Pork
Research that serves South Africa’s pig industry through seven priority areas.
Serving South Africa’s pig industry
The mission for pork research is to serve the interests of South Africa’s pig industry by:
➡ Introducing methods and measures that improve the industry’s competitiveness
➡ Promoting pork and pork products among consumers
➡ Encouraging research
➡ Sharing information among pig farmers and coordinating with role players across the supply chain
PRORITY AREAS
Seven Research Priorities
1. Fatness/leanness and reproduction of the sow
Understanding how a sow's body condition affects her breeding performance, so producers can balance lean meat with healthy reproduction.
2. Managing waste and effluent from piggeries and abattoirs
Developing better ways to handle and treat the waste and effluent these operations produce, reducing their environmental impact.
3. Mitigating climate change effects on pig production
Finding ways to help pig farming cope with a changing climate, from heat stress to pressure on water and feed.
4. Infrastructure and equipment for handling and transport
Improving the facilities and equipment used along the way, supporting safe, humane, and efficient practice.
5. Rapid, sensitive diagnostic tests for disease
Developing faster, more accurate tests that detect and diagnose pig diseases sooner, limiting their spread.
6. Pig-meat products matching consumer preferences
Creating pork products that match what consumers want and how they actually buy.
7. Decision-support models for small and emerging producers
Building practical tools that help smaller and emerging pork operations make better farming and business decisions.