Check-off reminders ahead of fall run

Fall run is one of the busiest times of year for Canadian cattle producers. Before your sell your calf crop, here’s a quick refreshed on how the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off applies to your sale.

The basics

Every time you sell cattle in Canada, a mandatory levy or check-off is deducted which is a combination of the national Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off and your provincial check-off. These funds support beef cattle research, market development, promotion, and advocacy on your behalf.

How does check-off get paid?

In almost every case, whoever buys your cattle is responsible for deducting the check-off from what they pay you, and sending (“remitting”) that money in on your behalf.

Who that “buyer” is depends on how you sold:

• Sold through an auction mart?
  The auction mart deducts the check-off and remits it.
• Sold to a packer?
  The packer deducts the check-off and remits it.
• Sold directly to another producer?
  That buyer deducts the check-off and remits it.
  • One exception: In a private treaty sale (a direct, one-on-one deal between buyer and seller, with no auction mart or dealer involved), the seller may choose to remit the check-off themselves instead of the buyer.
• Sold through a dealer?
  The dealer deducts the check-off and remits it.

The one rule that always applies: if the purchaser fails to deduct the check-off for any reason, responsibility to remit falls back on the seller, so it’s always worth confirming the check-off was deducted on your sale.

The check-off is owed on every sale of cattle, regardless of the sales channel, including auction markets, order buyers, or direct-to-feedlot sales.

Selling in a different province than you live in?

A common question during fall run: “I live in [Province A] but I’m selling at an auction market in [Province B]. Which levy applies?

As of August 1, 2025, the answer is straightforward: the levy is based on where you, the seller, reside, not where the sale takes place. So whether you sell at home or haul your calves across provincial lines, you’ll pay the levy rate of your home province.

Questions?

If you have questions about how the levy applies to your sale or how to remit, reach out to your provincial cattle association or the Agency directly.