A hand full of beef producers in Saskatchewan are getting $18 a head premium when they sell their cattle.
The producers – 223 across the province in February – are enrolled in the national Verified Beef Plus program.
Numbers enrolled have grown from 140 last year.
The program requires an online course or workshop and enrolment fee, Erika Stewart, co-ordinator for Verified Beef Plus in Saskatchewan, told a recent workshop celebrating rural ranching women at Moose Jaw.
The five-year enrolment fee can qualify for a 50 per cent rebate under the Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP) plan.
Verified Beef is part of a national food safety strategy to maintain and build the country's reputation for quality safe beef products
The program revolves around record keeping of the animals. Most important part of records are use of animal medicines.
“They want you to record when the dose was, when it was administered, what it was, how much and the withdrawal date."
The withdrawal date helps ensure animal is only marketed once the drug is out of the animal's system.
Audits are done periodically.
To qualify for Verified Beef Plus animals must be raised on an accredited farm, be fed in a Verified Beef Plus feedlot and slaughtered in a Verified Beef Plus packing plant
Cargill of High River, Alberta, is the only Verified Beef Plus in Western Canada but many feedlots are members.
The principles and practices behind Verified Beef Plus were developed by the Canada Round Table for Sustainable Beef, a producer/industry organization.
Major groups supporting Verified Beef include McDonald's, Loblaws and Cargill— both promoting sustainable beef — Canadian Cattlemen's Association and the Beef Information Centre.
The premiums paid to producers are funded by corporate backers and administered by Beef Information Centre.
In February, there were 1,123 Canadian beef producers enrolled.
CAP funding is also available for things like handling facilities that may be needed to enrol in the program.
Stewart, who lives at Morse, will do workshops for produces interested in enrolling.
