• Quality assurance scheme to be rolled out nationally - sappo

PORCUS
November/Desember 2010 Vol 28 no 6
• Quality assurance scheme
to be rolled out nationally
• Emerging farmers are
making progress
• Breeders and biosecurity

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Inhoud/Contents
PORCUS
November/desember 2010 Vol 28 no 6
Aktueel
SAPPO at a good place, says James Jenkinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Limpopo Varkstudiegroep hou afskeid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Noord-OVS Varkstudiegroep hou afskeid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Gauteng Varkstudiegroep vergader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Emerging farmers are making progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Focus on quality assurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Qualtity assurance in other countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Breeders and biosecurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
International news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Alltech provides platform for young scientists to succeed . . . . . . . . 31
SAPPO News/SAVPO-nuus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Topical issues at Norpharm information day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Rubrieke
Market conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Pondering Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
PORCUS is die amptelike tydskrif
van die Suid-Afrikaanse Varkvleisprodusente-organisasie
(SAVPO).
Redaksionele Komitee
James Jenkinson (voorsitter: SAVPO),
Peter Mockford (vise-voorsitter:
SAVPO), Simon Streicher (hoofbestuurder:
SAVPO)
Redaksie
Derick van der Walt (redakteur),
Tel: (012) 332 1589 of 082 770 5111
E-pos: ccomc@mweb.co.za
Salomé Schutte. Tel: (012) 329 3764
Advertensies
Doreen Jonker, Millerstraat 3, Pierre
van Ryneveld 0157.
Tel (012) 662 1006.
Faks (012) 662 1006
Reproduksie
Mandi Repro en Print
Gedruk deur
Business Print Centre, Pretoria.
Uitgegee deur die Suid-Afrikaanse
Varkvleisprodusente-organisasie,
Posbus 36207, Menlo Park 0102.
Tel: (012) 361-3920.
Faks: (012) 361-4069
E-mail: info@sapork.com
Web-bladsy: www.sapork.com
SAVPO aanvaar nie verantwoordelikheid
vir enige aanspraak wat in
advertensies en artikels gemaak
word nie. Menings uitgespreek in
artikels
word nie noodwendig deur SAVPO
onderskryf nie.
Porcus November/December 2010 3

NUTRiTiON
Introduction
Over the past two months, agricultural markets in South Africa
were characterised by signifi cant movements of commodity
prices. Several fundamental factors led to these conditions,
both domestic and internationally. The signifi cant increase in
the yellow maize price from August to November 2010 resulted
in a strong decline in the pork to maize price ratio. The ratios
for PP and BP have declined from August to October with 7.4%
and 6.6% respectively. Following the typical seasonal trends
over the festive season, demand for meat products is expected
to increase resulting in an increase in price levels.
Farm level analysis
Figure 1: Index for requisites and auction prices
4
Market conditions
The latest update from the BFAP pork industry index analysis
in November includes the projection for 2010 based on the
BFAP 2010 model. Current prices and input trends indicate
that the indices could change from our previous estimate. The
requisites index is 5.31% lower than the actual level in 2009
(mainly due to lower maize prices in 2010 compared to 2009)
and the auction price index is 10.2% lower than the same value
in 2009. However, from our last estimate in September 2010
the requisites index increased by 3.5% and the auction price
index remained relatively the same. The maize price is the largest
driver in the requisites index and as stated earlier increased
signifi cantly from price levels in June 2010. In the next section
a detailed discussion follows on the maize price. The average
decrease of seven percent in the pork to maize price ratio
for BP and PP products can be explained by the higher maize
price. The price for BP in October 2010 was R14.99/kg, an
increase of 3.05% from August 2010.
Figure 2: Pork to maize price ratio
Information supplied by the Bureau of Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP)
In the previous report (September) the maize price increased by
R250/ton from its lowest level in June. The average November
price for yellow maize reached R1450/ton, R340/ton higher
than price levels in June. The increase in the maize price is
mainly due to international spikes in commodity prices as South
Africa currently lies at export parity and the R/dollar exchange
rate is relatively strong. From August to October the price for
PP increased by 2.14%. The prices for PP in August and October
2010 were R15.68/kg and R16.01/kg respectively.
Figure 3: Pork price and YM SAFEX price
In the previous report (September) the upward trend in sow
numbers came to an end and the same trend for sales continued
to reach its second highest level since March 2009. In the
sample of pork producers the increasing average trend for sales
has halted towards the end of September and decreased with
1.05% from August.
Figure 4: Sow numbers vs sales
The total numbers of sales in September 2010 was 53 598.
The moving average for sows remained the same from August
to September. The total number of sows in September was 30
879.
The total number of services has declined by 1.54% from
August to September. Actual services for August and September
were 7 165 and 7 055 respectively. The moving average
Porcus November/Desember 2010

Market conditions
(Figure 4) takes the average of the last 4 months total services.
In September the MA for services had declined by almost one
percent. In September the number of piglets that were borne
increased by 2.23%; however the moving average has declined
by 0.78%. The total number of piglets in September 2010 was
64 826. This amount is almost three percent higher than actual
levels in 2009.
Figure 5: Services vs piglets born
Abattoir level analysis
The abattoir analysis focuses on two aspects, namely the
number of pigs, sheep and cattle slaughtered and the abattoir
prices.
Figure 6: Total numbers slaughtered (price reporting
abattoirs)
The total number of animals slaughtered increased by 6.35%
from August to September 2010. The moving average value
has reached a level of 18 475 animals during the week of the
25th of September. This is an increase of two percent since
the week of 25 August. The number of pigs slaughtered in
September 2010 was 8.37% higher than in the same period in
2009. Total animals slaughtered , as reported by the levy administration,
increased signifi cantly from August to September
2010. An average increase of 25.3% was reported for cattle,
sheep and pig slaughters. In September the total national
slaughterings of cattle, sheep and pigs amounted to 230 864,
526 553 and 237 194 respectively.
Figure 7: Average slaughter quantities
Average weekly prices for various classes of pork experienced
signifi cant volatility since April 2010. The actual weekly prices
for PP quality pork have increased from R15.69/kg for the week
of 24 September to R15.93 for the fi rst week of October. Yet,
during October prices for PP declined by 0.25% and reached
a price level of R15.89/kg in the last week of October. During
September and October the price for BP increased by 4.2%
and traded at R15.16/kg at the end of October. The weekly
average prices for other classes experienced signifi cant growth
from actual levels in September. An increase in price for BR
and BO of 10.2% and 6.35% respectively materialised. Prices
are expected to increase towards the end of the year as the
demand for meat is boosted by the festive season.
Figure 8: Average price for various classes
Continued on p. 6
Porcus November/December 2010 5

NUTRiTiON
Market conditions continued from p. 5
Wholesale and retail price analysis
6
Market conditions
Figure 9: Margin analysis for porkers and
baconers,February, April, June, September and
November 2010
The margin between porker products has increased by 18.8%
from September to October. This can mainly be attributed to
a signifi cant increase in the price of marinated pork ribs. The
wholesale prices for class P porker remained the same for this
period at R20.5/kg. The index margin for porker products for
October was 95.5%. On the other side, the index margin for
baconer decreased by 1.7% with a value of 153.27% (base
year = 2008). The wholesale price for BP baconer products
have increased by R1/kg. The last recorded price for October
2010 was R18.5/kg.
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Imports from August increased towards September and October.
The actual imports for October 2010 amounted to 2 241
tonnes, 41% higher than imports in September. The three main
imports by country were Germany, Canada and France. Most
pork was imported from Germany with almost 1 180 tonnes in
October, followed by Canada and then France with 326.98 and
236.9 tonnes respectively. The total imports for the year until
October 2010 were 20 752 tonnes.
Figure 10: Imports of pork to South Africa
1 SAPPO pork producers farm survey (2010/11)
2 SAPPO pork producers farm survey (2010)
3 Data from the levy administration – no update available at time
of publication (www.levyadmin.co.za)
4 May price data has been estimated and may not be completely
representative.
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Porcus November/Desember 2010

SAPPO at a good place,
says James Jenkinson
New year’s message
by the chairman
SAPPO enjoyed a good but challenging
2010. The organisation currently finds itself
at a good place with our streamlined
portfolio committees effectively organising
our activities. To position SAPPO as
an even more streamlined organisation,
one that will be able to successfully
deal with the many challenges of the
future, we will brainstorm at an important
strategic planning session in January to
find ways to scrutinise the organisation’s
current state and to determine where
and how we can improve. Representatives
of all the provinces will attend this
crucial meeting.
Our prices were under extreme pressure
this year. I believe consumers still
feel the pressure of the recession.
On the promotional front we had
a good year with many successful
campaigns having been launched in
various media. Feedback from the trade
indicates that our promotional efforts are
successful and that these indeed lead to
increased sales of pork. South African
pork advertising made its debut on
television this year, and although an extremely
expensive medium to advertise
in, SAPPO believes that television will
have to form part of our advertising media
mix in future to get to the consumers’
minds, hearts and pockets.
Animal health remains a priority issue
for SAPPO and every pork producer is
urged to join our compartmentalisation
system. This is the only insurance you
can take out to secure the health status
of your herd.
A hearty thank you to my board
members and other provincial leaders
for your input and enthusiastic contri-
UPFRONT
James Jenkinson, chairman of
SAPPO
butions to safeguard the interests of
pork producers. Thank you also to the
SAPPO office for your hard work. May
you all have a peaceful Christmas and a
prosperous 2010.
Porcus November/December 2010 7

