Pork Journal May/June 2010 by Primary Media

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Pork Journal May/June 2010 Volume 32, Number 3

Effective approach to effluent control in intensive animal management Biomin Roundtable Forum at Surfers Paradise Mike Andersen: Building his business on experience and opportunity

Alltechâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Great Debate opens the global discussion

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Contents 8 MAIN FEATURE Effective approach to effluent control in intensive animal management Effluent management has become a major concern on Australian farms where animals are confined for any purpose. Recognising this, BioAg Pty Ltd, a Riverina based biological fertiliser manufacturer, began to work on ameliorating the problem two years ago, first in the dairy sector and now in piggeries, like John Bourke’s property at Stanhope in Victoria.

John Bourke

Pork Journal May/June 2010 Volume 32, Number 3 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 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)

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

16 BUSINESS PROFILE Mike Andersen: Building his business on experience and opportunity The combination of a family pig farming background and relevant academic qualifications were the ideal basis for Mike to build his business. Now with ten years of very practical experience, including some very tough years for Australian pig farmers, Mike has become adept at tailoring upgrades and new infrastructure to an industry that needs to see real and immediate returns for investment.

NEWS 4 Biomin Roundtable Forum at Surfers Paradise The Biomin Roundtable Forum held at the Crowne Plaza, Surfers Paradise, Queensland on May 14-15, 2010 was well up to the high standards set at the previous seminars held by Biomin. 13 Food labelling a must says AMAG campaign The Australian Made, Australian Grown Campaign (AMAG) believes it should be mandatory for all food products to carry a country of origin claim. In its submission to the Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy, AMAG also recommended the term ‘Made in Australia’ may only be used when the food product meets the full criteria set out in the Trade Practices Act. 14 Alltech’s Great Debate opens the global discussion The 2010 ‘Great Debate’, held during Alltech’s 26th International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky, USA exceeded expectations as four renowned figures from the agricultural industry debated their views on ‘The Triple Bottom Line of People, Profits and Planet’. 19 Dr Jim Pettigrew awarded Alltech Medal of Excellence Alltech, global animal health company, opened its 26th Annual International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium by awarding Dr Jim Pettigrew with Alltech’s Medal of Excellence, which is Alltech’s highest honor given annually to a scientist completing innovative work in a particular field. 20 Winner of the Doug Ross travel and study award announced The recipient of the Australian pork industry biannual Doug Ross travel and study award has been awarded to fifth-year Charles Sturt University Veterinary student, Jill Groat. The award recognises the contribution Doug Ross (1947-2000) made to the Australian pig industry. 21 Pork CRC 2011-2019 – High Integrity Australian Pork Amongst the papers presented at the recent Biomin Roundtable Forum held on the gold Coast on May 14 and 15, 2010 was Dr Robert Van Barneveld’s presentation on the topic of ‘Pork CRC 2011-2019 – High Integrity Pork and its core elements.

PORK JOURNAL, May/June 2010

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NEWS Biomin Roundtable Forum at Surfers Paradise The Biomin Roundtable Forum held at the Crowne Plaza, Surfers Paradise, Queensland on May 14-15, 2010 was well up to the high standards set at the previous seminars held by Biomin. Speakers included internationally recognised experts from both overseas and Australia and key members of Biomin’s growing team who brought delegates up to date with solutions to both feed, nutrition and fertility problems. Obviously Biomin support its roundtable seminars to promote their products and the extensive research that supports them, but these events also deal with major industry developments. The Biomin Roundtable Forum involves not only the presentation of important scientific and industry related information but also discussion and often lively debate on what the speakers have to impart. Dr Roger Campbell, CEO of the Pork Industry CRC, acted as Chairman of the Forum and presented the concluding paper, ‘Changes, breakthroughs and comparisons in pork production’. If nothing else, this paper demonstrated the immense improvements our industry has achieved in improving all aspects of production in the last two decades and is thus a solid basis for a better future – something the Pork CRC lead by Dr Campbell is currently in the process of achieving. Biomin, domiciled in Austria, was established in 1983 and shortly afterwards was offering intensive livestock and feed producers solutions for problems in production caused by mycotoxins. The companies’ Mycofix product line has evolved constantly from 1985 and since 1996 through its Roamer Laboratories affiliate, Biomin, has been able to detect mycotoxin presence in almost all intensive livestock producing regions of the globe. Other key products in the Biomin range include the phytogenic Biomin P.E.P. All active components of P.E.P are of plant origin and are based on the combination of a blend of essential oils, plant extracts and fructo oligosaccharides. Biomin P.E.P is specifically designed to improve digestion, feed conversion, and through the fructo-oligosaccarides, build beneficial gut microflora. Biomin pHD is a dietary urine acidifier, based on a combination of an inorganic

PORK JOURNAL, May/June 2010

acid, a blend of anionic substances and natural plant extracts. The product can inhibit the multiplication and adhesion of bacteria in the urogenital tract. Biotronic is the acidifier product line developed by Biomin to assist in the preservation and decontamination of grain and feed, with species specific options to improve digestibility and inhibit microbial growth. Application of all these products, with supporting trial material were explained in papers delivered by the Biomin team from Australia and Austria. After introductions by Dr Campbell and Biomin’s Rob Williams, the first guest speaker of the forum was Professor Maximilian Schuh from the Department of Farm Animals and herd Health Management Clinic of Swine Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. Dr Shuh’s first paper ‘Impacts of mycotoxins in European production and counteractive measures’, dealt with the fundamentals of mycotoxins, the clinical effects on pigs and diagnosis of mycotoxicoses. He then introduced counteractive measures and outlined current EU legislation of mycotoxins in feed. In a wide ranging paper Dr Shuh warned that the effects of one mycotoxin might be enhanced in the presence of other mycotoxins creating a synergistic situation creating more problems than the presence

of just single elements. Dr Shuh reminded delegates that there was no safe level of mycotoxins and very small amounts could impair immune systems in livestock. “Sub clinical levels of mycotoxins cause significant losses in animal production,” he stated when concluding his paper. Dr Shuh’s second paper, entitled ‘Disease problems and how they have impacted on production in the EU’ contained many significant messages for Australian growers. In outlining disease threats to pig units Dr Shuh mentioned, any sick pig on the w

Top: Roger Cambell, CEO of the Pork CRC, who chaired the Biomin Forum. Above, the guest speakers were from left to right: The Biomin team of Rob Williams, Marco De Sousa, Renata Urbaiyte, Jason Weare and Bernard Chuah, with invited consultant Dr Maximilian Schuh from Vienna in Austria.

