Technology Transfer
An annual programme of technology transfer is developed and delivered in conjunction with Massey University. The programmes vary from interactive workshops to seminars to written material and are aimed at all levels including business owners and employees. Proceedings from the most recent workshops and seminars are shown at right.
September 2011 - Sustainable Dry Sow Housing and Management
The NZ Pork industry already has a high proportion of sows in loose housed systems. This trend continues with all farms moving to house gestating sows in groups by 2015 as mandated by the Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2010. The objective of this project was to characterise existing systems on farms that are group housing gestating sows. The project investigated a number of farm systems in terms of building type, layout, feeding system, group management and gathered practical tips from the farmers and their staff. The seminar series presented case studies by local farmers and encouraged discussions bewteen farmers.
June 2011 - Advancing Pork Production Seminar
Associate Professor Patrick Morel is the Director of Animal Nutrition in the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health at Massey University. He organises the regular Advancing Pork Production Seminar to highlight to industry research findings from Massey. This year's seminar was grouped around 3 themes: Animal Welfare; Feeding Strategies, and Pork product development.
November 2010 - Grower Finisher Seminars
Dr Mike Brumm has recently retired from a long and distinguished research career at the University of Nebraska and is currently the Science Director for SVC Research. He spoke on two topics,"The real world of ad libitum feed and water" and "Where is technology going in the US". Grant Boston presented the results of the survey of boar taint in New Zealand pork and Dr Bill Hall discussed "Exotic and emerging diseases".
September 2010 - Group Housing of Sows
In the late 1990's the UK banned the use of sows stalls. Professor Sandra Edwards from the University of Newcastle discussed the current status of EU regulations and the lessons from the UK pig industry.