March 23rd - 10:30 am
Elks Hall
Raymore, SK

Lunch will be a Potluck sandwich and dessert.  Refreshments will be supplied.

Agenda:

• Minutes
• Finance Report
• Marketing Report
• Elections:
  • Positions up - 2 - 2 year terms:
    Val Crozon, Harry Smith
  • Vice President - 2 year term:
    Dirk VanKuik
  • Secretary - 2 year term:
    Jeff Mish
  • Treasurer - 2 year term:
    Terry Shackleton
• Canadian Prairie Lamb Committee Report
• Discussion on Living Sky Products - Federal Slaughter Plant
• Other Business
• Adjournment

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Greetings!

I am still on a 'high' from watching the Olympics, add to that my kids were home for the week, so you can understand my euphoric state.  Now, it's back to reality and the business of the day.

With Katahdins being out of season breeders, it is interesting to see when the majority of the lambs will be born this year.  Many of you have finished lambing, and were lucky to take advantage of the warm weather.  Actually, the 'warmth' has been sporadic, as today we are sitting around -28 with the wind chill factor.  Hopefully my next set will wait until it warms up, ha ha.  I have a few more to lamb now, and the rest will lamb the end of June.  The importance of a steady supply of market lambs throughout the year is emphasized in the reports you will find in this newsletter.  Plenty of marketing potential is in the works.... read on... and I hope to see all of you at the Annual Meeting in Raymore, March 23!

Until then, take care!!

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Classified Advertising is now free to SKSA members.

When submitting information by fax....be advised that it does not always reproduce logos adequately enough for publication.  If you can, please mail logos.

Please send payment for advertising to the treasurer:
Terry Shackleton
Box 463
Kipling, SK
S0G 2S0

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Membership fees are used for the following purposes:

• To send information packages to prospective Katahdin buyers.  This package consists of the latest membership list, promo material, and a complimentary newsletter.
• To pay for the printing and distribution of a quarterly newsletter.  At present, Carol Cairns is the newsletter co-ordinator.
• We bring the taste of Katahdin to potential customers through promos in stores and trade fairs.
• Promote breeding stock through booths at trade fairs, giving the opportunity to view first rate Katahdins and talk to Katahdin owners.

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Many producers are well into lambing and some are already done.  I hope everyone had some good luck with their percentages, I myself will be lambing the end of May, first part of June.

Many things are happening in the sheep industry, as you read through this newsletter you will hopefully become more familiar with what's going on.  Most producers have received letters from the Lamb Marketing Initiative Steering Committee as well as Living Sky Products - Tom Porter.  If you have any questions regarding either of these initiatives, please call me at 306-874-5484.

Our Annual Spring General Meeting will be coming up shortly.  The fall meeting was poorly attended with less than 20 producers present.  We must have 20 or more to have a quorum, the lack of interest was very surprising.  Usually when things are tough, producers come out to voice their concerns and look for some kind of insight as to what the future holds for the sheep industry.

Many potentially positive things are happening with the sheep industry.  It is very important to the SKSA Board of Directors to hear from you as we do need to know what direction our Association should go.  Without our producers as members, the Association has no future.

Hopefully, we will have a good turn out March 23rd, and our Board will not be faced with making a decision on the future of the SKSA.

Plan to attend.

Lillian Meekins,
President SKSA

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Canadian Prairie Lamb
2213C Henselman Court
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7L 6A8

January 31, 2002

Dear fellow producers:

BE A PART OF THE FUTURE:

If you have been following the work of the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board you are aware that it has been working on a new marketing initiative.  The SSDB has done a lot of preliminary work and has brought us to the point where producers need to take ownership of the project and move it forward.  The following work has been done to date on this project:

• Preliminary market research has been done.
    
• Value added products have been developed with the assistance of the Saskatchewan Food Centre.  Some of the value added products are microwave/oven ready lamb marinated products.  These products are:
  • lamb meatballs with plum sauce;
  • lamb stir fry with noodles;
  • Greek meatballs with lemon sauce;
  • lamb pita;
  • Moroccan lamb stew; and
  • marinated lamb kabobs.
      
• Alliances have been made within the value chain and at present Saskatchewan Lamb is available through IGA Garden Market Stores in our province.
    
• Additional retail alliances in the value chain are being explored to increase consumption.
    
• Some project monies have been secured.
    
• A New Generation Co-op is in investigative stages.
    
