HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-02-14, Page 28Ti.01
SPAY,.
BRUAR1 1980
Shestood in front of mord than 250 hog farmers from
the two Biggest hog producing, counties in Ontario. •
-.She was attractive;.articulate and enthusiastic, her
.eyes flashing and her'.swept-back•hair gleamingin-the ,
artificial light. ,
And she told some of the best hog -producers in this
country a few things that maybe they didn't know.
Ten years ago, Bev Brown and Jean Moorby were
secretaries in Toronto, both working in dead-end jobs,
upwardly immobile, at a packaging plant. They were
tired of it. They took achance.
Today they are running one of the.. best -- if not the
best -- hog farms in Canada. Certainly, it is one of the
most sncc-essful-ht Canada.
They left behind the office and its politics, the petty
bickering, the stifling atmosphere of Toronto and the
frustrations of urban life. They bought a hog farm in
Huron County near the little village of Bluevale where
the biggest industry is the town pump,
Bev is the extrovert. Jean is the quiet member of the
duo. Between them, they have established a farm with
the most enviable health record in the herd of any in
Canada. Their breeding stock is in great demand and
is already sold out until next summer.
As some readers of this deathless prose are aware,
the writer is asked to speak on many occasions at
farm meetings. I have seen Bev Brown and Jean
Mhorby half a dozen times. The first time, I thought
they were farmers' Wives. I mean, who•would picture
a couple of attractive, middle-aged women running
their own hog farm?
I soon learned differently. Not long ago, I was a
panel member in Blyth when the local federation hept-
a discussion on farming and the press. Bev Brow ,
although never domineering, asked some of the most
intelligent questions of the panel in a charming yet
forthright manner that endeared her to the panel and
the entire gathering.
The secret of their success is cleanliness. Their
barn, from all reports • I have heard, is as clean as their
Loner; 3'e app ec.atea by Bob 'Nolte, EIdaIe Rd E,''"a On, N38 2%7
I
kitchen maybe cleaner because they enjoy working
in the barn more than in the kitchen. One neighboring
hog: producer told me he would not flinch if •-he had to
eat off the barn floor,when.they are finished scrubbing
and disinfecting. The floors are absolutely sterile.
They take not only a broom but a vacuum cleaner to
their barn. They use pressure hoses and even steel
wool when they scrub out about once a year when the
feeder barn is cleared.
They proudly point to the fact that they have never
had a trace of either virus pneumonia or rhinitis,
common hog diseases. '
And when they hear about TGE, a common disease
whielr d1is young jugs, they even stop the feedtruckif
it has come from other deliveries and disinfect the
wheels with a spray bomb before allowing the driver
to approach the feed bins.
Not only do they disinfect the barn, they take care to
clean and disinfect shovels and forks. Manure forks,
that is.
At an OFA meeting some years ago, Bev was talking'
to a small group during a coffee break.
"We don't even go into the barn without a change of
clothes," she laughed. "We have foot baths of disin-
fectant all over the place. If doctors and nurses in
hospitals are so finicky about keeping things sterile,
why shouldn't we do the - same thing? We're dealing
with animals who are more susceptible to disease than
children!"
The theories of these two transplanted city dwellers
have proven correct although they admit, candidly,
that it has been a struggle.
They have joined a fraternity who are the salt of the
earth. They are part of a group who have a way of life
that is often the envy. of nature -starved city:dwellers.
One look at the open, healthy faces of Bev Brown
and Jean Moorby tells the viewer that they have never
re rettedneav�__n_g To.nonto.-fornanhog.--fa>rrrL...tm.I3urmi_
County.
Bless 'em. They are a great addition to`"the farm
community.
The Ontario Hereford Association recently elected
Its 1980 Board of Directors at its annual meeting
held in Peterborough. Pictured Left to right, back
row, are Edgar Cornish, RR1 Indian River; Cyril
Cook, RR5 Barrie; Dr. R. J. Watson, Lindsay;
Keith Coates, RR1 Centralia; George Alexander,
Brussels and Earl McEachern, RR4 Glencoe; left
to right, front row, are Mack James, RRI Carleton
Place; Tom Somers. (president), RR1 Beetoh;
Philip Schleihauf, RR2 Rodney and John Slaght,
(secretary -manager), Langton. Missing is Dave
Hasson, RR1 Ariss.
