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Phot credit: Alberta Beef Producers
Agriculture

Some Peace Region ranchers may have to sell herds because of drought-caused feed shortage

Nov 28, 2021 | 7:00 AM

A Beaverlodge rancher who sits on the Alberta Beef Producers Board of Directors says feed supplies have been “stretched very thin” after the drought.

Mike Nadeau says some ranchers may have to sell their cattle, with some having to ship their entire herd.

“In some instances, I think there will be folks that do. Some people will be able to downsize and hold the majority of their herd together but there will be instances, I think, where folks have to liquidate their whole herd.”

Nadeau says producers are looking at other feed sources.

“Trust agriculture folks to be creative. They’re looking at all sorts of sources. A lot of people are going to look at straw by-products from the cropping sector, screenings, that type of thing.”

“In order to stretch their good feed out, they’ll feed that, and it’ll supplement the feed.”:

Nadeau says round hay bales are selling for $120 to $130 each. Last year, they were selling for $50 to $60 apiece.

He adds a lot of crop farmers baled a lot of their straw this year so there should be enough to use as bedding or feed.