Mt.Mercer Pigs

The Pigs at Mt Mercer Pork are a Large White, Landrace and Duroc cross and are bred for the outdoors.

They have the opportunity to express natural behaviour and interact with each other. The breeding stock are free to roam, forage, wallow and feed in an ideal cool temperate climate suitable for raising pigs in the open.

Our pigs have a high health status maintained by strict bio security throughout the property.

We have strict company procedures to help maintain our high healthy status where all staff, trucks and their drivers and visitors who have been in contact with other farms, processor or abattoirs, are not allowed on our farms for at least 48 hours following the visit. Certain parts of the property are identified quarantine areas.

Outdoor bred

This environment protects the young from predators such as foxes and eagles and the harsh elements of our Australian climate.

They have an abundance of water and feed available at all times.

• Mt Mercer pigs are free to socialise and to express natural behaviours such as forage of food, building nests, wallow and interact with their siblings and peers. When the weather turns cold here at Mt Mercer, the pigs can seek shelter in their deep straw bedded huts. In the warmer weather the breeding stock, which live outdoors with their piglets, seek protection from the sun in their huts and cool down by lying or rolling in the mud wallows coating themselves with mud which also protects them from sunburn. All breeding stock live outdoors in open paddocks where they have ample water, shelter and wallows.
  
  
• Each Gilt or Sow, farrows (gives birth) in the paddock and has her own insulated farrowing hut.
  
  
• As the piglets grow, they are weaned and move to straw based huts commonly known as "Eco Shelters", where they live with other piglets the same age having the opportunity to interact and play. The Eco Shelters keep the piglets safe from predators and have deep straw bedding which provides protection from the harsh elements of our Australian climate.
  
  
• Mt Mercer Pork is regularly visited by our pig specialist vets from Chris Richards and Associates who monitor the health and welfare of our pigs.
  
  
• Mt Mercer Pork is audited by APIQ and reaches the high standard of APIQ outdoor bred.
  
  
• APIQ ® is an on-farm quality assurance system. It is based on managing farm risks by following Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), using the principles of Hazard Analysis and managing Critical Control Points (HACCP).
  
  
• APIQ ® provides the framework and standards by which Australian pig producers can demonstrate they are responsible farmers who care for their animals, the environment and their customers, by following safe and sustainable practices.
  
  

No Added Hormones or Growth Promotants

Our pigs grow in a healthy environment that is as stress free as possible.

They are fed a balanced and nutritious diet.

There are no added hormones or growth promotants.

They have a very high health status.

Ethical and Sustainable Long Term Farming Practices

At Mt Mercer Pork our farming philosophy is one of ethical and sustainable long term farming practices.

The Paddock Life cycle at Mt Mercer is a long term commitment to both environmental and pig health.

The regular rotation of the pigs to new paddocks, prevents the build up of nutrients which can potentially compromise the water table.

To care for the health of the soil, the animals and the environment, Mt Mercer Pork manages a eight year rotation of pigs, crops including Lucerne, Canola, Cereal crops and pasture.

Pre farrowing and farrowing paddocks are the domain of the pigs while the cereal crops are also a significant part of the pig's diet.

After the piglets are weaned, they are placed in straw based huts where they can move around and interact with each other.

The waste from these huts is cleaned out and left to compost. It is then spread out onto other paddocks throughout the properties assisting the improvement of soil health and texture.

Excellent Eating Quality

All people working at Mt Mercer are committed and responsible for the animal's wellbeing. They are involved in continual education and are completing certificate 3 in pork production.