THIRTY-ONE students have graduated from Victoria's first ever pig handling course.
Designed to combat animal welfare issues, the introduction of a revised industry code of conduct in 2007 meant all farmers were required to complete a qualification to continue farming pigs.
The Goulburn Ovens TAFE program was created to provide these qualifications.
Department of Primary Industries senior pig training officer Trish Holyoake said this program was the only one of its kind.
"We created the program because the revision of the code of conduct required anyone who handled pigs to be qualified but no one was providing the training,'' Ms Holyoake said.
"There was a massive gap and that's when DPI stepped in.''
The Certificate III of Agriculture: Pig Production had 16 units of study spread out over 15 months.
"These address the key competencies as required by the pig industry,'' Ms Holyoake said.
"Most relate to the health and welfare of pigs, quality assurance, medicating pigs, herd health and handling.
"Mating pigs, caring for pregnant sows and caring for piglets were also main topics.''
The program is run at Goulburn Ovens TAFE institute in Shepparton and the first class began in August 2011.
"It's like a merry-go-round - we just keep going and training year-round.''
Ms Holyoake runs the program with manager of the DPI pig health and research unit Tony Fahy.
New graduate and Victorian Farmers Federation pig group president John Bourke said he was proud of the group's achievement.
"It was an industry first and we are really leading the way in training compared to other industries,'' Mr Bourke said.
"I think it'll stand us in good stead for the future, especially with the new code of conduct.''
Mr Bourke said the VFF's investment in protecting the state's Pig Health Research Unit (PHRU) from State Government staff and funding cuts had paid off.
He said the VFF had fought long and hard to keep the PHRU operating.
"It not only helps skill-up our workforce but delivers cutting edge research and new vaccines that are crucial to pig health and our profitability," he said.
"The future of the PHRU was under a cloud there for a while, with the Victorian Government ordering a review into its benefits and future.
"With pig producers currently under threat due to a skills shortage, it is now more important than ever that we work with our government to give them the best possible opportunities."
Mr Bourke said lack of staff could lead to lower pig productivity, risk to occupational health and safety and an adverse impact on pig welfare.
There are approximately 500 registered pig producers in Australia and 22 per cent of the national pig herd is found in Victoria.
More than 50 of these producers are enrolled in the TAFE course.
The pork industry is worth $2 billion a year to the Australian economy, employing more than 25,000 people.
