Pork Journal September/October 2016

porkjournal www.primarymedia.com.au

Volume 38 Issue 5

September/October 2016

Showtime for SA Roseworthy Pig Club Feedworks Conference: Clarity in today’s world

Jefo Poultry & Swine Tour in Canada

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porkjournal www.primarymedia.com.au

Volume 38 Issue 5

September/October 2016

EDITOR:

EDITORIAL & DESIGN

JOURNALIST/PHOTOGRAPHER PRODUCTION EDITOR

Peter Bedwell Alex Bedwell

Rosemary Embery

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Alex Bedwell

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COVER STORY Page 8: Showtime for Roseworthy Pig Club

By Graeme Pope

NEWS/PRODUCT NEWS Page 4: APL/Pork CRC Pork SA Meeting takeways Page 6: Jefo Poultry & Swine Tour in Canada Page 13: Riverina ‘Strathvean’ piggery sells Page12: VFF Pig Group meeting held at Shepparton Page 13: Pork prices in China may beat record Page 14: Feedworks Conference 2016 – ‘Clarity in today’s world’.

Page 17: Pork CRC backs autisitc emplyment pilot Page 18: Beef, lamb prices to push up returns for Australian poultry and pig producers

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Published by C D Supplies Pty Ltd trading as Primary Media (ACN 091 560 557) 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.

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NEWS

APL/Pork CRC Pork SA Meeting takeaways

By GRAEME POPE, Graeme Pope Consulting Pork SA Vice-Chair Mark McLean, ‘Riverhaven’, welcomed an audience of 110 people, comprising producers, industry partners, academics, postgrads, PIRSA, APL/CRC, processors, students and researchers to the SA APL/CRC Pork SA meeting held in Tanunda on September 16.

Pork CRC CEO Dr Roger Campbell opened the morning session with an update on ‘What’s changed in feeding sows’ over the past few years.

“Recent research has shown higher feeding levels in early gestation, 2.7 to 3.0kg/day to day 28 – 30, improves reproductive performance, and especially in younger sows”, Roger said.

“But it’s difficult to find any positive reason for increasing feed intakes in late gestation, and in fact there may be detrimental effects on numbers born alive and piglet survival to weaning.

“A set of calipers used to assist stock people to assess body condition in sows is proving useful in determining optimal feeding levels in USA herds and could be worth trying locally.

“Amino acid levels in late gestation diets appear to be more important than energy when it comes to late gestation feed intakes and affecting stillbirths and pre-wean mortalities,” he said.

“During lactation we need to maximise intakes and minimise body weight and protein loss, with younger sows more at risk. For every 1kg body weight loss in lactation, subsequent litter size can be reduced by 0.04 pigs/ litter and by 1.8 piglets for every 1mm loss in loin depth.

“There is also interest in revisiting the effect of calcium intake during lactation on pre-wean mortality and fallouts after weaning.

“Indicators of how well your feeding program suits your sows include looking at extended wean-to-oestrus intervals past 5.5 days, reduced litter weaning weights (targeting 80+kg at 24 days) and farrowing rates below 90+. Gilts and parity7+ sows are most sensitive to the effects of suboptimal nutrient uptakes and minimising body weight loss through lactation,” Roger said.

Tom Braun, ‘Myora Farm’, highlighted the need to challenge decision making around sow nutrition based on key litter traits. His ‘key performance indicators’ in lactation

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included born alive (targeted at 12.0), litter birth weight (26kg), 21-day litter weight (127kg), 21-day piglet weight (10.58kg), 25-day litter weaning weight (154kg) and birth-wean growth (426g/d) and at 21-25d (540g/d).

Tom highlighted the KPI’s being achieved by some elite sows at Myora Farm and how physical traits coupled with good management can result in elite performance.

“As a parity 4, we have a sow with a pre-farrowed weight of 260kg, producing 512kg total milk production with a daily peak of 28kg/day, averaging 20.5kg/day and 2.3kg/teat/day, weaning an average 11.5/litter with litter weight at 140kg”, Tom said.

