1. technology and computing

AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED CALL FOR
TENDERS
2015/16 Research, Development & Extension (RD&E) Program
April 2015
Background
Australian Pork Limited’s (APL) six Specialist Groups met in February 2015 to determine research,
development, technology adoption and industry capability priorities for funding in 2015/16. The
Specialist Groups are comprised of expert participants from industry, research providers and APL
Managers. The priorities have been incorporated into business plans that have now been reviewed
by APL’s R&D Advisory Committee (RDAC) and have been recommended by the RDAC to the APL
Board.
Priority Areas
This is a combined call for tender for research priorities for 2015/16 across the APL RD&E
portfolio, including:
• Genetics, Reproduction & Welfare
• Nutrition, Health & Physiology
• Industry Capability & Technology Transfer
• Environmental Management
• Food Safety, Biosecurity & Quality Assurance
APL is seeking to fund research programs/projects in the following key priority areas.
Genetics, Reproduction & Welfare
1. Reducing Reproductive Waste
Reducing involuntary culling of lower parity sows will have a significant impact on reducing the cost of
production. But sow retention is only one facet of improving reproductive efficiencies. Management of
the sow prior to and during lactation must take into account many factors. Failing to satisfy the sows’
requirements as regards animal husbandry will impact on her natural ability to care for and raise her
litter. Studies seeking to address these issues should consider:
 Strategies for the optimisation of piglet weaning weights. Timeline < 1.5 years;
 Identify interventions e.g. nutritional, insemination protocols but not limited to, to reduce or
ameliorate the impacts of seasonal infertility. Timeline < 1.5 years;
 Management strategies
o Desk-top study of current and past research which will provide best practice fostering
recommendations. The final report is to be reviewed by producers and will be published
as a non-technical farm “Technology Transfer and Adoption” (TT&A) document. Timeline
< 1 year and;
o Desk-top study of current and past research which will supplement gilt management
recommendations from the major genetics suppliers. The final report is to be reviewed by
producers and will be published as a non-technical farm “Technology Transfer and
Adoption” (TT&A) document. The involvement of the genetics suppliers to the Gilt
Management section must be given in writing. Timeline < 1 year.
For information on this priority please contact R&I Manager Robyn Terry
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2. Welfare interventions
One of the issues that in the future may impact on the industry is the push for provision of enrichment
substrates and devices. Pigs are by nature curious animals and some groups have advocated that
environmental enrichment/behavioural requirements be provided for all pigs. The proposals should
address:
 Definition of enrichment, establishing whether enrichment has any impact on pig welfare and if
so, recommendations for enrichment including practicalities of various forms and pig’s
preferences at various ages. Timeline < 2 years
For information on this priority please contact R&I Manager Dr Pat Mitchell
Nutrition, Health & Physiology
1. Gilt progeny
Evaluating the cost incurred by the underperforming gilt progeny and strategies to minimise these
performance issues is the core program of SG3 for the next 3 year period. The outcomes of this
transformational priority are to optimise the gilt progeny performance by reducing variation and
increasing MOFC for the gilt herd. A number of large activities are already underway within this
priority however a gap analysis was conducted and this tender is seeking proposals to:
 A desk-top study investigating the proportion of gilt progeny which subsequently enter the
breeding herd. Timeline < 1 year.
2. Environment and health
Improving the health of the herd leading to an improvement in feed efficiency is a concept which
intuitively makes sense though in reality no herd will be pathogen free. There is a complex interaction
between the pig’s immune response (microbial load), the pathogen’s the pigs are exposed to and the
environment in which the pig is raised (heat and cold stress, and social stress) which should not be
ignored. The impact of disease and environment on the overall MOFC has been further exacerbated by
a reduction in the use of in-feed antibiotics in Australian piggeries. Structurally modifying the pig’s
environment to limit these stressors on the animal will not be investigated as it is likely that the cost of
providing this means of improved performance will be greater than the actual value of the improved
performance. This tender is seeking proposals to attenuate the impact of environment and health
stressors on the pig during the weaner and grower finisher phases by:
 A pilot study to quantify the impact of environmental and health stressors and develop remedial
strategies and modifying nutritional management practices. Timeline < 1.5 years.
 Understanding the nutritional requirement required to fuel the immune response and strategies
to modulate the immune response. Timeline < 2 years.
