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Volume No. I |
March 1996 |
Issue No. 1 |
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Welcome to the first edition of Under the Lens, ITSI's newsletter. It
is our goal to publish this newsletter at (semi) regular intervals,
and let you know the latest A.I. ideas from Ontario and beyond. We
would like to share hints, suggestions and bits of wisdom that you
have learned while using AI. First off, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their patronage during the past two years. There have been many changes in the swine industry as well as at I.T.S.I., and they could not have happened without you.
Last November Jacqui Hanchiruk joined us to lighten our loads. Jacqui does not have a background in swine, but we are confident that she is learning very fast! She is responsible for the day to day running of the office and looks after the prompt shipping of supplies.
We have instituted official office hours. You can reach the office during the following hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. By chance only -- leave a message and we'll get back to you ASAP!
All prices for the A.I. supplies are FOB Princeton. Orders which are greater than $400.00 may receive free delivery. George is available for deliveries approximately 1 day per week. Please place your orders 7 to 10 working days before you need them. This will make it easier to ensure on-time delivery by the most economical means available.
AI units across Holland have started the implementation of an ultrasound pregnancy testing program. Technicians from the units travel from farm to farm and test animals which are at least 22 days pregnant. Pregnancy is determined from the presence of embryos rather than liquid in the reproductive tract. Animals tested in the early stages of pregnancy (22 to 30 days) are checked again during the technician's next visit to catch the sows which were doubtful at first test, or may have lost the litter early on. Many producers have embraced this service and are very happy with the results. There is a disadvantage with the ultrasound program in that many producers rely on the ultrasound machine to determine non-pregnant animals. Once determined as open the sows are checked for heat again on a daily basis. ITSI is contemplating the initiation of a similar program for Ontario's sow herds. One of the problems we face is the downtime which is often required before a technician and the machine will be permitted into the facilities. In order to offer the service at a reasonable cost, the technician must visit at least 3 to 4 farms per day. If you are interested in this type of service and have some suggestions to get this program started, give Jim or Astrid a call at the office. |
As you may know we started on a major building project last September to provide us with office and warehouse space. Despite a few minor hurdles we have moved in our new facilities. This is a definite improvement when compared to Jim's kitchen table. ITSI's office includes a meeting room which provides a suitable environment for seminars and workshops. We will keep you informed of upcoming meetings which might be of interest to you. The facility also includes a fully equipped lab. It will be used as a demonstration lab and also for detailed semen analysis. We are planning an Open House/Customer Appreciation day for late summer. However, if you are in the neighborhood before then feel free to stop in and say "Hi." You can find us on the Northwest corner of Highway 403 and Brant 25, just south of Princeton. The address and phone/fax numbers have not changed.
ITSI is pleased to introduce this toll free number to its customers. We are here to serve you, and felt that a toll-free number would be beneficial to you. Please use it when placing orders and/or calling about a problem with your AI program.
The world price for plastics has finally settled down. In fact, the price has gone down slightly. As a result the price of the AI bottles will be lowered to $0.34. Contract prices will be adjusted as well. Due to the increased demand for supplies we are able to buy in larger volumes and receive better prices. These savings are passed on to you and are reflected in the lower prices for many of the products recommended for a successful AI program.
Summer and warm/hot weather are fast approaching. This is the best time to start thinking about minimizing and/or avoiding the annual fall production slump. An effective heat-stress management program should be started well before the arrival of summer's hazy days. Make sure that ventilation systems are in top working order, and give another thought to that drip systems or other "heat" luxury items which seemed like a good idea with last summer's extreme temperatures. Talk to your breeding stock supplier, feed rep and veterinarian about strategies which can be used to minimize the effects of hot weather. Order some extra gilts from your supplier now!
No regular schedule has been established for the publication of Under the Lens. A tentative proposal is quarterly reports. At the current rate that would mean the next issue should arrive on your door step sometime in June. If you have any suggestions, comments or ideas please let us know before then. We would like to make this your newsletter as much as it is ours. Until then, |
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