The Rural Voice, 2000-06, Page 39With the new database, there will now be a convenient place for producers to go to get information like the research
done on the Nuertingen kennel housing system (left) at the University of Guelph. It means producers building new
barns (right) will have information to look at potential changes to standard plans.
Ontario Pork to bring together
research on a particular topic. It will
be modeled on the Environmental
Issues Resource Centre created by
the Prairie Swine Centre. Ontario
Pork was a major funder of that effort
to bring together all the research on
environmental issues into one
location. This website contains a
review of scientific literature and
legislation dealing with intensive
livestock units and their relationship
with the environment. Users can
choose to read a chapter summarizing
each of the 14 issue areas identified,
or they can conduct their own
research using the database. Searches
can be conducted by subject or key
words to identify the more than 500
scientific references used in the
development of the site.
Because of that success, Ontario
Pork is working with the Prairie
Swine Centre again on this project.
The earlier development work will
make it easier to put together this
site. It's expected the new site will be
up and running by October.
As well as OFAC, the Canadian
Animal Health Institute, the
University of Guelph, OMAFRA and
the Ontario Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animalall
became involved in the proje—Lt
Hugh Coghill, senior inspector
with the OSPCA was delighted to be
asked to be involved. His group has
worked closely with the livestock
industry in the past on such issues as
the transportation of non-ambulatory
livestock , he says and have a very
good relationship. The group made a
financial contribution toward the
project. As well, once the website is
up and running, people will be able
to link to it from the OSPCA's
website.
Coghill is excited by the fact the
site will contain scientific
information on animal welfare.
Sometimes people react on an
emotional "gut" response to a
situation instead of basing decisions
on real facts, he says. Some people
don't like the idea that pigs are
confined, he says, but people who
know the facts know that there is
increased aggression when pigs are in
a competitive situation. Sometimes
confinement is preferable to violence
between pigs.
MacKay admits that the internet
site isn't the answer for everyone
who wants to gain information.
Currently only about 20 per cent of
pork producers have signed up for
the opportunity to get individualized
production reports over the internet
b;,t more farmers all the time are
getting hooked up to the internet she
says.
Ballentine too is cautious about
the impact of the new service. "It's
just another little piece," she says,
though it will be an important piece.
The initial information on the site
will be available for those who need
a hard copy instead of getting it over
the internet, but the beauty of the
website is that it can be regularly
updated inexpensively, as opposed to
reprinting a hard copy.
One of the benefits of the program
has been getting people to work
together. Coghill hopes there can be
more understanding and co-
operation. He expressed frustration
with the confusion on many farmers'
parts between animal welfare and
extreme animal rights groups. "I
think it's a tragedy that producers
haven't taken the time to find out the
difference," he says.
The OPSCA s concerned with
animal welfare, he says. It has been
given a great deal of power to help
protect animals from abuse. "We are
not an animal rights organization," he
says.
Producers have the greatest stake
in animal welfare, Coghill says.
Well-treated animals will produce the
most efficiently. Most farmers take
good care of their animals, it's the
small minority that both the OSPCA
and other producers should be
concerned about. He urges all
livestock producers to work with
their local SPCA.
Perhaps the new project can help
bridge the kind of gap Coghill
mentions. If it helps make farmers
aware of the most recent scientific
research and helps non -farmers see
that many farming practices aren't
cruel, it will start improving
communications.0
JUNE 2000 35