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toPigsIssue 5 Summer 2017/2018

Australia’s high herd health

status – the role of vaccines– page 3 –

Effects of dam and birth-litter

characteristics on performance of

progeny– page 4 –

Save the date: Pan Pacific Pork

Expo 2018– page 6 –

Inside this issue:

Research and Innovation

The Summer 2017/2018 edition of Pigs to Pork highlights the progress being made to provide post-mortem inspection feedback to producers, the

importance of vaccines to manage herd health and the implications of birth litter characteristics on gilt progeny performance.

APL MembershipFor information call Rachel Blake on 02 6270 8807 or visit the APL website at www.australianpork.

com.au/members.

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 5 Summer 2017/2018Pigs to Pork

Australia’s high herd health status – The Australian pig industry is small by world stan-dards but our herd has a unique health status as we are free from many of the viral diseases that cause great health issues for pigs in other countries. The pig diseases currently present in the Australian herd still cause significant losses, impacting on the welfare of the animals, the profitability of the farm and the industry’s endeavours to implement prudent antibi-otic use. As many producers are very keen to reduce the use of antibiotics, efforts in this area would be assisted if our industry had greater access to more vaccines.

Many generic or off-the-shelf vaccines significantly reduce the impact of disease on farm, also reducing the need for antibiotics. Unfortunately, some off-the-shelf vaccines may not work with the same level of efficacy on all farms, making the availability and use

A carcase and/or its offal may be partially or fully condemned if disease and/or carcase damage is detected during inspection at the abattoir. This is done to protect public health and to ensure that the product is suitable for human consumption. Some carcase damage may not result in whole carcase condemnation but may require ‘trimming’ – reducing carcase weight. Direct financial losses arise from the loss of carcase weight to producers as well as loss-es in income from condemned offal for processors. Further penalties can also be imposed by wholesalers and retailers for the supply of incomplete carcases- all of these activities lead to inefficiencies in slaughter chain operations.

Producer feedback: post-mortem The reasons for total carcase condemnations are reported to the Department of Agriculture and Wa-ter Resources (DAWR) and to the producer by the processor. However, partial carcase and/or offal con-demnations reporting to producers by the processor is voluntary. Meat inspection data can be used to inform herd health programmes and improve animal health and welfare status. For many producers, this is done on a monthly to quarterly basis by their veterinarians and/or State Government providers through the Pig Health Monitoring Scheme.

Currently there is no uniform standard or language in place for meat inspectors to use to consistently record disease conditions and/or reasons for carcase and/or offal damage of pigs and their severity/prevalence. A cost benefit study conducted by David Hamilton and David Hudson (APL project number: 2015/2209) quanti-fied the economic and operational impacts arising from partial and total condemnation losses to inform the potential development of a national recording system. Seven major export processors provided daily slaughter information over four months (January, April, July and October 2016). The incidence of full or partial condemnation was 3.0 per cent of the total pigs processed (ranging from 0.5 to 6.3 per cent) – with 0.15 per cent fully con-demned. Of the carcasses that were partially con-demned, the major causes/defects which led to either partial of full condemnation of pig carcasses across all seven processors are shown in Figure 1.

The major carcase components that were removed were all or part of the forequarter, leg and/or skin. The accumulated direct and indirect incremental costs and losses from full or partial condemnation of pig carcases alone were estimated at $10.33M. Slaughter chain in-terventions accounted for the majority of these loss-es – namely lower dressed weights for producers and loss of offal for marketing by processors. However, the format of data recorded, terminology used to describe the various causes/diseases and carcase components removed differed between processors as did the scope

and frequency of intervention information recorded along the slaughter chain.

APL, through the Round 2 Rural R&D for Profit ‘Health for Wealth’ project being funded by DAWR, has contracted South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) led by Jessica Tan, to work with industry to develop a consistent lan-guage and terminology to describe the cause(s) and action(s) required when one or more interventions are required on a carcase. This language must enable the required information to be quickly and easily recorded on the slaughter floor by meat inspectors. It must also be supported with appropriate train-ing to ensure that the language is consistent across meat inspectors in different processing plants. A focus group meeting in early 2018 involving produc-ers, processors, veterinarians and regulators is being planned to consider and address these challenges.

The access to ‘real time’ information for disease and/or pathological conditions resulting in either partial or full carcase condemnation will inform ani-mal health and management strategies. These strate-gies could lead to a lower frequency of slaughter floor interventions and result in reduced operational impacts during processing as well as improved eco-nomic returns to both producers and processors. The outcome will be reduced condemnation and/or trimming losses on the slaughter floor and more informed on-farm animal health status.

of autogenous vaccines (a vaccine made with the bacte-ria isolated from the farm affected by disease) possibly more specific and desirable. Also, issues with emerging diseases such as human spillover Influenza A infections increases the need for autogenous vaccines. If clinical symptoms of influenza A are very severe, the ability to control the impact through vaccines or at least improve welfare by the provision of pain relief is very important, but currently not available.