8
STUdiegROePe
Limpopo Varkstudiegroep hou afskeid
Die Limpopo Varkstudiegroep
het in November sy afskeid op
Modimolle gehou. Die foto’s is
by die geleentheid geneem.
1
3
5
1. Johan en Stefanie Pretorius en Christo en Jenkinson (Swineline), Pat Wright (Ibis Piggery),
Joey Steyn, almal van Mockford Farms voor, dr Annie Labuscagne (Charelsstraat Vets) en
2. Trish en Phillip Spencer (Mockford Farms), John Beghin (MG2Mix)
Sandy Emmerich (E5 Farming) en Peter Mock- 4. Pieter en Elmerie Swart (Ibis Piggery). Pieter is
ford (Mockford Farms)
die nuwe voorsitter van die studiegroep.
3. John Wright (Ibis Piggery), Karen en James 5. Wessel Whitehead (Addcon Africa), Koos Roos
(MG2Mix) en Tippie Marais (Instavet)
2
6. Laura en dr Piet Botha (Pretoria)
7. Anette Coetzee (Charlesstraat Vets), Pierre
Smith (Virbac) en lenie van der Walt (Pretoria)
8. Desmond Kotzé (Ibis Piggery), Hercules
Barnard (Nutrochem) en Kenny Fagan (Walt
Landgoed)
9. Karin en dr Koos Botha (Pretoria)
10. Willie en Christine Humphries en Kobus en
Jackie Humphries, almal van Humphries Boerdery
6 7
8 9 10
4
Porcus November/Desember 2010

STUdiegROePe
Noord-OVS Varkstudiegroep hou afskeid
Die Noord-Vrystaat Vark-
studiegroep het in November
sy afskeid buite Parys gehou.
Die foto’s is by die geleentheid
geneem.
1 2
3 4
5 6 7
8 9
1. Voor is Pierre, Loumé en Gerhard Theron
en agter is Ian Theron en Nico en Murial
Pretorius, almal van Wesselsbron.
2. Melanie en Ray Leppan (Boehringer
Ingelheim) en Tippie Marais (Instavet)
3. Simon Streicher (Pretoria), Henriëtte en
Gawie Pretorius (Heilbron), Bets Streicher
(Pretoria) en Lenie van der Walt (Pretoria).
Voor is Janke Pretorius.
4. JJ Barnard, Tracey Barnard en Jaco
Barnard van Denysville.
5. Agter is Marlu, Marli en Annerie Briers
en voor Hannes Briers en Bart Kloppers,
almal van Edenville.
6. Voor is Grant en Mandy Graham en
agter is Bianca en Graimund Graham,
almal van Heibron.
7. Adéle Els, Thys Els, Juandré Els en
Elbie Els, almal van Heilbron
8. Agter is Franco Kriek (Big Dutchman)
en Koos Roos (MG2Mix) en voor
Jennifer Kühn, Susan Kühn en Chantelle
Barnard, almal van Bothaville.
9. Die bestuur van die Noord-Vrystaatse
Varkstudiegroep is van links: Jaco
Barnard, Marlu Briers, Gawie Pretorius
(voorsitter), Henriëtte Pretorius, Grant
Graham en Susan Kühn.
Porcus November/December 2010 9

STUdiegROePe
Gauteng Varkstudiegroep vergader
Die Gauteng Vark-
studiegroep het in November
in Pretoria vergader. Die foto’s
is by die geleentheid geneem.
1 2
3 4
5 6
10
1. George Myburgh (Boehringer-Ingelheim), dr Bert Zumpt (Addcon Africa) en Cobus Bester
(Meadow)
2. Koos Roos (MG2Mix) en Tippie Marais (Intervet)
3. Mark Hunter (Nedbank), Reon Oosthuizen (Kanhym), Reef Hudson en Braam Hattingh en André
Truter (aldrie van Nedbank)
4. Simon Streicher (SAVPO) en Tosca Kotzé (Multipig)
5. Salmon Jonck (Swineline), Johan van Wyk (TOPIGS SA) en Jurie Nel (TOPIGS SA)
6. Charl Braak (GH Braak Trust), Wessel Whitehead (Addcon Africa) en Kobus Coetzee (Advit Nihol Nutrition)
Porcus November/Desember 2010

Emerging farmers are making
progress, says Qeda Nyoka
To convince developing
pig farmers that to make
money from this enterprise
means it must be run like
a business, is not an easy
task. But the man responsible
for SAPPO’s developing
farmer projects, Qeda
Nyoka, believes the company
is making strides.
“The number of successful developing
projects countrywide flourishing under
SAPPO’s caring eye, proves we are
helping developing pig farmers to cross
the bridge from just making a living out
of it, towards becoming commercially
successful,” he says.
Nyoka joined SAPPO in October
2006 to co-ordinate developing pig
farming projects mainly initiated by
government. “The organisation believes
commercial pork producers must assist
developing pig farmers for sustainability
as it is an intensive and highly specialised
form of farming,” he says
Lecturer
Nyoka was previously a lecturer in pig and
poultry science at the University of Zululand.
He obtained an Msc in agriculture
in America. His theoretical knowledge,
combined with the practical experience
he has gained over the past years, makes
him the perfect man for the job.
“There are still a lot of misconceptions
among developing pig farmers. Tech-
“It’s easy to spread diseases
among pig units if one’s biosecurity
measures are not
of the highest standard and
that would be to the detriment
of the entire industry.
We also want to ensure that
farming practices do not
harm the environment,”
he says.
nological advances have changed, therefore
farming and production methods
used to raise pigs 40 years ago simply
do not apply anymore.
Not easy
“It is not easy to make money from a pig
enterprise and most developing farmers
do not realise how much start-up capital is
needed for such an operation. It is an extremely
competitive business,” Nyoka says.
“In addition the profit margins are
small. Pig farms are getting bigger all
over the world and smaller producers
have to close shop because they cannot
economically survive. This is also the
trend in South Africa,” he points out.
SAPPO’s developing programme for
new producers mainly focuses on training,
which takes place on developing pig
units, at farmers’ days and by means of
study groups among developing farmers.
Farmers who are on the brink of
becoming commercial producers receive
intensive mentorship that mainly takes
place at pig units. Those already farming
commercially receive regular and more
focused attention.
Provincial pig veterinarians, who keep
a close watch on the disease status of
the units, regularly visit them. SAPPO
pays for these veterinarian visits. “We
want to ensure these farmers develop
and eventually make a meaningful contribution
towards commercial and sustain-
emeRgiNg FaRmeRS
Qeda Nyoka is responsible for
SAPPO’s emerging farmer projects
able pork production in South Africa,”
Nyoka says.
And there are success stories. According
to Nyoka about 20 units, located
in the North West, KwaZulu-Natal, the
Western and Eastern Cape and in Gauteng
are already able to sustain themselves
and meet all SAPPO’s requirements.
“Some even make a profit,” he
says.
“The perceptions about developing
farming are changing. Even subsistence
farmers who farm with pigs are looking at
ways to improve their operations. SAPPO
aims to play a leading mentorship role in
this regard,” Nyoka concluded.
Peter Malinga, a developing pig farmer at the Doornspruit Piggery in
Limpopo.
Porcus November/December 2010 11

QUaliTy aSSURaNce
The Premier Pork Producers’
(PPP) Quality Assurance
Scheme (QAT) will be
a national SAPPO scheme
as from next year. After
negotiations between PPP
and SAPPO, it was decided
that it is in the interest of
all pork producers to have
a national brand to assure
consumers of South African
pork’s high quality and
safety.
The PPP’s Quality Assurance Committee,
which consists of experts from
the entire value chain, will manage the
scheme for an interim period. Members
of other provinces will be co-opted on
the committee. Jacobus Hoffman, manager
of PPP who played a leading role in
creating the QAT system, explains.
12
Quality assurance scheme
to be rolled out nationally
Benefits
QAT certification is a guarantee to both
the consumer and retailing sector that
the producer has a consistent production
process that complies with minimum
standards and ensures high-quality pork.
QAT certification further ensures:
• that producers will meet the increasing
demand for food safety by retailers;
• savings in feed and medicine usage
through closer monitoring and avoidance
of wastage;
• that possible opportunities for improvement
in the production systems are
identified;
• that on-farm systems, practices and
documentation are audited.
Background
In consultation with the key players in the
pork products value chain (producers,
abattoirs, processors, retailers and pig
Jacobus Hoffman, manager of PPP
veterinarians) Premier Pork Producers
(PPP) has taken the needs of the industry
into consideration and, together with
these role-players, developed the QAT
system. The reason for developing the
QAT system is to deal with:
Porcus November/Desember 2010

