The Regional Beef Value Chain Initiative ran from October 2013 to March 2014, working with partners to grow and diversify market opportunities for direct sales of beef in BC Highway 16 region from Valemount to Terrace. the initiative worked directly with producers, processors and purchasers to identify barriers to regional beef sales and encourage entrepreneurial development to overcome them. As an end result, the project helped to establish several new direct-sale beef purchasing relationships, assess the capacity for expansion of direct sales of beef, and assist the region’s producers in exploring new innovations and beef business models that will increase profitability and increase returns to the regional economy.
Several major publications have been developed by the inititiave and are available for download:
Beef in Northern BC Report
Download this report (2MB)
Listen to CBC Radio interview on this report
This report provides a comprehensive look at the business of beef in Northern BC, including management considerations, value chain relationships and the business case for a variety of cattle-related enterprises.
Snapshot: Beef Demand in the BC Highway 16 Region
This snapshot report summarizes the demand for beef in the BC Highway 16 region and assesses the local industry’s capacity to supply that demand. Figures have been included for grass-fed beef, local beef, and abattoir capacities.
Snapshot: Comparison of Cattle Enterprises in the BC Highway 16 Region
This snapshot comparison the gross margins of a variety of cattle production and marketing enterprises, from colf/cow to finished beef.
Beef 101: An Animated Presentation of the Beef Value Chain (available March 17, 2014)
This interactive presentation presents the complex relationships of the beef value chain in a simplified, narrated ad interactive format. We recommend this presentation to anyone seeking a better understanding of the beef industry.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the following food service leaders for their participation in this project and their commitment to local beef in Northern BC:
The Beef Value Chain Initiative was possible by funding from the Regional District Fraser-Fort George, the Regional District Bulkley-Nechako, the Regional District Kitimat-Stikine, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, and the Canada-BC Ranching Task Force Funding Initiative; delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC with funding from the federal and provincial governments.
