Huron Expositor, 2006-04-19, Page 16Page 16 April 19, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
News
Two new vaccines bring hope to p rk
producers battling losses- over PCV2
Crystal Stewart
11111111111111111111151.
Pork producers will soon have
their first shot of hope in battling
porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2),
linked to various clinical diseases
causing mortality rates to skyrocket
on some Ontario farms over the
past year.
The most devastating disease,
post -weaning multi systemic wast-
ing disorder (PMWS), was discov-
ered in Western Canada in the early
90s, but worsened in recent years.
It affects piglets around seven to -
15 weeks, often causing death. To a
lesser severity, reproductive failure
and dermatitis nephropathy syn-
drome (which is characterized by
skin and kidney lesions) have also
been linked to PCV2.
These diseases could be prevented
by two new vaccines targeting
PCV2, one showing promising
results in Europe where it has been
COUNTY OF HURON
CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT,
SCHEDULE B
BRIDGE REHABILITATIONS
2ND MANDATORY PUBLIC CONTACT - PHASE 2
NOTICE OF COMPLETION
To resolve the deterioration of a number of bridges, the County of Huron is proposing to
undertake repairs to the following bridges:
1) Summerhill Bridge, South Branch of the Maitland River, County Road 8, 7km
north of Clinton, Municipality of Central Huron, Geographic Township of
Goderich, Concession 17, Lot 14
2) Shepherds Bridge, Tributary to South Branch of the Maitland River, County
Road 8, 9.8km north of.Clinton, Municipality of Central Huron, Geographic
Township of Goderich, Maitland Concession, Lot 64
3) Former CPR Railway Bridge, Huron County Structure No. 25-20.8, County
Road 251.5 kin west of Blyth Geographic Township of North Huron, Concession 1,
-Lot 40.
4) Belgrave Bridge, Belgrave Creek, County Road 20, 0.2 km west of Belgrave,
Township of North -Huron, Geographic Township of East Wawanosh, Concession 8-
9, Lot 42
5) Dyers Bridge No 2547.1, Blyth Brook, County Road 25, 5.4 km east of Auburn,
Township of North -Huron, Geographic'Ibwnship of East Wawanosh, Concession 1,
Lots 34-35
6) Bridge No 30-8.7, Tributary to Lakelet Creek, 1 km north of Highway 87,
Township of Howick, Concession 9, Lots 20-21.
7) Bridge No 30-9.3, Tributary to Lakelet Creek, 1.6 km north of Highway 87,
Township of Howick, Concession 10, Lots 20-21
8) Bridge No. 30-10.2, Tributary to Lakelet Creek, 2.6 km north of Highway 87,
Geographic Township of Howick, Concession 11, Lots 20-21
This work is planned to be completed by Fall 2006.
The project is being planned under Schedule B of the Municipal Class
Environmental Assessment. Subject to comments received as a result of this Notice,
and the receipt of necessary approvals, the County of Huron intends to proceed with the
design and construction of these projects. The project plans and other information are
available at the Goderich Public Library, 52 Montreal Street, Goderich, ON N7A 2G4.
Interested persons should provide written comment to the County on the proposal within
30 calendar days from the date of this Notice. Comment should be directed care of Mr.
Scott Davis, Totten Sims Hubicki Associates, 72 Victoria St. S. #202, Kitchener, Ontario,
N2G 4Y9.
If concerns arise regarding this project, which cannot be resolved in discussion with the
• County, a person or party may request that the Minister of the Environment make an
order for the project to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act, which
addresses individual environmental assessments. Requests must be received by the
Minister at the address below within 30 calendar days of this Notice. A copy of the
request must also be sent to the County Engineer care of the above noted address. If
there is no request received by May 19, 2006 the bridge repairs will proceed to design and
construction as presented in the planning documentation.
Minister of the Environment
135 St. Clair Avenue .
10th Floor, Toronto, ON M4V 1P5
This notice issued April 19, 2006
Don Pletch, County Engineer
County of Huron
used for a year.
