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toPigsIssue 3 Winter 2017

Antibiotics – keeping them ‘til we need them

and keeping them working

– page 2 –

‘Pigs in Schools’ a success at

Sydney– page 4 –

Producers’ Guide to Pig Production and Nutrition – now available

– page 6 –

Inside this issue:

Research and Innovation

APL MembershipFor information

call James Battams on 02 6270 8809 or visit the APL website at www.australianpork.

com.au/members.

The Winter 2017 edition of Pigs to Pork is focused on the research outcomes from Specialist Group 4 – Quality Assurance, Biosecurity and Food Safety.

We welcome any feedback you have on this edition and would love to hear from you – please feel free to contact us at the details below.

AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 2 | www.australianpork.com.au | research@australianpork.com.au | Toll Free 1800 789 099 AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 3| www.australianpork.com.au | research@australianpork.com.au | Toll Free 1800 789 099

Issue 3 Winter 2017Pigs to Pork

Take home messages: • Antimicrobial Stewardship refers to taking

personal responsibility for the use of anti-microbials and the careful and responsible management of these antimicrobials

Antibiotics – keeping them ‘til we need them and keeping them working

What does Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) really mean? Antimicrobials are compounds that kill or slow the spread of microorganisms, which include bacteria, viruses, protozoans and fungi such as mould and mil-dew. Stewardship refers to the careful and responsible management of something precious that is entrusted to one’s care. So… AMS refers to taking personal respon-sibility for the use of antimicrobials and the careful and responsible management of these antimicrobials.

The World Health Organization considers antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be a key global health issue. Quite often, modern agriculture is blamed for the generation of AMR through their use of antibiotics, with the media blaming the livestock industries for the spread of AMR. But it’s not that simple; many investigations have shown that both medical treatment of humans and veterinary treatment of companion animals also play very signif-icant roles in the build-up of AMR. But blame shifting and pointing fingers won’t solve this problem. The live-stock industries must become part of the solution and adapt management and production techniques to ensure that we don’t add to the crisis.

Over the last few years the Australian pig industry has allocated significant resources, both through APL and the HIAP CRC, to fund health and biosecurity projects that reduce reliance on antimicrobials as well as inves-tigating the issue of AMR in the Australian pig industry. Two of the most recent projects were the AMR surveil-lance program and the development of an AMS Frame-work Plan. The Australian pork industry undertook a

surveillance program of antimicrobial resistance in pigs with support from the Commonwealth Government. This surveillance showed that bacteria isolated from Australian pigs did not carry resistance to antibiotics that are important in the treatment of humans. This was a fantastic result and reflects the prudent use of antibi-otics by the Australian pork industry.

In addition, APL has collaborated with the Australian Chicken Meat Federation, the Australian Lot Feeders Association and Dr Stephen Page (Advanced Veterinary Therapeutics) to develop an AMS Framework Plan. The AMS Framework can be used by any of these Australian livestock industries to co-ordinate and record activities (whilst also identifying any gaps). This framework is flex-ible enough to be used for any size enterprise or even the industry as a whole. With an AMS plan, industry can prove what it is doing and show our leadership creden-tials, which in an AMR-aversive world, may prove to be quite an important point of differentiation.

AMS is about ensuring the quality use of antimicrobials; good antimicrobial stewardship means using “as little as possible, as much as necessary” to ensure that high levels of health and welfare are present throughout the entire life of all humans and animals who might require antimicrobials to treat infection.

Successful AMS requires recognition of its importance and a partnership approach with high level support. We need AMS to ensure we will always have effective antimicrobials, so that all humans and animals can live in a world where microbial infections can be managed successfully.

The 5Rs underpin any successful AMS plan:

• Responsibility The appropriate use of antimicrobials is a shared responsibility between the prescribing veterinarian, who accepts responsibility for the decision to use an antimicrobial agent, and the livestock producer, who is responsible for following all directions for use and implementing associated management changes. This approach safeguards the health and welfare of the ani-mals whilst minimising the likelihood of any immedi-ate or longer term adverse impacts on the individual animal, other livestock, or on public health.

• Reduction Wherever possible, means of reducing the use of antimicrobials should be implemented. Infection control and prevention measures underpin animal health and welfare and are supported by meticulous hygiene, precision nutrition, biosecurity, vaccination, and expert animal husbandry, which when combined will minimise the incidence of infectious disease and the need for antimicrobials.

