The Saskatchewan Bison Association will be holding an industry information session, its annual meeting and its premier show and sale in North Battleford next week.
The 20-year-old SBA represents the bison industry in Saskatchewan, working with the Canadian Bison Association and other regional bison associations on livestock traceability, bison research, producer profitability, marketing, farm food safety and trade issues.
Saskatchewan has over 39,000 bison and 352 producers, according to the 2011 Canadian Census, and the SBA will host three industry information sessions this winter, one in Melfort Feb. 21, the North Battleford session Friday, Feb. 28 and another in Swift Current March 21.
The SBA says the forecast for the industry is good and new producers are needed to meet the growing consumer demand. Bison offer a healthy, environmentally friendly and sustainable food source for today's world, says the organization, adding consumers are looking to healthier eating and bison fit that profile with lower fat, no antibiotics and no growth stimulants.
The North Battleford information session will take place at the Western Development Museum beginning at 10 a.m. Introductions will be by Les Kroeger, president of the Saskatchewan Bison Association and the first speaker will be Terry Kremeniuk, executive director of the Canadian Bison Association who will address market trends and provide a bison benchmarking update.
The SBA has established and receives ongoing funding for a benchmarking program that was started in 2011. This program updates bison cost of production and herd performance information that will lead to the development of performance and production benchmarks. These established benchmarks will allow producers to measure against them, and the results can be used to improve practices and policy and program development. This information will assist financing and investment decision-making as well.
Manager of Livestock Development Grant Zalinko of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture will address the meeting on the Saskatchewan Livestock Strategy.
There will also be a session on bison feed and nutrition by Murray Feist, ruminant nutrition specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.
Murray Woodbury DVM, MSC of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan will provide an update on research into mycoplasma pneumonia, an infection emerging as one of the most important diseases and sources of economic loss for bison producers.
Following the meeting, the Saskatchewan Bison Association annual general meeting will take place.
A dinner, awards and fun auction will take place at Kramer's Big Red Barn that evening.
Saturday, March 1, the SBA Premium Show and Sale will be held at Kramer's Big Bid Barn. Start time is 11 a.m. with judges' comments followed by a live auction.
Animals will have arrived Thursday and Friday and judging will begin at noon Friday. Viewing of the animals starts Friday after 4 p.m. and will also take place Saturday before the sale starts.
For sale will be breeding stock, which includes 2013 bull calves, 2012 yearling bulls, 2013 heavier calves, 2012 yearling heifers and 2011 bred heifers.
Also for sale will be 2013 and 2012 commercial/feeder bulls and 2013 and 2012 commercial/feeder heifers.
