Cattlemen optimistic district will have an abattoir this summer

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River Cattlemen’s Assoc. members heard from several committees at its annual meeting last Wednesday in Stratton.
Steve Lowshaw of the Abattoir Steering Committee opened his report by saying, “I did not want to stand before you and not have it built.”
However, that is the case and Lowshaw said the main reason is that the tenders came in really high last summer. “We tried to save it. We totally redid the design and in particular the mechanical systems such as the air exchangers.” When they came back to the table with plans it was too late to get the construction done last year.
So now tenders are being looked at in February with hopes of construction beginning in the spring. The new design is only reduced by 300 sq. ft. but the committee managed to trim some costs.
Lowshaw noted that the plant in Dryden has gone out of its way to accommodate the animal kill needs of the RRCA and should be commended. “They make very little money on killing cattle and it puts them behind on their other work. We need to be very grateful for their efforts.”
Vet Committee
Rainy River Veterinary Committee member Kim Jo Bliss reported that they have yet to attract a large animal vet on a permanent basis to the district. “We have been utilizing a vet out of Thunder Bay but he needs more calls here.”
“We are still actively pursuing a vet but we are up against other regions that offer huge signing bonuses like $20,000... we just don’t have it to offer.”
The committee noted that their Vet bill designation fee has gone up from $1,000 to $1,250 this year and that they have to pay it regardless of whether they have a vet here or not. “It will go up again to $1,500.
Animal Inspection Facility
Linda Armstrong reported that there was very little to report. She mowed the grass and checked on the facility regularly. She also donated her time and gas to keep the facility up for the past year; something she did last year as well.
Weighmen’s Committee
Shirley Morrish presented a report sent by her husband Tom who could not attend the meeting. She noted they had 12 scale rentals and loaned the scales to 4H members each month to weigh cattle and to the fair. They also did some repairs to the scales which included painting them.

Soil and Crop Committee
Stefan Szeder reported that they have been busy conducting Switch-grass trials with Abitibi in anticipation that they will need grass to burn in the hog fuel boiler in Fort Frances.
He also noted that they are hoping to update their rental fleet this year and asked for input on what they should add to it.
Sales Barn Committee
Manager Clayton Teeple reported that they had 1,424, 1,311, 1,571 and 512 head of cattle at each of their respective sales last year. He felt the sales were comparable to that of other sales barns.
He noted that the dates for sales this year are April 25 (Spring sale), Aug. 22 (Yearling sale), Oct. 3 (Calf sale) and Oct. 24th (Last sale).