Pig Group Annual Meeting
The PepperMill Shepparton Commencing Monday 4 June 2012 at 5.30pm
Resolutions/Nominations Due Dates
Resolutions due to VFF CEO close of business Wednesday 24 April 2012.
Victoria is a major pork producing state and is estimated to have the fourth largest number of sows in Australia. There are currently 250 herds with over 40,000 sows representing 15 percent of the total number of sow herds across Australia.
Pork producers are spread throughout Victoria but are largely concentrated in the northern regions.
The pork industry has undergone profound structural change over the last 20 years, with Australian producers decreasing from 19,279 in 1980 to 1,500 in 2006. However, during this period the average herd size has increased from 18.3 to an estimated 200 due to improved animal care and husbandry practices.
The economic value of the Victorian pig industry during 2006 was estimated to be $390 million with over 7,000 jobs being generated. Across Australia, the current value is in excess of $2 billion a year, providing more than 25,000 jobs for Australia.
The VFF Pig Group represents Victorian pig farmers' commercial and social interests to raise the standing and profitability of pig farming. The Pig Group provides a means for Victorian pig farmers' interests and views to be represented on state issues directly through VFF resources and on national issues through Australian Pork Limited, the pig industries national representative body.
Pigs Group President
John Bourke was elected President of the VFF Pig Group at the recent AGM. He was raised on his father's farm which was mainly a dairyfarm with a few pigs. He studied accounting after school which is put to good use in his business.
John currently has 400 sows which produce bacon pigs every week. His aim is to sell 2000kg of pig meat per sow every year. John goes from farrow to finish. He is currently the leading pig producer in Australia, setting trends which are followed by others. He is passionate about producing lean meat carcasses.
John has served on the Executive committee of the VFF Pig group for the past 6 years. John is a family man blessed with a beautiful wife and 2 lovely daughters.
Pig Group Committee
| President: | John Bourke |
| Vice President: | Stephen Aburrow |
| Policy Council: | Claire Penniceard |
| Committee: | Bridget Dunn |
| David Miles | |
| Tom Smith | |
| Pat Mitchell | |
| Tim Kingma | |
| Geordie Charles |
Pigs Group Issues
Pork Imports & Country of labelling
NLIS (pork) project
H1/N1 Influenza
