Page 18 - Australian Pork Newspaper

Italy to cull infected pigs
ITALY will cull 1000 pigs after the first cases of African swine fever were detected in domestic pigs in the country.
ASF virus and authorities have recently stepped up control measures.
billion industry. Recently, authorities in
Two cases of ASF were detected on a farm in Rome’s Lazio region on June 9.
According to official reports, the country’s first cases of ASF on the mainland were confirmed in early January in the northwestern region of Piedmont.
the Piedmont region were reported to be establishing nets to control the move- ment of wild boar.
Crisis manager Angelo Ferrari said, “We have to slaughter all the pigs in the contaminated area very quickly.”
Soon after, wild boar in Genova province in neigh- bouring Liguria tested positive for the virus.
The nets are in the prov- ince of Alessandria, where this region’s cases have so far been detected.
“The sooner we act de- cisively and incisively, the greater our hope that the commercial damage will be reduced.”
One month ago, the first cases were identified in a park in the Rome area, also in wild boar.
Gradually, the barrier will be moved so that it connects with a similar structure in Genova, the affected province in the Liguria region.
In Italy to date, more than 150 wild boar have been infected with the
Italy is the seventh largest pork producer in the European Union, with 8.9 million pigs, representing a $A12.17
In Piedmont, authorisa- tion has been granted for the depopulation of wild boar.
Pig culling in Italy on detection of African swine fever. Photo: Kenneth Schipper-Vera
Among the reasons given are that the animals are dangerous, a nui- sance and cause damage to crops and the environ- ment.
The products we buy are a vote for the system that produces them. Photo: Alan Roberts
Pork labelling and how to choose higher welfare pork
At the end of May, dem- onstrations were held in Rome, with those in the Italian pork industry calling for urgent action to reduce the wild boar population.
According to a recent survey, almost 70 percent of the population want the national population of 2.3 million wild boar to be reduced.
New value-add recipe range
AUSTRALIAN Pork Limited butchers’ pro- gram has launched a new value-add range of recipes for retail butchers.
product offers that help customers unfamiliar with cooking pork to have a straightforward way of incorporating it into their weekly shop.
is a twist of fun with pop culture but a quick and easy dinner the con- sumer can pop into the oven.
The resource – high- lighting value options and easy to cook recipes – is available free to all on porkbutchers.com.au
APL market research indicates that young families – the future proof of butchers’ busi- ness – are still not fa- miliar with cooking pork, beyond the classic roasts and pork chops.
It is becoming in- creasingly obvious that financial pressures will affect consumer behav- iour when shopping for groceries this year.
The range was de- veloped by superstar butcher Bec Gamble to be quick and easy in the workroom with cost-ef- fective ingredients that can be reused in-store by butchers.
This is due to changes in living and eating habits, where roasts and chops may no longer be week-night dinner sta- ples.
APL research shows some consumers are still willing to pay extra for convenience and inspiration, as they see value in an easy solu- tion.
Bec worked with the APL team to create recipes that can help increase the gross profit margins for retail butchers.
To engage this con- sumer, pork needs to be both inspiring and con- venient.
The new recipes com- plement the free point- of-sale kits available to butchers, as well as a range of other free resources, all on pork butchers.com.au
The focus for the range was to create
The pork value-added product – such as the parmigiana braciole from the new range –
Jack Nicholl
APL Marketing Ad- ministrator
BEING an educated consumer and choosing higher welfare prod- ucts is one way in which Australians can improve conditions for farm animals and sup- port farmers raising an- imals to better welfare standards.
European countries. Why does this matter? Pig welfare standards
farm, there is a focus on providing for pigs’ be- havioural and physical needs.
have been born in a free- range environment but then subsequently raised indoors.
The choices we make and the products we buy are a vote for the system that produces them, and Aussies are increasingly sending the message they want higher welfare products from farms that prioritise good animal welfare.
Though Australian con- ventional production of pork isn’t entirely good for pig welfare, there are attributes that put it ahead of US production.
From the label alone, there is little way of knowing, so gathering further information from the brand is a good way to find out more.
One area of ongoing concern for Aussies is pork, and people particu- larly want to know how to purchase pork that is higher welfare.
