WA pork producers embrace free range niche

West Australia’s pork industry is on track to meet a national industry target of becoming 'Gestation Stall Free' (GSF) by 2017, according to the WA Pork Producers’ Association (WAPPA).

WAPPA president, Richard Evison, says the WA industry grew positively over the past year, while at the same time shifting focus to supply fresh product across Australia.

“It’s been a year which looks likely to positively change the face of WA’s pork industry,” Evison says.“Growth in demand for the niche free range market has seen WA increase its free range herd this year and we expect this to continue next year to where 25 per cent of WA’s sows will be farmed outdoors.

“This is great news for WA’s pork industry, which employs an estimated 1700 full and part-time workers, as it creates further job opportunities and growth here and meets market demand across Australia, but doesn’t negatively impact supply into the local WA market,” he says.

An estimated $50 million had been invested in housing and production systems during the past five years to meet new guidelines for sow housing and production efficiency.

Evison also estimated only 20 per cent of sows in WA were kept in gestation stalls, putting WA on track to meet a national industry target of being GSF by 2017.