December 12, 2007
WA PORK PRODUCERS WANT FAIR TRADE NOT FREE TRADE
WA Pork Producers' Association (WAPPA) has called on the Australian Government to broaden the scope of the 'Productivity Commission Safeguards Inquiry into the Import of Pigmeat'. It wants it to examine the annual level of direct and indirect subsidies received by producers in Denmark, Canada and the USA, the three major importing countries.
WAPPA President and Cuballing producer, Graeme Dent predicted the subsequent findings might encourage the Government to implement the same level of support for Australian pork producers.
The OECD estimated EU support in 2003 to EU pigmeat producers at $A0.41/kg.
"WA producers should not be penalised on farmgate price due to the price squeeze created by imports that are subject to substantial subsidies through producer support schemes, particularly from the US and Denmark," Mr Dent said.
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December 07, 2007
COMMERCIAL FOCUS FOR PORK CRC IN TOUGH TIMES
Enjoying the 2007 Pork CRC Annual Conference in Brisbane: Rob Smits, QAF Meat Industries Research Manager and Dr Robert van Barneveld, Pork CRC Board Member. Mr Smits has just published Pork CRC supported research which may help reduce production costs this summer.
Great research findings mean nothing until they are adopted by industry, according to Pork CRC CEO, Dr Roger Campbell, speaking at the 2007 Pork CRC Annual Conference in Brisbane.
Addressing the subject of commercialisation of research at the 2007 Pork CRC Annual Conference, CRC Board member and lawyer, Andrew Maughan said all future research proposals to the CRC must include a business plan.
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November 21, 2007
PORK CRC OFFERS HOPE FOR STRUGGLING PORK PRODUCERS
Despite 2006/07 being well documented as a very challenging year for Australian pork producers, the latest Annual Report of the Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) offers hope, with the promise of returns on industry and government investments made to create a more competitive pork industry.
The Pork CRC commissioned 42 projects in the reporting period and published and commercialised the most comprehensive ever evaluation of Australian canola seed meal.
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November 14, 2007
HEATHER CHANNON NEW PORK CRC PROGRAM MANAGER
Research Scientist and Australian Pork Limited (APL) Manager, Product Innovation, Heather Channon has been appointed Manager, Program 3, with the Pork Cooperative Research Centre.
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October 31, 2007
NEW PORK BONING LINE OPENED AT PPC LINLEY VALLEY
WA Minister for Agriculture and Food, Kim Chance, today officially opened a new $4 million pork boning line at the Wooroloo works of PPC Linley Valley Fresh.
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October 19, 2007
PIGS PUT ON A RIGHT ROYAL SHOW
Patting piglets, guessing the weights of baconers and porkers and even visiting the
homes of the ‘three little pigs’ was all part of the fun for children and adults visiting
the Tom Wilding Pavilion at the 2007 Perth Royal Show.
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September 3 , 2007
SKILLED STAFF THE SCARCE RESOURCE IN RESOURCE RICH STATE
How best to source skilled staff to work in WA piggeries and how best to tap into niche markets for pork are two of the challenges driving the WA Pork Producers' Association (WAPPA) in the next 12 months.
Addressing WAPPA's 2007 General Meeting at Pastoral House on Friday, August 31, President Graeme Dent, of Cuballing said innovative, creative thinking was needed.
"As we compete for staff against a buoyant WA resource sector, we need to consider supplementing our rural workforce through accessing appropriately trained staff internationally," he said.
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September 3 , 2007
PORK CRC MEETING THE 'MEAT' CHALLENGE
Computerised feeding systems, early weaning diets, swine dysentery, housing and farrowing systems, mineral nutrition and moisture infused pork were among the many topics discussed by Board members of the Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) during two days of meetings and presentations in WA this week.
At the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) Medina Pig Research Centre, the Board assessed a $55,000 CRC investment in Feedlogic, an integrated feed dispensing and management system, which automatically delivers multiple diets to specific pens and groups of pigs.
Pork CRC Board Chairman, Dr John Keniry said that with feed costs comprising up to 70 percent of a pork producers' cost of production, it was essential new technologies be analysed and introduced if they helped deliver accurate, measured rations so that pigs received exactly what they needed at any given time in their growth cycle.
