Dogs and their handlers competed at the seventh annual Cattle Dog Futurity and Maturity competitions and the International Stock Dog Trials held Thursday at Canadian Western Agribition.

The futurity event featured dogs born between November 2019 and October 2020 who were competing for the first time.

“We believe (they) should be in their prime of their training then. They’re young, viable, and should have enough training, or be trained enough, to come and display in town and educate everyone on the use of cow dogs and how it works,” said event organizer Marcel Vermette of Rafter V Ranch near Outlook, Sask.

Vermette competed with his dog, Jock, who was the event’s reserve champion in 2020.

Calin Duce of Cardston, Alta., brought his three-year-old dog, Tan, to compete in the futurity event before moving on to the stock dog event.

Duce said the dog learns how to read and adjust to different types of animals.

“It’s a little bit of a different game on maybe how you handle them, but it’s very similar to each other,” he said.

With 750 cow-calf pairs and 6,000 in the feedlot, Duce currently has 15 dogs on staff.

After they start to slow down, retirement can be pretty special, he said.

“Usually if a dog has made it to 10 years old with someone, they’re probably going to be sitting on the porch the rest of their life.”

One stock dog can replace three ranch hands, said Vermette, who owns a custom grazing operation.

Beyond the skill, agility, and intelligence of stock dogs, there are other reasons stock dogs are ideal, he said. “These guys show up to work. They’re never hung over. They don’t have to take kids to a ballgame early in the day, whatever. They’ll work till they’re dead. And so they really are the ideal employee.”

Vermette also sees them as better for his cattle herd.

“Cattle are a prey animal. They’re always a little anxious. And if they’re anxious, they’re not going to put weight on when we’re grazing because they’re always looking for that predator that’s coming together. Once we started working with them with the dogs, that anxiety comes back down to nothing.”

Agribition has been a good place to feature the stock dogs, Vermette said, with a great community of fellow handlers.

“We’re all just ranchers… you can brag about how good your dog is but until you bring him to town, it’s just talk,” he said with a laugh.

The post At Agribition: Young dogs debut their new tricks appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Tuesday reported the results of a necropsy on an Oshawa dog confirmed Saturday to be positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza.

In what CFIA described as the only case of its kind in Canada, the domestic dog was found to have been infected with the high-path strain after chewing on a wild goose and died after developing “clinical signs.”

Further testing is underway, CFIA said, but added that the necropsy performed Monday showed “respiratory system involvement.”

Poultry farmers and backyard flock owners worldwide have been on alert since 2020 as a strain of high-path H5N1 adapted to spread widely via wild birds and reached into domestic poultry in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Canadian domestic birds, the strain made its first appearance in late 2021.

Since then, as of March 29 this year, the strain is estimated to have impacted 7.237 million domestic Canadian birds across nine provinces; about half the birds were in British Columbia and about a fifth in Alberta.

CFIA emphasized the number of documented cases of H5N1 in “non-avian species” such as dogs and cats is low, “despite the fact that this virus has caused large avian outbreaks globally over the last few years.”

That said, detections in several wild mammal species have “continued intermittently” during Canada’s current run of outbreaks, CFIA said, noting cases as far back as last July in foxes in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia; seals, dolphins and black bears in Quebec; and wild mink, raccoons, porpoises and skunks in “several areas” across the country.

As for the human health risk, “current evidence” in Canada suggests the risk of a person contracting avian flu from a pet is “minor.”

Also, CFIA said, no “domestically acquired” human cases of avian influenza have been reported in Canada.

Cases of avian influenza among humans are “almost always” acquired through direct contact with infected birds or exposure to “heavily contaminated environments,” the agency said, and there’s no evidence yet of sustained person-to-person spread.

Out of 305 outbreaks in domestic poultry and backyard flocks across Canada since late 2021, just four were detected during March this year: one in Nova Scotia, two in Ontario and one on March 27 in a commercial poultry flock in the municipality of Rouville, east of Montreal.

