porcus - sappo

PORCUS 

Januarie/Februarie 2012 Vol 30 no 1 

Focus on African Swine Fever 

SAPPO at a good place, says 

Peter Mockford 

An update on Pork 360 accredited farms

A new way to control boar taint 

Improving meat quality 

Enabling PRODUCERS to provide 

a premium product to CONSUMERS 

Improvac® Reg No.: G3643 (Act 36/1947). 

Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd (Reg. No. 1954/000781/07). P.O. Box 783720, Sandton, 2146, South Africa. 

For more information phone: (011) 320-6000. 

Website: www.pfizer.co.za

Inhoud/Contents 

PORCUS 

Januarie/februarie Vol 30 no 1 

Aktueel 

SAPPO at a good place, says Peter Mockford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

SAPPO News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

Macro economic outlook for 2011: What does this 

entail for the meat industry? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

Biomin vestig streekhoofkantoor in Suid-Afrika . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Quick guide to: Congenital Splay Legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

Gauteng Studiegroep begin jaar op hoë noot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

Aktuele sake by Wes-Transvaal Studiegroep onder die loep . . . . . . . . 17 

Perceptions on livestock industry’s footprint scientifi cally 

addressed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Agri SA conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

The problems of sludge build-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

At De Heus we believe that healthy animals are happy animals . . . . . . 31 

More awareness of mycotoxins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

Rubrieke 

Market conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Pondering Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 

PORCUS is die amptelike tydskrif 

van die Suid-Afrikaanse Varkvleisprodusente-organisasie 

(SAVPO). 

Redaksionele Komitee 

Peter Mockford (voorsitter: SAVPO), 

Barry Gibbs (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 

Uitleg: Yolandé van Zyl 

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. 

Opinions expressed in articles are 

not necessarily endorsed by SAPPO. 

Porcus January/February 2012 3

utrition 

The year ahead is again characterised with high volatility 

in agricultural markets which is driven by a number 

of external macro-economic factors. The strengthening 

of the link between energy and agricultural markets is 

probably the key driver behind increased volatility. In the 

medium term, the Rand exchange rate against the major 

currencies remains a key driver which impacts on both the 

cost of inputs and the output price. The general consensus 

is that the Rand exchange rate will remain volatile with 

a depreciating trend against the Dollar and Euro, mainly 

due to the raising concerns of fi nancial markets in the 

Euro Zone and the United States. Domestic stock levels 

of maize will remain under pressure until the new marketing 

season. Therefore, the price of key commodities could 

trace import parity prices for another couple of months. 

The high yellow maize price together with other expensive 

inputs place signifi cant pressure on the profi t margins of 

livestock farmers due to higher feed costs. 

Farm level analysis 

4 

Market conditions 

Information supplied by Divan van der Westhuizen of the Bureau of Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) 

Figure 1: Index for requisites and auction prices 

The requisites and auction price index focuses on the pork 

auction price on the hook and the pork input cost index. The 

key driver in the pork requisites index is the yellow maize SAFEX 

price, followed by the soybean cake price. The latest update 

from the BFAP pork industry index analysis for January 2012 includes 

the latest projections based on the BFAP livestock model. 

Due to the higher cost of maize it is projected that the pork 

auction price on hook could increase by 20% from 2011 to 

2012. The average projected pork auction price on hook for 

2012 is R20.61/kg. The input/requisites index for pork production 

may increase by eleven percent from 2011 to 2012. The 

index value (base year = 2000) for the requisites and pork auction 

price in January 2012 was 311.9% and 265.1% respectively. 

The pork to maize price ratio provides an indication of profi tability 

of pork producers. A sideways movement occurred from 

December to January in both the ratios for PP and BP products. 

A higher maize price together with higher auction prices for BP 

and PP products caused the sideways movement. The ratio for 

PP products has increased from November towards January 

by two percent. However, a slight decrease of 3.6% occurred in 

the BP ratio. The ratio for PP and BP meat classes in January 

were 8.74 and 7.78 respectively (Figure 2). For the same period 

in 2011, the ratios were 11.10 and 10.65 respectively, which 

indicates that profi tability margins were higher in January 2011. 

Figure 2: Pork to maize price ratio 

The bullish trend continued in the yellow maize market mainly due 

to local stock levels which remained under pressure. Local supply 

and demand will play a signifi cant role in grain markets in the medium 

term which implies that the yellow maize price will probably 

follow import parity prices until the new stock arrives in April/May. 

The yellow maize price traded at R2 360/ton in November 2011 

where it further increased by 10.99% towards January. The yellow 

maize price traded on average at R2 620/ton in January 2012. On 

a year-to-year basis, the yellow maize price in January was 77% 

higher than in the same period in 2011. Given normal mid-summer 

weather conditions, the current crop will compensate for low stock 

levels and the price of key commodities may trade back to export 

parity levels towards June/July. 

The auction price of pork products reacted to the increase in 

the yellow maize, especially during the last two months of 2011 

(Figure 3). Towards January, the price response was at a slower 

pace. The price of PP quality meat in the middle of January was 

R22.91/kg, approximately 2.69% higher than December. For the 

same period in 2011, the price of PP pork meat was R16.40/kg. 

Figure 3: Pork price and YM SAFEX price 

International 

Pork exports to Russia have continued its increasing trend during 

2011. Increased imports of fresh and frozen pork, mainly from 

Canada and the United States were a result of the increasing 

demand in Russia. Brazil, which is a major supplier of pork meat 

to Russia, has lost some of its market share due to increasing 

competition from the Euro Zone and a temporary import ban on 

some Brazilian products from processing plants in three states. 

In addition, pork imports from Germany were temporarily banned 

Porcus Januarie/Februarie 2012


by Russia on 15 November due to concerns of antibiotic levels 

in imported pigs. The outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in 

Russia raised concerns during December, as fi ve new cases has 

been reported. The result is that the import demand for live pigs 

and pork is expected to remain fi rm to meet market requirements. 

Source: European Market Survey, 9 December 2011 (www. 

ahdb.org.uk) 

Abattoir level analysis 

The abattoir analysis focuses on two aspects, namely the total 

number of pigs slaughtered and the number of slaughters per 

province. 

Figure 4: Total numbers slaughtered (national estimates) 

The total number of pig slaughters has increased from November 

towards December due to higher seasonal demand. The total 

number of actual slaughters in December was 212 281 animals, 

almost four percent higher than in November. Figure 4 illustrates 

a three month moving (MA) average and during November and 

December the MA for slaughters were 201 057 and 202 986 

animals respectively. The average monthly slaughters for 2011 

was 203 103 animals. A shortage of supply of pigs in Gauteng 

resulted in a decline in the number of animals slaughtered. 

Slaughters in Gauteng have declined by 6.71% from November 

towards December. The total number of animals slaughtered 

in Gauteng was 80 537 in December. On the other hand, the 

total number of slaughters in the Western Cape was 34 418 in 

December, approximately 30.86% higher than slaughters in November. 

KwaZulu-Natal had a sideways movement for the same 

period and the total number of slaughters in December was 30 

871 animals. During 2011, the average monthly slaughters in 

Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape were 84 504, 

31 461 and 28 709 respectively. 

Figure 5: Slaughters per province 

All meat classes have on average increased by 9.13% from 

November towards the middle of January. This is mainly due to 

pork meat which entered into a correction phase (against other 

livestock classes) and an increase in the cost of feed. BO and BR 

meat classes have reported an increase of 8.26% and 7.92% respectively 

from November towards January. During the fi rst week 

of December the price of these two classes were R19.73/kg 

and R19.13/kg respectively. A further increase realised to reach 

a price of R19.93/kg and R19.35/kg respectively at the end of 

December. The price of BP quality pork meat in the fi rst week 

of December reported R19.91/kg. It further increased by 3.16% 

towards the fi rst week of January. As stated earlier, the average 

price of PP pork meat during December was R22.91/kg, almost 

40% higher as for the same period in 2010. 

Figure 6: Average price for various classes 1 

Wholesale and retail price analysis 

Figure 7: Margin analysis for porkers and baconers, 2011 

& 2012 

Index levels 

The margin analysis in the sample for porker and baconer products 

focuses on retail and wholesale prices and the respective 

margins between them. 

The wholesale and retail price of selective porker and baconer 

products reacted positively to increases in abattoir prices. The 

combined basket index for porker products has increased by 

9.67% from November to January. The price for pork chops, 

spareribs and pork marinated ribs has increased during this 

period. Prices for baconer products indicated the same trend and 

have increased by 3.39% during the same period. The margin 

analysis indicated that the index for porker and baconer products 

has increased by 15.2% and 6.9% respectively from November 

Continued on p 6 


Market conditions continued from p. 5 

6 


towards January. The index margin for porker products in January 

was 118.95% and baconer products, 158.79% (base year = 

2008). 

Import analysis 

Figure 8: Total imports to South Africa 

The total number of imports of pork meat to South Africa has 

declined by approximately 26.42% from November towards 

December. During December, the total imports of pork meat to 

South Africa was 2 201 tonnes, almost 17% lower than imports 

in 2010. The total number of ribs imports had declined by 32% 

and ham/shoulder by almost 39%. The three main countries 

of imports were Germany, Canada and Spain. Imports from 

Germany have declined by almost 50% from November towards 

December. There was an increase of 20.79% in the number of 

imports from Canada. The total number of imports from Germany, 

Canada and Spain in December was 877, 552 and 343 

tonnes respectively. The average monthly imports during 2011 

were 2 674 tonnes. 

Figure 9: Imports of pork to South Africa 

1 May 2010 price data has been estimated and may not be 

completely representative 

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Profile 

SAPPO at a good place, says 

Peter Mockford 

1. Is SAPPO at a good place at the 

moment and why? Are you happy 

that the organisational structure is 

functioning well? 

Yes, SAPPO is at a good place at the 

moment. We have had a lot to deal with 

lately and, indeed, have had many lively 

internal debates but we operate very well 

as a body. The organisational structure 

is functioning exactly as planned. We are 

extremely fortunate that we have committed 

and strong minded counsellors 

from the different provinces and they all, 

without exception, have the well-being of 

our industry at heart. 

2. Do you think strong provincial 

organisations are still necessary or 

could one, national organisation, 

serve the industry more effectively? 

I have come to the conclusion that, taking 

into consideration the distances and 

different dynamics involved, provincial 

organisations are here to stay. We need 

to ensure that they remain strong and 

focused. 

3. As last year, we started the new 

year with the outbreak of yet another 

disease. What is your message to 

producers in this regard? 

We live in a country where our government 

is struggling to fulfil all its responsibilities 

due, in part, to its lack of capacity 

and motivated manpower. Under these 

circumstances disease outbreak is going 

to remain a challenge and we need to 

remain proactive and to continue doing 

all we can to maintain our health status. 

Farmers who are compartmentalised 

probably do, however, sleep a little easier 

at night! 

4. There is a perception that SAP- 

PO’s quality assurance system will 

only be of value to the bigger producers 

and my even harm smaller 

producers who can not afford to 

participate in the system. Is this true 

and why do we need such a system? 

With the Consumer Protection Act being 

in place, farmers need to ask themselves 

if they can afford NOT to join the 

quality assurance scheme. In Germany 

pork producers actually maintain that 

they have grown their pork market 

share thanks to their quality assurance 

scheme. Their consumers rely on 

the fact that they are buying a quality 

product and this is reflected in sales. 

The quality assurance scheme can, in 

the long term, only be of benefit to those 

pork producers who participate, be they 

big or small. 

Peter Mockford is SAPPO’s 

new chairman and he believes 

that pork producers are living 

in exciting times. He spoke to 

Porcus. 

5. Welfare matters are very much in 

the spotlight at present. Do you think 

that it is realistic that most South 

African producers will be able to 

comply with the sow crate recommendations 

in SAPPO’s welfare code 

by 2020? 

Eight years are going to pass very 

quickly for some producers, but I do 

believe there is a willingness among 

most farmers to comply with the sow 

crate recommendation, especially if one 

considers that there are farms who are 

already putting in electronic sow feeds 

that can accommodate groups of 50 

sows. 

6. SAPPO is at the moment rethinking 

its promotional strategy. The promotional 

projects, among others, are 

going to focus on the black market 

this year. SAPPO is also researching 

a campaign to drastically reposition 

pork in the market place. What are 

your viewpoint on SAPPO’s promotional 

efforts the past ten years? Do 

The Mockford bio 


Peter Mockford was born on a farm outside Polokwane, previously 

known as Pietersburg. “As the doctor was late, my Aunt Geraldine, 

who fortunately was a nurse, helped with the delivery. I went to 

school at Capricon in Pietersburg where I was a border for twelve 

years.” 

He did army training in 1972 at Voortrekkerhoogte and specialised in training 

dogs to detect land mines. “This was a very tough but interesting year.” 

Peter joined his farther on their farm, Redlands, in 1973. He was initially 

responsible for the crops and cattle but eventually took over the farms’ 

finances, building projects and pigs. 

“I now rely heavily on good managers to run the pigs, leaving me time 

to manage the finances, the farm, and to play a role in the organised pork 

industry. I am fortunate to also have my son Shaun on the farm.” 


8 

animal health 

ASF confirmed in Gauteng 

As of Friday, 20 January, African 

Swine Fever (ASF) has been confirmed 

on two non-commercial pig 

pork in the market place. What are 

your viewpoint on SAPPO’s promotional 

efforts the past ten years? Do 

you think they have succeeded in 

convincing producers about the virtues 

of pork and increase consumption? 

