The Ontario Pork Congress does not yet have any comment about its show, after the World Pork Expo (WPE) was cancelled due to concerns about the threat of African Swine Fever. OPC said it will comment April 18. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) board or directors cited “an abundance of caution” about ASF’s transmission […] Read more
Disease threat cancels World Pork Expo
Ontario Pork Congress officials still considering the status of the local trade show
Demand a premium using Wagyu cattle genetics
Taylor family using both cross-bred and purebred strategies
Heath Taylor bought his first Wagyu cattle about five years ago, and now has about 70 cows, along with three bulls on the Thorndale-area farm. He made the move to Wagyu after first trying his hand at another niche-market bovine endeavour: milking water buffalo. Taylor said he wasn’t at the time thinking of selling the […] Read more
Breeding strategy bringing dairy-beef crosses to meat market
Advent of sexed semen means more dairy cattle being bred to beef
The father-and-son duo of George and Heath Taylor believe they have an ideal strategy for dairy farmers taking up the use of sexed semen for breeding: Wagyu beef. “They’ve got two-thirds of their herd that they’re not breeding for replacements,” George said recently at the family’s Thorndale beef operation, which shares space with the somewhat […] Read more
Relay cropping adzuki beans into winter wheat
A Woodville-area farmer aims to benefit from multiple crops in one field
A volunteer crop from the previous year growing between the rows of the present year’s crop represents a nuisance to most farmers, but not to Dustin Mulock. Instead, a patch of volunteer adzuki beans growing — as he described it to the recent annual general meeting of the Ontario Bean Growers (OBG) — “a stone’s […] Read more
Award presented to recently retired OIMP executive director
Laurie Nicol served 33 years with meat processing lobby group
The recently retired head of the Ontario Independent Meat Processors was recognized for more than 30 years of dedication to the province’s livestock and poultry sectors at the recent annual general meeting of the Veal Farmers of Ontario (VFO). Why it matters: Only one federally inspected meat plant in Ontario currently slaughters veal, so the […] Read more
Producers reluctant to sign on with verified veal program
Lack of Ontario-based federal processing capacity cited as factor limiting adoption of the program
Veal producers in Ontario are looking on as their counterparts in Quebec see gains in access to both domestic and international markets while their own ability to supply Ontario-raised meat to Ontario consumers continues to be hampered. “I agree, it is always nice to see a local product on a local shelf,” said Auburn-area producer […] Read more
Bean growers head laments drop in research funding
Farmer groups say there is more competition for dwindling funds given for shorter durations
Days before a new intake of applications for funding under the federal-provincial Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), the executive director of Ontario Bean Growers (OBG) has expressed frustration with what he described as a decade-long regression in government support for agricultural research in Canada. Ryan Koeslag made the comments days before a new intake of applications […] Read more
Communicating the complexity of livestock farming
Farmers do have consumers’ trust on their side
The dairy industry should find simple ways to convey the complex messages of how it deals with animal welfare, food safety and environmental stewardship. If it doesn’t, it runs the risk that consumers will get their information from other sources, including advocacy organizations, which can sometimes question farmer credibility. Why it matters: With international trade […] Read more
OSPCA to step away from livestock inspection and enforcement on March 31
Organization’s decision hastens timing for legislative rewrite for animal cruelty enforcement
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) says it will stop cease enforcing animal cruelty regulations for farm animals as of March 31. That’s shorter than the three months after March 31 that the OSPCA has offered to continue enforce legislation for pets. Ontario’s Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services […] Read more
Aim for consistency in mixed dairy cow rations
Avoiding variations in feed timing and TMR make-up means happier cows
Feeding dairy cows too little protein can be a problem if total mixed rations (TMR) are inconsistent batch-over-batch. That was one of the findings from a 2014 study of eastern Ontario farms, highlighted by University of Guelph Animal Biosciences Professor Trevor DeVries during a recent dairy farmer information session hosted by Wallenstein Feed and Supply. […] Read more
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