Special meeting set for March 4 to address exhibitor concerns
Recent announcements by the U.S. packing industry have indicated, in response to export requirements and consumer feedback, that packing entities will no longer purchase pigs fed ractopamine hydrochloride, commonly known as Paylean, beginning in early 2020. Ractopamine hydrochloride is a legal feed additive that in the past has been fed to swine for improved growth rate and feed conversion.
Because of the conditions and climate mentioned above, a number of county fairs in Ohio have chosen to ban the feed additive as soon as this year’s exhibition. However, the Logan County Agricultural Society board of directors voted at their February meeting to error on the side of caution and postpone banning ractopamine this year, officials reported in a release.
To address concerns of exhibitors and their families, the board is hosting a special information session about this topic at 6:30 p.m. March 4 at the OSU Extension Logan County office, 1100 S. Detroit St.
Lengthy research and conversation led the local board to this decision, and its members cited some of the following reasons: too many unknown factors, the improbability to ensure a 100 percent residue-free environment from barn to the packer and consequences imposed by packers should a hog test positive. The Miami County Fair Board made a similar decision.
“This situation has been an extremely difficult challenge for the swine committee and fair board,” Christie Barns, board president, said in the release. “Ideally, youth exhibitors are taught to produce a marketable product and the board has a responsibility to encourage these efforts. However, fairs throughout the state haven’t been given much time, advice or support from the Ohio Department of Agriculture to go about banning ractopamine in a suitable manner in time for the 2020 exhibition.”
Although the decision gives breeders and exhibitors time to prepare for a ban on ractopamine in the future, it’s uncertain if there will be a market for the hogs at the 2020 fair livestock auction. If there is a market for the hogs, the board anticipates the base to be significantly lower than in the past, due to limited options.
Regardless, if there is a market, youth exhibitors will be permitted to take their animal through the livestock auction for the premium bid. If there isn’t a market, the project will remain the property of the exhibitor and must be taken home.
Grand and reserve champion winners will be terminal per state mandate.