“Body length, udder capacity, appetite, teat shape and structure, and temperament are the genetic or anatomical influencers on performance, supported by health, nutritional and environmental management.

“We use BLUP trends and production data to set our nutritional programs at Myora, and pay attention to diet formulation, ingredient quality, diet mixing and delivery of sow feed.

“Feed should be viewed as more of an investment in sow performance, and be discussed in terms of feed used/sow/ year and as a dollar cost/sow/year’.

“Over the past decade at Myora, 21-day litter weight has increased from 69.1 to 83kg, piglet growth from 257 to 305g/d, and sow milk production at 21days from 276 to 332kg.”

To achieve those measured improvements in sow performance, Tom stressed all producers needed to have a vision or objective, be able to recognise the genetic potential within their own sow herd and then design nutrition-support programs to realise that talent, working in partnership with their nutritionist and veterinarian.

APL’s Deb Kerr provided an update on current industry issues, including statistics on sow and slaughter numbers across states, the APIQ program and review process for the Model Code of Practice – Pigs.

“Uptake of APIQ across the SA sow herd is currently at 97%, which is 6% higher than the national average and a great outcome”, Deb said.

“Following the last major review of the APIQ Standards, there has been extra focus on definitions around

outdoor pig production systems, pest control procedures and development licences or permits.

“APL is well aware there have been difficulties around some farms obtaining retrospective approvals to operate through local government, and we are looking to employ an extra person within APL to manage these issues which have the potential to limit the rate of industry expansion”, Deb added.

“The current Model Code is now over 10 years old and overdue for its review. APL has taken the initiative with its delegates’ approval to commence this process.

“In the meantime, regulations around sow confinement will come into effect in SA from April, 2017”.

Jeremy Skuse, AWSC Melbourne University, highlighted the amount of on-farm research sitting behind the initial development of the industry’s stockperson training program ProHand, and the changes made to its latest release version.

“On-farm research has shown the important effects stockperson pig handling has on a farm’s variability in production. Fear of humans is responsible for about 20% of the variation in reproduction.

“ProHand is a training resource to teach stock people how their frequency of negative, compared to positive, handling can influence a pigs’ fear response and ease of handling on-farm.

‘Pigs with a low fear response place farm staff and their pigs at less risk of injury’, he said.

The latest version of ProHand can be accessed through a password provided by APL’s Ashley Norval.

“The original version of ProHand was developed back in the mid-1990s

by PRDC and the latest version has been pared back to just cover the basis of pig handling, making it a shorter, 90-minute presentation for farm staff to complete.

‘It can be delivered within a group facilitated training environment, or completed by individuals with some direction from their workplace supervisors.

“I’d recommend all staff be ProHand trained within a short period, to help in getting consistent adoption of the ProHand handling messages across the farm, and for all new pig industry industry workers within two or three weeks of starting, as part of their induction program,” he said.

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NEWS

Jefo Poultry & Swine Tour in Canada

By PETER BEDWELL, Editor Pork Journal recently travelled to Canada to join the Jefo Poultry & Swine conference and tour from August 29 to September 2.

We met Wayne Bradshaw, head of Jefo Australia at Jefo founder Jean Fontaine’s home and the site of their research farm at Saint Hyacinthe near Montreal.

The following day Jean drove us to Quebec where the conference was held at the Chateau Laurier Hotel.

Our party from Australia, apart from Wayne and Pork Journal, included Dr Peter Scott (Scolexia) Dr Santiago Ramirez (Fractal Nutrition)and Dr Roger Campbell (Pork CRC), Dr Sheridan Alfirovich and George Ruiz from Baiada.

Other delegates attended from Brazil, Canada, France, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Spain, United States, Malaysia, Thailand, Panama, Argentina, The Dominican Republic and Nigeria and they were a lively bunch.

On the main road into town we passed the Universite Laval where Jean received his degree in animal science.

He worked for a time in the local feed industry before founding Jefo in 1982.

“I had a clear idea what I wanted to do in the field of feed and animal nutrition so I borrowed some money from my family, just $10,000, and got on with it,” Jean explained.

