On-farm innovation ups production, sustainability at NSW piggery.

Edwina Beveridge, pig farmer in NSW, will open the conference sharing her perspectives on the need for innovation in Australia’s livestock industries.  An innovator herself, Edwina will also share the innovation applied in their system, and her understanding of the needs of the consumer.  We sat down with Edwina and asked her to tell us a bit about herself, her enterprise and the innovative solutions implemented to increase efficiency and decrease costs.

Who are you?

Along with my husband Michael I am the owner of a large pig farm in NSW, which runs 23,000 pigs. Our Blantyre Farms piggery enterprise in located near Young in New South Wales. Besides the intensive livestock enterprise, we also have a diverse family-run operation which incorporates cropping, beef cattle, wool and lamb production.

By Chloe Mitchell, ASAS/ASAP communications intern

Animal Production 2016 speaker highlight: Joanne Conington

Footrot is an endemic disease of sheep, causing not only pain to the animal but also significant reduction in production as well as economic losses to the UK sheep industry.

As footrot is highly contagious, its economic impacts are severe. There are major labour costs involved in management of the disease, as well as costs for prophylactic and veterinary treatment and the indirect costs incurred through reduction in sheep milk production, reduced fertility and other production losses.

Holly Webb (USyd graduate) and Chloe Mitchell (UofA graduate) are currently working as interns at the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) head office in Champaign, IL. Please take a minute to read about their backgrounds and activities in the United States.



Holly Webb

I completed a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience (BAnVetBioSc) at The University of Sydney, graduating with Honours. My studies and professional experience has sparked a wide range of interests including animal behaviour and welfare, livestock production and wildlife management.