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Growing knowledge for a future in pork production

15 January 2026

North Otago pig farmer Ben Carter is one of the first graduates to complete the refreshed Primary ITO Pork Production training programme.

North Otago pig farmer Ben Carter

Ben completed the New Zealand Certificate in Pork Production (Level 3), which covers essential knowledge and skills for working in a pig operation, including sow and piglet care.

The programme was refreshed in partnership with the New Zealand Pork Industry Board (NZ Pork), in line with industry feedback and best practice. Primary ITO administers the programme and provides learning resources, while NZ Pork looks after delivery and assessment.

Ben works at Kevmarc Farms, a piggery and bull operation owned by his father Ian Carter, twenty minutes south of Oamaru. They have two thousand pigs in a large indoor piggery, with technology-driven systems that automate feeding and control temperature and lighting. Nearby, just over seven hundred Friesian bulls graze on the 300-hectare property.

Ben initially trained and worked as a diesel mechanic, before moving back to the farm when a job opened up. He helps to look after the pigs and bulls and maintains the farm machinery and equipment.

He signed up to the Primary ITO training programme to grow his knowledge and connect with local pig farmers.

“This training is a good baseline for industry, with lots of the basic stuff leading on to more advanced knowledge at the end. I found the farrowing module interesting and the feed and nutrient requirements. We make all our own diets, so it was good to have that knowledge.

“It was also a chance to meet other pig farmers. When you go into town or the pub, most people are dairy farmers or in sheep and beef, you don’t get to meet many pig farmers.”

Ben has become more observant and proactive since completing the training.

“It included a section on common issues with pigs and treatment. Before, I’d give a piglet treatment because that’s what it needed. Now, I know what to look out for and can get onto things earlier.

“Pigs are a unique animal, and they are quite intelligent. Their diet is crucial; everything has to go right for them to grow well and reproduce.”

The refreshed pork programme includes more focused and flexible on-job assessments to reflect the range of production systems in the pork sector. Extra off-job classes give learners exposure to knowledgeable tutors and expert guest speakers.

The blended learning model combining on-job learning with some online delivery is designed to be flexible for learners.

Dr Kirsty Chidgey, Animal Welfare Science Adviser at NZ Pork, is a class tutor for the pork training and marks learner assessments. She says employers in the pork industry have always strongly valued training opportunities for their staff.

“As well as supporting their existing knowledge, this training programme recognises their skills and competence on the job and provides the rare opportunity for learners to meet fellow stockpersons working with pigs.

“It’s always great to see the next generation coming through these courses and we hope to see more in future.”   

Kevmarc Farms owner Ian Carter has thirty-seven years’ experience in the pork industry and is a former chair of NZ Pork. He thinks the pork training programme is a great way to gain a broader knowledge of the industry.

“It challenges them to think about what they’re doing, rather than just doing it. It stimulates them to think in a broader sense to just our farm. They tend to come back and challenge some of the things we do, which opens the door to improvements.

“It’s good for employees to be bettering themselves and to see employers as valuing them, and it’s an opportunity to network with others at the class days.”

Primary ITO Sector Adviser Adrienne Dempsey says it has been rewarding to see this collaboration with NZ Pork come to fruition and celebrate the first graduates.

“This programme provides a valuable mix of knowledge and practical skills. The learners appreciate the opportunity to meet and connect and find out what others do. They also appreciate having access to very experienced tutors who have been in the industry for a long time.”

Looking ahead, Ben is keen to keep learning and widen his knowledge to include the financial and management side of the business.

Learn more about the New Zealand Certificate in Pork Production (Level 3) on our website here, or fill in the contact form below, and one of our friendly team will be in touch to answer any questions.

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