What direction would you like to 

see the promotional campaigns take? 

I believe that had we not promoted pork 

over the past ten years, we would now 

be selling much less than we do at the 

moment. We need to remind ourselves 

that many of our traditional pork 

consumers have unfortunately moved 

abroad and that a large percentage of 

refugees who are now in the country 

actually cannot afford to buy meat at all. 

Consumer spend has also decreased 

over the years. I believe that, to a 

certain extent, the growth of the game 

industry has contributed to this, especially 

in the winter months, resulting in 

money being spent on hunting packages 

and game products. 

I strongly believe our Promotions 

Committee, lead by Marietta Human, will 

units in Gauteng and two units (also 

non-commercial) in Mpumalanga, 

close to Sundra and Delmas. 

All four units seem to have obtained the 

infection from pigs sold at auctions at 

Sundra. The source from whom the pigs 

were bought, has still not been determined. 

There were confirmed reports of 

infected pigs in Botleng, a township of 

Delmas. At the moment all farms that 

bought or sold pigs at the auctions are 

under quarantine. Movement is controlled 

on these farms. The selling of pigs at 

auctions in Gauteng and Mpumalanga 

are also prohibited. 

Ensure that your biosecurity 

measures are in place 

SAPPO urgently requests all producers 

to ensure that their biosecurity measures 

are maintained on farms, especially with 

regard to the changing of clothing. All 

visitors and personnel must shower in 

and out. Also make 100% sure that no 

Peter Mockford Continued from p 7 

pork meat products are brought onto 

your unit. Producers should contact the 

abattoirs they sell to, to ensure that they 

do not require any health certificates of 

any kind. 

take us in the right direction but it may 

be some time before we see the results. 

It would be very beneficial to see more 

in-house promotions but, unfortunately, 

there are budget limitations. 

7. The Competition Act is severely 

restricting agricultural commodities 

with regard to obtaining price information. 

Do you think this is fair and 

what do you think the solution is? 

We are at loggerheads with the Competition 

Board at the moment so I don’t 

think I will say too much on this point. 

I do believe though that, as primary 

producers of food, we should be exempt 

from the Competitions Act. As farmers 

we need to do all we can to remain 

viable and exchanging information freely 

with each other would certainly assist in 

this. We have a large population to feed 

and this fact alone makes it a priority that 

we keep farmers on the land. 

8. To you regard South African producers 

as effective and will you rank 

them among the best in the world? 

Do they keep up with (new) effective 

Exports not 

interrupted 

Exports of pork to Botswana 

was only interrupted for three 

days after the ASF outbreak was 

discovered, says Dr Peter Evans, 

SAPPO’s health liaison officer. 

“This again stressed the value of 

the SAPPO compartments. As in the 

case with the Foot and Mouth Disease 

outbreak last year, the compartments 

again proved to be a credible measure 

to reassure our neighbours of our high 

disease status and that imports from 

South Africa are safe,” he says. 

According to Dr Evans there is still 

no proof that the disease has spread 

more than 50 to 100 km from where 

the outbreak was discovered. He says 

that SAPPO is impressed with the 

state veterinarians from Gauteng and 

Mpumlanga who do not leave any 

stone unturned to try to stay on top of 

the disease. 

“They are constantly investigating 

pigs bought and moved in the area 

and they are taking samples to be 

tested on a daily basis,” he says. 

production practices and do they 

keep up with modern housing? 

South African Producers are effective. 

The mere fact that countries to the north 

are encouraging our farmers to move 

there is proof of this. 

Our pork production figures are very 

good compared to countries world-wide. 

Due in part to our excellent climate, our 

buildings may not be quite as sophisticated 

as those in Europe for example, 

but many of our producers have very 

modern buildings and processes in 

place. I think we are also starting to see 

more mechanisation taking place. It 

appears that labour saving devices are 

going to be the flavour of the day. 

9. Are you positive about the future 

of pork production in South Africa? 

Pork production has always had its ups 

and downs but dedicated pig farmers 

have managed to do well overall during the 

years. Successful pig production requires 

enormous attention to detail and those 

producers who constantly strive to do better 

will, at the end of the day, succeed. 


African Swine Fever - 

An African disease 

By dr Peter Evans, SAPPO’s health liaison officer 

African Swine Fever (ASF) was 

first recognised in East Africa as a 

disease which clinically resembles 

Classical Swine Fever (CSF). Studies 

conducted between 1910 to 1917 

demonstrated that it was caused by a 

virus which was different in epidemiology 

and immunology to CSF. Outbreaks 

were related to association of 

free-ranging pigs with wild pigs. 

In South Africa from 1900 to 1918, both 

CSF and ASF apparently occurred but 

CSF has not been recorded after 1918. 

Periods of apparent freedom from ASF 

outbreaks include 1918 to 1926, 1939 

to 1951 and 1962 to 1973. The disease 

has been described from most countries 

in Central and Southern Africa as well as 

West Africa. ASF also reached Portugal in 

1957 and 1960 and outbreaks have been 

reported in several European countries 

as well as Cuba, Haiti and Brazil. In 2007 

Russia experienced a period with ASF 

outbreaks and this is still continuing. 

Epidemiology 

The ASF virus is unrelated to any other 

known virus and is well adapted to long 

term survival in a cycle involving arthropods 

and wild pigs indigenous to Africa. 

The virus does not cause any obvious 

clinical signs in its indigenous hosts and 

therefore its existence has gone unnoticed 

by livestock keepers until domestic 

pigs were first introduced to sub-Saharan 

Africa about 500 years ago. 

In Africa, the ASF virus persists in at 

least three different cycles: 

1. A sylvatic cycle between wild pigs, 

particularly warthogs and Ornithodoros 

sp. ticks. 

• Young warthogs confined to burrows 

in which they were born develop 

viraemias high enough to infect ticks 

that feed on them. This high viraemia 

may last for up to three weeks but is 

thereafter intermittent and at levels 

that are too low to infect ticks. In a 

study where ticks were experimentally 

infected it was found that these 

ticks have the ability to transmit the 

disease for up to three years. 

2. A cycle involving domestic pigs and 

Ornithodoros sp. ticks that live in pig 

houses in Malawi. 

3. Maintenance of the virus in domestic 

pig populations independent of wild 

pigs or ticks. 

It is often difficult to discover the 

source of infection. Infected warthogs do 

not transmit the disease to pigs housed 

in close contact with them, although 

bush pigs may do so. In Southern Africa 

the most likely explanation is that live 

warthogs carry infected ticks which could 

come into contact with domestic pigs. 

These ticks can then transmit the infection 

when engorging on domestic pigs. 

With the ASF that appeared in Portugal 

in 1957 the virus was imported with 

contaminated pig meat products from 

Angola, where the disease is endemic 

in free-ranging pigs. It is well known that 

once ASF establishes in a pig population, 

further spread can occur in three ways: 

1. Transmission by direct contact 

between infected and susceptible 

animals 

2. Indirect transmission – vehicles that 

have not been decontaminated or 

even mechanical transmission by 

stable flies. 

3. Pigs fed meat products from animals 

slaughtered in the acute stage of the 

infection. 

Clinical signs: 

The acute form of ASF is the most 

common in African outbreaks. Very 

few animals recover with the exception 

of animals in the endemic areas. The 

incubation period (following contact with 

infected pigs), varies from five to 15 days 

according to the strain and intensity of 

exposure. Following a tick bite the incubation 

may vary between four to five days 

to 13 days. After ingestion of contaminated 

meat incubation may as short as 

48 hours extending to seven to eight days 

with minimal doses. 

Fever is a common finding and 

reaches a plateau within 48 hours after 

the initial rise. Listlessness, partial or 

complete anorexia, incoordination, 

convulsions and muscular tremors have 

all been recorded. There is an increasing 

congestion of the skin of the tail, limbs, 

ears , snout and abdomen. This is easy to 

observe in white-skinned pigs. Haemorrhages 

often develop in the skin. Breathing 

becomes shallow and rapid. Nasal 

discharges are sometimes observed, 

followed by a profuse watery or frothy, 

blood-stained nasal discharge in animals 

with severe lung oedema. Lung oedema 

is often the immediate cause of death for 

many animals. 

Vomiting is common and some animals 

may become constipated. Others may 

develop a watery diarrhoea with fresh or 

blackened blood. Pregnant sows abort 

soon after infection and at all stages of 

pregnancy. Towards the end of the disease 

the rectal temperature falls rapidly, 

followed by coma and death. 

Survival time for virulent African strains 

vary between two and nine days in more 

than 90% of the cases. Clinical signs in animals 

that last for three to four weeks include 

anorexia, loss of condition and pneumonia. 

Pathology 

Acute ASF is characterised by reddening 

to purplish cyanosis of extremities and the 

stomach in white-skinned pigs. Mucous 

membranes of the eyes and mouth are 

usually congested and may even have 

haemorrhages on the surface. Nasal discharges 

may be observed and there may 

be a bloody froth at the nostrils. 

Organs are generally congested and 

the spleen may sometimes be markedly 

enlarged. Lymph nodes, particularly those 

of the head and gastrointestinal tract are 

markedly swollen and haemorrhagic. 

These may sometimes even resemble 

blood clots. There may be haemorrhages 

on the kidneys as well as the epi- and 

endocardium of the heart. The lungs 

do not collapse on opening the chest 

cavity. Lungs are usually congested and 

haemorrgagic. On cutting the lungs, 

frothy fluid may ooze from the organ. The 

trachea may be filled with blood-stained 

froth.The appearance of the gastrointestinal 

tract may be variable. It is common to 

find haemorrhages in the stomach. 

Diagnosis 

Outbreaks of acute ASF should not be 

difficult to recognise when factors such as 

epidemiology, clinical signs and post mortem 

lesions are taken into account. There 

are few diseases which cause such high 

number of deaths in all ages of pigs. ASF 

should be confirmed in the laboratory and 

there are many techniques available. 

Conclusion 

There is no treatment or vaccine available 

and control of ASF depends on preventing 

contact between domestic pigs and 

sources of the virus. Pig production 

systems in which pigs do not come into 

contact with infected pigs, their products 

or other sources of the virus are the most 

successful defence against ASF. 

Reference 

Infectious Diseases of Livestock, Chapter 

98, p 1088, 2nd Edition. 


10 

SaPPo newS 

New focus for promotions 

Pig health, welfare, 

important matters this year 

Pig health, promotions and welfare 

are of the important matters on 

SAPPO’s agenda this year. 

SAPPO’s portfolio committees are 

ready for 2012, says Simon Streicher, 

CEO of SAPPO. These nine committees 

deal with developing producers, 

promotions, research, pig health and 

welfare, quality assurance, statistics 

and information, audit, communica- 

Compartments: more producers should join 

Although SAPPO’s compartmentalisation 

system has been growing 

satisfactorily the past two years, 

more producers should join the 

system. 

SAPPO’s promotions committee has 

decided on a new focus for pork 

promotions this year, says Marieta 

Human, SAPPO’s promotions coordinator. 

Instore promotions in black 

areas by black promotion ladies, 

especially in areas where big supermarkets 

are located, are high on the 

promotion agenda this year. 

“We are looking at a definite repositioning 

of pork and a new look for pork will 

be the crux of the campaign. The campaign 

will however first be thoroughly 

research and tested among a consumer 

sample,” Human says. 

tions and industry protection. 

Streicher says as was the case last 

year with the Foot and Mouth disease 

outbreak, the pig industry started this 

year with another disease, African Swine 

Fever. “Animal health matters will again 

this year be high on SAPPO’s agenda.” 

“SAPPO again urges producers to 

ensure that basic biosecurity measures 

are in place on their farms and to join 

SAPPO’s compartment system. This is 

the only way to safeguard your herd. 

“SAPPO is looking forward to plans to 

give pork a new look and a new position 

in the market. There are exiting plans on 

the table to take the pig out of pork and 

to re-brand pork. We will supply you with 

detail in due course. 

“Animal welfare will remain a priority 

issue and SAPPO’s portfolio committee 

on health and welfare will continue to 

discuss topical issues with the National 

SPCA and other welfare organisations. 

“Prices are relatively high for this time 

of the year and indications are that 2012 

will be a good year for the pig industry. 

All the best for 2012 from the office.” 

“There can be no doubt of the systems’ 

value in the light of the latest disease 

outbreaks,” he says. (See article on 

ASF on page 8) Dr Evans says that the 

marketing of the system will remain a 

priority of SAPPO’s health committee 

Training will be the 

focus of emerging 

farmer projects 

Training will be the focus of the 

Portfolio Committee for Emerging 

Farmers, and specifically of the government 

officials that have received 

training from SAPPO in the past. 

They will be encouraged to set up 

training sessions for developing farmers, 

says Qeda Nyoka who is responsible 

for SAPPO’s emerging farmer 

projects. “We are also looking forward 

to the kick-start of the training at 

the Baynesfield Training Academy in 

KwaZulu-Natal,” Nyoka says. 

“Piggery projects that are currently 

in our mentorship programme will be 

closely monitored in terms of their ability 

to follow the instructions given by 

our mentors. We will also again try to 

hold discussions with senior government 

officials about commercially 

viable piggery project models that they 

can apply for developing pig farmers 

around the country,” Nyoka says. 

Exciting research 

projects submitted 

for funding 

SAPPO’s research committee has 

been successful in the past few 

years in encouraging researchers 

in South Africa to conduct more research 

on pigs, to the extent that the 

budget allocated to this committee 

was fully committed last year, says 

Prof Rob Gous of the committee. 

