Two years after an industry request, the Saskatchewan legislature last
week approved an increase in the fee producers of horned cattle pay to
market their animals.
The Horned Cattle Purchases Amendment Act received third reading May
31, and will go into effect when proclaimed.
The legislation hikes the fee to $10 from $2.
The deduction from the purchase price of each horned animal sold in the
province was introduced in 1939 to encourage dehorning. It has been $2
since 1952.
Increase requested
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association asked for the increase at
its convention in June 2000.
At the time, members said the existing fee wasn’t enough incentive for
producers to dehorn cattle.
Other groups, including the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association and
the Foundation for Animal Care Saskatchewan, also passed resolutions.
FACS was also concerned about producers who dehorn too late, to try to
avoid the fee.
“It’s a bloody mess, literally,” SSGA representative to FACS, Allen
Patkau, said at the 2000 convention.
