Cattle production

East Central Saskatchewan has the services and suppliers necessary for successful cattle production. If you require further details about any of the following information, please don't hesitate to contact any of the specialists on the Contact Us page.

Feeds and feeding

East central Saskatchewan has excellent forage production potential. Average forage yields are:

• Hay: 2.2 to 3.6 tonnes/acre
• Silage: 4 to 5 tonnes/acre (wet)
• 10 bushels barley is the equivalent of 1 tonne silage (wet)

Stand longevity is approximately seven-plus years depending on factors like moles, fertility, and whether it is a single versus a double cut system.

In addition to traditional winter feeding methods, common practices include swath grazing and bale grazing, which have been done for many years in the area.

Coupled with an excellent supply of feed grains, there are a number of pelleting & feed byproduct plants within the region: Wolseley (grain screening pellets), Norquay (alfalfa pellets), and Yorkton (oat hulls).

Mineral supplementation requirements are not much different than in most areas of central Alberta. Saskatchewan soils are generally deficient in selenium, but most minerals and salt sold here have compensated for that.

There are 18 community pastures in region: six provincial pastures and 12 federal (PFRA) pastures. Community pasture rates are $0.37/head/day for cows, and $17 to $20/head/season for calves, plus taxes and breeding fees. Private pasture rates are ~$0.65 to $1.00/day per cow-calf pair.

Stocking rates under high management (i.e. rotational grazing) are 50+ cow/calf pairs per quarter section. Under low management that decreases to 20 to 25 cow/calf pairs per quarter section.

Water

Most surface and well water is of adequate quality for livestock. Like other areas of western Canada, deep well water sources have the potential for high sulphates and subsequent trace mineral tie up, but that can be managed in most cases. However, it is always advisable to have the water tested for livestock suitability before permanent development of a water source occurs.

Development assistance is available to individual producers from PFRA under the rural water development program, and Saskatchewan Power provides a $500 grant for remote watering utilizing solar energy.

Veterinary services

Veterinarians in the region are located in Preeceville, Langenburg, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Roblin MB, Kelvington, Watrous, Yorkton and Melville. All have large animal clinic facilities and do farm calls as well.

Markets

Auction markets are located in Yorkton, Whitewood, Leross, Norquay, Kelvington, and Sturgis.

Feedlots

Major feedlots in the region include Poundmaker at Lanigan, with more than 20,000 head and associated ethanol production, and Birch Island at Rhein with more than 5,000 head. There are also four smaller feedlots in the region with 1,000 to 2,000 head each.

Opportunities to expand the herd

Assistance for expansion is available from a number of sources:

Livestock Loan Guaranteed Program through feeder-breeder associations provides access to long-term loans guaranteed by the province. This program has been in existence for almost 20 years. A total of 24 active associations operate in the region, and most borrow at prime plus 0.5% to 0.75%.

Regional livestock services

A Co-op Ranch Supply outlet is located in Yorkton, and there are four major feed/mineral suppliers in Yorkton and numerous others across the region.

The provincial Ministry of Agriculture has an office in Yorkton which has Agri-business, Livestock, Crops and Rangeland Agrologists on staff.

The Ministry of Agriculture organizes livestock and information meetings throughout the year to provide livestock producers with the latest production information.

Custom work and rentals

Livestock equipment rentals are available from several sources which provide a wide range of livestock equipment including portable handling facilities and loading chutes.

Custom work available in the region includes:

• Fencing at $1,800 to $2,000 per mile for barbed wire;
• Air seeding at $10 to $14 per acre;
• Hoe press at $10 per acre;
• Hoe drills at $11 per acre;
• Valmar rentals at $3 per acre;
• Custom silage at $8 to $8.50 per ton;
• Baling at $6 to $8 per round bale;
• High clearance spraying at $4 to $4.50 per acre.

Research

The Western Beef Development Centre at Lanigan is a leading-edge research centre in cow/calf and forage/pasture production. It is affiliated with University of Saskatchewan, and conducts an annual cow/calf school, and summer and winter field days.