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NEWS v farm and that good management of the hospital pen was essential. “Other pigs, pork based food products, transportation systems, neighbouring pig units, presence of a major road, purchased second hand equipment, clothing from other pig units, birds, rodents, cats, dogs and flies along with semen and embryo transfer, feed and water, bedding and straw were all possible disease sources. Staff and visitor issues such as staff owning their own pigs and visiting other pig units, markets, shows, and slaughterhouses were issues to be considerered. “Visitors such as vets, other advisors and service providers should also be monitored,” he added. “Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC) had significant detrimental costs to production and costs in the EU and key risk factors included raising pigs in cold climatic condition, abrupt changes of air temperature, relative humidity and reduction of ventilation rates. “Pigs of different ages should be housed in strictly separated rooms of compartments, and building maintenance was a critical issue in fighting a multifactorial disease,” he said. In concluding a wide ranging paper Dr Shuh stated that to understand and deal with disease issues key factors to be considered were management studies, record examinations, clinical, pathological and laboratory examinations. “Epidemiological studies, environmental assessments, nutritional assessments, treatments and vaccination programs were all vital elements of disease management,” Dr Shuh said. The next speaker was Biomin’s Jason Weare who outlined ‘Mycotoxin Risk Management’ in his paper. The key elements of Mycofix in deactivation of mycotoxins were, Mr Weare explained, adsorbtion through a synergistc blend of minerals, biotransformation through an inactivated bioprotein and bioprotection through selected plant and algae extracts. In explaining the Mycofix product range Mr Weare stated that Mycofix Plus was suitable for breeding livestock and Mycofix Select as well as Mycofix Secure should be considered for grower finisher stock if only aflatoxins, fumonisins and ergots are present. Dr Robert Van Barneveld, APL/Pork CRC Director and Becan Partnership nutritionalist, gave his first paper ‘Nutritional management of sows and gilts

PORK JOURNAL, May/June 2010

during lactation’. “Nutritional objectives were, he said, to maintain milk production (each 1kg increase in litter weight requires 4kg of milk), body condition and subsequent reproductive efficiency in the sow and gilt: for the piglets viability, survival and growth rates were the aim.” After outlining specific feed strategies Dr Van Barneveld concluded by stating that “nutritional management of lactating gilts and sows is multi-faceted and complex.” “It needs to vary in response to the gilt/sow and the piglet, and gilts/sows need to be managed differently regardless of herd size. “Many challenges during lactation result from nutritional mismanagement prior to lactation,” he concluded. Dr Van Barneveld’s second paper ‘Pork CRC 2011-2019 High Integrity Australian Pork’ is covered in more detail in a specific news article on page 22. Suffice it to say that it certainly grabbed delegate’s interest. Vienna based Renata Urbaiyte, Biomin’s Biotronic Technical Manager, in her paper ‘Dealing with a common health problem in the sow herd’, examined key factors affecting fertility of sows including urinary tract infections including Cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder), Pyelonephritis (ascendant inflammation to kidneys) and post partum Dysgalactia Syndrome (PPDS). “These predisposing factors for the upper genital tract infections lead to increased non productive days, early cullings and decreased litters per sow per year,” Ms Urbaiyte said. “Urinary pH is a protective mechanism as acidic urinary pH creates unfavourable conditions for pathogenic bacteria. “Urinary pH in breeding sows can be manipulated by using Biomin pHD – the active ingredients being acid, a blend of anionic substances and cranberry extract leading to reduced UT infections and improved farrowing. “The key advantages of using Biomin pHD were also reduced repeat breeder, reduced non productive days, reduced stillbirths – all factors leading to increased productivity,” Ms Urbaitye said. Later in the forum, Ms Urbaitye delivered a second paper posing the question, ‘What can be done to control E. coli and Salmonella in stored feed and raw materials?’ After discussion of the benefits of organic acids vs AGPs, farm management practices and alternatives to the control of

Renata Urbaiyte, Biomin’s Biotronic Technical Mnager, based in Vienna.

bacteria in feed like irradiation and thermal treatment, Ms Urbaitye suggested that organic acids and their blends, “can control both bacteria and prevent further recontamination”. She introduced the product lines Biomin Cleanfeed, Biotronic SE and Biotronic forte liquid. “By using acidifiers in feed we can improve feed and feeding line hygiene, prolong storage time, decrease buffer capacity, prevent feed recontamination and ultimately lead to better animal health,” Ms Urbaitye said. Vienna based technical manager for P.E.P Marco De Sousa, was another of Biomins’ well travelled team to deliver his paper, ‘Overcoming reduction of feed intake in sows and improving intestinal health’. After defining phytogenics (functional feed additives of plant origin derived from herbs, spices, and extracts/essential oils), Mr De Sousa described how the individual elements of P.E.P combined to maintain a healthy gut, particularly at times of digestive stress. After revealing the results of extensive trials of P.E.P in a variety of markets, Mr De Sousa pointed to the conclusion that the product promotes performance through significantly improved FCR and can be used effectively as a growth promoter. Before the forum concluded Biomins’ Jason Weare updated delegates on his company’s Mycotoxin Survey Program for 2009 – the result of 2657 samples analysed worldwide. Overall the Biomin Forum was as well received as it was well run. For those who were unable to attend or would just like more information on the papers delivered, including the Biomin Mycotoxin Survey Program for 2009, contact Biomin’s Bernard Chuah by email bernard.chuah@biomin.net

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After treatment of the ponds on John Bourke’s pig farm there is a huge amount of fertiliser available in the digested effluent. This is the main pond, 15 weeks after the treatment with Digest-it started.