Two more outbreaks have since been detected in commercial flocks at Rouville, both on April 3. — Glacier FarmMedia Network

The post Ontario domestic dog dies of avian flu appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

Peter Gonnet from Outlook, Sask., is a well-known stock dog trainer, breeder and clinician. While Gonnet says he always had a collie dog around, it took an unexpected detour on a road trip to open his eyes to their true potential. 

“One time we went on a little holiday into the States and went by a sign that said ‘dog trial.’ We pulled in there to watch and we ended up staying all weekend,” Gonnet recalls. “That’s probably when I really got interested in making these dogs work for me.” 

Since then Gonnet has judged many events including the prestigious United States Border Collie Handling Association trials. 

A former community pasture manager, Gonnet relied on dogs to move herds through grazing rotations. 

“I would say it’s much lower stress on the animals. I was able to move bigger herds of livestock with less help,” Gonnet explains. Since he retired to his nearby ranch, he now uses dogs to help his family on their large backgrounding operation. 

Justin Hozack, a cow-calf rancher from Marwayne, Alta., was always curi- ous about cattle dogs, but it wasn’t until he lived in New Zealand that his interest really piqued. 

“They use dogs for everything,” he says, adding he would observe one person and three dogs move thousands of sheep efficiently. “I thought, ‘These guys can get a pile more work done than I can by myself,’” Hozack says. He practices intensive grazing on his ever-growing family operation and uses stock dogs for daily moves. 

For people new to stock dogs, Hozack suggests starting with an older dog. When he returned to Canada, he invested in a trained working dog and never looked back. “He came home and was instantly a work hand,” he says. Hozack says learning from others was also key. “Go to some clinics, reach out as much as possible and don’t be afraid to ask crazy questions,” he suggests. Gonnet agrees it is important to find a mentor. There are a lot of resources and associations that provide information, but Gonnet says having a person to lean on for advice is valuable.

“There are a lot of situations that come up that you don’t read in books or deal with in clinics,” he says and adds this is particularly true when trying to adjust a cow herd to working dogs. 

On-the-job training

Gonnet suggests waiting until a pup is at least eight months old before starting them to work, but that lead time can be useful. 

“Right from little puppies, you can take them on a leash and expose them to a calf,” he says. He also teaches manners and simple lessons like jumping in the truck or following on a horse. 

“The biggest thing is patience and to go slow,” Gonnet says. “Don’t start them on cows with calves on them,” he adds and says younger stock like replacement heifers can be a nice group to start with. 

“I like to have a little bit of control before I start them on cattle so I can call them off,” he says. “Don’t put that dog in situations where cows feel really threatened and want to fight.” 

Hozack agrees. “I don’t put them into situations where it’s dicey and this could get them beat up,” he says, because pushing a young dog can be hard on their confidence. An inexperienced dog may not know they can walk into a sheep’s space or cow’s space so Hozack will trot over on his horse or on foot to help the dogs move cattle at first. 

“Make it a good experience for them.” 

Pressure and release

Adjusting a cow herd to working dogs is important. 

“If that dog comes in too quickly, the cows will go on the fight because they think it’s a predator,” Gonnet says. The idea is to allow the dog to walk into those cows so the cows learn to give to the dog’s pressure, he says. 

Hozack works with his breeding heifers so they get used to dogs. “We bring them in and we break them down into groups of 10 and ‘dog break’ them so they know to turn away from the dog.” 

He puts a smaller group of heifers in a pen and starts them walking down the fence line, then sends his dog to the front to stop them. Hozack’s goal is to get the heifers to turn their head and give way to the pressure of the dog. 

Gonnet says it’s necessary that a working dog has the authority to tell the cows where to move and the strength to accomplish the task but he cautions that power is not aggression. Biting can be an indication of fear, Gonnet explains. 

“Yet if a cow refuses to go, that dog has to apply enough pressure to get that cow to give. That might be a bite on the nose or heel, but in doing that you want it done correctly,” Gonnet says. 

You want the dog to calmly walk forward and purposely grab that cow and then release that pressure, Gonnet explains. “That’s where a lot of people get confused.” 