• Refinement Refined use means the right diagnosis, the right drug, at the right time, at the right dose, the right route, and for the right length of time. Information about each use of an antimi-crobial agent should be recorded so that total use can be evaluated and future use fine-tuned.

• Replacement The use of antimicrobials should be replaced whenever available evidence supports the efficacy and safety of an alternative.

• Review Antimicrobial stewardship initiatives should be reviewed regularly and a process of continuous improvement adopted to evaluate compliance with initiatives and ensure that antimicrobial use practices reflect contemporary best practice.

The AMS process of continuous improvement:

1 Undertake a stocktake (review) of current usage practices (what’s being used, how much, why and when?), sources of information and continuing professional development

2 Develop AMS objectives by identifying ways to Re-duce, Refine and Replace current antimicrobial use

3 Implement the AMS plan

4 Measure progress, review achievements, identify barriers and enablers, critically appraise, and develop new objectives

5 Repeat! For continuous improvement.

At the APL Specialist Group 4 meeting this year, further development of AMR reduction principles and refining of the AMS framework document was placed as one of the industry’s highest priorities. Plans include devel-opment of the AMS Manual to assist producers to set up and maintain their enterprise’s AMS plan as well as potential case-studies of farms that have implemented AMS plans. Community trust in the Australian pork industry must be backed up by evidence. For further information please contact Dr Pat Mitchell on 03 5488 2306 or at pat.mitchell@australianpork.com.au.

Take home messages: • AMS is about ensuring the quality use of

antimicrobials; good antimicrobial stewardship means using “as little as possible, as much as necessary” to ensure that high levels of health and welfare are present throughout the en-tire life of all humans and animals who might require antimicrobials to treat infection.

AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 4 | www.australianpork.com.au | research@australianpork.com.au | Toll Free 1800 789 099 AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 5| www.australianpork.com.au | research@australianpork.com.au | Toll Free 1800 789 099

Issue 3 Winter 2017

The Royal Agricultural Society, Schools Commercial Pig Competition, which involved both live animal and carcase judging, was successfully completed at the 2017 Sydney Royal Easter Show. This year was the first time the competition had been held, and involved seven high schools from across New South Wales.

Each school submitted a pen of three pigs (grown to a pre-determined specification) for judging at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Throughout the time the pigs were at the schools, teachers were required to implement APIQ® as part of their education and training program for students. Students were involved in establishing sim-ple work instructions, kept diaries and records of daily activities, monitored pig performance and were audited through either a site visit or on-line video conferencing.

‘Pigs in Schools’ a success at SydneyGraham Reu (SABOR) judged the live pigs to give the following results:

Pen of three on the hoof:

1. Hurlstone Agricultural High School2. Brisbane Water High School3. Yass High School

The best individual score on the hoof was won by Hurlstone Agricultural High School.

Once the live judging was completed, with pigs present-ed by the students, the pigs were delivered to Breakout River Meats in Cowra for processing and carcase judg-ing. APL would like to take this opportunity to sincerely R&I’s new Manager, Product Integrity

My life revolves around four f’s: family, faith, football and farming. My wife, Michele, and I have twelve kids and have raised a truck load of others. We have five grandchildren with a few more on the way. For us, ‘family comes first’.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church, I spend a fair chunk of my spare time in ser-vice in the church and working with youth groups in the community.

Football (rugby) brought the family to Canberra 11 years ago and is likely to keep us here a while longer. I played first class rugby with my ‘claim to fame’ being playing union against England and France and league against Australia. Each of my twelve kids have played rugby (league and union).

I’m a fifth generation farmer born and raised on a dairy and pig farm in the Bay of Islands of New Zea-land. I studied farm management at the University of Sydney, Orange Agricultural College and spent twenty years working on and managing farms in Australia and New Zealand before moving to Canberra and APL. Seven years ago, Bill Salter, who previously managed the Product Integrity portfolio for APL, advised me of potential opportunities in managing APIQ® for APL. APL’s Product Integrity R&D portfolio covers traceability, food safety and carcase quality as well as quality assurance through APIQ®. Whilst I’ve largely been involved in QA and PigPass since joining APL in 2010, I’ve had plenty of experience in the product integrity area in other agricultural industries. I was an early adopter of Wagyu cattle in Australia and built and managed Australia’s largest Wagyu artificial