Effective approach to effluent control in intensive animal management

ffluent management has become a major concern on Australian farms where animals are confined for any purpose. Recognising this, BioAg Pty Ltd, a Riverina based biological fertiliser manufacturer, began to work on ameliorating the problem two years ago, first in the dairy sector where farmers have a legal obligation to contain, manage and dispose of livestock effluent within property boundaries in a manner which prevents the pollution of surface and groundwater. Moreover, increased herd size and urban encroachment have brought the issue under much greater public scrutiny. Trials have shown that the digestion product Digest-it, liquefies the sludge in dairy ponds and lagoons and eliminates

PORK JOURNAL, May/June 2010

odour by fostering aerobic digestion of the organic matter. The outcomes are that the fluid holding capacity of the ponds has increased, the nitrogen and phosphate levels of the liquid phase have increased due to the digestion of the surface crust and the bottom sludge, the soluble potassium level in the fluid phase has decreased due to the increase in retention volumes, the pH is generally neutral, the BOD5 level has decreased with an improvement in water quality, and odour levels have decreased. Digest-it was launched at Dairy Week in Tatura, Victoria in January 2009, and is now in use on several hundred farms throughout Australia, providing users with significant economic advantages through

reduced management costs and fertiliser use. In mid-2009, BioAg joined forces with Pacific Agvet’s pig industry specialist Kylie Roberts to develop applications of Digest-it for use in conventional and shelter systems. Kylie will be known to many as a result of her time with Elanco, and as committee member of the Victorian Pig Fair. Pacific AgVet’s business lies in marketing of niche animal health products. “Our objectives are to improve the breakdown of the slurry going to paddock, and the composting of solid matter (including straw), to facilitate the wash-down of the slurry under slat floors, to improve amenity through odour reduction, and to improve animal wellbeing through the w

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v reduction of scalding from wet straw bedding. We’ve now been running Digest-it on five commercial sites for the past five months and the results are beginning to show,” explained Kylie. “It is not unusual to be asked why we want to get rid of the crust on an effluent pond. The answer is that while the crust may seem to stop the odour, it can negatively affect the ability of the pond to function.” John Bourke, pig producer and President of the Victorian Farmers Federation Pig Group, was one of the first to try the technology at his property at Stanhope in Victoria. “I was skeptical at first, as it seemed too simple. We started pouring Digest-It into the pits, and this has cleaned them and the pipes as well. They now flow better and don’t build up with solids,” John said. “Later, we sprayed the pond and saw the crust break up in front of our eyes. We have used Digest-it at higher rates than initially recommended because we quickly wanted to see if it was going to work, and it’s worked better than expected. “Before application, we had a dam full of solids. We couldn’t get any liquid out. Now we’ve drained liquid and the amount we were able to get out was significant,” he commented. “What liquid has been drained off is continuing to bubble, so the biological digestion process triggered by Digest-It is occurring in the next holding pond.” The piggery staff have commented there is not the ammonia smell in the sheds, or when pulling the plugs to release the effluent, and there is minimal odour coming from the ponds themselves. With the humid and hot weather experienced in Victoria earlier in the year, John said they also noticed that the ponds did not have the usual “pong” in that sort of weather. John is looking forward to seeing how Digest-It can benefit the piggery in winter, as water for flushing is limited. He thinks they may not need to use as much water because Digest-it is controlling odour and stopping the build-up of solids in the pits within the sheds. After six weeks of Digest-it application to the effluent pond at a Shepparton piggery, surface bubbling is showing that digestion is occurring in the sludge on the bottom. Even at this early stage, tests show that for every megalitre of effluent irrigation water applied to pasture, there is a fertiliser offset of 585 kg of nitrogen, 123 kg of phosphorus and 278 kg of potassium. There is thus a huge amount of fertiliser available in the digested effluent, most of it accessible in plant available form. w

PORK JOURNAL, May/June 2010

Top: The primary effluent pond after nine weeks of treatment with Digest-it. The liquid portion has been drained off a week before this. Previously the outlet plug had not been able to be removed because of the solids built up over it. The crust is continuing to be digested by the microbes. Centre and above: The secondary holding pond containing the liquids drained off from the primary effluent pond. Above: The bubbles on the surface indicte the microbes are continuing to be active.

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v One megalitre of water applied to one hectare is equivalent to 100m of rain or irrigation per hectare. Accordingly, the effluent would need to be mixed with raw water to prevent fertiliser overload. Various figures are available on the Fans for intensive livestock maximum nitrogen application per hectare industries manufactured in per watering; however, in general a maxiAustralia to suit Australian mum of 50 kg of nitrogen per hectare on each occasion is indicated. conditions. Experience with dairy ponds indicates HE FAN RANGE that as Digest-it treatment continues, the nitrogen and phosphorus levels will continue to rise, and potassium levels will fall, and that these values will eventually plateau. Another farm using Digest-it in pull plug pits has noticed a change in the effluent held in the pits and, most noticeably, a reduction in the flying insects in the drains. Without the crust on the surface, the available environment for insects to breed is reduced. A modern high quality range of Each batch of Digest-it is quality propellor fans designed to move control tested to ensure that it contains no large volumes of air with entero-pathogenic bacteria (e.g. E. Coli or minimum energy use. salmonella). Indeed, preliminary laboratory HV FAN RANGE trials indicate that it may actually suppress such bacteria. A great boon to piggery staff is that Digest-it is ‘operator safe’. Operators suffer no ill effects if they happen to splash it on themselves or dispense with protective clothing. This is of particular benefit where contract or seasonal labour is used, and operator experience levels may be low.

