The Rural Voice, 2005-01, Page 37News in Agriculture
Beef Symposium 2004 looks beyond BSE
By Bonnie Gropp improve efficiency of feed utilization
For the first time in a long time, in growing and feedlot cattle and in
production advice was given some cows during the overwintering
attention by the beef industry at the period. "And in turn, to reduce the
recent symposium in Brussels environmental impact of cattle
December 2. feeding operations through nutrition
In introducing Kendall Swanson, and animal breeding."
an assistant professor in ruminant Swanson also hoped to better
nutrition at the University of Guelph, define nutrient metabolism of gut
Dennis Martin of OMAF noted how tissues. which are "very high -nutrient
much of the industry's focus had demanding" and to determine if gene
been on the BSE crisis over the past expression can be altered through
year and a half. "It seems it's been a dietary manipulation and if altered
while since we've been able to think expression influences production
about production." efficiency.
Even Swanson's topic, however, Using a pie chart Swanson showed
related somewhat to the stresses that "feed is a big component of the
facing producers, as he discussed production cost in both feedlot and
ways to find savings in a feeding cow/calf operation. He noted "poor
program. options" for decreasing these costs as
His current research program in the complete elimination of
animal and poultry science is for feed supplement or the elimination of a
efficiency and nutrient utilization. particular component of a
forage utilization and alternative supplement.
feeding strategies, meat quality and Low protein, low or unbalanced
vet science and food safety. minerals or vitamins or no ionophore,
Swanson outlined his initial he said, could all decrease efficiency
research objectives as having a and cause health-related problems.
primary emphasis on improving "I think it's difficult to cut or
efficiency of protein and starch eliminate completely."
digestion and utilization. Better options, he suggested would
There were three goals to his be to change the supplement through
research, he said. The first was to a feeding period such as phase
feeding, to change the components of
a supplement, to use a grain source or
to limit feeding.
Swanson showed the results of
several studies regarding these
options. With phase feeding protein.
there was a small increase in average
daily gain and a reduction of
excretion by 22 per cent. "If you are
thinking of environmental
sustainability that might be the
approach."
Regarding urea versus natural
protein. the animals were fed
different sources of a supplemental
protein. Those fed a. soybean
supplement performed better than
others.
Another option, said Swanson is
whole soybean substitution. There
was no difference of performance in
animals fed with zero to 24 per cern
soybeans. "This is a possible
alternative," suggest Swanson.
The beans are raw and fed whole.
he added.
Regardless of what decision a
producer makes, Swanson
recommends to first "consider and
think through your options. Many of
these result in increased
management. You have to consider
whether it is possible for you or
worth it "0
Free trade has hurt more than helped, Murray Gaunt says
Fifteen years after the Copps as environment minister,
implementation of the Canada- wanted to ban a dangerous additive
U.S.A. Free Trade Agreement there's in gasoline that had already been
been little benefit for farmers and a banned in the U.S., the manufacturer
good deal of problems, says Murray brought suit under NAFTA and
Gaunt, former CKNX farm director Canada was forced to keep using the
and Liberal MPP. additive despite the concerns for
Speaking to the annual zone 1 human health.
meeting of Gay Lea Foods Co- "Free trade only works when the
operative Ltd., Gaunt said that rather U.S. wants it to," Gaunt said.
than giving Canadians more The Americans figure if they're
protection, the free trade agreement not winning in trade then the playing
gave the U.S. government the field can't be level, he said. They are
unlimited right to apply its trade laws dedicated to dismantling supply
against Canada. The result has been management.
an unending series of trade Supply management is a great
challenges from softwood lumber to Canadian success story that is envied
anti-dumping duties on pork to by farmers in many other countries.
challenges against the Canadian Gaunt said. Dairy and poultry make
Wheat Board. up a third of the farm cash receipts in
When Canada, under Sheila Ontario.
Thanks to visionaries like former
federal agriculture minister Eugene
Whelan and the late Bill Stewart.
former Ontario minister of
agriculture. farmers in dairy and
poultry managed to get some control
over their market.
"In a strictly free enterprise
economy those who don't have
control of what they buy or sell get
fleeced on both ends." said Gaunt.
Other commodities like beef, pork
and oilseeds depend on export
markets. Canadian farmers have
increased food exports to the general
benefit of the economy, but net farm
income dropped 40 per cent in 2003.
Meanwhile agri-business mergers
have nearly eliminated competition
in supplying farm inputs and offering
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JANUARY 2005 33