The Rural Voice, 1981-08, Page 22Closed herd
good policy
The annual meeting of the Ontario
Swine A.I. Association was held on July
8th in Woodstock and in spite of the heat
and humidity over 125 producer/
members and their families attended. A
pork barbecue dinner was enjoyed by all,
then babysitters took over the care of the
children so both parents could attend the
meeting.
General Manager Jim Wilkins reported
a 23% increase in services sold during
the 1980-81 year. "This is quite
significant," Jim said, "when one
considers the state of the hog industry
over the past year."
He attributed this increase to a number
of developments. The new extender now
used by Ontario Swine A.I. has proven to
be very successful; not only have
farrowing rates increased, but the period
of storage has increased from three to
five days. The addition of John
Woodhouse as a second field man has
allowed closer contact between members
and the unit. Jim paid tribute to Dave
Riach who, up to now, has been the lone
field man for all of Ontario.
"There has been an acceptance of A.I.
theory," Wilkins told the members, "and
more commercial producers are realizing
that a closed herd policy will return
untold dividends."
The following producers were elected
to the Board of Directors:
President Ron Urquhart, Arva
Vice Gerald Hop, Mossley
New Directors are Bob Robson, Maple,
Henry de Wolde, Ashburn, Darryl Mit-
chell, Glencoe.
Other directors are George Procter,
Brussels, Chris Cockel, Embro, Murray
Faris, Bradford, Judd Martin, St.
Thomas.
RURAL NEWS IN BRIEF
Don't litter in Hibbert!
In Perth County Hibbert Township
council is getting tough with residents
who litter its roads. Bylaw 7-1976, passed
recently prohibits the depositing of any
materials on road allowances.
The council was informed by the road
superintendent at a recent meeting that
Hibbert farmers have been depositing
stones which they clear from the land on
the road allowances. The report said the
piles are unsightly and pose a potential
hazard to township equipment when
spraying or cutting weeds.
If the practice isn't stopped council had
decided it will take action and charges
will be laid under the bylaw.
PG. 20 THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1981
Shorthorn sale at Bodmin
ODMIN PI
MAKES
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Seen above, the first heifer to enter the sale ring sold for S835. Auctioneer George Early.
from Kerwood, is seen at the mike with Ross Procter. Herdsman Jerry Campschroer is in
the ring.
Below is one of the nine breeding bulls in the sale [selected from a group of 120] which
were led by a pipe band on a parade in front of the potential buyers.
The Procter brothers of Brussels, once
again demonstrated at their annual sale
of Bodmin shorthorns how to market a
good farm product. In one corner of the
drive shed visitors could watch a video
tape about shorthorns and Bodmin farms,
while outside the door you could get
literature about shorthorns or buy a farm
hat advertising shorthorns. Ross Procter
and his daughter Ann rode their horses
Buck and Rawhide in a splendid display
of cutting a cow out of a herd. During the
afternoon Ann offered everyone an
opportunity to ride the horses while she
led them up and down the laneway.
If the sun and wind made you thirsty.
there was a booth where you could buy
coffee, lemonade and home-made tarts.
Country music, including step -dancing,
was provided by Jim Medd from Blyth. A
Dutch treat dinner. which no one could
resist, consisted of tender and juicy bull
steaks, new potatoes. salad and a tart.
Most everyone knows that bulls grow
faster, are meatier and have better feed
conversion. What the Procters are trying
to show is that bull meat is also superior
eating.
Buyers were there from Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. But
most of the sales were made to farmers
who live not far from the Bodmin farms,
which pleased Ross Procter. The sale
average was $834. for 68 head.