Gonnet says the handler has a responsibility to understand why their dogs are doing what they do. “The dog has got to trust you,” he says. 

“If you’re yelling commands and scold- ing and the dog is doing his job properly, he’s going to be frustrated and lose confidence in you.” 

Common canine misconceptions

Gonnet says a lot of people seem surprised that working dogs should be kennelled. “People want a dog but not one they have to keep tied up,”he says, but adds that work is a border collie’s reward so they will get themselves into trouble working independently. 

Hozack agrees and also says dogs that run loose are less receptive to commands. “If you’re asking them to change the way they’re working, (a dog left loose) will wait to do what they want,” he says. “They can’t take a correction very well.” 

Hozack says another misconception is that it is hard to train dogs. 

“If you put the time in and work a dog three days a week for fifteen minutes, you will be shocked at what you can get done,” he says. He adds the investment in time is minuscule compared to the amount of time a dog will save you. 

Gonnet says a common stumbling block for ranchers is getting a proper, well-bred dog that can accomplish the work that needs to be done. Not every dog comes from working bloodlines, even if they may be excellent at trial events, he explains. 

Job security

“I tell people to learn to work multiple dogs, maybe two or three at a time,” says Gonnet, especially when working a big herd of cows. “A good team with different sets of commands — one to the left and one to the right — is really fun too. 

“If one dog has trouble with a cow but there’s another dog to provide backup, you can get things done with less stress and the cows won’t fight as much.” 

Overall, stock dogs have been a critical part of stockmanship for both ranchers. 

Hozack says with dogs, he can accomplish more with fewer people. “If I can get help, that’s great,” he says but adds that with extra people comes higher intensity and different momentum. 

“With dogs, it’s a lot more relaxed,” he says, adding dogs are always willing helpers. “If it’s snowing and raining, a horse might be cold-backed. But dogs always want to go to work.” 

“I don’t know how you could ever operate without them,” says Gonnet. 

The post Work like a dog appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

News reports in Western Canada in the past week have described increased demand from non-farming consumers for veterinary-grade ivermectin, whether at livestock supply retailers or online.

While ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug — not an antiviral drug — the unusual demand is believed to be connected to unsubstantiated claims of the product as prevention or treatment against the COVID-19 virus in people.

As a result, Health Canada on Tuesday issued a formal advisory: “Do not use veterinary ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. If you have purchased ivermectin for this purpose, discard it immediately.”

While some formulations of the drug are registered in Canada for use against parasitic infections in people, Health Canada’s statement advises people not to use human-grade ivermectin against COVID-19 infection either.

“There is no evidence that ivermectin in either formulation is safe or effective when used for those purposes,” the department said.

Veterinary formulations are registered in Canada under brands such as Boehringer Ingelheim’s Ivomec and Vetoquinol’s Bovimectin, used against worms and lice in cattle; Bimeda’s Bimectin, used against parasites in cattle, horses, sheep and hogs; and Boehringer’s HeartGard, to treat heartworms and intestinal worms in dogs.

Provinces such as Alberta already require consumers to provide their farms’ premises ID numbers when buying any approved medicines and medicated items for use in livestock from authorized retailers. Some stores quoted in news reports have taken such products behind the counter and check for proof of livestock ownership.

Non-farming consumers who obtain veterinary drugs by other means “should never consume health products intended for animals because of the potential serious health dangers posed by them,” Health Canada said.

Veterinary ivermectin, which has more highly concentrated dosage than versions prescribed to people, may cause serious health problems such as “vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, allergic reactions, dizziness, seizures, coma and even death,” the department said.

Health Canada, in its statement, cited a similar advisory from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) citing “multiple reports of patients in the U.S. who have required medical support and been hospitalized after using ivermectin intended for horses.”

Health Canada said it’s “closely monitoring all potential therapeutic treatments for COVID-19, including treatments being studied in international clinical trials,” but has not received any drug submission or clinical trial application for ivermectin against COVID-19.

