Big challenges for livestock producers for 2007 were outlined by three of Saskatchewan’s best-known growers at the Farm Animal Council’s annual meeting last month.
Tim Wiens of O and T Farms said his poultry and feed business, like others, will be dealing with the growth of biofuel and its byproducts.
“It’s one thing to create those fuels. It’s another to deal with that mountain of canola cake or (dry distillers grains),” said Wiens.
Big Sky Farms’ Florian Possberg said the hog industry, too, would be looking at making use of alternative fuel byproducts to reduce feeding costs that have jumped 25 percent in the past year.
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“Our margins were tight enough. Feed prices aren’t helping matters in the pig business,” he said.
Brad Welter, cattle manager at Pound Maker Agventures feedlot and ethanol facility, will see its biofuel production expand to include a
debranning process.
“We’re making changes. Cattle feeding across the country is making changes. Feed demand from ethanol production south of the border means that producers that once could fall back on American corn as a cheap feed source have to look for alternatives.”
Wiens said Saskatchewan doesn’t have enough animals to use the projected byproducts for alternative fuel so pricing will become key to their disposal.
“They can go into livestock or they can be burnt as energy for $60 tonne. There is always an alternative.”
Wiens said as the alternative fuel industry matures it will improve its byproducts quality and improve feed values for the livestock business.
Possberg said the livestock industry in Canada still has advantages when it comes to public perception of their business.
He cited a study earlier this year that showed 299 out of 300 sows, given the choice between a back-in farrowing stalls or no stall all, chose the stall.
“In Arizona this year we see new rules banning farrowing pens. There was little or no science behind it, but it sounded good to the public and to a few politicians.”
Possberg said although biosecurity is important, “our own paranoia keeps the world out of our barns. The more we close ourselves off from the world, the more we are going to have to invest in telling them what it is we do or they suspect and believe the worst.”
Wiens agreed, pointing out that many food industry commentators measure North America’s battery cage egg production systems against the European Union’s move to free range production, using years, rather than centimetres of space or animal health.
Wiens said the future will be based on consumers’ market preferences.
“Let the consumer decide what he wants and we will follow. We don’t need to have legislation that forces systems on the market that aren’t necessary and not based on science.”
Welter said the market is failing to reinforce some legislative and industry trends.
“We don’t see premiums being paid for age-verified or preweaned cattle. There are some great producers out there investing in their herds and handling systems, but the market isn’t delivering a very big return on some of those investments,” he said.
