Improving animal welfare, sustainability essential
MERRITT, B.C. — Social, economic and environmental responsibilities are all necessary to support the goals of sustainability.
Many farmers and ranchers can hold up the environmental pillar, but they face social and economic challenges.
Global cattle numbers are declining nearly as fast as the number of people raising them. Not only are there fewer farmers, but they are part of the grey haired generation.
The average age of beef producers is 60 years old or more, said Murray Jelinski, Alberta chair in beef cattle health and production medicine at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
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The 2011 Statistics Canada census found that 62 percent of producers were 50 or older and 31 percent were 60 or older. Four percent were younger than 31.
“This isn’t unique to you guys. This is the population of most westernized countries in the world,” Jelinski said at the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting held in Merritt May 21-23.
This demographic shift is the result of the baby boom, in which those born after 1946 are now moving toward retirement and fewer are following in their parents’ footsteps on farms and ranches.
Only one farmer is entering the industry for every seven who are retiring.
“The people that own most of the cattle are in that 50- to 65-years-old range. I think it is because the younger people cannot afford to get in,” he said.
The high price of cows and land places more obstacles in their way, which accelerates consolidation. People sell at the top of the market and move on.
Similar findings were reported in a Wyoming study published in the Rangelands journal. It predicted no Wyoming ranchers younger than 35 would be left by 2033. The authors concluded similar trends are occurring throughout the United States.
“The industry is getting heavily weighted towards older producers. The sheer numbers of it I find surprising,” Jelinski said.
“For the cow-calf industry, you are just on the cusp of profound change.”
It isn’t the only revolution facing cattle producers. As well, corporations such as McDonalds, Walmart and Tim Hortons are dictating animal production practices to an industry rooted in tradition.
These companies are demanding no gestation crates for sows, no cages for laying hens and no added hormones or antibiotics for beef, pork and poultry.
“They are already saying to the industry, you better be aware that we may not want animals in the future that haven’t had pain control for dehorning or castration. How long do you think that’s going to be before these become mandatory?” Jelinski said.
“Keep in mind Walmart is one of the biggest suppliers of meat in the U.S.”
Producers are going to have to give their customers what they want, even though each sector is disconnected. A cow-calf operator may not have much influence on what a packer wants, but that does not preclude more record keeping on basic practices.
Reynold Bergen of the Beef Cattle Research Council said more participation is needed in the verified beef production program, in which producers document their activities to fit the new demands for improved animal health, welfare and environmental stewardship.
These requirements may feel like an imposition, but they come at time when beef demand and prices have never been higher.
“Consumers around the world are scouring and trying to find and get our product,” said agriculture economist Brett Stuart of the analysis firm Global Agritrends in Denver, Colorado.
“It is a great spot to be in.”
Beef production has not increased for nine years, while pork and broiler production have grown every year since 2006.
“In those eight years, when we had no growth in beef, we added 680 million people to the planet with $14 trillion in combined global income,” he said.
By 2023, the world will need another 27 million tonnes of poultry, 10.5 million more tonnes of pork and another nine million tonnes of beef.
“The market is paying you to produce more beef. Take advantage of that,” he said.
Five billion people will be considered middle class by 2020. Billions will need conventionally produced food that is reasonably priced. A few million will want organic.
“Produce whatever makes you the most money,” Stuart said.
“If someone says they want organic beef or whatever and it makes you money, go for it.”
This added production will have to be done sustainably, and producers need to get ahead of the requirements or risk facing legislation.
“Can you adopt an animal welfare standard and a sustainability standard, and if not, one is going to be defined for you,” he said. “Most of you are doing 90 percent of it now. It is just a matter of being willing to accept an audit, which none of us like.”
