The backlog of cattle continues to grow in Western Canada, as the realities of reduced shifts and temporary closures at processing plants become the new norm, at least for now.
Dennis Laycraft is the Executive Vice President of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA).
He says in Western Canada right now each day we are operating at about 6,000 head below normal capacity.
“So every day that we're not processing that amount are cattle that are backing up in the system. In a week alone, they'll be backing up around 30,000 head and it takes time when the plants do reopen to work through those cattle.”
He notes with feedlots not selling cattle they are also not refilling pens, which means producers that background cattle are also sitting on cattle that would be going to market fairly soon.
“The big issue right now is really how it's impacting cattle producers. You know we've seen over $600 ahead in losses, directly resulted to the closure of the plants or the reduced hourly capacity in plants.”
Fawn Jackson, the CCA's Director of Government and International Relations, says this has pushed us from being in a serious situation to being in a critical situation.
“We do need to see it urgently. Some of the feedback that we're getting is that the provinces need to be the ones to trigger a program or whether the province is saying that it's the federal government. I think our key message is that now is the time to act and you know, it doesn't really matter who does it. It matters that someone somebody does.”
Janice Tranberg is President and CEO of the National Cattle Feeders Association and the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association.
She says operators are trying to make the best of the situation and hold onto to their cattle the best they can.
“There still is some potential positivity in the industry that this is going to be shorter term than longer-term, and that we still have the opportunity to catch up once and hopefully when shifts start getting back on.”
She notes timing-wise it's a good thing we didn't see this happen in a couple of months, or we'd be in a bigger crunch than we are today.
Meantime, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 401 President Thomas Hesse is calling for an independent, worker-centered review of health and safety in food processing facilities and grocery stores.
“The problems we have raised are not seen only at Cargill. JBS in Brooks is just as bad, and we fear it may be worse. We have also asked for preventative measures at Olymel in Red Deer.”
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