Some diseases present in pig herds may not be able to be effectively treated with vaccines. Producers can use various management procedures such as batch far-rowing, all-in-all-out management of the growing herd, reduced stocking rates, good hygiene and disinfection to reduce the impact of disease. Nevertheless even with the best of intentions, outbreaks can occur if these pathogens are present in the herd.

Discussions during Dr Kim Nairn’s presentation on this subject at the recent Australian Pig Vets Conference in Fremantle confirmed that the delays in obtaining autogenous vaccines concerned most of the production veterinarians. Communication with the Federal Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Dr Mark Schipp about this matter has led to the submission of an industry paper to the Federal Animal Health Committee (AHC) meet-ing in early November 2017, where these industry is-sues were discussed. The committee members include the (CVO’s) of the Commonwealth, states and terri-tories, along with representatives from the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (CSIRO), the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) and the Department of the Environment. There are also ob-servers from Animal Health Australia, Wildlife Health Australia and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. This submission will add to the previous

applications provided by the excellent work of indus-try members including Dr Peter McKenzie to DAWR for Government consideration of the delays and other issues associated with autogenous vaccine manufacture, and importation of generic commercial vaccines.

the role of vaccines

Figure 1: Proportion of slaughter chain interventions due to nominated conditions. Where: (x) – number of processors re-porting carcase component interventions (total n=5 processors)

carcase condemnation updates

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Issue 5 Summer 2017/2018

Effects of dam and birth-litter characteristics on performance of progenyHigh sow replacement rates have a direct effect on herd feed efficiency through increased numbers of gilts being introduced to the herd. One of the main contrib-utors to reduced herd feed efficiency is the reduced output from gilts and the poorer survivability and growth of their progeny compared to progeny of mul-tiparous sows. The dam affects all piglets in the litter, therefore, even small effects of the dam on progeny performance are important.

Dr Susanne Hermesch (AGBU) led an APL funded project (2014/458) investigating the effects of dam and birth-litter characteristics on performance of progeny in three herds. Selective breeding continues to focus on improving efficient lean meat growth and repro-ductive performance of sows. This selection emphasis affects characteristics of sows with subsequent effects on performance of progeny.

Main findings:

• Growth rate of gilt progeny was reduced by -35 to -9 g/day in comparison to growth rate of progeny from multiparous sows.

• The highest growth rate was observed in progeny from second and third-parity sows indicating that older sows were also not able to fully support the growth potential of their progeny.

• The reduction in growth rate of gilt progeny in comparison to progeny from second-parity sows varied from -22 to -32 g/day between lines in one herd.

• The effect of dam parity was only significant for feed intake and feed conversion in one herd. Prog-eny of gilts had a higher feed intake and higher feed conversation ratio than progeny from multiparous sows. The difference in performance varied from -0.025 to -0.066 kg/day for feed intake and from -0.013 to -0.058 kg/day for feed conversion ratio.

• Average piglet birth weight was the most import-ant litter characteristic affecting growth of pigs until slaughter.

• A higher average piglet birth weight increased growth of progeny by 50 g/day per one-kg birth weight. The effect of piglet birth weight on growth of slaughter pigs was larger in the first and second parity (55.0 and 57.5 g/day per one-kg piglet birth weight) in comparison to progeny from third and

fourth-parity sows (44.4 and 43.3 g/day per one-kg piglet birth weight).

• Reduced growth of gilt progeny resulted in a reduced profit of $0.18 to $1.44 per pig, which is equivalent of 0.2 to 1.8 cents/kg carcase weight for an 80-kg carcase, in comparison to profit of progeny from older sows. Reduced performance of gilt prog-eny resulted in a reduced profit of $2.37 to $4.81 per pig, which is equivalent of 3.0 to 6.0 cents/kg carcase weight, in comparison to profit of progeny from older sows. Dam parity is also likely to affect feed intake and/or feed conversion ratio.

• The effect of parity was only significant for lifetime growth and early growth until 28 kg body weight. Fat depth, growth during the test period, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected by parity of the birth litter and gilt progeny had similar performances in these traits in comparison to progeny from older sows.

Key outcomes:

• Growth rate of gilt progeny was reduced by -9 g/day in comparison to growth rate of progeny from sec-ond-parity sows. Growth performance of progeny from older sows decreased continuously as parity of the dam increased.

