Pork Journal September/October 2010

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Pork Journal Alternative Farrowing Systems – identifying the gaps in knowledge The level playing field that isn’t

Feedworks Coolum 2010 Nutrition Workshop New prototype Norwegian farrowing crates installed at Camden

PrintPost Approved PP243096/00002 ISSN 1032 3759

September/October 2010 Volume 32, Number 5

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Contents 8 MAIN FEATURE New prototype Norwegian farrowing pens for sows installed at Camden A new research collaboration between Associate Professor Inger Lise Andersen and Professor Knut Bøe from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Dr Greg Cronin, Faculty of Veterinary Science, has resulted in the construction of four prototype farrowing pens at the University of Sydney’s Mayfarm pig unit, Camden.

NEWS 4 Feedworks Coolum 2010 Nutrition Workshop Hugh Payne, Department of Agriculture and Food, WA. Photo courtesy of DAFWA.

Pork Journal September/October 2010 Volume 32, Number 5 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.

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The Feedworks Coolum 2010 Nutrition Workshop was held at the Hyatt Regency, Coolum, September 8-10, 2010. The central theme of the event was ‘Waste Not Want Not – FCR, your productivity: our passion’.

14 Alternative Farrowing Systems – identifying the gaps in knowledge On September 15, 2010 the Animal Welfare Science Centre (AWSC) hosted a seminar ‘Alternative Farrowing Systems – identifying the gaps in knowledge’ at the Victorian DPI Attwood.

18 The level playing field that isn’t In mid September APL made a submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements. Peter Bedwell looks at the submission and reflects on the difficulties the Australian pork industry faces in terms of trying to compete internationally and domestically against countries that heavily subsidise and protect their own industries at our expense.

20 Ronald J Lienert Memorial Scholarship recognises lifelong industry contribution A new Honours student scholarship has been established between the SA pig industry and the University of Adelaide. Named the Ronald J Lienert Memorial Scholarship, it has been created by the SA industry to perpetuate the memory and achievements of the late Ronald John Lienert, OAM. 22 ‘Be the Next Club Porkstar’ winners announced at Clubs Porkstar Showcase On September 27, 2010 at the award winning Aperitif restaurant, Potts Point, winners of the ‘Be the Next Club Porkstar’ promotion were announced. To enter the competition club chefs had to enter a written menu using pork and the winners were judged by APL Food Services Manager, Mitch Edwards and a panel of experts well versed in how to create brilliant pork based menus.

23 Productively feeding us and them Delivering the keynote address, ‘The Modern Pork Industry – Breakthroughs and Future Opportunities’, Dr Roger Campbell, CEO of Australia’s Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), told a Zinpro symposium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, that the US pork industry, like Australia’s, needed to innovate around social and welfare issues.

24 Award for Hugh Payne Hugh Payne from Department of Agriculture and Food, WA has been awarded a Certificate of Apreciation by the WA industry at a recent WAPPA Annual Dinner.

25 Farmers roast Coles over double standards The Victorian Farmers Federation’s (VFF) Pig Group has slammed Coles after its decision to stop buying fresh pork produced from sows kept in gestation stalls by 2014. Coles will only apply the ban to Australian farmers but not to overseas suppliers of processed pork who will continue to be allowed to use the stalls.

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NEWS Feedworks Coolum 2010 Nutrition Workshop The Feedworks Coolum 2010 Nutrition Workshop was held at the Hyatt Regency, Coolum, September 8-10, 2010.

The central theme of the event was ‘Waste Not Want Not – FCR, your productivity: our passion’.

Keynote speaker was APL and Pork CRC director Dr Rob Van Barneveld.

Dr Van Barneveld in his paper, ‘Why FCR has become even more important’, firstly defined the increasingly complex demands of consumers and retailers.

“FCR remains the primary measure of efficiency and driver of profitability in livestock production systems and with every addition ‘product credence value’ the importance of FCR increases,” he said.

He defined the concept of sustainable development as being, “the ability to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising future generations.

“Population, currently at over six billion will peak at 8 to 10 billion before 2100 and we will need to manage for a peak population rather than a growing one,” he said.

“On current estimates of approximately three billion more people globally by 2050 we will need to increase current food production by 100% and we will have to do this using current arable land and only 1% additional land globally.

“We may also have to eat less, particularly in developed countries like Australia.

Food consumption in Sydney had risen on a per capita basis from .52 tonnes a year to 1.00 tonne – a 92% increase!

“This phenomenon was attributable to food packaging, lifestyle and retailing practice rather than an increase in the appetite of individuals,” he said.

“Our target in simple terms to meet global demand would be to double food production and more than double efficiency; focusing on FCR and global energy balance as a way to achieve these goals.

“What represents a significant improvement in FCR?” Dr Van Barneveld asked.

“Consider the case of pigs sold at 22 weeks at 100 kg liveweight where the grower has achieved an FCR of 2.3.

“The average diet DE content will be 13.8 MJ/kg and average diet CP content at 20% with an overall average diet costs (at current feed prices) of $320 to bring a pig to market.

“Improve that FCR from 2.30 to 2.25 from birth to slaughter and there is a saving of 5kg of feed per pig sold.

“In the case of a 2000 sow piggery with

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25 pigs sold per sow/pa (50,000 pigs pa) that FCR improvement translates into 250 tonnes of feed saved – a cost saving of $80,000, DE content saving of 3,450,000 MJ and 50 tonnes of CP. “Saving 32g feed/pig/day worldwide (the result of reducing FCR from 2.3 to 2.25) is equivalent to the energy requirements of 2.6 million people for 20 years.

Primary technologies for enhancing FCR could be better genetics, use of Improvac to vaccinate against GnRF, use of NIR technology for feed ingredient evaluation and nutrient requirements and, of course, further employment of enzymes.

“Metabolic modifiers like Paylean and the use of functional ingredients like plasma had been shown to be effective.

“FCR is more important than ever and will play a major part in assisting producers to stay viable even when satisfying ever more demands from consumers.

“We need twice as much food from the same arable land mass – FCR drives effeciencies to realise that aim.”

At the combined session on September 9, the keynote speaker was Steve Wilson, pig and poultry diet specifications manager for the UK’s leasing feed supplier BOCM Pauls Ltd. In his paper ‘Future Challenges for the European Feed industry’, Mr Wilson reviewed issues of genetics and nutrition: raw materials, the power of the retailer and legislation and feed formulation (does one drive the other?)

“Can the nutritionalist keep up with hyper prolific sows. Specifically the challenge through both nutrition and management innovation was to improve birth weight, increase milk production and weaning weights whilst improving piglet w

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5 1. Dr Rob Van Barneveld, APL and Pork CRC Director. 2. Steve Wilson from BOCM Pauls Ltd. 3. Dr Julian Waters from New Zealand. 4. Tony Edwards, ACE Livestock Consulting. Megan Edwards, ACE Livestock Consulting. 6. Malcolm Mottram From Feedworks, opened the conference.

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

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NEWS v vitality and minimise mortality.

“Finally there was the clear need to extend sow lifetime productivity and reduce culling rates,” he said.

On issues relating to raw material supply he pointed to the OECD statistics forecasting a 15% (298 million tons) of extra feed grains being required in the 10 year period from 2005/6 to 2015/16.

The change in compounder use of raw materials from 1983 to 2009 recorded a drop of cereals in livestock diets from 44% to 39% with a proportional increase in oilseed and vegetarian by-products.

