Canterbury farmer Sean Molloy joins New Zealand Pork board
Following a recent director election, Canterbury farmer Sean Molloy has been appointed to the New Zealand Pork Industry Board.
The 2014 NZPork annual report has highlighted the importance of the New Zealand consumer to the future of its business, says chairman Ian Carter.
“We need to provoke interest in our product and our industry. We need to invoke confidence in our production standards and systems. And we need to evoke desire for our product.”
As stated in the report the pork industry recognises that pig farming is not well understood by many New Zealanders, particularly with regard to the requirements of caring for its animals. In light of this, the industry is taking steps to be more transparent and advocate confidence to its consumers via its production systems and standards.
Projects underway include the development of educational resources and enhancing the NZPork website with short films about the industry and its people. NZPork hope that the projects will be a useful tool in ensuring the public and consumers can better understand how pigs are farmed in New Zealand.
The Presentation Assessment, which is additional to the PigCare audit programme, began implementation in March 2014. The industry-wide independent welfare assurance, plus presentation assessment, is unique in New Zealand’s livestock industries.
“Sound animal welfare practices are critical for pork producers. It is vital to the industry’s success that animals are healthy and well cared for. Demonstrating that required standards are being met or exceeded builds confidence in the industry, but is also a challenge,” says Carter.
The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has removed 33,418 wild goats over the past three years.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.

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