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The Rural Voice, 1995-03, Page 29Ankum says he is interested in seeing how his cattle "stack up against the other cattle. I'm looking forward to the results." This is the first year Van Ankum has been involved with the project. He says he became interested because, "too many times the primary producer never finds out how their calves do. The big attraction of retaining ownership is how each individual does at the packing plant." He wants to see how they gain individually on the feedlot and how they do at the plant. He says it is not as vital but he is also interested in dressing percentages and carcass quality. All of this information is being collected with the help of Beef Improvement Ontario's microchip identification tags. The tag stays "These microchips are what makes it manageable, that and having a good memory." with the animal throughout the process, in the feedlot and onto the packing house floor. Says custom feeder Herron, "these microchips are what makes it manageable, that and having a good memory." Making changes to a breeding program based on results from such a project takes time, as Herron points out, by the time last year's calf is to finished weight, the cow is already bred again. Herron sent some of his own cattle to Better Beef and talked to the packers. "I tend to listen to them because they're the buyer and they see more at a finish stage, I see 400 in a year, they see that many in part of a morning." He says they would ask what he was feeding and make recommendations. "I think these communication lines are invaluable, if we don't listen, we won't be in business." Profitable, and educational, a winning combination.° TOP QUALITY EXTERIOR PAINTING Booking for 1995 Call now for estimates • All types of exterior painting Spray and Brush application • Sand blasting • Pressure washing r 1 W",uy� /1; Sos GLEN EATON PAINTING R.R. 3, Chesley, ON NOG 1L0 519-363-2595 J.7REID Manufacturing & Sales Ltd. R.R. 1, MOOREFIELD, ONT. NOG 2K0 (519) 638-3551 JK QUICK 'CATCH HAND-I-KATCH CHUTE DURABLE, QUALITY EQUIPMENT Now available from: HILL & HILL FARMS LTD. • SEED CORN - Golden Harvest Hades - 3050 H.U. H2292 - 2850 H.U. - Funks G4193 - 2975 H.U. G4070 - 2775 H.U. G4120 - 2725 H.U. • SEED SOYBEANS - Secan - OAC Brussels - OAC Dorado - OAC Shire - First Line - AC Bravor - Secord - 2650 H.U. - 2850 H.U. - 2950 H.U. - 2700 H.U. - 2800 H.U. - Tiger - 2850 H.U. - Brock - 2950 H.U. Call Pete or Jim at 519-233-3218 Remember: Quality Is Not Expensive, It's Priceless! MARCH 1995 25