Digest-It is also safe for pigs. Pigs can safely play in or eat bedding sprayed with it. Use in the shelters will enhance the composting process of the soiled bedding. Kylie is presently trialing Digest-It in straw based sheds with the aims of reducing odour and ammonia which can scald pigs. “Straw based sheds can have issues with odour. With Digest-it’s action, the odour should be negligible. We are also looking at the amount of waste material (straw and manure) building up in the dunging area. If the pigs are in the shelter for a long period of time, the enhanced composting will potentially help lower this.” Using the program in a shelter is straightforward and adaptable to the duration of the pigs’ stay. “By using Digest-it in a shelter and continuing after clean out with a good composting program, producers are able to create a valuable and saleable fertiliser in a relatively short time,” Kylie said. BioAg and Pacific AgVet have been conducting field days in northern Victoria over the past few months to introduce piggery operators to the Digest-it system for effluent management, with the next one scheduled for South Australia, and more planned for other states later in the year. “Digest-it is a useful tool for an holistic approach to effluent and water management,” Kylie said. “It can be used in piggeries to treat the effluent pond, used in pull plug pits, through flush drains, in sump pits, in litter sheds and compost piles.

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Phone: 1300 655 730 Fax: 1300 134 319 Web: www.hydor.com.au Above: Surface crust on main effluent pond breaking up after four weeks treatment.

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NEWS Food labelling reform a must says AMAG campaign The Australian Made, Australian Grown Campaign (AMAG) believes it should be mandatory for all food products to carry a country of origin claim. In its submission to the Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy AMAG also recommended the term `Made in Australia’ may only be used when the food product meets the full criteria set out in the Trade Practices Act. AMAG has also called for more stringent guidelines for country of origin claims so a food product which contains a high percentage of imported ingredients cannot legally be described as `Australian made’. The Food Standards Code, which requires some foods such as pork and seafood to carry a country of origin label, while others such as beef and chicken are exempt, is inconsistent and confusing, AMAG Chief Executive Ian Harrison says. “There are growing concerns among consumers about where their fresh and

processed foods come from,” said Mr Harrison. “They are anxious about how safe the food they are buying is,’’ he said. “One of the primary purposes of food labelling is to provide consumers with enough information to enable them to make informed choices. “Therefore, the rules should be consistent, clear and as simple as possible,’’ Mr Harrison said. Under the Trade Practices Act a food product can legally be described as `Australian made “if it has been substantially transformed in Australia and at least 50% of the production costs have been incurred in Australia”. The ACCC’s country of origin guidelines allow a food product to carry a claim like ‘Made in Australia from local and imported ingredients’ if it doesn’t meet the full criteria. “The term ‘Made in Australia’ should not be allowed to be used in a qualified

claim such as ‘Made in Australia from local and imported ingredients’ as shoppers find this unclear,” Mr Harrison said. “Food products which don’t meet the full criteria set out in the Trade Practices Act should be labelled with an alternative claim, for example ‘packaged in’ or ‘blended in’,’’ he said. “Likewise, a food product should not be able to carry the ‘Australian made’ claim when it contains mainly imported ingredients which have simply been mixed or blended, seasoned, cured or homogenised here. “Processes such as these should not be classed substantial transformation. “We are in the process of amending the AMAG Code of Practice to exclude these processes from the definition of substantial transformation so when consumers see the AMAG logo they can be sure the major or characterising ingredient has been sourced locally and the product made or grown here,” Mr Harrison concluded.

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PORK JOURNAL, May/June 2010

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New opportunities for technical sales representatives, as Alltech continues to grow Alltech is a leading global supplier of natural feed additives to the animal feed industry. With worldwide sales growing at over 20% per annum, the company is experiencing exceptional local demand for natural, scientifically-proven solutions to global feeding issues. This rapid growth has created several roles for sales candidates to assist with sales and help service the pig, poultry and dairy sectors. These roles will ideally be based in Southern Queensland (Toowoomba) and Northern Victoria / Southern NSW. These roles involve: • Maintenance of current customers and the development of new business opportunities. • Providing technical support and solutions to the feed industry. • Providing educational services to customers. • Working closely within a team environment. The suitable candidate is likely to have: • A degree in Agricultural Science or equivalent. • A proven track record in sales to the rural industries. • Sound understanding of animal nutrition and physiology. • Proficiency in communicating technical information. • Ability to develop relationships with influencers and decision makers. • An outstanding suite of communication skills. • Outstanding initiative, creativity and drive. The successful candidate will enjoy: • A competitive benefits package. • A stimulating and supportive workplace. • Extensive professional development and training. • Opportunities for overseas travel.

For more information, or to apply with resume and cover letter, please contact: Rachael Reddan Alltech Biotechnology 64-70 Nissan Drive, Dandenong South, VIC 3175 Tel: 03 9767 2800 Email: rreddan@alltech.com