It’s 34 years later and Jefo has grown to a major animal nutrition and feed distribution business that operates on five continents and 55 countries.

It is a global leader in the sector of non-medicated performance feed additives and a pioneer in research, development and manufacture of species specific products.

Jefo’s approach involves a sustainable patented production system and the company believes in working closely with its customer base and associated nutritionists, veterinarians and feed mill management.

It was an interesting time to be on the North American continent as pressure to reduce or abandon the use of antibiotics grows through consumer, government and food retailer pressure.

Just about all of the major players in the massive US/Canadian fast food industries are promoting AB free

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Jefo President Jean Fontaine opened the conference on the August 30 and the first speaker was Crystal Mackay, CEO of Farm and Food Care Canada who has a vision for building public trust in food and farming in Canada.

Her topic was ‘Social Licence and Public Trust’.

In concluding a review of the attitudes of farmers nd consumers, Ms Mackay stated that “if you want to drive change, we need to get out of the truck.

“Tell your story; share your company values, practices and stories.

“Invest in taking those stories to the people who are credible information and connections to those who grow it, “she said.

“When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence,” she concluded.

Dr Leigh Rosengren from Rosengren Epidemiological Consulting, practiced large and small animal medicine with a focus on population medicine in Saskatchewan, Canada before establishing her own consultancy in 2007.

Her topic was ‘Antibiotics, Resistance and Public Health’.

Given that Canada (and the US) may be further down the road than Australia in dealing with AB resistance and other aspects of AB use reduction, Dr Rosengren’s expertise delivers a valuable insight into a ‘wicked’ problem for both agriculture and society as a whole.

Firstly she outlined the resistance process and stated that “resistance is ancient and ubiquitous and emerges with use.

“Resistance is incremental but is slow to decline, if at all and use by one person affects another.”

Following was the somewhat chilling statement, “If you think you understand resistence, I haven’t been clear,” Dr Rosengren said.

The human medicine reality was, she stated that, “all major medical advancements are built on antibiotics, and that resistance is both increasingly common and serious.

“The implications for animal health and welfare and in particular sustainable w intensification could be limited if no

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1. Jefo Founder and President Jean Fontaine with Dr Peter Scott, Scolexia. 2. Dr Leigh Rosengren, consultant. 3. Dr John Fairbrother, University of Montreal.

NEWS v

new molecules are developed for use in livestock: human /public health will always trump animal health with ‘right to access’.

“Prolonging and protecting existing molecules is our only option,” Dr Rosengren predicted.

“Antibiotics are a societal resource and everyone who uses antibiotics has a responsibility: agriculture is of course, a substantial user,” she said.

“We must prioritise critically important antimicrobials, which are third and fourth generation Cephalosprins, Fluoroquinolones, Macrolides, and Glycopeptides.”

She concluded with a five step process to address the problems of resistance which were, “recognition, responsibility, reduction, refinement, and replacement (vaccines, biosecurity,pathogen eradication, hygiene, ventilation and environmental control, genomics, immune modulators, feed additives),” she concluded.

Dr Stephanie Cottee, Global Poultry Welfare lead at Cargill next spoke on ‘Poultry Welfare – the next five years of Consumer expectations’.

In the afternoon session for the swine industry Dan Bussieres from Group Ceres, Canada spoke about ‘Nutritional approaches in swine production for niche markets’.

As a nutritionalist his company prepares diets and strategies for more than four million pigs in Canada where his focus has been to both optimise pig performance and improve meat quality.

He defined “niche markets as the product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as price range, production quality and the demographics that producers intend to impact.

“Typical examples were housing and management including gestation pen/ loose housing, pigs raised on bedding, or outdoors,” he said.

Feeding programs could include “none GMO, no animal by-products and increasingly no use of antibiotics or Beta-agonists like Ractopomine.

“Genetic specific breeds like Berkshires and meat quality attributes like firmer fat (Japanese market) marbling etc.

“Healthier meat, Omega 3 and Selenium enriched as well as small scale farms were all facets that appealed to different consumer tastes.”

