Cattle producers in Manitoba’s Parkland region say they aren’t going to be late out of the gate.
With growth forecast for the province’s livestock sector, the region wants to form a partnership to build feedlots larger than any in the province.
Cattle production in the Parkland region, which runs from Lake Manitoba to the Saskatchewan border, increased 30 percent between 1991 and 1995.
“Going by what happened we’re projecting it to increase five percent a year,” said Maurice Maguet, chair of the cattle producer group Mid-Canada Beef.
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The group originally planned to build a packing plant, but a pre-feasibility study financed by the provincial and local governments said there weren’t enough cattle in the area, and determined feedlots would be a more prosperous venture.
Biggest in province
The plan is to put up a 15-20,000 head feedlot, bigger than any in Manitoba. The closest feedlot for Parkland producers now is in Lanigan, Sask.
“Most cattle end up in Alberta feedlots or in the U.S. or down east,” said Maguet, who farms near Ste. Rose du Lac.
Before approaching potential partners, Maguet said the group needs to conduct an engineering feasibility study. An open house held this week hopes to gauge community interest in investing in shares to finance the $100,000 study.
Once that is complete, Mid-Canada Beef will look for a partner. One option is Heartland Livestock, owned by Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Manitoba Pool Elevators.
The cattle marketing company announced earlier this year that it wants to become a partner in larger cattle feedlots across the Prairies.
Investigating options
“We will certainly need a partner and will probably investigate it if Heartland is interested.”
Heartland is a partner in the 30,000 head operation in Lanigan.
The largest feedlot in Manitoba is about 9,000 head.
Here are some of the trends Mid-Canada Beef says are on its side:
- The Parkland region accounts for 24 percent of Manitoba’s annual beef calf production.
- Beef cow numbers in the province are projected to increase at five percent per year for the next several years.
Cattle numbers have increased by 30 percent in the region between 1991 and 1995, or 7.5 percent annually, well above the provincial average.
- Increased numbers of calves are being backgrounded in the region.
This trend is expected to increase in the future because of higher transportation costs to move barley to export markets.
Grain farmers will be encouraged to sell barley to local livestock producers.
The group says a 15,000 head feedlot would employ 15 people locally and could spin off into $1 million per year in economic activity.