“Ethanol production will account for approximately five million tonnes of a 14 million tonne wheat harvest in the UK.” He touched on the environmental consequences of using home grown legumes in pig diets. There are some changes being made under EU legislation to the use of animal by-products in livestock feeding but they are, as Mr Wilson demonstrated, complex and highly prescriptive.

Labelling laws are similarly complex, he demonstrated.

On the subject of a change in approach to feed additives, largely driven by the need to find alternatives to AGPs banned in the EU from 2006, Mr Wilson suggested that a key solution is likely to be related to gut health with management of both environment and diet using organic acids, enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics and betaine.

“Food and feed safety were a major concern of food regulators with a focus on microbiological safety and cross contamination,” he said.

Finally, on a topic that would be significant to Australian growers, given recent events concerning Coles’ recently announced welfare requirements, Mr Wilson spoke of the power of the retailer seeking differentiation in the meat products they offered to ever more demanding consumers.

“Key retailer demands concerned welfare, product quality, sustainability, carbon footprint, fear of the media (as in recent UK cloning debates) and issues over GMO feeds,” he concluded.

Papers that covered ‘Key Topics that improve FCR’ in the ‘Health’ session followed the combined session.

Pierre Cronje is an R&D consultant who specialises in applying advances in biochemistry and physiology to develop solutions and products for intensive livestock industries.

Apart from being an accomplished scientist, writer and speaker, Pierre Cronje has the happy knack of being able to deliver

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sometimes complex concepts in an understandable and entertaining manner.

His overview address was ‘Foetal programming – the immune system – a double edged sword’.

“A negative relationship was demonstrated between productivity and specific leukocyte subsets such that as a variety of immune traits increased, the performance of the pigs (growth, food intake or efficiency) decreased: the data raises further questions to be addressed,” he said.

“Selection for piglet survival increases carcass fat percentage, while selection for litter size and survival may ultimately lead to piglets that closely resemble those from genetically obese lines, such as the Meishan.”

Mr Cronje also discussed the role of cortisol in pig performance and concluded with an interesting statement on the adverse effects of foetal programming.

“Exposure of pregnant pigs to restraint stress for five minutes daily during the last five weeks of gestation doubled the incidence of disease in the offspring during suckling and resulted in a 2.5 fold greater mortality rate,” he revealed.

Next, NZ based nutrition and livestock industry consultant Dr Julian Waters delivered his paper ‘Practical & Commercial Consequences of Foetal Programming and Opportunities (Immune function)’.

After a review of disease management and current practice, Dr Waters examined costs of diseases, particularly exotic, to the pig industry.

In a study conducted by him in 2004 on a NZ farm (300 sows + finisher unit) of a PMWS out break pre-PMWS, the farm was making an annual profit of NZ$5000.

In the first year of disease out break, morbidity ran at 20%, deaths 14% and resulted in a loss of NZ4240,000. In Year 2 with morbidity and deaths dropping by 50% the loss was still $155,000 and in year 3 with morbidity/deaths halving again the loss was still $115,000 he revealed.

Options and alternatives to reduce challenge including use of anti microbials like essential oils, herbs, acidifiers, zinc oxide and copper sulphate were discussed as was exclusion and competition involving probiotics, prebiotics and enzymes.

Enhanced immune function using vaccines, Mannan & Fructo oligosaccharides, organic selenium, yeast metabolites and porcine plasma was suggested.

His conclusion was that foetal programming is real and that economic and health benefits could be immense.

Tony Edwards of ACE Livestock CONTINUED PAGE 26 w

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

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5 1. Peter Williams from Feedworks USA. 2. Doug Pearson, Feedworks. 3. Jesper Pagh, DLG Group. 4. Dr Marnie Mellencamp, Ralco. 5. Dr Gary Partridge, Danisco.

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Nesting areas in the UMB pens are separated from the other sows by solid walls so the sow can have visual privacy when in the nest.

New prototype Norwegian farrowing pens for sows installed at Camden

A

new research collaboration between Associate Professor Inger Lise Andersen and Professor Knut Bøe from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Dr Greg Cronin, Faculty of Veterinary Science, has resulted in the construction of four prototype farrowing pens at the University of Sydney’s Mayfarm pig unit, Camden.

The prototype UMB farrowing pens were designed by Associate Professor Andersen, based on an earlier design developed by Greg Cronin in the 1990s, the ‘Werribee farrowing pen’.

The four new farrowing pens, which were commercially manufactured in Denmark and installed at Camden in July, are a very generous gift from the

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Norwegians to the University of Sydney.

Fifty year ago, most sows farrowed in some form of unrestrained accommodation – in ‘loose’ pens indoors with or without an outdoor run, or outdoors with access to a farrowing hut.

Piglet mortality and morbidity were high, constituting important economic and welfare issues (typical mortality was between 25 and 35% of piglets born alive).

Farrowing crates were predominantly developed to reduce the incidence of piglets dying during the first week of life.

Historically the main causes of piglet death have been crushing by the sow, chilling and disease. To counter these problems, well-designed farrowing crates provide the

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

piglets with firstly heated, protected zones to encourage piglets to stay away from the area close to the sow, thus providing warmth for the piglets and reducing the risk that sows accidently crush piglets. Secondly restricted floor space so that neonatal pigs are less able to wander away from the heat source and become chilled, and thirdly, slatted floors for improved hygiene and reduced risk of illness.

However, despite achieving improved piglet survival in farrowing crates through continuous improvement in structural design, control over shed thermal environment, sow management and stockmanship, the housing of sows in crates is criticised on w welfare grounds.

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For example, pre-farrowing nesting behaviour in farrowing crates is inhibited, which denies one of the ‘Five Freedoms’ – the freedom for sows to express normal behaviour.

The major challenge for farrowing pen design is to provide an environment that is sought by the sow for parturition, and which also contains features to promote survival of the piglets.

The new UMB prototype farrowing pen is designed with two areas. Firstly a ‘nest area’ and a dunging/activity area. The nest area is designed to be attractive to sows as the preferred farrowing site, and contains features to promote piglet survival. The activity area contains the sow feeder and drinker. A sprinkler system above the slatted floor in the activity area has been installed for cooling sows in Australia’s hot weather.

Research has demonstrated that sows provided with sufficient space and suitable bedding during the one to two days prior to parturition, perform pre-farrowing ‘nesting behaviour’.

In nature, the pre-parturient sow leaves her herd and may walk up to 6 km to select a suitable nest site that is protected from weather extremes and provides isolation to reduce interference from other sows or detection by predators.

The UMB pen provides 7.92 m2 to enable locomotion before farrowing. A design principle of the UMB pen is that sows choose to farrow at the rear of the pen, in the ‘nest area’, away from ‘disturbances’ such as stockpeople approaching the pen from the front.

The width of the UMB farrowing pen is 2.4m, providing sufficient space for the longest sows to turn around comfortably whilst performing nest-building behaviour.

The UMB nest area has solid side walls, affording the sow a visual barrier for privacy from neighbouring sows while in the nest, and hence some sense of isolation from herd mates.

In the wild, at her chosen nest site the sow scrapes a shallow hole, which she lines with vegetation such as branches and grass, etc. These materials provide an insulated and comfortable nest for the soon-to-beborn piglets.

The UMB pen provides wood shavings on the floor and hay/straw in a dispensing rack. While nest-building materials stimulate nest-building behaviour, the motivation to walk in search of nest-building material may also be satisfied.

