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Research and development underpinning modern pork production systems was highlighted at the 2015 Pig Day Out, co-hosted by West Australian Pork Producers’ Association (WAPPA) and Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) on Friday, April 17 at Technology Park.
With demand for free range pork on the rise and around 20 per cent of the state’s pig kill now sourced from free range enterprises, Dr Megan Trezona of DAFWA addressed the issue of the impact outdoor production was having on product quality.
Complementing her address, which touched on feed and feed conversion ratios, DAFWA colleague and PhD candidate, Karen Moore, detailed her work on the dietary needs and feeding strategies for finisher pigs, before also presenting her Pork CRC supported research into the impact on body composition and eating quality after pigs have received the second dose of Improvac.
Dr Cam Jose of Murdoch University discussed how predicting ultimate muscle pH can help measure subsequent eating quality and Dr Jae Kim of DAFWA demonstrated that feeding Vitamin E to finishers could help deliver a premium pork product.
With the morning R&D session concluded, WA Liberal Senator and former veterinarian, Chris Back, explained that his proposed private members’ anti-trespass bill, if and when passed, would make a positive contribution to animal welfare.
James Battams and Janine Price, both of Australian Pork Limited, told Pig Day Out attendees, including many producers, that correctly registering pig movements and appropriately dealing with environmental applications, while sometimes burdensome, were necessary to address community and biosecurity concerns.
Ms Price’s environmental presentation was complemented by one from consultant Ian Kruger, who explained how using the greenhouse gas calculator, PigGas, could help producers understand and manage their farm’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“Using the Pig Gas Calculator to identify emission intensity levels, efficiencies in production and appropriate waste management systems can only aid Australian pig farmers in becoming more environmentally friendly and efficient,” Mr Kruger said.
Dr Trish Fleming of Murdoch University discussed her research at a Great Southern outdoor piggery into the predatory impact of foxes, especially on piglets. She indicated that some sows seemed to be more protective of their litters than others.
The final presentation was an entertaining one from Portec veterinarian Kim Nairn.
Aside from discussing the unpleasant subject of abattoir condemnations, Dr Nairn was most uplifting when commending producers and their staff for the initiatives they showed in and around their piggeries, subsequently announcing a substantial cash prize for the forthcoming ‘Portec Producer Ingenuity Awards’.
At the conclusion of the 2015 Pig Day Out and while addressing a brief WAPPA General Meeting, also held on the same day and at the same venue, Technology Park, WAPPA President, Richard Evison, commended WA’s producers on how well they collaborated with researchers and research institutions.
“Producer adoption rate of innovative technologies, especially those that directly improve bottom lines, reflects the quality of the research that, in many cases, the producers are co-funding and this sustains WA’s industry,” Mr Evison said.
WA’s pork industry employs an estimated 1700 full and part-time workers and an estimated $50 million has been invested in housing and production systems during the past five years to meet new guidelines for sow housing and production efficiency.
Jan Cooper, WAPPA’s new Executive Officer, encouraged members at the General Meeting to engage with her in shaping WAPPA’s direction.
WAPPA’s Executive Committee comprises Graeme Dent of Cuballing, Dawson Bradford (Vice President) of Popanyinning, Torben Soerensen (Treasurer) of GD Pork , Dean Romaniello of Craig Mostyn Group and Richard Evison (President) of Westpork.
April 23, 2015 - WAPPA
