WHJ-Winter2012

Industry Viewpoint Continued
Only the Brazilian state of Matto Grosso (MT) has significantly
lower costs than Canada, while the average production cost in
the EU countries surveyed is 44% above Canada’s. The EU’s
cost regime is very different to Canada’s, with higher feed,
labour and fixed costs, while Brazil has significantly lower
labour, other direct costs and fixed costs, but higher feed costs.
“Canada has significantly lower breeding
herd performance than countries such as
Denmark, France and the Netherlands”
The InterPig production data shows that Canada has
significantly lower breeding herd performance than countries
such as Denmark, France and the Netherlands. Despite a
relatively high carcass weight in Canada, this results in a low
figure for the amount of carcass weight produced per sow.
Many European countries have capitalized more effectively
on high litter size genetics, with Danish producers selling
26.3 pigs per sow and those in the Netherlands 26.5. It
should be noted that the Canadian data set is very limited and
contains a number of anomalies, especially in the physical
performance data.
the Crystal Spring Wet/Dry Water-Space
Nursery and Wean-to-Finish Feeders
25% better
16 | Western Hog Journal | Winter 2012
WTO rules in favour of Canada on
COOL complaint
The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in favour of
Canada and Mexico in a complaint against the US mandatory
country of origin labelling (COOL) law, which took effect
in 2008. Following the law’s implementation, US imports
of Canadian cattle and hogs and Mexican cattle declined
substantially.
The panel found that the COOL program is a technical
regulation that is “inconsistent with the United States’ WTO
obligations,” since it accords less favourable treatment to
imported Canadian cattle and hogs than to like domestic
products. Further, the panel found that COOL does not
fulfill its legitimate objective of providing consumers with
information on origin. Both factors constitute violations of
WTO rules.
“The United States will almost certainly appeal the decision,
but most observers believe the result will not change, thus
paving the way for Canada, Mexico and, possibly, other
countries to place punitive tariffs on US goods,” comments
American economist Steve Meyer. “The United States will
have a year after the appeal ruling is received to make
changes to the law to avoid the retaliatory tariffs.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
The Water-Space adds the advantages of Crystal Spring Wet/Dry feeding from Day 1 in the nursery or
wean to finish pen, resulting in a 25% increase in gain after only 5 weeks. Try it. Believe.
creative ideas • simple solutions
Crystal Spring Hog Equipment, Ltd.• ph 204.433.7178 • fx 204.433.7540 • www.cshe.com • info@cshe.com • 1 Crystal Spring Dr, Ste Agathe MB R0G 1Y0 Canada