“We will continue to encourage 

research that is to the benefit of the 

pig industry, and we already have 

a number of exciting projects that 

have been submitted for funding this 

year,” he says. 

this year. There will also again be a serological 

survey to prove South African 

herds free of the major pig diseases. 


economy 

Macro economic outlook for 2011: What 

does this entail for the meat industry? 

By Divan van der Westhuizen of the 

Bureau of Food and Agricultural 

Policy (BFAP) 

The main focus during the previous 

two months was on rising international 

food prices, oil prices and 

domestic economic conditions. 

Although food inflation has remained 

relatively constant over the past few 

months, it is likely that the impact 

of macro-economic conditions on 

South African food markets will 

increase in the medium term. 

When considering macro-economic 

variables, the most relevant indicators 

in South Africa are the exchange 

rate, disposable income, oil prices 

and interest rates. The exchange rate 

remains a key driver for the profitability 

of the pork industry, affecting input 

and output prices. 

Although the movement of the 

exchange rate remains highly volatile 

and therefore uncertain, the general 

consensus in the market is that the 

exchange rate will remain strong. This 

implies imported meat will remain 

very competitive. At the same time, 

the impact of very high world maize 

prices will be dampened. 

Further increases in the price of 

soybean cake can be anticipated 

due to the increasing shortage of oil 

seeds on world markets. Oil prices 

are also increasing, which implies that 

a number of costs in the supply chain 

of pork will probably increase. 

These increases will have to be 

Varkvleisbedryf se winsgewendheid 

gaan verbeter in tweede deel van 

jaar, sê Ernst Janovsky 

Ernst Janovsky, hoofbestuurder van 

AgriBesigheid, Absa se besigheidsbank, 

sê dat hoewel varkvleisprodusente 

se winsgewendheid tans 

goed is, daar verwag word dat dit in 

die tweede helfte van die jaar nog 

beter kan wees. 

‘n Tekort aan beesvleis weens ‘n kuddeboufase 

en Slenkdalkoors wat tot 

‘n skaarste van lamsvleis aanleiding 

gegee het, is tot besliste voordeel van 

varkvleisprodusente. 

Pryse is tans dus relatief hoog en 

kan selfs verder styg. 

passed on to retail prices. Hence, 

disposable income of consumers will 

be a very important indicator of possible 

increases in meat prices. The 

low interest rates support disposable 

income levels and the most recent 

numbers that have been published by 

Statistics South Africa paint a positive 

picture about consumer spending. 

“Daar is egter ‘n paar moeilik 

voorspelbare faktore wat produsente 

se winsgewendheid in die eerste deel 

van die jaar kan beïnvloed. Ons glo 

dat die wisselkoers gaan versterk 

en meer invoere is daarom ‘n sterk 

moontlikheid. 

Teen die tweede deel van die jaar 

kan graanpryse laer wees as nou 

en behoort daar ‘n meer realistiese 

graan- tot vleisverhouding te wees,” 

sê Janovsky. 


VoorGronD 

Biomin vestig streekhoofkantoor 

in Suid-Afrika 

Die dierevoedingspesialis, Biomin, 

het onlangs ‘n streekshoofkantoor 

in Suid-Afrika geopen. Die nuwe 

onderneming is in Klerksdorp, Suid- 

Afrika gesetel. 

Biomin se hoofkantoor is in Australië. 

Die firma het reeds gedurende die vroeë 

tagtigerjare alle antibiotiese middels uit 

sy reeks voerbyvoegsels verwyder en dit 

met natuurlike produkte (kruie, speserye 

en plantekstrakte) vervang. 

Suid-Afrika se bedryfshoof, Albert 

van Rensburg sê: “Biomin bied reeds vir 

meer as 25 jaar dierevoedingsprodukte 

soos voerbyvoegsels en voorafbereide 

vitamien- en minerale oormengsels soos 

produkte vir mikotoksienrisikobestuur en 

’n heeltemal nuwe, natuurlike groeibevorderingkonsep 

wat dieetvereistes van 

varke, pluimvee, beeste en akwakultuur 

aanspreek.” 

Van Rensburg glo dat namate die 

vraag na natuurlike en omgewingsvolhoubare 

voedselbronne toeneem, Biomin 

se benadering tot die vervaardiging van 

natuurlike aanvullings die maatskappy as 

’n voorloper in dié marksektor plaas. 

“Voerbyvoegsels word algemeen 

gebruik om die prestasie en gesondheid 

van lewende hawe te bevorder. 

Etlike jare al word antibiotiese middels 

hoofsaaklik hiervoor gebruik, in Suid- 

Afrika en die wêreld oor. Die verkeerde 

aanwending van dié middels kan egter 

veroorsaak dat diere weerstand teen die 

middels opbou. Antibiotiese residue kan 

só oorgedra word. 

Verbind 

Van Rensburg wys daarop dat 

Biomin, as ’n ISO 1404-geakkredi– 

teerde maatskappy, daartoe verbind is 

om sy produkte en dienste te vervaardig 

en te lewer om diere se gesondheid en 

prestasie op ’n omgewingsvriendelike 

en ekonomies lewensvatbare manier 

te verbeter. “Deur middel van omvattende 

navorsings- en ontwikkelingsprogramme, 

saam met die gebruik van 

die jongste tegnologie, streef Biomin 

daarna om te verseker dat hy volhoubare 

gehalteprodukte ontwikkel wat die gene- 

Die varkdelegasie by die bekendstelling: Dr Pieter Grimbeek (Mooivet), dr Annie Labuscagne 

(Charlesstraat Veeartse), Arthur Gee (Kanhym), Mossie de Kock (Eas-Pork), 

dr Heinz Bodenstein (Charlesstraat Veeartse) en Louis Botha (TOPIGS SA) 

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Biomin-span is van links: Albert van Rensburg (bedryfshoof), dr 

Bert Zumpt (konsultant), Adele van der Mescht (kantoorbestuurder) en Jaco Truter 

(bemarkingsbestuurder). Heel regs is Denis Giraudoux, Biomin se areabestuurder. 

tiese potensiaal van die dier ontsluit en 

terselfdertyd ’n goeie belegginsopbrengs 

aan die kliënt lewer.” 

Biomin-produkte is reeds die afgelope 

agt jaar deur middel van verspreiders in 

Suid-Afrika beskikbaar. Van Rensburg 

meld egter dat die maatskappy, op 

grond van die reuse-potensiaal van die 

plaaslike mark, die behoefte geïdentifiseer 

het om ’n besigheidseenheid te 

vestig wat ’n omvattende netwerk van 

produkte en tegniese ondersteuning kan 

bied. “Biomin het spesifiek Suid-Afrika 

as sy hoofbasis vir sy bedryf in Afrika 

geteiken op grond van die gevestigde 

infrastruktuur en moderne tegnologie, 

wat uiteindelik ook toegang tot die res 

van die vasteland sal bied.” 

Van Rensburg noem dat nasionale 

veevoerproduksie in Suid-Afrika 

ongeveer 10,8 miljoen ton per jaar 

beloop en hy is vol vertroue dat Biomin 

aansienlike sukses in hierdie mark kan 

behaal deur die vestiging van ’n plaaslike 

kantoor. 

“Die plaaslike veevoerbedryf is ’n 

groot mark wat die potensiaal vir aansienlike 

groei inhou. Namate voeselveiligheid 

plaaslik ’n belangriker faktor word, 

is Biomin in die posisie om die nodige 

oplossings vir hierdie unieke verbruikersvereistes 

deur die voorsiening van 

wêreldklasprodukte te bied, gerugsteun 

deur tegniese bystand en grondige 

advies oor dierevoedingsake.” 

Hy meld ook dat, hoewel Biomin oor 

die langtermyn markaandeel in alle dierevoedingsektore 

wil opbou, die maatskappy 

oor die kort termyn spesifiek die 

braaikuiken- en varkmark gaan teiken. 

“Braaikuikens is die grootste en goedkoopste 

proteïenbron in Suid-Afrika en 

gevolglik is die potensiaal vir markgroei 

uitmuntend.” 

Saam met sy moedermaatskappy, 

die Erber Groep, het Biomin tans meer 

as 1 000 mense in 43 lande regoor die 

wêreld in diens, wat die plaaslike mark 

’n omvattende ondersteuningsnetwerk 

bied. 

“Deur die plaaslike mark te betree, 

bewys Biomin sy toewyding en verbintenis 

tot die bemagtiging van Suid-Afrikaanse 

boere en voermeulenaars en om 

diereprestasie op die natuurlike manier te 

verbeter,” het Van Rensburg gesê. 

12 Porcus Januarie/Februarie 2012

Quick guide to: Congenital Splay Legs 

Dr Andrew Tucker – Charles Street 

Veterinary Consultancy 

What is Congenital Splay Legs? 

The Splay Leg condition is seen on farm 

as a piglet that is born and is unable to 

stand. These piglets often lie with the 

legs splayed apart and battle to drink as 

they cannot move easily around the pen. 

What causes splay legs? 

Splay legs is a genetic condition exacerbated 

by certain on- farm factors. The 

condition is caused by a failure of certain 

muscle fibres to mature in sufficient 

numbers. These weakened muscles are 

then unable to support the piglet at birth. 

This can occur in forelimbs, but is more 

common in the hind limbs. 

Certain factors have been shown to 

increase the incidence of splay leg pig- 

lets, namely, large litters, shorter gestation 

periods, farrowing induction prior to 

day 113, zearalenone poisoning as well 

as certain diseases like PRRS. 

How do you treat or prevent it? 

The prognosis for these piglets is never 

good. Crushing and starvation are common 

as piglets have limited mobility. With 

enough care these piglets can show 

much improvement within two to three 

days of birth and can return 100% to 

normal within ten days. The care needed 

is however quite intensive. Piglets firstly 

need to be regularly fed (ideally hourly), 

they also need to be kept warm and if 

left with the sow need to be separated 

from her so that she does not lie on them. 

Repeated massage of the hind limbs 

improves survival dramatically and elastic 

bands on the legs as well as non-slip 

floors do help somewhat. Humane killing 

animal health 

in some cases will be necessary where 

nursing has not been sufficient or in severe 

cases where recovery is too slow. 

References: 

Pig Diseases – D.J. Taylor; Diseases of 

Swine – Straw, Zimmerman, D’Allaire, 

Taylor 


14 


Gauteng studiegroep begin jaar 

op hoë noot 

Dr Koos Botha (Green Veterinary Group), Bets en Simon 

Streicher (SAVPO) 

Melvyn Trollope, Marius Pretorius en Phillip van den Heever 

almal van GH Braak Trust 

Carina Theron (Ede Farming), Annette Coetzee 

(Charlesstraat Veeartse) en Nadine Vervoort (Pretoria) 

StuDieGroePe 

Die Gauteng-studiegroep het in Februarie sy “moedskepfunksie” 

in Pretoria gehou. Dié foto’s is by die 

geleentheid geneem. 

Eugene Pienaar (Alzu), George Myburgh (Boehringer Ingelheim), 

dr Heinz en Carmen Bodenstein (Charlesstraat 

Veeartse) 

Dr Andrew Tucker, dr Annie Labuscagne (Charlesstraat 

Veeartse) en Thomas Wakeford (Fhibro) 

Zane en John Taute (NewQuip) en William Gee (Kanhym) 

Jurie Nel (Instavet), William en Retha Gee (Kanhym) 

James en Karen Jenkinson en Salmon Jonck (almal van 

Swineline) 


16 

reSearch 

Porcus Desember 2011

StuDieGroePe 

Aktuele sake by Wes-Transvaal 

Studiegroep onder die loep 

Die Wes-Transvaal Varkstudiegroep se jaar het op ‘n hoë noot in Februarie afgeskop. Biomin het die dag geborg. Andrew Robertson, 

Biomin se tegniese bestuurder, Europa, Afrika en die Midde-ooste het oor mikotoksiene gepraat en Albert van Rensburg, bedryfshoof 

van Biomin in Suid-Afrika, oor metaboliese aspekte van soggesondheid. Dr Pieter Grimbeek, voorsitter van die studiegroep, het varkwelsyn 

onder die soeklig geplaas. Meer hieroor in ‘n volgende Porcus. Die foto’s is by die geleentheid geneem. 

Albert van Rensburg (Biomin), dr Pieter Grimbeek (Mooivet), Denis Giraudoux (Biomin 

se areabestuurder) en Andrew Roberson (Biomin) 

Jaco Havenga (Big Dutchman), Scott Wiggill, Big Dutchamn, Lizette en dr Edgar 

Payne (Bothaville) 

Jacques Labuschagne (AL Els Varkboerdery), Simon Streicher (SAVPO) en Eben van 

Wyk (Brandvlei) 

Anneriet Mentz (Lavendula), Frans Hagg (Allied 

Nutrition) en Adel Rothman (Lesaffre) 

Dr Bert Zumpt en Jaco Truter (Biomin) 

Flip van der Merwe (Fochville) en Neil Drey 

(Niemen Stoet) 


StuDieGroePe 

Wes-Transvaal studiegroep (vervolg) 

André Combrink (Ratzegaai) en Pierre Smith (Virbac) 

18 

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Dr Peter Evans, joint administrator, 

Pork 360 

The quality assurance system which 

was initiated by the Premier Pork Producers, 

is now managed by SAPPO. 

The name of the system has been 

changed at the end of 2011, and is 

now known as Pork 360. 

