Ontario Livestock Alliance is folding

The Ontario Livestock Alliance is folding after nine years.

It once had four member organizations, but is down to only Ontario Goat (OG) and Veal Farmers of Ontario.

The goat association is short of funds because attempts to get a mandatory checkoff have failed.

“OG as an organization will still exist but our capacity to function as a member of the Livestock Alliance will wind up and be completed by the end of 2018,” Dirk Boogerd, OG president, told FarmOntario’s reporter John Greig.

“It is important to OG that we are able to meet our responsibilities as part of the partnership that has shown us so much support and value over the years, and at this time, we are unable to do that.”

Greig quotes Tom Kroesbergen, president of Veal Farmers of Ontario, saying “while we still firmly believe in the concept of the Livestock Alliance and what it can do for our members, the reality is that in order for it to work effectively, all partners must have stable funding so that costs are shared equitably on a consistent and ongoing basis.” 

As for sheep, Baaaa!