PORK JOURNAL, May/June 2010

NEWS Alltech’s Great Debate opens the global discussion The 2010 ‘Great Debate’, held during Alltech’s 26th International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky, USA exceeded expectations as four renowned figures from the agricultural industry debated their views on The Triple Bottom Line of People, Profits and Planet. Three key topics that were addressed by the speakers during the debate were public education, how best to address global hunger and confronting criticism within the agri-industry. Professor Patrick Wall, former Chairman of the management board of the European Food & Safety Association (EFSA), Ireland, Trent Loos, radio, print and agribusiness commentator, USA, Osler Desouzart, Consultant, Brazil and Gordon Butland, Director, G&S Agri Consultants, Thailand, took the stage to discuss their ideas in front of more than 1,500 delegates representing top global agribusinesses. Professor Wall spoke about the importance of education in the fight against hunger. “Hunger is linked to poverty. Education and training is the key, not providing aid. We were designed to be hunter gatherers. We use the BSE theory: Blame Someone Else. “To tackle obesity we can’t put it on one industry but it is a group effort. Everyone’s most available resource is their head.” Mr Butland supported Professor Wall’s argument, stating, “The solution is simply education, education and more education.” The panelists expressed their views strongly on other hot topic issues like global warming. On the one hand stating that “Global warming is the largest man-made hoax the world has ever seen,” Trent Loos reminded those present that “our job in agriculture is the moral and ethical responsibility to convert natural resources into human consumable products. “That will be done in a sustainable way with profits driving what is best for the planet and ultimately doing what’s most important, improving the lives of humans around the world,” Mr Loos said. On whether buying locally was really something that should be encouraged, Osler Desouzart stated that, “This is the latest. It is not the last but it is the latest. It’s ‘buy local’. “I went to Finland and asked them for a local pineapple. Most unfortunately they had none available that week. And then I came here to Kentucky and said ‘I refuse to buy any coffee that is not produced in Kentucky, please serve me’. I have been drinking tea ever since… Less than 10% of all food is traded. Food is already local. It is protectionism.” Commenting on the debate, Alltech Vice-President, Aidan Connolly, said, “It has been an honor for us to host this informative debate at our 26th Symposium”. He reminded the international audience of the importance of the ‘multiplier effect’ in spreading the messages delivered by the panel. “If everybody tells the story to just two people on their journey home, we will have tripled the delivery of the key messages.” Visit www.alltech.com/symposium for more information and to watch the recap of the ‘Great Debate’.

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NEWS

L to R: Aidan Connolly in foreground, Trent Loos, Osler Desouzart, Gordon Butland and Patrick Wall in background. Alltech is the sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held in Lexington, Kentucky, September 25 – October 10, 2010. Visit the official site of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at www.alltechfeigames.com for complete information about the event or to purchase tickets. Speaker Profiles Prof Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Public Health, University College Dublin (UCD). His teaching and research interests include food borne diseases, lifestyle related diseases and health

damaging consumer behavior. He is a co-director of the UCD Centre for Behavior and Health which is engaged in research on behavioral economics, population health disparities and policy interventions. Gordon Butland, Director, G&S Agri Consultants Co. Ltd retired from Rabobank International and now concentrates on advising clients along the whole chain of the poultry industry, including genetics, feed, animal health, hatchery and slaughterhouse equipment companies as well as processors. In addition to having served as a

Rabobank representative for many years, he has held various senior financial management positions including the positions of Chief Financial Officer for the Anglo American Group in Brazil and the Coca Cola Company in South Latin America. Mr Butland has clients in Thailand, China, India, Brazil and even a small turkey company in the USA. Osler Desouzart, Managing Director, OD Consulting Planning and Strategy was former Director of Sadia, one of the world’s leading integrated operations for poultry production and exports and also a very large processor of soybean meal and soya oil. In more recent times, having established his own consultancy business, Mr Desouzart has presented at many of the leading conferences around the world, including the World Agriculture Forum. Trent Loos, farmer, rancher and radio host is an expert on American agriculture and an avid public speaker, travelling the United States and speaking to people of all ages about the issues facing the industry today. He records, produces and sends his radio programs from wherever his travels take him using his laptop computer and the internet. His daily radio show, Loos Tales presently has a radio listening audience of four million and can be heard on more than 100 stations across the country. He is also a regular columnist for Feedstuffs newspaper and partners with the publication for their FoodLink project, an initiative focused on providing the facts related to the US food production system.

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PORK JOURNAL, May/June 2010

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Mike Andersen: Building his business on experience and opportunity

t was about 10 years ago when Mike Andersen was painting a window on his house when the idea of starting his own business ‘hit him like a brick’, and so Mundigo was formed, and started business at the same time as the GST was introduced – in July 2000. The early days of Mundigo were memorable, Mike recalls. The first company car was one Mike borrowed from his father. Mike says “it was a dark brown 1975 Valiant Ranger with rust holes in the floor and mice in the head lining – but it went well. “It did the job for a couple of months until I upgraded to Commodore ute status.” Mike grew up on an 1100 sow piggery at Monegeetta, central Victoria, where his father John Andersen was constantly building new sheds or renovating old ones. The piggery began in 1963 with 30 sows in the paddock, and provided a great place to live and work for the Andersen family. In the late 1980s, in addition to running the home farm at Monegeetta, John

started a new 1000 sow outdoor piggery near Edenhope in Western Victoria, which provided more challenges and more travel for John, but was largely a very successful enterprise. Mike, being the only son, was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and take over the family business, but Mike said it didn’t work out that way. Instead he completed a degree in Agricultural Engineering at Melbourne University, then moved to South Australia to start his career with Agriwaste Consultants as a draftsman and junior engineer in the areas of pig shed design, waste management and ventilation systems. “I wanted to be a farmer and I worked well with my father, but he had other plans for me. During first year uni I wanted to quit, but he kept me going there for four years and now I thank him for it.” For eight years after graduating, Mike worked in the pig industry specialising in shed design, ventilation and piggery equipment. His company Mundigo began by being

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Mike Andersen from Mundigo Pty Ltd the Australian distributor for AP Systems, a business relationship that’s still strong today. Within six months of Mundigo starting (then known as Piggery Systems and Design), Nippon Meat Packers from Japan made plans for a new 5000 sow piggery ‘Tong Park’ near Dalby in Queensland. The design and equipment used for this unit would be similar to Nippon’s piggeries in the USA, which meant that most of the equipment used would be from AP Systems, supplied by Mundigo. In the following year, Mike ordered dozens of containers from AP Systems to supply the new piggery with silos, feeding systems, ventilation equipment and control systems, and assisted in its installation. Mike says, “Tong Park threw us in at the deep end, but it put us on the map. It was a steep learning curve and we spent a lot of time and effort on that job”. In 2002, Mike was not happy with the price and design of the farrowing crates available from AP Systems or some other European suppliers, so he decided to design his own. By taking the best design aspects from many different crates, he came up with the crate Mundigo still sells today, largely unchanged since the first ones were sold.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Mike has lost count, but says there are thousands in Australia and New Zealand, and knows of a piggery in Poland that has 400 Mundigo crates installed. He’s still waiting for the royalties. Another key to Mundigo’s success was when Ausvac was taken over by Intervet in 2001. The Coolgro and Cosypig range of heating and cooling controllers previously marketed by Ausvac, was dropped from Intervet’s product range. Mundigo took on the sales role for these popular products and as a bonus received a big list of phone numbers and addresses of Australian pig farmers – very useful for the new business. The Coolgro controls are made in Australia, and have been modernised and upgraded twice in the last 10 years to keep up with pig farmer’s requirements. For the first two years, Mundigo was based in Gawler in South Australia from a spare room in Mike’s house, and goods were stored in an old railway shed on the other side of town. Then the business moved with Mike’s family onto a farming property in Edenhope for three years while Mike fulfilled a life ambition of building a strawbale house at Mundulla near Bordertown. At the same time, Mike bought bare land in the Bordertown industrial estate and built a warehouse and office facility where Mundigo would be based. After a hectic two years of building, the family and business moved permanently to their current locations.

