HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-11-16, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Genetically wired for pig farming,
Vista Vilia Farms breeds champions
$19 million yearly operation in Walton
iv Ont. is stretching out globally
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
The Royal Agriculture Winter
Fair is said to be the greatest indoor
farming festivity and universal
equestrian competition on Earth.
Genetically bound for this type of
lifestyle are the Robinsons, who
have displayed legitimate evidence
that they potentially have the best
pigs in North America.
Vista Villa Farms is stationed in
Walton, Ont., employing 29 full and
part-time employees as well as 22
contract producers, who are all
involved in making the operation
function properly.
Every year for the last four dec-
ades, the Robinsons have gone to
Toronto in a spirited effort to
prove they have the most succu-
lent carcasses with as little fat
count as possible at the RAWF. In
Canada specifically, the carcasses
lean yield are usually defined as
the proportion of certain tissues
of interest. Be that fat, loin or
muscle which are measured using
a Probe, similar to an ultrasound
machine.
Relying on the pig's structure for
success, the youngsters competing
must back this up by a professional
performance that's judged accord-
ingly to showmanship.
Erin Robinson, one of the Robin-
son family members in charge of
the day-to-day duties, sees this as a
reason to head to Canada's largest
city and enjoy some quality family
time. But it's also an ultimate
opportunity to advertise their
product.
"We sell genetics, for us it's a way
to showcase this and the fact that
they keep coming up on top is
pretty remarkable," stated Robin-
son, explaining about the event
that has roughly 2,000 agricultural
contests and welcomes more than
5,000 animals.
The days leading up to RAWF
are the labour of approximately
11 months of prior preparation.
Just as fast as they left Toronto,
the year before, within weeks they
are breeding for the next compe-
tition. With a strict diet of corn,
soybeans and vitamins the pigs
are bulked up to perfection. From
there, they handpick the healthi-
est five -month-old pigs, the ones
they deem to be potential
champions.
"We kind of divide it up for the
kids in terms of each one gets a top
pick and then a choice from the
next group," said Robinson in the
house that transformed into an
office after years upon years of
farming pigs.
"It's cousins competing against
cousins, we try to keep it as fair as
possible amongst them."
Practically being born in a barn,
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the children know to not get
attached; Robinson said they are
not there to grow them "like a typi-
cal 4-H project."
"At first there are questions, well
this is going to be a pork chop,"
Robinson recalled when she would
explain to the younger family
members. "It's food."
Each child receives a pair of
pigs. After exhibiting the animals,
if the pigs place into the top 30,
they will then be auctioned. Cur-
rently Robinson said the market
for swine is rather low as they are
going for anywhere from $120-
$130, at this event they will be
purchased for up to five times
that price. Reports last October
from the London Free Press indi-
cated that pig prices have
decreased by roughly 20 per cent
from 12 months ago and meat
prices have fallen 11.5 per cent.
The market is "pretty low" said
Robinson, so receiving such large
payments for the pigs is instrumen-
tal. This goes directly to the child
and it's used for future college or
university plans. This method of
sale is appropriate, for the reason
of "biosecurity" measures, mean-
ing the pig cannot return to the
herd for disease purposes.
"We are a breeding stock sup-
plier, so our animals are blood
tested weekly," commented
Robinson.
The Robinsons successfully com-
pleted the competition with three
of them managing to reach into the
iron Expositor.
,ea ort uronexiositor.co
Submitted photo
Here are all the Robinsons at the 2016 Royal Agriculture Winter Fair in Toronto.
Back row boys -Mark (tall one), Ben and Bob (Grandpa). Front row -Renee,
Stacey, Grace, Noah and Emma.
top six numbers.
Their placements are as
followed:
1st Grace Robinson age 14,
Grand Champion Market Pig.
2nd Stacey Robinson age 18,
Reserve Grand Champion Market
Pig.
3rd Emma Robinson,12 and 2nd
Novice Showperson.
5th Renee Robinson, 20 and
Grand Champion Showperson.
7th Ben Robinson who is
16 -years -old in the Market Hog
Competition.
8th Noah Robinson, 10, 3rd in
Novice Showperson.
1 lth Mark Robinson age 20 and
Reserve Grand Champion
Showperson.
With an establishment strictly
focused on pigs since 1967, Vista
Villa Farm has increased their yield
radically. They produce 75,000
baby pigs per year, which are
grown on a three -site production
system.
It's not an unfathomable accom-
plishment to claim titles at the
RAWF when you have such knowl-
edge in the realm of farming swine
and a state -of -the art facility only
adds to that advantage. It's a $19
million business, the feed alone
can cost about $8 million with a
monthly electricity bill of $12,000
for VVF's one location. This num-
ber is notable since Huron County
exceeds $200 million in sales each
year.
"That's our labour, we produce a
superior animal, (so) (these) costs
are associated with blood testing,
genetic improvement and truck-
ing," said Robinson. "Those are all
extras that a commercial herd
wouldn't have to do."
Recently VVF joined forces with
a group of fellow pork producers to
create Alliance Genetics Canada.
As a group they have an edge to
compete with the multinationals
on a global scale. Through this
they are able to claim ownership to
the most prestigious boars in Can-
ada. They do this by selling genetics
to other farms in the form of semen
or live animals
"Today we have the largest pure-
bred nucleus in Canada and the
biggest influence of commercial
hogs in Ontario," stated in an AGS
press release document.
This lucrative market has opened
doors to export genetics to Jamaica,
Russia, China, Philippines, Cuba,
India and Estonia. Every step taken
by VVF is vital in completing and
delivering a successful genetic
package, according to the
document.
While this partnership has cre-
ated an abundance of relationships
worldwide, simply trying to eat a
piece of meat personally grown can
be a difficult task.
"We eat a lot of pork, but as a
producer, it's hard to eat your own
meat," stated Robinson, she con-
cluded by saying they usually pur-
chase from the local grocery store.
For more information relating to
the Robinsons and how their farm
operates, go to their Facebook page
at Vista Villa Genetics or the Alli-
ance Genetics Canada website.