The vaccines have been approved
by the Canadian Food Inspection
:Agency as an emergency drug
release - meaning farmers can apply
to use the vaccines even though the
approval process hasn't been fully
completed.
A survey of swine vets done' by the
University of Guelph last fall, found
one quarter of Ontario farms are
affected with the clinical diseases,
where mortality ranges range from
five to 40 per cent.
Bob Friendship, a professor in the
Department of Population Medicine
at the school, says circovirus is
actually present everywhere.
"One hundred per cent of pigs and
100 per cent of farms have it," says
Friendship, adding they don't know
yet why some are affected by it and
others not.
"Something has changed and
that's where the controversy is," he
adds, saying there is still much
unknown about PCV2, and debate
about what is actually causing the
increase in swine mortality.
It could be several things, includ-
ing an unidentified strain of PCV2
or another infection acting with it
and triggering the diseases.
Whatever it is, it's causing a lot of
grief for pork producers who are
already struggling to get by with
market prices at 20 to 30 cents per
kilogram below the break-even
point.
Seaforth veterinarian Kevin
Vilaca has seen firsthand the
impact on Huron County and other
area farms.
He says if the vaccines work, it's
just another cost added to produc-
tion.
"Guys are bragging about their
death losses - more than about how
well they're doing," says Vilaca,
adding he has seen losses between
10 to 30 per cent on affected farms.
He's already in the process of
obtaining one of the vaccines, given
to sows to provide protection to
nursing piglets.
"We've applied for it just because
there are herds that are getting hit
quite heavily," says Vilaca. "I think.-
a lot of people are putting their
faith in these vaccines when we
don't really know how they're going
to perform."
"It is a significant economic los for
those farmers," says Keith Robbins,
director of communications and
marketing for Ontario Pork
Producers.
"This is once again just another
hit to the pork sector. It's almost
like another blow."
Friendship says Ontario farmers
are somewhat lucky though,
because Europe has been dealing
with PCV2 for almost a decade,
meaning quicker access to vaccines.
"We're not near having this one
solved," says Friendship, adding
whether the vaccines are a solution
will be discovered "quickly enough."
Scoreboard
BOWLING
St. James
April 10
Ladies high single: Julie Geddes 234
Ladies high triple: Julie Geddes 673
Ladies. over 200: Julie Geddes 234, 208, 231;
Joanne Lemke 206, 214; Faye Dalrymple 208.
Ladies over 600: Julie Geddes 673
Men's high single: Mark Higenell 310
Men's high triple: Mark Higenell 672
Men over 200: Mark Higenell 310, Gary
Huston 275; Geo. Love 270, 201; Brad
Shortreed 243; Lyle Haney 212, 225; Bob
Dinsmore 216.
Men over 600: Mark Higenell 672; Lyle Haney
626; Gary Huston 625; Geo. Love 617.
Standings: Colts 10395; Marlins 10231;
Vikings 10161; Ravens 9968; Eagles 9435;
Dolphins 9380.
Intertown
Geo. Love led Seaforth with 266, 233, 256 -
1100; Geo. Johnston -228, 266, 207-1073; Bob
Dinsmore 214, 220, 215, 237-1070; Don Elliott
212, 249, 245-1041; Gary Huston 212, 257-
1028.
Standings: Molesworth 2-123; St. Marys -122;
Molesworth 1-121; Seaforth-92 1/2; Molesworth
3-77 1/2; Mt. Forest -51.
•
KIPPEN GUN CLUB
•
April 12
Don Butson 24, Jordan Ritchie 24, Chuck
Krieger 24, Ernie Marshall 23, Jim Hill 22,
Kirk Krieger 21, Brittany Caldwell 20, Mike
Smith 19, Tom Jackson 19, Glen Mogk 18,
Garrett Alexander 18, Chris McGregor 17, Jake
Homuth 17.
1