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Top: Farrowing shed construction in Victoria. Above: Linda Andersen busy on the phones. In 2008, Mundigo took over Weda Australia when a popular industry identity Ziggy Kling decided to retire. He offered the business to Mike, who has since installed two new Weda liquid feeding systems from Germany and is currently assisting with a complete 2200 sow breeder farm change-over to liquid feeding. “The first Weda installation was in SA, and I took it on lock, stock and barrel to learn and understand how liquid feeding works, right down to wiring the valves and w

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PORK JOURNAL, May/June 2010

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Farrowing shed in South Australia with automated climate control designed by Mundigo uses evaporative cooling and AP fans. v installing the kitchen. This has proven to be an extremely valuable experience”. The cornerstone of Mundigo has been piggery shed design, and this has progressed into shed construction and project management. Today Mundigo has construction projects in four states, plus shed renovations and fit-outs. They have sub-contract concreters and shed building teams which travel Australia wide and specialise in the construction of piggeries. Mundigo handles the council application and design right through to the

finished shed. Mike has seen a shift over the last 15 years from pig farmers building their own sheds, to now wanting a completed shed build by others to their specifications. “Today, pig producers need to stay focused on pig production, and can’t afford to take their eyes off the ball to build a new shed by themselves,” says Mike. Mike believes that the next 10 years will be a time of change for the pig industry, and technology will take more important roles in areas such as electricity production from biogas, and electronic sow feeding for

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welfare-friendly sow housing. However he also believes in keeping things as simple as possible and being pragmatic about the application of technology on farms. The combination of a family pig farming background and relevant academic qualifications were the ideal basis for Mike to build his business. Now with ten years of very practical experience, including some very tough years for Australian pig farmers, Mike has become adept at tailoring upgrades and new infrastructure to an industry that needs to see real and immediate returns for investment. A good example of this practice was examined by Pork Journal back in September 2006 when we reported on a new climate controlled farrowing shed at Butch Moses’ Salt Lake Bacon farm. The sheds feature automated climate control using an innovative combination of evaporative cooling pads and fans that were more than competent to reduce a high thirties north west wind driven outdoors temperature during the visit to a cool and optimal 23 degreesC in the new shed. Clever design using appropriate technology and within manageable cost.

To subscribe to Pork Journal see page 22. Or go to our website www.primarymedia.com.au

PJMayJune2010:PJJanFeb09 11/06/10 2:36 PM Page 19

NEWS Dr Jim Pettigrew awarded Alltech Medal of Excellence Alltech, global animal health company, opened its 26th Annual International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium by awarding Dr Jim Pettigrew with Alltech’s Medal of Excellence, which is Alltech’s highest honor given annually to a scientist completing innovative work in a particular field. Professor Pettigrew earned the Medal of Excellence for his insight into and recognition of cutting-edge technologies leading to the advancement of pig nutrition globally. “It is truly an honor for me to receive this Medal of Excellence from Alltech, a company joined in the effort to produce enough food,” said Pettigrew. “One of the grand challenges of the coming decades will be to produce enough food to satisfy a world with a rapidly increasing appetite. As in the past, we will succeed in that challenge to the extent we make the investments and take the creative actions necessary for success,” he said. “Having travelled extensively, Professor Jim Pettigrew has firsthand experience of the challenges that face our world as we struggle to provide safe food for a growing population,” said Dr Pearse Lyons, Alltech President and founder. “Professor Pettigrew has produced pioneering solutions looking at how the food producing industry can reduce its dependence on grains, corn and soya diets and instead utilize alternative materials as a viable diet for protein production.” After being awarded the Medal of Excellence by Dr Lyons, Professor Pettigrew went on to make some predictions on the future of global hunger, stating that “to address the problem of hunger, we must also address the problem of poverty”. He also said that recognizing the challenge and becoming innovative with fixing the problem are the first two steps. After that we must make some investments and target small land owners, who are the gate keepers to our global food production. Professor Pettigrew is a native of Wayne County, Illinois, and earned degrees from Southern Illinois University (B.S. in Animal Industries), Iowa State University (M.S. in Animal Nutrition), and the University of Illinois (Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition). After receiving his Ph.D., he worked for several years in industry before accepting a faculty appointment at the University

Left to right: Dr Mark Lyons, Dr Jim Pettigrew with the Medal of Excellence and Dr Pearse Lyons.

of Minnesota. Here, his research included mathematical modelling and the connections between nutrition and reproduction. He led the development of the first mathematical model of pig metabolism, with a focus on the lactating sow. Seventeen years later he left the University of Minnesota and founded Pettigrew Consulting

International, LLC. In that role, he worked across a wide range of activities in several different countries, especially in Latin America. He was recruited to the University of Illinois in 2001, under the Faculty Excellence Program. His current research emphasises connections between diet and health, with special attention to gut bacteria.

