May 11, 2007

Australia's pork sector seeking partners for pea planting

The Australian pork industry is looking for farmer-partners to specialise in growing field peas and non-traditional lupin varieties to be used for pig diets.

Dr Robert van Barneveld, a pork industry feed consultant who runs the Queensland based company Barneveld Nutrition, said a greater focus for research and development for these grains in pig diets would reduce the swine industry's dependence on more traditional protein sources.

Van Barneveld said a consistent, high-volume supply of field peas or lupins could help pig producers lower production costs from A$1.80-$2.00 per kilogramme (1.10 euro to 1.22 euro) to about A$1.50/kg (0.92 euro), which can stimulate industry growth.

The increasing market scrutiny of some traditional protein sources, such as animal protein meals has prompted Australian pig farmers to look for grains for swine feed.

The consultant emphasised Australia's expensive cost of pork production is affected by several factors such as the lack of dedicated feed grains suited to the pig industry, feed transport costs, and the high and variable costs of cereal grains in times of drought.

For these reasons, Van Barneveld said the industry has invested in plant breeding and agronomic research with a view to increase vegetable protein sources particularly of field peas due to its high protein content and starch-derived energy.

Van Barneveld said Australia is already supporting trials of field peas, lupins and faba beans on farms close to large pig farms.