Pork star named Young Gun

Former WA College of Agriculture — Cunderdin student Madison Davey has won the top award for a young person’s contribution to the Australian pork industry.

Ms Davey, from the small Wheatbelt town of Konnongorring, beat a field of eight finalists from around the country to claim the Young Guns award 2016 for her contribution to providing knowledge to youth about the pig industry.

She was awarded the honour at the Apiam conference of pig vets held at the Gold Coast Pan Pacific Pork Expo last week, after being nominated to receive the award by Perth-based Portec Veterinary Services.

Ms Davey, who is studying for a Diploma in Agriculture at C.Y. O’Connor Institute and a Bachelor of Agriculture at University of New England simultaenously, has been highly regarded by the industry for her work implementing superior Myora Farm genetics from pig producer Jeff Braun.

“My work at the college has given the students the opportunity to see the Landrace, Duroc and Large White breeds of pigs,” she said.

“These breeds can assist with pork production by producing piglet drops of 12 pigs or higher on the their first parody.

“The extra pigs available at the college gives more student the opportunity to have exposure to the breeds every day of the year.”

Ms Davey said after finishing her studies, she hoped to go back to the family farm and build a state-of-the-art piggery operation.

“My interest in pigs had began as a child with my father’s work as a Department of Agriculture and Food WA animal nutritionist,” she said.

“To be able to go home in the future, and carry on my work, would be something that I would definitely like to do.”

Cunderdin Agricultural College principal Bernard Beatty said the industry was indebted to Ms Davey’s contribution in raising the profile of pork.

“The college is very proud of Madison because she has been involved in so many aspects of the college’s piggery and the industry more generally.”