However, most sows are still confined in narrow farrowing crates during and after the birth of their piglets.
Any brand marketing their product as RSPCA Approvedalsoundergoes traceability assessments by the RSPCA to verify the products supply chain.
‘Sow stall free’ is the term used to define pigs that have been born from sows that are group housed during their preg- nancy.
As with egg-laying hens, the vast majority of pigs reared for pork in Aus- tralia are kept in barren conventional systems, with a smaller percentage in outdoor systems.
In Australia, Country of Origin Labelling has also been introduced, requiring all busi- nesses selling packaged food products to en- sure packing includes a product label stating the percentage of Aus- tralian ingredients and the country of origin of those ingredients.
Coles has long been working with the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme on pig welfare, and all Coles free-range pork is now RSPCA Ap- proved and available na- tionally.
While the growth of sow stall-free pork is an important development, the label of ‘sow stall free’ alone does not indi- cate higher welfare pro- duction.
vary greatly between countries and pigs are often not raised to the same standard overseas.
Sow stalls, traditional farrowing crates and painful husbandry pro- cedures – such as tail docking and teeth clip- ping – are not at all al- lowed under the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme.
Outdoor bred pigs may be raised in good indoor systems with large open sheds and comfortable straw bedding or in small pens with concrete floors in more conventional farming systems.
The Australian pork industry has phased out sow stalls and now about 80 percent of sows are housed in groups during their pregnancy.
RSPCA Approved pig farms are assessed twice a year and abattoirs once a year by specially trained RSPCA asses- sors.
Sow stall free
FROM THIS
• External thermal and single layer blinds
• Stock drafting curtains
• Canvacon, Landmark Tearstop
and Titan fabrics
Eco shelter replacement covers and securing systems
TO THIS
• Frame guard felt tape
• Thermal blankets
• Shade cloth systems
• Aluminium lock strips
• Ratchet systems and webbing
T 1300 059 003 M 0429 574 963 E rod@polytex.net.au W polytex.net.au
Unlike eggs, pork prod- ucts aren’t generally re- quired to clearly label the type of farming system, which is a big problem.
Free range
Sow stall-free farms still confine the sow to a farrowing crate prior to and for the weeks fol- lowing the birth of her piglets.
However, there are some fairly consistent terms you can look for that are used to describe how pigs are reared.
Be sure to check the bar to see what percentage of ingredients are Aus- tralian, if its low, it’s un- likely the pork is Aussie grown.
RSPCA Approved
Free range pork comes from pigs born and raised with free access to out- door areas or paddocks with vegetation, and the freedom to move, forage and socialise.
In a farrowing crate, a sow can only stand up and lie down.
Here’s how to make sense of pork labels to help you choose higher welfare.
When you see the RSPCA Approved cer- tification on pork, this means the pig has come from a farm that meets the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme’s de- tailed and publicly avail- able standard for pigs – and that the farm is regu- larly assessed to make sure the standard is being met.
Sows are not confined to traditional farrowing crates or sow stalls and have access to a far- rowing hut to nest with their piglets.
She can’t turn around or engage with her environ- ment.
Identifying higher-wel- fare pork products
It’s important to un- derstand however, that a free-range housing system does not auto- matically mean higher welfare – how the pigs are raised, handled, kept and managed is also cru- cial to achieving good welfare.
Sows are strongly mo- tivated to seek a nest site and build a nest before giving birth – not only can they not to do this in a farrowing crate, but a sow can’t interact with her piglets.
All fresh pork sold in Australia comes from pigs that are farmed in Australia.
Piglets born in sow stall-free systems are still raised in barren in- tensive systems, often with no enrichment or bedding.
What consumers may not realise is that many pork products such as processed ham, bacon, deli meats and pre- cooked products such as pulled pork are imported, most commonly from the US, Canada and some
The RSPCA standard for pigs has 322 require- ments on farm and 88 at slaughter.
Outdoor bred
Painful husbandry practices such as tail docking or teeth clipping can also still be used.
Page 18 – Australian Pork Newspaper, July 2022
Whether an indoor, out- door-bred or free range
Not to be confused with free range, this label is used to signify pigs that
www.porknews.com.au
FREE onsite measure & consultation