Adoption Forum - Safeguarding Australia’s Livestock Industries: Improving Biosecurity In Pig Production Systems

21st – 22nd August 2008, Veterinary Science Conference Centre, The University of Sydney

The Adoption Forum was sponsored by the Australian Biosecurity CRC, Australian Pork Limited and the University of Sydney. Over 35 representatives from government including DAFF, AQIS, State Department of Primary Industries, RLPB, NSW Food Authority and Animal Health Australia, met with industry (Australian Pork Ltd, QAF Meat Industries, Meat & Livestock Australia, Victorian and NSW Farmers Federation, smallholder producers) to hear the findings of our University of Sydney ABCRC project “Peri-urban and regional surveillance for biosecurity for the pig industry in Eastern Australia”.

The specific aims of the forum were to inform livestock industry and government stakeholders of the key findings of the project related to on-farm biosecurity, swill feeding, disease surveillance, traceability and extension/communication among pig producers who trade at saleyards in Eastern Australia and to facilitate stakeholder identification of approaches to overcome identified gaps and deficiencies.

This forum was held to extend research findings to the relevant stakeholders. The research team was not content to have the project end in a final report to sit gathering dust somewhere. It was pleasing to see such a positive outcome. The team is currently preparing an application to fund further extension-based work to improve compliance among smallholder pig producers with legislation and industry requirements for biosecurity.