Cattle were first brought to Western Canada in the early 1700's, and soon replaced the native buffalo which grazed the Canadian plains. Initially, beef cattle were driven to the west to encourage settlement and the development of western industry. Today, approximately 70% of Canadian cattle are raised in the four western provinces, and the majority of cattle raised in eastern Canada are raised for dairy production. The beef industry is a greatly expanding market, contributing over $5 billion to the economy through the sale of cattle and calves throughout Canada and to the United States. Canada ranks in the top 20 producing countries in the world for beef production, and has great potential for expanding through the export of beef to the Pacific Rim countries.
As with dairy production, beef farms are getting larger in size, but decreasing in number. Currently, there are over 1.2 million head of beef cattle in Saskatchewan. The trend to increase herd size is a result of the increased efficiency of larger commercial operations. Larger operations permit the mechanization of feeding and handling systems, and the production of a more uniform product. Although many farms in Saskatchewan are family owned and operated, large commercial feedlots are becoming a more familiar sight.
Beef production in Canada has existed for hundreds of years and remained relatively simple. Raising animals on pasture, and feeding supplemental grain can be done with little need of the technological advances which have aided other livestock industries. Today, the greatest improvements have been made with the use of computers for ration formulation, record keeping, and scientific research to improve breeding and herd health. Mechanization of feeding and transportation has helped to reduce labour costs making beef production a more profitable industry.
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