SOW STALLS STUPID
To the Editor:
There’s no doubt that sow stalls are and should be on the way out.
Ed White’s article (WP online June 12) confuses the issue.
He criticizes the “mushy” motives (“belief, feeling and image”) of the “rightsy types,” whom he believes “just believe what they believe because of how sow stalls look and how that makes them feel.”
He parrots and supports standard industry attempts to confuse and dismiss the legitimate, scientifically substantiated truths about the systemized cruelty inherent in keeping sows in crates for almost their entire lives.
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During her May 23 tour to Brandon, Temple Grandin was clear about a number of facts regarding sows in crates.
First, sow crates are cruel. Crated sows do not “thrive,” as White asserts.She said it would be “stupid” for producers to replace aging barn infrastructure with sow stalls.
Second, rooting is a fundamental need of pigs. Unable to express this basic need causes pigs to suffer. My piglets born on straw in open pens consistently begin rooting within 24 hours of birth.
Third, better breeding, culling aggressive sows and their offspring, housing sows in big groups so individual animals can escape aggression and providing pigs with material to root in must accompany freeing sows from crates.
Fourth, producers must acknowledge that breeding to “maximize production” and growth rather than to “optimize welfare” has led to creating pigs with abnormal behaviours. This leads to producers thinking such behaviours are “normal” when they are not and justifying current practices, she said.
Finally, she recognized the consequences to veterinarians when criticism of client practices could lead to a loss of a client and income.
White’s assertion that “to most veterinarians and many other experts on animal welfare, sow stalls are humane, pleasant and give female pigs a good life” must be considered in the context of this reality.
How to move current inhumane industry practices to the desirable goal of welfare optimization can appear to be complex.
The confusion is more a result of politics, politicized science seeking to modify and preserve the industrial system and the economic motives of people profiting from animal suffering, rather than objective science.
The public is rapidly finding clarity and losing patience with excuses. With most industrial barns approaching a need to be repaired or replaced, I expect producers to make the intelligent choice of abandoning sow stalls, and soon.
Ruth Pryzner,
Alexander, Man.
NEW CONQUISTADORS
To the Editor:
The CBC program on the New Conquistadors is reminiscent of the history of the oil and pipeline companies in the tar sands. This time the culprit is the mining companies.
Big mining companies love Canada for their head office because the environmental laws are never enforced for offshore activities.
The result is the total destruction of vital areas of the rain forest, in this case. With the tar sands, it is the boreal forest that is sacrificed.
Mining companies in various countries in South America are guilty of the murder of indigenous people and the killing off of their leaders. They poison the lakes and rivers with cyanide and mercury without punishment.
They also eradicate whole villages, and it is time Canada held these companies accountable for the damage they are doing and have already done, and the perpetrators brought to justice.
Jean H. Sloan,
Lloydminster, Sask.
CONSIDER IMPACT
To the Editor:
In response to the article posted May 16 (WP online), titled “Agrium sees smooth sailing for Viterra takeover.”
Glencore International’s proposed acquisition is likely to provide more competition in most parts of the Prairies due to the divestiture of some grain handling facilities to Richardson.
On the other hand, the sale of retail outlets and the 34 percent share of Canadian Fertilizer Ltd. to Agrium could have a significant impact on farmers’ profit margins.
The Informa Economics report recently released by the government of Saskatchewan reveals the potential for fertilizer prices to be of concern in the longer term.
If the deal is approved as scheduled, Agrium will control over half of the fertilizer market in western Canada: 42 percent retail, 53 percent ammonia wholesale and 49 percent urea wholesale.
The Competition Bureau has an obligation to scrutinize once market share has exceeded 35 percent and a firm has the ability to increase prices.
The long-term impact on western Canadian farmers needs to be considered by the Competition Bureau. Crop protection products, seed and fertilizer make up almost half of the variable production costs per acre for farmers each year. Fertilizer is the largest single cash expense for canola producers.
Farmers have no control over these prices, and it is important to ensure that there is adequate competition of retail suppliers and wholesalers.
In a controlled market such as the Canadian fertilizer market, there is unlikely to be sufficient competition and therefore the government has an obligation to step in.
SaskCanola has requested that through Investment Canada and the Competition Bureau, the federal government ensure market share is brought to a reasonable level, as it has done in the past with consolidation of companies in the grain industry.
Brett Halstead,
SaskCanola Chair,
Nokomis, Sask.
WRITING ON THE WALL
To the Editor:
Those who think that the destruction of the CWB’s single desk is the best thing since sliced bread should look around at the writing that is beginning to appear on the wall.
I personally have read several articles that state western Canadian grain companies “prepare for record profits.”
This is also backed up by the fact that both domestic and international companies are clamouring to buy out western Canadian elevator lines. Where do you suppose all this extra money is coming from?
Could it be from the half billion dollars put in farmer’s pockets by the “old CWB?”
Furthermore, with the new CWB losing much of the power that it had, railways are now talking of hefty freight rate increases ranging from 25 to 40 percent.
Still not convinced? Then ask yourself this question. Why did the federal government not allow western farmers their legislated right to vote on the matter?
In my opinion, this is going to be the worst hit to the industry since the loss of the Crow.
To those still in the game, I say, “Good luck, you’re going to need it.”
Don Bamber,
Oyen, Alta.
