The Rural Voice, 1988-10, Page 71this level of performance and has taken
the following action:
"As a first step in dealing with the
problem, your board, in conjunction
with Agriculture Canada, is conducting
a survey to get an accurate picture of
drug -residue levels in Ontario hogs.
The survey will be completed by mid-
October. Some 2,500 hogs will be tested
for sulpha and other drug residues.
The survey, under the leadership of
Jim Rollings from the board and Dr.
Paul Shadbot of Agriculture Canada and
with the co-operation of the packers, is
designed to be high-profile. We want all
the publicity we can get. Every pro-
ducer will know that the test is being
conducted. The program will cover all
the hogs in the province, including hogs
at the marketing yards, at truckers'
yards, and those picked up on the farm.
The actual hogs tested will be se-
lected at random and will receive a spe-
cial tattoo. The testing itself will be
done at the packers. If the test is nega-
tive, the carcass will be processed as
usual. If positive, it will be held for
further testing and possible condemna-
tion. Another objective of the survey
will be to determine the suitability of
rapid tests to identify sulpha in our hogs.
Other antibiotics are also included.
Where residues are found, there will be
a confirmation test and follow-up inter-
views by Agriculture Canada to identify
the cause. Every effort will be made to
help producers understand the problem
so it does not recur. Education is, after
all, the best long-term solution.
This survey is a pilot project. If it
shows it has the potential to reduce drug
residues, the board will seriously con-
sider using it as the basis for a permanent
long-term surveillance program.
There is also increased surveillance
by the federal government, which has
increased the number of its tests by 400
per ccnt.
I think the lesson learned from sul-
pha is very clear. The public and gov-
ernment monitoring agencies are be-
coming more and more concerned about
quality. If we want to maintain the
public's trust and cam our share of the
food dollar, we must provide a quality
product. Anything less will undo all our
other efforts to better our industry
through improved genetics, invest-
ments in technology, better marketing,
and increased efficiency."0
Gordon Jack
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OCTOBER 1988 69