Pork 360 would like to congratulate the 

following farms on being accredited for the 

2012 year. 

These farms have made a special effort 

to fulfil the high standards set by Pork 

360 to satisfy food safety, welfare and 

traceability standards. As such, 

processors and retailers can buy pigs 

from these farms confident that the 

highest standards of welfare, control of 

medicine use and environmental 

stewardship are maintained. 

Company /Piggery Unit 

Bloubank Estates 

Butt Farming 

Creditrace 

Curly Wee Boerdery 

Delta Farms Tana Piggery 

Feenstra Boerdery 

Frey’s Agriculture Fort Nottingham 

GH Braak Trust New Farm 

GH Braak Trust Ilmadia 

newS 

Perceptions on livestock industry’s 

footprint scientifically addressed 

The livestock industry should 

provide South Africans with facts 

to counteract the perceived negative 

impacts of its environmental 

footprint, says Dr Heinz Meissner, a 

consultant to the red meat industry. 

“You should, however, get your house 

in order by adhering to codes of ethics 

and good practices. Veld must be in 

better condition and productivity must 

increase,” he warned. 

Dr Meissner said that the perceived 

negative perceptions refer to 

the industry’s contribution to pollution 

and its carbon and water footprint, 

its intensive farming practices and 

slaughter procedures. It also includes 

its perceived contribution to human 

health in terms of antibiotics and hormone 

residues and meat’s contribution 

to illnesses, such as coronary heart 

disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. 

Scientific assessment 

He said that the livestock industry had 

initiated a study, The socio-economic 

and environmental impact of livestock 

agriculture in South Africa: A scientific 

Pork 360 accredited farms 2012 

GH Braak Trust Mooiplaas 

GH Braak Trust Kaalfontein 

Giltford Piggery 

Harmony Piggery 

Ibis Piggery 

Inhoek Varkboerdery 

Kanhym Estates NPD 

Kanhym Estates Springtop 

Mockford Farms 

Hazeley Pig Developments Hazeley 

Bottom Farm 

New Venture Farming 

No 2 Piggeries Cookhouse 

Piggery 

No 2 Piggeries Congaskraal 

Piggery 

No 2 Piggeries Endwell 

Piggery 

No 2 Piggeries Maiden Head 

Piggery 

No 2 Piggeries Peninsula 

Piggery 

No 2 Piggeries Steenwyk 

Piggery 

Rica Piggery 

RK Varkboerdery 

Voorspoed Varkboerdery 

Walt Landgoed 

The Pork 360 brand is fast becoming the 

preferred consumer assurance standard in 

South Africa. Currently approximately 

45 000 sows and their offspring are mem- 

assessment to scientifically put the 

negative perceptions in perspective. 

“There are no reliable statistics to 

measure agriculture’s carbon and water 

footprint. Statistics are often quoted 

out of context and this is dangerous,” 

Dr Meissner pointed out. 

In the meantime the industry is addressing 

these perceptions by means 

of talks, a web site, scientific papers 

and practical guidelines to livestock 

farmers in various formats of expected 

climate change impacts. 

bers of the scheme. 

Pork 360 is being rolled out further 

down the pork value chain to the 

consumer in 2012; beginning at abattoir 

level, to be followed by processors during 

2012. 

Pork 360 has applied for international 

accreditation in an effort to further 

cement its position as a credible quality 

assurance and traceability system for the 

pig industry in 360. 

We are going places fast and will be 

a QAT system that the South African pig 

farmer can be proud of. 

Once again congratulations to the accredited 

Pork 360 pig farms – you make 

South African pig farmers proud. 


aGri Sa conference 

Dieregesondheid: ‘Ja, ons kan!’ 

Dit is moontlik om Suid-Afrika se 

agteruitgaande dieregesondheidstatus 

hok te slaan en die situasie om 

te keer, meen dr Pieter Vervoort, ‘n 

veearts van die Charlesstraat-veterinêre 

groep in Pretoria en voorsitter 

van die Dieregesondheidsforum. 

Hy het by Agri SA se bedryfskonferensie 

op Stellenbosch gesê daar is genoeg 

kundigheid in die land beskikbaar. 

“Met beter loopbaanvooruitsigte vir 

veral staatsveeartse en veeartse, wat 

eersdaags verpligte gemeenskapsdiens 

sal moet verrig, sal daar ook 

genoeg mannekrag beskikbaar wees. 

Die Dieregesondheidswet van 2002 en 

die Vleisveiligheidswet van 2002 moet 

ook nou geïmplementeer word. Dit is 

Ons was daar 

Michelle de Lange (RMIT) en Cornie Swart (Agri Wes- 

Kaap) 

verstommend dat die wette nog nie 

toegepas word nie. In die geval van die 

Dieregesondheidswet werk ons steeds 

met die 1984-wet.” 

Dr Vervoort het voorts gesê dieregesondheid 

moet ‘n nasionale aangeleentheid 

word. “Die omslagtige lynfunksies 

van die provinsies is heeltemal onprakties 

en ondoeltreffend wanneer ons ‘n 

krisis op hande het. Daar moet ook 

minder politieke inmenging in die hele 

proses wees. Ons kan nie ‘n wetenskaplike 

boodskap deur politieke kanale 

oordra nie.” 

Hy sê verder beter kommunikasie 

tussen alle rolspelers is noodsaaklik. Dit 

sluit kommunikasie in tussen nasionale 

en provinsiale departemente, staats- en 

privaat-veeartse en tussen veeartse en 

Gerhard Schutte (RPO), Simon 

Streicher (SAVPO) en dr 

Heinz Meissner (konsultant) 

Margaret Twala (portefeuljekomitee, landbou), Qeda Nyoka (SAVPO) en 

Yaniswa Cele (portefeuljekomitee, landbou) 

Agri SA se jaarlikse 

bedryfskonferensie 

het in Februarie in 

Stellenbosch plaasgevind. 

Van die 

hoogtepunte verskyn 

hiernaas. 

boere. 

Volgens dr Vervoort sal die wette met 

betrekking tot dieregesondheid slaafs 

toegepas moet word, veral ten opsigte 

van vee-identifikasie en die beweging 

van vee. “Ek weet boere is nie altyd lus 

om rekord van die beweging van hulle 

diere te hou nie, maar dit is in hul eie 

belang. 

“Ons sal die staat se hand moet vat. 

Daar is nie ‘n ander opsie nie. Ons werk 

besonder goed saam met die staatsveeartse. 

Ons moet help met opleiding 

en leiding gee waar nodig. As ons 

dieregesondheid net aan die staat oorlaat, 

gaan dit nie gebeur nie. Ons moet 

met mekaar praat en weer die vertroue 

opbou, wat dalk iewers in die slag gebly 

het,” het dr Vervoort gesê. 

20 Porcus Januarie/Februarie 2012

aGri Sa konferenSie 

Agriculture must take a new look 

at import tariffs and its value 

In the long run, the world might 

move into free trade agreements 

where protection methods against 

unfair trade, such as tariffs, may no 

longer be effective tools to address 

distortions in global trade. So said 

Billy Morokolo, director of the department 

of agriculture, forestry and 

fisheries and commissioner of the 

International Trade Administration 

Commission (Itac) at the conference. 

“The agricultural sector should rather use 

the tariff policy as a strategy to derive 

certain socio-economic outcomes. 

These may include increasing production 

and competitiveness, ensuring food 

Theo de Jager (vise-president van Agri SA), Johannes Möller 

(president van Agri SA), Tina Joemat-Pettersson (minister van 

landbou, bosbou en visserye) en Hans van der Merwe (uitvoerende 

direkteur van Agri SA) 

André Jooste en Ronald Ramabulana (Nasionale Lanboubemarkingsraad) 

security, profitability, sustainability and 

a contribution to rural development, 

rather than a narrow focus on protection. 

Producers must also utilise government 

policies, such as the national growth 

plan, as a basis for arguments for tariff 

protection,” said Morokolo. 

He pointed out that tariff setting was 

like walking a tightrope, attempting to 

balance two countervailing forces. “Applications 

for tariff increase by primary 

producers always generate a negative 

reaction from downstream players within 

the same value chain. Tariff increases 

on imported raw agri-products have a 

potential to increase food prices, and 

thus negative welfare effects in the face 

of high global food prices. Low tariffs 

on primary products have an effect of 

discouraging expansion of domestic production, 

crowd out primary producers 

and always meet with negative reaction 

from primary producers within the same 

value chain. 

“Given the above scenario, Itac is 

expected to perform a balancing act to 

straddle the two divides – farmers on 

one side and downstream industry and 

consumers on the other side. 

“An industry-based approach to tariff 

setting should look at the broader interests 

of the entire industry value chain,” 

he concluded. 

Dr Pieter Vervoort van die Charlesstraat Veterinêre Konsultante 

en voorsitter van die Dieregesondheidsforum was een van die 

sprekers. By hom is Simon Streicher, hoofuitvoerende beampte 

van SAVPO, regs 

Harry Prinsloo (NWKV), Elaine Alexander (SA Tafeldruifbedryf), 

Billy Morokolo (Internasionale Handelsadministrasie-kommissie) 

en dr Pieter Vervoort (Dieregesondheidsforum) 


22 

aGri Sa konferenSie 

Ontwikkelingsplan lê groot klem 

op landbou, sê Mohammad Karan 

Hoewel bereken word dat sowat 

‘n miljoen werksgeleenthede die 

afgelope paar jaar in die landbou 

verlore gegaan het, het landbou 

tog die potensiaal om die 11 

miljoen werksgeleenthede wat in 

die regering se nasionale ontwikkelingsplan 

voorsien word, te haal, 

het prof Mohammad Karan van 

die Universiteit van Stellenbosch 

en lid van die Nasionale Beplanningskommisie, 

by die konferensie 

gesê. 

Prof Karan het die landbouhoofstuk 

in die plan bespreek en gesê dat 

landbou in die plan as ‘n belangrike 

sektor beskou word om tot groei by te 

dra. Daar is egter negatiewe faktore 

wat landbou se bydrae belemmer. 

Benewens verminderede werkgeleenthede 

neem landbou se bydrae tot die 

Growth plan ‘would be 

incomplete without agriculture’s 

input’ – Trevor Manuel 

The proposals in the national growth 

plan would remain incomplete 

without the input from organised 

agriculture, said Trevor Manuel, 

chairperson of the National Planning 

Commission in his opening address 

at Agri SA’s commodity conference 

in Stellenbosch. 

“We are all conscious of the fact that 

the strengthening of partnerships in rural 

areas is essential for unlocking value, for 

creating a sense of inclusive decisionmaking, 

for personal safety and for 

macro-economic stability by focusing on 

issues of the inter-relationship between 

food production, food security and the 

balance of payments. We need your 

nasionale GDP af, transformasie in die 

bedryf is stadig en grondhervorming 

was onsuksesvol. Verstedeliking neem 

toe terwyl vereistes vir omgewingsvriendelike 

boerdery ook stremmend 

op boere kan inwerk. 

“Aan die positiewe kant het die landbou 

die vermoeë om werkgeleenthede 

te skep en word saam met mynbou en 

die kleinhandel as die sektore beskou 

met potensiaal om na Afrika uit te brei. 

Navosing dui daarop dat die landbou 

mense se vestiginspatrone beïnvloed. 

Die landbou kan ook ‘n groot bydrae 

tot die ekonomiese opleweing in die 

voormalige tuislande maak. Die sektor 

sal ook ‘n bydae ten opsigte van 

grondhervorming en streeksgroei moet 

maak,” het hy gesê. 

Prof Karan het ook daarop gewys 

dat die landbousektor ‘n belangrike 

gemeenskapsrol het om te speel. “Die 

considered input on all of these matters,” 

Manuel said. 

Manuel appealed to Agri SA to assist 

in the finalisation of the plan. “I want to 

extract a commitment that you will make 

considered input concerning those areas 

that are essential for agriculture, such as 

the economy and employment, economic 

infrastructure, an inclusive rural 

economy, South Africa and the world, 

and the transformation of society and 

uniting the country. 

“Organised agriculture must be 

heard, and we should do all in our power 

to unlock the untapped potential. Your 

input will make a significant difference,” 

Manuel said. 

Manuel said that the National Planning 

stand van die landbou bepaal as’t ware 

die bui van die nasie. Die sektor kweek 

leiers en is die vesel van die gemeenskap. 

Dit bring mense weer in kontak 

met die natuur.” 

Die breë voorstelle met betrekking 

tot die landbou, is die volgende. Die 

sektor moet: 

• 11 miljoen werksgeleenthede teen 

2030 skep; 

• ‘n groot rol in streeksontwikkeling 

speel; 

• die grondhervormingskwessie oplos; 

• ‘n groot bydrae ten opsigte van bewaring 

en spesifiek waterbewaring 

speel; 

• die groen ekonomie bevorder; 

• die arbeidmark verbeter; 

• ‘n rol speel om ruimtelike ongelykhede 

minder te maak. 

Commission believed that an active state 

and a passive citizenry would create 

more of what “we now live through”. 

“Firstly, we are arguing for active 

citizenry in every aspect of society – be 

it in respect of schools, fighting crime, 

overseeing healthcare, requiring reports 

from and giving mandates to the three 

spheres of government. In all of this we 

need to work to ensure that citizens are 

actively engaged. 

“The second feature of the change 

is to promote the voice of leadership 

throughout every aspect of society. The 

third focus area is on a capable state. 