Dan then showed information on the duBreton product range – a key feature being ‘no antibiotics’.

He also mentioned the Naturporc certification system designed for

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farmers with a maximum of 300 sows that exclude antibiotics, ractopomine and animal byproducts in feed.

Dan spent some time emphasising nutritional strategies to achieve better eating quality and pointed out the importance of genetics in achieving fat marbling that added value in critical markets, like Japan.

In concluding Dan stated “the need to adapt pressure to meet consumer demand, that may not, in the opinion of some in the industry be justified, and, producing a pig only one way is not an option any more,” he said.

“In Canada , the industry has developed different programs to differentiate their products, and thus, access to more markets,.

“There was no good or bad but we need to be careful when promoting our programs to consumers.

“The use of antibiotics still needs to be allowed, as in some cases it is highly justified to treat the animal, but better and reduced AB use is needed,” he concluded.

The next speaker was Dr Roger Campbell, head of the Pork CRC and his first paper was the, ‘Status of swine production challenges in Australia’.

Jefo is a participant and partner in the Pork CRC which invests in R&D, training in sow and piglet welfare, anti biotic reduction, improving eating quality and carbon reduction.

Dr Campbell listed both the advantages and challenges for the Australian industry including lack of diseases (PRRS Swine Influenza and PEDv), proximity to Asia, group sow housing (differentiated product) and an increasing demand for Australin fresh pork (3/4% p.a. over the last four years).

“Reproduction levels, feed costs, older housing, climate/water availability and regulation, were key challenges faced by Australian farmers,” he said.

“On performance indicators cost of produxtion at A$2.71 kg of carcass weight was well ahead of Canada/US at A$2.02. However on wean to finish mortality (4%) Australia was the lowest of six pork producing countries. The US had the highest mortality at 8.9%.”

Dr Campbell spoke about research outcomes of both APL and CRC programs and enhancing health and performance, inflammation, its cost and amelioration and recent advances in improving feed efficiency were mentioned.

On the following day Dr Campbell delivered a second paper ‘Trial presentation on protected OA & EO, also zinc’.

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1. Dan Bussieres from Group Ceres, Canada. 2. Dr Roger Campbell, Pork CRC, Australia. 3. Trans Canada Feed Mill.

In the final Swine Session, Dr John Fairbrother from the University of Montreal (he first graduated from Sydney University) presented ‘E.coli in swine’.

The following day the group visited the Trans Canada Feed Mill, a family owned operation with a current capacity of 200,000mt per annum.

The tour included visits to the Jefo logistics facilities – the company is a massive feed raw materials accumulator and distributes not only its own products but many other animal health and nutrition materials through its large transport fleet.

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Pig Club members from Adelaide University at the Royal Adelaide Shoiw

Showtime for Roseworthy Pig Club

By GRAEME POPE, Graeme Pope Consulting Voluntary membership to an extracurriculum Special Interest Group (SIG) is one way Adelaide University students can increase their knowledge of, and exposure to, a specific animal species and the potential careers industry can offer to graduates.

At the University’s Roseworthy Campus, Animal Science/Vet Bioscience students have the opportunity to join SIG’s focused on production or companion animals, equine, led steers, wild animals and the Pig Club.

In 2015, a small group of students wanting to gain more pig handling experience outside the Campus’s 330sow piggery created a pig-specific SIG. With financial sponsorship provided by the Pork CRC, APL, VaucluseAPS, Laucke Mills and several local Gawler businesses, in addition to a $10 student membership fee, the students converted an empty fertiliser shed into a straw-bedded shelter.

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SA stud breeders provided the students with pairs of young gilts representing five different breeds and the Roseworthy Pig Club was born!

Forty two students joined Pig Club and were rostered-on to care for the Club’s pigs between June and September.

Retired Large White breeder Lindsay Baker, ‘Mallbrae Stud’, Wild Horse Plains visited the Campus to provide the students with practical tips on the finer points of pig conformation, handling and showing.

The 12 Pig Club gilts were taken to the 2015 Royal Adelaide Show, where the students were judged on their pig handling skills.

