It’s fine to have rules, but if they’re not enforced, those rules are meaningless. Which is why the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association wants the provincial government to establish a brand inspection program.
“We’ve had registered brands in this province since God knows when. We’d never had inspection. The other provinces have and I’ve really wondered what the brand is good for if you don’t follow it up?” asked Larry Clifford, a producer from Shilo, Man., at the recent MCPA annual general meeting in Brandon.
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After a 25 minute debate of the issue, the association passed a resolution to lobby the provincial government for brand inspectors to prevent cattle losses.
New MCPA president Jay Fox introduced the resolution, noting that cattle loss is fairly common on the large and wooded pastures in the Interlake region and west of Lake Manitoba.
Without brand inspection it’s basically impossible to get lost or stolen cattle back, he noted.
“Let’s start doing our due diligence and have brand inspectors out there,” Fox said.
But others at the meeting argued that having brand inspectors check cattle, when there is a transfer of ownership, costs money.
“If there is an additional cost in delays and processing and handling cattle, and taking more time, those costs will come off the price of your calves,” said Ken Drake, a livestock dealer in Hamiota.
In Saskatchewan, the provincial agriculture department administers the inspection program, charging a fee of $1.65 per animal. Inspections are required prior to the sale of all livestock in Saskatchewan.
Alberta provides cattle brand inspection through the Livestock Identification Services Agency, which charges $1 per animal for the service.