• Federal slaughter facilities investigative stages.  Several slaughter facilities are being researched.  Presently we are using the facilities at Canada West in Alberta.  Tom Porter is leading a separate initiative to build a new multi-species custom kill slaughter facility in the vicinity of Saskatoon.  This plant is designed as strictly a custom slaughter plant and industry groups are required to do their own marketing.  The SSDB did commit $2000 to the development of the initial business plan.  At this time we have no further financial involvement in this project.  The SSDB has some questions and concerns with this project that need to be addressed before any further commitment can be made.  There may be an opportunity for an alliance in the future.

The SSDB has facilitated the formation of a steering committee that will be responsible for moving this project forward.  The steering committee will be responsible for this project and coming up with ways to promote and add value to the sheep industry in Saskatchewan.

The bottom line - 

TO GET MORE $$$$ FOR YOUR LAMBS.

Nine producers and one representative from the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board comprise the voting members of the committee.  Gordon Schroeder will also work for the committee.  Various consultants and government representatives will attend the meetings in an advisory capacity.

The SSDB has spent money on this project to bring it to this point and has some funds to continue to commit to this project but does not have enough to fully match the potential grant.  Because we need an actual organization, the SSDB has agreed to handle our financial transactions.

The money will be kept in a separate account and will be used to fund these value-added projects.

This is where you the producers can do your part to help your industry and yourself.

These projects need $30,000 to $40,000 to proceed, more would be great.  There are approximately 1350 registered producers in this province.  We hope that all producers will contribute, but even inf one third of the producers contribute $100 each this would give us enough money to proceed.

If you are willing to contribute more, please do.  All contributions are gratefully accepted, and an official receipt will be issued for business expense purposes.

All contributions will be recorded and those who respond to our call for help will be given the first opportunities when the project gets gong.

Seven producer information meetings have been planned throughout the province to explain this project in more detail.  We want to inform you on where we are presently, where we need to go, and our plan on how to get there with regards to this new market initiative.  We want to help you fully understand this project so you can support this project with confidence.  We want to answer any questions you may have.

Editor's note: meetings were held Feb. 18 - Mar. 1 throughout the province... hopefully you were notified by other means and were able to attend, otherwise, please make note of the contact people for more info.

We have an opportunity to move our industry to the next level.  On behalf of the steering committee we ask for your help and thank you in advance for your support.  Any questions can be directed to any of the committee members, or call Gordon Schroeder at 306-933-5582 (office) or 306-363-2160.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Marketing Initiative Steering Committee

Lillian Meekins - 306-874-5484
Brian Murray - 306-295-3860 (Chair)
Elaine Park - 306-622-2024
Lester Lodoen - 306-666-4447
Harry Harder - 306-931-2444
Betty Hamm - 306-237-9286
Marvin Dales - 306-965-2603
Annette Bowver - 306-622-2028
Colleen Sawyer - 306-668-4933
Niall Campbell (SSDB rep) - 306-886-2050

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Editor's note:  the following is part of the presentations given at the February meetings of the Canadian Prairie Lamb Committee.

Background:

• The Saskatchewan Sheep Industry is an industry in transition:
  • 52,000 market lambs were produced a few short years ago.
  • Presently, 1500 sheep producers with 69,000 breeding ewes, producing 100,000 market lambs/year.
      
• The Sheep Industry is expanding rapidly at the producer level:
  • Sheep production has been increasing at a rate of 15 to 20% per year for the past 4 years.
  • Saskatchewan currently has one of the largest feedlots in Canada (approximately 60,000 to 80,000 lambs/year) that currently transports all their sheep live to markets in Eastern Canada and the United States.  As we develop more lucrative markets they will work with us to serve that market.

The Current Situation:

• Consumer trends and preferences have shifted to convenience products:
  • The Saskatchewan Food Centre and the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board have developed 8 value added lamb products, which need to be market tested.
      
• Market development has become a priority:
  • The sheep industry has identified lack of market development as the major impediment to adding value and advancing the industry.
  • SSDB is currently involved in a CARDS value chain pilot project: fresh Saskatchewan lamb is now available at all IGA stores in Saskatchewan.
      
• Lamb was traditionally shipped out of the province live:
  • Most Saskatchewan lamb is old live out of the province to markets in Eastern Canada and the United States, resulting in high shrinkage and transportation costs to producers.
  • Most lambs sold at retail are the traditional primal cuts; very little value-added products are available in the North American market.