In 2016, the Roseworthy Pig Club has continued to offer students even greater exposure to handling pigs, with Club membership now increased to 108 students!

SA breeders again provided Large

White, Landrace, Duroc, Berkshire, Hampshire and Large Black gilts for students to grow-out through July to September, before competing at this year’s show.

During winter, students were rostered-on every Tuesday and Thursday to practice their pig handling skills within an arena built outside the shelter.

Forty Pig Club members participated in the University’s annual Rural Practical Day, volunteering over a weekend to show non-member students just how interesting pigs can be!

Thirty five students attended an evening tutorial to complete the latest version of ProHand pig handling training, supported by the SA Pig Industry Group.

Responding to an invitation from the Adelaide Show’s dairy cattle and pig committee, between 40 and 50 Pig

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Club students volunteered in groups of 6 to 7 to be rostered-on each morning during the Show to wash, feed, water and muck-out the 50 pens of 100 commercial pork and bacon class pigs.

They also helped school students to wash their school’s pigs ready for judging, and manned Bank SA’s ‘AgSplorers’ stand inside the pig pavilion each day, answering questions from the public on ‘what pigs eat’!

During the last week of the Show, pairs of Pig Club students participated in a handling competition judged by SA stud breeder Jim Davis, ‘Aroora Enterprises’, Murray Bridge, designed to assess their skills and confidence when moving their pigs through a series of pens, along a raceway and into a weigh crate.

Following their Show commitments, Pig Club members accepted an invitation from Pork SA for 10 students to attend the recent SA APL Roadshow, held in the Barossa Valley on September 16.

In 2017, the Pig Club organising committee plans to add Wessex Saddleback and Tamworth pigs to their breed line-up. Meanwhile, having 100 plus tertiary students interested in spending extra time with pigs during their studies is a great outcome both for them, and our SA industry.

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1.Pig Club member Lizzie Davey washing pigs at the Royal Adelaide Show.

2. All the Pig Show winners. 3. Pig Club member Nada Blagojevic.

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NEWS

Riverina ‘Strathvean’ piggery sells The famous 888 hectare property, ‘Strathvean’ located near Tarcutta in the NSW Riverina with a capacity for 3000 grower pigs and 7000 to 8000 dry sheep equivalents, sold in early August to a farming family from the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, according to a report in the October 17 Australian Financial Review.

The report by Larry Schlesinger stated that while the price was not disclosed it was in the region of $4 million.

The property, operated for 25 years by the Gaskin family, includes the 1870s original homestead and apart from the piggery was used for fattening sheep and cattle. An Angus stud was also a significant contributing factor to the overall profitability of the property.

When Pork Journal spoke to Chris Meares of Chris Meares and Associates, the selling agent, Mr Meares confirmed that there had been strong interest in the property with at least a dozen serious contenders inspecting the farm.

“The successful buyer wanted to move away from irrigation based farming operations into livestock production and the ability of Strathvean to generate a serious and growing income from day one was a key factor in the sale,” he said.

Rising pig meat prices globally was a factor in the sale, in part driven

by import demand from China as confirmed by a Rabobank report that predicted continuing high returns for the pork sector through 2016.

This and other recent piggery sales should encourage further investment in the pork producing sector and Mr Meares confirmed that there was strong interest from a range of buyers.

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Feedworks Conference 2016 theme – ‘Clarity in today’s world’ The annual Feedworks Conference held at the Twin Waters Resort on the Queensland Sunshine Coast from September 14 to 17, had for its 2016 theme ‘Clarity in today’s world.’

This conference just gets better with every event. Covering both ruminant and monagastric species it attracts speakers who are on top of their game from around the world.

Feedwork’s Managing Partner, Malcolm Mottram opened the conference.

He spoke about his company’s position on animal production and the use of technologies to reduce in-feed medication use.

“We believe in bringing solutions to our clients that have been scientifically evaluated and proven,” he said.

“The Feedworks Conference is a great opportunity for us to present solutions, that are proven through science.