While nest-building behaviour evolved to provide a suitable environment for parturition, performance of the behaviour per se also appears to be relevant to piglet survival in other ways. For example, young w

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Top: Associate Professor Inger Lise Anderson from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences puts a piglet on the sow’s udder. Centre: Below the floor surface are heating panels which provide different thermal conditions at different locations in the nest area to encourage the sow and piglets to lie in separate spaces. Above: The nest area has thick rubber mats to help prevent sow lameness.

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

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v sows that were stimulated to perform more pre-farrowing nesting-like behaviour in farrowing crates through the regular provision of sawdust for rooting/nosing and pawing, had a shorter interval between the first to last born piglet in the litter.

An important consequence of this treatment was the reduced incidence of intrapartum stillbirths and, or piglets born alive but weak, due to anoxia. The new UMB farrowing pen system provides bedding material (straw, hay and wood shavings) for nest-building in the ‘nest area’ of the farrowing pen. Straw and hay are also thought to provide other benefits for the sow and litter, including better gut health for the sow and longer suckling bouts.

The UMB farrowing pen contains a number of innovative design features to promote sow and piglet welfare.

For example, the ‘nest area’ of the pen has inward sloping panels to assist the sow avoid crushing piglets when changing posture from standing to lying and to provide piglet safety zones around the perimeter of the pen.

The surface of the ‘nest area’ is covered by a 30 mm thick rubber mat (and bedding) for sow and piglet comfort and to reduce the risk of lameness in the sow.

Below the floor surface, two thermostatically controlled heating panels enable different thermal conditions to be provided at different locations within the nest area.

By changing the temperature of the floor surface in the different parts of the nest area, it is possible to manipulate the location where the sow chooses to lie compared to where the litter is likely to sleep.

Thus, in theory at least, it should be possible to separate the sow and piglets within the nest area without the need for a crate to restrain the sow when the piglets are most at risk, that is, in the first week of life.

“Our future research will investigate these and other aspects of sow and piglet behaviour, welfare and productivity,” said Dr Greg Cronin.

“Research will improve our understanding of the interactions between the physical and thermal environments of the pen on sow and piglet behaviour, piglet survival and growth, sow and piglet welfare, and management by the stockperson.

“The knowledge gained from the research will assist industry to refine practical pen designs and management protocols to improve the likelihood that pig producers adopt farrowing pens.

“The continued development of practical farrowing pen systems for future adoption by the pig industry is clearly an important research goal of pig production

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and animal welfare scientists.

“The new farrowing pens provide an important research and teaching resource for the Faculty of Veterinary Science and will be the focus of on-going collaborative research with the Norwegians.

“Our initial research will investigate how the pens function under the Australian climatic situation.

“In the mid-term, our goals are to refine the design and management of the pens for improved sow and piglet welfare and efficient, sustainable production for industry.

“The long term goal is to facilitate adoption of farrowing pen systems by the Australian pig industry,” Dr Cronin concluded.

Top: The UMB pen provides almost 8m2 to enable locomotion before farrowing.

Centre: The UMB farrowing system provides bedding material (straw, hay and wood shavings) for nest building. The bedding material is thought to provide the benefit of longer suckling bouts. Above: The new UMB prototype farrowing pen is designed with two areas – a nest area and an activity area.

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

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NEWS Alternative Farrowing Systems – identifying the gaps in knowledge On September 15 2010 the Animal Welfare Science Centre (AWSC) hosted a seminar ‘Alternative Farrowing Systems – identifying the gaps in knowledge at the Victorian DPI Attwood.

The AWSC comprises four collaborative partners, being the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria (Future Farming Systems Research Division), The University of Melbourne, (School of land and Environment and Faculty of Veterinary Science), Monash University (School of Psychology and Psychiatry/School of Biomedical Sciences) and finally the Ohio State University (Department of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine).

There are also links with the AWSC and the Centre for animal Welfare and Ethics at the University of Queensland, the Animal Welfare unit of CSIRO and New Zealand based Massey University’s Animal Welfare Science & Bioethics Centre and AgResearch.

AWSC conducts research into :1. Welfare methodology where the organisation develops and validates appropriate strategies to measure animal welfare 2. Housing and husbandry effects on animal welfare 3. Attitudinal effects, notably the effects of stockperson, animal handlers and animal owners on the welfare of their animals attitudes, also the effects of attitudes to animal welfare on consumer and community behaviour.

4. Tertiary, post graduate and industry education/training.

Through these programs the AWSC aims to undertake research to inform government and industry in the development of animal welfare policy.

The AWSC seminar into alternative farrowing systems could not have come at a better time for the industry given both state government and major retailer pressure to change sow housing to fall in line with consumer perceptions and resulting pressures from the retail sector.

Paul Hemsworth, director of AWSC, University of Melbourne, opened the seminar and defined the aims of the event.

Greg Cronin from the University of Sydney and Hugh Payne, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAGFWA) gave an overview of research into viable alternatives for farrowing crates

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

Top: Paul Hemsworth, Director, AWSC, University of Melbourne.

Above: Greg Cronin, University of Sydney. Right: Hugh Payne, DAGFWA. in their paper ‘An Australian perspective on non crate farrowing systems’.

“Though farrowing crates had been an essential part of commercial pig production over the last 50 years, and despite better survival and welfare outcomes for piglets, the housing of sows in crates is criticised on welfare grounds,” Hugh Payne stated.

“For example, pre-farrowing activity including nest building behaviour is inhibited in farrowing crates, which denies one of the ‘Five Freedoms’, ie that of the sows to express normal behaviour.

“The Australian pig industry funded research on alternatives to farrowing crates for sows from 1986 to 2006.

“A key outcome in 1993 was the development of the so-called ‘Werribee farrowing pen’, which lead to investigation of this pen as a practical alternative to farrowing crates.

“The Werribee pen design was refined and evaluated in a number of trials conducted at the Victorian Institute of

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NEWS Animal Science ,Werribee and on commercial farms,” he said.

“The research demonstrated that piglet survival in farrowing pens could be equivalent to that achieved in farrowing crates.

“However, limiting factors include economics (cost of build a new conventional farrowing shed for pens, being unrealistic, so farrowing pens were fitted into available spaces without the insulation and climate control necessary for farrowing accommodation.

“Genetics of pigs reared with farrowing crates, could be problematic as was management of bedding material in sheds with typical effluent disposal systems.”

“A most important observation however, was that the attitude of the stockperson managing the farrowing pens seemed to be a key determinant of whether the pen system succeeded of failed,” Mr Payne said.

“Experiments with a Swedish group farrowing system for use in low cost shelters resulted in high pre-weaning mortality rates – particularly in summer where heat induced behavioural changes affected sow behaviour.

“While the finding suggest that hot conditions may limit the successful use of farrowing pens in Australia, the incorporation of thermostat-controlled heaters in piglet creep boxes and a larger ventilated creep zone, may have averted some of the adverse rates recorded in summer,” he concluded.

Emma Baxter from the Scottish Agricultural College UK next described ‘The PigSAFE pen design – derivation, principles and practicalities’.

Whilst acknowledging that designing commercially viable indoor alternatives to farrowing crates was a real challenge, Ms Baxter defined the PigSAFE project (piglet and sow alternative farrowing environment) as a project to develop an alternative to the farrowing crate that provides not only better sow and piglet welfare outcomes, but is commercially viable.

PigSAFE is funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in collaboration with the RSPCA, British w

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“The prototype pen design is intended to meet the biological needs of sows and piglets, as well as requirements for stockperson safety and management ease,” she said.

“This involves a basic nest area, with solid flooring to allow provision of nesting material and sloping walls against which the sow can slide more slowly to ground level for suckling, to lower the risk of piglets being trapped and killed.

