The Citizen, 2010-01-28, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010.
A peek at German
pork production
Producers attending the annual
meeting of the Huron County Pork
Producers’ Association, Jan. 20 in
Seaforth, got a look at state-of-the-
art pork production in Germany.
Greg Simpson, who spent two
weeks last summer on a tour of pork
industry sites in Netherlands,
Germany and Denmark, focused on
visits to two new pork barns in
Germany when he spoke, and showed
slides, to the producers.
There are 28,000 pork producers in
Germany, he said but sow numbers are
declining at a rate of more than 10 per
cent a year as farrowing operations
move eastward to former communist
east bloc countries to take advantage
of cheaper labour. Germany now
imports six million weaners annually.
The pork industry is mostly in the
northwest of Germany, an area that
despite the fact it is much farther north
than the area where Ontario swine
production is concentrated, has milder
winters and autumns and cooler
summers.
While he was in Germany the price
of pork was 1.56 euros per kilogram
(the equivalent of $2.50 cdn).
Breakeven costs in Germany are about
1.35 euros ($2.16 cdn.) Prices have
declines since then.
The first barn he visited was so new
the doors hadn’t yet been installed. It
was a 1,000 head finishing operation,
the third of that size on the farm, with
a liquid feeding system. The pigs are
marketed through a producer co-op.
Like many barns in Germany, this
one had solar panels on the roof to
generate electricity and also had a
biodigester producing gas to power a
500 kw electrical generator. There is
no tank under the barn – all manure
goes directly to the biodigester. Also
on the farm was a huge pile of corn
silage that is fed into the digester to
increase the amount of electricity
generated.
The by-product heat from the
biodigester heats all the barns on the
property plus the house and the excess
is piped to a nearby poultry processing
plant.
All the exhausted air must be
scrubbed to reduce odour. The law
requires three per cent of wall space to
be windows and all pigs must be given
toys to play with to keep them from
being bored.
The second barn visited was a 1,500
head finishing barn, with pigs fed co-
products such as starch water, potatoes
and a liquid baking by-product, again
through a liquid feeding system. More
than 70 per cent of the feed was from
the co-products. This barn had holding
tanks under the barn. All the pigs are
marketed through the state marketing
agency.
Simpson was impressed in both
barns with the mechanical facilities
that allowed separate medications to
be provided to individual pens.
Questioned about the expense of
these buildings, Simpson said the
building cost of barns in Germany is
about 200 euros ($320 cdn) per pig
space. What really hurts producers
though is that they have to spend an
equal amount for the right to dispose
of manure.
Looking for local heroes
There are so many people out there who do
so much to improve their community.
Now you have a chance to say thanks.
Nominate that special person for the 25th
Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area
and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the
community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot
and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee
should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win,
please feel free to try again.
I nominate
as Citizen of the year for
I feel she/he deserves this award because
Nomination Deadline April 30, 2010.
Name and phone number of nominator
❑❑Blyth
& area ❑❑Brussels
& area
9 Rattenbury St. E., Clinton, ON N0M 1L0
Ph.: 519-482-9924 ~ 1-888-235-9260
Res.: 519-524-9260
Check out RRSP and RRIF plans designed to meet
your needs.
GIC, Mutual Funds, Seg. Funds
Invest in your future today!
RRSP DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2010
Who will look after your financial
obligations if you become injured or ill?
See Lawrence for a free consultation.
Promoting porkCathy and Jeff Cardiff, on behalf of the Brussels AgriculturalSociety, accept the Huron County Pork Producers’Association’s Promotion Incentive Award from RonDouglas, right, at the Association’s annual meeting inSeaforth, Jan. 20. The Society received the award for usingpork at many of its events and particularly when it hosted
the district meeting of agricultural societies last fall. (Keith
Roulson photo)
By Keith Roulston
The Citizen
Fifteen members and two guests
were present at Auburn Women’s
Institute meeting Jan. 21 at 1:30
p.m. in the Auburn Hall.
President Erma Cartwright
opened the meeting with the Ode,
Mary Stewart Collect and O’
Canada. She also gave a reading
entitled, Things I Like to Hear
About Winter.
A letter had been received from
Christian Blind Mission asking for a
donation to help the earthquake
victims in Haiti. Each kit costs $55.
A motion was made to send two kits
at this time. A motion was also
made to send a donation to Habitat
for Humanity.
Lois Elliott and Betty
Archambault reported on the
convention they attended last fall
near Woodstock.
Lois also reported on the plans
being made this year for the
convention in Holmesville. West
Huron and South Huron are the host
clubs. The theme is volunteers.
Since this was a fun and games
meeting, bingo and five crowns
were played. June Robinson and
Teresa Roetcisoender served lunch
bringing the meeting to a close.
2 guests at
Auburn WI