Presentation by

Andrew Johnson2004 Nuffield Scholar

Study topic Animal Welfare specific with the pork

industry. Alternative Sow Housing and Disease Management

Sponsored ByNufarm and HiFert –

South Australian Producer Award

and I would also like to thank

• Australian Nuffield Farming Scholars

• My family

STUDY

• Challenge of Rural Leadership Seale Hayne Campus Plymouth sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Farmers, 2 weeks

• Global Focus Tour, 6 weeks

• Private Study, 11 weeks

Mt. Boothby Past. Co.

• At Tintinara South Australia • 200kms SE of Adelaide• Family farming operation• Mixed operation, primarily value adding

grain through a 600 sow farrow to finish unit, with an extensive sheep and beef enterprise

Mt. Boothby Grower Facility

Marketing Strategy• Board Member of Producer Alliance Top Pork

representing 23 producers • Premium Supplier to Coles Supermarkets • Marketing under the Colestock initiative

• Future Strategy, High Welfare branding

Study topic Started as a broad subject and remained so• What is Animal Welfare, regulation and policy• Alternative Housing systems focusing on high

welfare management systems• Disease Management particularly PMWS and

partial depopulation• Business alternatives and structures • Alliances• Producer integration

Countries Visited

• United Kingdom• Holland• Denmark• Sweden• Germany• Canada• United States

Discussion• Appreciate comments from the floor

on views of “Animal Welfare”

• Public perception, and from producer base who understand the commercial implications of high investment

• Cost and tradition Versus Science and elevation of public perception

Regulations• I feel Australia is closer to Europe than Nth.

America on welfare regulation• Europe has the highest welfare regulations, it is in

your face regularly• Gov’t regulates for a variety of reasons including

food safety, animal welfare, interests of wider economy such as environment and society, also for international trade

• Votes• Policy is initiated through the EU

Animal Welfare• The welfare of pigs is considered within a framework

that was developed by the Farm Animal Welfare Council and known as the “Five Freedoms”

• Animal Welfare will be contradictory• Studies have shown moving towards higher welfare

will decrease production increase level of management & COP

• It is important of those investing understand their marketing options and management capabilities.

Five Freedoms• Freedom from hunger and thirst – by ready access to fresh

water and a diet to maintain full health and vigor.• Freedom from discomfort – by providing an appropriate

environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.• Freedom from pain injury or disease – by prevention or by

rapid diagnosis and treatment.• Freedom to express most normal behaviour – by providing

sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animals’ own kind.

• Freedom from fear and distress – by ensuring conditions and treatment to avoid mental suffering

The American/Traditional Way

CAFETERIA

OUTDOOR

HOUSING

STALLS

OUTDOOR

INDOOR

GROUP

GROUPS

SMALL

LARGE

DYNAMIC

STABLE

TIMING

PRE-IMPLANT

POST

IMPLANT

FEEDING

CAFETERIA

GROUP/FLOOR FEEDING

INDIVIDUAL

ELECTRONIC

TRICKLE

= 72

Numbers of Alternative Housing Systems

Evaluating Options Based on Five Freedoms

HOUSINGHUNGER &

THIRSTDISCOMFORT

PAIN INJURY OR

DISEASE

TO EXPRESS MOST

NORMAL BEHAVIOUR

FEAR & DISTRESS

INDIVIDUAL STALL _

OUTDOOR _

INDOOR ESF COMBINATION INDOOR GROUP

FEEDING

RECOMENDATIONS CAPTURING ALL 5 FREEDOMS

• Any indoor intensive high welfare production systems will have compromises.

• This system is high capital cost and very high level of management both husbandry and technical

GROUP HOUSED ESF• Indoor housed sows• Large groups either dynamic or stable with a

minimum of 50-60 group• Mating stall post weaning until 2 days after

mating. Approximately 7-8 days • Introduced into group pre implantation and

will remain until 1 week prior farrowing• Individually fed by transponder feed stations

Dynamic Group Design

Seperation- og træningsområde

600 600 600 600

450

300

450

Separation- and training area

Large Dynamic ESF

Disease Management• Health and Welfare• Biosecurity, Disease Control and COP• Housing type and design• Group Size• Location• Modification of existing units• Eradication and management of specific diseases• Genetics• Management of the production unit

PMWS

PMWS• Diagnosed in most producing countries• UK post weaning losses averaged around

20% up to 70% generally not as severely effected in other countries

• PCV2 virus but other factors are involved in the development of the disease.

• Important for Australia as we are free, trade implications

• Madec 20 point plan

Business Partners

• Producer Alliances

• Producer Processing Retail Alliances

• Producer Integration

• Sharing capital cost

• Defining and sharing strategic roles within the production chain

Trial With Pigs and Dominance Hierarchies

J. Alcohol Abuse 1987 45: 56-67

Pigs in social groups of 10 dominance orders established

All pigs given Ad Libitum Alcohol (Beer / Cider / Wine)

Observations on intakesResults

Days 1 and 2 - All pigs drank heavily, got drunk and slept soundly

Day 2 onwards

Pigs 1 & 2 - never touched alcohol again – needed a clear head to preserve their position in the hierarchy

Pigs 3 – 8 were moderate drinkers – occasionally drank at times of stress!

Pigs 9 & 10 – remained heavy consumers and were mostly permanently drunk throughout the trial