Soya -bean chairman elected
Donald Lumley, RR3
Iona Station has been
elected Chairman of the
....O.n-t.a.r i o--._-S..o-y a -_..Bea n
Growers' - Marketing
Board succeeding .Peter
H. Epp of RR5
Leamington.
John McEachren, RR4
Glencoe was elected to
the office of first Vice-
`` Chairman and. , Bernard
Calhoun, RR2 Essex as
second vice-chairman.
CLAY -
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Cleaners
..Stabling
Log Elevators
Llquld,Manure
Equipment
Hog Equipment
BUTLER —
Silo Unlooders
Feeders
Conveyors'
FARMATIC —
Mi'IIs
Augers, etc.
. ACORN —
Cleaners
Heated Waterers
WESTEEL-ROSCO
Granaries
e & L - Hog Panelling
LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS
RR 1, Kincardine, Ont.
Phone 39S-5286
Your Career in
AGRICULTURE
* Farming • Farm Managers Agribusiness
Consider Centralia College of Agricultural Technology
• two year diploma courses
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(519) 228-6691
e herds
nuni ize drseases
Ontarios.win.e
producers are looking for
new ways• to improve
efficiency, and one
concept that is expected
to becor a popular in the
1980s is the closed swine
herd. .
"The goal of the closed
herd concept is to,
minimize exposure of the
herd to diseases," says
Richard Srnelski, Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture
and Food Swine
Specialist. -
"Disease is -the number
one concern of swine
producers," he says. "On
the average, disease
costs producers about 10
percent of their annual
profits, and in some cases
these lossescan run as
high as` 3510 40 percent."
True closed herds do
not allow new live
animals to enter the herd,
with the exception of
cesarean-bbrn animals.
Before the develqpment
Of swine artificial in.-
semi,nat.ion (Al), the
closed herd concept was
not practical. However,
now that swine semen is
readily available in
Ontario, the closed herd
concept can be practiced
more easily in purebred
and comndercial swine
operations. ,
To make a closed -swine
herd system worka
producer needs a healthy
swine herd, and the
ability to artificially
inseminate sows.
Ministry swine
specialists are working
with producers to adapt
this concept to present
operations.
"Disease is becoming,a
greater concern to
producers because of the
larger operations and
more confined animal
housing," says Mr.
Smelski. "Modern
producers have more to
lose . than their
predecessors.
Swine diseases, such as
transmissible
gastroenteritis (TGE)
and Herophilus
peneumonia have high
mortality rates. A
producer could lose- 1.0
percent of the herd to one
disease, and for every pig
that dies, there are 15 to
20 sick pigs that cost
producers money in poor
feed conversion and
medical treatment.
There are very few
closed herds operating in
Ontario now; however,
many producers are
taking the first steps
toward closing their
herds by purchasing
boars or -replacements
from only one breeder.
Knowing the origin and
state of health of new
stock is the ,first step in
controlling disease• in the
herd.
Junior Farmers hold games
Junior Farmer -ac-
tivjities -aren't limited to
the summer months. One
of their largest annual
events is the Provincial
Winter Games which will
be held this year on
February 16.
In the spirit of co-
operation and 0 com-
petition, more than. 500 - Agriculture. and Food;
Junior warmers—from---Lester-L&nghurst7- E-lgitr-
across the province will County Warden; and
participate in the 1980 Mayor Don Hitch of St.
Thomas will help Junior
Farmer dignitaries of-
ficially, open the 1980
games. The ceremony
will be held at the St.
Thomas Curling Club at -
8:30 a.m.
province's- Junior Far-.
mer population live about
a two ,pdnehalf hour
drive from here."
Federal agriculture
minister John Wise;
MPP Ron McNeil, -
parliamentary assistant
to Lorne Henderson,
Ontario Minister of
games, •hosted by the
Elgin County Junior
Farmers.