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NEWS Winner of the Doug Ross Travel and Study Award announced The recipient of the Australian pork industry biannual Doug Ross Travel and Study Award has been awarded to fifth-year Charles Sturt University Veterinary student, Jill Groat. The award is supported by Australian Pork Ltd (APL) and private donations to a trust fund set up to honour the late Doug Ross. It recognises the contribution Doug Ross (1947-2000) made to the Australian pig industry. Doug was a veterinarian who was passionately involved in the pig industry and was a mentor to many people in the industry. Speaking on behalf of the judges panel, Dr Ross Cutler said this is the first time that the award has been made to a student. The judges hope that the award brings another bright young veterinarian to the field of pig medicine or allied areas. This award will enable Ms Groat to travel all-expenses paid to Vancouver, Canada, to attend this year’s International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS) Congress from July 18 to 20. Additionally, she will attend the Australian Pork Veterinarian’s (APV) Satellite Conference also being held in Vancouver before the IPVS Congress. Ms Groat first became interested in pig production following student practical work on a pig farm in the Young district of New South Wales . “I’m initially from an extensive farming background with sheep

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and cattle and found working with pigs really challenging but rewarding. This opportunity to see how pigs are managed in a cold climate such as Canada, as well as the differences in the grow out process and shed design, compared with the Australian climate, will be a fabulous time in my life. “The experience of seeing firsthand another country and meeting pig vets from all over the world is something I am very excited about. Sharing views with these people will be very rewarding”. For further information regarding IPVS Congress 2010, the APV Satellite Conference, or the Doug Ross Award please contact Dr Ross Cutler via email: rosscutler@optusnet.com.au

Pan Pacific Pork Expo wins Australian Government Major Events Grant Pan Pacific Pork Expo (PPPE), the Australian pork industry’s major show case event has been awarded an Australian Government grant of $76,000, through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) – Promoting Australian Produce (Major Events) program. PPPE Chairman Dr Robert Van Barneveld said this injection of grant money is a tremendous and a welcome boost to the event this year. “It will enable the PPPE Committee to sponsor more producers to attend the event, attract a high calibre of speakers, especially from overseas and ensure the high quality of activities scheduled for the event occur,” he said. PPPE runs every second year and this year it is being held on the June 16 & 17 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The major sponsorship partners for the event are Australian Pork Limited (APL) and the Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). “This injection of funds will certainly ensure the event runs to its full potential,” Dr van Barneveld said. “This year’s Pan Pacific Pork Expo, themed ‘Next Generation Pork – Finding the Balance’, will provide APL and Pork CRC with a platform to highlight a range of research and development achievements arising out of the excellent work conducted by both organisations on behalf of Australian pork producers. “This year, in particular, is critical for rural research and development in Australia with the Productivity Commission Inquiry and the rebid for government funding for continuation of the Pork CRC, all high on the agenda. “The PPPE Committee would like to take the opportunity of thanking the Australian Government and in particular The Promoting Australian Produce (Major Events) program for supporting this event,” said Dr van Barneveld. All exhibition spaces and sponsorship for this year have sold out and registrations to attend have been finalised and the event looks set to be a great success.

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NEWS Pork CRC 2011-2019 – High Integrity Australian Pork Amongst the papers presented at the recent Biomin Roundtable Forum held on the gold Coast on May 14 and 15, 2010 was Dr Robert Van Barneveld’s presentation on the topic of ‘Pork CRC 2011-2019 – High integrity pork and its core elements. Dr Van Barneveld is a director of both APL Limited and the Pork CRC. He is also a leading pig nutrition specialist and consultant operating within the Becan Partnership. If there was ever a road map for the future of the Australian pig industry this would be as close as it gets so far. Firstly Dr Van Barneveld asked the question, ‘What can an extended Pork CRC and the pork industry contribute to Australia?’ He then went on to define the ‘High Integrity Pork Concept’ including financial and collateral costs. “Australian pork can contribute to both global and local food security based on a low financial cost of production – a key focus of the current Pork CRC with collateral benefits including better welfare, environment, nutrient diversion, and health outcomes,” he said. “A growing population with three billion more to feed by 2050, plus increasing consumption generally, will mean a 100% increase on current production with only 1% more arable land available: just having enough food to eat will become an issue,” Dr Van Barneveld predicted. “Pork will remain the most widely consumed meat globally with consumption to increase over 21% between 2005 and 2015. Pork consumption in Australia represents 13.5% of all meat consumed so obviously there is capacity to increase that proportion.” In the context of increasing pressure on global food supply, Dr Van Barneveld spoke about local food security including the maintenance of a secure and sustainable supply of nutrients not subject to international production and trade machinations, also protection of local resources from exotic diseases. He also drew attention to the growing demand globally for what have been described as ‘ethical’ meat production that encompasses not only animal welfare but also environmental and food safety issues. (www.contextmarketing.com/sources/feb28-2010/ethicalfoodreport.pdf ) “High Integrity Australian Pork will remain an essential contributor to food diversity and choice- both here and overseas and is a cornerstone to our future food security that will be differentiated based on safety with a high level of traceability, nutritious with demonstrated health benefits, affordable, abundant, consistent and versatile. “Of equal importance is that it is locally produced, benefitting from Australia’s unique environmental and geographical attributes and that optimal welfare production practices are involved. “Minimal CO2 impacts will be a critical issue and that pork production should be sustainable and profitable supporting regional development and attractive to new investment.” Defining key aims for the Pork CRC from 2011 to 2019, Dr Van Barneveld identified “efficient and ethical production without the need for sow confinement in stalls or crates or widespread use of antibiotic medications, and the delivery of key nutrients via pork safely, enhancing the health and well being of consumers. “We must utilise revolutionary feed sources and effluent management systems that result in emissions of less than 1kg of CO2 equivalents of pork produced while contributing to Australia’s economic growth and food security without drawing on the ecological capital of other parts of the world.”

