Your reading list

Horn tax continues in B.C.

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Published: June 7, 2018

SMITHERS, B.C. British Columbia cattle producers have agreed to continue charging a horn tax.

The horn levy of $10 per head of cattle sold with horns is collected and managed by a committee that disperses the funds for special projects.

Three projects costing about $7,000 were approved last year, said Linda Allison during the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting held in Smithers, May 31-June. 2.

A resolution to end the levy was defeated.

Those debating the motion said administration costs are going up and some producers questioned whether those fees might surpass what is collected. Others wondered if the levy is still necessary since most people remove horns or breed polled cattle.

Those in favour of maintaining the levy said it promotes better animal welfare because cattle are still appearing with bruises and other damage from horns.

“It is not only an animal health issue, it is a safety issue with the people who are handling these cattle,” said delegate Brian Thomas.

About the author

Barbara Duckworth

Barbara Duckworth

Barbara Duckworth has covered many livestock shows and conferences across the continent since 1988. Duckworth had graduated from Lethbridge College’s journalism program in 1974, later earning a degree in communications from the University of Calgary. Duckworth won many awards from the Canadian Farm Writers Association, American Agricultural Editors Association, the North American Agricultural Journalists and the International Agriculture Journalists Association.

explore

Stories from our other publications