The Weigh and Trim Program is an effective tool in developing and maintaining consistent standards and credibility in settlement for the sale of beef cattle on a live or dressed weight basis in Ontario. This program has been funded under a partnership between the Ontario Cattlemen's Association (OCA) and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food (OMAF) since January 1986.

Ontario's weigh and trim inspector, Bill Lowe, has a mandate to monitor sales barns, slaughter plants for compliance under several acts and regulations. These include the Beef Cattle Marketing Act, the Livestock Community Sales Act, the Livestock and Livestock Products Act, the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act, the Meat Inspection Act (Ontario) and the Canadian Agriculture Products Act (beef grading). Lowe works in the Policy and Audit Services Unit of the OMAF's Food Inspection Branch, reporting to program manager Dr. Robert Vanderwoude.

In 2004, Bill Lowe traveled 58,314 km across the province to:

• Conduct 70 inspections in federal and provincial slaughter facilities, monitoring compliance with carcass weigh and trim requirements and advising on required procedures that also meet hygienic dressing requirements;

• Conduct 152 inspections in licensed livestock auction markets monitoring the weighing of live animals, disease control and proper handling of livestock from an animal welfare perspective.

• In addition to conducting inspections, Bill Lowe provided assistance and advisory services to various stakeholders, organizations and ministry programs in the livestock and meat industry, including the OCA check-off inspector and the Beef Financial Protection Program. He completed Audits for the 42 License sales barns and training 10 new lay inspectors for lay inspectors at livestock auction markets.

We have over ninety approved lay inspectors trained to assist the appointed veterinarians at sales. This is an on going program updating and training new inspectors. Bill Lowe made eight sale visits with CFIA and 46 visits with OSPCA. He also made presentations at OSPCA, CFIA, OCA, Meat Inspection Training and OMAF staff meetings, these were some of the 34 meetings attended. He made nine farm visits.

Activities planned for 2005 include:

• Maintaining current compliance advisory and enforcement programs;

• Look at recommendations in the Report of the Meat Regulatory and Inspection Review Farm To Fork, A Strategy for Meat Safety in Ontario By The Honourable Roland J. Haines;

• Continue assisting other program staff and the meat processing industry in advisory and enforcement activities to ensure a safe food supply;

• To conduct Audits related to rail grade selling on all plant approved for rail grade selling;

• Make more farm visits to service the cattle industry better;

• Training of more Lay-inspectors at Sales yards.