The department said it “will continue to monitor the situation and will take appropriate and timely action should new information become available, including any information regarding the illegal advertising or sale of ivermectin.”

The department added it has “previously warned Canadians about products making false and misleading claims to treat or cure COVID-19.”

Writing in May on an Ontario Veterinary College blog, OVC professor Dr. Scott Weese said ivermectin has been “widely discussed in some internet circles for treatment or prevention of COVID-19. That’s based on mainly anecdotes, some in vitro study, and very poor quality ‘clinical trials.’

“While conspiracy theories abound, no one has come up with any plausible explanation why an effective drug would be suppressed,” he added.

“Dexamethasone (a steroid used to treat patients with severe COVID-19) is cheap, widely used and widely produced, and it’s standard-of-care for some patients. That’s because it works. Ivermectin fits all of those except the ‘works for COVID-19’ which is the most important one.”

Furthermore, he wrote, ivermectin remains important for treatment of certain parasitic infections in people, and “diversion of the relatively small amount of human ivermectin products towards unnecessary use compromises the care of people that really need it.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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Though dog meat remains a delicacy in many regions, the ministry of agriculture said in a notice published on Wednesday that dogs would no longer be considered as livestock. It uses that designation for animals that can be bred to provide food, milk, fur, fibre and medicine, or to serve the needs of sports or the military.

“As far as dogs are concerned, along with the progress of human civilization and the public concern and love for animal protection, dogs have been ‘specialized’ to become companion animals, and internationally are not considered to be livestock, and they will not be regulated as livestock in China,” it said.

The coronavirus is widely believed to have originated in horseshoe bats, and could have been passed onto humans by intermediary species on sale in the markets of the city of Wuhan, where the pathogen was first identified.

China subsequently banned the breeding, trading and consumption of wildlife, and revoked all existing licenses. It has also promised to revise legislation to make the ban permanent.

The draft guidelines published on Wednesday, which have been opened to the public for consultation, listed 18 traditional livestock species — including cattle, pigs, poultry and camels.

It also added 13 “special” species that would also be exempt from wild animal trading restrictions, including reindeer, alpaca, pheasants, ostriches and foxes.

Dog consumption has become increasingly unpopular in China, and the southern city of Shenzhen became the first to ban it last month.

However, the Humane Society International, an animal welfare group, estimated that around 10 million dogs a year are still killed in China for meat, including stolen pets. The city of Yulin in the region of Guangxi holds an annual dog meat festival in June.

“This draft proposal could signal a game-changer moment for animal protection in China,” said Wendy Higgins, a Humane Society International spokeswoman.

— Reporting for Reuters by David Stanway.

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The proposed new rules are aimed at preventing passengers from falsely claiming their pets are service animals aboard U.S. airline flights.

Airlines have long complained passengers have been able to exploit the designation by bringing their pets and other exotic creatures on board with limited oversight and without adequate training.

Federal law allows passengers with disabilities to travel with service animals.

U.S. airlines including Southwest, Delta, United and American Airlines have moved to limit emotional support animals in cabins to largely dogs and cats after a growing number of passengers were bringing a wide variety of exotic pets such as monkeys, pigs and various birds that could pose a safety risk. Airlines in recent years reported a big jump in travelers bringing animals aboard.

A trade group representing major U.S. airlines praised the proposal, saying it would ensure “only dogs trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities are allowed onboard aircraft.”

The department said the proposal “is intended to ensure a safe and accessible air transportation system” and will be open for public comment.

It also wants comment on whether it should allow miniature horses to serve as service animals. The department is not proposing to allow airlines to bar service dogs on the basis of breed or type.

Spirit Airlines told regulators it lost “millions of dollars in pet carriage fees from passengers fraudulently claiming their ‘house pets are service or support animals.'”

Delta noted in 2018 that some passengers “attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums known as sugar gliders, snakes” and spiders, while American Airlines in 2018 said it would not allow a wide variety of creatures on flights as support animals including goats, ferrets, hedgehogs, amphibians and reptiles.

