. Next Generation scientists Dr Cherie Collins (left) and Amy Lealiifano from Rivalea. 3. Exhibitors Rosemary and Wayne Bradshaw, Jefo. 4. Associate Professor Karen Charlton, University of Wollongong. 5. Auspac exhibitors (L to R) Phil Lambeth, Dr Goetz Gotterbarm, Christine Clark and Jonothon Doubleday.

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PORK JOURNAL, July/August 2010

Generation Scientists’ and was introduced

by Dr Brian Luxford, General Manager of research & innovation at Rivalea (Australia) Pty Ltd who outlined ‘Skills required for next generation pork production’.

Then speakers from ‘The Next Generation’ itself addressed delegates on their fields of study and expertise.

Mitchell Groves, a PhD student from the University of Queensland’s topic was ‘Young Scientists in the pork industry – the role of the pork CRC and APL’.

Ms Amy Lealiifano, Production Officer from Rivalea explained, ‘Application of research into the commercial sector’ and Dr Cherie Collins, Research Scientist from Rivalea spoke on the transition ‘From university to commercial research’.

The final speaker in this session was Dr William van Wettere, Intensive Livestock Lecturer, School of Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide who drew on personal experience in his topic ‘Student to Scientist – a short career in the pork industry’.

Apart from the Plenary sessions, many other papers were delivered in a packed two day schedule. Concurrent sessions included ‘Future Nutrients’, ‘Next Generation Farmers’ and ‘Pork Power’. Most of these papers are available on the APL website.

Go to www.apl.au.com/pages/page210.asp In the next issue of Pork Journal we hope to bring you more information on the work of Associate Professor Karen Charlton and her team from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Wollongong.

Her paper ‘The effects of pork on short term satiety and appetite hormones’, and other papers in this important session could deliver serious advantage as the health benefits of pork are better understood.

No PPPE can pass without some serious cooking competiveness and social activity.

The industry cocktail party sponsored

by PIC on June 16 featured the Official PPPE 2010 opening by Queensland Minister for Primary Industry, Tim Mulherin followed by the Celebrity Porkstar Chef Challenge.

Chefs Mark Jensen, Damian Heads and Dominique Rizzo with able assistant ‘industry identities’ cooked and Master of Ceremonies, TV, radio and print media devotee of Australian Pork Lyndey Milan handled the microphone.

The (very) Happy two Hours sponsored by Sunpork Fresh Foods who supplied Barkers Creek Pork for the many dishes presented during the party.

PPPE 2010 was a great success and amongst the 500 delegates who attended their was an air of optimism and determination to make the pig industry a success despite the challenges we are familiar with.

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