"We are expecting •a
record.. -turnout ....for the
1980 games," says Dave
Jenkins, co-chairman of
the event. "St. Thomas is
located -at ono end of -the -
largest Junior Farmer
zones, and between 50
and 75 percent of the
The games feature
men.'s,.-. wom.en. 5..._. a.n.d.
mixed competitions in
basketball, volleyball,
badminton, curling and
bowling. The locations for
the events are the
. following: for basketball,
Central Elgin Collegiate `
Institute; for volleyball
and badminton, YMCA
Complex,; for curling, St.
Thomas Curling Club;
and for bowling, St.
Thomas -Bowling Lanes.
Participants in the games
qualifiedwinninlocal
county and zone com-
petitions: Winning teams
will be presented with
Junior •Farmer
medallions.
This provincial event is
one of the many activities
sponsored by the Junior
Farmers Associatpaon of
Ontario for its 7000
members, who range in
age from... 15 to 30. The.
public is welcome to
attend the games, free of
charge.
Farm conference to: be held
The Farm Safety
�•xA s•s-e•e�,a-t-i e•rl___:..-w
holding its Seventh
Annual Conference at the
Cara Inn, 6257 Airport
Road, Mississauga on
March 10, 1980.
The program for this.
year's Conference will
centre on rural health
concerns, particularly as
they relate Ito the , farii i
workplace.
Dr. Olga Crocker, an
expert on stress from the over the inquest into the
-Cilli varsity --oL -W itxdso.r,__ tri pie silage ganfa to li t i e c
will speak on stress and in Gananoque in 1977.
how it affects the farm
family.
Dr. Brian Tunnicliffe, a
rural family doctor from
Gananoque; -will give his
personal views on
specific rural health
problems in Ontario. Of
interest, is the fact that
Dr. Tunnicliffe is the
Coroner who . presided
Take one toiay
for a better
tomorrow.
An apple a day may keep the
doctor away but a Victoria and
Grey RASP can help safeguard
your financial health, now and
in the future.
Talk to us about it soon.
How about tomorrow?
VICTORIA
A NDjj��GREY
�V S 1
Contact us in Goderich at:
100 Kingston St• 524-7381
Member Canada Deposit insurance Corpotation
A. For sate
APPROX. 750 bales
straw. ,king.. 7.5 cents
bale. If one buyer takes
all will sell cheaper.
Phone 482-3340.--7-9X
C. Wanted
WANTED TO RENT:
Crop land in Colborne,
Goderich and Ashfield
Townships. Top dollar
paid for top land: Call
Steve Buchanan,
Goderich 524-
4700.-38tfnc
A. For sale
3,000 B ATIE.S of • alfalfa
hay, conditioned, with no -
rain. First. and second
cutting starting at $1.25.
Phone 524-4350,-=6.9
Q. Livestock
FOR SALE: Service age
Hamp, York, Hamp x
York and York x Lan-
drace boars. Also York x
Landrace gilts. Bob
Robinson, RR4 Walton,
345-2317.-6.8 . .
J.J. (Jim) MULHERN
INSURANCE
- Protection for Farmers -
FuII Fire & Floater Coverage to Buildings, Contents.
Livestock & Equipment
Loss of Earnings Income Coverage
Farm Comprehensive Liability
• - also -
Life & Disability Coverage
46 West Street
Goderich, Ontario
Representing: Howick Farmers Mutual Fire Ins. Co.
524®7878
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PHONE - 565=2990
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MURRAY
RDIFF
ROCHURON BRUCE
ON
FEB. 18
VOTE
CARDIFF MURRAY
For ...the allowance of a spouses wage as a tax deducttofit'`
in family business and farms.
...the removal of capital gains tax on the sale of farm
land.
.-.increased tax exemptions for volunteer firemen.
For information call:
CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS Toll Free -1-800-265-7001
MURRAY CARDIFF RESIDENCE -887-6884
or your local
- MURRAY CARDIFF CAMPAIGN OFFICE.
,Cp
Published under the authority of the Official Agent for Murray Cardiff Headquarters, Main St., Brussels
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