breeding program with genetics moving between the USA, Canada and Australia. I exported over 4,500 Wagyu infused cattle to Japan annually and estab-lished paddock to plate systems with Japanese part-ners – leading to detailed branding of our product on Japanese restaurant menus. I’ve spent many hours in processing plants assessing carcasses and working on systems to improve meat quality. I’ve been actively engaged in sheep and beef CRC programs and in the development of beef electronic ID tag. I have been very fortunate in my career to see, and be involved in, a wide range of agricultural enterprises – these will be drawn upon in my new role as APL’s Manager, Prod-uct Integrity.

For further information please contact Tony Abel at tony.abel@australianpork.com.au or on 02 6270 8812.

thank Breakout River Meats, Cowra for their involve-ment and assistance in this competition.

Karl Lanham (Breakout River Meats) and Heather Channon (APL) judged the carcases with the following results:

Pen of three on the hook:

1. Hurlstone Agricultural High School2. Yass High School3. Orange Anglican Grammar

The best individual carcass of the competition was won by Yass High School, scoring 70 out of 100. Orange Anglican Grammar won the best schools project prize

for their very detailed diary of pig management. The most successful exhibiting school and the RAS medal of excellence was awarded to Hurlstone Agricultural High School.

Feedback from the competition by the teachers was overwhelmingly positive, and next year is set to be much larger with a number of additional high schools already signing up to be a part of the competition.

Almost a million members of the public came through the entry gates of the show – this competition pro-vides us as an industry an opportunity to both educate students as well as members of the public about the pig industry. Following the success of this competition, there is opportunity for other states to implement a similar model.

Presentation ceremony following the competition of judging. Photo: Claire Ferguson

Judges Chris Carter, Karl Lanham and APL’s Heather Channon.Tony Abel, R&I’s new Manager, Product Integrity.

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Issue 3 Winter 2017Pigs to Pork

The 2017 Producers’ Guide to Pig Production and Nutrition guide is now available. The Guide replaces the ‘Wean to Sale’ and ‘Pig Producers’ Guide to Nutrition’ manuals published in 1998 by the Pig Research and De-velopment Corporation.

The purpose of this guide is to provide advice to pro-ducers on how to maximise profits for every kilogram of pig meat sold using methods which are efficient, wel-fare friendly and sustainable. Topics covered include:• stockperson skills• managing the weaner and the grower-finisher pig• sale of pigs and carcass quality• feed• water• monitoring performance• designing a nutrition program• conducting on farm nutrition trials.

Producers’ Guide to Pig Production and Nutrition – now available

For your copy of the guide please contact Lechelle van Breda by email at lechelle.vanbreda@australianpork.com.au or on 02 6270 8823.

I have joined APL for six months as the Technology Transfer and Adoption Coordinator whilst Ashley Norval has stepped back from her current role at APL.

Ashley is broadening her industry experience and knowledge by

working in Denmark, which she will then apply on her return to Australia. I am the main contact for this time and look forward to furthering my en-gagement with the pig industry.

I have recently complet-ed my PhD under the

guidance of Pro-fessor Michael Ward at the University of

New Technology Transfer and Adoption Coordinator for APL – Lechelle van Breda

Sydney, investigating the key risk factors associated with post-weaning E. coli diarrhoea. My PhD was supported by the Pork CRC.

It has been estimated that piglet diarrhoea cost the Aus-tralian pig industry more than $7 million each year. This study assessed 60 potential risk factors for E. coli disease in post-weaned piglets across 22 pig herds in southeast-ern Australia. Two key factors – recent disease events (in the herd within the last twelve months) and the presence of bedding (only changed at the end of each batch), were associated with the presence of post-weaning scours.

This project highlights key risk factors that can be ad-dressed on farm to decrease E. coli diarrhoea in piglets. Decreased diarrhoea leads to increased growth rates, reducing the time to slaughter which means quicker turn-over of pigs leading to increased profit.

There are many positive associations with improved piglet health, such as reduced antibiotic use and veteri-nary bills and growth in profit margins and productivity. A consistently healthy herd will also assist in sustaining a high food safety standard with positive implications for consumer perception. Developing prevention (versus treatment) strategies provides producers with sustain-able long term solutions, while providing peace of mind for the health of their herd.