The Rural Voice, 1998-03, Page 56of us who do not have definite
answers to these questions should
make an appointment with your
broker and review your policy.
Particularly note the excluded
coverage and are business
interruptions covered? Ensure that
your policy is all inclusive and that
"Acts of God" arc not excluded.
Plan Ahead — Producers in the east
suffered to varying degrees. One
chap called and suggested he had not
milked his cows for 28 hours,
another was only delayed an hour
while he hooked up his generator.
Another related that it took six to
eight hours to do what he normally
did in two to three because of a
generator that was under -sized.
What would the impact of an
extended power outage be on your
business? An alternative source of
power may be a small investment to
avoid such a loss.
Do you have a disaster plan
should your buildings be damaged?
These plans should have an
immediate and longer term aspect.
Such plans made when you are in a
rational mode over a period of time
are proven to be more satisfactory
than emotional reactions to a bad
situation. The Canadian Mental
Health Association suggests that not
only are the decisions better, but
those who plan in advance are less
stressed and are less prone to mental
health problems.
Shared Goals — It is amazing how
some folk can rebound from adverse
situations because of the support then
get from others. Interestingly, those
offering the help can be in a similar
adverse situation. Two or more
working together toward a common
goal can achieve the seemingly
impossible. Relationships
established in the good times pay real
dividends at such times. Local
contacts, governments and support
groups, really establish their benefits
at these times.
Professional Advisors — Those
who cope best to adverse situations
are able to recognize their limitations
and seek help from others. Better
managers have a circle of
professionals around them that can be
52 THE RURAL VOICE
Advice
called upon when abilities and time
restrict the managers' ability to
handle the situation themselves.
Relationships that paid good returns
in the East include, insurance agents,
veterinarians, nutrition experts,
equipment dealers, electricians,
plumbers, mechanics, accountants
and lawyers to mention a few.
Market Potential as a Result of the
Storm — The result of the ice storm
in the East will have an effect lasting
beyond the power outage.
Eastern dairy producers will be
challenged to meet quota
requirements as cattle rebound from
irregular feeding, milking, watering
and less than ideal ventilation
conditions. There will be a need for
the provincial dairy industry to
increase shipments to offset the
decrease n production from the
affected area. This may relate to
over quota bonus and/or lowered
quota prices.
Eastern maple producers represent
25 per cent of the provincial
production with Quebec surpassing
this province's maple sales. Early
reports that these folk have
experienced 25 to 50 per cent crown
damage in their bush and bush health
may require reducing the number of
taps or not harvesting in 1998 as
pipelines and trees are restored. It
would seem that the supply for this
spring may be down relating to
higher maple prices.
Christmas tree producers,
particularly those growing pine are
reporting up to 100 per cent damage
of the salable trees for this season.
Local growers may wish to take steps
to increase sales to meet the potential
demand.
Strength of the Rural Community
— The rural community is noted for
its ability to rebound from disaster.
Some of this ability is a result of the
community being able to learn from
situations and rally around to help.
The ice storm in the East is certainly
a demonstration of the strength of the
community. For those not affected
we can learn from the experiences of
others to be more prepared should the
unfortunate occur in our backyard.0
Breeding strategies
for your beef herd
By Joanne Handley
OMAFRA Beef Specialist
Clear targets are required when
choosing what beef breeds you plan
to use in a crossbreeding program.
Selection at the cow -calf level has
focussed, for the last 20-30 years, on
productivity per cow with emphasis
on reproductive and growth traits.
The importance of hitting the market
target has resulted in the emphasis
shifting toward evaluation and
selection of carcass characteristics.
The first step is to ensure your cow
herd matches your environment and
resources and then determine how to
hit your market targets through breed
and sire selection.
The breed combination of 50 per
cent British and 50 per cent
continental optimizes trade-offs and
fits many environments. A rotational
crossbreeding system or a composite
breed will work in the situation
where the same breed combinations
optimize cow maternal performance
and meet the optimum targets for
carcass traits. In situations where the
same breed combinations do not
optimize both maternal performance
and targets for carcass traits, terminal
sire systems (all calves marketed,
replacements purchased) should be
considered since they allow the
genetics of the end product to be
different from the genetics of the cow
herd.
Optimum targets for carcass traits
are relatively clear for larger markets
with emphasis placed on quality and
yield. Two major markets with well-
defined targets have been identified
in the Ontario beef industry through
research at the University of Guelph.
The markets include beef destined for
retail trade with single A marbling
and a 750 -pound carcass, and beef
destined for the restaurant trade with
AAA marbling and a 700 -pound
carcass. Additional niche markets
may have very different targets but
will be easy to define.
Researchers at Guelph had
calculated economic indexes to
match the market targets identified in
their research. Beef Improvement
i