1. 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

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

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

7. 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

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

9. Cow-Calf Capital costs per head $8194 $4068 Calving Rate % 88.9 87.3
<100 >100
Calving Rate %
Av Wean Weight – Bulls
Av Wean Weight – Heifers
Av Days from Birth to Wean
Mortality % in Cow Herd
Av Net Return Per Cow $ $430
Capital costs per head $ $4068 9

10. Backgrounding - Heifers:
< >100
Number of Farms:
Avg # of Backgrounders
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 $ $ 4
Total Cost of Production $882 $822

11. Backgrounding - Heifers
< >100
Number of Farms:
Avg # of Backgrounders
Avg Wt of Pur. & Retained
Avg Shipping Weight (lbs)
Mortality Rate %
Days on Grass &/or Feeders
Av Daily Gain (lb/day)
Av Total Cost Per lb Gained $ $1.06
Av Feed Cost Per lb Gained $ $0.60
Av Net Return Per Head $ $151
Capital Costs Per Head $ $1106

12. Backgrounding - Bulls 1. Operating Costs (Per Head)
< >100
Number of Farms:
Avg # of Backgrounders
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) $ $ 27
3. Labor $ $ 3
Total Cost of Production $1117 $923

13. Backgrounding – Bulls Avg Wt of Pur. & Retained 593 494
< >100
Number of Farms:
Av # of Backgrounders
Avg Wt of Pur. & Retained
Avg Shipping Weight (lbs)
Mortality Rate %
Days on Grass &/or Feeders
Av Daily Gain (lb/day)
Av Total Cost Per lb Gained $ $1.09
Av Feed Cost Per lb Gained $ $0.67
Av Net Return Per Head $ $274
Av Capital Costs Per Head $ $1025

14. Finishing - Heifers: Number of Farms: 3 Avg # of Feeders 68
<100
Number of Farms:
Avg # of Feeders
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

15. Finishing - Heifers <100 Avg Pur Wt of Feeders (lbs) 502
Number of Farms:
Av # of Feeders
Avg Pur Wt of Feeders (lbs)
Avg Shipping Wt at Farm (lbs)
Mortality Rate %
Shrinkage %
Dressing % at Plant
Dressing % Feedlot to Carcass
Days of Feed
Av Daily Gain (lb/day)
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

16. Finishing - Bulls: Number of Farms: 4 4 Avg # of Feeders 77 381
< >100
Number of Farms:
Avg # of Feeders
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 $ $ 18
Total Cost of Production $1589 $1351

17. Finishing - Bulls <100 >100
< >100
Number of Farms:
Av # of Feeders
Av Purchase Wt of Feeders (lbs)
Av Shipping Wt at Farm (lbs)
Mortality Rate %
Shrinkage %
Dressing % at Plant
Dressing % Feedlot to Carcass
Days on Feed
Av Daily Gain (lb/day)
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 $ $1220

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

19. Questions