• Biosecurity: The health status of the
pig industry is of critical importance to
the survival of the industry. The importance
of on-farm biosecurity, specifically
in respect of maintaining a high health
status, can therefore not be ignored.
• Food safety/consumer requirements:
Consumers today demand
food safety and security, and retailers
are responding to their customers’
requirements by offering quality assured
products. In order to comply with growing
consumer demands, pork producers
in South Africa will have to adhere to a
system that confirms minimum accepted
quality standards.
QAT certification requirements
No producer can implement and/or participate
in the system without at least:
• entering into an individual contract with
SAPPO.
• having an accredited veterinary consultant
who, in return, frequently visits,
advises and evaluates the farm and
production processes.
• having developed an in-house Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) document.
• complying with the QAT standards,
verified by an independent auditing
process.
Scope of QAT standards
The aim of the document is to help the
producer or manager to be involved in
the quality assurance process. The producer
or manager should develop his or
her own Standard Operating Procedure
(SOP) document, talking into account his
or her own production processes as well
as the guidelines as addressed in the
QAT Standards document.
The current set of standards
addresses:
• Access control
• Internal biosecurity
• Pest control
• Feeding and feed quality
• Housing management and care
• Sanitary and hygiene requirements
• Medication and vaccine management
and usage
• Manure and water effluent
• Transportation
A full copy of the Standards is available
from the SAPPO office.
Producers need to allow sufficient
time for the training of staff as part of the
QUaliTy aSSURaNce
implementation of the QAT standards. It
is further suggested that the standards
be in operation for at least two months
before it can be audited.
The process is simple, and with the
help of a veterinary consultant it can be
managed within a few months. Many
producers are already implementing
most of the QAT Standards, and certification
of the farm is merely a matter of
documenting on-farm practices.
Once a producer has indicated that he
or she is interested to have a farm QAT
certified, SAPPO will oversee and assist
in the following processes:
• The producer or farm should apply to
SAPPO to receive QAT documents.
• In consultation with his or her veterinarian
the producer must develops his
or her own Standard Operating Procedure
(SOP) document, which includes
the QAT Standards.
• Implement the SOP on the farm and
keep records as required. (For many
producers this does not differ from what
they are already doing)
• SAPPO will appoint an accredited
person or institution to audit the farm
• The farm will be approved and certifica-
Continued on p. 15
Porcus November/December 2010 13

14
QUaliTy aSSURaNce
Quality assurance
systems nothing new in
other countries
Quality assurance systems
are nothing new in other
countries and many meat
producers have been participating
in such systems
for many years, says Jacobus
Hoffman, manager of
the Premier Pork Producers,
who have been playing
a leading role in establishing
such a system for pork
producers in South Africa.
Hoffman points out that the National
Consumer Protection Bill, among others,
leave producers with little choice
but to adhere to the higest production
standards. Pick n Pay recently said: “The
recently tabled Consumer Protection
Bill leaves us with very little choice but
to pursue and escalate the process of
auditing our suppliers and holding them
accountable for the safety of the products
they supply to the retailers.”
But how does these systems work in
other countries?
The Neterhlands
The Dutch national quality system for
pig farming, Integrale Keten Beheersing,
integrated chain control (IKB), forms the
quality basis for the production process
of pork. IKB covers matters such as animal
health, animal feed, farming, animal
welfare and hygiene. IKB is based on
monitoring the entire production chain.
Transport companies, veterinary surgeons
and abattoirs and meat processing
plants all come under the IKB scope.
“Our system closely resembles the Dutch
system,” says Hoffman.
The USA
The American Pork Quality Assurance
Programme (PQA) has already started in
1989.
The purpose of the system is to help
American pork producers meet consumer
demands for quality and safety.
Since then, PQA materials have been
revised periodically to provide producers
timely and accurate information for
producing safe, wholesome pork.
US pork producers have a long tradition
of social responsibility. The tradition
includes the development of producer/
certification programmes that producers
can use to ensure that US pork products
are of the highest quality and safe, and
that the animals raised for food are cared
for in a way that ensures their well-being.
In 1989, pork producers developed
the Pork Quality Assurance programme,
a producer education and certification
programme to reduce the risk of violative
animal health product residues in pork.
New Zealand
Providing an “enjoyable eating experience
every time” has become a key
driving influence of the New Zealand Pork
Industry’s quality assurance programme.
This means providing a product that the
consumer finds enjoyable and safe to eat.
The Australians believe that perceptions
of quality are important and so is
animal welfare, worker health and safety.
The pork industry’s response was
the Pork Quality Improvement Process
(PQIP), an industry devised total quality
management programme.
Australia
A primary aim of the Australian Pork
Industry Quality Programme (APIQ) is to
have pig farmers think of themselves as
food producers, and focus on consumers’
rights to safe, wholesome food
accordingly.
In 1997, a new national quality assur-
Porcus November/Desember 2010

ance (QA) project, was initiated by the
Pork Council of Australia.
Canada
Canada’s quality assurance programme,
CQA, was introduced in 1998. This is
the producer component in the pork
industry’s commitment to total quality
assurance for customers at home and
around the world.
UK
The British Meat Quality Standard Mark
was first introduced in 1999 to differentiate
pork, bacon and ham produced to
high stadards of husbandry and welfare
— encompasing feed, housing and
regular independent inspection by the
UK State Veterinary Service.
It immediately made an impact as the
mark shoppers trusted for quality — and
established a 79 per cent consumer
awareness and recognition factor. The
mark was soon extended to also apply
to sausages.
Quality assurance from p. 13
tion will be issued once the farm complies
with all requirements.
• A unique certification number will be issued
in order to identify the farm or production
unit.
• Certification will be done once every 12
months, but will be subject to a minimum
of two additional internal audits during the
12-month period.
• SAPPO reserves the right to conduct an
audit inspection at any time without prior
notice to the producer.
In order to assist the producer, PPP has
developed generic SOP documents and
registers. They are freely available on application.
aNimal HealTH
Quick guide to Parvovirus
Dr Andrew Tucker – Charles Street
Veterinary Consultancy
What is Parvovirus?
Porcine parvovirus (PPV) is a small
DNA virus. It is ubiquitous among pigs
throughout the world and is endemic in
most herds that have been tested. The
virus spreads via oral and nasal secretions,
faeces, urine, semen and products
of parturition. The disease develops
mainly when previously unexposed
dams are exposed during the first half of
gestation. The foetus or embryo is then
infected across the placenta.
How do you know if it’s on your farm?
Parvovirus causes returns to oestrus,
failure to farrow, decrease in litter
size, increased number of mummies,
increase number of stillbirths and
sometimes abortions. It usually infects
the foetus or embryo without showing
any outward maternal clinical signs.
Infection is particularly prominent in
newly introduced animals and first
litter gilts.
How do you treat or prevent it?
It is at this stage not possible to eradicate
parvovirus from your herd. Being
a virus it is not possible to treat the
infection so in this case prevention is
certainly better then cure. Vaccination
is widely used to prevent parvovirus.
A typical vaccine is inactivated and
is administered as two doses, 3-4
weeks apart with follow up vaccinations
every 6 months. The virus can
also be transmitted in semen so it is
important to vaccinate boars as well.
Note that maternal immunity may not
disappear until 6-7 months of age
so it is important to adapt the gilt
vaccination programme so as not to
vaccinate before this time.
References:
Pig Diseases – D.J.Taylor; Diseases of Swine
– Straw, Zimmerman, D’Allaire, Taylor
PPP developed this stamp to be applied to carcases of farms participating in the system. A
similar stamp will now be developed for the national SAPPO system.
Porcus November/December 2010 15

Biosecurity high on
Leanside’s agenda
1. What is your policy on biosecurity
and do you think that local producers
take biosecurity seriously
enough?
At Leanside Stud we have actively implemented
a full biosecurity policy (on file)
with management setting the example.
It is extremely important for livestock
producers and suppliers to ensure that
health standards and biosecurity in
general is adhered to. This is important
to protect their own business and that
of their customers and the industry as a
whole. Our livestock has complied with
standards laid out by the Breeder Herd
Health Monitoring Scheme and CSF
Compartmentalisation for a number of
years. With our current expansion plans,
Mockford Farms now also complies with
Compartmentalisation (we have just received
our certificate) and our application
for SAPPO/PPP QA has been processed
and we await the results of our external
audit. Producers have definitely become
more serious about biosecurity in recent
years and cannot afford not to take it
seriously. There is naturally room for
improvement. Biosecurity is all about
managing risk and so it makes sense to
ensure that good standards are upheld
throughout the chain from the breeding
of replacement livestock through to the
consumers.
2. What does the future hold for the
pig breeding industry and on what
breeding characteristics are you going
to focus in the next decade and
why?
The future of pig breeding remains
exciting and challenging. Although
technology has advanced in terms of
making use of information from the pig
genome project, the traditional methods
are developing breeding traits are still
relevant for the upcoming decade and at
Mockford Farms we would like to see a
continued improvement as follows:
• Improvement of numbers born alive –
we have established a good platform for
this and have concentrated on numbers
born alive for 15 years. However, we are
cautious about not letting individual birth
weights drop too much in favour of high
numbers born and consequent problems
with survival and vigorous growth.
At Mockford Farms, we aim to expand
our dedicated dam line genetic base by
doubling the number of Landrace and
Large White sows from about 500 to 1
000. This will enable us to accelerate our
development in all dam line traits including
longevity and milkability.
• Improvement of weaning weights (21
day litter weights) – we are starting to
focus on this in order to equip our producers
to wean better quality piglets so
that a good start is made in the race to
We are starting to focus
on the improvement of
weaning weights in order
to equip our producers
to wean better quality
piglets so that a good
start is made in the race
to maximise profit.
maximise profit. The trick is to balance
total piglets weaned per sow with good
weaning weights and producers should
be targeting weights of 8kg per piglet
while maintaining over 11 weaned per
litter.
• Improvement of sire line traits – as
always, FCR of the growing pig (coupled
with fat percentage and ADG) is extremely
important in running a profitable
production system. Our Duroc pigs have
shown exciting development in recent
years. Our dam line pigs are also being
tweaked conservatively.
One of the things we hope to do
differently at Mockford Farms in the next
decade is to establish partnerships with
the local and international pig breeding
industry in order to better make use of
technology and to expand our genetic
base. This will mean some improvements
in:
• Computer technology and associated
customer benefits
• BLUP technology and implementation
BReediNg
As usual, we focus in the last
edition of Porcus for the year
on the South African breeding
industry. We asked a number of
prominant breeders the following:
1. What is your policy on biosecurity
and do you think that
local producers take biosecurity
seriously enough?
2. What does the future hold for
the pig breeding industry and
on what breeding characteristics
are you going to focus in
the next decade and why?
Peter Mockford (top) and Phillip
Spencer of Leanside/ Mockford Farms
• Marketing and after sales service to
customers
• Expansion of our market into all provinces
in South Africa
• Semen distribution and AI
• Exportation of South African genetics
• Measurement of meat quality traits.
Porcus November/December 2010 17

