search.noResults

search.searching

note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
JUNE 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


29


Abattoirs target food safety, labour shortage Industry is a long way from sledgehammers and wood tables


by TOM WALKER VERNON – The BC Abattoirs


Association (BCAA) held their eighth annual general meeting in Vernon at the end of April. Dave Fernie, who was elected president when Ken Falk stepped down, opened the day on a positive note. “Our outlook for the future


is pretty good,” said Fernie, who owns Rodear Meats east of Williams Lake. “We have a lot of educated consumers out there right now who are demanding a lot of BC product from suppliers to chain stores and retailers. And we have everything in place to move into those markets.” The key, notes Fernie, is


supply. “We have to be able to step up and find the producers who will get us into those markets.” “We have food safety, animal welfare and traceability programs in place,” notes Fernie. “Now, it’s about providing the quality product that the consumer is asking for.” Executive director Nova


Woodbury gave an update of post-farm food safety programs. “We want to get as many abattoirs signed up for post- farm food safe and traceability,” says Woodbury. “What we want is safe food for every consumer and the government is helping us to achieve that with the programs at [www.postfarm foodsafety.com]. ” There is money available


for food safety training, explains Woodbury.


“You could bring someone


into your plant for on-site food safety training,” she says. “There is also money available for post-farm traceability systems.” “We had three times the number of people and twice the number of plants attend animal welfare training than we had expected,” Woodbury says. “Good on you guys for wanting to get out in front of it and be involved.“ Woodbury noted that she has visited 53 plants across the province this past year to do an on-site animal welfare assessment. She then writes up recommendations for funding and purchasing equipment. “We are all moving towards


a HACCP [Hazard Assessment Critical Control Point] system,” says Woodbury. “It doesn’t mean you have to become HACCP-certified; a lot of plants are in the middle of the process. There is dollars available to support moving along your HACCP work plan.” Gavin Last, executive


director, Food Safety Branch, with the Ministry of Agriculture, spoke about the evolution of Food Safe – from the days when workers in their street clothes at Chicago packing plants would use sledge hammers to stun incoming animals while working on wooden tables or even on the floor in unrefrigerated premises with bare walls. “They were having issues,” Last noted dryly. Writer Upton Sinclair,


researching his book The Jungle, went into packing


BC LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS


plants undercover in the early 1900s.


“He wrote


about labour issues,” explains Last. However, the book is best known for the exposure of unsanitary practices. “He


plants like the Brandon, Manitoba Maple Leaf plant process 75,000 to


90,000 hogs a week. (The entire BC


NOVA WOODBURY


aimed at the public’s heart and by accident, hit it in the stomach.”


The changes that began as


a result of Sinclair’s work were the basis of food safety, says Last. “Food safety principles are


asking two questions,” he says. “Is the meat wholesome, the organoleptic aspect and also is the meat pathogen free, the micro-biology of food safety?” “The province has been


keeping pace with changing demands for modern meat inspection,” says Last. “The biggest risk for contamination from pathogens comes during processing, not slaughter.”


Last notes that modern


output in 2015 was just over 200,000.) Cargill’s High River beef plant moves 4,500 cattle a day while BC processed


52,000 head in 2015. Sandy Vanderbyl, of BC


Meats, reviewed the strategic plan that the BCAA board has developed. The plan addresses four targeted needs: labour shortages, public awareness, building relationships and advocacy for members. Vanderbyl outlined projects to support each need. Representatives from the


CIDC Check-off


Check-off


Beef at


Kamloops school district spoke about their liaison with the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) trades program. The retail meat cutting program at TRU is very popular and students from the Thompson Shuswap region have priority access to most of the spaces. Students from other districts may enroll in the Kamloops district to have preferred access. The BCAA has voted to join the BC Alliance for Manufacturing. “Food is the king of


manufacturing in BC and meat is the king of food manufacturing,” says BCAM president Marcus Ewert- Johns. It was an easy vote notes


Woodbury. “We are looking forward to being part of the alliance,” she says. “This coalition of industry associations will help with access to skills training dollars and sourcing of workers.”


Producer Check-Off Supports Beef Industry Projects. www.cattlefund.net | 1-877-688-2333


 Work AWMACK BILL 1-888-770-7333


Equipment Auctions are our specialty.


Tractors Equipment Implements Vehicles Trailers Tools Antiques and more...


Provincial Livestock Fencing Program


NOW accepting applications for the Provincial Livestock Fencing Program along travel corridors


Eligibility Requirements


• Schedule 2 Highways, Schedule 1 Highways, and Railway Corridors. Secondary (sideroad) paved routes may also be considered.


• Must be a livestock producer. • Fence must be part of an existing fencing system to contain livestock.


Application forms available at: http://www.cattlemen.bc.ca/fencing.htm Call TOLL FREE 1.866.398.2848 to have an application mailed to you.


If you didn't submit an application prior to the 2016 deadline, please feel free to submit an application for future fencing programs.


For complete auction listings and photos. Visit


www.bclivestock.bc.ca Looking ahead to the FALL RUN Book Now!


BCID Fund


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44