Page 4 - Australian Pork Newspaper

AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED
CONCISE NOTICE OF 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Australian Pork Limited (ABN 83 092 783 278) (APL or the Company) will be held on Thursday 14 November 2019 commencing at 1.00pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time) at the Melbourne Marriott Hotel (Exhibition Room), Corner E xhibition and Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne, Victoria , 30 0 0.
The business of the AGM will include:
• Financial statements and reports
• Auditors’ remuneration
• Election of Elected Directors
• Amendment of Constitution.
The complete Notice, AGM Agenda, Explanatory Notes, Meeting Procedures and 2018-2019 Annual Report are available from the APL website at australianpork.com.au and can be posted to members on request.
A member entitled to attend and vote at this meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy, who need not be a member of the Company. Please refer to the Meeting Procedures for full details.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact APL’s Corporate Services Executive, Nikki Watson, on nikki.watson@australianpork.com.au or 02 6270 8814.
Improving the eating characteristics of fresh Australian pork cuts
AS discussed last month, our eating qual- ity research confirms the key opportunities for improvement for pork are smell, flavour and tenderness.
Specifically, the loin when grilled and the silverside prepared for cooking methods other than stir-fry.
These failure points are especially common with 18 to 45-year-old customers, confirming cut knowledge and cook- ing ability are also major contributing factors to a positive eating experi- ence for pork.
For our industry to im- prove baseline quality we need to address the incidence of boar taint and implement interven- tions to improve the per- formance of the loin and silverside.
From there we can fo- cus improving positive eating experiences in pork.
We understand pork production is a low-mar- gin business, if we are to solve the challenges facing the industry, any recommended changes need to be communicat- ed to and supported by the broader industry.
The good news for pro- ducers who currently meet APIQP standards is they already meet best practice recommen- dations for high eating quality pork.
Australian Pork Lim-
ited is currently consult- ing with industry on a number of recommenda- tions that could be im- plemented to solve these challenges.
They are summarised below.
Effective interventions on-farm
In addition to meet- ing APIQP standards, the use of Improvac on male pigs is likely to be the major recommended change impacting on- farm production. Effective interventions in processing
At the plant level, meeting the Australian Livestock Processing In- dustry Animal Welfare Certification System or equivalent is a positive step to reducing stress for pigs on-plant, while measuring the rate of pH decline and achieving an ultimate carcass pH of 5.5-5.7 or higher will be a clear recommendation.
Ultimate carcass pH is a widely recognised in- dication of meat quality.
Variations outside the recommended pH range won’t tell you what’s gone wrong, but it is a sign there has been a breakdown in best prac- tice somewhere in the process that has nega- tively impacted meat quality.
Additional interven- tions – including the use of moisture infu- sion and packaging type –canallplayarolein
improving quality. Brining or moisture- infusing loins, especially if they are retailed as a grill, has clear consum- er benefits and will be among the recommenda-
tions put to industry. The benefits of product ageing are not as signifi- cant in pork when com- pared to the improve-
ments achieved in beef. This is an area requir- ing greater investigation.
Effective interventions in cooking
The final key recom- mendation is communi- cating the correct cook method and steps for each cut.
This is especially im- portant for younger cus- tomers.
We know choosing the right cut and cooking it to the optimum internal temperature is a signifi- cant contributing factor to tender, juicy pork.
Successful market- ing initiatives based on cooking methods such as the 6-2-2 campaign have already resulted in a measured shift in aware- ness of the best way to cook pork steaks.
A key role for APL go- ing forward will be to continue to improve our customers’ confidence and ability to cook a range of fresh pork cuts.
For more information, contact Garry McAlister at garry.mcalister@aus tralianpork.com.au
www.primegro.com.au
Results are based on typical progeny growth performance achieved using Primegro Genetics grown under a high health environment and fed using the Rivalea Nutritional Program.
South Korea orders military to target wild boar to stop spread of ASF
SOUTH Korea has ordered hundreds of soldiers manning the demilitarised zone on its border with North Korea to track and capture wild boars in a bid to prevent the spread of African swine fever, military officials said.
South Korea con- firmed its seventh case of African swine fe- ver on September 26, just over a week after the virus was first de- tected and prompted authorities to step up disinfection measures.
The source of the outbreak has not been confirmed, but the virus has been found on hog farms near the border with North Ko- rea, which reported an outbreak in May.
Troops and equip- ment normally used to guard against North Korean provocations were deployed to monitor and trap wild boars suspected of carrying the virus, a South Korean military official told Reuters.
“We can’t shoot them because it would be a violation of the armi- stice agreement,” the official said, referring
to the 1953 pact with the North that halted fighting but did not end the war and has governed the border ever since.
The border decades after the 1950-53 Ko- rean War is laced with land mines, razor wire and high-tech surveil- lance equipment.
The 250km DMZ is also home to wild animals that thrive in the wooded no-man’s land.
The animals may be deterred by fences and other barriers along the DMZ, the military official added.
US-led United Na- tions Command, which helps oversee the DMZ, is not involved in containing the vi- rus, the official said.
The UNC did not re- spond to a request for comment.
The efforts against the highly contagious disease, which is fatal to pigs but does not affect humans, have taken on new urgency as more cases are re- ported.
Wild boars trapped by the military have tested negative for Af- rican swine fever, the
military official said. Two boars found dead in the DMZ also tested negative, the de-
fence ministry said. South Korea has de- ployed 1173 military personnel and 166 decontamination ve- hicles to seven areas, deputy defence min- istry spokesman Roh Jae-cheon said recent-
ly.
“There have been no
cases of wild boars crossing the border from North to South within the DMZ,” he told a news briefing.
“No attempt was made to enter general outposts and no boars have been shot dead inside the DMZ.”
More than 300 South Korean soldiers and 40 decontamination trucks were deployed along roads and check- points near the border recently to control the spread of the virus.
South Korea has been disinfecting people, cars and equipment at a liaison office jointly run with the North in the border city of Kae- song.
DMZ ‘peace trails’ used by hikers have also been closed.
Page 4 – Australian Pork Newspaper, October 2019
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