Where will all the cows go?

[dalek]

There are a few people here in Ontario talking about trying to get someone to build a cow plant to try to keep the business the fast food restaurants have switched to Canadian beef, however, from what I've seen, that beef was being supplied before at 28-29 cents live weight from other countries, and with the extra cost of testing would translate into about 25 cents to Canadian producers under normal circumstances IF Australia, New Zealand etc. are willing to just let that market go. Maybe that's going to look good for the next few years, but do we really want to lower our long-term expectations so far that we're building plants planning on competing for 25 cent cows 15 and 20 years from now? Better to take the hit now and hope for something better for those who somehow squeak by.

[countryguy]

Good to hear from you again Cowman.If you happened to read any of the old posts you will see that we were wondering what the heck happened to you!Looking forward to more of your infinite wisdom.

[Junebug]

A neighbour just sold a 4 year old cow, Got a cheque for $128.30 My parents just sold a 6 week old shizu pup for $325.00 How pathetic is this?

[cowman]

Junebug you shouldn't write things like that! Some government official might read it and figure it's a way to solve the farm crisis! Get rid of all the cows and encourage us all to grow shizus! We'll all get rich raising little furry doggies out on the prairies! And the tax dollars will flow in!

[ValueChainFX]

LOL, and that is why we all enjoy cowman .... he is always looking for a way we can diversify!

The sad part of that statement is he is probably right, and if something happens to the doggie market all the ones that told us to go into them will be under their desks and telling us we should have made a better business choice when we diversified!!

Go figure????

[kato]

Actually, Jack Russell Terriers are the hot item this year.

[ValueChainFX]

dalek there are people across Canada looking at building plants specific to cows, you are right that the economics on a cow plant are tight!

I think a lot of what is being looked at is the long term for cows. We know we are going to have them every year and it is not as if we are raising them for the cow market. Kinda like buying a tractor and when it wears out, you sell it or park it! Unlike a tractor the cow eats and costs you money so chances are you sell it.

So looking at the cow market with this in mind, any suggestions as to how we as an industry should deal with this?

Do we build a plant? Do we try to build our own markets for cow products? Do we include the cows in a mix of products going through a plant? Any suggestions?

[dalek]

ValueChain, there is no market for cows, and there isn't going to be a market for cows for years other than what little domestic one there was, most of which we couldn't afford to fill before. The only answer that makes any sense is to cull everything over 5 or 6 years old instead of sinking money into a bottomless pit trying to find a market for cows that aren't going to be worth anything until the border opens for them, which will be years even if it opens for younger stuff tomorrow.
The only thing we're doing now is shifting cows all over the country. Last week 40 potloads of cows from Alberta went into Quebec to be slaughtered, meanwhile we're selling them in Ontario for 9 and 10 cents. Lets dump them in a pit and get it over with instead of this slow lingering demise.

[ValueChainFX]

dalek, sorry to hear that there is no market for cows! I think there is, maybe not for all that is going to hit the market but a market none the less.

The biggest challenge is getting the animals killed, now and especially when the boarder opens up. But I guess the choices are there for you to go into the pit as well.

Again our government needs to look at the imports and make some adjustments as I believe they probably can ....