These three aspects are dynamically 

linked and together determine the outcome,” 

Manuel said. 


Porcus January/February 2012 

aGri Sa conference 

Meer gereelde kommunikasie met 

Agri SA is minister se voorneme 

Meer gereelde kommunikasie met 

die georganiseerde landbou en pogings 

om die Dieregesondheidsforum 

amptelik deur die regering erken te 

kry, is van die ondernemings wat 

minister van landbou, bosbou en visserye 

Tina Joemat-Pettersson by Agri 

SA se beleidskongres gegee het. 

“Ons kan nie via die media met mekaar 

praat nie. Dis beperkend. Geen verhouding 

kan altyd in die wittebroodsfase 

bly nie en as daar probleme is, 

beteken dit dat ons nie na mekaar 

luister nie. Feit bly staan dat die 

regering die landbou as ‘n belangrike 

sektor beskou. Een hele hoofstuk in 

die nasionale ontwikkelingsplan word 

net aan die landbou gewy. In ander 

amptelike dokumente word die landbou 

se belangrike rol as werkskepper 

en om tot groei by te dra ook erken,” 

Scope for massive production 

expansion 

“The scope for massive expansion 

in agricultural production exists in 

South Africa. Imaginative leadership 

would regard an additional 1 million 

employment opportunities as an unnecessarily 

conservative estimate,” 

said Prof Nick Vink of the University 

of Stellenbosch at the conference. 

Discussing the potential contribution 

of the agro-industrial sector to employment 

in South Africa, Prof Vink said that 

studies showed that work in this sector 

would mainly be created by: 

• expanding irrigation agriculture; there is 

evidence that the current 1,5 million hectares 

under irrigation (which produces 

virtually all of South Africa’s horticultural 

harvest, and some field crops, i.e. well 

over a third of total output) could be 

expanded; 

• over a period of time bringing some 

of the under used land in the communal 

areas and under land reform projects 

into commercial production that was 

commensurate with the aims and objectives 

of the land-reform programme and 

het Joemat-Pettersson gesê. 

“Ek het nog altyd kommersiële 

boere se mening via jul organisasie 

van belang geag. As julle probleme 

ondervind om op provinsiale vlak met 

regeringsverteenwoordigers kontak te 

maak, sal ek help.” 

Sy het erken dat sake in haar departement 

nie altyd vaartbelyn verloop 

nie en dat dit tot frustrasie aanleiding 

gee. Die Noord-Kaapse departement 

van landbou het voorbeeld in Desember 

verlede jaar geld vir vloedhulp 

in die Noord-Kaap afgeteken, maar 

weens die stadige staatsmasjinerie kon 

die geld nog nie aan boere oorbetaal 

word nie. “Ek gaan vir daardie geld 

baklei. Ek glo ook dat die departement 

van landbou in die toekoms sy eie 

begroting vir vloedhulp moet hê,” het 

sy gesê. 

Volgens Joemat-Pettersson is die 

South Africa’s food security needs; 

• picking and supporting ‘winners’ from 

commercial agriculture (those sectors 

and regions that had the highest 

potential for growth and specifically for 

employment-creating growth); 

• supporting employment creation in the 

upstream and downstream industries; 

the potential for employment creation 

would come from the growth in output 

resulting from the first three strategies; 

• finding creative combinations between 

these opportunities; these would include 

greater emphasis on land that has the 

potential or has already been serviced 

with irrigation infrastructure, giving priority 

to successful farmers in the communal 

areas as land-reform beneficiaries, and 

lending targeted support to industries 

and areas of high employment-creation 

potential in order to maximise collaboration 

between existing farmers and land 

reform beneficiaries. 

“The total of almost 1 million additional 

employment opportunities is 

optimistic because it reflects a consider- 

Suid-Afrikaanse landbou steeds te 

verdeeld. “Ons moet die groot skeiding 

tussen die hoofsaaklik groot, wit kommersiële 

boere en die hoofsaaklik klein, 

swart boere oorbrug.” Kommersiële 

boere moet ook tot ‘n groter mate by 

projekte soos die departement se Zero 

Hunger-projek betrokke raak, het sy 

bygevoeg. 

Met verwysing na die ANC se 

komende beleidskongres het sy onderneem 

om haar nie ten gunste van die 

nasionalisering van grond uit te spreek 

nie. “Die beginsel van gewillige koper 

en gewillige verkoper het egter nie 

gewerk nie. Dit help nie om swak administrasie 

vir stadige grondhervorming 

te blameer nie. Kom met ‘n alternatiewe 

voorstel,” het Joemat-Pettersson 

gesê. 

able amount of double and even triple 

counting; many of the industries that 

can potentially expand will do so in the 

former homelands, where most of the 

irrigation expansion will take place. 

“The total is also optimistic because 

it assumes that output growth in the 

‘winner’ industries would lead to a net 

growth in employment opportunities. 

However, at least some of this growth 

replaces existing agricultural production, 

with the result that the net growth in jobs 

could be considerably smaller. 

“Nevertheless, the overall calculation 

remains conservative, because it has been 

based on the very moderate assumption 

that the land under irrigation increases only 

marginally (145 000 ha), while the potential 

for expansion of irrigation is much larger: 

90 000 ha as a result of the utilisation of 

available water; 282 000 ha due to savings 

from the more efficient use of existing 

water; 270 000 ha from ground water; and 

as much as 335 000 ha should additional 

water storage capacity be built (975 000 

ha),” Prof Vink said. 

23

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nutrition 

The roles of tryptophan in pig 

nutrition 

By Dr J Htoo and F Crots – Evonik 

Industries 

E-mail: franscois.crots@evonik.com 

The key important points of Tryptophan 

are: 

• Required for protein synthesis 

• Precursor for serotonin 

• Maximise feed intake and growth 

performance 

• Required in the immune response 

system 

Tryptophan (Trp) is one of the most 

complex essential amino acids (AA). This 

complexity is due to the many different 

metabolic roles that Trp has in the body, 

despite the fact that the concentration 

of Trp is the lowest of all AA in the body 

of pig. In addition to its role as a building 

block of body protein, Trp is needed for 

synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, 

which is known to be involved in 

regulation of feed intake, aggression and 

stress response behaviors. A metabolite 

of serotonin degradation, melatonin, may 

act as free radical scavengers and have 

antioxidant properties. Another pathway 

of Trp metabolism, quantitatively a more 

important one, is the kynurenine pathway 

which is associated with immune 

response mechanism. 

In addition to its involvement in different 

roles in the body, Trp also is complex 

due to its low concentrations in several 

of the feedstuffs used in swine feed, as 

well as the difficulty associated with analysing 

for Trp content. Unlike other AA 

that are isolated by acid hydrolysis, Trp 

content has to be measured separately 

following alkaline hydrolysis since it is 

destroyed during acidic hydrolysis with 

hydrochloric acid. The content and digestibility 

of Trp also greatly vary among 

common feedstuffs. Ingredients that 

contain relatively high Trp content include 

blood meal, casein, fish meal, whole 

egg, potato protein and soybean meal. 

Tryptophan content is extremely low in 

corn, tapioca and sorghum. Tryptophan 

is usually considered the fourth limiting 

AA in typical cereal-based swine diets. 

There is considerable variation in 

Trp requirements of pig as well as ideal 

dietary Trp:Lys ratios among published 

data. Undoubtedly, the reasons for these 

inconsistencies may be attributed to 

many factors highlighted above. This aim 

of this review is not to give Trp requirement 

or ideal ratios recommendations, 

but rather focuses on the following objectives: 

1) to describe metabolic pathways 

and roles of Trp besides for body 

protein synthesis, 2) to review the effects 

of dietary Trp on brain serotonin concentration 

and its mechanisms in regulating 

in feed intake and stress response, and 

3) to review the effect of dietary Trp on 

immune response and mechanisms 

involved. 

The role of tryptophan for serotonin 

synthesis 

As one of the dietary essential AA, Trp 

plays an important role in body protein 

synthesis. A stimulatory effect of Trp 

on protein synthesis in the liver, muscle 

and skin of pigs has been demonstrated 

(Ponter et al., 1994). 

In addition to protein synthesis, Trp is 

also involved in many complex metabolic 

pathways. Once absorbed in the small 

intestine, Trp enters the portal vein and 

pass into the liver; a portion is used for 

protein synthesis and the remaining Trp 

not utilised for protein synthesis can follow 

two major metabolic pathways. First, 

a small proportion of it is used to synthesise 

a neurotransmitter serotonin mainly 

in the gut, platelets and brain, while the 

second pathway, known as the kynure- 

Figure 1: Chemical structure of 

tryptophan 

nine pathway, leads to the formation of 

various products including 3-hydroxykynurenine, 

3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, 

quinolinic acid, kynurenic acid and niacin 

(Brown, 1995). 

In the brain, synthesis of serotonin 

mainly occurs in serotonergic nerves, 

enterochromaffinic cells, thrombocytes 

and mast cells. It is also widely distributed 

in the hypothalamus (Saavedra et 

al., 1974). In mammals about 90% of 

total plasma Trp is bound to albumin. 

The remaining Trp, which is in a free 

form, can enter the brain through the 

blood-brain barrier (BBB; Madras, et al., 

1974) to be converted by the enzyme 

tryptophan hydroxylase in the pinealocytes 

into 5-hydroxytryptophan, which 

is then converted by decarboxylation to 

serotonin (Figure 2). 

As a neurotransmitter, serotonin is involved 

in regulating a variety of behavioral 

processes such as appetite, feeding, 

impulsivity, aggression, sexual behavior, 

temperature regulation, pain perception 

and mood control. As a neurohormone, 

melatonin plays a role in the control of 

the day- and night-rhythm and serves 

as an intracellular scavenger of hydroxyl- 

and peroxide-radicals (Reiter et al., 

1994). 

Figure 2: Metabolic pathway of serotonin 

and melatonin synthesis 



26 

Porcus Desember 2011

Tryptophan Continued from p 25 

The role of tryptophan on appetite 

and feed intake regulation 

Voluntary feed intake determines nutrient 

intake levels and as such it is very important 

for efficient pig production, especially 

in weaned piglets and lactating sows for 

which adequate feed intake is normally 

challenging. Due to its specific role in 

serving as a precursor of brain serotonin, 

Trp is involved in the regulation of feed 

intake. Many studies have demonstrated 

that feeding Trp deficient diets typically 

reduced feed intake and growth performance 

in piglets in growing-finishing pigs 

and in lactating sows. In these studies, 

the impact of dietary Trp was greater for 

growth rate than for feed efficiency, suggesting 

that a portion of enhanced growth 

was due to increased feed intake. 

A few theories have been proposed 

to explain the control of feed intake. First, 

dietary Trp content is closely correlated to 

brain serotonin concentration. Although 

the mechanisms responsible for reduced 

feed intake induced by low brain serotonin 

are not fully understood, it has been 

proposed that serotonin might influence 

in selecting between protein and carbohydrate 

by acting as a sensor to detect 

the proportions of energy from protein 

and carbohydrate in the diet. 

The second theory is the role of Trp 

in modulating insulin secretion. It has 

been demonstrated that a Trp-adequate 

diet increased both plasma insulin and 

glucose concentrations compared with 

a Trp-deficient diet in piglets. This was 

supported by Ponter et al. (1994) who 

also observed increased plasma insulin 

in weaned pigs fed a Trp-adequate diet 

and concluded that higher levels of Trp 

increased the rate of glucose absorption 

and gastric emptying, thus stimulating 

feed intake. 

Thirdly, feed intake can be influenced 

by AA imbalances; a fast and marked 

drop in feed intake is a typical sign. 

In the event of AA imbalance, i.e., Trp 

non-specific mechanism, the concentration 

of the limiting AA declines in both 

blood plasma and muscle. The change 

in plasma AA pattern may provide the 

metabolic signal to appetite-regulating 

regions of the brain for suppressing feed 

intake (D’Mello, 2000). 

The role of tryptophan on immune 

response 

There is no doubt that the health status 

of animals greatly influences the ef- 

ficiency of nutrient utilisation and growth 

performance. Several AA including Trp 

play important roles in the functioning 

of the immune system. Melchior et 

al. (2004) reported a decline in plasma 

Trp concentration in pigs suffering from 

inflammation and disease, suggesting 

an increased utilisation of Trp in such 

situations. 

In addition to being involved in protein 

synthesis and serotonin regulation, Trp 

is also metabolised through a specific 

kynurenine pathway initiated by two 

enzymes. The enzyme tryptophan-2, 

3-dioxygenase in the liver regulates 

homeostatic plasma Trp concentration 

and is induced by glucocorticoids and 

Trp. The second enzyme, indoleamine-2, 

3-dioxygenase, is present in a variety 

of body tissues including the intestine, 

stomach, lungs and brain as well as in 

macrophages. It is induced by interferon 

gamma during immune system stimulation, 

and during infection and tissue 

inflammation. The mechanisms that 

mediate immune tolerance are complex, 

and the role of Trp in the kynurenine metabolic 

pathway has been proposed as 

one of the mechanisms involved in the 

control of immune response (Takikawa et 

al.1986; Moffett and Namboodiri, 2003). 

It has been estimated that only about 

one percent of dietary Trp not utilised for 

protein synthesis is converted to serotonin, 

while more than 95 % is metabolised 

via the kynurenine pathway. Thus, 

Trp metabolism through the kynurenine 

pathway is quantitatively the most important 

after protein synthesis. 

