GULL LAKE, Sask. – Saskatchewan still has a good chance of being home to a bison slaughtering facility, producers attending a bison seminar here were told last week.
The expansion of the North American Bison Co-operative, which has one plant in North Dakota, was expected to happen this year. However, those plans were put on hold when some marketing problems led to a buildup of inventory, and management efforts were directed at forming a marketing company.
Doug Griller, president of the Saskatchewan Bison Association, said the plant is reporting brisk December sales and is in the process of issuing 2,500 shares, in addition to the existing 10,000.
Read Also
Stock dogs show off herding skills at Ag in Motion
Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
In March, another offering of 7,500 shares is planned to fund the expansion. Those shares will go for about $500 (U.S.) each.
Griller said 25 percent of the plant is already owned by Canadians and those producers would like to see a facility they own on this side of the border.
“There’s definitely competition for the plant,” he said.
But Saskatchewan, which has the second-largest bison herd in Canada, could edge out Alberta.
“Alberta has four independent processors who are fighting the expansion into Canada,” Griller said.
The NABC is a new-generation co-operative and is slaughtering 65 percent of all federally inspected bulls in North America, he said. In 1998, the plant killed about 6,700 animals, and projects 8,000 will be slaughtered next year.
Griller said well-known American businessman Ted Turner has started a bison meat marketing company and will be purchasing meat from the co-op. He also owns 1,000 shares.
Marshall Patterson, a livestock development specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture, said Turner is “not a bad ally” for bison producers.
“(NABC members) want the advantage of the Canadian dollar,” he said in explaining why the second plant is expected to come to Canada. “It would be fairly safe to assume the third plant, five to eight years later, will go somewhere near one of Ted Turner’s large operations.”
Patterson also predicted a Canadian plant would be used for exports to Europe, while the American plants would service the North American market.
One buyer from Brussels, Belgium already takes 25 percent of the plant’s production.
