Horse, I don't see the commodity outlook being all
that exciting - running cows, making hay, feeding
200 days and dumping weaned calves in the fall run
doesn't attract me. I don't see that economies of scale
by going to 300 or beyond really help - if the margin
isn't there with a smaller number it won't be there
with a bigger number. To run 3 or 400 you need that
much more land so I don't see how you get ahead.
I'm upbeat on the cattle business the way we do it
though. Minimizing costs at every stage, adding value
at every stage, controlling the genetics from the
conception of the seed-stock right through to the
finished beef. Then direct marketing an in-demand
product to customers 2 hours from my farm.
I would estimate the current total supply of grass-fed
beef going into cities like Calgary is supplying
somewhere between 1-2% of the population so the
sky is the limit as far as potential growth goes. I don't
think there is a better opportunity in livestock
agriculture today than what we are doing but each to
their own.
that exciting - running cows, making hay, feeding
200 days and dumping weaned calves in the fall run
doesn't attract me. I don't see that economies of scale
by going to 300 or beyond really help - if the margin
isn't there with a smaller number it won't be there
with a bigger number. To run 3 or 400 you need that
much more land so I don't see how you get ahead.
I'm upbeat on the cattle business the way we do it
though. Minimizing costs at every stage, adding value
at every stage, controlling the genetics from the
conception of the seed-stock right through to the
finished beef. Then direct marketing an in-demand
product to customers 2 hours from my farm.
I would estimate the current total supply of grass-fed
beef going into cities like Calgary is supplying
somewhere between 1-2% of the population so the
sky is the limit as far as potential growth goes. I don't
think there is a better opportunity in livestock
agriculture today than what we are doing but each to
their own.
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