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2006 Ontario Pasture Award Presented to Grey County
Farmers
February 21, 2006 – Toronto -
Bob & Mary McKessock of McKessock Farms at R.R. 5
Chatsworth in Grey County are the winners of the 2006 Pasture Award. The
award, sponsored by PICKSEED Canada, the Ontario Forage Council and the
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) was presented today at OCA’s
Annual Meeting. For their environmental and pasture improvements and
management, the McKessocks receive $750 and a bag of forage seed.
The McKessock herd consists of 40 cows and their offspring. The
original herd was Simmental and Simmental/Red Angus with a Charlois
terminal cross breeding program. The cows are calved on pasture in April
and early May, and Bob says that both animals and humans appreciate the
healthy and stress-free environment of “calving naturally on pasture”.
The calves are weaned in late September and sold at the popular
“presort-sale” at the Keady Livestock Market.
The pastures mainly consist of alfalfa, orchard grass,
white and red clover with some trefoil. Frost seeding has been done on a
regular basis to maintain a productive pasture base and make every
effort to maximize the pounds of beef per acre. Bob also wants to
minimize the number of times he has to plow up a pasture field and
reseed.
Livestock was fenced away from the swamp and wetland
areas in the early 90’s and gravity flow water systems were installed.
Bob states that not only has it improved herd health, but it has also
made livestock handling much easier. Three gravity flow watering systems
are strategically located to provide a constant and easily accessible
water supply for the livestock. Free choice mineral is always available
which Bob believes has proven to be a major benefit to the health and
performance of the cows and their offspring.
The winners say that a real strength in their pasture
system is the excellent source of water on the farm, which is always in
close proximity to all the pasture paddocks. Bob’s peers are always
quick to identify that his management and record keeping skills help to
make for a winning combination.
Paul Wight, Ontario Sales Manager with PICKSEED Canada,
said the McKessock’s are ideal candidates for the 2006 award, because of
the innovation they have shown in their farming operation and their
willingness to share ideas for the benefit to agriculture and the
industry in general.
Ray Robertson, Manager of the Ontario Forage Council,
said that as producers try to cope with the financial crisis, they will
look to practical management practices like these to maximize their net
returns.
The deadline for applications for the 2007 Ontario
Pasture Award is November 20/06. For details call the Ontario Forage
Council at 1-877-892-8663 or visit either the Ontario Forage Council’s
website at
www.ontarioforagecouncil.com or the Ontario Cattlemen’s
Association’s website at
www.cattle.guelph.on.ca .
For further information contact:
Bob McKessock: (519) 794-2258
Ray Robertson: Ontario Forage Council, 1-877-892-8663
Paul Wight: PICKSEED Canada, 705-878-9240
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