Sow welfare breakthroughs a highlight for Pork CRC

The CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork (Pork CRC) has issued its own half-term report card, declaring it has achieved major progress and breakthroughs in pig and pork R&D across all four of the CRC’s programs.

Four years into its eight-year term, CEO Roger Campbell says the Pork CRC has improved the welfare and performance of sows grouped in gestation; is developing alternative strategies to improve animal health, disease diagnostics and pork eating quality; and is advancing biogas management and grain inputs.

“Australia’s pork industry and researchers have led the world in transitioning from stall to group housing of gestating sows, with industry showing the forethought and courage to make the move and our scientists then making it work on a welfare basis for the sow and, in terms of reproductive performance, for the producer,” said Dr Campbell.

Pork CRC scientists are now looking at satiety and enrichment for gestating sows and at the welfare and well-being of sows and their piglets during farrowing and lactation.

“The latter remains a challenging area, but we have the best in world working on it and a very innovative program in place,” Dr Campbell said.

According to Melina Tensen, senior scientific officer (farm animals), RSPCA Australia, Pork CRC’s R&D programs reflect an awareness of emerging issues and responsiveness to growing consumer expectations that may impact the industry.

“Undoubtedly, thanks to the success of the Pork CRC’s group housing workshops, many pig farmers have implemented housing and feeding systems that best suit them and close to three quarters of gestating sows are now sow-stall free,” Tensen said.

“The success of Pork CRC, in addition to the quality of the research, is attributable to the significant resources that major pig-producing companies are willing to invest in order to achieve practical, on-farm improvements.

“This, and the efforts of every single pig farmer who has transitioned or is still in the process of transitioning to group housing, should be highly commended,” she said.

Dr Campbell said in the next four years, Pork CRC will address areas across its four programs where gaps in knowledge still exist while helping ensure the high standard and global differentiation of Australian pork.

Image caption: Dr Ray King, the leader of Pork CRC Program One ‘Reduced confinement of sows and piglets’, with Melina Tensen, RSPCA.