HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-On The Farm, 2004-03-18, Page 36PAUL COOK
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2004. PAGE A-15.
On the farm
Accurate ID
With the SQOC program
particularly beneficial for th
months of age. (Bonnie Gropp
Continued from A-14
a field rep with BIO. "He came to
visit and see my cow herd because his
job is to promote beef improvement.
He was impressed and asked what we
were doing."
Wheeler said, interestingly he was
already following much of the
protocal adopted for the SQOC
program. "I'm reluctant to say we
were ahead of our time, but I guess
we were. For example we had been
doing live vaccination for years, had
used qualified bulls, and did many of
the preparations for calves, such as
castration and de-horning."
To be on the SQOC program
Wheeler said some changes were
required. such as double vaccination.
now in spring and fall.
The reason for taking extra steps in
what was already a good operation is
simple. "I want to produce a really
good calf that I can sell and people
who see it would want to come and
buy back."
Wheeler explains it as good
business sense. "There is a severe
discount on your beef if you don't do
vaccination."
It is recommended that cattle be
given live vaccination before
breeding. Bovine Virus Diarrhea has
been a big problem on feedlots in the
past. The consensus now is that with
vaccination occuring before breeding
it passes a natural immunity on to the
animals can be identified right back to the date of birth. This is
e BSE issue as the border has only been open to animals under 30
photo)
calves. probably average $750. I tell my
The orange tag identifying SQOC, banker the cows are worth as much as
signifies that these calves are last year, if you don't make me sell
processed to the standards of the them."
program. What's important, said Wheeler, is
Part of that is the use of a BIO
evaluated bull. "They want to
encourage using good bulls so you
get the best calves you can get."
Wheeler, who also has a farm in the
Markdale area said one challenge is
the small operations: "In Grey and
Bruce Counties I often see little farms
with 15 or 20 cows on rougher
pasture. These people are working
off-farm, this is a sideline, not a
priority. We are still trying to
encourage them to upgrade the
quality of their beef."
Wheeler knows how to get that
quality. He has the number one cross-
bred bull in Ontario, an award from
BIO for the beef builder category
(inherited traits) and was picked for
the pick-of-the crop sale.
He does natural breeding with five
bulls.
His cattle are fed a roughage ration
and are raised outdoors. "They
actually don't like the barn, because
they know they're going to be
processed when we move them in
there."
But like everyone else in the
industry now, Wheeler is frustrated.
"My calves were getting $1,500 or
$1,600 apiece last year. This year, I' II
knowing that if he didn't have quality for this program," said Wheeler, "a
calves he'd be getting even less. "I'm chute and penning system. Good help
positive about the SQOC program makes the job so much easier too.
because these good calves sell at the In addition to some , seasonal
top of the market." • assistance, Wheeler's son Greg puts
Even though that top isn't what it
in countless hours helping his father.
should be, "it still pays to get on the "And right now he's pretty much
program. You want the quality. There working for nothing," said his dad.
are enough benefits to offset the extra
"Beef producers are demoralized.
costs."
But I still believe in this program.
The expense can .be a detriment to You want the quality. The irony is
small producers, particularly' now. that right now we are at the top of our
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