“A heated creep area has easy access from the nest, and a separate slatted dunging area is bounded by walls with barred panels to adjacent pens to discourage farrowing outside the nest.

“A feeding crate for the sow is included at one side of the pen, where the sow can be locked in to allow safe inspection or treatment of the piglets.

Recent experiments have lead to a refinement of the design and the firm conclusion that the detail of the design is key to its performance,” she said.

The second paper on the PigSAFE system was presented by Sandra Edwards from Newcastle University UK, ‘Performance of the PigSAFE system in the UK/EU context’.

“Concerns about the welfare of sows farrowing in crates have been growing within the EU for more than a decade,” Ms Edwards said.

Successive scientific reports in 1997 and 2007 recommended that loose farrow-

ing alternatives should be developed.

“However, concerns about piglet survival in non-crate systems have prevented any legislative moves, except in Sweden where the use of farrowing crates is prohibited.

“In most member states around 90% of sows farrow in crates, with the exception being the UK where 40% of breeding sows are kept in outdoor systems.

“Within the UK, and increasingly elsewhere in Europe, very effective campaigns by animal welfare organisations have kept the farrowing crate issue before the public.

“In consequence a number of smaller national retailers already source pigmeat only from non-crate systems while the major supermarket chains are now moving in that direction.

“However, maintaining acceptable piglet survival in non-crate systems against a background of increasing sow prolificacy poses a considerable challenge, with mortality in Sweden 3.6% higher than the EU average.

“Good survival can be achieved in noncrate systems, with the UK national average for outdoor herds equalling or surpassing that for indoor herds over the last decade.

“Such results have yet to be replicated in commercial indoor non-crate systems, despite a number of different variants being tried on a small scale.

“Preliminary results from the PigSAFE system show promise in this respect, despite the challenge posed in the development phase by very high litter sizes and Top: Emma Baxter, Scottish Ag College. Above: Sandra Edwards, Newcastle University.

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“Data from the first 152 litters weaned yielded a liveborn mortality of 14.9% with the average of 10.9 piglets weaned per litter in excess of UK top third herd performance.

“Though the system shows promise of commercial feasibility more extensive testing is needed.

“History suggests that staff experience and attitude as well as sow genotype may have an important role to play in the commercial success of the system”, Ms Edwards concluded.

Greg Cronin then described ‘The Norwegian farrowing system and gaps in knowledge’” This paper is run at length in this issue of Pork Journal.

Melina Tensen from the RSPCA

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NEWS (Australia) then spoke about concerns about traditional and alternative farrowing systems.

“Improvements to animal welfare on farm are often influenced by what seem to be conflicting interests-animal welfare vs profitability,” Ms Tensen said.

“From a producer perspective, alternative farrowing systems must perform similarly in terms of pre-weaning piglet survival and be able to be installed and operated without excessive cost.

“From an animal welfare perspective, the farrowing system should be designed to meet the needs of the piglets without compromising the needs of the sow.

“While acknowledging that traditional farrowing crates provide the producer with the ability to control the conditions around farrowing and a proven means of piglet survival, the RSPCA supports the development of alternative farrowing systems that provide the sow freedom of movement and the ability to satisfy her behavioural and physiological needs.

“Rather than viewing these needs as conflicting with profitability, they should be seen as essential to the success of alternative farrowing systems,”Ms Tensen concluded.

Rebecca Morrison, a research scientist at Rivalea (Australia) conducted her PhD (Behaviour and welfare of pigs in deep-bedded, group housing systems) with Paul Hemsworth and Greg Cronin.

Her ‘Industry perspective on housing of farrowing sows and gaps in knowledge’ comes from the point of view of a scientist

working in a large commercial production facility.

Acknowledging that farrowing crates that restrict sow movement are subject to ever increasing critisism she states that there is a clear need for commercially viable non crated farrowing systems that take into account both piglet and sow welfare.

“The highest incidence of piglet mortality and injury occur in the first three days of life with unrestricted movement of the sow being a major contributory factor.

“Rivalea Australia is leading the way in the Australian pork industry in terms of researching and investigating non-crated farrowing systems.

“We are consolidating information on the alternatives to farrowing crates, seeking advice and trialling appropriate, practical systems that may be commercially viable.

“Some of the non-crated systems we are investigating include free range, deep bedded group lactation and farrowing pens,” Ms Morrison said.

The AWSC seminar at Attwood was well attended by a whole range of delegates, including growers who have an interest in the future directions of the Australian pig industry.

Full presentations from all speakers can be listened too by accessing the Vimeo recordings including a presentation

by Alistair Lawrence from the Scottish Agricultural College UK who was unable to visit Australia to deliver his paper in person.

You can go to: www.animalwelfare.net.au/comm/comm01

Top: Rebecca Morrison, Rivalea Australia. Above: Bidda Jones, RSPCA was in the audience.

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In mid September APL made a submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Bilateral and regional Trade Agreements.

In the Executive Summary of that submission APL expresses support for the government’s current approach to trade negotiations and recognises the success of the Australia-ASEAN NZ Free trade Agreement (FTA) despite there being concerns expressed by ASEAN nations over the importance of subsistence farming to local economies.

“In such cases, APL has suggested that flexibility can be found in negotiating longer lead times for full tariff liberalisation for pork, or for lower import duties,” the summary reads.

“APL supports greater pork export market access, despite any agricultural ‘sensitivities’. Countries where agriculture is considered ‘sensitive’ to trade liberalisation include India, China, Korea and Japan.

“These countries generally have high expectations for meat quality and pork as their preferred meat source. Additionally these countries within the ASEAN region are increasingly high value export markets for Australian pork exports.

“But these countries still have high producer support estimate (PSE) levels, or government support that place Australia at a competitive disadvantage. Until countries with significant PSE levels are liberalised in the WTO Doha round, this should be borne in mind and refelcted in agreement.

“It is this distinct lack of level playing field and the impact of growing domestic regulatory and compliance requirements that impact Australian producers’ costs of production. It effects Australia’s pork industry competitiveness in export markets and the domestic market which competes with imports,” the summary said.

More recently the PC has found that the benefits of FTAs have been grossly exaggerated.

So Australia and the pork industry in particular has opened up its markets while our potential trading partners continue to protect and subsidise theirs. Our competitors meanwhile continue to subsidise and negotiate preferential trade agreements with our potential customers.

At the same time the Australian pig industry is expected to comply with welfare standards imposed by state governments and now major retail groups, while the US, Canada and Denmark can import pork

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

into our market with no such adherence to the same welfare standards.

Enough. The Australian pork industry has done its level best to face competition in both its domestic and overseas markets but the cards are constantly stacked against it.

The supporters of ‘free trade, no matter what’, are getting more shrill by the hour as economists and politicians warn us that if we “fall back into protectionism the world will plunge into ever deeper recession.”

Well much of the world, including the EU and the US are in a mess – and it’s largely of their own making.

In the US, unregulated banks and financial institutions lent money to people who obviously could not service, let alone repay loans – then these bad loans were bundled into ‘investments’ that were peddled globally.

Now the US economy has ground to a halt and the US Fed is printing money to try and kick start their economy.

So far the only result is that the value of the US $ has fallen, making its exports more competitive. The country is stuck in conflicts it can’t finalise and there’s more than 10% unemployment.

One of President Obamah’s stated initiatives is to increase agricultural exports by over 2% thus creating two million jobs in farming regions.

