The Citizen, 1997-04-09, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9,1997
Brussels Livestock report
G. De Block bulls top $80
The sales at Brussels Livestock
for the week ending April 4 were:
fed cattle, 785; cows, 304; veal
calves, 294; lambs and goats, 106;
and stockers, 1,943.
The fed steers and heifers sold on
a good steady trade. The cows also
sold steady. Veal sold on a strong
active trade. Lambs sold on a
strong trade. Stocker calves sold $2
to $5 higher with yearlings selling
on a steady trade.
There were 371 steers on offer
selling from $88 to $94 to the high
of $100. Twelve steers consigned
by Schmidt Brook Farms Inc.,
Woodstock, averaging 1,470 lbs.
sold for an average of $93.40 with
sales to $100. Three steers
consigned by Charles Ready; St.
Marys, averaging 1,276 lbs. sold
for an average of $95.21 with sales
to $98.75. Three steers consigned
by Irvin Schnek, Petersburg,
averaging 1,467 lbs. sold for an
average of $96.44 with sales to
$97.75. Eight steers consigned by
Roy Ready, St. Marys, averaging
1,255 lbs. sold for an average of
$94.90 with sales to $97.10.
Thirteen steers consigned by
Howard Martin, Brussels,
averaging 1,373 lbs. sold for an
average of $93.21 with sales to
$97. Ten steers consigned by Terry
McCarthy, Dublin, averaging 1,373
lbs. sold for an average of $92.52
with sales to $97. Seventeen steers
consigned by Jim Howatt,
Londesboro, averaging 1,343 lbs.
sold for an average of $95.22 with
sales to $96.75.
Four steers consigned by Jim and
Todd Konency, Walkerton,
averaging 1,296 lbs. sold for an
average of $93.05 with sales to
$96.75. Six steers consigned by
Mei Lyons, Lucknow, averaging
1,444 lbs. sold for an average of
$93.65 with sales to $96.50. Eleven
steers consigned by Kada Farms,
Bluevale, averaging 1,335 lbs. sold
for an average of $91.17 with sales
to $96.25.
There were 398 heifers on offer
selling from $88 to $94 to the high
of $97. Fourteen heifers consigned
by Berberick Bros., Mildmay,
averaging 1,216 lbs. sold for an
average of $89.11 with sales to
$97. Ten heifers consigned by Bev
Hamilton, Hensail, averaging 1,213
lbs. sold for an average of $92.45
with sales to $96.50. Two heifers
consigned by Willard Siegner,
Mildmay, averaging 1,265 lbs. sold
for an average of $94.84 with sales
to $95.75.
Sixteen heifers consigned by
Donald Cormack, Mount Forest,
averaging 1,267 lbs. sold for an
average of $89.09 with sales to
$95.25. Twenty-seven heifers
consigned by Wayne Rowe,
Woodham, averaging 1,216 lbs.
sold for an average of $89.59 with
sales to $93.50. Eight heifers
consigned by George Matheson,
Embro, averaging 1,250 lbs. sold
for an average of $87.64 with sales
to $93.50. One heifer consigned by
Gordon Borth, Mildmay, weighing
1,220 lbs. sold for $93.25.
Thirty-seven heifers consigned
by Lawrence Markusse, Wyoming,
averaging 1,328 lbs. sold for an
average of $88.63 with sales to
$93.10. Four heifers consigned by
Gordon Dougherty, Goderich,
averaging 1,319 lbs. sold for an
average of $90.74 with sales to
$93. Five heifers consigned by
Gerald Vandewalle, Dublin,
averaging 1,150 lbs. sold for an
average of $85.94 with sales to
$93.
•There were 304 cows on offer
selling from $46 to $62 to the high
of $72. Three cows consigned by
Dennis Dolmage, Londesboro,
averaging 1,577 lbs. sold for an
average of $69.02 with sales to
$72. Two cows consigned by Jack
Kuipers, Palmerston, averaging
1,225 lbs. sold for an average of
$61.79 with sales to $71. Four
cows consigned by Dave Heffer,
Wingham, averaging 850 lbs. sold
for an average of $53.62 with sales
to $70.50.
There were 16 bulls on offer
selling from $55 to $62.50 to the
high of $80.50. Four bulls
consigned by Geo. De Block,
London, averaging 1,551 lbs. sold
for an average of $79.11 with sales
to $80.50. One Limousin bull
consigned by Ross Camplin,
Thornbury, weighing 1,875 lbs.,
sold for $73.50.
There were 294 veal on offer
selling: Beef, $85 to $122;
Holstein, $75 to $90; Plain
Holstein, $55 to $65. Three veal
consigned by John Martin,
Lucknow, averaging 665 lbs. sold
for an average of $102.50 with
sales to $120. Five veal consigned
by John Schwartzentruber,
Brussels, averaging 655 lbs. sold
for an average of $105.22 with
sales to $116. Four veal consigned
by Geoffrey Calder, Holstein,
averaging 545 lbs. sold for an
average of $93.37 with sales to
$110.
Lambs, under 50 lbs. sold $195
to $215; 50 to 79 lbs., $207.50 to
$227.50; and over 95 lbs., $177.50
to $190.