• As litter size increased, growth rate of progeny decreased by -2.24 g/day per piglet born alive.

• The effects of farrowing difficulties extended to overall growth of progeny until slaughter. The reduction in growth of progeny was about 2 g/day for each additional stillborn piglet of the first three classes (0 to 2 still born piglets per litter) and was about 10 g/day once the number of piglets exceeded two stillborn piglets.

• The effects of number of piglets weaned per litter indicate that a good nursing environment provided by the dam is also beneficial for the efficiency of lean meat growth of progeny.

• The effect of lactation length on growth was larger in gilt progeny in comparison to progeny from the second parity. Extending lactation length is there-fore of particular importance in gilts in order to improve growth performance of their progeny.

For more information or a copy of the final report APL project 2014/458 please contact Dr Rebecca Athorn by email at rebecca.athorn@australianpork.com.au or on 02 6270 8827.

Denise Woods has been appointed to the role of Manager, Environment with the R&I Division and will commence with APL in January 2018. Denise is an environmental management professional with more than 17 years’ experience working in both public and private sectors covering defence, major infrastructure projects, construction and develop-ment, public transport and foreign aid. Denise has an applied science degree and a master degree in environmental management. She is a member of the Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand, has lead auditor certification for quality and environmental assurance systems and is a graduate of Royal Military College Duntroon.

Previously, Denise was Manager Environment for Public Transport Victoria (PTV) where she developed and implemented the Environmen-tal Management System, Sustainability Strategy, Environmental Management Programs, managed land contamination rehabilitation and implemented the environmental specifications for PTV major projects.

Most recently, Denise spent time in East Timor leading the development of an environmental impact assessment for a proposed horticultural development corridor. Her tertiary qualifications

coupled with her strong technical and output

driven focus, in addition to her leadership and contract management experience will be an asset to the APL team. The Research and Innovation team looks forward to working with De-nise in her new role

with APL.

New Manager, Environment joins the R&I division

Take home messages: • Increasing birth weight and pre-weaning

growth of gilt and first parity litters will be the best way to minimise growth differences between progeny.

• The differences in the effects of parity on growth observed between herds indicate that each herd needs to evaluate this effect for its circumstances and no generic solu-tion may be obtained.

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Issue 5 Summer 2017/2018Pigs to Pork

Jemma Seyfang presented her three minute thesis (3MT) “selecting the right pig for the job” on gilt selection strategies, looking at the effect that the sex ratio of a gilt’s birth litter has on her performance. Jemma found that females from a male biased litter were exposed to higher levels of testosterone during fetal development and therefore before became ‘mas-culinised’, which resulted in lower levels of hormones around ovulation. Her conclusion was that females from female biased litters are likely to be better suited to the breeding herd as they are more likely to have a higher success rate in their first breeding.

Jemma first competed in the School of Animal and

Selecting the right pig for the jobVeterinary Sciences 3MT where she won the Peo-ple’s Choice Award as well as first place. This then gave her the opportunity to compete in the Faculty of Sciences round. Jemma was successful in getting through as one of two students to represent the Faculty of Sciences in The University of Adelaide finals where she competed against ten students, two from each faculty, and took out first place as well as the People’s Choice Award. From here, she went to the University of Queensland to compete in the Asia-Pacific semi-final against 55 other students with one representative from each university, making it through to the finals and finished in the top ten for the Asia-Pacific 3MT.

The Ron Pollard award is awarded to support and en-courage young people in agriculture. This year’s recipi-ent was Justin Salter, a Tocal Agriculture student, with the award presented by Ean Pollard at the APL/Pork CRC/NSW Farmers Roadshow in Young, NSW.

Justin completed his APL funded industry placement with Rivalea which gave him hands-on experience within the Pork Industry. Through his industry placement, Justin gained experience in commercial farming practic-es and learned practical skills associated with the day to day running of the boar shed and farrowing house. Furthermore, Justin gained an understanding of how waste management systems can be used to benefit the farm and increase productivity via irrigation. Overall, Justin’s experience at Rivalea enabled him to broaden his whole-farm system knowledge in pork production.

2017 Ron Pollard award winner awarded

Ean Pollard presenting the Ron Pollard award to Justin Salter.

30 & 31 May 2018Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition

Centre, Broadbeach QLD

Theme: Driving efficiency together

Attendance assistance packages available for APL producer members. If you are not already a member

contact Rachel at APL now.

Contact Rachel Blake for more information on 02 6270 8807 / pppe@australianpork.com.au or visit www.pppe.com.au