The administration’s proposal would consider “a psychiatric service animal” like any other service animal and require the same training and treatment as others.

Airlines could require passengers to submit a completed U.S. Transportation form as a condition of transportation, which could potentially subject them to criminal or civil penalties if passengers made false statements.

Airlines would be able to require forms developed by the Transportation Department attesting to a service animal’s good behaviour, certifying the service animal’s good health, “and if taking a long flight attesting that the service animal has the ability to either not relieve itself, or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner.”

— David Shepardson reports on U.S. aviation and automotive policy for Reuters from Washington, D.C.

The post No turkeys, pigs, goats: U.S. to let airlines limit service animals appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

Ken MacKenzie of Drayton Valley, Alta., has a solution to this labour dilemma as he has been raising border collies and using them around his ranch for years.

“As a kid, we always had dogs on the cattle ranch and I always liked them,” he says. “When I was in college, I realized how much more they could do for a person in a practical sense.”

He has turned this early foundation into a part of his ranching operation by raising, training and selling stock dogs on a regular basis.

Not all stock dogs are created equal and MacKenzie explains there are numerous qualities they need to succeed.

“They have to have good natural ability. It’s a combination of things. They need enough brains and stamina to do enough of the job. They don’t have to be great at everything, but they have to be ‘good enough’ at everything.”

MacKenzie’s dogs are trained to work both cattle and sheep. When he starts a dog, he uses a combination of verbal commands and whistles to associate sounds and actions, offering reassurance and praise when they do things right. He explains that patience is extremely important.

“Take them at their grade level. If they’re at grade one, don’t expect them to go to grade six today.”

As they progress, he allows them to do more as a reward. “Their drive is to work. A really good border collie is always wanting to work and that’s the kind of dog I want, but you have to spend a lot of time with it.”

MacKenzie explains that working cattle is natural to the dogs. He relates it to their ability to outmanoeuvre predators or chase prey animals.

“They know the angles. They know if they jump over the log, they’ll lose the rabbit because it will get a different angle on them, so they pretend to jump the log and duck under instead to get them. They’re smart.”

He points out their breeding combined with body pressure and speech allows them to quickly understand cattle and sheep behaviour. “The dogs are an extension of my ability to read and work stock.”

While working his cows, he keeps his dogs quiet. “There is no barking going on. They walk up to a cow and it is their job to move them, so they bite at them and (the cows) turn, respect their power and move away.”

He trains the dogs to move animals at a reasonable speed. If they start at a slow pace and end at a gallop, someone could get hurt or there could be a fight.

“Dogs get hurt and cows get upset. That’s a problem.”

MacKenzie uses the collies for a variety of different tasks including gathering and keeping cattle up in the pens or covering a gate when he’s sorting on horseback or on foot. They can be used at the back of a pen to bring animals closer, although he admits that can be tricky with cows being wary if they perceive a threat to their young. He likes to position the dogs on a switch; off for a moment or on pause, where he can call them if needed, ask them to do something and then put them back where he wants them.

“Sometimes they have to sit there and wait, other times they might work hard all day.”

Using a stock dog on a regular basis can save time and energy, but MacKenzie admits there are limitations, especially when the work is in tough conditions.

“I like a dog with a little more leg, because I’ve got snow and mud. In the bush or out in the open field where the grass isn’t too tall, they can be really good. But it’s a rough job. It’s a dangerous occupation.”

MacKenzie explains it is a balancing act when working with the dogs. At times, a handler can have too much control and the dog will be hesitant, with the animals losing respect. At other times, the handler could lack control and cause a wreck. Not all dogs work out and if they don’t have the will or are afraid to engage the animals, MacKenzie may have to discontinue the training.

“If I feel I’m always doing the majority of the job, I’m going to get a different dog. I’m a rancher and farmer and practical that way.”

MacKenzie has had considerable success at many prestigious competitions, winning Reserve Champion at the 2017 Calgary Stampede, Reserve Champion at Agribition, along with two wins at Northland’s sheep dog competitions over the last two years. He plans on continuing to enter competitions in the future.

