Research

Introduction

agri benchmark is an international, independent and non‐ profit network which is coordinated by a German research institution. agri benchmark uses a consistent methodology to compare production systems and their economics world‐wide. In the area of beef production, this provides a unique data set addressing the challenges of different production practices.

Cow/Calf Analysis

In 2012, Canfax Research Services (CRS) collected Canadian data and applied it to the methodology developed by agri benchmark. Two sizes of “typical” cow/calf operations were developed and evaluated in each province – 200 and 800 head operations. These operations incorporated data which was collected from 16 cow/calf producers in Alberta and  Saskatchewan on the 2011 production year1; 3‐5 producers from each operation size and province contributed to each “typical” farm developed. While the sample size was admittedly
small the repetition of data submitted and consensus process of the panel discussions created a range in the data that reflected the range in production practices over the two provinces.

Feedlot Analysis

Canfax Research Services (CRS) collected 2011 production data from three feedlots in Alberta and Saskatchewan and applied it to the methodology developed by agribenchmark. While the sample size is admittedly small the repetition of data submitted provided confidence that the data set that reflected Western Canadian production practices.