PIGS

1. Industry & Products

In the past pig raising and fattening was a side line activity for many Mallee farm families. However few still maintain pigs as an enterprise for several reasons. Among these are increased land holdings, specialisation in cereal growing, and reduced market opportunities and prices associated with the specialised development of the pig industry. Nationally the trend to fewer and large units continues, and although Australian production has almost doubled since 1960 there are less than one tenth the number of producers.

While the industry is expanding nationally, it is more concerned with protecting markets than with exporting. Neither export or imports are significant at this stage.

The modern trend as with most meat animal industries is for fewer and larger processors in major country centres and related contract breeding and growing. This can be broken into three stages, of breeders, weaners and growers. There are advantages in having the sites separated. Weaning at 10 - 14 days and transferring to another site can reduce the incidence of disease transfer from sows to piglets.

2. Physical Requirements

Successful pig farming requires a healthy environment with good sanitation and warmth. The warm dry climate, free draining soils and isolation of the Mallee are strengths. Excessively high summer temperatures can be a problem which needs special consideration in the Mallee. Water supply coupled with modern mist sprinklers overcome this.

Careful management is also necessary to avoid soil and general environmental degradation in areas used for pig production.

Local cheap feed supplies will help considerably in keeping down the cost of production. A good regular water supply is essential. For intensive piggeries up to 60 litres per day per sow unit is required. There is a strong industry trend away from intensive sheds to non intensive systems. These do not have a flushing requirement which greatly reduces the quantity of water needed to what the pigs drink, and a small quantity for cooling.

3. Production Methods

Very large intensive piggeries have resulted from pressures to compete with other food products and threats of increased imports from Canada and other countries. However the development of other systems could lead to greater efficiencies and seem to be very applicable in the Mallee. Options include the current intensive sheds or outdoor breeding operations combined with grow on facilities such as low cost igloo type sheds.

The advent of a permanent quality water supply in the Mallee despite the cost has already been shown to have positive benefits in intensive pig farming and is leading to expansion of some reasonably large intensive enterprises, as well as the development of the igloo system. Outdoor breeding and the use of cheap igloos in Australia is following overseas experiences and can be cheaper and more efficient than intensive systems. The basis of the igloo method is to grow one crop at a time, regularly adding to the straw base. In between crops the igloo is shifted or the deep litter of straw is removed with a front end loader and a fresh base provided for the next crop. Access to experience and technical expertise in pig husbandry is necessary especially for the breeding facet. It is not always available away from major production centres, however there is a basic knowledge pool in the Mallee which could be developed through an educational program.

The dry climate of the Mallee has demonstrated a healthy environment for pig farming. The problem of excessive heat can be mitigated by strategic use of water misting for cooling, and use of igloo housing with local straw may lead to economical production systems without environmental damage especially to fragile soils.

Close proximity of the Mallee to major high value horticultural industries may offer two quite significant advantages.

It has been estimated that in excess of 1,000 tonnes of stone fruit at Swan Hill unsuitable because of small size or small defects is dumped every year. This could reach 2,000 tonnes over a six month period if vegetable and vineyard material is included. Nutritionists have suggested this has the potential to replace up to 30% of food requirements.

Secondly there is a strong developing interest among the bigger horticulturists in the use of worm castings as a fertiliser in large quantities on their farms. This material would also have high value as a soil improver on the wheat farms. The best food stock for compost worms is pig manure and straw mixed. Worm farming in conjunction with pig farming using the igloo system has environmental advantages and could provide supplementary income with local market and freight advantages.

4. Marketing

The traditional marketing method has been through the saleyards, the nearest of these being at Bendigo. This form of marketing is increasingly giving way to contract production for large processing companies based in central and southern Victoria.

Distance to market and restructure associated with the decline of the wool industry are major considerations favouring these centres. However there is some evidence of renewed processor interest in sourcing product and negotiating contracts in the Mallee. There are established transport runs for pigs to market from the Mallee, servicing the existing traditional industry.

It is essential that any prospective producer establish a firm contract before entering into a pig enterprise. Success will depend on being able to supply quality consistently and competitively.

5. Financial Aspects

To have a state of the art intensive pig shed built will cost up to $3,500.00 per sow. Additional costs for services, earth works, silos, efficient systems etc could cost $1,000.00 per sow. If igloo type sheds are used the cost per sow is about $1,000.00, while outdoor pig breeding facilities cost about $500.00 per sow unit.

Igloo sheds are similar to green houses. They have a removable straw bed on a firm surface and are used on an all in all out basis at the weaning and or fattening stages, usually requiring same age groups of around 200 pigs. To provide this per week would require two 300 sow units.

Transport to market ideally requires a scale of operation sufficient to provide a full transport at each time of marketing. However modern movement of livestock over distance is common and is not necessarily a high cost.

Water will be an additional cost compared to other localities estimated at $1.50 per pig produced.

Some major operational costs which may be reduced in the Mallee situation are: General operation $700.00 per sow year Feed cost $250.00 per tonne

6. Organisations and Contacts

7. References