WTO Ruling on M-COOL Offers Potential Benefits to Canadian Genetics Suppliers

Jun 05, 2015

By Bruce Cochrane

The general manager of Fast Genetics says Canadian swine genetics suppliers have a lot to gain if the recent WTO ruling on U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling results in repeal of the legislation.

Last month the World Trade Organization upheld a series of rulings that Mandatory U.S. Country of Origin Labelling violates U.S. international trade obligations.

Yesterday Canada and Mexico announced they'll ask for a special WTO Dispute Settlement Body meeting June 17 at which time Canada will request authorization to impose over $3 billion in retaliatory measures against the U.S., while Mexico will seek authorization for over $653 million.

Shannon Meyers, the general manager of Fast Genetics, on hand for World Pork Expo, says for the most part we have a general consensus on both sides of the border that this should have happened a long time ago.

Shannon Meyers-Fast Genetics:
First and foremost, you talk to our customers and friends in both Canada and the U.S., and the general sense even here at World Pork Expo is that's a good decision and I think, as a whole, the industry felt that way.

Any time you get political impediments to doing free market business that's not a good thing so that's the first start.

I think we have, for the most part, a general consensus on both sides of the border, that this is where it ought to have fallen a long time ago.

Then specifically, from a genetics standpoint, I think it opens up other doors.
Any time a free market can trade freely, people don't have to think about where my market pig will be shipped, where my cull sow may be shipped?
Even though if it was a Canadian origin, does that matter?

Those things simply go away, so specifically from a genetics supplier standpoint, that's one more good thing.

Tick that box to say that's not an impediment to business so it'll be viewed as a whole positive but certainly genetics companies, particularly the Canadian genetics companies it'll be a positive.

Meyers says, any time a free market can trade freely, people won't have to think about where their market pigs or where their cull sow will have to be shipped.
He says those concerns will simply go away.

Source: Farmscape

Video: FLEECED! Sheep Shearer Hands Over Clippers!

It's sheep shearing day at Ewetopia Farms! ?? Our Dorset lambs and ewes are getting fleeced — and for the first time, our shearer hands over his clippers to a beginner. We finish shearing the last of our adult ewes and this year’s Dorset ewe lambs.

From moving the sheep between barns, loading them into chutes, and watching the wool come off, this is always one of the most satisfying days on the farm. But this video has a twist — we welcomed a new helper, Gian, who’s not only lending a hand but also learning how to shear! With guidance from our experienced shearer, he got a crash course in sheep shearing and even tried his hand at shearing a couple of lambs himself.

You’ll see firsthand how both teacher and student handled this unique challenge. Shearing is more than just removing wool — it’s about sheep health, comfort, and giving us a closer look at the flock. It’s always amazing to see the transformation from woolly sheep to freshly shorn ewes and lambs.