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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-04-15, Page 7THEY DID IT AGAIN, FOLKS — Huron Tractor of Exeter received a trophy from John Deere of Canada Ltd, last week when the owners attended a company banquet in Regina. It was given to Huron Tractor for its success in attaining the highest tractor sales of any John Deere outlet in Canada for the third consecutive year. They also received a plaque for most sales of all farm machinery. From the left: Harry Winters, Jack Van Russel, Bruce Hosselback, Earl Long, and Herb Verbeelc, the five owners of Huron Tractor. T-A photo. Dogs cause livestock losses imp MF Massey Ferguson Massey Ferguson SAVE SPRING SPECIALS • Hydraulic Cylinders 20% DISCOUNT • Batteries 20% DISCOUNT • Oil, Air, Hydraulic and Fuel Filters 20% DISCOUNT • Hydraulic Hoses and Fittings 20% DISCOUNT OTHER TRACTOR ACCESSORIES AT SPECIAL PRICES SHERWOOD (Exeter) LTD. 18 Wellington St. Exeter /35.4/43 lambs trum them, it is hoped to increase the average number of lambs produced per ewe. Finnish ewes are known to be more prolific lamb producers, sometimes having 3 or 4 lambs each, The lambs at Mac-Mar Farms start arriving about New Years from the first 500 ewes exposed to the rams in the late summer and early fall of the pievious year. By the time of my visit there were about 800 lambs frisk- ing about and more arriving hourly. It was a great sight to see. I couldn't help but feel the apparent success of this sheep farm could be duplicated many times over throughout Ontario.. It wouldn't be necessary to have such a large 2-man operation. but I would think there were all kinds of opportunities for farmers with barns not otherwise being used, to convert them relatively inexpensively for confinement sheep produc- tion. It would appear, with Canada's sheep population declining rapidly each year and with a brisk market for "hot- house" lambs, there is an economic opportunity' for those who know and understand sheep. Mr. Martin and his helper, a bright young Canadian from Quebec, were more than willing to show me around the huge sheep barns. I understand a good many potential lamb producers have visited the farm to receive first-hand advice based on prac- tical experience on a large scale. I couldn't image a better place to get such advice. Timo-Acivoccit9, April I $, 1974 Page 7 II ASK ABOUT OUR TIME PAYMENT PLAN. SEEDS FENTIL)ZctR1 0 R rcIN S 11; heavy nd saf otiq, e F ge and sale rn.s A s1 for more inf F Agr' yitu al -mical &kip' Furadan hemical a Granton 225.2360 Mitchell 348.8433 Benson 26/.2527 BRAWN FOR YOUR LAWN SPECIAL Allis-Chalmers 405 Tractor 5 HP Rear Engine Rider NOW JUST $595 ..o Good Selection of Used RIDING MOWERS All in good running order and waiting for you . . . Priced to Go! 8 HP to 20 HP IN STOCK • Riding Mowers • Walk Behinds • and Roto Tillers PRICED TO GO! TRACTOR SPECIALS USED 766-D w/roll guard, 1200 hrs 766-D loaded, 250 hrs. 1066-D cab, air, 20.8x38, under 400 hrs. 1066, cab, heat 20,8x34, 2200 hrs. Sharp 1066, cab, heat 18.4x38, excellent 1066, cab, heat 18.4x38, 1900 hrs. 1566, cab, heat, 20.8x38 loaded, 400 hrs. 1—Farmal 806-0, 3 pt, wide front, new 18 4x38 Sharp ".r."""1461""v{ftle-frerrt",""e'ortI5.4•A th. on SOLD 1—Int. 624-D fully equipped, excellent 1—lnt. 275 Gas, reconditioned, excellent 1—Int. 354 Gas, 3 pt. power steering, 1550 loader As new 1—Leyland 384 3 pt. power steering, Dunham loader, Sharp 1—Oliver 550 G 3pt. Superior loader, clean 1—Int. 434-0, power steering, 3 pt. 1501. Loader 1—John Deere 1020 gas, new tires, #37 loader 1—Farmall C w/cult. Good 1—FarmalI Super M, Gas, clean 1—Farmall Cub w/New Woods 60" mower, sharp 1—Farmali 656-D 3 pt, wide front, sharp 1—Fctrmall 1256-D, 3 pt., 18.4x38 sharp 1.4AdeeikeiJ -1..emmieur SOLD 1—John Deere, 4230, quad, 4 post, 1100 hrs. Sharp 1--Massey Super 90 gas, runs well 1—Case 730-D, power steering, 3 pt, cheap power 1—Allis Chalmers 170-D, 3 power steeriog,425 hrs, Ae new 4 NEW 1—Int. 674-D 18.4x30 tires 1—Formall 766-0, 3 pt. power steering, dual remote 1--Farmall 966, tab, air 18.4x38 1—Formall 1066, no cab, 11.00 8, 20.8x38 l--.