A United Voice for Saskatchewan Beef Producers

Mission: To promote the well being of all production sectors of the

Saskatchewan beef cattle industry through effective representation from all regions of the province.

SCA Priorities

• Industry Profitability• Advocacy• Research and Innovation• Education and Consumer Outreach• Animal Health and Welfare• Environmental Stewardship

Cow-Calf Production

• Calving is timed to coincide with the emerging spring grass for the cows to eat in order to produce milk for their calves.

• Calving is almost all done out of doors.• Preference is for a short calving season in order to keep a close

eye on cows about to give birth and allowing calves to reach market weight at approximately the same time.

The Bull Factor• Bulls and cows are not pastured together year-

round.• Bulls are turned out with the cows in early summer

and removed from the cow herd when cows are bred.

• Approximately nine and a half months later the calves are born.

Calf Care• Most of the calf-care is left

up to the mother cow.• However, certain

interventions ensure the health and safety of the herd.

• These include vaccinating against disease, castrating male calves, branding to identify ownership and dehorning.

• All cattle must be ear tagged before they leave their herd of origin.

Weaning• Fall roundup is a tradition on many ranches and farms

and still often done on horseback.• Cows and calves are brought in from their summer

pasture and separated.• The calves are now ready to eat hay and grass on their

own.• At this point many operators

sell their year’s calf crop to someone specializing in backgrounding or background their calves themselves.

• Some female calves may be kept to replace older cows for breeding.

Backgrounding• After weaning, calves are placed on a forage-

based diet over winter until their weight increases to about 900 pounds (400 kgs).

• This process is known as backgrounding.• The amount of grain fed is limited so the cattle

don’t gain weight too quickly.

Finishing• At nine to eleven months of age young cattle are typically

placed in a feedlot where they are brought to a finished weight of approximately 1,250 pounds (560 kgs).

• A diet of forages is gradually changed until it is comprised of about 90% grain.

• Grain finishing produces a tender, marbled beef.• Cattle have plenty of room to move around and have free

access to feed and water.• Cattle typically spend 60 to 200 days in a feedlot.

Research• The SCA, through the Saskatchewan Beef

Industry Development Fund (SBIDF), helps fund practical research and endeavors to manage the research evaluation process as new priorities and opportunities present themselves.

• SCA believes a provincial research strategy, which complements the national beef research strategy, is required to ensure the industry’s ongoing success.

Environmental Stewardship• Raising cattle is a lifestyle as well

as a business.• The economic survival of a beef

cattle operation depends on conservation practices.

• Cattle grazing benefits land, water, the atmosphere and wildlife.

• The industry has invested millions of dollars in environmental research and awareness programming.

Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle

• The code has been updated and was released in early September, 2013.

• It is a guideline for the care and handling of beef cattle.

• It reflects current beef management practices and identifies welfare hazards, opportunities and methods to assure well-being.

Did you know?*• There were 4.23 million beef cows in Canada as

of January 1, 2012.• Saskatchewan has 30.6% of these - the second

largest beef herd in Canada.• Saskatchewan cattle producers manage over 17

million acres of native pasture and tame hay.• Canada produced 3.02 billion pounds of beef in

2011 – down 14% from 2010.• Canadians eat 44.2 pounds of beef annually.• Beef production contributed $25.96 billion to

Canada’s economy in 2011 – up 5.5% from 2010.

*Canfax, Statistics Canada 2011

Current Issues in the Cattle Industry

1. mCOOL2. Relocation of the Beef Cattle Research

Teaching Unit (BCRTU)at the University of Saskatchewan

3. E-coli4. Hormone and anti-microbial use5. BSE and International trade6. PFRA pastures

QUESTIONS ?For further information contact :Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association 310-820 51st St. EastSaskatoon SK S7K 0X8 p 306.665.2333 f 306.665.2336toll free 1.877.908.2333e info@saskbeef.com www.saskbeef.com

Follow SCA on Twitter @SaskBeefAssc