Australian’s are putting more pork on their forks as it overtakes beef consumption, with the country’s leading pork breeder finding the need to construct a new pig herd in the Riverina.
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The latest statistics revealed by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics showed beef bumped down to third favourite meat, trailing behind chicken and pork.
PIC Australasia is an Australian owned pig breeding operation since 1974 and have submitted an application to the Wagga council for a proposed development in Matong, near the Nerrandera and Coolamon Shires.
CEO of PICA Paul O’Leary, said the the company has been in business for more than 40 years and produces genetically improved pigs for the Australian commercial pig herd.
“The best thing about pork is consumption, is that it is very much part of a community, employing local builders, truck drivers, maintenance and repair people and the list goes on,” he said.
“The creation of these jobs gives us the sustainability in business and we’re putting funds into a local economy, driving it back into the community which is why we receive strong support from local regulatory bodies who want to see their regions being developed.”
With the average Aussie now consuming 27.9kg of pork per year, Mr O’Leary said the need and popularity for pork meat is increasing.
“In Australia we can’t import pig genetics so as a result we have to run a complex and diversified herd in Australia using the technology available,” Mr O’Leary said.
“We’re always updating technology and providing customers with the best pig genetics.
“When you weigh all that up with the shareholders and directors investing in a development, it’s easier to put new technology into a new development, increasing the opportunities to use new productive systems to get a better return on the investment.”
PICA is proposing to construct a 1200 sow farrow to finish genetic nucleus pig herd, including two additional dwellings and associated infrastructure, estimating to cost $9 million. The capacity equates to approximately 13,000 pigs.
With the bio-security of the herd crucial to the success of the pigs genetics, Mr O’Leary said disease can be “catastrophic”.
“In a meeting, Matong came up as the best area for the development, through protection, using new technology, as well as the quality of the local grains,” he said.
“This will make global news in terms of the pig industry and through this new technologies in camera and monitoring surveillance, the pigs will be able to express their full genetic material so that we can choose the best ones for the next generation.”
Often a controversial subject, as in the case of the Harden application in 2016, Mr O’Leary said the company has consulted with neighbouring councils, local farmers and the community in regards to the proposal.
The company is urging people to come forward and ask questions about the proposed development.
“We are open for questions and comments; stressing for community involvement, dealing with facts not perception and emotion,” he said.
The development, if approved, will still be at least 12 months away.