These aims would be achieved through four specific Pork CRC programs, 1. Confinement-free sow and piglet management, 2. Next generation Production Products, 3. Healthy Pork Consumption and 4. Carbon Conscious Inputs and Outputs. Expanding on Program 1, Dr Van Barneveld referred to world first research that will optimise sow and piglet welfare while maintaining production efficiency and breakthrough science that will facilitate innovative mating, sucking and weaning management eliminating the need for sow confinement in stalls or crates. “New production paradigms would ultimately have benefits for w

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NEWS v both producers and consumers,” he said. “For producers (and the pig), no confinement, a better capacity to manage sow body condition, and less non productive days. “Delivery of an immune primed weaner, no post weaning growth check from a cost effective production model that utilises existing infrastructure without the need for high capital investment. “For the market and consumers, welfare-friendly production practices with little or no increase in product cost leading to the maintenance of a reliable, consistent, safe and environmentally conscious food supply. Given that this paper was delivered to a wide audience including growers and other key members of the production chain it was hardly surprising that lively debate ensued. Expanding on necessary changes in production methods Dr Van Barneveld revealed that APL and the CRC had included key retail organisations like Woolies and the RSPCA in formulating future directions. “Ultimately sow stalls will never be accepted by a significant proportion of consumers,” Dr Van Barneveld said. Returning to the topic of ‘timely and coordinated research’ the Australian pork industry was at a ‘tipping point’ with “a clear need to ensure a cohesive approach to new production systems and strong research to underpin changes. There were multi-discipline research challenges – nutrition, genetics, management, welfare and behaviour. “This meant a need for basic and applied research and research

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outcomes are needed right now. “Previous research without a common focus and cooperative approach has not produced outcomes that can be adopted by industry.” In expanding on Program 2, Dr Van Barneveld mentioned key areas for research were disease management without antibiotics, improved genetics (selection for survivability and performance), also new vaccines including for pasturella and salmonella. Also there are new diagnostics for health including environmental diagnostics and novel interventions such as phages, probiotics, prebiotic (inulin) also genomics of the pig and pathogens. Of consumer and retailer interest in outcomes for Program 2 would be reduction of variation and enhancing eating attributes consistent with maintaining of enhancing efficiency. “Removing boar taint and on-line diagnostics for its detection and the enhancement of intra muscular fat are key aims for future research outcomes,” Dr Van Barneveld said. Under Program 3 (Healthy Pork Consumption) there would be research conducted to product and supply pathways with the aim of opening or improving market access locally and internationally. “We want to measure consumer responses to the ‘High Integrity Australian Pork’ concept in partnership with both Asian and Australia buyers and experiment with both international and domestic consumers to expand meat and enhanced meat options. “Further market initiatives in this program include the identification of attributes of Australian pork to improve health status of target consumer groups (eg. diabetics, the obese). “Program 4, Carbon Conscious Inputs and Outputs, would include optimal production and capture of methane for use as an alternative energy source. More efficient energy use in piggeries and novel production of alternative energy sources (algae) as well as safe utilisation of waste streams as nutrient sources. “We need to achieve further improvements in the efficiency of nutrient use and nutrient yield,” Dr Van Barneveld said. “Other fields of research in this program include ingredient characterisation using NIRS, cereal and pulse breeding programs and novel methods to improve the nutritional quality of diets based on traditional and pulse sources.” Under the umbrella of Training, Education and Infrastructure, Dr Van Barneveld stated the need to establish post doctoral programs, PhD programs, commercial internships, base resource maintenance and farm staff re-training and demonstration sites. Dealing with funding strategy, Dr Van Barneveld pointed out that the model was for a ‘terminal CRC’ with phased out Federal funding and a genuine attempt to establish an alternative and on-going R&D structure. He mentioned the Productivity Commission enquiry into RDCs and the APL levy increase negotiations and strategies. “Timing was critical,” he said and that there was a significant research challenge ahead with a 3-5 year research program. “The model code of practice for sow stalls becomes effective in 2017 and the RSPCA has drawn a ‘line in the sand’ over sow confinement with a deadline of 2020. “There is a changing R&D environment in Australia and we need to be aware of that. The Australian pork industry is poised for a change in production methods now. “The Australian pork industry will make a greater contribution to global and local food security in the future and Australian pork will be a ‘high integrity’ protein that accounts for both financial and collateral production costs. “The Pork CRC 2011-2019 represents one of the most important research programs ever undertaken by the industry and will reshape pork production in Australia and overseas,” Dr Van Barneveld concluded.

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Camborough 42 is the most prolific pig available and offers:

• Producing a carcass with superior conformation, highly acceptable to the Singapore market

• Reproductive consistency and efficiency

• Low backfat, high lean percentage and high muscle

• Docile temperament • High conception rates and efficient progeny

400

Add value to your operation with this high lean performer

PICBOAR 400 offers: • High yielding progeny with excellent carcass characteristics • Superior carcass conformation, highly acceptable to the Singapore market • Suitability for a range of intensive and extensive piggery operations

1250027SJ24/9

• Reduced variation in finished pigs

• Good mothering with exceptional milking ability

PICBOAR

Widen your competitive advantage, by calling 1800 622 660 or 02 6956 2105 or contact your local PIC representative on 0418 575 101 www.picaustralia.com.au

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Bred for success.

PLEvac. We’re back! • PLEvac is the only 3-in-1 vaccine that protects sows and litters against three major causes of infectious disease in sows and baby pigs: parvo, lepto and erysipelas. • With just one shot at weaning, PLEvac reduces needles and labour. • Easy on them. Easy on you.

With a pedigree like ours, you’d expect Intervet/Schering-Plough to offer you a complete range of vaccine products for every stage in the production cycle. • Range includes PLEvac and ECOvacLE, the only 3-in-1 combination vaccines on the market. • Packaged to suit your needs. Efficacy you can rely on. • Reliable supply at all times.

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health 91-105 Harpin Street, Bendigo East VIC 3550 Free Call: 1800 033 461 • Free Fax: 1800 817 414 sales.australia@intervet.com • www.intervet.com.au

RRA/IVT8188

We have a complete range of vaccines to enhance your breeding operation.