Consumers’ love of pork perks up Tassie producers

PORK consumption is increasing in Australia and Tasmanian pig producers are feeling the benefits.

Pigs

Fresh pork consumption is increasing in Australia and Tasmanian pig producers are feeling the benefits.

Last week producers from across the state heard about industry trends at the Australian Pork Roadshow at Longford.

The organisation’s chief executive officer Andrew Spencer told farmers pork production nationally was increasing. While the Australian industry is still competing with imports of about 140,000- 160,000 tonnes a year, Mr Spencer said the majority of this was in the low-cost bacon and ham market.

Because of the variables of world trade, Mr Spencer said it was difficult for Australian pork to compete against these imported products.

Consumption of ham and bacon in Australia is fairly static, but Mr Spencer said the real market gains were being made in the fresh pork sector.

“Demand for pork is fantastic and it’s going up faster than we can increase production,” he said.

In Australia fresh pork consumption has increased from 9.2kg per capita to 9.7kg. Some of this is a result of higher prices­ for beef and lamb, which is making pork a more affordable choice for everyday meals.

In Tasmania, Winkleigh producer Allan Broomby said while production at most operations had remained steady, there were reports that demand was increasing.

“Just talking to a few of my customers in butcher shops, with the price of beef and lamb being so expensive, some people are starting to buy more pork,” he said.

“It’s good and I’ve been getting a few phone calls for extra pigs, which I haven’t got, but at least people are buying more.”

Mr Broomby said increasing production in a commercial pig operation was a 12- month process.

“It’s a good position to be in, but we’re pretty static here at the moment because we know what our supply and demand is,” he said.

“I catch up with some of the mainland producers from time to time and the word from them is really positive. They’re getting a lot of orders leading up to Christmas, so it’s good news for the whole industry.”

At present Tasmania has about 1700 sows and about 13,000 grower pigs in commercial systems across the state.

For more rural stories, see Tasmanian Country, out every Friday.