18
TEMPO: The resistant one
TEMPO
> Robust
> Vital
> Uniform progeny
High feed intake capacity
+ High growth
= Higher returns
Contact: Francois du Toit
082 379 2153
www.TOPIGS.com
Porcus November/Desember 2010

TeliNg
Hou wat op die plaas is op die plaas
Francois du Toit – TOPIGS SA
1. Wat is julle beleid oor biosekuriteit
en dink jy produsente is ernstig
genoeg hieroor?
TOPIGS SA se beleid is eenvoudig: Hou
dit wat op die plaas is op die plaas en
verhoed dat nuwe skadelike bakterieë
of virusse wat nie op ons varkplase is
nie, daar inkom. Daarom poog ons om
voortdurend ons biosekuriteitsmaatreëls
op ‘n hoër vlak te bestuur.
Die meeste van TOPIGS SA se kliënte
is gedurig besig om hulle biosekuriteitsmaatreëls
te verskerp. Hulle besef dat
dit krities belangrik is, nie net vir hul eie
boerderye nie maar ook ter wille van die
beskerming van die gesondheidstatus
van die nasionale kudde.
Ongewenste organismes kan net
versprei indien biosekuriteitsmaatreëls
gebrekkig toegepas word. Ons vind
dat al meer produsente belangstel in
SAVPO se kompartementaliseringstelsel.
Produsente wat nie deelneem nie, hou
‘n groot risiko in vir die Suid-Afrikaanse
varkvleisbedryf.
2. What does the future hold for the
pig breeding industry and on what
breeding characteristics are you going
to focus in the next decade and
why?
The more breeding companies find out
about the genetic ability of the pig, the
more we realise that opportunities for
improvement are immense. TOPIGS
International has the ability, research
facilities and capable, dedicated staff to
further improve the genetic progress of
the TOPIGS pig. They strive to improve
the production ability of our animals
in regions with challenging health and
climate conditions.
The number of piglets born alive will
always be a characteristic to focus on.
Balanced breeding will however result
in targeting other genes to help lower
the cost of production. In future, the
piglets will be more vital and uniform with
increased selection pressure on mothering
ability in the sow lines. In the next
decade, labour will be limitary, therefore,
selection for animals that promote ease
of management will get preference. In
Francois du Toit – TOPIGS SA
the sire lines, the FCR and growth rate
will keep on improving while emphasis
will further be placed on lean meat
percentage and meat quality. Certain sire
lines will specialise in product diversity
to satisfy the demand for specific pork
qualities in the consumer market.
In the future, further genetic resistance
to health challenges will be fully researched
and utilised to benefit TOPIGS
clients.
Kliënte van TOPIGS SA maak
skoonskip in Limpopo-kompetisie
Kliënte van TOPIGS SA het
al drie die Limpopo Varkstudiegroep
se produksiepryse
vir 2010 ingepalm. Hier is
die wenners: Kobus Humphries
(Humphries Boerdery),
Richard Hobbs (Rubicon) en
Fanie Hugo (Leeukuil).
Richard Hobbs het nael-
skraap gewen deur gedurende
die tydperk Oktober
’09 tot September ’10 ‘n allemintige
27 varkies per sog
per jaar te speen.
Porcus November/December 2010 19

20
Porcus November/Desember 2010

SaVPO
Porcus November/December 2010 21

TeliNg
Moniteringstelsels
word op hoë vlak
gehou
1. Wat is julle beleid oor biosekuriteit
en dink jy produsente is ernstig
genoeg hieroor?
Biosekuriteit is uiters belangrik vir ons eie
besighede sowel as dié van ons kliënte.
Dus neem ons plase deel aan PPP se
kwaliteitsversekeringskema en is al die
teelplase en GTC gekompartementaliseer.
Onafhankilike monitoring is uiters
belangrik om plaasstelsels op ‘n hoë vlak
te hou en geloofwaardigheid na buite te
gee. Daar is n groeiende bewustheid van
die noodsaaklikheid van goeie biosekuriteitmaatreëls
by produsente. Vooruitstrewende
produsente neem reeds
deel aan die kompartementalisering en
kwaliteitsversekeringstelsels.
Ons sal graag wil sien dat alle produsente
aan sulke skemas deelneem. As
bedryf het ons ‘n kritiese aantal produ-
sente nodig wat deelneem om ons
bedryf te beskerm. Die vrye handel van
varkvleis en ongedissiplineerde aktiwiteite
van informele produsente hou
geweldige bedreigings in, veral as hulle
nie streng biosekuriteitstelsels in plek het
nie.
22
2. What does the future hold for the
pig breeding industry and on what
breeding characteristics are you going
to focus in the next decade and
why?
The past ten years have been a very
exiting period in pig genetic improvement
due to numerous technological
advances. As a PIC franchise, we have
seen the following:
* A wide range of performance data from
the many PIC herds around the world
are processed in the PIC BLUP system.
* Carcass evaluation data from all lines
are added to the performance data.
* Performance of progeny from PIC nucleus
selected boars are evaluated under
commercial circumstances and added to
the mountain of information processed.
* PIC has for many years been at the
forefront in the development of marker
assisted selection (MAS). There are 159
DNA markers used in trait EBV’s today
plus an additional 227 markers in future
validation prior to using MA-BLUP. This
data also need to be collected with
the performance data and analysed
EDE FARMING (PTY) Ltd.
Grower/Weaner Manager – Mpumalanga
Modern 3 site pork production facility needs a candidate
for above opportunity.
The successful candidate must have:
• Sound human relationship skills
• An affinity for animals
• An ability to work as part of a team
• Tersiary education
High commitment and honesty is expected.
Fax CV to 086 637 3508
Arthur Gee, PIC/Kanhym
to improve the accuracy of predicting
breeding values.
PIC has always had a strong focus on
delivering real economic value to their
commercial customers. PIC has made
major improvements in the wide range of
genetic parameters to deliver a balanced
product that does not only excel in one
or two characteristics.
MAS have contributed greatly to this. It
is especially helpful for qualities that are
difficult to measure in the live animal like
carcass quality, robustness (mortality),
animal behaviour or qualities that can
only be measured in one sex only.
These developments have greatly
speeded up the rate of genetic progress
compared to previous decades.
The enormous amount of date to be
processed to generate breeding values
has necessitated PIC to develop new
software and statistical methods to be
able to analyse all these data quickly.
This along with new generation computer
hardware has enabled them to
decrease the computer run times from
weeks to hours.
PIC has been hugely involved in the
genome-wide association study. This is
the detail study of the pig genome. PIC
is among the very few breeding companies
already implementing this new
technology and generating genomic
estimated breeding values. This is partly
possible because there is no longer a
practical limit to the amount of data they
can process efficiently.
So where does it leave our PIC clients?
It takes time for genetic improvement
to reach the commercial producer. PIC
is a leader in technology. Many of the
developments highlighted above are now
utilised by our clients. A further focus of
PIC is to help the commercial producer
to understand how to get the full advantage
out of the PIC genetic package.
Porcus November/Desember 2010

Biosekuriteit: Telers moet voorbeeld
vir res van die bedryf stel
Neil Dry, Niemen Stoet
1. Wat is julle beleid oor biosekuriteit
en dink jy produsente is ernstig
genoeg hieroor?
Ons as telers moet die voorbeeld stel
as dit by biosekuriteit op die plaas kom.
Ons moet ons kliënte adviseer en die belangrikheid
van biosekuriteit beklemtoon
indien nodig.
2. Wat hou die toekoms in vir die
Suid Afrikaanse teelbedryf en op
watter eienskappe gaan julle in die
volgende dekade fokus en hoekom?
Die teelbedryf gaan baie dinamies
oor die volgende paar jaar wees. KI
by varke het aansienlik oor die laaste
twee jaar gegroei en het nou algemene
praktyk geword. Selfs Intra-Utinirêre KI
word ook algemene praktyk. Daar word
van geslagsbepaling met beersemen
gepraat. Dit is moeilik om te glo, maar
oor ‘n jaar of twee sal daar boerderye
wees wat dié praktyk kan gebruik en wat
se voordele gaan daar dan nie vir alle
varkboere en telers wees nie? Die telers
wat dié soort leiding gaan gee, sal die
telers wees wat in die toekoms teeldiere
aan kommersiële boere sal verskaf.
My fokus as teler gaan wees om die
langlewendheid by my diere te verbeter.
Sôe moet langer op kliënte se plase kan
bly en produktief hulle plek volstaan.
Jong diere is in baie gevalle moeilik om
mee te boer as gevolg van die ekstra
aandag en bestuur wat hulle vereis en
soms nie kry nie.
Hoekom ‘n sog slag wat op haar
agtste werpsel nog ‘n werpsel van 80kg
speen? Diere wat die vermoë het om
lank op ‘n plaas te bly, is tog diere met
sterk pote-konformasie en die vermoë
om gou op hitte te kom asook om
maklik te jong. Ek verstaan wel dat hoe
ouer ‘n sog word, hoe swakker word
TeliNg
die sametrekkings van die baarmoeder,
wat dan ‘n lang jong-periode tot gevolg
het, maar ons gebruik wel die jongingstydperk
as seleksie-middel en gaan dit al
hoe strenger toepas.
My fokus gaan wees om my kliënte
gelukkig te hou en van hulle af te hoor
wat hulle behoeftes is en dáárvolgens my
telings, seleksies en parameters aanpas
om sodoende diere te teel wat híér in
ons land, produktief is.
Porcus November/December 2010 23

