It's been a bit of a struggle to come up with the right words to start off this new decade in the cattle industry here in Canada but after some contemplating and a fair bit of "surrender to what is" here goes.
You are all very aware of the current financial state of the conventional cattle industry in our country and the effect it is having on producers, so this will be the last time you here about it in this article.
Responsibility and accountability are words that keep going over and over in my mind the past year and not just for things like brushing my teeth every day to gain a chance of having them to chew my steak in another 20 years. Or changing oil in my truck so that my chances of seeing the odometer turn over 400,000 km is better. Responsibility goes beyond personal progression or even family progression; beyond community and due to global economic and food trade issues, beyond our province and our country as well.
Somehow, due to the idea of profit and personal abundance issues, we seem to have forgotten about the responsibility that grassroots agricultural producers of this world have as stewards of the land and nutritional healers for an unhealthy world. Of course this statement is more about agriculture in general than beef cattle producers in Alberta, however every person counts, and every person has the same opportunity to initiate the changes we need to "get", or rather "keep" our planet on track.
You will hear plenty of people tell you that we are right where we are supposed to be and experiencing exactly what it is we created with our minds. This theory is not only a personal theory but a collective one as well.
A number of years back, the cattle producers of this country, and the world for that matter, chose to give up the responsibility we had as nutritional healers and bowed to the almighty dollar while basing our production on that dollar and those who offered it to us. The sad part is that those who offer us that dollar have less concern than we have for anything but profit. Just like any good business, those who offer us that dollar found ways to make even more profit by offering us less and directing us to raise cattle that fit their profit scheme. As complex as things may seem at times, this is my simple explanation for our current state of affairs. Is it “their” fault?.... hell no. Is it the government’s fault? Is it our fault ?..... hell no. It is just the way it is and a reminder for all of us to get back to our purpose. I feel that we all simply lost sight of our “purpose” in lieu of profit. And this can be corrected.
Consumers are becoming more health conscious every day, and are more willing and able than any time in recent history to prioritize a healthy diet in their budget. Even through this so called recession that we are witnessing, conscious consumers continue to emerge.
The last words in this little rant are that there is a way for the beef cattle industry to survive and thrive again in this country as long as we take responsibility back and give the consumer what she or he wants rather than what we think is okay for them. A healthy non manipulated, sustainable, beef carcass raised with the health of the animal and the health of those who eat it in mind.
I would ask you all to think about why we changed the size of a beef carcass, used hormonal implants, increased antibiotic and immunization programs, and genetically manipulated cattle to the point we are at today without talking about money. And then ask why the trend for people to offer their hard earned cash for beef priced 2 or 3 times that of the local retailer is increasing in specialty markets.
I feel that the conventional industry is offering us an opportunity on a silver platter if we simply leave them alone with their profit driven value chain and build our own with responsibility and our true purpose in mind.
Oh yes.... I guess you would like to know about our cattle program and our upcoming bull sale. Our bull sale catalog will be coming out in March with our sale slated for April 17, 2010 at Olds College, Olds, Alberta. If you like what you read here, the catalog will have a lot more ..... as usual. Give us a call or drop us a line and we would be more than happy to send you more information and share some encouraging hopeful stories.
All the best and remember....... A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.......
Randy
Our Bull Sale will be held on April 17, 2010 at Olds College - Olds Alberta. Details to follow.
Have a look at our "Beef for Sale" page to learn more about how our program is not only directed at a sustainable ranch, but a profitable value chain as well. Three "Second to None" meat shops open in Calgary now with plans for more in the future, as well as expanded wholesale beef sales including an exciting new deal with the Calgary Stampede.
All the best for now and we look forward to hearing from you for all of you seed stock needs.
Randy Kaiser
26T
66T
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