-Int. 4166 cab„ air, p.t.o., 3 pt. 1--Formal 1—Fa rm a I 2—Fa mai 1—Formal 1—Farmal 1—Formal 1—Fa rma I N. T. MONTEITH EXETER LTD, 235-2121 "the best in service" when you tiet.d it most!" 40 With the approach of the pasture season, farmers again have reason to be concerned with possible livestock losses due to predators, Farmers have had to live with the constant menace of marauding dogs for generations, The recent movement of many urban people to rural areas has. in many cases, increased the dog population. Some people seem to think the country is a great place to just let the dogs run without any constraint — and all too .often without realizing the damage that can be done to livestock. I recall visiting a large sheep farm in an area of Ontario where dogs could have been a severe problem. On asking this sheep farmer if he had trouble with dogs, he answered, "nothing that he couldn't control". He advised me the way to avoid dog damage to livestock was to always carry an automatic rifle and a sharp shovel! It seemed like good ad- vice. I heard of another case where an urban family had let their dogs run loose after moving to the farm they just had purchas- ed, The dogs were subsequently caught in a large sheep barn where enormous damage had been done. There was no difficul- ty in proving the ownership of the dogs whose owners agreed to settle the damages out of court. As if dog damage wasn't enough to contend with, the in- creasing coyote population now has become a very real menace, The Toronto Star, in an article published on the Livestock-Wolf damage situation, on Sept. 18/74, states, "It may comp as a sur- prise to some people, but there are wolves (coyotes) in every agricultural area in Ontario, in many cases not far from urban centres." As a matter of fact 2 coyotes or wolves were shot this winter within a short distance of our farm in London Township, Several other wolves have been destroyed this winter in Southwestern Ontario, but it is likely there will still be severe livestock losses due to wolves in the livestock farming areas of Ontario. There is surely no place for wolves in such farming com- munities. Addressing the Ontario Sheep .and Commercial Lamb Producers Association, in Toron- to during the winter of 1974, I stated, "In Ontario, unless there is a dramatic change in priorities we will continue to see the decline of our sheep industry. It is very clear that many citizens place a much higher value on the howl of a wolf in the chill night air, or their right to own, but not control, a dog, than they do on the maintenance of the sheep in- dustry. Predators, such as wolves and dogs, have decimated this industry in recent years and understandably farmers are most reluctant to gamble further, When vigorous Measures of predator control are discussed we hear loud cries from naturalists, animal, pet lovers, conservationists, Who have refined the art of emotionally influencing public opinion to aSclence'" As might be expected I receiv, ed a few letters from urbanites, academics and naturalists criticizing me for pointing out the facts as I saw them, I pointed out in reply to some of the letters received the horror of wolf Ohmage, not only to livestock but Practical experience If you are seriously interested in agriculture and want to gain some practical experience in the field, the Junior Agriculturalist Program operated by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food will give you an insight into Ontario agriculture and rural life. This is the fourth year of operation far the popular program. Many participants have gained valuable experience to help them in their choice of future careers or to find gainful employment on farms. Selection for the program is based on the applicant's reason for being interested in agriculture, and his or her plans for further education and career, An orientation session, to be held about mid-June, will help ap- plicants prepare for their farm stay. As junior agriculturalists, young people 16 and 17 years of age from non-farm homes are placed on selected commercial farms for a nine-week