Cariboo Cattle Ranchers and BC Forage Council Work To Optimize Livestock Forage Crops

In 2008, British Columbia Forage Council received a $20,000 grant from Northern Development through the Feasibility Studies program towards this $92,000 project. This has been a funding partnership of British Columbia Forage Council, Northern Development, Cariboo Regional Cattlemen, Cattle Industry Development Council, Forage Seed Companies, Investment Agriculture Foundation, and Livestock Association

2012- Cattle ranching is a $100 million industry in the Cariboo-Chilcotin with over 20 percent of the province’s cattle herd in the region. With such a large percentage of BC’s total herd, it is sometimes difficult for ranchers to sustain an adequate amount of locally grown feed for their livestock, especially during winter months. Optimizing winter feed capacity would reduce operational costs and increase profitability for livestock producers in the region. As net importers of forage, cattle ranchers in the Cariboo-Chilcotin have sought new methods for supporting the livestock industry throughout the region.

This project, led by the BC Forage Council, is aimed at decreasing rancher dependence on imported cattle feed in the British Columbia’s interior regions. Higher elevations and dry conditions have meant ranchers in the interior haven’t produced the results they require from conventional forage crops. With partnered funding assistance from Northern Development, four test plots were seeded with a variety of test species in 2009 that were harvested in 2010 and 2011. Measuring the yields of the test varieties will give area ranchers an idea of how each will perform in conditions similar to those on their farms. The four locations where these varietals have been trailed in the Cariboo-Chilcotin include Williams Lake, Miocene Ranch, Soda Creek, and the Chilako River basin.

"The BC Forage Council is pleased to be able to offer these trials with the partial funding assistance from Northern Development, we look forward to opening the sites for Field Days where producers can walk through the plots and compare the different varieties."

Fran Tietge, Manager, BC Forage Council

Positive Economic Impacts in the Cariboo

The ability for cattlemen to lower operating costs and either directly grow or purchase locally grown forage crops is key for the economic vitality of agriculture in northern BC's interior regions. Improved perennial forage selections from newly tested varieties will help Cariboo-Chilcotin ranchers remain competitive in the marketplace. Forage is the backbone of primary agriculture production in the region. By developing and sharing information on new forage varieties that can provide improved production, the livestock industry and communities within the region will continue to see economic benefits.

Feasibility Studies

The Feasibility Studies is no longer available. Please visit the Capital Investment Analysis program page

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