The Opportunity:

• Markets have been identified both locally and internationally for value added products:
  • Ethnic diversity has created an awareness of lamb as a delicious, nutritious alternative to beef, pork and poultry.
  • STAR Provisions, a major wholesaler of lamb in the United States has expressed an interest in purchasing value added lamb products from Saskatchewan to test market in 8 stores in New York and New Jersey.
  • Expansion of current value chain project with Sobey's and CanWest.
  • COSTCO and Federated Co-op have expressed an interest.
  • Halal markets are increasing in North America.
  • Organic markets are increasing in North America as well.
  • Growth in ethnic markets and change in the demographics of the consumer.
  • We intend to offer a branded product to North American consumers that will gain market share and be better positioned to compete with New Zealand and Australian lamb.
      
• We have the lambs:
  • 100,000 lambs produced annually, and on the increase.
      
• The products have been developed:
  • Greek meatballs in lemon sauce.
  • South-western stir-fry.
  • Lamb pita.
  • Moroccan lamb stew.
  • Herbed leg of lamb.
  • Marinated lamb chops.
  • Lamb meatballs with plum sauce.
  • Lamb kabobs.
  • Lamb appetizer rolls.
      
• We have the base knowledge and technology:
  • Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board's Staff has the production expertise and provides an extension service that aids producers from pasture to plate.
  • The Sask First Lamb Feeder Co-op provides incentives and support to producers.
  • National Sheep Identification Project provides on farm quality assurance, identification and trace back processes to ensure quality and safety of our food supply.
  • Canada West is the leading lamb processor/slaughter facility in Canada.
  • The Food Centre is a new world class federally inspected facility available to Saskatchewan value adding endeavors.
  • National On Farm Food Safety Program on the way.
      
• We have the partners:
  • Saskatchewan Food Centre.
  • CanWest, lamb slaughter facility at Innisfail, Alberta.
  • Sobey's West, owner of Market Garden IGA's in Western Canada.
  • Saskatchewan Producers.
  • Feedlot.
      
• We will add additional partners:
  • Saskatchewan processors to value add lamb once beyond the volume of the Food Centre.
  • A producer owned marketing structure (which will be developed as part of this project) to retain the benefits of value added processing and marketing.
  • Other ingredient suppliers for example Saskatchewan Herb & Spice growers.
  • Other groups have expressed interest at being involved.
      

The Benefits:

• Profit and long-term viability for the sheep industry in Saskatchewan:
  • Increase economic return to sheep producers.
  • Improve long term viability of the sheep industry.
  • Sustain the current growth of the industry.
  • Improve rural economy.
  • Utilize more marginal land for livestock producer (relative to other livestock) and reduce their reliance on the volatile grain markets.
      
• The establishment of a viable feeding industry in Saskatchewan using Saskatchewan grown feed products:
  • This development in the sheep industry is part of the transition taking place on the prairies following the loss of the Crow Freight Rate.  High er grain transportation costs make it more economical to add value to agricultural producers where they are grown, rather than shipping animals live to be processed elsewhere.
      
• Opportunities for increased employment in both the primary production as well as slaughter and food processing:
  • As the market grows so will employment figures.
      
• More check-off dollars:
  • Development of the value chain for sheep in Saskatchewan will increase the amount of check-off collected to fund the SSDB's development efforts (currently there are no reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions to remit check-off province of origin).

WE HAVE THE DRIVE AND ENTHUSIASM.

THE SASKATCHEWAN SHEEP INDUSTRY IS STRONG.

IT CAN AND WILL SUPPORT A VIBRANT MARKET.

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Reviving Chilled Lambs:

Newborn lambs can easily become chilled, especially if they do not nurse shortly after birth, The sooner a chilled lamb is spotted, the better it’s chance of survival. Rectal temperature is the only reliable indicator of chilling. The normal rectal temperature of a lamb is 38.5 to 39 degrees Celsius. Mild chilling occurs between normal and 37 degrees Celsius. Below 37 degrees chilling rapidly becomes severe.

David Nairn BSA. DVM is part of the Veterinarian Group at:
Mohawk Animal Clinic Ltd.
106 Broadway Ave. S.
Melfort, SK
S0E 1A0
Ph: 306-752-2133

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For Sale:  Add some color and size to your flock with black, brown and white registered Katahdin Rams.  Call Terry Shackleton at 306-736-2595.

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