Manitoba cattle industry eyes adding inspection services

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This article was published 18/01/2024 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Manitoba Beef Producers is hoping to introduce more safeguards against cattle theft and fraud, bringing the province in line with its neighbours to the west.

The industry advocate organization is looking at lobbying to have cattle inspection services expanded into Manitoba and for an RCMP officer dedicated to livestock and agriculture cases.

“We are a standout here in Western Canada and not having any of the measures in place that we see in our three western neighbouring provinces,” said Matthew Atkinson, president of Manitoba Beef Producers.

Atkinson, who owns a cow-calf farm near Neepawa, said the organization has also faced some pressure due to the increasing value of cattle, which makes the industry more appealing to criminals.

“If that is starting to limit folks’ willingness to do business in Manitoba, then that becomes a problem, too.”

According to statistics provided by Manitoba RCMP, 13 investigations into cattle theft cases were opened in 2022. The total number for 2021 was six; in 2020, there were 10.

As Manitoba does not have a provincial cattle inspection service, Atkinson said, Saskatchewan often ends up in the role but technically doesn’t have jurisdiction over Manitoba livestock.

Alberta has an agreement with Saskatchewan to inspect Alberta’s cattle on its behalf and vice versa.

Inspection services go hand in hand with an RCMP position dedicated to livestock, agreed Atkinson and Jason Pollock, chief executive officer of Livestock Services of Saskatchewan.

“The fact that Manitoba Beef Producers is looking at this is really critical to the industry’s health and it’s important, in my opinion, that they assess the addition of an RCMP resource, as well,” Pollock said in an interview.

In the fall of 2020, Saskatchewan added an RCMP officer position dedicated to livestock investigations. The role of the officer, Pollock said, is to be a link between the RCMP and the industry.

Atkinson and Pollock said theft and fraud go beyond the typical rustling, with trailers scooping up pastured cows and driving away. The industry is also noting more white-collar crime in the form of “paper cows,” a scam in which money is received for animals that are never delivered or never existed in the first place.

Branding and tagging are options to help track cattle, but there are no laws requiring branding in Manitoba. While electronic Canadian Cattle Identification Agency tags do provide some information, they can be cut out of cattle by people trying to steal them, Atkinson said.

While a provincial inspection service does come with a fee to producers, Pollock said the value of such a service is not only reassurance to producers but also to investors.

“One of the key values that we provide to the industry is assurance services,” Pollock said. “Banks and finance companies and creditors can lend money into the Saskatchewan market for the purchase of cattle, knowing that there’s an inspection team, coupled with RCMP resources, that are looking out for ownership and for security interests.”

— Brandon Sun