We reinforce these with clear ideas on how Feedworks and the products that we provide can be effectively incorporated into their businesses.

“As the Australian livestock

industries move towards reducing and removing the widespread use of infeed antibiotics, we offer information to provide an understanding of our position and objectives in support of the ‘One Health’ principles that have been globally adopted and promoted for anti biotic stewardship.

“At the core of the ‘One Health’ philosophy is the judicious use of antibiotics.

“This has been described as the ‘3 Rs’ – Reduce the emphasis on antibiotics, and Replace with alternatives where possible, then Refine AB usage.

“At feedworks we believe that to successfully implement the ‘One Health’ philosophy, a holistic approach to animal production, encompassing nutrition and functional additives, is a central part of reducing the use of antibiotics and other medications and a cornerstone of the ‘One Health’ philosophy,” Malcolm said.

“Feedworks provides several products that have been scientifically proven to assist with improved animal health and better production outcomes.

“These may be used singly, in combination or as part of a rotation program.

“However they are used, our focus is to support our client’s ‘One Health’ strategy and provide them with scientifically proven alternatives that also meet Australia’s AgVet regulations for use,” Malcolm concluded.

The Conference guest speaker, Ross Dawson, is internationally recognised as a leading futurist, entrepreneur, strategy advisor and best selling author.

Ross’s guide as to “How to be your own futurist’ was both entertaining and inspiring.

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2 Futurist Ross Dawson. 2. Dr Dave Cadogan, Feedworks. 3. Dr Santiago Ramirez, FCR Solutions. 4. Dr Jan Frank, Diamond V.

NEWS pointed out.

“Another pivotal moment in human history: the emergence of the iphone,” he said.

Dr Dave Cadogan, Feedwork’s Mongastric Manager opened the proceedings on September 15, a day mostly devoted to poultry related topics Most of the material specific to the pig industry was delivered on September 16.

Dr Jason Frank is Director of non ruminant research and technical support at US based DiamondV and in his paper ‘Commercial experience and use of DiamondV in monogastrics’, Dr Franks explained that Diamond V technology is based on a range of all natural nutritional health products, not based on single compounds but containing a number of functional metabolites including organic acids, anti oxidents (polyphenols), nucleotides, peptides/proteins, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates.

Critical metabolites were the products Original XPC (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and SynGenX (Lactobacillus acidophilus).

“These products balance the immune system through the metabolites created through our exclusive anaerobic fermentation process,” he explained.

Specific applications in swine aimed at both health and performance included pathogen control (bacterial and viral) and improved food safety.

Reporting on improved sow performance in seven controlled sow research studies using XPC on 1396 sows in different locations, the weighted average of the responses showed litter weaning weight increased by 2.7 kg and litter size increased 0.15 pigs.

“There was improved lactation feed intake and more successful rebreeding,” he said.

Trials on 40 sows conducted at the University of Arkansas using XPC, demonstrated reduced levels of Clostridium perfringens.

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“Our trials have shown the product to be effective when used in combination with antibiotics and other feed additives such as organic acids, probiotics, and immune modifiers,� he said When Pork Journal spoke to Mal Mottram about this new Diamond V product, Mal suggested that those interested get in contact with Feedworks direct and they can provide specific trial results material and a complete explanation of the product . Go to www.feedworks.com.au Dr Santiago Ramirez may be associated more with the poultry sector rather than pig production but his paper ‘We can’t rely on long term constant use of acids and high levels of Zinc and Copper to reduce pathogens’, contained lessons for any intensive livestock rearing including pigs.

Feedwork’s Dr Dave Cadogan next spoke about ‘Reducing reliance on antibiotics, Feedwork’s due diligence’. “The aim,� he said, “was to offer cost effective alternatives to ABs to limit resistance so they are highly effective when recquired – and to keep the supermarkets happy!� he said.

Speaking specifically about acids in any antibiotic reduction strategy, “short chain fatty acids straight or in

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combination are mostly effective against gram negative bacteria while medium chain acids and Benzoic against both, but better on gram positive,� he explained. “A consistent blend of potent polyphenols made from Oregano and Thyme oil (Regano) had shown to be effective at reducing oedema (caused by e. coli) in pigs and there is evidence of it reducing ileitis in grower pigs,� Dr Cadogan stated.

