Saskatchewan cattle producers may not have to slaughter their culls to get provincial government assistance.
Agriculture minister Clay Serby was expected to go to cabinet Dec. 9 with a proposal similar to what British Columbia and Alberta have offered. That means producers would be eligible for payments based on a percentage of their breeding herds without having to submit documentation of slaughter.
Serby would not comment on his intentions before Western Producer deadlines Dec. 8.
However, after Ottawa announced its $120 million program Nov. 21, Serby said he did not like the requirement that animals be slaughtered to qualify for payment.
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The federal government said it would still pay its 60 percent even if provinces did not participate.
In B.C. and Alberta, producers must register the number of cattle that were in their herds as of Sept. 1, 2003.
The payments will cover a cull rate of eight percent of beef cows and 16 percent of dairy cows.
The money available in Alberta is part of a previously announced $100 million fund and payments vary depending on the type of ruminant.
B.C. is offering $128 per head, or its 40 percent share of the total maximum payout available under a federal-provincial program. Sheep, goats, bison and cervids will also qualify, but funding levels have not been determined.
If the animals are slaughtered, they still qualify for the federal funding.
