HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2014-02-12, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Second case of piglet -killing virus
raises fears of $45M annual toll
Farm gate sales close
to $1 billion a year
John Miner
WI Agency
Ontario's hopes of containing a virus
lethal to new-born pigs have suffered a
major blow, with a second Southwest-
ern Ontario farm confirmed to have the
disease.
Consumers are already paying a price
for the virus, which has swept across 22
U.S. states, killing millions of pigs and
driving up the cost of pork.
Weekend lab testing on a 3,000 -hog
Chatham -Kent operation confirmed
the virus, known as PED, Ontario's chief
veterinarian, Greg Douglas, reported
Monday.
Another Chatham -Kent farm also is
being investigated for the disease.
The virus was first discovered in Can-
ada last week on a Middlesex County
farm where it has killed hundreds of
piglets, close to 100 per cent of the new-
born pigs.
PED first appeared in the U.S. last
spring and has spread to more than
2,000 farms, killing an estimated three
million pigs.
Canadian officials have pegged the
possible financial toll at $45 million in
a year if the disease spreads across
Canada.
PED's arrival in Ontario — its pork
industry is concentrated in the South-
west — was a shock for producers, said
Amy Cronin, a Huron County pork pro-
ducer and head of Ontario Pork, the
provincial marketing board.
Cronin said she's been in touch with
the affected Middlesex farmer. It's an
emotionally difficult time for the
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producer, with his piglets dying,
she said.
"We anticipate this is going to
be tough on our industry."
"It all depends on where it
goes from here," Cronin said.
In confirming the latest
Ontario case, Douglas empha-
sized the virus, called porcine
epidemic diarrhea, isn't a food -
safety issue and pork remains
safe to eat.
Investigators have found no
direct connection between the
Middlesex farm and the
Chatham -Kent operation, he
said.
Douglas said officials still are
under the impression there are
strategies that can be pursued to
help slow the spread of the virus
in Ontario.
"However, the confirmed case,
the second case and the third
under suspicion certainly
change the situation, the reality
here in Ontario," Douglas said in
a Monday conference call with
media from across North
America.
The virus is very contagious
and the cold weather is aiding its
spread, he said.
Douglas urged farmers to
keep up strict bio -security meas-
ures and contact their veterinar-
ian immediately if their animals
show signs of illness.
"There is certainly lots of
opportunities for producers to
protect themselves from this dis-
ease at the farm gate," he said.
The virus is usually fatal for
young pigs, but older pigs get
sick and recover.
With excellent co-operation
from the Middlesex, farmer
where the disease was first
found, and the Chatham -Kent
farm where it's also been con-
firmed, there's been no move to
quarantine the infected farms,
Douglas said.
"Animals are not leaving the
farm. We are not concerned
about them contaminating the
Canadian system," he said.
If additional measures are
needed in future, the province
would consider regulatory con-
trols, Douglas said.
The disease outbreak in
Southwestern Ontario comes
despite increased bio -security
measures, including the use of
separate trucks to take livestock
to the U.S. and the disinfection
of returning trucks.
After several rough years, the
hog industry in Canada was on
the upswing with prices improv-
ing and feed costs dropping.
ONTARIO PORK INDUSTRY
Concentrated in Southwest-
ern Ontario
Farm gate sales are close to $1
billion a year
1,600 producers
$5.6 billion: Industry's esti-
mated value to the economy
Usborne & Hibbert
Mutual Fire Insurance Company
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
The 138th Annual Meeting of the Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company
will be held at the Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre at 2 p.m. on Monday, March
17, 2014, for the presentation of the Annual Report, to elect Directors and to transact
any business that may rightly come before the meeting.
Nominations will be received for the election of two Directors for a three year term.
The Directors whose term of office expires are Tom Feeney and Michael O'Shea, both
of whom are eligible for re-election.
Article 21 Any person wishing to seek election or re-election as a Director must
file his/her intention to stand for election in writing with the General Manager of the
Corporation in person at least thirty days in advance of the Annual Meeting or Special
General Meeting called for the purpose of electing Directors.
The 2013 Financial Statements for Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance
Company will be posted to the company's web site. Copies will also be available at
the company office, 507 Main Street South, Exeter, Ontario.
Tom Feeney Shelagh Cleary BA, FCIP
Chair and President General Manager