1. 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 # of Participants  Cow-calf producers17  Under 100  100 plus  Backgrounders 16  Under 100  100 Plus  Finishers 11  Under 100  100 Plus

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 Av # of Bulls 4 14 1. Operating Costs (Per Head) Total Feed Costs:$371 $308 Total Feed Costs:$371 $308 Total Other Optg Costs $254 $158 Total Other Optg Costs $254 $158 Total Optg Cost $631 $492 Total Optg Cost $631 $492 2. Fixed Costs (Depreciation)$144$ 60 3. Labor$ 7 $ 8 Total Cost of Production$782 $560

9. Cow-Calf 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

10. 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 Feed Costs: $182$123 Total Other Optg Costs (Incl int.) $661$665 Total Other Optg Costs (Incl int.) $661$665 Total Optg Cost (Incl Death Loss) $849$791 Total Optg Cost (Incl Death Loss) $849$791 2. Fixed Costs (Depreciation) $ 28$ 27 3. Labor $ 5$ 4 Total Cost of Production $882$822

11. 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

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

13. Backgrounding – Bulls 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

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

15. Finishing - Heifers <100 <100 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

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

17. Finishing - Bulls 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

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

19. Questions