Loading...
The Rural Voice, 1993-03, Page 12can-con itio wYNtEm1 Rd P S w•r�,� , /1� GESTATION STALLS • Square w/Feeder • Sloped w/o Feeder • Gates Frt. & Rear • Rear Gate Has Deflector "Price Is Right, They Stand Up Well" FLOORING - FILTER EEZE - PUNCHED METAL SLATS Also Available - Rotary Feeders - Dry Sow Stalls - Feed Carts - Filter Eeze Flooring - Plumbing Supplies • Farrowing Crates - Plastic & Stainless Steel Feeders A division of Steve's Welding R. R. 1, Newton, Ont., NOK 1R0 519-595-8387 WE WANT YOUR GRAIN! Corn Soybeans Feed Grains Quality Oats Damaged Grains CASH & FORWARD CONTRACTS Call us today for Quotes Dave Gordon Elizabeth Armstrong Richard Smibert Ian Carter london agricultural commodities, inc. 1112 HYDE PARK ROAD HYDE PARK, ONTARIO NOM 1ZO 519-473-9333 Toll -Free (519) 1-800-265-1885 (416-705) 1-800-265-1874 8 THE RURAL VOICE Adrian Vos All about pork There are some things in the marketing of hogs of the "A" pool that are costing those pork producers who do market their hogs through the usual channels some money. The best, or most desired, hogs are taken off the market through the A pool. The less desirable hogs from these farmers are ship- ped and calculated in the regular pool. It doesn't take a genius to see that packers — who must take all hogs from the pool — will pay a lower average price to the pool to compensate for that higher percentage of less desirable hogs. This means all Ontario pork producers subsidize the shippers in the A pool. * * * Dr. Tim Blackwell, who works for OMAF in Fergus cautioned pork pro- ducers at the recent Swine Research Update at Centralia College to not let American hogs into Canada until pseudorabies is completely eradicated in the U.S. Pseudorabies can devastate hog farms and is readily spread through equipment and live hogs. Blackwell said that the virus can spread through the air as well. When I was still a director on the OPPMB, any trucks that took hogs to the U.S. were cleaned and disinfected at the border. I assume that this still is the case. What worries me is that in some cases Ontario producers are allowed to ship hogs from their farm directly to American packers. If these farmers are responsible, they will also carefully clean and disinfect their trucks before returning to their farm. The question is, who supervises this pract- ice? If it is done, where does the clean- ing take place? At the border or at the last concession before re-entering the farm? The restriction of live imports from the U.S. is not just another non -tariff barrier. If pseudorabies ever enters Canada we might lose several export markets for pork products as well. Blackwell believes that present safe- guards to keep pseudorabies out of Ca- nada are inadequate and could be fur- ther weakened when the NAFTA is im- plemented. Even now there is no restri- ction on importation of infected equip- ment; another caution for farmers who pick up used equipment in the U.S. Pork producers should press the OPPMB to resist imports of U.S. hogs until they are certified free of pseudo- rabies for at least two years. Even imports from certified free states that must travel through affected states should not be acceptable. Most people, including farmers, with the possible exception of tobacco farmers, agree that smoking is bad for your health and leads to a greater risk of getting heart disease or cancer, especially lung cancer. At the same time, most meat producers deny the dangers of meat through the ingestion of saturated fat. There is, however, enough statistical evidence that saturated fat, like tobacco, contributes to heart disease and cancer. The slim fashion also demands less fat because of its high energy and hence its propensity to move the fat from the meat to the flesh. A small amount doesn't appear to be harmful, but the taste is in the fat, so we often override our common sense and sop up the last of the fat from our plate. The food industry has accepted that the public wants food with a lower fat content and generally farmers have responded. The pig is a prime example. According to Tom Smith, the affable chairman of the Canadian Pork Council, the fat content of pork, chicken and fish is now equal. Beef recipes from the beef association advise broiling the meat and letting the fat drain away. Individual farmers will do well to stop denying the dangers of fat and follow the example of their leaders and promote their meat as low in fat. * * * In last month's column I mixed HDL and LDL. The HDL is beneficial, the LDL is not. My apologies.0 Adrian Vos, from Huron County has contributed w The Rural Voice since its inception in 1975. He is a writer and raises exotic birds on the farm where he raised pigs for many years.