MacKenzie is passionate about border collies and sees them as a very useful part of working farms if they are trained and handled properly. He sees huge value in clinics and besides hosting his own, he continues to attend those put on by others in the field.

“I really believe in clinics and learning from other people, trying to improve myself. I don’t take credit for all the stuff I know. If I can work my cattle better at a competition, it makes it even easier to move them around at home whether it’s on horseback or with a dog. They’ve taught me so much and they keep teaching me all the time. I definitely have a passion for the dogs.”

The post Help Wanted: Four-legged livestock handler appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

At last week’s Ag in Motion, stock dog handler and trainer Jared Epp offered a demonstration and shared his experiences of how man’s best friend can be a valuable tool to help move livestock in the field.

In this video, Epp discusses the three “ins” he looks for in dogs to be successful at moving herds, the importance of leadership between a handler and their dog, the difference between how cows and sheep react to the presence of a stock dog, and much more.

The post VIDEO: Stock dogs. Man’s best friend for moving livestock appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

• More ‘History’ on the Canadian Cattlemen: Killers to Respect

While I worked range riding for Dr. Warnock who was then running the Walrond horse ranch, Doc McEachern, who was general manager and lived in Montreal, sent out a big slate-coloured stud dog, an Irish wolfhound, as wolves were at least twice as heavy as the greyhounds and the deerhounds they used for coyote dogs. “Hector,” as the dog was named, was supposed to give his pups weight. He weighed well over 100 pounds. Well, Hector had plenty of sand but no experience with wolves. One day Lou Murray and I ran into a bunch of half-grown wolf pups. The old bitch wolf ran over the brow of the hill. Hector spotted her and after her he went. We were busy getting the pups which had scattered in every direction. When we got through with them we went after the old one. Lou felt sure Hector would kill the old bitch, if he could catch her, but I had my doubts. Sure enough, not 100 yards from the brow of the hill there lay Hector, his belly ripped open and badly mauled. It looked as though his back was broken as he had a big gash over the loins.

The High River Horse Ranch imported a big German boarhound. He weighed about 145 pounds, but he was slow and could not keep up with the pack; also being smoothhaired, I do not believe he would have stood a chance with a big wolf. A. J. McLean of the CV at Taber told me he had weighed a female wolf killed near Taber. Her weight was 176 pounds. The heaviest wolf I have any record of was killed by Frank Bedingfield on his place west of High River above the Duke of Windsor Ranch. He was coming home with a load of logs on a sleigh. His collie dog came on the high run to the sleigh and a wolf popped out of the timber right after him. Frank picked the dog up and put him on the load, but the wolf kept circling the team and Frank feared he was going to jump the horses. When he got home the wolf, who was still following, stopped on the brow of the second bench watching the dog. Frank got his rifle, put the dog back on the load and drove back up the hill. He put the collie off the sleigh and as soon as the wolf saw the dog he made for him and was not over 20 feet away when Frank shot him dead. He was such a big heavy brute that Frank had quite a time getting him on the load. However, he decided to get his weight, but having no scales he drove down the next day to the Bar U, just a couple of miles down Pekisko Creek, where the dead wolf tipped the scales at 217 pounds. I was working at the Bar U at the time but was out on the range so I did not see him weighed, but the boys who helped Frank all agreed on 217 pounds as the weight. I have killed quite a number of big wolves but I believe Frank’s wolf holds the record for this part of Canada.

While on the subject of wolves I have never known of an authentic case of wolves, singly or in packs, molesting humans. I have been in a place on Moose River, north of Athabaska, where two big packs of wolves were operating, one of over 40, the other over 30. They would pull down and clean up a big bull moose but trappers in the district never even bothered to carry a gun. They said as soon as wolves got the human scent they beat it out of sight, and only by accident could you get a shot at them. These trappers collected the bounty of $25 on only three pelts. Their story was that one night they heard an awful racket on the little frozen-over lake not over 200 yards from the cabin. Their sleigh dogs, which they kept chained up, seemed very excited, but they waited until daylight before they investigated and there on the bloody, tramped-down snow were three dead wolves, and the horns and big bones of a large bull moose.

