Gerard Woynarski Terry Kremeniuk November 21, 2011 BISON BENCHMARK STUDY Cost of Production Results 2009 – 2010 Production Cycle Gerard Woynarski Terry Kremeniuk November 21, 2011

AGENDA FOR TODAY Project Objectives Producer Categories Data Collection Process Administrative Process What we Learned Next Steps

PROJECT OBJECTIVES Develop Performance and Production Benchmarks Producer Measurement Against Benchmark Use Results to Improve Practices Policy and Program Development Information to Assist Financing and Investment Decision Making Computerize

PROCESS Sask. Agriculture Funding Advisory Committee Engage people to collect data Identification of Participants Collect, Analyze, and Report Data Share Data with Participants Communicate Data Repeat Data Collection Share, Communicate and Repeat Institutionalize

PRODUCER CATEGORIES # of Participants Cow-calf producers 17 Under 100 100 plus Backgrounders 16 100 Plus Finishers 11

DATA COLLECTED Herd Profile Production Program/Time Frames Production Costs Assumptions/Worksheets Investment requirements Finished Bison Results

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED Bison Production Performance Variables Assessed Calving Percentage Birth Dates Weaning Dates and Weights Finishing Time Frame and Weights Daily gains Cost Per Pound of Gain Slaughter Weights Yield What are Basic Capital Requirements

Cow-Calf <100 >100 Number of Farms: 8 9 Av # of Cows 52 227 <100 >100 Number of Farms: 8 9 Av # of Cows 52 227 Av # of Bulls 4 14 1. Operating Costs (Per Head) Total Feed Costs: $371 $308 Total Other Optg Costs $254 $158 Total Optg Cost $631 $492 2. Fixed Costs (Depreciation) $144 $ 60 3. Labor $ 7 $ 8 Total Cost of Production $782 $560

Cow-Calf Capital costs per head $8194 $4068 Calving Rate % 88.9 87.3 <100 >100 Calving Rate % 88.9 87.3 Av Wean Weight – Bulls 517 496 Av Wean Weight – Heifers 466 449 Av Days from Birth to Wean 293 259 Mortality % in Cow Herd 0.50 2.05 Av Net Return Per Cow $355 $430 Capital costs per head $8194 $4068 9

Backgrounding - Heifers: <100 >100 Number of Farms: 4 3 Avg # of Backgrounders 66 136 1. Operating Costs (Per Head) Total Feed Costs: $182 $123 Total Other Optg Costs (Incl int.) $661 $665 Total Optg Cost (Incl Death Loss) $849 $791 2. Fixed Costs (Depreciation) $ 28 $ 27 3. Labor $ 5 $ 4 Total Cost of Production $882 $822

Backgrounding - Heifers <100 >100 Number of Farms: 4 3 Avg # of Backgrounders 66 136 Avg Wt of Pur. & Retained 467 470 Avg Shipping Weight (lbs) 717 667 Mortality Rate % 1.17 0.41 Days on Grass &/or Feeders 164 172 Av Daily Gain (lb/day) 1.53 1.10 Av Total Cost Per lb Gained $1.12 $1.06 Av Feed Cost Per lb Gained $0.75 $0.60 Av Net Return Per Head $281 $151 Capital Costs Per Head $1279 $1106

Backgrounding - Bulls 1. Operating Costs (Per Head) <100 >100 Number of Farms: 3 6 Avg # of Backgrounders 69 139 1. Operating Costs (Per Head) Total Feed Costs: $ 140 $146 Total Other Optg Costs (Incl int.) $ 941 $744 Total Optg Cost (Incl Death Loss) $1088 $893 2. Fixed Costs (Depreciation) $ 29 $ 27 3. Labor $ 0 $ 3 Total Cost of Production $1117 $923

Backgrounding – Bulls Avg Wt of Pur. & Retained 593 494 <100 >100 Number of Farms: 3 6 Av # of Backgrounders 69 139 Avg Wt of Pur. & Retained 593 494 Avg Shipping Weight (lbs) 862 721 Mortality Rate % 0.64 0.49 Days on Grass &/or Feeders 165 163 Av Daily Gain (lb/day) 1.65 1.36 Av Total Cost Per lb Gained $1.65 $1.09 Av Feed Cost Per lb Gained $0.92 $0.67 Av Net Return Per Head $316 $274 Av Capital Costs Per Head $1037 $1025

Finishing - Heifers: Number of Farms: 3 Avg # of Feeders 68 <100 Number of Farms: 3 Avg # of Feeders 68 1. Operating Costs (Per Head) Total Feed Costs: $ 285 Total Other Optg Costs (Incl int.) $ 783 Total Optg Cost (Incl Death Loss) $1072 2. Fixed Costs (Depreciation) $ 72 3. Labor $ 37 Total Cost of Production $1181

Finishing - Heifers <100 Avg Pur Wt of Feeders (lbs) 502 Number of Farms: 3 Av # of Feeders 68 Avg Pur Wt of Feeders (lbs) 502 Avg Shipping Wt at Farm (lbs) 887 Mortality Rate % 0.80 Shrinkage % 4.59 Dressing % at Plant 61.30 Dressing % Feedlot to Carcass 58.53 Days of Feed 260 Av Daily Gain (lb/day) 1.51 Av Total Cost Per lb Gained $1.51 Av Feed Cost Per lb Gained $0.76 Av Net Return Per Head $166 Av Capital Costs Per Head $4074

Finishing - Bulls: Number of Farms: 4 4 Avg # of Feeders 77 381 <100 >100 Number of Farms: 4 4 Avg # of Feeders 77 381 1. Operating Costs (Per Head) Total Feed Costs: $ 342 $ 324 Total Other Optg Costs (Incl int.) $1154 $ 958 Total Optg Cost (Incl Death Loss) $1500 $1294 2. Fixed Costs (Depreciation) $ 81 $ 39 3. Labor $ 8 $ 18 Total Cost of Production $1589 $1351

Finishing - Bulls <100 >100 <100 >100 Number of Farms: 4 4 Av # of Feeders 77 381 Av Purchase Wt of Feeders (lbs) 636 685 Av Shipping Wt at Farm (lbs) 1066 1037 Mortality Rate % 0.73 1.45 Shrinkage % 4.49 3.03 Dressing % at Plant 61.95 59.19 Dressing % Feedlot to Carcass 59.15 56.75 Days on Feed 244 196 Av Daily Gain (lb/day) 1.76 1.80 Av Total Cost Per lb Gained $1.51 $1.45 Av Feed Cost Per lb Gained $0.84 $0.92 Av Net Return Per Head $350 $185 Av Capital Costs Per Head $3590 $1220

NEXT STEPS Identify More Producers Continue Data Collection Adjust Share Progress & Information Repeat Again Next Year

Questions