Melchior et al. (2004) reported that 

plasma Trp levels were consistently lower 

in pigs induced with a lung inflammation 

compared to pair-fed healthy piglets. 

Interestingly, Trp was the only AA exhibiting 

such a response. This was supported 

by Le Floc’h et al. (2004) who also 

reported that pigs suffering from lung 

inflammation had higher IDO activity in 

lungs and associated lymph nodes than 

pair-fed healthy piglets. Furthermore, 

they observed that piglets fed a low 

Trp diet had a higher plasma concentration 

of a major acute phase protein 

haptoglobin (indicator of inflammation) 

compared with pigs fed a Trp-adequate 

diet. 

These results suggest that Trp catabolism 

via the kynurenine pathway is 

increased after immune challenge and 

dietary Trp seems to alleviate the negative 

effect of lung inflammation in piglets. 

Thus, Trp requirement for pigs may 

Promotional article 

increase during inflammatory and immune 

system stimulation, e.g. during the 

period immediately after weaning or during 

lactation. Interestingly, feeding high 

dietary Trp (0.5%, total basis) diets to 

weaned piglets increased the intestinal 

villus to crypt ratio which is an indication 

of improved gut health (Koopmans et al., 

2006). 

In a review paper, Le Floc’h and Seve 

(2007) mentioned three major mechanisms 

that involve in the immune response 

via the kynurenine pathway. The 

first one is related to the antimicrobial effects 

by IDO induction, i.e., inhibiting the 

growth of pathogens, possibly through 

the ability of IDO to reduce Trp availability 

for the pathogens in the infected cell 

area. Second, cells expressing IDO such 

as macrophages and dendrite cells are 

capable of inhibiting T cell proliferation in 

response to antigenic challenge by reducing 

the supply of Trp. The third theory 

suggests that several Trp metabolites 

produced not only along the kynurenine 

pathway such as 3-hydroxy kynurenine 

and 3-hydroxy anthranilic acid but also 

melatonin, a metabolite of the serotonin 

pathway, may act as free radical scavengers 

and have antioxidant properties. 

In addition, poor sanitary status of pig 

housing can induce a moderate inflammatory 

response in weaned piglets. 

Recently, Le Floc’h et al. (2007) demonstrated 

that weaned piglets kept under 

poor sanitary housing conditions resulted 

in reduced feed intake and growth 

rate, but the magnitude of responses 

in terms of feed intake and weight gain 

to increasing levels of Trp were greater 

compared with those kept under good 

sanitary conditions (Figure 12). These 

results suggest that the Trp requirement 

for optimum growth performance may 

be higher when pigs are kept under poor 

sanitary conditions. 

Overall, Trp plays a key role in swine 

nutrition. The multi-purpose roles of Trp 

in the body, in addition to protein deposition, 

such as serotonin synthesis, feed 

intake regulation, immune response, 

coping with stress and the impact of 

dietary Trp to LNAA ratio on serotonin 

should be considered in supplying 

dietary Trp for optimum growth and 

economic performance. 

References available on request. 



The problems 

of sludge 

build-up in 

farm 

evaporation 

dams 

Biozymes SA, a South African-based 

company specialising in the development, 

commercialisation and implementation 

of technologies geared 

towards preservation, protection and 

clean-up of the environment, found 

a solution for the problem of sludge 

build-up in farm evaporation dams. 

Recent tests and case studies con- 

clusively prove the effectiveness of the 

Biozymes Effluent Water Treatment 

Enzymes in treating the sludge/evaporation 

dams on pig farms. 

The problem 

Great efforts are made by farmers to 

separate the solids from the effluent 

before the liquids go to the evaporation 

dam(s), but large volumes of small particles 

pass through the solids separator 

which then accumulate and coagulate, 

once in the dam. 

These particles quickly form large 

clumps and become floating islands, 

which after a few months are dense 

enough and large enough for large birds 

to walk on. Typically birds such as Egyptian 

geese or Ibis are common visitors to 

these dams. 

Amongst the problems with these 

accumulations of solid matter are: 

• Lack of oxygen transfer creating 

anaerobic conditions. 

• Noxious smells and fumes as a result 

of the anaerobic conditions. 

• Silt build-up and floating islands – 

creating less volume area available for 

aerobic activity. 

• If untreated, the dam becomes 

unusable and would require emptying 

by mechanical means like grading or 

excavation, or worse, needing to be shut 

down and a new dam built. 

• Poor water quality seeping into the 

ground water and contaminating wells 

and boreholes for the farm and its neighbours. 

28 

The second sampling point on 3 October 2011, when the test started. 

Objective 

The objective of Biozymes SA’s approach 

is to create a healthy viable aerobic 

environment, within which naturally 

occurring bacteria will consume the bulk 

of the organic matter, resulting in a reduction 

of accumulated solids and much 

cleaner water. Once clean enough, this 

excess water can be used for irrigation 

of the lands. 

Table 1. 

The first sampling point. 

BEFORE 

3 October 31 October 

Amonia 1 867 623 

COD 59 541 4 105 

Suspended solids 39 489 2 092 

The products that Biozymes SA uses 

are formulated and manufactured by a 

large multinational company and have 

been developed and improved on over 

the last two decades. The products have 

assisted many industries, to deal with 

their effluent problems, including the agricultural 

industry. A summary of a recent 

case study, can be seen in Table 1. 


oop 

AFTER 

A view of the dam when the test 

was finalised on 31 October 2011. 

The second sampling point on 31 October, at the end of the test. 

Approach 

In order to achieve the objective, Biozymes 

SA add two factors: 

• Dosing of micro nutrients formulated 

to create the building blocks for a 

healthy aerobic bacterial colony. 

• Aeration of the water by means of 

either aerators or paddles which stir the 

surface, or pumps used to create a fountain. 

The beauty of this approach is in 

its simplicity and relatively low cost to 

implement. 

The objectives of reducing the suspended 

solids, smells and improving 

the water quality were clearly achieved 

(see Table 1). Experience proved that 

if the dosing protocol is continued the 

The test to establish the effectiveness 

of BiozimFarm in treating and 

alleviating the “sludge” problem was 

started on 3 October 2011. 

improvements continue and, with time, 

the dosage rate can be reduced to a 

maintenance dose. 

Case study 

This approach can be implemented 

without major changes to the existing 

farm infrastructure, and can be managed 

by the farms themselves. The costs 

can be divided into capital costs, e.g. 

aerators, pumps etc, and running costs, 

being the ongoing product being dosed 

into the dam and the running costs of 

electrical equipment. These costs can be 

budgeted for and result in relatively low 

cost of operations compared to a major 

overhaul of a dam or the building of new 

dams. 


In a case study, the problem was 

identified that the current effluent plant 

set-up was not managing to deal with 

and treat the residual 0,7micron effluent 

emanating from the solids separation 

screen. This resulted in the initial holding 

dam becoming chocked with “anaerobic 

sludge” which in turn polluted ground 

water and remained unusable for irrigation 

purposes. 

The purpose of the test was to establish 

the effectiveness of BiozimFarm 

in treating and alleviating the “sludge” 

problem. 

The test was conducted during October 

2011 for a full month. It started on 3 

October 2011 and was finalised on 31 

October 2011. 

The existing dam was dosed with 5lt a 

day for five days a week with two boosts 

of 12lt on every alternate week, with the 

total dosage for the period being 125lt. 

Samples were taken for scientific tests 

at the start and end of the test in two different 

locations. Photographs were also 

taken for the full duration of the test for 

before and after visual comparison. 

Conclusion 

As can be seen from both the scientific 

laboratory analysis and the photographs, 

the Biozymes Effluent Water Treatment 

protocol worked very well and made a 

vast improvement on the dam and the 

quality of the out-flow water. 

It is our opinion that the test conclusively 

proves the effectiveness of the 

Biozymes Effluent Water Treatment 

Enzymes and we further believe that a 

treatment conducted over a longer term 

will create improved results. 

Biozymes South Africa are backed 

by an international team of scientists, 

engineers and managers who are dedicated 

towards invention and innovation: 

providing homes, communities and 

industries with advanced systems and 

products that can be easily deployed in 

the fields of waste water treatment, spill 

clean-up land remediation and odour 

control. 

Our formula for environmental protection 

is based on creating positive economic 

and social returns for our clients, 

whilst fulfilling the important objective of 

delivering long-term sustainability of the 

environment. 

More information on our products 

and services can be obtained at 

www.biozymes.co.za 


30 

S 

FEEDING SUCCESS 

PIG 

FEEDING SUCCESS 

TECHNICAL 

ADVICE 


At De Heus we believe 

healthy animals are 

happy animals 

De Heus believes that healthy animals 

are happy animals. Therefore: 

Our feeds 

Productivity, housing, feeding systems, 

genetics, health and condition are very 

important factors to consider when a 

choice of feed has to be made. In the 

wide assortment of De Heus pig feeds 

there is a choice for every type of pig 

and farm situation. 

Gilt and sow 

Keeping sows in top condition requires 

optimal management, alongside quality 

feeding, of course. Within De Heus, a 

team of technical advisors and professional 

backup is eager to support you in 

the nutrition, health, climate and housing 

of your animals. 

Piglets 

Good rearing of piglets is the basis for 

optimal performance in the subsequent 

grower and finisher period. Our piglet 

feeds are carefully formulated with 

specifically selected ingredients. This 

provides excellent taste and intake 

properties, resulting in a quick and easy 

adaption to solid feed. 

Pigs 

Genetic improvement results in leaner 

pigs. These pigs grow rapidly with high 

lean meat deposition. As a pig farmer, 

you aim for the best technical and 

financial results. De Heus has designed 

grower and finisher feeds to fulfil the 

high nutritional needs of modern pigs 

and provide sufficient choice for any 

farm situation. 

Quality control 

Feed safety is a key point of attention 

within our company. De Heus feeds 

are produced according to the strict 

guidelines of our quality system. Every 

incoming ingredient is sampled and 

checked. Our state of the art laboratory 


continually analyses the nutritional value of 

ingredients and feeds produced. No effort 

is spared in maintaining the highest quality 

standards of production. 

Knowledge 

Every day practice is our most important 

source of knowledge. In addition, we 

have intensive contacts with national and 

international research institutes to keep up 

to date with the latest developments. De 

Heus has its own research farms to test 

our own developments and answer practical 

questions. At the commercial research 

farm, “Smeenk”, our sow and piglet 

feed programmes are tested continually. 

New ingredients are examined and, after 

proven success, implemented in practice. 

Our goal is continuous improvement of 

nutritional quality to ensure that our customers 

reap the rewards. 

Technical support 

De Heus has practically skilled specialists 

to advise customers on farm. We help 

wherever we can. Our specialists think 

with you and do their very best to improve 

the technical and financial results on your 

farm. Through our specialists, you are 

able to tap in to the extensive knowledge 

of De Heus. 

Quotes from customers 

“With De Heus South Africa, it’s great to 

be involved with a winning team; offering 

both local and international expertise with 

the personal touch when we need it.” KZN 

pig farmer 

“It was definitely the right choice we made 

by using De Heus feeds for our lactating 

sows. Availability of milk and weaning 

weights were a definite area of improvement! 

Technical advice is readily available 

and is definitely a plus.” Leon Craig 

(NHELC) 

“With De Heus Feed on my farm I have 

total peace of mind.” Richard Hobbs 

(Rubicon Piggery) Bela Bela

WHO 

ProDuction 

CARES... 

In any phase of the pig’s life, proper nutrition will improve health. The ‘Alltech pig advantage’ 

programme is no exception. With decades of dedicated research, the ‘Alltech pig advantage’ 

programme can help improve immunity, weight gain, and meat quality. 

alltech ad 

So, who cares about your customer’s profit? Remember 

Alltech (Pty) Ltd | PO Box 7156 | Stellenbosch | 7599 | South Africa 

Tel: (021) 865 2669 | Fax: (021) 865 2673 | www.alltech.com 

...if your customer needs some tasty returns? 

As the swine industry returns to profitability, are you switching from “survivor” mode to 

“driver” mode and making sure you’re maximising profitability? 

DOES! 

www.facebook.com/AlltechNaturally www.twitter.com/@Alltech Copyright, ©, 2011, Alltech. All rights reserved 

32 Porcus October/November 2011 Porcus Augustus/September 2010 32

nutrition 

More awareness of mycotoxins 

By Dr H.V.L.N. Swamy, Alltech 

Canada 

The immediate challenge chemists 

around the world face are related to 

masked mycotoxins and the means 

and modes of analysing them so that 

their masked effects can be quantified. 

In this article, demonstrated 

effects of the key mycotoxins on 

swine health and performance are 

highlighted, while referencing to 

their regional distribution. 

Mycotoxins are the secondary metabolites 

of moulds, which are ubiquitous in 

nature. There are close to 500 mycotoxins 

that have been identified to date, 

and undoubtedly there are many more 

to come. Four genera of mycotoxin producing 

moulds on a global scale include 

Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and 

Claviceps. 

As for mycotoxins, harmful to swine 

health and performance, the group 

includes aflatoxins, ochratoxins, Type 

A trichothecene Fusarium mycotoxins, 

Type B trichothecene Fusarium mycotoxins, 

fumonisins, zearalenone, and ergot 

alkaloids. 

Classifying the mycotoxins to a specific 

region has been curtailed in recent years 

due to the extended trading of grains 

and meals across the world as well 

as appreciable changes in the global 

climatic conditions. Unexpected drought, 

rainfall and floods added more mystery 

to the already complex issues of sampling 

and mycotoxin analysis. Nevertheless 

the greater prevalence of a specific 

group of mycotoxins to a particular 

region can be generalised. 

