By Chantal Wagner

Cattle industry an ‘important part of our ecosystem’

Oct 26, 2020 | 9:38 PM

WARNER, AB – The vice-chair of the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association is sharing how unique the cattle industry is from raising the calf, all the way to the feedlot.

And how the industry is good for the environment and an important part of our ecosystem.

Jacob Bueckert has a feedlot near Warner, AB with over 20,000 head of cattle.

He says the industry has an amazing system which includes the cattle grazing on our grasslands.

“And the grazers keep the grass down, and when they graze the grass so that new grass can regrow they sequester an enormous amount of carbon out of the air so that’s really important for our environment, and not only that, all the animals that live on the grass they need to be able to roam around so the grass gets too tall or too congested it’s easier for their predators to find them so they need the ability to move around as well.”

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Bueckert says cattle also use different types of feed including byproducts that cannot be used by humans like canola meal and distillers grain byproduct. As well as leftover wheat that does not make milling quality.

“The average calf spends half the time out on grasslands growing up and helping sequester the carbon, then when we get them in the feedlot, a good portion up to over 50 percent of our ration is byproducts that humans can’t eat. For instance, french fries that are possibly discolored or don’t make grade end up in feedlots.”

He adds a nutritionist (PhD) is also involved.

“So we’re giving them (cattle) that balanced ration. We’re doing the best we possibly can for them because when the cattle are happy when the cattle feel safe, they actually eat better and gain good weight. So from my side on the feedlot, it’s worth it for me to keep them healthy, not because it’s the right thing to do, which it is, but on top of that the cattle then also perform better.”

“Then we take the waste from the animal,” Bueckert adds, “The manure and straw are put back to rejuvenate the land.”

On the record side, Bueckert says everything that goes into the cattle is recorded. From any vaccine that cattle have ever received, to any antibiotic that they need if they’re sick, and how many times they’ve been treated.

It’s on an individual basis and records are kept for years he added.

Meantime, he says this is the busiest time of the year because the cattle come off the grass and the calves are weaned so they see a lot of cattle liners on the road moving calves from farms and ranches to auction markets to the feedlot.

Despite the first snowfall in southern Alberta last week, he says the weather has been amazing compared to last year with more warm temperatures in store this week.

Bueckert adds cattle prices are down both at the auction market and on the feedlot side.

And hopes next year can be the equalizer for the industry.

“It’s very tough for us, no one is really making a living right now but we get to do what we love to do, sometimes you don’t make a living doing it. It’s hard and it sucks but we say there’s next year and hopefully, next year is the equalizer and brings us back again.”