Australian Pork Newspaper

Vol 25. No. 10 October 2021 Australian Pork Newspaper PO Box 162 Wynnum 4178 Phone (07) 3286 1833 Email ben@collins.media
Preparing your feral pig management plan
A snapshot of an indoor finisher shed featured in the virtual tour.
Virtual tour of the pork supply chain launches
Point of View
by MARGO ANDRAE CEO
IT’S no secret that the consumer is a major driver of economic growth.
The tour has been de- signed to complement a wide range of primary, secondary and univer- sity level curriculums.
The food industry invests heavily to un- derstand natural fluc- tuations of consumer behaviour to meet those needs on the shelves.
By getting students ‘on farm’ without the challenges of biosecu- rity or travel, we’re also enabling greater expo- sure to future career op- tions.
Now, in a time where our purchasing choice is one of the only ways to express social respon- sibility, sales of ethical and sustainable produce are ever increasing.
In response to this, Australian Pork Limited has been working with producers and broader industry to explore new ways to promote a pro- gressive and transparent pork sector.
Users can choose their own adventure, from indoor and free-range farms and the ins and outs of processing rooms to the finished product on supermarket shelves.
APL are currently working closely with Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia to develop educational resources to accompany the tour.
Consumers not only want pork on their forks, they want to know where it’s come from, how it’s made and what impact their food choice has on the environment around them.
After two years in the pipeline, we’ve launched a new virtual tour of the pork supply chain as a producer-led initiative that tells their stories from piggery to plate.
Users can listen to narration, scan around facilities and click on interactive areas of in- terest for more infor- mation and a rich user experience.
These will help teaching staff manage conversations that may arise with students and provide curriculum- aligned classroom ac- tivities to get the most out of the tour.
In Australia, at least 90 percent of commer- cial production systems raise their pigs indoors and our producers are proud to be part of an industry that has some of the highest food safety standards and an- imal welfare practices in the world.
The tour is publicly available on the APL website and invites an- yone interested in how pigs become pork to put on their virtual gum- boots and take a peek.
It’s a bold move and we’re proud of it.
This resource would not have been possible without the courageous- ness and support of in- dustry.
But in the face of bios- ecurity threats and the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating open discus- sions with consumers from behind closed doors is the greatest challenge of all.
The technology, hus- bandry, food safety, wel- fare and environmental standards speak for themselves.
A big thank you to everyone who opened their businesses to allow filming, inter- views, research and endless editing – which will no doubt make its mark over the years to come.
It’s the next best thing to being there, with a 360-degree view of the facilities and processes that produce the high- quality pork products on our shelves.
Initiating conversa- tions such as this not only supports informed consumer choice but provides education that connects younger gen- erations with rural in- dustries.
To take a peek, go to australianpork.com.au/ virtual-tour
THE damage from feral pigs can reduce produc- tivity and profitability for businesses through decreased yields, live- stock predation, in- creased costs and disease transmission.
Many land managers respond reactively to re- move them, often without having a property pest management plan in place.
However, it’s important to have a pest management plan within your biosecu- rity strategy – as dull and time-consuming as it may be.
So, what’s involved and where do you start?
recommended to find a group of land managers in their area to work with on the issue.
Feral pigs are adaptable and mobile within their home range.
There are four key steps to work through and docu- ment:
The NFPAP continues to build an information hub and links with other or- ganisations – such as local and state governments, natural resource manage- ment entities, recognised biosecurity groups and Landcare Australia – to assist land managers with this.
The National Feral Pig Action Plan recommends coordinating and collabo- rating with neighbours across a large area and ap- plying integrated, strategic management approaches.
• Define the problem – what is the problem, where is it, who is affected, what are the impacts?
This increases the chances of removing the local population of feral pigs and preventing fre- quent re-incursions.
• Monitor and evaluate progress.
Acting alone and re- lying on only one method of control is likely to be more time consuming, frustrating and relatively ineffective.
A template to help with this will be available on the National Feral Pig Ac- tion Plan website soon.
All participants should be able to agree on the perceived benefits to take ownership of the manage- ment strategies proposed.
• Develop a feral pig management plan
• Implement the plan
As a first step, the Pest- Smart website pestsmart. org.au gives land man- agers the tools to develop a feral pig management plan.
It is important that an in- dividual property strategy aligns with the local man- agement group plan.
Land managers are also
* continued P2
Feral pigs captured in a trap. Photo: Daniel Lewer of Hunter Land Management
Phone: 07 4697 3344 • Fax 07 4697 3532
www.stockyardindustries.com
by HEATHER CHANNON National Feral Pig Management Co-ordinator
Big Dutchman
C a llB a c k p r o Latest technology
in sow feeding
Electronic sow feeding meets free-access stall – easy retro t into existing sheds.
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