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Old facilities, changing times, catch up to three western livestock feed plants

SASKATOON - Aging facilities and business consolidation are being cited by Federated Co-operative Limited as reasons for its decision to close three of its six livestock feed production plants on the Prairies.
 
FCL says its Co-op Feeds operations in Melfort, Sask., and Brandon, Man., will shut down in August and October respectively, while production at a facility in Edmonton will be moved south to Wetaskiwin.
 
Manufacturing will continue at plants in Calgary , Saskatoon and Moosomin, Sask.
 
The plants produce cattle, horse, sheep and poultry feed in bags and bulk orders.
 
Ten jobs will be lost through the Brandon and Melfort closures, but FCL associate vice-president Patrick Bergermann hopes the employees can find work in the company's retailing system.
 
He says the company will do its best to ensure that livestock producers affected by the closures will continue to get the products they need from the three remaining plants.
 
Bergermann said there has been consolidation on both the producer side and manufacturing side of the feed business. He also said the plants slated for closure have "a lot of age."
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Advancement Through Science: The Purpose of the Beef Cattle Research Council

Video: Advancement Through Science: The Purpose of the Beef Cattle Research Council

Every time a beef animal is sold in Canada, the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off is collected, and a portion of it funds research and extension through the Beef Cattle Research Council.

The BCRC has a vision of a transparent, competitive and sustainable Canadian beef industry. And, we’re on a mission to support growth in beef demand, increase productivity and earn public trust. Research investments by producers are making that happen.

The BCRC works to advance the Canadian beef industry through industry-led research and extension. We create practical tools and resources that help producers make improvements in:

?? animal health and welfare,

?? forage and grassland productivity

?? feed efficiency and nutrition

?? beef quality and safety and

??environmental sustainability.

Guided by a board of producers from across Canada, the BCRC has one goal -- to make every producer-paid research dollar count. For each dollar invested through the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off, we leverage two to three dollars from other funding sources.

By bridging the gap between research and real-life application, we empower producers to make economical, science-based decisions to help drive innovation, sustainability and profitability in their operations.

Where industry investment and collaboration intersect with research and ranching – that’s where we find advancement through science and the real purpose of the Beef Cattle Research Council.