24
FeediNg
Porcus November/Desember 2010

Smaller producers
don’t always take
biosecurity seriously
enough
Mike Benson, Hogan Stud
1. What is your policy on biosecurity
and do you think that local producers
take biosecurity seriously
enough?
A good definition of biosecurity would
be “measures imposed to protect a biological
system from attack by potentially
harmful microorganisms that can reduce
the level of health of man and animals.”
Many routes exist for disease to gain
entry to the farm. These include animate
objects such as live pigs, dead pigs,
people, birds, rodents, flies, and semen
and inanimate objects such as transport,
feed, air, water, clothing, tools and
equipment, food and drink items.
Hogan is a closed herd, meaning that
our new genetics are from semen, both
fresh and frozen. We keep a strict fly
control program using larval inhibitors.
The lorry picking up pigs for slaughter is
washed and disinfected before visiting
the herd. A precaution against contamination
from such lorries is having a safe
pig-loading bay and by not allowing the
driver into the pig buildings. Visitors are
reduced to a minimum and any that have
to enter the piggery change into clothes
and boots that are kept on the farm. We
also insist that visitors stay away from
other pigs for a period of time before
visiting us. Our staff keep away from wild
pigs and other piggeries and wear clean
clothing and boots to work each day. A
secure, electrified perimeter fence keeps
unwanted people and possible vectors
out. Foot baths are provided at the
entrance to the farm and at each building.
We do not claim to be a high health
herd but rather a high immune herd.
This allows us to sell to smaller emerging
farmers who require a more robust, less
temperamental animal.
Our feeling is that the smaller local
producers don’t take biosecurity seriously.
All pigs brought onto the farm
should be quarantined, or at least physically
separated from your own pigs for at
least a month and treated with antibiotics
at therapeutic levels for pneumonias,
dewormed, demanged and vaccinated.
At Hogan we feel that
we have an underrated
product that we don’t
actively market, we
also don’t feel that we
want to tie people into
a contract.
A single source of breeding stock should
also be used rather than buying from
numerous sources and therefore from
different disease profiles.
2. What does the future hold for the
pig breeding industry and on what
breeding characteristics are you going
to focus in the next decade and
why?
There is currently a huge amount of
competition for market share with long
term contracts for replacement stock
being offered. At Hogan we feel that
we have an underrated product that
we don’t actively market, we also don’t
feel that we want to tie people into a
contract. If someone is happy with what
we provide they will come back for more.
Our breeding goals for the next decade
are not back fat or numbers born alive
which are at a very competitive level thus
our concentration going forward will be
focused on feet, legs and sow longevity.
Models have shown that production
BReediNg
Mike Benson, Hogan Stud
systems with the lowest replacement
rates were most profitable. Similarly,
sows with high lifetime production values,
a trait closely related to longevity,
reduced breeding cost/pig weaned. A
higher proportion of high-parity females
is a clear indication of a herd’s lifetime
reproductive performance. At Hogan we
feel that the optimal economic time to
cull a sow is after her eighth or ninth parity.
The bottom line is that a replacement
female must produce a sufficient number
of offspring to offset her purchase price
and maintenance costs. This edge can
make one farm more successful than
another. Reproductive failure, which can
encompass a variety of problems such
as failure to cycle or inability to conceive,
is clearly the single biggest reason sows
are removed from the breeding herd. Our
grading figures are over 85% P’s and O’s
on 73kg carcasses averaged over the
last 12 months. Breeding thinner animals
would only compromise sow condition
at weaning. Thin sows at weaning have
been problematic ever since intensive
management of the sow herd became
commonplace. Poor body condition
contributes to poor reproductive performance.
Once sows reach the fourth
parity, culling for reproductive failure
becomes less of an issue. Feet and leg
structure is critical to ensure animals
survive the desired nine lactations. As
sows get older and heavier their litters
also become larger putting excessive
strain on feet and legs, often resulting
in collapse and therefore the inability to
rear their litter. Internationally there is
talk of “30 pigs per sow per year” and
the “two ton sow”, the only way this can
be achieved is with sows that last parity
after parity and we are confident that our
genetics are up there with the best.
Porcus November/December 2010 25

26
FeediNg
Porcus November/Desember 2010

PROmOTiON
British production still lags
behind
Despite improvements in daily liveweight
gain and pigs fi nished per sow, Britain still
lags behind its European competition in
the production stakes.
The latest fi gures from the BPEX publication
on international cost of production
show Britain produced 1 643kg pig meat
per sow in 2009 - the lowest of all the EU
countries.
Though this is two per cent better
than 2008, it is still well below the target
in the Two-Tonne Sow campaign aimed
at bringing the UK into line with its major
competitors by 2013.
Improved business climate
for livestock farmers
The economic environment for European
farmers continues to improve according
to the results of the DLG Trend Monitor
survey for Europe conducted this
autumn by the DLG in conjunction with
Europe’s leading agricultural market think
tank, the Kleffmann Group.
The Trend Monitor survey found a
clear upward trend compared to the
2010 spring survey, both in the assessment
of the current business climate
and expectations for the future. Around
3 500 farmers in Germany, France, the
UK, Poland, the Czech Republic and
Hungary took part in the survey.
African swine fever a threat
for European industry
African swine fever, currently present in
Southern Russia, will also be a threat
for the European Union. This is according
to Sergey Yushin from the Russian
National Meat Association in Berlin.
Every year, the disease spread 260
kilometres to the west, Yushin said. He
said that Russia underestimated the
problem. “It took me two years to convince
the Russian authorities to solve
the problem with the disease,” Yushin
commented. Now Russia is giving
US$250 to 300 million to eradicate the
disease. Political pressure from the EU
would be more than welcome, Yushin
said.
International
Mexican trucking dispute
causing major damage to
US pork industry
In August, Mexico put a 5 percent tariff
on most US pork imports, as well as
tariffs on other US products, in reprisal
for the United States not complying with
a provision of the 1994 North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that allows
Mexican trucks to haul goods into
America. The provision was supposed to
become effective in December 1995.
The National Pork Producers Council
has been urging the Obama administration
to resolve as quickly as possible the
trucking dispute, which fi rst erupted in
March 2009 when Mexico placed higher
tariffs on an estimated $2.4 billion of US
goods after the US Congress failed to
renew a pilot program that let a limited
number of Mexican trucking companies
to haul freight beyond a 25-mile U.S.
commercial zone.
USDA - better measures to
reduce antibiotic use
The USDA needs to take more steps to
strengthen measures to reduce the “overuse
of antibiotics” in livestock production.
This is according to House Rules Committee
Chair Louise Slaughter in a letter
to Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Slaughter’s letter says she’s pleased
with USDA’s response in August that it is
considering an “antibiotics module” for
certifi ed large animal vets; its call for minimising
antibiotic resistance transmission
through the food chain through cooperative
extension agents; the USDA’s plans
to create a united report; and, formation
of a working group on antibiotic resistance.
Slaughter wants the USDA to expand
its on-farm monitoring of antibiotic use
and resistance as well as related research
and veterinary training.
Slaughter says this is a critical public
health issue and competition issue for US
livestock producers adding that the EU,
New Zealand, Thailand and Korea have
all banned or are starting to ban antibiotic
growth promoters in animal feed.
Slaughter’s pending legislation would allow
antibiotics only for sick animals and ban
them for use in daily feed supplements.
Germany: Abandonment of
piglet castration realistic
The German meat industry continues to
be optimistic about the feasibility of a pig
industry without the castration practice
in young male piglets.
German food quality watchdog Quality
and Security (QS) concluded this on
the basis of results of a one-day workshop,
called “Abandonment of piglet
castration – status and perspectives”,
held November 11, in Berlin, Germany, in
which last two years’ efforts were evaluated.
In Germany, as well as in other
countries around North Western Europe,
alternatives are being researched for
boar castration.
Alternative protein source
for nursery pigs
Researchers at North Carolina State
University have found fermented soybean
meal to have great potential in weaner pig
feeds.
Formulation of diets for nursery pigs
requires a trade-off between utilising
protein sources that are highly palatable
and digestible and those that are low
cost. While the major concern of the use
of animal protein sources in nursery pig
diets has been cost, recent concerns
over animal health and food safety related
to feeding animal products back to food
animals have added greater complexity
to this issue. These concerns have also
spurred research towards improving the
quality of plant protein sources for use in
diets for newly weaned pigs.
Recent work in our Department by drs
Sung Woo Kim and Eric van Heugten
along with their colleagues has examined
a fermented soybean meal (FSBM) product
for use in diets designed for newly
weaned pigs. The FSBM tested was
produced by Genebiotech Co. Ltd (Seoul,
Korea) by fermenting soybean meal with a
fungus (Aspergillus oryzae) that has been
used for human food fermentations for
centuries. In addition to partially digesting
the proteins in the soybean meal,
thereby improving their digestibility, the
fermentation process also reduced the
concentrations of several anti-nutritional
compounds found in soybean meal.
Sources: The PigSite, Pigs Progress
Porcus November/December 2010 27

