The Bison Producers of Alberta has teamed up with its Saskatchewan counterpart to study the cost of bison production.
“The overall goal is obviously to improve the economics in bison ranching by getting information out there a guy can use,” said Thomas Ackermann, chair of the Alberta organization.
The goal is to benchmark a range of production costs, from feed to handling systems, so producers can compare their costs to the average in the sector. It’s hoped that 30 Alberta and Saskatchewan producers, and possibly some from Manitoba, will provide data from 2012 and 2013. The information being collected “goes really deep” but is anonymous so the producers’ privacy is protected, said Ackermann.
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“We’re not afraid to use modern tools and modern ways of doing business in improving our business case,” he said.
The benchmark study is part of an initiative called ‘Keeping Up With the Herd’ that the Alberta group is undertaking to bolster the sector in this province.
A bison investment strategy and a communication plan are also part of the $239,000 initiative, which is getting three-quarters of its funding from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency and the remainder from the Bison Producers of Alberta.
“We’d love to see the industry grow,” said consultant Pierre Cormier. “We’re in a good position now where demand is outstripping our supply.”
It’s also hoped the initiative will help in policy and program development and encourage further research, help attract new entrants, and improve extension services.
