August 10, 2009
New Australian wheat and barley varieties seen to lower swine output costs
An institute in Western Australia is currently evaluating potentially high-yielding, high digestible energy (DE) varieties of wheat and barley specifically for pigs that could lower the cost of production.
If successful, it could trigger cost savings for pork producers and increased revenue for grain growers.
Professor John Pluske from the Animal Research Institute at Murdoch University said because feed is a major cost associated with the production of pork, the cost of production could be lowered if the efficiency and/or cost of the feed can be improved.
The research is collaboration between the Animal Research Institute at Murdoch University, Animal Research and Development (Pig Group) at the WA Agriculture and Food Department (DAFWA) and InterGrain.
The grain lines are currently being trialled in West Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales but experts won't know if the grain is suitable until after harvest in 2010.