Smart lighting technology reduces
farmer’s energy consumption
The rising cost of doing business, including higher
electricity bills, has made profit margins in the
farming sector increasingly tight. Savings achieved
by using energy more efficiently can help farmers
be much more competitive, especially when prices
of produce are under pressure.
For former Springbok prop, André-Henri (Ollie) le Roux, the
broiler business on his farm outside Bloemfontein has provided
a successful post-rugby career since 2000.
The broiler market is cut-throat, and le Roux says every last drop
of productivity has to be wrung out of his resources to remain
competitive. Electricity is central to his productivity, with 74 percent
of his operating costs energy-related.
Broiler chicks are reared in a controlled environment where
heating and light intensity determine how efficiently the chicks
grow to optimal size. Too little or too much of either has
a profound impact on chick mortality and growth rates.
To reduce his farm’s energy consumption, le Roux
substituted traditional 1000W halogen and
400HPS security lights for 140W Compact
Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). He also replaced
960, 60W incandescent lights, with 13W CFLs,
an investment which he recouped in 30 months.
CFLs emit the same amount of light as incandescent
lights, yet use just 20% of the electricity. CFLs also
last six times longer. So where Le Roux previously had
to replace 10 to 15 bulbs per house each brooding
cycle, this has since dropped to about two CFLs for all
his coops.
The upshot for le Roux is that, even though CFLs
cost a little more to purchase, they have saved
him between 20 and 50 percent on his electricity
bill – plus his consumption patterns are now
more predictable.
For advice on how to transform your farm into an
energy efficient one, call the Eskom Contact Centre
on 08600 ESKOM (08600 37566) and log a query for
an energy advisor in your area to contact you.
Eskom Holdings Limited Reg No 2002/015527/06
28
www.eskom.co.za/dsm
Porcus November/Desember 2010
ESKD129932/E

Government serious about
regulating feeds industry
Although the government is serious
about regulating the animal feeds
industry, the Department of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)
will consult with all groups before the
proposed Feeds Bill becomes an Act,
said Siyabonga Mbambo, technical
advisor for the Department, at a
meeting with representatives of the
livestock commodity organisations.
“Self mixers will be addressed as a
group seperate to the commercial
feed mixers,” he said.
Mbambo said at the meeting that various
stakeholders are affected by the Feeds
Bill, such as the public and consumer
groups and the government believes that
regulation of the animal feeds industry is
necessary to enhance traceability and food
safety. The matter therefore not only affects
self-mixers. “It is DAFF’s responsibility
to balance stakeholders concerns and
views on food safety and food security. We
have to take the next 50 years into consideration,
for example the advent of a food
control agency. Adherence to minimum
regulations with regard to self-mixing, will
therefore be expected,” he said.
You’ve got?
Adsorbant (clay,
silica, vermicullite,…)
Acid Mix (purity?)
ADDCON Africa Feed & Grain Additives (Pty) Ltd.
PO - Box 4193, Dainfern 2055, South Africa
Phone: 011 - 460 4002 / 3, Fax: 011 - 460 4000
Klaus J. Oster: 083 - 675 3141, klaus@tega.co.za
Johann van Niekerk: 082 - 780 5240, carnett@iafrica.com
Dawie Fourie: 082 - 651 9024, dawie@tega.co.za
He also said that the need for regulations
governing all feeds in South Africa
is necessary as these infl uence technical
agreements between governments
in respect to matters such as BSE and
antibiotics.
The representatives of the livestock
organisations highlight the following concerns
at the meeting:
• The self-mixing fraternity consists of a
wide range of people and facilities, some
using wheelbarrows to mix feed, to producers
using sophisticated equipment.
This requires diverse regulations.
• In Europe producers pay up to 10%
of their production costs to comply with
similar regulations.
• Up to 45% of South African’s small stock
slaughtering takes place in the informal
sector. This will make the policing of the
regulations diffi cult, if not impossible.
• There is not enough clarity on the regulations
and the industry can therefore not
be expected to support the Bill.
• It will be impractical to apply and police
the regulations.
• If only people who mixes a full feed and
sell this to a third party are to be registered,
it will address more than 90% of
We deliver!
Crystallization mineral (Potassium)
Formate/Formic Acid
(100%)
aNimal Feed
the department’s concerns.
• Traceability systems in the livestock industry
will also address traceability in the
feed sector. Self-regulation will therefore
be suffi cient.
The department agreed to compile a
document in conjunction with self-mixers
containing practical regulations to be
used as a guideline in future.
Wessel
joins
Addcon
Africa
Adcon Africa is proud to announce
that Wessel Whitehead has joined its
team in South Africa. With his previous
employment record and experience
gained over the past 20 years
at the Department of Agriculture,
the piggery of GH Braak Trust and
with Big Dutchman, Addcon Africa is
certain that Wessel will add a lot of
value to its operation. Addcon Africa
welcomes Wessel and wishes him a
lot of success. Wessel will mainly look
after the company’s pig and poultry
divisions. He can be contacted on
082 321 8210 or wessel@tega.co.za
• 100% active ingredients
• Maximum efficacy
• Salmonella & E. coli control
Registered in South Africa according to Act 36 - No. V - 21030
www.addcon-africa.net
Porcus November/December 2010 29

Have an extra piglet* on us!
Alltech South Africa
PO Box 7156
Stellenbosch, 7599
Tel: (021) 865 2669
Fax: (021) 865 2673
www.alltech.com
30
Optimise sow and piglet performance by adding Bioplex ® Trace Minerals
and Sel-Plex ® in your sow diets.
These highly available mineral sources have been proven to better meet
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Feed for performance with Bioplex Trace Minerals and Sel-Plex from
Alltech ® ...the solutions provider.
* Independent research has shown that the use of Bioplex Trace Minerals
and Sel-Plex in sow diets has resulted in extra 0.6-1 piglet per litter.
Porcus November/Desember 2010

Alltech provides platform for
young scientists to succeed
Entering into its sixth year,
the Alltech Young Scientist
Program is offering the opportunity
for students with
an interest in the field of
science to blossom. This
innovative contest gives
college co-eds the chance
to be recognised and win
prizes for their writing of
topics dealing with animal
feed technologies.
Education begins with children, but it
shouldn’t stop there,” said dr Pearse
Lyons, president and founder of Alltech.
“The Alltech Young Scientist Program
ensures that students pursuing degrees
in science are recognised. This program
has continued to have an increase in
entries every year with our goal being
50 000 entries in the next few years.”
Michael Steele, from the University of
Guelph in Canada, was the 2010 graduate
winner and won with a groundbreak-
ing research paper that examined the
molecular mechanisms underlying rumen
epithelial adaption to high grain diets in
dairy cattle.
“Winning this award has inspired and
motivated me to strive for research
excellence. Alltech has provided the
perfect platform for young scientists to
be rewarded for their hard work,” said
Steele.
2010 undergraduate winner Lee Ann
Huber, also from the University of Guelph,
carried out important new research
examining amino acid use in swine diets,
specifically the previously ignored area of
optimal ratio of isoleucine to lysine in pig
starter diets.
Huber stated about the program, “The
Alltech Young Scientist program is an
unmatched opportunity to improve your
writing and presentation skills as well
as discuss animal science and nutrition
with world renowned researchers.
Every person has unique ideas and the
potential to improve the face of nutrition
research.”
To participate, students must write a
iNVeSTiNg iN THe FUTURe
scientific paper based on a topic about
animal feed technologies. Undergraduate
students’ papers must be 3 000
words in length and graduate students’
papers must be 5 000 words in length.
Papers must be submitted through the
template software available on www.
alltechyoungscientist.com.
The first phase of the 2011 program
will include a regional phase and the
regional winners will compete in the
global phase. Papers in all languages are
accepted. The deadline for submission is
December 31, 2010.
All regional winners will receive
roundtrip airfare, accommodation and
registration to Alltech’s International Animal
Health and Nutrition Symposium in
Lexington, Kentucky, USA in May 2011.
At Alltech’s Symposium each student will
prepare a presentation on their papers.
There will be two winners selected at
Alltech’s Symposium, one graduate
student and one undergraduate student.
The global undergraduate winner will be
awarded $5 000, and the global graduate
winner will receive $10 000.
Porcus November/December 2010 31

