The Rural Voice, 1998-06, Page 66Meat Packers, combincd with
existing block contracts with other
packers, demonstrate the added value
we can deliver through the Pool Plus
Marketing Advantage Program,"
stated Mary Lou McLeod, Director
of Sales and Marketing. "Ontario
Pork's new Pool Plus Marketing
Advantage program, which has
received an overwhelming response
by producers, will help us continue to
meet and surpass our marketing
targets with larger volumes of hogs
committed over an extended period
of time." McLeod continued, "I
would encourage producers who
market through the pool and who
have not yet done so, to enroll in the
Pool Plus program right away."
The formula price is based on the
Indiana and Illinois markets using the
quoted high direct average cash
price, converted to Canadian dollars
per one hundred kilograms dressed
weight.0
OCA seeks Ontario
co-operators for
identification trial
Ontario cattlemen are being
encouraged to volunteer for
identification trials for the Canadian
Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA).
These trials will evaluate retention
rates, cost, readability for different
eartags. This effort is a first step in
the implementation of the national
identification strategy for Canadian
cattle industry. The industry is
pursuing an identification system for
traceback of animal health and food
safety concerns. The CCIA has
requested that tag/ID companies
make tags available for this trial to be
compared against a tag similar to the
Health of Animals tag which is the
"benchmark" type of tag for this
study.
Requirements for co-operator
herds include:
• Producers must be prepared to
administer the benchmark tag in
addition to a test tag/ID.
• Preference will be given to herds
with retained ownership and/or
participation within an alliance;
however this is not a requirement.
62 THE RURAL VOICE
News
• Herds must be prepared to co-
operate with tag representatives to
administer the tags/ID if requested.
• Tags/ID must be administered at
calving or processing (within two to
three months of birth) and
maintained until at least weaning.
• In the trial period, retention rate and
readability will be monitored at the
most convenient times for the
producer (regular handling -
weaning, vaccinating, etc.)
• Tags/ID will be provided free of
charge to the producer for this trial.
Depending on the response of
producers and the logistics of getting
this project initiated, there is no
guarantee that every producer will be
accepted for this trial. Ontario
producers who are interested in this
trial can contact Julie Stitt, Canadian
Cattle Identification Agency 403-
275-8558 or Peter Kuehni, Beef
Improvement Ontario 1-800-373-
2253.0
New Ag Rep
appointed at
Orangeville
Cindy Bradley -MacMillan joins
the Orangeville office June 1 as
Agriculture and Rural
Representative.
Her financial counselling skills as
an Account Manager, responsible for
agricultural accounts with the
Scotiabank, will be available to farm
and rural businesses and
organizations in the orangeville area.
Cindy has previous OMAFRA
experience as a Fruit and Vegetable
Inspector.
Bradley -MacMillan will work to
address local issues, co-ordinate
information and training needs, and
to deliver Ministry programs and
services to help improve the local
business climate.
The Rural Community Advisor
for the Orangeville area is Marie
Ouimet. Ouimet, an experienced
RCA from OMAFRA's Alfred
office, transfers here June 15. Marie
has worked with agricultural and
rural organizations, including the 4-H
association, by providing leadership
training and consulting with
organizations to increase their
effectiveness. She has been a
catalyst for community economic
development projects in the Prescott
and area municipalities.
Ouimet will focus her work on
consulting with municipalities and
rural organizations to help them
respond effectively to issues
affecting their communities. Other
resident staff includes Client Services
Representatives Diane Holmes and
Evelyn Holmes, Livestock Advisor
Harry Harricharan, and Potato
Specialist Eugenia Banks. Business
Advisor Dale Bierworth, Soil and
Crop Specialist Joan McKinley and
myself also serve farm and business
clients here although our home office
location is Markdale.0
People and Products
A new farrowing
crate concept
J.K. Reid Manufacturing &
Sales Ltd. of R.R.1, Moorefield,
recently introduced a new
farrowing crate featuring an
innovative design that allows
the sow more freedom to move
about and "mother" her piglets.
A family business, J. K. Reid
Manufacturing has been
building and marketing
livestock handling equipment
for 30 years. Now, a second
generation has joined the firm.
Andy Reid, a graduate
agricultural engineer from the
University of Guelph, worked
with a design created by Dr.
Frank Hurnick, U. of G. to
produce the new farrowing crate
marketed under the name
Farrownest. Preliminary
research shows more pigs per
litter are raised using the
Farrownest crate. It fits in a
conventional 5' by 7' space but,
because only one access door is
needed, it requires less room.
One feature of the new crate is
kennels, a closed space for the
piglets which requires less heat
as the piglets' body heat, after a
few days, is usually sufficient to
keep them warm.0