3. Feed efficiency innovations
The typical measure for productivity in today’s high feed cost environment is the feed conversion rate
with the focus predominantly given to factors which impact feed consumption and gain. There are
many more factors which impact on feed efficiency including the entry and exit weights of the pigs, the
time taken from wean to slaughter, and the proportion of feed that is wasted (estimate 10-15%) which
are all challenging to improve. This tender is seeking proposals to increase the feed efficiency of pigs
during the wean to slaughter period by:
 Determining the methyl donor status of Australian pigs and their methyl donor requirements.
Timeline < 1 year.
 Measurement of feed intake for better targeted nutrition and strategies for assessing and
reducing feed wastage. Timeline < 1.5 years.
For information on these priorities please contact R&I Manager Robyn Terry
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Industry Capability & Technology Transfer
1. APL R & D Technology Awareness and Adoption
Evaluating the rate of adoption of research outcomes and the impact they have on industry is
challenging, however by collating information from a number of sources we can make informed insights
into where R&D investment is having the greatest impact and identify areas which can be improved.
This activity involves looking into at least three examples of technologies arising from APL R&D and
mapping the transfer and adoption pathways that have taken place. It would also provide an indication
of the rate and level of adoption of these technologies.
 Independent technology adoption survey to be completed on a production basis to identify
industry awareness and adoption of APL technologies. Timeline <1 year.
For further information on this priority please contact R&I Coordinator Ashley Norval
Environmental Management
1. Sensors/Neural Network Processing-Waste water stream
Traditional effluent management systems involve an anaerobic pond and associated storage ponds prior
to evaporation or reuse of liquid/solids on site. The pork industry has also successfully explored and
exploited the capture and use of renewable energy (biogas) on farm, mostly through covered
anaerobic ponds. A better understanding of the composition of the wastewater stream entering these
systems is needed to develop linkages between the waste stream with aspects of waste minimisation,
production, nutrient recovery or biogas output. This understanding has the potential to save
production costs and generate additional revenue or offsets from energy and fertiliser use. This project
seeks to either use direct or indirect measurements of composition or composition inferred by
indirect measurements e.g. neural networks (artificial intelligence) to allow the Australian pork
industry to better understand the strength and composition of the waste water and links to
production and/or biogas which may include management of covered ponds, key inhibitors and a
understanding of nutrient loading for environmental and beneficial nutrient use and/or recovery.
Timeline > 3 years
2. Alternative/integrated wastewater treatment – closing the loop
Traditional effluent management systems involve an anaerobic pond and associated storage ponds prior
to evaporation or reuse of liquid/solids on site. The pork industry has explored and developed the
capture and use of renewable energy (biogas) on farm, mostly through covered anaerobic ponds and
has reviewed options for pondless systems that remove and process manure solids. This project seeks
to identify alternative holistic or closed loop approaches to effluent management that integrates the
nutrient, energy and water recovery aspects to substantially reduce the extent of or eliminate effluent
treatment ponds. This scoping project is sought to investigate and recommend potential closed loop
systems that are stand alone or integrate various technologies such as solid separation, energy
recovery, nutrient recovery and water quality improvement. A cost benefit analysis of these systems
should be included. Timeline < 1 year
3. Outdoor Production Awareness Program
Outdoor production systems pose different and sometimes higher environmental risks than indoor
(conventional/deep litter) piggeries if they are not carefully sited and managed. With an increased
interest in outdoor production systems there is a need to increase the awareness of best management
practises especially in light of recent nutrient tracking data. This project seeks proposals to develop an
awareness program for outdoor production systems taking into account the risks based on recent data
(higher and faster nutrient accumulation) and subsequent best management practises. The program
could incorporate such activities as case studies, demonstration sites and focus groups with outdoor
producers. Timeline < 2 years
For information on these priorities please contact R&I Manager Janine Price
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Food Safety, Biosecurity & Quality Assurance
1.
Reverse zoonoses risk review
The Australian pig industry is exposed to biosecurity risks associated with transfer of zoonotic diseases
from humans to pigs. With increased international movements of people, including overseas workers
returning to work in Australian piggeries following visits to their homeland, a review of risks associated
with the transfer of diseases including E. coli, Salmonella, influenza virus, community acquired MRSA,
Streptococcus suis and serotypes of Clostridium difficile (in addition to ST 078) from humans to pigs is
required. This review will provide recommendations to producers, including revised biosecurity
procedures and length of quarantine periods, in order to manage such risks.