32
ORgaNiSaTiON
SAPPO News
SAVPO-nuus
Statutory levy finally
aproved
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson,
finally approved the continuation of the
statutory levy for the pork industry on 28
October. The levy of R7 per slaughter
pig will be applicable for a further four
years and will generate income of R 15
400 000 per year for the organisation.
The amount will be spent as follows: Developing
Farmers - R3 080 00, promotions
- R8 310 500, health - R1 250 000,
research - R660 000, communication
and Liaison - R560 000 and administration
- R 1 540 000.
Animal health matters
Dr Peter Evans, SAPPO’s health officer,
reported at SAPPO’s recent council
meeting that 36 farms have already been
compartmentalised in terms of SAPPO’s
compartmentalisation system. A training
model for state veterinarians to monitor
the system is also close to completion.
Dr Evans also said that visits to the Cape
Town, Durban and Richard’s Bay harbours
to inspect if the regulations with
regard to the disposal of galley waste are
complied with, is planned for November
and December this year.
Water and BEE to be
contested in court
Article 27(1)(b) of the Water Act, which
contain BEE responsibilities when water
rights are transferred on farms, is to
be contested in court by Agri SA. The
agricultural fraternity believes that these
stipulations, that forces producers to
comply with certain BEE requirements, do
not take the bigger picture of article 27 of
the Act into consideration and that they
do not comply with the generic codes of
Prof Rob Gous
the Department of Trade and Industry. A
combined action together with Agri SA will
be launched to address this serious issue.
Recognition for prof
Rob Gous
Prof Rob Gous, SAPPO’s research coordinator,
was named national Agriculturalist
of the Year for 2010 by Agricultural
Writers SA. Prof Gous, emeritus professor,
has made a considerable contribution
to the world of animal sciences, both
locally and internationally. Prof Gous says
he is very honoured to have received
the award and that it was a big surprise.
Congratulations!
Free State to co-host
next year’s AGM
SAPPO’s annual general meeting, which
coincided with the annual general meeting
of the Premier Pork Producers this
year, worked well as it resulted in a more
efficient utilisation of resources and led to
savings. SAPPO’s annual general meeting
will next year take place in Bloemfontein
and the annual general meeting of
the Free State Pork Producers’ Organisation
will take place at the same time.
What’s cooking in the
promotions kitchen
With the eye on the approaching of the
festive season, SAPPO’s promotions
team launched a campaign aimed at
highlighting the great taste, convenience
and value-for-money virtues of pork. The
campaign focused on year-end festive
cooking and entertaining and advertise-
Porcus November/Desember 2010

ments appeared in You, Huisgenoot,
Sunday Times Lifestyle and Rapport
during the second part of November.
Recipes books were also handed out to
consumers in butcheries and supermarkets.
Meanwhile a successful campaign
was conducted with Checkers in October
and November and the artwork on
the billboard at the Cape Town Waterfront
has been changed.
Toekoms van varkbedryf
by strategiese sessie
bekyk
Die toekoms van die georganiseerde
varkbedryf gaan in Januarie volgende
jaar onder die vergrootglas geplaas word
tydens ‘n strategiese werkwinkel waarby
lede van al die provinsiale varkvleisprodusente-organisasies
betrokke gaan
wees. Met behulp van ‘n fasiliteerder
gaan planne gemaak word om SAVPO,
provinsiale organisasies en hul funksies
behoorlik te ontleed om te sorg dat die
bedryf oor die volgende vyf jaar vaartbelyn
gaan wees.
New plan for meat inspection
at abattoirs
Meat inspection at abattoirs is to be
improved even further with the planned
establishment of a section 21 company
that will in future conduct independent
meat inspections at abattoirs. Negotiations
are currently taking place between
role players, including all provincial
veterinary directors, to establish such a
company. The idea is that abattoirs will
pay for this independent service and that
it will be self-funding.
Abattoirs to be
included in anti-
dumping application
Abattoirs have been requested to supply
additional information to be included in
SAPPO’s application for the introduction
of an anti-dumping measure against
imports from Canada. The International
Trade Administration Commission (ITAC)
will decide by end of January 2011 if the
pork industry has a strong enough case
to institute an anti-dumping measure.
Kan ’n mens met varke langs die Weskus boer?
Dis ‘n vraag wat James Jenkinson, SAVPO se voorsitter (regs) en Phillip Hörstmann
van die Kaaplandse Varkvleisprodusente-vereniging na dese kan beantwoord nadat
hulle onlangs die Weskus met hulle motorfietse gaan verken het. Hulle “kreefnaweek”
het hoofsaaklik op die sandpaaie van die Weskus plaasgevind en James sê hy sal na
dese weet hoe om ‘n sandpad baas te raak.
ORgaNiSaSie
Porcus November/December 2010 33

34
PROdUcTiON
Porcus August/September 2010

Page 24
PROmOTiON
OR.01.24
THE IMPACT OF SEROCONVERSION FOLLOWING VACCINATION ON THE
EFFICACY OF PCV2 VACCINATION
Robert Desrosiers
Boehringer Ingelheim Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
rdesrosiers@bur.boehringer-ingelheim.com
Introduction
This paper describes the serological results obtained
following vaccination with a one-dose vaccine against
porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), and protection against
natural challenge.
Materials and methods
In a Canadian study Ingelvac CircoFLEX® was
administered between 19 and 59 days of age to about 1900
pigs going to four different finishing units. 1 ods
ngelvac CircoFLEX® was
19 and 59 days of age to about 1900
ferent finishing units.
Table 2: Geometric mean antibody titers of controls and
vaccinates following vaccination of pigs at 26, 40 and 52
days of age using an IFA test.
Age at
GMT* IFA
vaccination
Day 1** Day 30 Day 58
26 days Ctrl 119 50 1767
Vac 382 66 680
A similar
40 days Ctrl 108 107 9701
Vac 112 144 985
number of nonvaccinated control pigs were injected with
52 days Ctrl 200 553 1600
sterile water and placed in the same finishing units. In this
Vac 119 2571 2571
production system, pigs usually started showing clinical
* GMT = Geometric Mean Titer
signs at about 85 days of age. Twenty pigs each
** One day after vaccination
vaccinated at 26, 40 and 52 days of age, and controls of the
same age groups, were blood tested for the presence of
Discussion
PCV2 antibodies using the Ingezim Circovirus IgG/IgM
Two main conclusions can be reached from this study. The
ELISA test (Ingenasa) and an indirect fluorescent
first one is that no correlation was found between
antibody (IFA) test (Biovet).
seroconversion following vaccination, and protection.
Weak or no seroconversion was observed following
Results
vaccination, yet all groups of vaccinated pigs were well
The respective mortality rates for pigs vaccinated at
protected as the mortality difference between vaccinates
various ages, and for the controls, were the following: 0.4
and controls was highly significant in all groups. The
vs 7.6% (19 to 22 days), 2.8 vs 10.6% (22 to 36 days), 2.1
youngest group of pigs tested serologically was vaccinated
vs 8.1% (38 to 45 days) and 3.0 vs 9.6% (45 to 59 days).
at 26 days of age. None of the tested pigs of that age group
The difference between vaccinates and controls was highly
had seroconverted by day 30 after vaccination, yet
significant (p < 0.001). Tables 1 and 2 show the
protection was excellent (2.8% mortality vs 10.6% in
serological results that were obtained using the ELISA and
controls).
IFA tests.
A second conclusion would be that pigs could be
effectively vaccinated in the presence of maternal
Table 1: Average S/P ratios (for IgG) of controls and
antibodies. The youngest vaccinated pigs were between 19
vaccinates following vaccination at 26, 40 or 52 days of
and 22 days of age at the time of vaccination, and were
age using an ELISA test.
logically those with the highest level of maternal
Age at
Average S/P ratios*
vaccination
immunity. Nevertheless their mortality rate was 19 times
Day 1** Day 30 Day 58
lower than that of the controls (0.4% vs 7.6%).
26 days
40 days
Ctrl
Vac
Ctrl
Vac
0.35
0.43
0.13
0.18
0.10
0.15
0.10
0.26
0.49
0.45
0.84
0.67
Acknowledgements
The author sincerely thanks Drs. Dorine Tremblay, André
Broes and Dale Polson for their greatly appreciated
52 days Ctrl 0.20 0.30 0.71
collaboration in this study.
Vac 0.12 0.66 0.72
* Pigs are positive at 0.3
References
** One day after vaccination
1. Desrosiers R, Clark E, Tremblay D, Tremblay R, Polson D.
Preliminary results with Ingelvac® CircoFLEX to protect
Proceedings of the 20th IPVS Congress, Durban, South Africa, 22-26 June 2008
multiple ages of Quebec pigs against PCVAD. Proc. AASV,
2007, 143-145.
1 Age at
vaccination
GMT* IFA
Day 1** Day 30 Day 58
26 days Ctrl 119 50 1767
Vac 382 66 680
A similar
40 days Ctrl 108 107 9701
Vac 112 144 985
ated control pigs were injected with
52 days Ctrl 200 553 1600
ed in the same finishing units. In this
Vac 119 2571 2571
gs usually started showing clinical
* GMT = Geometric Mean Titer
s of age. Twenty pigs each
** One day after vaccination
nd 52 days of age, and controls of the
e blood tested for the presence of
Discussion
ng the Ingezim Circovirus IgG/IgM
Two main conclusions can be reached from this study. The
a) and an indirect fluorescent
first one is that no correlation was found between
iovet).
seroconversion following vaccination, and protection.
Weak or no seroconversion was observed following
vaccination, yet all groups of vaccinated pigs were well
lity rates for pigs vaccinated at
protected as the mortality difference between vaccinates
the controls, were the following: 0.4
and controls was highly significant in all groups. The
s), 2.8 vs 10.6% (22 to 36 days), 2.1
youngest group of pigs tested serologically was vaccinated
s) and 3.0 vs 9.6% (45 to 59 days).
at 26 days of age. None of the tested pigs of that age group
en vaccinates and controls was highly
had seroconverted by day 30 after vaccination, yet
). Tables 1 and 2 show the
protection was excellent (2.8% mortality vs 10.6% in
t were obtained using the ELISA and
controls).
A second conclusion would be that pigs could be
effectively vaccinated in the presence of maternal
ratios (for IgG) of controls and
antibodies. The youngest vaccinated pigs were between 19
vaccination at 26, 40 or 52 days of
and 22 days of age at the time of vaccination, and were
est.
logically those with the highest level of maternal
Average S/P ratios*
immunity. Nevertheless their mortality rate was 19 times
Day 1** Day 30 Day 58
lower than that of the controls (0.4% vs 7.6%).
0.35 0.10 0.49
0.43 0.15 0.45
Acknowledgements
0.13 0.10 0.84
The author sincerely thanks Drs. Dorine Tremblay, André
0.18 0.26 0.67
Broes and Dale Polson for their greatly appreciated
0.20 0.30 0.71
collaboration in this study.
0.12 0.66 0.72
t 0.3
References
ination
1. Desrosiers R, Clark E, Tremblay D, Tremblay R, Polson D.
Preliminary results with Ingelvac® CircoFLEX to protect
multiple ages of Quebec pigs against PCVAD. Proc. AASV,
2007, 143-145.
’n Geseënde Kersfees en ’n
voorspoedige 2011 aan al
ons lesers.
– Die Porcus-span
Proceedings of the 20th IPVS Congress, Durban, South Africa, 22-26 June 2008
Porcus November/December 2010 35

