The Rural Voice, 1978-07, Page 231
Pork Congress
breaks records
The fifth annual Ontario Pork Congress
closed in Stratford June 22 after breaking
attendance and price records.
Congress president Bill Baxter of R.R.2,
Springfield is overwhelmed with the
crowds this year's congress has enjoyed.
Tuesday , opening day, attracted an
estimated 4,500 visitors, then Wednesday
broke all existing records with more than
6,000 people in attendance. Traffic jams,
rarely experienced in Stratford, were a
joyful problem, Mr. Baxter said, for the
congress staff in charge of parking.
A few record prices have been set at this
year's congress as well. Twelve -year-old
David Knechtel of Shakespeare had the
grand champion and reserve grand
champion market hogs in the show
Tuesday.The grand champion sold for $21
per pound and the reserve brought him
$11.50 per pound, yielding just over
$5,500 for the young hog farmer. Currah
Agromart Ltd. of Hickson bought the
champion and Daco Labs of London the
reserve champion.
The top priced boar in Wednesday's
show and sale was sold by Emerald Stock
Farms to Ron -Lor Farms Ltd. for $4,000.
The top -priced bred gilt brought $4,100 for
Fernand Soucy of Quebec with Ron -Lor
Farms Ltd. the buyer.
Besides shows and sales, the congress
offered daily educational programs to bring
producers the latest information on hog
production methods, consumer programs
tobring consumers up to date on new ideas
in preparing and cooking pork, and
industrial displays by about 140 exhibitors
toshow the producers the latest in efficient
farming equipment.
One of the congress organizers, Richard
Smelski, said that a few more industries
from the United States are thinking of
setting up production plants in the
Stratford area as a result of the response
shown by producers at the Congress. A
couple from past years have already
become established•in what they consider
the geographical centre of the swine
industry. Mr. Smelski said.
New standards cause
trouble: packer says
New hog grading standards introduced
in Canada on Jan. 1, 1978, may be leading
the pork industry in the country into a lot of
trouble, accordingto H.K.Leckie, general
manager of the Meat Packers Council of
Canada who spoke at the official opening of
the 1978 Ontario Pork Congress at the
Coliseum in Stratford.
The grading system opened the doors for
heavier hogs on the slaughter market, up
from 180 pounds maximum. "It takes time
to adjust to such heavier product and
develop ways of presenting it attractively.
Meanwhile, we are in danger of losing the
traditional reputation of Canadian pork as
being superior to heavier, fatter U.S.
Fork," Mr. Leckie said.
In 1976 and 1977, he said, the
percentage of carcasses weighing over 180
pounds had hung around 10 per cent. but
in the first four months this year. average
market weights decidedly increased and
the percentage of heavies nearly tripled -
running close to 30 per cent in several
provinces.
In Ontario, he said, "heavies rose to 22
per cent by the end of January, 24.5 per
cent by the end of february, 26 per cent in
March and was close to 29 per cent by the
end of April, something that has "begun to
be a real concern to pork packers who have
to process and market the heavier cuts."
He listed a number of problems
presented with the fatter hogs going to
market.
Similar problems arise with hams,
picnics and loins which weigh considerably
more than the pork system has traditionally
been used to ... With today's higher meat
prices, consumers are getting very
conscious of what a half semi -boneless
skinned ham or picnic shoulder costs
compared to a Tight turkey or other
substitute.
Another point to consider, he said, was
the additional stress placed on these
heavier hogs on their way to slaughter.
This stress may result in more dead hogs in
trucks and plant holding pens, he said.
Mr. Leckie congratulated the Pork
Congress for its efforts in bringing all
• segments of the pork industry together. "It
brings out a practical success story of the
benefits of all sectors of an industry
voluntarily co-operating for mutual good
and without leaning excessively on
government. The Congress is a
co-operative, self-sustaining independent
effort," he said.
Huron F of A wants
food investigation
A Royal Commision into the practises of
large food chains is to be encouraged by
the Huron Federation of Agriculture.
Former OFA President Gordon Hill
presented a resolution to the June
Federation meeting in Seaforth requesting
that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
press for a Royal Commission to
investigate the buying ethics and discount
practises of food chains.
"The legislative committee investigating
the situation now doesn't have the
authority to demand witnesses to answer to
the charges and give information," said
Mr. Hill. A royal commission would have
the authority to subpoena records and
witnesses.
The larger supermarket chains have a
practise of discounting a percentage horn
the supplier's cheques before payment.
Costs have been allotted to the advertising
portion for the product or for shelf space
devoted to that product, Mr. Hill said. In
game cases as much as 20% has been
deducted.
"In Toronto there have been two
murders of producers." said Mr. Hill "and
there have been rumours of involvement of
the Mafia in this".
4-H members
win awards
A total of 163 competitors participated in
the Huron County 4-H livestock and field,
crops judging competition held in Seaforth
recently with John Van Vliet of R.R.2.
Brussels scoring the highest number of
points in the whole competition with 793
out of a possible 850 points.
He also won first in the Senior category,
the United Co-operatives of Ontario Trophy
for having the highest score in the
competition, was a runner up for the Huron
County Milk Committee Awardand was a
runner-up in the Cyanamid of Canada
Award for the sheep section . He also had
a score of 96 out of a possible 100 in the
beef section
Allan Powe of R.R.2, Centralia came in
second in the senior category scoring 783
points out of a possible 850 and he was also
arunnerup for the United Co -Operatives of
Ontario Trophy. Gordon Alton of R.R.7,
Lucknow was first in the Intermediate
category scoring 756 points out of a
possible 850 and won the CIL Trophy for
the highest score in the swine section with
99 points out a possible 100. Joyce
Dougherty of R. R.6, Goderich came in
second in the Intermediate category
scoring 750 out of a possible 850 points.
Bruce Godkin of R. R.1, Walton was first
in the Junior category scoring 743 out of a
possible 850 points. David Townsend of
R.R.4, Seaforth placed second scoring 732
out of a possible 850 points. He was also a
runner up for the C.I.L. Trophy scoring 98
out of a possible 100 points. Paul Hoggarth
of R.R.2, Kippen placed first in the Novice
category and also won the Canadian
National Exhibition Shield for high Novice
judge.
Mary Gibson of R.R.5, Clinton was
first in the pre -4-H category scoring 674
cot of a possible 850 points and Kevin
Ruttan of R.R.2, Gorrie placed second
scoring 651 out of a possible 850 points.
Other winners of trophies include Diane
Oldfield, R.R.4, Seaforth -- the Huron
County Milk Committee Award for the
highest score in the Dairy Section with 99
out of a possible 100 points;Steven Shelley
K.K.2, Gorrie -- Cyanamid of Canada for
the highest score in the sheep section
scoring 96 out of a possible 100 points.
Jackie Brand of R.R.3, Clinton -- the Huron
Cattlemen's Association Award for the
highest score in the beef section scoring 96
out of a possible 100 points.
THE RURAL VOICE/JULY 1978. PG. 23