Now, largely as a result of the US government’s ethanol mandate, crop prices have been driven up badly effecting the viability of both their beef and pork sector.

Europe has many of the same fiscal problems as the US plus huge social debt and committed spending.

In many European countries the working population wants to retire on substantial state paid pensions before they reach 60 and yet the populations that support that ideal don’t want to pay any more tax.

The result – near bankrupt states, yet the EU overall maintains 55 billion Euros a year in subsidies as part of their Common Agricultural Policy.

Australia, on the other hand has supported free trade initiatives and as a result of responsible financial regulation and indeed government initiatives, kept its economy in good shape.

In the meantime there are growing fears that as the global population, particularly in our region grows, food will simply run out.

Countries like Argentina, fierce competitors in beef and soy crop markets,

PJSepOct2010:PJJanFeb09 15/10/10 11:02 AM Page 19

NEWS are now putting tariffs on exports as their government realises that feeding their own population and supporting their prime agricultural industries has become the priority.

Still our new trade minister Craig Emerson is maintaining the ‘free trade no matter what’ stance.

On top of this there is growing pressure to increase our population to 35 million and beyond in a relatively short time frame.

Judging by the results of the last election this idea was less than enthusiastically received by voters, particularly those in our overcrowded major cities.

Newspaper columnists, who were warning against protectionism and ‘rent seeking industries’ (read farming) are now warning about food shortages and the fact that foreign entities are buying up our agricultural companies and highly productive land.

Barnaby Joyce may not have impressed independent MP Tony Windsor with his intellect but his recent statement that the current Australian government would prefer to abandon the farming sector and import all our food is by any fair assessment ‘on the money’.

Meanwhile the whole idea of global free trade and free markets in general are in danger of imploding.

The US and Europe hugely subsidise their ag sectors and still expect to be let into developing and existing markets.

Key markets like China, India, Japan and Korea both subsidise and protect at will: what are now being described as currency wars will develop into trade wars.

China not only protects its industries, including ag, but refuses to float its currency which undervalues it – the US in turn threatens to raise tariffs against Chinese imports.

Now Japan and Brazil are manipulating their currency to help their industries remain competitive as the US dollar plummets in value.

What can our government do?

Well if every one else can ignore ‘free trade’ principles we should at least look at penalising imports by a tariff that recognises the cost of production of those imports that are subsidised.

It’s not as if this government hasn’t got form when it comes to subsidisation and indeed, tariff protection.

The Australian automotive manufacturing sector will receive or is already benefitting from subsidies amounting to A$7 billion to build cars that in the case of

Holden and Ford, are progressively falling out of favour with Australian car buyers.

The much heralded Toyota Camry Hybrid that will attract subsidy was going to be assembled here anyway.

On top of the subsidy the industry is still protected by a 5% and admittedly reduced tariff.

We have seen elsewhere in this issue of Pork Journal that the Australian pig industry is already well prepared to convert to different sow housing in line with consumer (and therefore political )pressure.

If it is beyond the courage of our politicians to make importers comply with similar sow housing standards in their production systems then at least the governments should set aside funds to assist growers comply with what is essentially a politically driven requirement.

Then there are quarantine standards.

When the Howard government was in hot pursuit of an FTA with the US even the CSIRO’s independent analysis that stated importing pork from the US could increase risk to Australian growers from PMWS and PRRS, was ignored.

Yet even as it looked as if the legal

challenge to the revised IRA might succeed Pork Journal was told that “the government will just change the law”.

But while pork and apples might go well together on a dinner plate there is no such synergy when it comes to quarantine .

The long running resistance to the importation of NZ apples by the Australian government has seen Australia before the World Trade Organisation (WTO) who has just rejected Australia’s appeal to maintain the ban. So we are prepared to stand up to the NZ government (which allows the importation of Australian pork) but not to Washington.

The potential for Australian pork in our region is huge but by the time that potential has become closer to reality, too many farmers may just give up on the unequal struggle.

It’s not as if we need the levels of protection that are afforded to pork industries in many of the countries of our region, just recognition of the trade distorting practices of our competitors.

Neither do we need the destruction of competitiveness driven by the distorted views of city based minority groups.

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There’s pork... and then there’s APIQ9Ρ ĞƌƟĮĞĚ WŽƌŬ

• An annual interstate industry trip to attend a conference or similar event, for networking and possible presentation of their R&D project outcomes.

• Within-state industry exposure and mentoring provided through interaction with Rural Solutions SA consultant Graeme Pope and other consultants.

• A period of paid work experience made available by the Scholarship funding partners.

• Industry mentoring with Scholarship funding members.

The Ronald J Lienert Memorial Scholarship has been established by a group of SA pork industry representatives, working together with the University of Adelaide to ensure it meets strict University academic guidelines, while providing a fitting and on-going tribute to the memory of Ron Lienert.

The University’s Roseworthy Campus already has a recent strong track record in attracting students from its Agricultural Science and Animal Science degree courses into post-graduate Honours and PhD pigresearch programs and the Ronald J Lienert Memorial Scholarship will provide another valuable opportunity for tertiary trained students to complete further pig studies and consider a career within industry.

A first call for Scholarship applicants will be made by the University from October 2010, with the inaugural recipient announced to the SA pig industry at a formal launch of the Ronald J Lienert Memorial Scholarship to be held at Roseworthy Campus in February, 2011.

Australian Pork Limited has undertaken a review of the Australian WŽƌŬ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ YƵĂůŝƚLJ WƌŽŐƌĂŵ ; W/YͿ͕ ĐŽŵƉĂƌŝŶŐ W/Y ƚŽ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ĂƐƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ ƵƐĞĚ ŶĂƟŽŶĂůůLJ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůůLJ ŝŶ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĞ͘ The result is APIQ9™ – ĂŶ ŽŶͲĨĂƌŵ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ĂƐƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ŵĂŶĂŐŝŶŐ ĨĂƌŵ ƌŝƐŬƐ ďLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ 'ŽŽĚ ŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů WƌĂĐƟĐĞƐ ;' WͿ ƵƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐ ŽĨ ,ĂnjĂƌĚ ŶĂůLJƐŝƐ ĂŶĚ ƌŝƟĐĂů ŽŶƚƌŽů WŽŝŶƚƐ͘

Improved pork prices push US pork export value

Ronald J Lienert Memorial Scholarship recognises lifelong industry contribution A new Honours student scholarship has been established between the SA pig industry and the University of Adelaide.

Named the Ronald J Lienert Memorial Scholarship, it has been created by the SA industry to perpetuate the memory and achievements of the late Ronald John Lienert, OAM. Ron passed away in January, 2010 after a lifetime of significant contributions to the SA and national pig industries.

He is especially remembered by industry through his role in managing state and national pork industry agro-political issues; his membership of numerous industry boards, committees and working parties; the establishment and operation of the family business Lienert Australia Pty Ltd within agribusiness; his visionary attitude to the support of new and practical pig research and his impact on the genetic improvement of the Australian pig herd.

His work within industry was recog-

nised in 1989 with an Order of Australia medal presentation.

In particular, Ron’s willingness to share his knowledge with others within industry as a mentor has underlined the appropriateness of commemorating his life through this Scholarship to assist in the education of young people with an interest in the pig industry.

It is intended the Scholarship will be provided in perpetuity and offered on an annual basis to fund an Honours student’s study program at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy Campus, with their research component focused on an aspect of pork production.

In addition to the Scholarship carrying a monetary value of $12,500 per year, it will also provide the recipient with a significant industry mentoring program during their Honours study year.