Sheep sold $25 to $71.
Steers, under 400 lbs., sold $81
to $95; 400 - 499 lbs., $89 to $122;
500 - 599 lbs., $90 to $122.50; 600
- 699 lbs., $85 to $111; 700 - 799
lbs., $85.50 to $103.50; 800 - 899
lbs., $86.50 to $106.50; and 900
lbs. and over, $85 to $104.50.
Heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold
$81.50 to $111; 400 - 499 lbs.,
$78.50 to $125; 500 - 599 lbs., $85
to $107; 600 - 699 lbs., $76.75 to
$99; 700 - 799 lbs., $81 to $97; 800
- 899 lbs., $88.75 to $100; and 900
lbs. and over, $75 to $97.50.
Plain stockers sold $40 to $55.
A Look at Agriculture
Plant Breeding and Genetic
Engineering; are they the same?
Ralph deVries, Crop Consultant
with Howson & Howson Ltd.
Biotechnology has been defined
as the use of living organisms, or
parts of living organisms, to create
new products. It has been
practised since the earliest days of
civilization: to breed and select
superior plants and animals, to use
enzymes to make cheese and to
use yeast to make bread.
Today, biotechnology is more
than these traditional techniques.
One of its more recent
developments, called "genetic
engineering," is receiving
increased attention. This technique
involves the transfer of genetic
material from one organism to
another, such as from a bacteria to
a plant.
Genetic engineering helps
scientists to do what was once
thought impossible: move genes,
the hereditary units of living
things, from one species such as
corn - two species that would
otherwise never breed.
To get an idea of how genetic
engineering works, start with
deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA for
short - the genetic material that is
the basis of all living organisms.
Imagine it as a long piece of
string. Living plants and animals
have many pieces of DNA.
The string is made of units
called genes. They contain
information that determines traits
like the shape of a leaf, the amount
of protein, or disease resistance in
a crop plant. To move these traits
from one organism to another,
scientists must first figure out
where they are specifically located
on the piece of string. The next
step is to locate and cut the genes
out so that they can be placed into
the DNA of another organism.
Finally, the scientist has to get
the gene to do what it is supposed
to do in its new home, what's
called "expressing" itself.
Genetic engineering, while
expensive and complicated,
provides a more precise way to
introduce new characteristics into
living things. This technique can
introduce new traits while keeping
other desirable traits the same in
the plant or animal.
Traditional breeding, on the
other hand, is not so precise. It can
lake as long as 12 to 15 years to
introduce new traits in some crops
when developing new varieties.
Using conventional methods, two
plants with different sets of
desirable characteristics are bred.
Plant scientists hope the resulting
plants will contain desirable traits
from both parent plants. In reality,
plants will contain a mixture of
desirable and undesirable
characteristics which can take
years to sort through.
As an example, traditional
breeding involves the mixing of
two barrels of stings; one red
while the other is blue. In the end
you will have an equal mix of red
and blue. For a plant breeder he
may only want one red sting that
gives him the disease resistance
and insert it into the blue barrel
with all the traits that he wants. He
now does not have to select out all
the traits that he doesn't want as is
required by traditional breeding.
Genetic engineering does not
replace traditional breeding. It
complements it by shortening the
time required to develop new
varieties.
Ip arm IN THE
CLASSIFIEDS Hard Maple or Ash
H. Johns hosts ag. salute
Ontario's multi-billion dollar a
year agriculture industry was
saluted and its achievements were
celebrated by MPPs at Queen's
Park launch of Agriculture and
Food Week in the province.
Farm leaders, representing every
agricultural organization and
commodity produced in the
province, along with 70 MPPs and
cabinet ministers were at the
legislature for the "Taste of
Ontario".
Helen Johns, MPP for Huron,
hosted the evening's events. Johns
called Ontario agriculture a success
story and praised the efforts of
farmers across the province.
"I remind my colleagues, that
with every possible opportunity we
should thank a farmer and
commend the hardworking agricul
tural community in Ontario for
their dedication to the industry and
their tremendous accomplish
ments," said Johns.
Ontario Federation of Agricul
ture, President Tony Morris said,
"This is an ideal opportunity to
Help fair child
to learn /
The movement lor active, healthy living
illustrate what farmers do best -
produce a wide variety of high
quality foods at the lowest cost in
the world."
TUESDAYS 9 a.m. Finished
Cattle & Cows
THURSDAYS 10:00 a.m. Bob Calves
Veals followed
by Goats
Sheep & Lambs
FRIDAYS 10:00 a.m. Stocker Cattle
1:00 p.m. Pigs
BRUSSELS 887-6461
SLABWOOD
Limited Time Offer
$130717 cu. yd. Truck Load
Delivered within 20 miles
Mileage charge Beyond That
We Also Have Body Wood ~ Call For Price!
S?Mardwoods L,d- SW-Stt-TUO
rtfs
Huron Feeding Systems
invites you to
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY
Friday, April 11/97
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Complimentary Lunch 12 noon
Grain Storage &
Stir Drying Seminar
April 10,10 a.m.* 2 p.m. at our shop In Brussels
Please call Debbie to make lunch reservations
Bus. 519-887-6289 Fax 519-887-9500
Joseph Seili