Page 6 - Australian Pork Newspaper

More space leads to better health and growth
Applications for low-interest loans about to close
QUEENSLAND pork producers are urged to consider the use of low-interest loans to support a wide range of upgrades to their farms in preparation ahead of the threat of African swine fever.
producers and those in- volved in the industry are best placed to re- spond to any future risks and support them in investing on-farm to prepare, improve bi- osecurity and reduce the risk of ASF on the state’s pork industry.”
President’s Perspective
by JOHN COWARD
Up to $10 million has been made available in low-interest loans to support the Queensland pork industry in im- proving biosecurity and preparing against ASF.
Mr Henry said a range of activities were eli- gible to be implemented on-farm to prepare against ASF.
The Queensland Gov- ernment has made the funding available to be delivered through Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority ASF Sustain- ability Loans to cover a range of activities eli- gible to be implemented on-farm to prepare against ASF.
to contact QRIDA to dis- cuss their eligibility so we can all do our part in combatting ASF as a whole industry.”
New Guinea and acceler- ated critical preparedness activities to make sure we’re on the front foot,” Mr Henry said.
“Activities include ex- clusion fencing, recon- ditioning or relocation of sheds to increase biosecurity measures and increasing biosecu- rity measures at entry points, including acid washes, CCTV and gate upgrades,” he said.
Pork Queensland Inc president John Coward said it was vital the state’s producers had access to resources to prepare for ASF.
QRIDA ASF Sustain- ability Loan program spokesperson Ross Henry said ASF prepar- edness activities were essential measures to help the pork industry improve its biosecurity and reduce the risk of ASF to the pork in- dustry in Queensland.
“With applications closing on June 30, pro- ducers are encouraged to get in contact with QRIDA to discuss their eligibility and take ad- vantage of these low- interest loans.
QRIDA Sustainability Loans have terms of up to 20 years, low interest rates fixed for one, three or five years and with no fees or charges.
“Any outbreak of ASF in the Queensland pork industry would have a massive impact, so it’s important producers are able to put measures in place now to mitigate any future potential im- pact,” Mr Coward said.
“ASF is not in Aus- tralia but any detec- tion would have serious impacts on pork avail- ability, jobs and the economy and be diffi- cult to eradicate.
Security must be pro- vided commensurate with the amount of the loan.
“I encourage producers
“The Queensland Gov- ernment acted quickly to make this funding avail- able to the state’s pork in- dustry following the de- tection of ASF in Papua
“We want to make sure Queensland pork
For eligibility criteria, terms and conditions and more information, see qrida.qld.gov.au/ current-programs/sus tainability-loan or free call 1800 623 946.
QRIDA Sustainability Loans have terms of up to 20 years, low interest rates fixed for one, three or five years and with no fees or charges.
Applications are open until June 30, 2020.
REDUCING antimicro- bial usage on a pig farm comes about by opti- mising pig flows, farm hygiene and air quality and taking medications out of pig feed.
not be underestimated in their ability to improve performance and health.”
Practice for the Welfare Pigs - 2008 stipulates that a space allowance of 0.3sq m per pig is required for weaners (average weight of 30kg at the end of the nursery period – 10 weeks of age).
Australian pork pro- duction businesses are already demonstrating, just like their European counterparts, that they can significantly reduce antimicrobial usage.
With COVID-19 preven- tion measures, Austral- ians are being urged to increase the distance be- tween each other, reduce the number of people in gatherings and regularly wash your hands.
During the experiment, the shed experienced an unexpected disease chal- lenge.
It comes with a team effort that involves con- sulting vets working with committed managers and staff to optimise hus- bandry and facilities.
It sounds just like dis- ease control on a pig farm: adequate space, fresh air, clean pens and keep group sizes smaller rather than larger.
Removals for hospital pen treatment or death in the 0.3sq m pens were nearly double that of the 0.35sq m and 0.4sq m pens (7.8 percent versus 4.3 percent and 4 percent respectively, P = 0.05).
In support of changes in management affecting health, Dr Diana Turpin and Dr John Pluske from Murdoch University in- creased space allowance during the nursery phase and consequently im- proved performance and health on a commercial farm.
Diana and John tested the idea that increases in space allowance in the nursery phase above 0.3sq m per pig would improve post-weaning performance and health as measured by mortali- ties and the number of removals due to death or hospital treatment.
Furthermore, pigs ex- posed to the lowest stocking density fin- ished heavier (by 1.4 kg) than pigs exposed to the highest stocking density (P < 0.05).
They presented their findings at the Australa- sian Pig Science Associa- tion meeting in Adelaide last November.
The three space allow- ances were: i) 0.3sq m; 40 pigs per pen; ii) 0.35sq m; 35 pigs per pen; and iii) 0.4sq m; 30 pigs per pen.
There were no treatment differences for growth in the first two weeks of the experiment, and there were no treatment differ- ences for ADFI and FCR.
They wrote: “pig flow strategies which increase space allowance should
The Model Code of
Diana, who also consults with the Portec veterinary group in Western Aus- tralian, concluded that in- creasing space allowance by 16.6 percent in the nursery phase can lead to improvements in growth and health.
They allocated 1260 newly weaned pigs to one of three space allowance groups by varying the numbers of pigs per pen.
The extra growth was added between day 14 and 40 of the experiment.
The data shows pro- viding extra space is a very effective preventative medicine strategy.
Ross Cutler
Page 6 – Australian Pork Newspaper, June 2020
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