These industry-funded activities will include:

APIQ9Ρ ǁĂƐ ůĂƵŶĐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ůĂƚĞ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϭϬ͘ APIQ Management would like to thank producers, processors, veterinarians, auditors, advisors and customers who assisted with the review and redevelopment of APIQ9Ρ͘ ĞŶĞĮƚƐ ŽĨ W/Y9™ include providing tools and guides that help producers ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚ ' W͕ ĂƐƐƵƌŝŶŐ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚŝŐŚ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚƐ ŽĨ ĨŽŽĚ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ͕ ĂŶŝŵĂů ǁĞůĨĂƌĞ͕ ďŝŽƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĐĞĂďŝůŝƚLJ ĂƌĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŽŶͲĨĂƌŵ͕ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŶŐ ƉŝŐŐĞƌŝĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĞdžŽƟĐ ĚŝƐĞĂƐĞƐ͕ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƉŽƌƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ƚŽ Ă ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƌ͕ ŚĞůƉŝŶŐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƌƐ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌ ƚŽ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĂƟƐĨĂĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ ĂŶ ĂŶŶƵĂů ĂƵĚŝƚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ ĂƵĚŝƚŽƌƐ͘ &ƌŽŵ ůĂƚĞ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŚĞ W/Y9™ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ;ǁǁǁ͘ĂƉŝƋ͘ĐŽŵ͘ĂƵͿ͘ &Žƌ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ƌĞŐĂƌĚŝŶŐ W/Y9Ρ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ dŽŶLJ ďĞů ŽŶ ;dŽůů &ƌĞĞͿ ϭϴϬϬ ϳϴϵ Ϭϵϵ͘

20

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

Improved pork prices pushed US pork export value in the first half of 2010 to $2.35 billion, nearly 10% higher than the first six months of 2009 and even slightly higher than the value reached in the first half of 2008, when pork export value set an all-time record, the US Meat Export Federation said.

US pork exports made strong value gains in Mexico (up 31% to $482.5 million), Canada (23% to $298 million), Central America (up 45% to $43.7 million), South America (up 55% to $21.3 million), the Philippines (up 100% to $62 million), and Australia (up 38% to $68 million).

PJSepOct2010:PJJanFeb09 15/10/10 11:02 AM Page 21

NEWS Australian first for pork industry Pork producers from all over Australia took up the opportunity to participate in a Town Hall Teleforum to discuss the industry’s use of gestation stalls as part of the Shaping our Future initiative.

The Teleforum communication tool is cutting edge technology that is capable of involving thousands of people, simultaneously, in a live and interactive meeting undertaken over the phone of each participant. It’s a bit like radio talk back but by phone.

More than 1,400 producers were contacted by phone with 982 producers electing to take part in the Teleforum with industry leaders to discuss issues including the use of gestation stalls and consumer perceptions, pork imports, labelling, and labour.

Australian Pork Limited (APL) CEO Andrew Spencers said, “It was an excellent opportunity for our most important stakeholders – pork producers – to have their say on the challenges confronting our industry long and short term.

“Feedback from producers, both from the Teleforum and the extensive round of industry meetings Australia wide, suggests that it is one of the most comprehensive consultation processes the industry has encountered.

“The discussion covered many issues. In particular, if the industry was to voluntarily phase out gestation stalls, how would

producers make the on-farm changes to their production systems in terms of changes to existing infrastructure; the need for more skilled labour and how these changes would be financed, particularly given the growing level of imports from countries which continue to use and have no plan to stop using gestation stalls.

“How will consumers know what they are buying, given the vagaries around labelling especially in supermarket deli cabinets?

Consumers do not realise that more than 80% of ham and bacon consumed in Australia is actually processed from imported pork.”

Mr Spencer said, “That if the Australian industry chose to voluntarily move away from gestations stalls, producers would be seeking assistance from major retailers to better support ham and bacon products raised from Australian pork.

“Realistically if producers are to remain competitive against subsidised imported products, which are still produced using gestation stalls, then some assistance would also be required from the Australian government, similar to what Ireland has done for its pork farmers, in making this transition.

“Producers cannot do this on their own, it requires support, co-operation and involvement with all parties along the supply chain and government to ensure its success”.

APL responds to mining concerns in Queensland APL has responded to producer concerns about the expansion of coal seam mining developments in Queensland.

Without surety of volume and quality of bore water supplies, Queensland pig producers face uncertain operational risk with the expansion of coal seam gas mining.

In the process of dewatering of the coal seam to extract methane, water accessibility from aquifers for stock watering and for irrigating crops is reduced.

The grain produced in the Darling Downs region is also an essential feed input into Queensland pork production.

APL has consulted about these concerns with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation; Queensland Pork Incorporated and Australian Lot Feeders Association.

APL has also sent letters to the Queensland State Minister for Natural Resources, Mines & Energy and Minister for Trade, Stephen Robertson MP; Shadow Agriculture Minister Ray Hopper MP; and Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Jeff Seeney MP,.

APL has also requested that an environmental risk assessment take place to assess the long term viability of landholders adjacent to or on geographical sites for coal seam gas mining before such projects can continue. APL has also requested that the Queensland Government implement a ‘prime agricultural land’ policy similar to those in place in Tasmania, known as the ‘State Policy on the Protection of Agricultural Land 2009’.

APL has pointed out that agriculture is just as important as mining and the Queensland government should not foster coal seam mining projects at the expense of agricultural productivity. Until the full impact on agricultural land ground water systems and communities are fully understood, further coal seam gas developments should cease.

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

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PJSepOct2010:PJJanFeb09 15/10/10 11:02 AM Page 22

NEWS ‘Be the Next Club Porkstar’ winners announced at Clubs Porkstar Showcase On September 27, 2010 at the award winning Aperitif restaurant, Potts Point, winners of the ‘Be the Next Club Porkstar’ promotion were announced.

To enter the competition club chefs had to enter a written menu using pork and the winners were judged by APL Food

Services Manager, Mitch Edwards and a panel of experts well versed in how to create brilliant pork based menus.

On the night, the well attended throng of Porkstars and their friends were treated to a fabulous standing menu showcasing pork from ‘nose to tail’ created

by acclaimed Aperitif chef Derek Baker.

The menu created by Derek for the event started with Coucroute a l’Alsacienne – Sauerkraut with ham hock, pork sausage, pork shoulder and speck.

Next was ‘Cromesquis de fromage de tete avec sauce remoulade’ – crumbled pigs head with remoulade sauce.

Simple but fabulous was ‘Boudin Noir a la Normande’– black pudding sausage with apple.

The Crepinette – minced pork wrapped in pig’s caul and pan fried, disappeared as fast as it could be served.

Brochette de Poitrine de Porc – braised pork belly skewers followed, and the menu concluded with Rillettes de Pork – confit pork rillettes with grilled toast.

Pork Journal would like to thank Club Life Magazine editor Olivier BjorksaterBleylock and his photographer Darren Leigh Roberts for providing the photo of the winning club chefs in the 2010 ‘Be the next Club Porkstar’ promotion.

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PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

Top: Kylie Roberts, NSW/ACT State Manager APL. Above: Mitch Edwards, APL Food Services Manager.

PJSepOct2010:PJJanFeb09 15/10/10 11:02 AM Page 23

NEWS Productively feeding us and them Delivering the keynote address, ‘The Modern Pork Industry – Breakthroughs and Future Opportunities’, Dr Roger Campbell, CEO of Australia’s Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), told a Zinpro symposium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, that the US pork industry, like Australia’s, needed to innovate around social and welfare issues.

