Ontario participation the highest in national sow cull program

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

“We’re now into the second stage of the program and up until May 28, the only applications that can be approved would be from provinces that have not exceeded their 10 per cent,” says Teresa Van Raay. But from May 28 to Sept. 1, the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), which administers the program, will consider applications from across Canada, regardless of province, to reach its goal of reducing the national herd by 10 per cent.

“I do believe there will be availability in the third stage (for Ontario producers),” Van Raay says.

Announced in February, the $50 million federal government program is intended to help stabilize the country’s hog producers struggling with market prices far below the costs of production and escalating input costs.

As of Tuesday, applications had been received to cull 42,700 sows in Ontario alone, just slightly over the province’s cap in the first stage of the program. The number works out to 43 per cent of the total number of animals listed in applications from across Canada (nearly 100,000) and is by far the largest share, Van Raay says. Manitoba applications account for 15 per cent of the total amount; Alberta and Saskatchewan each form 13 per cent. Quebec’s share is eight per cent.

Some of the applications for the program’s first stage are still being processed, Van Raay notes.

Processing of the animals began last week and Van Raay admits the program has been complicated. “We’re dealing with a live animal,” she points out, and says, under the circumstances the program is operating smoothly. Great Lakes Specialty Meats Ltd. in Mitchell is conducting the slaughter. “They’re just slowly starting to get it going so it’s not fully ramped up yet.”

The provincial committee coordinating the logistics of the slaughter continues to explore how to fund donations of some of the meat from the cull to Ontario food banks. “I’m very hopeful that something will be coming,” Van Raay says.

So far, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec have launched programs to facilitate donations. In Quebec, the pork producers’ federation plans to foot the bill. In Saskatchewan and Manitoba, provincial governments are funding donations.

The sow cull program compensates producers up to $225 per animal and covers slaughter costs. There are catches. Animals slaughtered after April 14 must not enter the commercial food chain and those who participate must empty at least one barn and agree not to breed and farrow in it for least three years. However, they can use the barn as a nursery or as a feeding facility during that time period, the CPC has confirmed. BF

More information on the cull swine program can be found here.