Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association CEO and president Janice Tranberg said provincial feedlots are experiencing mass feed shortages caused by supply chain disruptions..“The issue is not that there isn’t a supply. The issue is being able to get a consistent supply of corn up to Canada via rail train,” said Tranberg..While Alberta feedlots would typically source local barley “the 2021 drought and poor crops limited producers’ access to feedstock (and) what is available (locally) is very expensive.”.In response, Alberta producers sought out the US’ ample corn supply, but their efforts were met with rail delays..While Tranberg appreciates the sentiment behind a recent social media post asking the Truckers for Freedom convoy to use their return trip to haul cattle feed back to Alberta feedlots experiencing shortages, she said the post is inaccurate and impractical..“We appreciate the thought (of the post) and that Canadians are responding to the needs of the fed-cattle industry in Alberta. (However), the industry’s issue is not feed supply but transportation,” said Tranberg to the Western Standardon Friday..The wildly-circulated post directs truckers to contact Tranberg “if they have room for feed and are willing to help out ranchers in need.”.“Cattle ranchers in Western Canada are in desperate need of feed as tens of thousands of cattle are at serious risk of starvation,” and that “several large feedlot operators expect to run out of animal feed within days.”.The post included Tranberg’s recent comments to The Canadian Press regarding operators running out of feed. “These feedlots house anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 head, so this is dire.”.While the need is real, Tranberg said a truckload of corn from Eastern Canada is simply not sufficient to meet the industry’s current feed shortfalls which are caused by rail delays, not supply..Tranberg said weather and COVID-19 were aggravating factors..“The issue is the confluence of cold weather – as trains don’t run as quickly or efficiently – resulting in less rail cars, as well as staff shortages caused by sickness.”.She added the vaccine mandates “have not helped matters” related to the supply chain disruptions..Tranberg also said the drought-induced lack of pasture prompted producers to send their cattle to feedlots earlier than usual, putting more pressure on area feedlots..Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau met with CP CEO and president Keith Creel earlier this week to discuss the “dangerously low feed supply for cattle across the Prairies.”(embed please https://twitter.com/mclaudebibeau/status/1484943491373449225).In a Tweet earlier this week, the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association said “we (will) continue to work with transport companies (and) elected officials to get feed (to) feedlots asap.”.Amber Gosselin is a reporter with the Western Standard..agosselin@westernstandardonline.com
Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association CEO and president Janice Tranberg said provincial feedlots are experiencing mass feed shortages caused by supply chain disruptions..“The issue is not that there isn’t a supply. The issue is being able to get a consistent supply of corn up to Canada via rail train,” said Tranberg..While Alberta feedlots would typically source local barley “the 2021 drought and poor crops limited producers’ access to feedstock (and) what is available (locally) is very expensive.”.In response, Alberta producers sought out the US’ ample corn supply, but their efforts were met with rail delays..While Tranberg appreciates the sentiment behind a recent social media post asking the Truckers for Freedom convoy to use their return trip to haul cattle feed back to Alberta feedlots experiencing shortages, she said the post is inaccurate and impractical..“We appreciate the thought (of the post) and that Canadians are responding to the needs of the fed-cattle industry in Alberta. (However), the industry’s issue is not feed supply but transportation,” said Tranberg to the Western Standardon Friday..The wildly-circulated post directs truckers to contact Tranberg “if they have room for feed and are willing to help out ranchers in need.”.“Cattle ranchers in Western Canada are in desperate need of feed as tens of thousands of cattle are at serious risk of starvation,” and that “several large feedlot operators expect to run out of animal feed within days.”.The post included Tranberg’s recent comments to The Canadian Press regarding operators running out of feed. “These feedlots house anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 head, so this is dire.”.While the need is real, Tranberg said a truckload of corn from Eastern Canada is simply not sufficient to meet the industry’s current feed shortfalls which are caused by rail delays, not supply..Tranberg said weather and COVID-19 were aggravating factors..“The issue is the confluence of cold weather – as trains don’t run as quickly or efficiently – resulting in less rail cars, as well as staff shortages caused by sickness.”.She added the vaccine mandates “have not helped matters” related to the supply chain disruptions..Tranberg also said the drought-induced lack of pasture prompted producers to send their cattle to feedlots earlier than usual, putting more pressure on area feedlots..Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau met with CP CEO and president Keith Creel earlier this week to discuss the “dangerously low feed supply for cattle across the Prairies.”(embed please https://twitter.com/mclaudebibeau/status/1484943491373449225).In a Tweet earlier this week, the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association said “we (will) continue to work with transport companies (and) elected officials to get feed (to) feedlots asap.”.Amber Gosselin is a reporter with the Western Standard..agosselin@westernstandardonline.com
