R&D Priorities & Call For Tenders

R&D Priorities for 2013-2014 have been identified by the R&D Specialist Groups and approved by the R&D Advisory Committee. Researchers are encouraged to respond to a call for tenders addressing these priorities.

A downloadable version of the 2013-2014 R&D Priorities is available here.

A call for tenders for R&D projects to address these priorities was made on 24 April 2013 and will close on 29 May 2013.

Download the Call for Tender document here.

 

2013-2014 R&D Priorities

R&D priorities for 2013-2014 have been identified by the R&D Specialist Groups and approved by the R&D Advisory Committee.

1. Marketing, Supply Chain & Product Quality

Shopper insights

• Shopper research allows APL to identify commercial opportunities for retailers and processors to sell more Australian pork.

International market access for Australian pork

• Updating APL’s appreciation and understanding of the international marketplace will inform strategic decision making around future marketing initiatives.

 

Contact: Ms Heather Channon
heather.channon@australianpork.com.au or 03 9645 9189

2. Genetics, Reproduction & Welfare

Maintaining favourable parity distribution - 70% retention of mated gilts to parity 3

• Identifying risk factors and positive influences impacting gilt retention and developing management protocols for improving young sow robustness will reduce premature culling and improve herd output.

Production in lactation - maximising pigs weaned with higher weaning weights

• Identifying risk factors and positive influences impacting milk production and developing generic management protocols for optimising milk production will lead to larger litters weaned and greater weaning weights.

Validation of on-farm protocols for welfare assessment

• Validation of welfare metric tools developed in a current APL project will provide a robust and defensible system to benchmark welfare.

Validation of on-farm protocols for benchmarking stockhandling

• Validation of stockhandling metrics developed in a current APL project will provide a robust and defensible system to benchmark stockhandling.

Intervention strategies for key management practices to maximise welfare outcomes

• Identification of alternative production protocols that will achieve the same outcomes as current practices and/or demonstration that negative outcomes may be addressed using other management tools.

Updating the 'Is it Fit-to-Load?' guide

• Transforming the Fit-to-Load guide into a training manual will shift the focus from a ready-reckoner for questionable cases to a training support tool that stockpeople and other animal handlers can use to build their own skills in identifying animals for transport.

 

 

3. Nutrition, Health & Physiology:

 

Contact: Dr Pat Mitchell
pat.mitchell@australianpork.com.au or 03 5488 2306

 

4. Industry capability & technology transfer:

Bringing influencers together

• APL will host and sponsor a range of events which enable interaction among stakeholders and collection and processing of information on outcomes/technologies.

Facilitating technology transfer & adoption

• APL will use a range of complementary channels to reach stakeholders which will increase the likelihood of R&D messages getting through and action being taken.  Gaining a better understanding of the pathways to adoption will influence future technology transfer and adoption activities.

Fostering new capability

• By supporting two distinct components of new capability, school students and postgraduates, the industry is better placed to influence perception.  Informing potential 'recruits' of opportunities in the industry is a crucial first step in addressing labour shortage.

Building technical capacity

• Producers looking to build the skills and knowledge of stockpeople and provide management training for supervisors will have access to industry-relevant resources.  

Corporate communication & influence

• APL is able to protect and/or advance the industry’s position across a range of areas through its ability to access and utilise current industry information.

 

Contact: Ms Emalyn Loudon
emalyn.loudon@australianpork.com.au or 02 6270 8823

 

5. Environmental Management

Innovative methane treatment - alternative waste management systems

• Investigation and trialling of innovative waste management systems will reduce methane and/or nutrient output from piggeries.

Cost options for sludge management & desludging

• Value will be added to a current APL project on sludge management and handling by undertaking more detailed cost benefit analysis of technologies identified by the project as having potential.

Demonstrations of how to achieve best management practices (BMP’s)

• Developing a descriptive and visual booklet/guide/set of case studies to demonstrate BMP’s will highlight to producers options for best practice and demonstrate industry sustainability to external stakeholders.

Development of a Gas Safety Management plan

• Developing a generic gas safety management plan that meets Queensland’s rigorous standards, whilst being transferrable for use across the other states, will ensure our systems operate safely and set guidance commensurate with the associated risks. 

Environmental Researcher Forum

• Bringing researchers together to discuss current and future environmental research helps to disseminate outcomes and progress, strengthens collaboration between researchers, and identifies gaps and future research opportunities.

Consultation for Biogas Code of Practice

• With the nearing completion of the draft Code of Practice for On Farm Biogas Production and Use (Piggeries), consultation with State government agencies will confirm whether the draft Code satisfies their individual requirements.

Upgrade & development of Environmental Management Plans (EMP’s) for Conventional and Outdoor Production Systems

• Upgrading the existing conventional EMP and developing a new outdoor production EMP will assist producers with day to day piggery management and also help demonstrate to government decision makers that piggeries operating under an EMP will be run sustainably. 

 

Contact: Ms Janine Price
janine.price@australianpork.com.au or 02 6270 8827

 

6. Food Safety, Biosecurity & Qquality Assurance

Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) review (including feral pigs)

• Developing a strong technical document on the biosecurity and industry productivity risks associated with possible import of chilled pork into Australia will provide the basis for representing the Australian pork industry’s interests to key decision makers and Parliamentarians.

National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)/ Pork Supply Chain Integrity Program (PSCIP)/ Physi-Trace integration

• The NLIS/ PSCIP/ Physi-Trace Business Plan will integrate the various components into a program model which will support progressive implementation.

APIQ review (SARDI report)

• A review of the ‘SARDI report’ will inform an effective review of APIQ and lead to ongoing industry and customer acceptance of APIQ to support verification of Australian pork with industry and government standards/outcomes.

Pork Processor Referral Group (PPRG) operating costs

• PPRG endorsement of key food safety R&D priorities and projects will ensure efficient application of food safety, biosecurity and quality assurance project funding and facilitate uptake of results.

Abattoir process control

• Collaborative meat industry food safety R&D will assist moves towards a science-based meat inspection and export certification system based on abattoir hygiene performance.

African Swine Fever (ASF)

• An investigation and update on issues, developments and risks associated with ASF will facilitate improved surveillance for ASF, thereby mitigating the risk to the Australian pork industry of incursion of ASF into Australia.  This risk needs to be effectively managed given high level imports of pork from Denmark and associated threat if ASF spreads to Europe.  ASF risk is also heightened by the anticipated import of chilled pork into New Zealand which could ultimately result in entry of chilled pork into Australia should there be consequent changes in biosecurity policies in Australia.

 

Contact: Ms Heather Channon
heather.channon@australianpork.com.au or 03 9645 9189

 

 

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