Comparative toxicity 

Unlike poultry, the information on systematic 

comparative toxicity of mycotoxins 

in pigs is not available. Based on the 

literature information available and field 

experience, the severity of key mycotoxin 

toxicities on pig performance (weight 

gains or reproduction) can be ranked 

as: Aflatoxins (400 ppb) > Deoxynivalenol 

(DON, 1 000 ppb) > Zearalenone 

(around 1 000 ppb) > Ochratoxins (1 000 

to 2 000 ppb) > T- 2 toxin (3 000 ppb) > 

Fumonisins (10 000 ppb). 

It is worth mentioning that these 

observations were made assuming that 

individual mycotoxin was present without 

appreciable levels of other mycotoxins. 

Although aflatoxins are more toxic to 

pigs, their presence at such levels is 

uncommon. On the other hand, although 

fumonisins are least toxic among these 

mycotoxins, their presence at 10 000 

ppb or even more can be a common 

phenomenon in corn. 

Toxicity of some mycotoxins 

The biggest challenge with mycotoxicoses 

is the non-specific nature of 

symptoms in the affected animals. As 

compared to poultry, the acute symptoms 

are relatively more specific in pigs 

at least for some of the most common 

mycotoxins. These can include zearalenone-induced 

reproductive disorders 

(hyperemic and enlarged vulva), fumonisins-induced 

pulmonary odema and 

DON-induced feed refusal. The effect 

of low levels of mycotoxins on immunity 

of pigs can still go unnoticed and this 

makes it very hard for swine producers 

to diagnose the issue and take 

subsequent prevention measures. The 

symptoms of mycotoxicoses, such as 

lowered feed intake, can also be due to 

poor management, nutrition and health. 

It is quite common under commercial 

conditions, therefore, to compare the 

mycotoxin results of swine feed with the 

symptoms on the farm to confirm mycotoxicoses. 

Acute and chronic toxicities 

of some of the important mycotoxins in 

swine are discussed here. In general, the 

toxicity of mycotoxins mainly depends 

on the dose and source of mycotoxins, 

and the duration of exposure. 

Aflatoxins 

Meissonnier and others (2005) recently 

reviewed aflatoxicosis in swine. Aflatoxin 

B 1 (AFB 1 ) is the most toxic followed by 

AFG 1 , AFB 2 and AFG 2 . During acute 

aflatoxicosis in swine, almost all animals 

die within hours or days following the intoxication. 

During chronic aflatoxicoses, 

the first signs are significant reductions in 

feed intake and a depressed state of the 

animals. AFG 1 can induce more severe 

liver pathology in pigs than AFB 1 and 

both when present together can result in 

additive interaction. AFB 1 concentration 

of 400 ppb seems to be the minimum 

concentration in feed to cause performance 

problems in pigs, however, the 

immunity can be compromised at levels 

as low as 280 ppb. 

Chronic intoxication with aflatoxins 

reduce vaccine efficacy. Aflatoxins alter 

inflammatory reactions via inhibiting the 

normal functioning of macrophages, 

neutrophils and NK cells as well as 

through modulating cytokine production. 

The effect of aflatoxins on antibody production 

is not consistent while its effect 

on cell mediated immunity, especially 

lymphocyte proliferation, is well documented 

in pigs. 

Association of aflatoxins with other 

mycotoxins does not seem to induce 

synergic toxic effects except for fumonisin 

B 1 (FB 1 ). At higher concentrations 

(around 800 ppb), AF can affect reproductive 

efficiency of pigs and AFB 1 and 

AFM 1 residues can be detected in sow 

milk. 

Ochratoxins 

Although the ochratoxin group comprises 

seven compounds, onlyochratoxin 

A (OA) has been foundwidespread as 

a natural contaminant ofcereal grains. 

OA mainly affectsprotein synthesis and 

subsequently DNA and RNA synthesis. 

Kidneys are the major target organs for 

ochratoxins and as a result of kidney 

damage the animals increase their water 

consumption. Similar to aflatoxins, these 

groups of toxins are carcinogenic and 

can be detected in animal products, 

especially pork. The residual levels of 

ochratoxins in pork are highly regulated 

in some of the European countries. 

Ochratoxins can reduce weight gain, 

feed intake and feed efficiency in pigs 

and can impair kidney function at levels 

as low as 500 ppb. There have been 

efforts to consider serum and kidney 

concentrations of OA as the biomarker 

for animal exposure. OA can reduce cellmediated 

immunity of pigs and can delay 

the response to immunisation. Obviously 

this can lead to increased susceptibility 

of pigs to natural infectious diseases. 

Feeding OA to boars can reduce motility 

and longevity of spermatozoa. 

Type A trichothecene Fusarium 

mycotoxins 

The toxicity of these mycotoxins in swine 

has been recently reviewed by Meissonnier 

and others (2008). Their target 

organs mainly include the rapidly dividing 

cells lining gastrointestinal tract, the skin, 

and lymphoid and erythroid system. 

Although they are more toxic than type B 

trichothecene mycotoxins, their occurrence 

is sporadic. Pigs can be acutely 

exposed to T-2 toxin via oral, inhalation 

or topical routes. Death following acute 



34 

nutrition 

Mycotoxins Continued from p 33 

intoxication with T-2 toxin may be a consequence 

of shock syndrome with reduced 

cardiac output and hypotension. 

Similar to DON, Type A trichothecenes 

can also reduce feed intake via altered 

brain neurochemistry. 

Swine fed 5 to 10 ppm T-2 toxin displayed 

reduced feed intake and weight 

gain while complete feed refusal was 

observed at 16 ppm. Growing swine 

fed T-2 toxin became soporific and 

developed dermatitis and crusting of the 

skin on the snout, nose, oral commissure, 

ears and prepuce. Gastrointestinal 

hemorrhagic syndrome has been associated 

with natural trichothecenes feed 

contamination in beef cattle and swine. 

The specific T-2 

toxin induced oral lesions serve as an 

indicator of possible diet contamination 

with Fusarium toxins. Trichothecene A 

mycotoxins-induced immune suppression 

affects all the components of the 

immune system (inflammation, humoral 

and cell-mediated responses). 

Feeding swine 0.5 to 3 ppm T-2 toxin 

for 21 days reduced specific antibody 

levels to horse globulin and peripheral 

blood mononuclear cells stimulation. 

Type B trichothecene Fusarium 

mycotoxins 

The major mycotoxin belonging to this 

group is DON and it is generally considered 

as a marker for the presence of 

other Fusarium mycotoxins. Pig is the 

most sensitive domestic animal species 

to DON and DON-induced feed refusal 

and the subsequent growth depression 

has been causing major economic 

losses globally. 

The effect of DON in reducing feed intake 

has been related to elevated blood 

tryptophan and brain serotonin concentrations. 

DON is usually accompanied by 

fusaric acid as a co-contaminant and the 

loss of appetite is greater when they are 

present together. 

Pair-feeding studies in pigs have 

shown that feed refusal can explain 

most of the growth depression observed 

in pigs exposed to DON. When fed at 

low levels, however, pigs can consume 

DON-contaminated feed and may be 

exposed to its direct immunosuppressive 

effects. 

Monocytes, macrophages, as well as 

T- and B-lymphocytes of the immune 

system can be cellular targets of DON 

and other trichothecenes. A great deal of 

research has been conducted on DON- 

induced IgA nephropathy in mice and 

elevated serum IgA concentrations have 

been noted in pigs. Feeding of up to 4.7 

ppm DON for nine weeks to growing 

pigs resulted in dose-dependent reduction 

in secondary antibody response to 

tetanus toxoid. Feeding DON-contaminated 

grains can increase the incidence 

of stillborn piglets in gilts. Sows fed the 

same contaminated grains exhibited 

reduced feed intake, weight loss, lower 

serum protein and urea concentrations, 

and tendency for increased weaning to 

oestrus interval. 

Fumonisins 

Six different fumonisins (A 1 , A 2 , B 1 , B 2 , 

B 3 and B 4 ) so far have been isolated and 

their mechanism of action appears to 

be a disruption of sphingolipids synthesis 

in biological membranes. Although 

fumonisins toxicity in swine is characterised 

by pulmonary oedema, their effects 

on swine immunity seem to be of major 

commercial significance. 

In spite of discrepancy in the literature 

related to the concentration of fumonisins 

required to cause chronic toxicity in 

pigs, Rotter and others (1996) showed 

11% decrease in weight gain when 

10 000 ppb FB 1 was fed to starter pigs. 

It is important to note that this level of 

fumonisin or even higher is very common 

in swine feeds as in some countries 

(such as USA) more than 50% of swine 

diets may contain corn. 

Bouhet and Oswald (2007) recently 

reviewed the impact of fumonisin ingestion 

on the intestine. Fumonisins can 

alter intestinal epithelial cell viability and 

proliferation, modify cytokine production, 

and modulate intestinal physical 

barrier function. All these effects may 

lead to reduced nutrient absorption 

and/or increased disease susceptibility. 

Research from del Rio Garcia and others 

(2007) also concluded that the combination 

of aflatoxins and fumonisins at low 

concentrations can produce synergistic 

effects on altering the intestinal cellular 

morphophysiology. FB 1 can also alter the 

cytokine profile and decrease the specific 

antibody response to vaccines. 

Zearalenone 

This is a very common Fusarium fungal 

metabolite and often found in association 

with either DON or nivalenol. Pigs 

are very sensitive to zearalenoneinduced 

oestrogenic syndrome which is characterised 

by reddening and increased size 

of vulva, increased size of mammary tissue, 

abnormal lactation, infertility, pseu- 

dopregnancy, still births, abortions and 

rectal or vaginal prolapses. It has been 

recommended that 0.5 ppm zearalenone 

would have no serious effects on the 

reproductive efficiency of young gilts. 

This recommendation, however, needs a 

revisit as more information is now available 

on the previously described masked 

zearalenone. Unlike the reproductive 

function, growth performance in pigs is 

less affected by zearalenone and further 

research is needed to define its impact 

of on the immune system. 

Ergot alkaloids 

Ergotism is the disease caused by the 

ingestion of alkaloids contained in the 

sclerotia of Claviceps species. There are 

several ergot alkaloids detected in 

grains (sorghum, wheat, barley, oat and 

rye) used for swine feed and these 

are pharmacologically active compounds. 

The effect of feeding ergotcontaminated 

grain to pigs is not consistent, 

and ultimately depends on both the 

ergot content and the alkaloid concentration. 

Murphy (2006) suggested that the 

maximum tolerable ergot level in the diet 

was 0.10 and 0.05% based on average 

daily gain and average daily feed intake, 

respectively, corresponding to 2.07 mg 

and 1.04 mg alkaloid/kg diet. Increased 

intake of ergot-contaminated feed can 

cause a severe reduction in the growth 

performance of weaned pigs with or 

without an effect on feed intake. 

Ergot alkaloids can affect the reproduction 

of sows through the effects on 

prolactin levels. Because of the wide biological 

variation in both the quantity and 

quality of the alkaloids present in ergot 

sclerotia, it is very difficult to establish 

safe levels. 

Mycotoxin interactions in pigs 

Mycotoxins seldom occur in isolation 

in poultry feeds. Mycotoxins discussed 

above and many more occur together 

and by no means do the mycotoxins 

discussed above form a complete list. 

This co-occurrence makes the individual 

mycotoxin tolerance dose irrelevant (safe 

levels) and therefore, the mere presence 

of multiple mycotoxins in swine feed 

should be considered as a warrant. 

Mycotoxin interactions within the body 

of pigs are very well proven. These interactions 

are mainly additive in nature, but 

can be synergistic antagonistic as well. It 

is important to note that the type of interaction 

can vary for different parameters 

in the same animals. 


Varkfilet op spinasieslaai 

(4 porsies) 

• sowat 500 g varkfilet 

• sout en varsgemaalde 

swartpeper na smaak 

• 250 g repiespek (streaky bacon) 

• vars tiemietakkies om bo-op elke 

filet vas te bind 

• olyfolie 

• 120 g gemengde baba-spinasieblare 

(of slaaiblare van jou keuse) 

• 140 g mange tout-ertjies 

Verhit jou oond tot 200°C. Sny die filet in 

stukke van sowat 8 cm. Geur met sout 

en swartpeper. Draai die repiespek om 

die filetstukke. Plaas ’n vars tiemietakkie 

bo-op elkeen en bind vas met ’n stukkie 

(4 – 6 servings) 

4 – 6 pork steaks or chops (Ask your 

butcher for boneless pork neck 

steaks, for a delicious, juicy result) 

25 ml olive oil 

salt and pepper to taste 

3 – 4 fresh pears, peeled 

30 ml brown sugar 

2 cinnamon sticks 

a few allspice berries or star aniseed 

a few drops vanilla extract 

10 ml balsamic vinegar 

60 – 75 ml Smetena (sour cream or a 

mixture of yogurt and crème fraiche) 

10 – 15 ml prepared French mustard 

20 ml freshly chopped chives or 

parsley 

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. 

Pat the pork steaks or chops dry with 

kitchen paper. Rub with a little of the olive 

oil and season with salt and pepper. 

Fry the pork steaks in the rest of the 

olive oil until golden brown on both 

sides. Transfer to an oven roasting pan 


tou. Besprinkel met die olyfolie. Plaas 

op ’n bakplaat en rooster in die oond 

vir sowat 20 minute. Rangskik die blare, 

mange tout-ertjies en filetstukke op ’n 

opdienbord en bedien die slaaisous 

apart in ’n bakkie. 

