BCRC: Cow-calf producers, your perspective needs to be heard

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is asking all Canadian cow-calf producers to share insight into their onfarm management practices and production methods.

Results of the 2023-24 Canadian Cowcalf Survey will influence how the BCRC prioritizes research and extension strategies that are funded by the research allocation of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-off.

The more responses we get, the better decisions we can make to meet the needs of different types of herds and operations in various regions.

Here’s just one example of the value of participating:

Our popular Calf 911 resources were developed because past cow-calf production survey results found that 6.8% of heifers (5.2% of cows) in Western Canada and 7.5% of heifers (8.3% of cows) in Eastern Canada lost their calves before weaning. Half of those deaths happened during the first 24 hours after birth. Knowing this, the BCRC worked with veterinarians, producers and extension experts to develop simple, practical resources to help producers increase the odds of calf survival.

It will take approximately 30-60 minutes to complete the questions, which relate to your 2023 calf crop, starting with breeding in Summer 2022 and ending with weaning in Fall 2023.

Credible information is needed directly from producers to help the BCRC identify research priorities and information gaps, develop provincial benchmarks and examine long-term changes that impact producers.

Individuals’ identity and information will remain anonymous and in the strictest of confidence. Information will be pooled with other respondents before being published in aggregate. Information collected will be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Results will be published on www. Beefresearch.ca in 2024. Results will inform updates to research priorities and extension strategies and the development of new materials that help producers address opportunities, risks and costs.

Previous cow-calf production surveys were conducted provincially and regionally between 2013 and 2017 in Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The 2023-24 Canadian Cow-calf Survey is an abbreviated and amalgamated replacement, and was developed in collaboration with the following regional expertise: Kathy Larson, Saskatchewan ; Katie Wood, Ontario; Nathalie Cote, Quebec; Maxime d’almeida, Quebec and Amy Higgins, Maritimes .