Unlocking Insights: The Canadian feedlot and backgrounding operations benchmarking survey

With government regulations affecting beef production in other countries, it is crucial for Canada to adopt sustainable beef practices to maintain and grow our beef markets. Currently, Canada lacks a national benchmark of practices used by backgrounding and finishing operations, which can lead to uncertainty about current practices.

To address this, the Canadian Benchmark survey was developed to assess the sustainability of the cattle feeding industry and to help producers enhance their operations. This national benchmark serves as a valuable tool for feedlots and backgrounders, allowing them to compare their practices with those of other operations across Canada. By doing so, producers can identify their strengths and weaknesses, providing a clear path for improvement.

Additionally, the benchmark survey supports research and extension activities by highlighting what matters most to producers. It also helps identify practices that can enhance the efficiency and sustainability of their operations.

The survey covers various aspects, including management practices, feeding strategies, feed additives, diet composition, types of cattle, and overall cattle management used in each operation. By gathering detailed information, we can create an accurate and effective benchmark that will benefit the cattle feeding industry and support the growth of the Canadian beef sector.

You can support the project by completing this survey.