period during the summer. They live with and participate in the regular activities of the farm families on their farms and in their com- munities. This year, the on-farm assignment lasts from June 21 to August 20, Each junior agriculturalist will receive a training allowance of $16 per day, based on a six-day week, $6 of which is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and $5 in cash per day by the host farmer as well as room and board worth $5 per day. The junior agriculturalist will be under the direct supervision of the farm operator, taking part in the day-to-day activities on the farm. Hours on a farm can be irregular and sometimes long, depending on the current activity and weather. Those persons interested in the Junior Agriculturalist Program for 1976 should complete an application form available at Ontako Ministry of Agriculture and Food offices and secondary school guidance offices. Return the application no later than May 1, 1976, to the Junior Agriculturalist Program, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Parliament Buildings, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1B2. When all the cars in the city are laid out end to end, we know another weekend is here. Gabian Stone Calcium Chloride in 100 pound bags Sand & Stone Gravel Stone for Weeping Beds EARL LIPPERT TRUCKING LTD. Crediton 234-6382 r• 01 • to defenceless deer. Incredibly horrifying reports, with pictures, had reached me from people who had found heavily pregnant does pulled down, either in deep snow or on river or lake ice, the fetus torn out of them, because of its delicacy to the wolf's taste, with the does left to die a most horrifying death. But wolf lovers urge protection of a predator, the usefulness of which has never been proven in any country where -domestic livestock are kept. There was much criticism levelled against the Ontario Government for withdrawing the bounty on wolves. However there was enormous pressure put on the Government to remove the bounty by those with no livestock to lose, and many of whom must surely have been unaware of the havoc wolves have caused to On- tario's deer population. It must. in all fairness, be stated that even with the provincial wolf bounty of $25. the wolf population did expand rapidly throughout Southern Ontario. The Ministry of Natural Resources' biologists took the position that the wolf bounty wasn't really controlling the wolf population. However the bounty surely must have had some controlling effect when one considers it was being paid on several hundreds of wolves. Con- sidering the substantial increase in prices paid for wolf pelts in the last year, which is reported to be much greater than the previous $25, provincial bounty, this should be a greater incentive to hunt these most cunning predators. Some sheep farmers, recogniz- ing the hazards of dog and wolf predators, have gone to semi or in some cases, total confinement in sheep farming. One such operation is Mac-Mar Farms, Beaverton, Ontario. Mac-Mar Farms are jointly owned by George McLaughlin, Chairman of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board, and his brother-in-law, .Jos. Martin. Some 950 breeding. ewes are kept in semi- confinement. Most of the ewes are cross-b'reds carrying Corriedale, Suffolk, Dorset, Fin- nish and Western Canada Range) sheep bloodlines. The sheep are fed a blended corn silage and alfalfa-grass haylage ration with 1 lb, of whole mixed grain fed daily, 6 weeks prior to lambing, and 2 lbs. fed daily after lambing until the lambs, which are creep- fed, are weaned at 5 weeks of age. The lambs then go on a full feed of concentrated pellets until they reach 50 lbs., when they are usually sold right at the farm to Toronto butchers catering to the large ethnic lamb market trade in Metro Toronto. The price, when I had the good fortune to visit the farm the second week in March, was an average of $1. per lb. at the farm. Mr. Martin, the manager and joint owner of the farm, advised me the 1975 lamb crop averaged 1,53 lambs per ewe. With the in- troduction of Finnish rams to the flock and the keeping of ewe