Innovations were necessary in sow housing, pig management, environmental issues and general welfare likely to affect consumer perceptions and demand for pork.

“The only thing I can guarantee for the future is it will be different and will require creative solutions, but projected increases in population and wealth of developing countries offer opportunities for pork

producers globally, provided potential disruptions such as food safety, biosecurity and animal health, are seriously addressed,” he said.

In terms of new technologies, Dr Campbell told more than 125 guests at the international symposium that the Pork CRC was working alongside Australian pork producers, encouraging them to adopt some breakthrough technologies, particularly those which could reduce feeding costs and better convert feed to meat.

“Focusing much of our science and research and extension efforts at the pointy end of production, at a time when the grain and feed situation is likely to remain

volatile globally and threaten sustainable profitability, simply make sense,” he said.

Some of these feeding innovations include: • Developing/selecting pig ‘dedicated’ triticale, field pea, wheat and barley varieties.

• Improving use of all feed ingredients through processing and effective/targeted enzymes.

• Immunocastration: reduced feed usage 10-15 kg/pig and increased lean meat.

• NIRS/AusScan: to determine energy value of grains and nutritive value of protein supplements, the next step in improving accuracy and cost effectiveness in diet formulations.

• New selection technologies for disease tolerance to improve feed efficiency under commercial situations.

Craig Mostyn Group predicts higher pork prices Western Australian shoppers can expect to pay more their pork as Christmas approaches.

With a forecast poor grain harvest across much of the state in the next few months and pork producers already battling high grain prices, their input costs are climbing to the point where consumers simply must pay more for pork to enjoy fresh, WA-grown pork, according to Ron Penn, General Manager, Meat and Livestock Division with Craig Mostyn Group (CMG), suppliers of WA’s Linley Valley Fresh Pork.

“Just like egg and poultry farmers, pork producers relied on consistent availability of grain at reasonable prices,” he said.

“When price pressure is applied at the farm end of the chain, it goes all the way.

“As integrated pig farmers, processors and fresh pork wholesalers, CMG needs to get the message to shoppers that to enjoy fabulous, fresh WA pork, they need to pay a little more.”

Mr Penn noted that most pork cuts had, for many years, represented better value than similar cuts of beef and lamb, but that price gap now needed to close a little to more accurately reflect inputs and the substantial infrastructure investments that WA pork producers carried.

Pork RCR CEO Dr Roger Campbell (green shirt) in a University of Minnesota Veterinary School pathology laboratory.

341$" "11307&% '"3.*/( 4$)&.& "44&44034 8"/5&% • Casual and contract positions available • Great opportunity to use your agricultural knowledge to improve the welfare of farm animals • Work available in most states of Australia The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme aims to improve the welfare of farm animals on a commercial scale. Egg, pig, turkey and meat chicken farmers whose farms meet the RSPCA’s standards can apply to join the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme.

RSPCA Australia is currently appointing Assessors with the role of visiting farms participating in the Scheme and assessing compliance to the RSPCA’s standards.

Successful applicants will have tertiary qualifications in agricultural science, or appropriate experience; experience or knowledge of farm animal behaviour and good communication skills. Experience with QA or other certification programs is desirable, and a driver’s licence and the ability to travel are essential.

For information about the Approved Farming Scheme go to www.rspca.org.au/ approvedfarming For an applicants’ information pack, including job description, selection criteria and conditions of employment, please go to www.rspca.org.au/jobs/assessors.html or email rspca@rspca.org.au with “Assessor Applicants Pack” in the subject line.

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

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NEWS Award for Hugh Payne Hugh Payne has been awarded a Certificate of Apreciation by the WA industry at a recent WAPPA Annual Dinner.

Hugh graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture in the UK and started working with the Department of Agriculture in 1967, initially in the diary industry before joining the pig group in the early 1970s with the likes of Norm Godfrey, Pat McNamara and Brian Goss.

In 1992 Hugh received a grant from WA industry to study housing and ventilation systems at the University of Nebraska in the USA and this was the start of Hugh’s long term involvement in the design and development of housing systems for the pork industry.

Hugh is perhaps best known for his pioneering work on the development of straw based housing systems for pigs which was instrumental in helping the industry to expand in hte late 1980s and early 1990s.

During this period Hugh was frequently on the road, never seeming to tire of talking about his observations and opportunities to try something different.

More recently Hugh has done a number of experiments looking at how the pre-weaning environment of piglets affects their long term growth and graduated earlier this year from Murdoch University with a Master of Philosophy.

Hugh’s latest project is working with

WAPPA to cover the effluent pond at Medina in a demonstration project to capture methane.

The award was presented to Hugh and his wife Jan by Darryl D’Souza, ex DAFWA and now Manager of Research and Innovation with APL.

Hugh Payne, his wife Jan and Darryl D’Souza who made the presentation.

(Photo by Annette Howard)

DO YOU NEED TO ADD CHEMICALS, MEDICATION OR NUTRIENTS TO WATER? THINK LIVESTOCK CAN PROVIDE A CUSTOMISED WATER DOSING SYSTEM TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS

Free AusScan grain analysis The Pork CRC is offering to pig producers free AusScan analysis of feed grains as part of the APL/Pork CRC Roadshow being held in October and November 2010.

John Spragg, Project Manager for AusScan, says that the free offer is open to all pig producers attending any of the APL/Pork CRC Roadshows.

Producers just need to bring along up to three 100 – 200g grain samples for free AusScan NIR analysis.

Mr Spragg says that the samples from each Roadshow will be sent to an AusScan testing laboratory and producers will be provided with a report identifying the grains Digestible Energy content and other nutrients.

AusScan is the commercialisation arm of the Pork CRC, and is promoting the use of NIR technology to measure DE content of grains. Research work completed by the Pork CRC shows that grain can vary by 3-4 MJ/kg. However, nutritionists do not take account of this variation when formulating feed rations.

Through use of the AusScan technology, pig producers can ensure that their feed rations are formulated to account for grain energy content. There are now six commercial laboratories that can provide AusScan test results. The free grain analysis promotion is aimed at demonstrating to pig producers the value of testing grains and to promote use of the technology.

For further information about AusScan feed grain testing contact John Spragg phone 03 9769 7027 or email jspragg1@optusnet.com.au

If you wish to advertise in Pork Journal magazine, call Peter Bedwell on (02) 9798 3078 or 0419 235 288 or visit our website at www.primarymedia.com.au

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Phone: (03) 5448 8942 Fax: (03) 5448 8943 info@thinklivestock.com www.thinklivestock.com

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

for rates, sizes and to view digital versions of the magazine.

Select Doser

PJSepOct2010:PJJanFeb09 15/10/10 11:02 AM Page 25

NEWS Farmers roast Coles over double standards The Victorian Farmers Federation’s (VFF) Pig Group has slammed Coles after a decision by the grocery giant to stop buying fresh pork produced from sows kept in gestation stalls by the end of 2014.

Coles will only apply the new ban to Australian farmers but not to overseas suppliers of processed pork who will continue to be allowed to use the stalls.

VFF Pig Group President John Bourke said local farmers were already struggling to compete with subsidised imports and the decision by Coles would further disadvantage Victorian pork producers.

“This is the ultimate double standard. Australian pig farmers are already competing against Denmark, the United States and Canada who use gestation stalls and show no intention of changing their farming practices.

These countries already have a competitive edge because of the large subsidies and Coles wants to lengthen their advantage by punishing Australian producers,” Mr Bourke said.