Mosterd-slaaisous 

• 100 ml olyfolie 

• sap van 1 suurlemoen 

• sout en varsgemaalde swart- 

peper na smaak 

• 15 ml korrelmosterd 

Meng al die bestanddele goed saam. 

Pork with pear salsa and 

mustard cream 

and roast for a further 10 – 15 minutes 

in the oven or until just cooked through. 

Keep warm. 

While the pork steaks are being cooked, 

place the pears, sugar, cinnamon sticks, 

allspice berries, vanilla extract and vinegar 

in a sauce pan and add just enough 

water to poach the pears. 

Simmer and turn the pears over 

continuously to poach them evenly on 

Proe BietJie 

all sides. When the pears are soft, turn 

the heat off and allow to cool slightly in 

the liquid. Remove pears and chop into 

small square cubes. Mix the sour cream, 

mustard and chopped chives. 

Place the cooked pork steaks on a warm 

serving place, spoon the mustard cream 

on top and serve with the pear salsa on 

the side. 

35

Promotion 

Working together, was the key message 

to come out of a meeting between 

British pig producers and UK 

Farm Minister Jim Paice to discuss 

the forthcoming European Union 

(EU) ban on stalls and tethers. 

The meeting, which also involved 

British Pig executive director, Mick 

International 

UK pig producers, government 

discuss EU stall ban 

Pork seized 

in China 

A total of 200kg pork meat, thought 

to be injected with water, was 

seized by Songjiang district authorities 

in China. 

The pork meat was suspected of 

being injected with water, following 

a report by a consumer who 

purchased 5kg pork from a wet 

market and who later found that the 

meat had leaked a lot of water. The 

consumer reported the incident to 

authorities. This prompted authorities 

to inspect all eight vendors at 

the market, leading to two vendors 

being questioned. 

When water is injected into the 

animal, usually before slaughter, 

it slows down the movement of 

animals’ stomachs, and this leads to 

food residue staying in the stomach 

and letting out harmful chemicals, 

such as ammonia and cresol. This 

means that the meat could contain 

chemicals, which could be harmful 

to humans. Water injected meat 

is also carried out to increase the 

weight of meats like pork and beef. 

The water used for injection is also 

questionable, as polluted water is a 

concern. 

English.Eastday.com 

36 

Sloyan, Zoe Davies of the National 

Pig Association and Stewart Houston, 

who is chairman of both organisations, 

also highlighted several other 

upcoming industry measures. “While 

the focus of the meeting was defi - 

nitely on the stalls ban, we reminded 

each other that there were one or 

two other measures coming in at 

Pigs with 

built-in defence 

against diarrhoea 

Scientists at a Danish University are 

investigating whether genetic resistance 

to E. coli infections is a sustainable 

approach to fi ght diarrhoea in 

pig production. 

If all pigs could avoid the diarrhoea 

caused by E. coli infections, life would 

be a lot easier for millions of pigs and 

for thousands of farmers. 

The resistance to E. coli is caused 

by a mutation on the FUT1 gene, 

but there has been no strategy to 

include this mutation in breeding 

programmes. The crucial issue is to 

investigate whether the resistance to 

E. coli could have other signifi cant 

biological side-effects on animals. 

This is what the new project will examine. 

The scientists will compare the 

pigs that carry the FUT1 mutation with 

pigs that do not carry the mutation 

for a number of different parameters. 

They will, for example, examine how 

the FUT1 gene affects the colonisation 

of the intestines with benefi cial microbiota, 

as this colonisation is crucial 

both for the health of the gut and for 

the pig’s health generally. 

The additional knowledge about 

the structure and function of specifi c 

receptor molecules that the scientists 

will obtain can be used to develop 

new preventive and therapeutic 

medicines for E. coli infections in both 

animals and humans. 

PigProgress.net 

the same time,” said Sloyan. “These 

include slat design, stocking rates for 

pregnant gilts and sows and overall 

fl oor areas. It was agreed the government 

would write to all registered 

pig producers reminding them of the 

changes.” 

WattAgNet.com 

McDonalds 

supports 

humane 

handling of 

animals 

The McDonald’s Corporation announced 

that it will require of its US 

pork suppliers to outline their plans 

to phase out of the use of sow gestation 

stalls. 

“McDonald’s believes gestation 

stalls are not a sustainable production 

system for the future. There are 

alternatives that we think are better 

for the welfare of sows,” said Dan 

Gorsky, senior vice president of 

McDonald’s North America Supply 

Chain Management. “McDonald’s 

wants to see the end of sow confi 

nement in gestation stalls in our 

supply chain. We are beginning an 

assessment with our US suppliers to 

determine how to build on the work 

already underway to reach that goal. 

In May, after receiving our suppliers’ 

plans, we’ll share results from the assessment 

and our next steps.” 

McDonald’s actions are backed by 

leading independent animal welfare 

experts. 

nationalhogfarmer.com 


Changes in pig numbers 

Almost half of EU countries have 

reported their pig counts in December 

2011. Modest increases from the 

previous year have been recorded 

in Germany, Denmark and Italy but 

there have been double-digit falls in 

Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, 

Slovenia and Malta. 

In its latest update, Eurostat reports 

the fi rst fi gures for the annual pig 

counts in 13 of the 27-EU member 

states. 

Some of the fi gures are provisional, 

but if they are confi rmed, they reveal 

some dramatic changes in pig numbers 

in some countries. 

In those member states recording 

an increase from the previous fi gures 

(2010), the changes were generally 

modest. Top EU pig-producing 

country, Germany, has reported an 

increase of 517 400 (or 1.9 per cent) 

in its total pig population, while 

Denmark, at no. 3, has 55 000 (0.4 

percent) more pigs and Italy, 29 700 

(0.3 percent). More pigs were also 

recorded in Sweden (3.0 percent) and 

Luxembourg (2.1 percent). 

In numerical terms, some of the reductions 

in pig population have been 

dramatic: Poland reported almost 

1.72 million (11.6 percent) fewer pigs 

than the previous year, the Czech 

Republic 368 000 (19.9 percent) fewer, 

Lithuania’s count was down 139 100 

(15.0 percent) and Slovenia’s 48 300 

(12.2 percent). The largest percentage 

reduction was in the Maltese pig 

count, which was down by 33 percent 

from a year earlier. 

thepigsite.com 

Boars test positive for ASF 

International 

British producers promise to take pig 

welfare to a new level 

For the past decade British pigkeepers 

have marketed themselves 

as the high-welfare producers of 

Europe. 

Now, after fi ve years of research 

and an extensive trial on 90 pig 

farms, the industry plans to secure 

its position at the top of the welfare 

league by rolling out Real Welfare, 

a programme that checks pigs for 

observable signs of good health and 

welfare. 

Samples of pathological material 

selected from eight boars who died 

in the hunting territory “Zamurovskoe”, 

in the Volgograd region in Russia, 

revealed the genetic material of 

African swine fever virus. 

The samples of pathological material 


“In the past we have had a lot of 

welfare regulation foisted upon us, 

based on what researchers think is 

good welfare, and sometimes with 

little scientifi c evidence,” said producer 

Meryl Ward, who has worked 

with academics, vets and others on 

Real Welfare. 

“This project will enable us to really 

understand welfare and to start fi lling 

the gaps in the science.” 

Over the past twelve years Britain’s 

claims to higher welfare have been 

sent to a lab to confi rm the diagnosis. 

Currently, measures are being taken, 

in accordance with “Regulations on 

measures to prevent and eliminate 

African swine fever”, to prepare a 

draft resolution on hunting restrictions 

in the Volgograd region. 


based on its absolute ban on stalls, 

its large number of straw yards, its 

voluntary ban on castration, and its 

large outdoor breeding herd. 

But all pig-keepers are aware that 

everything changes in ten months, 

when the continental partial stalls 

ban is introduced, and again in 2018 

when the continental voluntary ban 

on castration is introduced. 

www.pig-world.co.uk 

Help for farmers 

to develop 

anaerobic 

digestion 

A new consultancy service for 

farmers looking to branch out into 

anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas 

production was launched at the Energy 

Now exhibition and conference 

in Malvern, United Kingdom (UK). 

The service organised by the Anaerobic 

Digestion and Biogas Association 

is free of charge and is designed to 

help farmers and land owners decide 

whether AD is a viable option. 

The association said that anaerobic 

digestion presents an opportunity 

for UK farmers, livestock producers 

and land managers to improve yields, 

create new income streams and 

reduce greenhouse gas emissions 

by generating their own renewable 

energy and biofertilisers. 

AD not only helps farmers to 

reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 

by reducing dependence on 

commercial fertilisers and traditional 

transport fuels and energy consumption, 

but also helps keep farmers 

farming. 


37

Pondering Points 

Have a great one! 

This seems to be one of the compulsory 

clichés that plague the TV 

announcers. More often than not, it 

comes from the weather forecasters 

who, with fi xed smiles on their 

happy faces, predict the fl oods, 

winds, excessive heat waves and 

crop failures that we are sort of 

used to around here. 

So, although it is already March, it is the 

fi rst chance for PP to look at the year 

ahead with a few irreverent predictions, 

in the hope that we will in fact, have a 

better one than some unimaginative 

pessimists expect. (Some fundi, by the 

way, made ten serious predictions for 

2011 and scored zero, so one can’t be 

worse than that – except to be equally 

wrong and then give bad advice). 

What about: 

• The universe and a bigger than ever 

Bang? The creator, wherever he/ 

she/it/they/the force is now, borrows 

the Hubble telescope, sees 

to the end of the universe, doesn’t 

think much of it, hits the delete button 

and starts again; 

• Same creator rather likes the swirls 

and colours that light up the outer 

reaches, but doesn’t see much 

point in continuing with the odd little 

solar system stuck away in a corner 

of the milky way, especially how the 

human population is messing up its 

piece of it, re-arranges the continental 

plates to leave a lot of big gaps 

in the mantle, liberating enough hot 

stuff to cook the surface and start 

again on 22 December. 

Supposing we are permitted to carry 

on in a forgiving universe, how about: 

• World politics: Obama and Gingritch 

form a new party called the New 

Age Treaty or NATs which takes on 

38 

the Soviet Allied Paupers or SAPS, 

only to lose the world election to the 

Asian Normalising Confederation 

or ANC, which implodes as a result 

of over consumption of sushi and 

Johnny Walker. 

• World economics: All the thieving 

bankers who caused the last 

depression are tried, found guilty 

and transported to another planet 

where they are soon seen taking 

cowrie shells from little green people 

for nonexisting tree houses. 

OK, more regionally then: 

• Robert Mugabe organises an election, 

loses it, admits it, loses his 

marbles, his people admit it, and 

put him into a home for the bewildered. 

Tsvangirai takes over; within 

a year the Zimbabweans want 

Mugabe back – only partly because 

he has had a brain transplant—a 

new but usually successful Korean 

technique. 

Right at home with more mundane 

prophesies: 

• Our president invites the Dalai Lama 

for an offi cial visit but eventually 

has to make his own buttered tea 

StuDy GrouP 

because Internal Affairs loses the 

application forms and can’t fi nd 

them in time; 

• The president reads a speech to 

himself before giving it in public 

leaving us with the unnerving feeling 

that this is the fi rst time he’s seen it; 

• We have a cabinet re-shuffl e and 

end up with a Minister of Agriculture 

who knows more about producing 

food than politics. The government 

discovers that, if South African 

farmers are given some insightful 

help and the opportunity to mentor 

emerging farmers without handing 

over fertile ground and herds 

to untrained learners, we will be 

able to feed all our people a healthy 

balanced diet including a lot of pork 

(can a billion Chinese be wrong?) 

and have plenty to spare. 

Final prediction and advice, good or bad: 

• This world is not going to end 

this year and is the only world 

we have. So don’t sell the family 

farm and spend all the proceeds 

on a world cruise, you know 

what can happen to cruise 

ships! 

Have a great one! 

Porcus January/February 2012

DVD-bestelvorm – DVD order form 

Ek wil graag die volgende DVD’s bestel. I would like to order the following DVD’s: 

traininG 

Ingesluit is my depositostrokie/bewys van elektronies betaling vir R220, BTW 

ingesluit (enkeltaal per DVD), R330, BTW ingesluit (dubbeltaal per DVD). Pos 

aan SAVPO, Posbus 36207, Menlo Park 0102 of faks na (012) 361 4069 

GEEN POSORDERS SAL AANVAAR WORD NIE. 

Enclosed is my deposit slip/proof of electronic payment for R220, VAT included 

(single language per DVD), R330 VAT included (double language per DVD). Mail 

to SAPPO, PO Box 36207, Menlo Park 0102 or fax to (012) 361 4069 

NO POSTAL ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

Addisionele posgeld word gehef op bestellings vir aflewering buite die RSA. Op navraag by SAVPO – info@sapork.com 

of +27-12-3613920. Additional postage for orders delivered outside the RSA. Inquire at SAPPO – info@sapork.com or 

+27-12-3613920 

Bankbesonderhede/Bankin particulars: Rekeningnaam/Account name: SAPPO Absa 1420148859 

(lopende rekening/current account). Takkode/Branch code: 632005 

Porcus Januarie/Februarie 2012 39

40 

ProDuction 

Porcus Augustus/September 2010

porcus - sappo

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