For more of the past from the pages of Canadian Cattlemen see our History section.

The post History: Wolves appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

Fast-forward to today and we have for the first time in history elevated the companion animal to almost human status. Nearly 40 per cent of all households have a dog and 40 per cent do have a cat. Canadians now spend 2.0 per cent of their disposable income on pet food compared to eight per cent of their disposable income on feeding themselves. The revenue from dog and cat food sales alone grows over four per cent per year and recently rivalled the value of the entire Canadian beef industry at nearly $2 billion.

The pet food industry is also host to massive growth in organic product and in fact is the sales leader in this category. As dogs and cats age, the need for specialized diets is growing and just as we supply the best for our working dogs, so too do people want diets for their aging dogs. Breaking into any pet market is not easy especially if you are trying to source ingredients locally for a variety of diets, but one Canadian company out of Alberta has done this and keeps gathering awards internationally.

• More ‘Straight from the Hip’ with Brenda Schoepp: We need a return to healthy soil

Champion Petfoods now sells a carnivore-based selection of pet foods into 72 countries. I have long followed its story not only because of its success, but because I like the strategy behind the business. The client of course is the dog or cat and the science behind feeding them is in understanding the digestive system of each. And while research can deliver the technical details, it cannot hand you a 72-country client base that generates 66 per cent of your revenue internationally.

When recently interviewed by Alberta Venture, CEO Frank Burdzy said something that caught my eye when he referred to manufacturing by declaring that regardless of the destination of the product, it was manufactured to the highest standard. In the case of dog and cat food, that is to EU standard. When I read this I thought of the beef industry and our past reluctance to set the bar at a standard that was uncomfortable and unfamiliar. These shifts don’t come easily and Champion had to get everyone on board from ingredients to delivery to make the company an international success.

The result was regenerative, meaning that by going beyond the standard of excellence we employ here in Canada to an even higher standard, it continued to generate sales in new countries and for new product. I liken it to the recent experience on our farm shipping semen to Australia. Finding the partners took extra time but once we met the hardest and highest standard for that product we now can ship worldwide. Our domestic semen comes from the same tank, ensuring the client the highest standard available.

In the interview, Burdzy also referred to the importance of image — something the beef industry clearly understands. The idea of our mountains and waterfalls under those ever blue skies tends to bring a breath of freshness to the image of food produced in Canada. Yes it is an Alberta image but that is what buyers relate to when it comes to food and food products, pet foods and health food from their international perspective. It seems to not be oversold and customers have never tired of it so it remains in the industry’s best interest to continue to sell that image.

The term “local” is becoming a stronger selling point for all food and food products including dog and cat food. Champion took its plant to the food source when it simply could not get enough fish in landlocked Alberta. Its new Kentucky plant works with fishermen and catfish farms to supply the needs of the plant. The idea of taking the plant closer to the source has long been a sore spot for Canadians in the food-processing business but there are gaps in specialized production and processing. We have to ask: is it wise to have interdependence in an industry on three large kill floors or should we be also looking at the marketplace, the source of product and moving manufacturing around to make it all work?

Like the little engine that could, this small family-owned company continues to grow and will build new kitchen and lab space in Alberta with a price tag of $5.9 million and add a new kitchen to the plant in Kentucky.

Our investment in the $3.8-million Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence is a great start in the right direction if we first take the time and effort to fully understand our customer so the recommendations for new products and product testing meet their needs.

As for regulatory frustration and the demands of other countries, perhaps we can take a page out of the Champion playbook of getting around all of that with value-added product(s) that use ingredients that are not outsourced and produced to the highest-known international standard. History is made by bringing people together to share food, ideas, debate and innovation at the same table. One under which a beloved cat or dog most certainly and contentedly sleeps.

The post Beef industry could learn from ‘Champion’ pet food maker appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.