Producers wanting to ease gently into what could be a lucrative business should look at boarding elks at established ranches, according to an Alberta elk rancher.
“When you’re ready for them, you bring them home,” said Scott McAllister, of Kitscoty, Alta.
In most boarding situations, an investor buys a number of animals. They are fed and raised by an elk producer, with husbandry costs borne by the producer. Investor and producer then share the revenue from the calf crop.
McAllister said most owners get one half to two thirds of the money from the calf sale, with the producer getting the rest.
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Owner has security
Calf crop sharing tends to be a good system, McAllister said, because the owner is protected.
Since owner and producer profit from the sale of the calf, the producer will try to manage the animals well to ensure there is a calf. If there isn’t a calf, the owner doesn’t pay anything extra for the cow’s upkeep during the unfruitful year.
Some elk producers charge a daily fee for boarding as well, McAllister said.
Boarding animals allows an owner to learn about raising elk and build a nucleus herd while allowing time to acquire land, machinery and facilities for an elk farm.