Pork CRC Board inspecting facilities with Department of Agriculture and Food WA staff at DAFWA's Medina Pig Research Centre. The Board also met at Murdoch University while in WA for two days.
Relaxing during the Pork CRC Board visit to the DAFWA Medina Pig Research Centre are
(L to R) Dr Bruce Mullan and Karen Moore, both of DAFWA, Pork CRC CEO Dr Roger Campbell and Dr Greg Sawyer of DAFWA.
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July 23 , 2007
WAPPA PLAYS PIVOTAL ROLE IN PORK PRODUCTION
While advocating on behalf of WA’s pork producers is the main role of the WA Pork Producer’s Association (WAPPA), there is much more to this organisation than sitting back and waiting for issues to emerge.
WA accounts for more than 10 per cent of Australia’s one billion dollar a year pork production and WAPPA delivers leadership, policy, advocacy and services to WA producers and industry stakeholders.
Recently, WAPPA has taken pro-active steps towards ensuring WA pork producers are protected from potential biosecurity risks and has played a pivotal role in developing the new pig welfare code.
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June 18, 2007
WAPPA's public view on the benefits of QA for producers.
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March 1, 2007
WOOROLOO ABATTOIR TO LEAD NATION
Western Australia's biggest pork producer is set to become a world leader in processing technology with the decision to invest $4 million in its Wooroloo abattoir.
Craig Mostyn Group, the operator of Linley Valley Pork and PPC Wholesale Food Services, plans to build the most sophisticated pork boning room in Australia, which will be among the most advanced in the world.
The operation already processes 98 per cent of the pork produced in WA and plans to expand its output and range of products through the introduction of the $4 million upgrade.
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January 26, 2007
WA PORK PRODUCERS’ LEADER CONDEMNS ANIMAL NEGLECT
Cuballing producer and President of the WA Pork Producers’ Association (WAPPA), Graeme Dent said today that any producer not properly caring for their pigs should immediately improve their animal health and welfare practices or get out of the industry.
“WAPPA represents 250 or so producers at the front end of an industry which has a farm-gate value of $100 million a year and directly and indirectly employs 3000 people in more than 60 shires across 300,000 square kilometres of WA’s agricultural zone.
“We don’t tolerate cruelty or irresponsible animal welfare practices which may lead to unnecessary suffering by pigs and we condemn the actions of anyone neglecting their responsibilities to the animals in their care,” he said.
Mr Dent was commenting following a report in today’s West Australian newspaper that a WA piggery was being investigated by authorities, including the police, regarding allegations of animal cruelty.
“The great majority of the 580,000 pigs processed in WA each year have been raised in animal friendly indoor and outdoor environments, with access to abundant feed and water and appropriate veterinary care when needed.
“Unhappy, unhealthy, uncomfortable pigs do not breed effectively or produce quality meat, so the well-being, safety and health of our pigs is always of utmost concern to piggery owners, operators and staff,” Mr Dent said.
“More than 80 per cent of WA’s pork is produced under APIQ, the national pig industry quality assurance scheme, which is based on World’s Best Practice in animal husbandry and includes annual random independent on-farm audits.
“APIQ covers animal welfare, food safety and biosecurity aspects of production and is supported by a traceability system known as PigPass National Vendor Declaration.
“Despite these industry initiated checks and balances, it’s an unfortunate fact of life that there will be some mismanagement of production units, which we deeply regret, but, as all farmers know, managing and caring for animals is an art and a science.
“WA producers are getting much of the science right, with good genetics, quality housing and feeding grain-based diets developed by world leading WA animal nutritionists and using clean, quality assured WA grain.
“The real art is training all piggery owners, managers and staff in the highest possible animal handling and husbandry systems. We’ve invested a lot of time and money in such training and have a full-time training officer based out of WAPPA’s office.
“A critical part of training stock persons is giving them the skills to prevent, rapidly diagnose and treat to ensure pigs in their care are free from pain, injury or disease.
“WA producers are determined to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” Mr Dent concluded.
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