36
iNFORmaTiON dayS
Topical issues under the spotlight
at Norpharm information day
Topical issues were discussed at
Norpharm’s information day that took
place in Stellenbosch in November.
The following are highlights.
You will have to take
note of the CPA
The Consumer Protection Act is going
to play an important role in future and
people doing transactions with consumers,
sell them goods and services and
market these to them must know what
they are allowed in terms of the act,
according to Simon Streicher, CEO of
SAPPO. Streicher said at the information
day that the Act, among others, wants to
ensure fair and honest marketing to consumers.
“The Act protects consumers
in many ways and provides them with
many rights. Any misleading representation
with regard to facts exaggeration,
innuendo, ambiguity, apparent misapprehension
will be against the stipulations of
the Act,” he said.
“The Act makes the South African
consumer the most protected consumer
in the world. It is going to have a huge
impact on how business is going to be
Merial launched a new vaccine against
Circovirus at the information day.
Circovirus has caused severe headaches
the last few years globally, but
also in South Africa. It targets, among
others, the immune system causing
mortalities and ultimately a wasting
disease in grower pigs. The net result
is considerable financial losses and
the burden of curing a very tough
virus, becomes part of your ongoing
management challenges.
Circovac however provides a unique
alternative way of protection against
Circovirus – not only the piglet, but
conducted in South Africa. I will, among
others, be easier for consumers to return
products and it will be easy for consumers
to claim for damage,” Streicher said.
Trust me, I am a
South African pork
producer
There is no guarantee that consumers
will still eat pork in ten years’ time. It will
be our responsibility to ensure that they
do, said dr Pieter Grimbeek, a veterinary
consultant at the information day.
Dr Grimbeek said that producers
will have to own a “social license” to
produce in future. This means that food,
which is produced under environmentally
friendly conditions, will be nonnegotiable.
“This also means that we will have to assure
consumers that our product is safe.
“Pork producers will still need to use
antibiotics but with improved production
and management practices it will be
possible to use less. We must make the
pork industry in South Africa a credible
industry for consumers. We do have the
ability to influence the market. By taking
the whole herd, starting with the pregnant
sow. By applying Circovac to the
pregnant sow, the piglet is protected via
the sow’s colostrum and is allowed to
develop its own immunity when exposed
to the virus in the herd. This will not only
reduce the risk of infection in a herd, but
will also reduce the excretion of the virus
from infected pigs. Circovac is available
in South Africa through consulting
veterinarians.
For more information on Circovac,
contact dr Hein Hesse at Merial on 011-
3158001 or 083 2808638. Circovac (G
3871 Act 36/1947) contains inactivated
short cuts, we harm our industry,” dr
Grimbeek said.
The advantages of
batch farrowing
Batch farrowing is the best way to protect
your herd against disease, was the
message of dr Andrew Tucker of Charles
Street Veterinary Consultants in Pretoria
at the information day.
Dr Tucker said that a further advantage
of the system is that it is not only suitable
for big units but even for small farms.
He discussed various batch farrowing
systems and said that a three-week system
works well and is particularly successful
for units that are not yet all in all out.
A Two-week system is possibility
more suited for larger units and enable
producers to achieve split sex feeding in
a practical way.
A four-week system reduces actual
“work days” and results in a very efficient
three-week weaning system.
A five-week system also results in
reduced working days with three-week
weaning options.
Merial launches vaccine against
Circovirus in Stellenbosch
porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2).
About Merial
Merial is a world-leading, innovationdriven
animal health company,
providing a comprehensive range
of products to enhance the health,
well-being and performance of a wide
range of animals. Merial employs
approximately 5 700 people and
operates in more than 150 countries
worldwide. Its 2009 sales were $2.6
billion. Merial is the Animal Health
subsidiary of Sanofi-Aventis.
Porcus November/Desember 2010

1 2
3 4 5
6
iNFORmaTiON dayS
1. Peet Steenkamp (Norpharm), Simon Streicher (SAVPO) and dr Hein Hesse
(Merial)
2. Gerrit Ferreira (Profi le Feeds), Buks Wandrag (Virbac), dr Cilliers Louw
(veterinarian) and Pierre Smith (Virbac)
3. Stefan Guizot (Tana Piggery), Willmari Boonzaaer (holder of a SAPPO
bursary) and dr Tertius Gous (veterinary consultant)
4. Christiaan van Lamp (Mountainview Piggery) and Mike Jack (Hazely Pig)
5. Desmond Apple, Ivan Cloete and Danie van Wyk, all of the Penhill Small
Farmers
6. Wolfi e Louw (Norpharm), Stephane Imbert (Merial) and dr Pieter Grimbeek
(veterinarian)
Porcus November/December 2010 37

38
PROdUcTiON
Pondering Points
STUdy gROUP
Dear Santa Claus:
An inter-active African wish list
Africa (A): Dear Santa, we really think
you haven’t been fair to Africa up to now
– worse than some referees we could
mention. How about a bit of affi rmative
Christmas action?
Santa (S): That’s not the best way to
start – self-pity, blaming others and
wanting favours; you’ve had affi rmative
appointments for the last 16 years and it
hasn’t done much good.
A: But the world doesn’t play fair – they
gang up against us because they have
the natural advantages like …er .. arable
land for instance.
S: Really? The world has 41 million
square kilometre of arable land and 25
% of it is in Africa and 20% of that is
being used — go dig and plant, and use
genetically engineered cultivars if they
give better yields. The Chinese are going
to do it if you don’t, and in Africa, and
with their own workers.
A: Yes but look at their huge population
and the pittance their labour force
tolerates.
S: Africa has 80% of the population of
China, nearly all of the poorest countries,
the lowest life expectancies and the
highest unemployment rates, with a few
notable exception s— does that sound
better?
A: Well, we could do more if you would
just give us some of those two coal-fi red
power stations the Chinese are fi nishing
every week, but the environment
watchdogs don’t want us to build them
– global warming and all that.
S: I offered you a nice new pebble bed
nuclear plant to produce clean, cheap
power – where is it?
A: Nuclear power? You must be off your
trolley …er.. sled. Surely no one wants
to use those things any more we mean
... look at Chernoble and that meltdown
in America they had.
S: Why don’t you do your homework?
There are at the moment 441 nuclear
plants operating safely in the world and
60 more being built – 25 of them in
China.
A: That’s all very well but please can
we have some skilled and experienced
professional people to run them and the
communications and the medical facilities
and the schools and universities and
the big businesses and the municipalities
and ... and ?
S: You had all those, what did you do
with them?
A: Africa just doesn’t have the pulling
power to compete with the giants like
India, the US, the EU and that lot when it
comes to resources, climate and attractive
living.
S: Then how is it that there is a country
about the size and population of Cape
Town situated right on the equator that
has no livestock, no mines, no heavy industry
and not enough water, that nevertheless
has an economy that has grown
at an average of over seven percent during
this last economic collapse? It also
has no unemployment, no illiteracy, no
homeless people and virtually no crime.
It is a capitalist democratic society that
welcomes anyone with professional or
technical skills of any race, religion, age,
sex or colour if that person can make a
contribution, and I don’t get any pitiful
requests for handouts. Why can’ you be
more like Singapore?
A: Please, as a different question, what
should Africa be asking for?
S: Thought you’d never ask: I’ll scratch
around in my bag at about the level of
hen’s teeth and fl ying pigs and see if
I can fi nd a parcel of real leadership –
visionary, brave, enlightened, selfl ess, incorruptible
and popular enough to catch
the populist vote! Wish me luck.
Porcus November/Desember 2010

TRaiNiNg
Porcus November/December 2010 39