FOR many farming industries, enticing the next generation to embark on a career in primary production can be one of the biggest challenges.
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But the pork industry has embraced a new initiative to help support youth involvement in the sector.
Alice Weaver, whose PhD was supported by the CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork, is the first person to be awarded an industry placement program appointment under the state government’s $500,000 funding to the research centre.
Dr Weaver started as a technical officer at Myora Farm near Mount Gambier on August 3.
She will be responsible for the implementation and coordination of the piggery’s research and development activities.
Pork CRC chief executive officer Roger Campbell said the state government funding was a welcome boost to the recearch centre’s existing successful industry placement program.
Graduates of the program are trained in the business of pork production and remain active in industry-relevant research and Pork CRC activities.
“It is a partnership where funding and training is shared, young people get a start in the industry and industry benefits from their enthusiasm and injection of fresh ideas and knowledge, which is often cutting-edge science,” Dr Campbell said.
“It’s a win-win for everyone and we thank the state government for recognising this and stepping in to further fund and advance the initiative.”
Pork CRC has supported six industry placement programs to date.
Dr Campbell said the new funds would help enhance the competiveness of the SA pork industry.
"It will provide significant opportunities for graduate and post-graduate students to contribute to what is a vibrant industry,” he said.
Pork CRC industry placement program recipients and their employers, so far, include Rebecca Athorn working with Rivalea Australia, Tracey Muller with CHM/SunPork, David Lines with Australian Pork Farm Group/SunPork Farms, Claire Payne with the Craig Mostyn Group, Vanessa Morris with the Chris Richards Group and Anthony Martyniuk with SunPork SA.
Dr Campbell said Dr Weaver’s Pork CRC-supported PhD conducted at the University of Adelaide, titled ‘The induction of a fertile oestrus in lactating sows and the subsequent effect mating in lactation has on oocyte quality and embryo survival’, has developed further understanding of sow reproductive potential.
“Addressing commercial cost, benefit, risks and bottom line gain will be ongoing for the industry,” Dr Campbell said.
Dr Weaver said she had already enjoyed working at Myora and was excited about the opportunity to implement her knowledge and research skills in a commercial environment.
“The industry placement program award gives both parties more certainty, with a minimum three year contract appointment and the opportunity to make a real difference in a commercial operation while gaining on-the-job practical experience,” she said.
