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Times-Advocate, 1987-11-04, Page 184 Page 6A Times -Advocate, November 4, 1987 Modern moulding improves on calf hutch idea By Mark Bisset Of the 85 calves Zurich farmer Larry Merner had in his herd three years ago, 40 died before they were 12 weeks old. Since December 1, 1986, Merner's farm has produced 64 calves and all but one, which was unhealthy at birth, have survived. Those 64 calves have been raised in "Plastic Dome Nurseries", manufactured in Exeter by Dan Brie Industries. - For a number of years, dairy farmers have known that isolating new-born calves in small individual structures reduced fatalities substan- tially. Away from the rest of the herd, they are less susceptible to contagious diseases. They develop faster and re- quire few antibiotics to keep them healthy. But individual hutches, originally built of plywood, presented problems. Too cold .in the winter, calves often succumbed to frostbite, hypothermia and pneumonia, and farmers were forced to spend long hours out in sub- zero 'weather caring for the isolated animals. The plastic dome nurseries have changed that. Merner decided to try the domes after that disastrous season when nearly 50 percent of his calves were wiped out. Since then he has gone from losing an average of 20 calves per year, to losing almost none. "As far as I'm concerned, they paid for themselves in the first year," he said. In fact, Merner says the success he's had with the domes has given him a new problem. "The barn is getting kind of full now with the cattle around because I haven't lost any." The dome nurseries are made of polyethylene, a translucent plastic which allows sunlight to .enter, creating a "green -house effect". Weighing roughly 120dbs., each is 60 inches high, 88 inches in diameter and can be easily moved from one place to another. Equipped with an adjustable air vent, a removable feed bucket holder, two pails and a bottle holder, the plastic domes reduce the farmer's labour substantially. "It takes about five minutes to feed them chop and then the milk takes about 10 minutes, and straw they get just once a week," Merner explains. Like many dairy farmers, he knew the advantages of isolating the calves, but until the domes came along, he felt hutches were too time-consuming to be practical. Merner puts new-born calves into the plastic domes just six hours after they are born, making sure they are ECONOMY HOUSING - Zurich Former tarry Merner bottle-feeds a pair of calves housed in a plastic dome calf nursery which was pro- duced in Exeter by Dan Brie Industries. By isolating the animals the Need more details nurseries substantially reduce the fatality rate of calves during the 'irst 12 weeks of life. Federation of Agriculture demands free trade discussion The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is demanding informa- tion on the free trade agreement with the U.S. in time to allow meaningful discussion by Ontario farmers. OFA president Brigid Pyke says, "We can't assess the impact without more details. What's been decided? What has been left to further discussion? Farmers are frustrated that three full weeks after the announcement of the agreement, they are still in the dark on many of the agricultural specifics." The OFA has repeatedly stated its conditional support for trade negotia- tions which would: establish effective trading rules and dispute -settling mechanisms; maintain market ac- cess for Canadian agricultural pro- ducts; and, reduce international trade subsidies. Reviewing the trade agreement as known at this point, the OFA com- ments that, on the one hand, the pro- posed agreement provides for duty- free movement of products both ways. It maintains the board marketing systems and GATT ap- proved import controls.. The agree - CBC crew follows fair A CBC television film crew recent- ly followed a Westbrn Ontario fall fair exhibitor for close to 40 hours as she prepared and participated in fair competitions. Pearl Nowack of Mitchell will be highlighted in a CBC program to be shown on Channel 5 in Toronto on November 9 at 7 p.m. Also shown in the film will be Dolores Shapton and Cathy Seip of Exeter who were judges for several of the categories entered by Mrs. "owack. ment proposes to facilitate more secure market access, notably for trade in livestock and red meats. However, on the other hand, the OFA is particularly concerned about the effectiveness of the dispute - settling mechanism and the fact that existing U.S. trade remedy law ap- pears unaffected by the agreement. Pyke says, "The explanations given to date are vague. The proposed bi national panel appears to be one more step tacked onto an already lengthy process. Canadian red meats or other food exports may still be subjected to extended perios of harassment." The OFA is also concerned with the government's agreement to phase out the tariffs on fruits and vegetables entering Canada over the next five or ten years. Pyke says, "It is unlikely that many segments of the Ontario horticultural industry can remain viable without this seasonal protec- tion. If the American producers have a bumper crop and are allowed to dump low-priced produce onto our market, the Canadian industry is history." Poultry producers will be affected by the government's agreement to ex- pand import quotas. Pyke questions, "Is this round one in an overall plan to erode the supply management system to the point where it will no longer provide any protection for Canadian producers'?" The OFA wants to see the "fine print" of the trade agreement in time to allow Ontario farmers to present their views before the deal is signed. "I find it astonishing that the federal government has not yet provided details on such key points as the dispute -settling mechanism. We would also like to see their analysis of the long-term implications of this deal on the Canadian economy, par- ticularly the agriculture sector." Canadian agriculture makes a significant contribution to trade each year. In Ontario, agriculture is se- cond only to forestry in its contribu- tion to net trade. Pyke