For information on these priorities please contact R&I Manager Pat Mitchell
2.
Technical market access requirements scoping study
The Australian pork industry is actively working to create viable, long term international business in
South East Asia, with considerable focus on China. As part of this, technical market access port of
entry requirements, coupled with regulatory and commercial requirements, need to be scoped to
ensure that our inspection, verification and certification system and processes can meet these
requirements (and defend the pork industry from any additional requirements being imposed by
importing countries). This will demonstrate that the industry is strongly informed and prepared for
what is required as we move to gain market access. Timeline < 2 years
For information on these priorities please contact R&I Manager Heather Channon
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Relationship to the Core Objectives of APL
These research initiatives target APL’s Core Objectives. More information can be found in APL's
Strategic Plan 2015-2020
Specific Terms of Reference
Research providers successfully tendering for projects to meet the objectives described above will be
responsible for:
1. Assembling expertise from within or between organisations to deliver one or more of the
research outcomes identified earlier;
2. Designing scientific studies, in consultation with APL, to provide new information and knowhow;
3. Securing access to research facilities (laboratories, equipment, on-farm demonstration sites)
and the necessary approvals for the conduct of the research;
4. Developing a comprehensive project plan which includes detailed methodologies and budgets
and describes the cash and in-kind contributions to the project, and subsequently delivering
the research within budget;
5. Analysing and reporting all data generated in formal reports to APL; and
6. Disseminating key findings from the research to the wider scientific community in a variety of
formats subject to approval by APL.
Specific Outputs Required
Specific outputs required by APL will be:
1. Progress reports against milestones/decision points agreed with APL that detail project
findings from individual experiments;
2. A comprehensive final report (following approval of a draft by APL) detailing all aspects of
the research conducted (methodology, data, analysis and conclusions);
3. A 10-slide PowerPoint presentation summarising the project and key outcomes; and
4. Scientific papers, conference presentations, producer talks and trade articles as appropriate
and approved by APL.
Timetable for the Current Tender
Date
Thursday 23 April 2015
Friday 29 May 2015
Action
Call made for tenders addressing research priorities
Deadline for research proposals to be received by APL
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General Conditions of Contracts
Research contracts entered into with APL will require:
1. Confidentiality to be maintained with disclosure only with approval of APL;
2. Copyright of all documentation and intellectual property to be vested pro-rata to the
agreement parties on the basis of equity invested, or as agreed by the parties;
3. The project to be undertaken in an impartial, objective and professional manner consistent
with good scientific principles and practice;
4. Applicants to provide their own insurance cover for the risks pertaining to the project;
5. Applicants to identify any areas of potential conflict of interest during the application process,
or during the course of any supported project;
6. Opportunities for variation to the project objectives and work schedules subject to mutual
agreement; and
7. Any material provided by APL to be used only for work specific to the project, unless
expressly approved by APL.
Contracts will be issued using APL’s standard R&D Agreement which has been assessed by our legal
advisors. On that basis, negotiation of terms will not be entered into. A copy of the APL R&D
Standard Research Agreement can be found on APL’s website.
Lodgement of Response
Applicants wishing to respond to this Call for Tenders should contact the relevant APL Research &
Innovation Manager (refer to priority and below). All submissions are to be lodged as full
proposals
using
the
“Research
&
Development
Application”
in
PigNet
(https://www.pignet.com.au/). Finalised proposals for research will be developed and assessed using
APL’s research & development assessment processes. For proposals that require the use of basefunded facilities, applicants must ensure that this detail is included in PigNet in the Budget section
under “Contributions by others” and that the relevant organisation has been contacted.
Research and Innovation contacts
Manager, Production Innovation
Ms Robyn Terry
[email protected]
02 6270 8820
Manager, Production Stewardship
Dr Pat Mitchell
[email protected]
03 5488 2306
Co-ordinator, Industry Capability & Technology Transfer
Ms Ashley Norval
[email protected]
02 6270 8823
Manager, Environment
Ms Janine Price
[email protected]
02 6270 8827
Manager, Product Integrity
Ms Heather Channon
[email protected]
0423 056 045
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