“Coles is using the guise of ‘fresh’ to knowingly target Australian pork. What this is really about is Coles wanting a better, more subsidised deal from cheaper overseas markets. If Coles was serious about streamlining standards they would be applying the same standards to all pork producers no matter where they lived.

Manure Spreaders

APOLOGY TO PRIMO SMALLGOODS

This Journal displayed a picture of a package of Primo Free Range Bacon on Page 21 of its July/August edition.

Below the picture the Journal inserted the sentence:

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This offending sentence was incorrect and was liable to cause unjustified SPREADER SIZES: 7-35 TONNES • IDEAL FOR STRAW/ECO SHELTER MANURE • EMPTY LESS 4 MINS • AN EVEN 9 -11 METRE SPREAD WIDTH

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PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

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v CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Consulting, in his paper ‘Immunity and Feed Effeciency – A Complex Conundrum’, after looking at overall health management and the whole question of ‘what is immunity’, Mr Edwards suggested how nutrition could be boosted.

Feed additives useful in implementing beneficial nutrition strategies included mycotoxin binders, Mannan Oligosaccharides (bacterial adsorbent/ immune system stimulant), yeast extractnucleotides, glutamic acid and inositol.

“Porcine plasma and organic trace minerals (Se,Mn,Zn,Cu,Cr) and fish oil (long chain Omega 3 fatty acids (DHA, EPA),” Mr Edwards said.

“In light of pressure to reduce antibiotic use in livestock production, greater emphasis is being placed on utilising the animals own natural defense mechanisms to manage herd health.”

Megan Edwards, also of ACE Livestock Consulting stayed on the immunity/nutrition track with her paper, ‘Using Immunonutrition to Improve Weaner Productivity’.

Her recent PhD research covered nutritional strategies to limit the post weaning growth check in young pigs.

Ms Edwards drew attention to, “the magic of spray dried porcine plasma and why nucleotides are conditionally essential nutrients for weaner pigs”.

Peter Williams, a partner in Feedworks USA, delivered the final paper ‘USA Elitox research results from Virginia Diversified Research Institute on DON/Vomitoxin).

He reported that current products (similar range to Australia) were not overcoming Deoxynivalenol(DON/Vomotoxin) and Zearalenone (ZEN) challenges.

“Integrators/feed companies found success using Elitox ETX-5 at .5kg/tonne in grower /finisher pigs and 1kg/tonne in sows where DON up to 2.5 ppm and ZEN up to 400 ppb.”

The final presentation of the day was delivered by Doug Pearson from Feedworks Australia. ‘NIR On-Line – commercial case studies and how does this save money in a feed mill?’ was his topic.

“Online application allows NIR to finally realise the truth of the information it has been generating for the last few decades,” Mr Pearson stated.

In the Monogastric session, the keynote speaker was chief nutritionist Jesper Pagh, for the Danish DLG Group who gave an insight into what could be regarded as one of the most effective pork producing organisations in the world.

“The Danish pig industry produces about 27.4 m pigs pa (2.0m tonnes), 19 million slaughtered in cooperative-owned processing facilities and 90% is exported.

“Live export of piglets (6.3 million, mostly to Germany) is critical to industry

26

commercial viability. Growers make about A$25 (30-100kgs) per pig but sows from 30 kg production make A$546.

“Live born piglets per litter at 14.2 pspa is way ahead of key competitors USA (10.6), Canada and Brazil ( 11.2) but mortality rates are higher at 14% (US 12%).

Key trends in Danish pig production were Mr Pagh pointed out, “ongoing conern around animal welfare and environmental issues.”

“Use of enzymes (phytase, xylanase), reduced protein levels in feed; claw, feet and shoulder lesions plus piglet mortality, as well as antibiotic usage, were all issues faced by the Danish pig industry,” he said.

Rob Smits, Research Manager at Rivalea Australia is in the final stages of completing extensive research into the role of Omega 3 fatty acids in sow reproduction.

In his paper, ‘Nutrition and embryo survival – making the most of the sows’ potential’, Mr Smits revealed that low levels of fish oil (1%+-) had in experiments conducted as part of his PhD work, been shown to increase litter size.

“Our target in simple terms to meet global demand would be to double food production and more than double efficiency; focusing on FCR and global energy balance as a way to achieve these goals” In discussing recent interest in feeding/energy levels of embryo survival he stated that “outcomes were limited by sample size of studies and that they may be dependent on the source of energy and the timing of high early pregnancy feed levels.”

“Omega 3 PUFA’s from fish oil was shown to increase oocyte quality, embryo survival and subsequent litter size born, especially in mature parities,” he said.

‘There is money in improving fat digestion-emulsifiers, for digestion and research with Bredol to improve FCR over the last 12 months,’ was the title of Dr David Cadogan’s (Feedworks) paper.

“Bredol provides cost effective improvements in energy digestibility in young pig feeds, and the benefits of steam pelleting on FCR are well supported,” he stated.

“The economic benefit of Bredol 683 in trials undertaken can be calculated through the effects on feed costs, taking into account the lower energy (10kg/T less oil) and the higher moisture in the feeds.”

On the question of using Bredol 683 or Bredol 688 Dr Cadogan pointed out that ‘683’ was the great all rounder for feed (and water/liquid), processing/milling and

PORK JOURNAL, September/October 2010

for nutritional benefit. “ Bredol 688 produces a greater protein solubility/dispersion, and probably is the better on intestinal fat digestion.

Dr Marnie Mellencamp, Director of Immunology at Ralco Animal Health, gave a paper, ‘Regano when used as an antimicrobial/coccidiostat’. Containing oregano essential oil, Regano promotes anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-oxidant activity in livestock, and particularly pigs Trials conducted by Ralco on Regano in commercial pig units demonstrated improved sow health and reproduction, improved litter health, improved nursery health (and performance) and improved grow-finish health and performance,” Dr Mellencamp revealed.

Regano was effective in combating Coccidiosis where a sow trial in a North Carolina unit resulted in more pigs weaned, fewer dead pigs, fewer piglets with scours, less drug treatments, as well as increased feed intake.

“Using Regano was also cost effective involving expenditure of US$5 per sow per year,” Dr Mellencamp said.

Doug Pearson (Feedworks) and Rob Hewit from producer CHM Alliance outlined a commercial case study of savings achieved by using the Feedlogic systems.

Mr Pearson gave delegates an overview of the Feedlogic S-Series, a lower cost option (than the M-Series) that uses existing feed lines and is suitable for applications where targeting by pen is not feasible.

Finally in the Monogastric session, Dr Gary Partridge, Global Technical Services Director, Danisco Animal Nutrition, gave his paper ‘Recent experiences with existing and brand new Danisco products’.

On the topic of Danisco enzyme solutions he outlined uses of xylanese in more fibrous diets for pigs “Phyzyme XP and Porzyme 9302 in combination were shown in trials to improve digestibility in pigs fed corn DDGS,” he stated.

He also introduced new pro biotic product lines and spoke about trials using the ‘Direct Fed Microbial’ (DFM) product during late gestation and lactation.

In concluding Dr Partridge talked about the new Danisco Genencor Division, a joint venture with DuPont to develop second generation cellulosic ethanol from non feed plant material.

A lot of information was delivered during The Coolum 2010 Nutrition Workshop and apart from good science there was a great social program, for delegates and their families.

If you would like more information on the papers Feedworks will provide a ‘thumb drive’ (or CD) with more detail.

Send an email to Malcolm Mottram at mal.mottram@feedworks.com.au n

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