Discussions with WA Minister for Agriculture and Food, Terry Redman and updates on Pork CRC supported projects at the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) and Murdoch University were highlights of the Pork CRC Board’s recent quarterly meeting in WA.
Chairman, Dr John Keniry and CEO, Dr Roger Campbell, stressed to Minister Redman how important it was that support and funding for DAFWA’s pork R&D team be maintained and how the Pork CRC valued highly the contributions of all WA-based research partners, including DAFWA, Murdoch University and WA’s APC Pork Producers’ Committee.
“This is a benchmark research group team doing truly innovative research that is benefiting the WA and Australian pork industries,” Dr Campbell said.
Researcher presentations to the Board, included:
Including straw in diets and potential effect on belly fat : Dr Megan Trezona-Murray (DAFWA)
Use of spray-dried plasma protein in weaner diets: Professor John Pluske (Murdoch)
Determining lysine requirements of grower-finisher pigs: Dr Bruce Mullan (DAFWA)
Assessment of Shield Zn to control post-weaning diarrhoea: Dr Jae Kim (DAFWA)
Iron status of sows and litters at birth: Hugh Payne (DAFWA)
Feeding medium chain fatty acids to grower/finisher pigs: Dr David Miller (Murdoch)
Manipulating the large intestine of pigs by nutrition to prevent swine dysentery: Dr Christian Hansen (Murdoch)
Update on Intergrain project:
Selection of feed wheat and/or barley varieties for the Australian pig industry: Professor John Pluske (Murdoch)
Timing of Improvac injections: Dr Bruce Mullan (DAFWA)
Check the Pork CRC website for details.