An Alberta sheep producer is putting a modern twist on a Depression-era
slogan in an effort to help Alberta sheep producers find feed.
Doug Laurie hopes that when people hear the slogan “hey buddy, can you
spare a bale or two?” they will be as generous with their extra hay as
people were in the 1930s when they heard the slogan, “hey buddy, can
you spare a dime?”
“Maybe it might mean something,” said Laurie. “I think it’s honest
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saving a flock of sheep.”
Sheep farmers are finding it even harder than cattle producers to find
feed for their livestock because of the combination of drought and
record low sheep prices.
Prices for sheep and lamb have been low for the past couple of years,
but a lack of feed has forced a mass sell off of the province’s sheep
flock because few people can afford expensive hay for their low-priced
sheep. It’s estimated that almost half of the province’s 167,000 sheep
will be sold this summer.
During a recent sheep sale in Camrose, a 160-head flock dispersal sold
for $10 each.
“I’m sure he was devastated,” said Laurie of the owner forced to sell
his entire flock.
Laurie said he hopes his program will slow the sale of sheep and
possibly save a few flocks from going to market.
He organized the North Central Sheep and Goat Sale at the Edmonton
Public Stockyards for several years as a service for sheep producers.
In July, the stockyards ended the sheep and goat sales. Some money had
been saved from the years of sales, which will be used to pay for an
advertising campaign to encourage people to sell affordable hay to
sheep producers.
Laurie has designed bumper stickers, postcards, posters, banners and a
website where sheep producers can advertise their feed needs.
“We have to find many ways of saving our industry.”
Several people have already posted their feed needs on the new
website.
Heather Hayes of Calahoo wrote: “I have managed to only keep seven of
my flock of 25 ewes. Hay field only produced 31/2 round bales this
year. I am not looking for a lot of hay, only a few round bales or a
few square bales. Just enough to be able to retain what is remaining of
my flock with the hopes of starting over.”
Merlayne Reilly of Stony Plain wrote: “Southdowns are not as big as
other sheep so therefore they don’t eat as much – but they still need
to be fed. I have a very small supply of hay – only enough to last
till Christmas. Would need a couple hundred squares at affordable
price. I can’t bear to think of selling off my treasured ewes for meat,
or …?”
Sandra Manning wrote: “I have ‘the best’ four ewes in the country (in
my opinion) that I could never (and I mean never) part with. I will do
my best to try to find them something to eat this winter. They like
bread crusts and vegetable trimmings, but that’s not nearly enough.
Need a few bales of hay and a bit-o-grain, too. I’m begging. Get that.
I’m begging for help. Thanks. Pick me. Pick me.”
Laurie said the posters could be placed on bulletin boards at
veterinary clinics, feed mills or auction markets to raise awareness of
the feed shortage.
Sheep eat about one-eighth the amount of feed eaten by cattle.
Sheep producers who can set up portable corrals in shopping malls or
main streets in their communities will use the banners to help
advertise their need for feed. Laurie hopes when people stop to look at
the sheep they will be moved to sell affordable feed to producers.
Laurie has also contacted Ontario sheep producers about sending extra
feed to counterparts on the Prairies.
Bob Pettie, livestock procurement manager with Canada West Foods in
Innisfail, Alta., said this year’s massive sell off will have long-term
consequences for the Alberta sheep industry.
It only takes a year of bad weather to reduce the province’s flock, but
it will take years to rebuild it, he said.
Canada West Foods’ slaughter plant kills about 200 cull ewes a month,
but Pettie estimated it’s only about 10 percent of the ewes going to
market.
He tries to match sellers with lamb producers with extra feed, but few
Alberta lamb producers are willing to take on extra sheep when next
year they could also be short of feed.
Pettie said Canada West expects to have enough lambs to fill its orders
until March, but he worries about where lambs will be found to fill
next year’s orders.
“We’re very concerned about our supply of lambs.”
