The Rural Voice, 1996-06, Page 20HERE TO STAY
Arguments abound as to whether the impact of three -site production
will be good or bad for farmers and the rural community
but most agree the system is here to stay
By Bob Reid
aranoia and progress appear to be going hand in hand
p
with the latest development in the pork industry,
three -site production. There is general agreement
that breaking up the production cycle into farrowing,
nursery and finishing units has improved animal health and
increased rate of gain. At the same time there is concern
among some farmers that this innovation could be the wolf
of corporate farming disguised in sheep's clothing.
The cost of erecting the specialized buildings runs
around $160 per pig place for the nurseries that take the
two-week old pigs and $255 for finishing barns. Facilities
holding 1,000 to 1,400 are common on this all -in, all-out
system which multiplies to a considerable investment,
especially after the cost of feed and livestock are calculated
in.
Early weaning produces growth results, but at what cost"'
16 THE RURAL VOICE
Helping shoulder that cost, or controlling part of the
production cycle, depending on one's point of view, are the
companies supplying the feed. Those welcoming the
increased involvement from the feed companies describe it
as a partnership that has gone a long way to stabilize what
has traditionally been a volatile business.
Those that feel uneasy with the relationship suggest it is
leading to control of the industry by the few giant
corporations the feed mills on the rural roads are associated
with. The all -in, all-out method of pork production docs
strike a close similarity to broiler production, nearly half of
which is controlled by one company in the United States,
where three -site production originated.
But few pork producers dispute that three -site
production is a major crossroads in their industry.
Currently less than 10 per cent of pork production in
Ontario comes from the three -site system or production
loops but that will likely climb to over 15 per cent within
two years, said Ron Coghlin, owner of Molesworth Farm
Supply and Synergy Swine.
Affiliated with the Purina feed company, he has been in
the feed business for 19 years. Unlike some feed
companies who chose to keep a low profile on their
involvement with three -site production for fear of backlash
among customers, he is quite frank.
Synergy Swine was set up to help generate some
predictable feed tonnage, explained Coghlin. It began by
selling weaner pigs to farmers who would become feed
customers, but whcn not enough farmers were available to
do that, the company had to go a step further. It offered
contracts to growers who could then use those guarantees
in negotiations with financiers to acquire funding for new
buildings.
"If it wasn't for the loops, this industry would be in dire