The pig industry group

fosters profitable and sustainable development of the NSW pork industry.
works with the NSW pork industry through the NSW Farmers Association, Australian Pork Limited (pork industry peak body) and the Pork Cooperative Research Centre.
delivers world class extension and on-farm development, maintains animal welfare standards and biosecurity and provides leadership on industry policy.
functions within the Primary Industries Division of Industry and Investment NSW where close links are maintained with the Biosecurity Branch including welfare, the Science and Innovation Branch including pig research and the Livestock Health and Pest Authority. It also links with other partner agencies within Industry & Investment NSW especially: State and Regional Development; Water & Energy; NSW Food Authority; and the Rural Assistance Authority.

Extension and industry development initiatives

Enquiry service

General and specialist technical advice is available on request. Help is provided to producers, agri-businesses, government organisations and the general public to access the relevant, up-to-date information that will be most applicable to their situation or request.

Pig husbandry and regulations

Jayce Morgan, Cowra
Jayce is an extension officer responsible for all pig husbandry and piggery systems management advisory matters. She is generally the first point of contact for the pork producers and manages information and publications to the pork industry.

Pig health & veterinary issues

Dr Amanda Lee, Menangle
Amanda is a pig veterinarian with experience in a range of pig production systems. Apart from disease management and surveillance, she has particular interests in biosecurity, extension work for the pork industry, and emergency animal disease preparedness and response.  

Environment, waste management & housing

Ian Kruger, Tamworth
Ian provides specialist engineering technical advice, extension, on-farm adaptations and policy support in the areas of waste management, environmental sustainability and animal housing for the pork industry and other intensive livestock sectors.

Piggery management systems and tools

Greg Mills, Moree
Greg is a farm management economist and is a specialist in emerging extension methodologies utilising the internet. Greg develops farm business tools and models to assist pork and other intensive livestock producers. 

Policy and industry liaison

Tim Burfitt, Orange
Tim has a background in farm economics, extension methods, project management and industry development. He manages the pork production team as well as the dairy, poultry and bee industry development groups.

Internet publications

A range of on-line pig extension publications have been developed. These cover industry outlines, pig breeding, husbandry, housing, environmental issues, diseases, biosecurity, welfare, enterprise management and legislative requirements.

These are freely available by following this link: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/pigs

Small scale pig production

A ‘Profarm’ course

This course commenced in 2010 to assist small scale pig farmers, new industry entrants and pet pig owners with basic information, production skills and an understanding of the responsibilities that are required for the keeping of pigs in NSW. The course is delivered as a Profarm course. For further details of available Profarm Courses follow this link:  www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/profarm

PigBytes e-Newsletter

PigBytes is a quarterly pig production e-mail and web-based newsletter for all farmers. It contains short articles written by extension staff and gives web-links to useful local and overseas information. To access editions of Pigbytes and to register, follow this link: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/resources/periodicals/newsletters/pigbytes

DPI Pig Biosecurity Group

The group is sponsored by the NSW Chief Veterinary Officer and works to protect and enhance the biosecurity and health status of pig herds in the NSW pig industry. It identifies issues in the industry which could threaten production and trade access and seeks regulatory, research or advisory solutions. 

Major initiatives include: exotic disease response; leading a National Pork Compliance Program to ensure food safety and carcase traceability; collaboration with veterinary students to become involved in pig herd performance and health monitoring; and, liaising with NSW and Vic pig veterinarians and consultants to address biosecurity, production, policy and extension issues.

Managing the environment and climate change

Regulatory and technical advice and education is provided to piggery owners, developers, community and regulatory authorities on natural resource management issues, waste treatment systems, sustainable nutrient reuse, and climate change adaptation strategies.

A novel waste treatment system has been developed called Sedimentation and Evaporation Pond Systems (SEPS). Assistance is provided to develop and upgrade state and national environmental guidelines. Publications in this area are available by following this link www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/pigs/housing-environment

Business Management

A number of piggery enterprise management e-tools or calculators have been developed including Pork Cost of Production Calculator and the Batch Farrowing Calculator. These e-tools and a range of additional piggery business publications may be downloaded free by following this link: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/pigs/management

Novel Extension Delivery Systems

Challenged by fewer staff resources and the large geographical spread of NSW pork producers web-based extension methods and e-tools are being used and novel methods trialled to reach pork producers.

Methods used include webinars, e-mail newsletters, web-based publications, phone teleconferences, mail-out multi-media training DVD’s, podcasts and formal Profarm training courses.

Extension delivery assistance is provided to Australian Pork Limited, NSW Farmers Pork Section and the Pork Cooperative Research Centre to deliver national and state-based webinars and roadshows.

Contacts

Tim Burfitt, Manager Intensive Livestock Industry Development, Orange.
Ph 02-6391 3729, Email Tim.Burfitt@industry.nsw.gov.au

Amanda Lee BVMS, Pig Health Coordinator, 

Woodbridge Road, 

Menangle.

Ph: 02-4640 6308, 

Email: amanda.lee@industry.nsw.gov.au

Jayce Morgan, Livestock Officer Pigs, Tamworth.
Ph 02-6763 1257, Email Jayce.Morgan@industry.nsw.gov.au

Ian Kruger, Environmental Engineer (Intensive Livestock), Tamworth.
Ph 02-6763 1272, Email Ian.Kruger@industry.nsw.gov.au

Greg Mills, Livestock Officer Industry Development (Economist), Moree.
Ph 02-6750 6312, Email Greg.Mills@industry.nsw.gov.au