He went on to explain the benefits of spray dried porcine plasma which apart from other benefits had been shown to increase weaner pig feed intake by up to 50% in the critical first 14 days. “It is possible to limit the use of ABs and achieve similar health and growth (in combination with vaccines) so we can conserve the good ABs to ensure that they are effective when required. “The down side is it will most likely increase diet costs,� he concluded.

Dr Kate Plush from SARDI recounted some interesting research conducted with the aim of ‘Reducing piglet mortality using Acid Buf’. “Increasing dietary magnesium in sows during times of high stress’ was the title of her paper.

On the topic of Mg in pre- farrow diets she said “Acid Buf promoted desirable behavior in the sow prior to farrowing (side lying) however increased farrowing duration of MgSO4 is concerning,� Dr plush said. “Acid Buf reduced pre-fostering mortality and there will be on-going large commercial investigation to validate these findings,� she said.

So in just two days we learnt a huge amount about the potential of our scientists and the products they have developed or used to manage the ever changing challenges of modern livestock production.

Feedworks conferences have set a consistent standard for great science well delivered.

However the social side (yes Malcolm loves his golf) and chance to meet up with new friends, catch up with old ones and enjoy the fine food and the odd libation (plus a few replicates) is just as important.

Feed additives and Supplements, Custom and Standard Millpacks, Animal Health and Husbandry.

Ph: (02) 9609 7922 Fax: (02) 9609 7923 Kym: 0439066054 Luke: 0439066006 kym@nationalfeedsolutions.com.au luke@nationalfeedsolutions.com.au

Suppliers of Elite nutrition and solutions

16

Dr Kate Plush from SARDI spoke about reducing piglet mortality using Acid Buf.

NEWS

Pork CRC backs austistic employment pilot Pork CRC and the South Australian government have contributed $150,000 towards a world first initiative by Autism CRC and SunPork Farms to employ autistic adults in animal care positions in the Australian pork industry.

Pilot projects in SA and Queensland will employ a minimum of four autistic adults in animal care positions within SunPork Farms operations in each state.

Collectively, development and assessment of the program represents a financial commitment by SunPork Farms, Autism CRC and Specialisterne exceeding $800,000.

Program goals include: • Identifying and employing diverse skills and talents of autistic adults in animal care • Developing innovative solutions that continue to provide optimal welfare for livestock • Building capacity within the agricultural sector to employ autistic

adults.

The projects offers life-changing opportunities for people on the spectrum and further improvement in the welfare of livestock.

Pork CRC CEO, Roger Campbell, said the CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork was proud to be involved with such a game changing project and encouraged everyone to make the opportunity known to those who might be eligible to apply.

“It’s the most exciting project we’ve been involved with and I congratulate Autism CRC and SunPork Farms for coming up with something so innovative,” Dr Campbell said.

“This initiative will open up a whole new world to autistic people and those on the autism spectrum and with Australia’s pork industry needing to boost its pool of dedicated animal carers to maintain and, indeed, improve our existing high welfare standards, this is a win-win for all parties.

“World leading Pork CRC supported science and research and development has clearly demonstrated the very real link between good stockmanship and good productivity.

“With this in mind, I believe we can continue to improve welfare and productivity outcomes by embracing a new group of enthusiastic, incentivised piggery workers.”

SunPork Farms seeks eight motivated individuals to fill Pig Care positions, with four to be based in the Wasleys and Sheaoak Log regions of South Australia and four based one hour outside Dalby on the Queensland Darling Downs.

Queensland applications have closed and SA applications at 5pm, December 18.

Potential applicants and interested parties should visit http:// au.specialisterne.com/autism-andagriculture/ or email jay.hobbs@ specialisterne.com

porkjournal

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17

NEWS

Beef, lamb prices to push up returns for Australian poultry and pig producers Relatively high and rising prices for competing meats, beef and lamb, are expected to push up retail prices for chicken and pork in Australia, according to the country’s Department for Agriculture and Water Resources.

