Beef Production in Alberta
Alberta has a dynamic and diverse beef production system. It allows for cow calf producers, cattle feeders, packers, retailers and investors to thrive in a competitive environment. Cow calf production became a primary source of income for Albertans over 100 years ago. Cattle grazed the land in both the north, near Edmonton, and the south, near Calgary.
Today, the same principles of having cattle graze in clean, open pastures remains the backbone of calf production in Alberta. With nearly 39,000 farms and ranches housing mother cows and producing calves, the cow calf sector is now spread throughout the province. Each farm and ranch is carefully focused on production efficiencies and animal well being and the ultimate delivery of healthy calves to the feedlot.
The feedlot which receives the calves may ‘background’ them to a little heavier weight or ‘finish’ them for slaughter. In the backgrounding feedlot, the calves are lighter, anywhere from 450 – 650 lbs. and they are fed primarily a forage diet, much like the grass that they were on with their mothers. This ensures the calves grow a little slower and prepares them for the finishing feedlot or to go back out to graze. The cattle that go back out to graze are called ‘yearlings’ and are often 850 – 950 lbs. when they reach the feedlot. Like yearlings, some calves are big when they are weaned and are ready to go on a higher energy grain diet in the finishing feedlot. The finishing feedlot delivers a very precise feed grain based ration to the cattle to ensure a balance of health, growth and quality. Alberta is home to 347 feedlots over 1,000 head which have the capacity to collectively finish 2.5 million head of cattle.
Alberta’s meat packing industry has a weekly output of approximately 68,000 head but has the capacity to process 99,000 head of cattle. The packing house, where the fed cattle are slaughtered, is highly regulated and will test the beef carcass to ensure complete consumer safety and quality. Cattle are quality graded for yield and marbling at the time of slaughter. Alberta packers are technologically advanced and may value add to the product right on site selling to the retailers and food service suppliers.
Grocery retailers and suppliers to the food service industry are proud to sell locally produced Alberta beef. In addition, Alberta raised, fed, and processed beef is sold both nationally and internationally to regions and countries around the globe. Alberta sells beef to Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South East Asia, Mexico, Europe and the United States. Around the world, buyers have expressed satisfaction with the quality of Alberta beef and the variety of cuts available to them. The great taste of Alberta beef reflects careful genetic selection, care and well being of the animals, precision feeding and quality control.