Southern Pork

Southern Pork is a high health 450-sow operation finishing approximately 11,500 pigs per year.  In 2012 the herd was depopulated from 220 sows and repopulated to 450 in January 2013.

New Zealand farmers use a variety of housing systems and farming systems. It’s estimated that the majority of pigs farmed in New Zealand are indoors. Pigs need to be actively cared for to grow well. They need shade and warmth, as well as dry, draught free, clean shelter. They also need a balanced daily diet.

Southern Pork owner Jason Palmer says they choose to house their pigs indoors because it suits the land they’re on and the way they want to farm. The animals are protected from the weather. Temperature and humidity can all be controlled at the best levels for the pigs.

Pigs are farmed outdoors in parts of New Zealand, but this can only work where there is low rainfall and free-draining soil conditions, as well as a moderate climate.

Bacon pigs are sold to Freshpork NZ on a weekly basis. The herd is run as a 3 weekly batch system, which means a portion of the herd is farrowing every three weeks.

Southern Pork runs their sows indoors in groups. Gestation is three months, three weeks, three days. They are accommodated in groups in insulated rooms with slatted floors.

The dry sow area (where sows are inseminated and then readied for farrowing) has groups of sows on a diet delivered by an automated feeding system.

When the sows are due to farrow they’re moved to the farrowing room. The pens are set up so that the piglets are protected from being laid on by the sows. Piglets are weaned off the sow at around 4 weeks of age.

At weaning piglets are transferred from the farrowing area to another facility. They are accommodated in groups in a variety of housing systems,

At Southern Pork the weaners and growers are raised in insulated rooms with slatted floors. Ventilation systems range from fully enclosed controlled environments to more reliance on natural ventilation using curtains and roof vents.

When the growers reach the target weight they’re transferred out of the facility onto a specially designed lift that allows a smooth transition into the trucks for transport.

Visitors in and out of Southern Pork are required to shower. This helps to protect the high health status of the farm.

There are around 6 specially designed feeding regimes for pigs, depending on what stage they are at in their development. Jason and his team feed a range of local grains, soy and trace minerals tailored to feed each pig at its optimum.

There are 3 fulltime staff on the property.