says, "One out of every five people in the province is employed by the agri-food industry. Therefore, the economic health of the agricultural industry is vital to our continued prosperity." BEST RECRUITERS — Bill Storey of Central Huron and Rob Hoffman, Dashwood receive awards from Huron 4-H leaders president Adriaan Brand for recruiting the most new members. T -A photo New farmers get. financial assistance ` The Honourable Jack Riddell, Minister, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, recently an- nounced a new program called On- tario Farm -Start that will help new TObDLERS INN HALLOWE'EN Dressing up for a party were Toddlers Inn Stacey Snow, Mork Knip, Maggie Steciuk and Jeff Beaver. nursery school students T -A photo 1 farmers become established. Farm -Start becomes effective as of January 1, 1988 and will replace the current Beginning Farmer Assistance Program which has been in place since 1983 and due to expire December 31, 1987. To be eligible for Farm -Start an ap- plicant must: Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and have lived in Ontario at least five years. Be a beginning farmer, i.e. never owned a viable farm or never spent the majority of time or earned the majority of income farming assets over which he/she has had control by leasing, renting, owning, etc. Have equity in farm assets between 10% and 75%. Have agricultural education, ex- perience or combination thereof suf- ficient to operate a successful farm business. Become a bona fide farmer, i.e. on an accrual basis, generate a signifi- cant contribution to family living before considering Farm -Start or other temporary grants. All persons sharing a prinicpal residence are considered to be one en- tity for the purposes of this program. A total grant of $38,000,wilI be paid over a seven year period to eligible participants. Applications will be ac- cepted beginning January 1, 1988 and will continue to be accepted until December 31, 1992. You will apply through your local Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food office. Ap- plication forms are expected to arrive in early December. For further details regarding (his program, please contact your local OMAF'-office. mobile and completely dry. They re- main in the hutches for 12 weeks. The plastic domes also make good financial sense in terms of drugs. "It used to cost a fortune for drugs," he • says. "We used to vaccinate them about seven times. Now they just get one shot." Merner uses only "RBR" or Triangle three on new-born calves. If "They pay for themselves in the first year." a problem occurs with n isolated calf, steps can easily taken to remedy it. "Before, if they got sick, most of them would die, but now you just give them a shot,. and usually they're okay," Merner notes. The healthier animals develop quickly and draw higher prices at market. Proper drainage is also a key to "I can veal a calf about a month and a half sooner too because they get a good start." The domes are designed to be mov- ed to a different location each time a new calf is isolated, reducing the danger of contamination. Because they are plastic, they can be easily sterilized before the next calf goes in. success, according to Merner, who has 17 domes lined up in two rows on a raised gravel surface. Recently Merner found that he had more calves than hutches and decid- ed to put two animals in one dome, reasoning that if they were left in the barn, they'd likely die anyway. The animals survived. "I wouldn't advise it, but in a pinch, you can do it," Merner says, adding that he plans to buy more plastic domes rather than expand his barns. Only producers in Canada The idea of a plastic dome nursery originated in the United Stales with a company called Poly Dome but it was brought to Canada by Dan Brie Industries, .which continues to be the only Canadian dome manufacturer. Frank Zawalsky, owner and operator of Dan Brie, says that his company began looking into the pro- spect after several local farmers made requests for the domes. "We looked at it for two years ac- tually, and decided that yes, there could be a market there," Zawalsky says. "With the Canadian dollar be- ing what it is, we decided to go with it." A number of modifications, originally suggested by Canadian farmers (one of them Larry Merner) were made to the American model. Using a process of rotational moulding, Dan Brie started produc- tion. Though the product was launch- ed late in the season, 200 nurseries were sold the first year. Zawalsky ex- pects to sell between 400-500 domes this year. Now pork and sheep producers are considering the use of the nurseries. "As farmers become more aware of their usefulness, their sales should increase," Zawalsky predicts. "1 think ( the market will) grow for the next few years anyway -- either until something better comes along or until we reach a saturation point." Dan Brie has plastic dome distributors in Quebec and Saskat- chewan, but Zawalsky notes that the American Poly Dome company is too huge to compete with in the U.S. market at this point. The size and shape of the domes is also prohibitive when it comes to exporting them world-wide. But in Canada, the market is good for the domes. "They're being used, and they work", Zawalsky says. "I've never heard from a farmer that says: 'hey, you wasted my money." HITACHI - LOW PRICES - LIMITED QUANTITIES • TVs 14", 20", 26", 28" STEREO • VCR's - CAMCORDERS • STEREOS - COMPONENTS SURROUND SOUND BUY OR RENT TO OWN Sales , Service, Installations, • Free Deliveries CALL Alien AUDIO & VIDEO Main St. Exeter LARRY SMITH 235-1520 Thedford 296-5565 SWITCH TO WHERE THE SMART MOI IEY IS GETTING MORE INTEREST .. , and watch your savings grow! Get higher daily interest than the banks offer. Plus: • special bonus rates on accounts over 83,000 • 850 and 825 cash bonus for transfer from another findncial institution • free chequing privileges on balances over 8500 • choice of Passbook or Monthly Statement. STANDARD TRUST \tcmtx•r - ( [klx( °montI nn 386 Main Street S., Exeter. 235-1060 • Over 514 Billion in osv 1t • Sennny over 150.000 Conodons notion -wide