National production of poultry and pig meats are also forecast to increase, according to the latest quarterly Agricultural Commodities report based on data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

With the average retail price for beef heading for AU$20 (US$15) per kilogram and lamb rising towards AUD15, pork looks good value at around AU$12 (US$9), especially as it has hardly changed over the last decade.

ABARES forecasts that the average price received by producers will increase by 4% in 2016-17 to average AU$0.380 (US$.285) per kilo.

The forecast may be less welcome for

producers, who enjoyed an increase of 15% over the past year.

These price rises have been possible despite annual increases in pork production in Australia over the last eight years.

Sow inventory has been on a gradual upward trajectory to an estimated 275,000 in 2015-16, and feed grain prices are forecast to remain low in the year ahead, helping to drive up the number of pigs slaughtered by 1.5% to 5.08 million in 2016-17.

With slaughter weights also creeping up, 385,000 metric tons is the estimated total carcass weight produced for the current year.

Despite increased production, Australian pork exports were down in 2015-16 in volume terms to 27,000 metric tons, largely due to the strong domestic demand. The value of those exports was up, however, by 17% to AU$119 million.

For 2016-17, ABARES forecasts the volume of pork exported likely to remain about the same, and the value to rise 4% to AU$124 million.

The main destination for Australian pork has been and is likely to remain Singapore.

Under the country’s strict biosecurity rules, imports of pork are permitted only from certain countries, and the meat must be processed before sale.

Again, it was strong demand that led to more pork imports last year – by 4% to 167,000 metric tons – and a further 5% increase is forecast by ABARES for 2016-17.

As for pork, the consumption of poultry meat in Australia has been rising as beef and lamb have become more expensive over the last 20 years.

ABARES figures show that for chicken meat alone, the retail price is now lower than in 1995-96.

Pearse Lyons Accelerator program The Pearse Lyons Accelerator seeks to attract inventors, entrepreneurs and disruptors for its inaugural term.

Set to run annually for five years, the program is a three-month intensive boot camp for food and agribusiness innovators with a proven technology that is ready for market.

The program is designed to provide market opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop their fledgling agriculture, food and ag-tech plans.

So if you have a business with a proven technology but need a boost when it comes to export market access, financing or marketing, then this program is for you.

Select innovators will have the opportunity to present their innovations at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, in May 2017, where more than 3,000 attendees from nearly 80 countries around the world converge.

This high profile showcase will afford the opportunity to present to future customers as well as investors and potential collaborators.

18

With plenty of opportunities existing today in agriculture, farmers and producers need to be able to make decisions more accurately and scientifically with the help of ag-tech and big data.

The program seeks game changers in the ag industry and has opened for applications. Following a selection process, successful applicants will start the program in January 2017. ch is investing up to $10 million USD in the accelerator program.

Most of these funds will support the participation of select innovators in a three-month boot camp under the direction of Aidan Connolly, Chief Innovation Officer at Alltech, and other fellow industry mentors. Mr Connolly is an adjunct professor of marketing at University College Dublin and China Agricultural University and is passionate about the commercialisation of innovative ideas and technology.

“Entrepreneurs have the potential to discover solutions today to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” he said.

“The Pearse Lyons Accelerator

aims to discover the brightest ideas in agriculture, food and technology, and we want these future ag-tech entrepreneurs to be fully equipped to develop successful, sustainable businesses.

Alltech is one of the few truly global companies positioned to assist in opening doors, such as routes to market and worldwide market access.”

The program aims to inspire entrepreneurs and contribute to the success of projects already in their final developmental stage.

It will act as a stimulation platform, putting innovators in touch with highly skilled mentors and industry connections. Alltech, a leading innovator in animal health and nutrition, aims to build an innovation legacy and position itself as THE technology leader investing in food and agribusiness.

Applications are available now and close November 11, 2016. For more information and to register please visit Alltech.com/Accelerator and stay connected through Twitter and Facebook.

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