The Feeder Cattle Co-op Program has just completed 15 years of operation in Ontario.  Over 2, 500 beef producers have participated in the 21 Co-ops that have been organized, using over a half Billion dollars to purchase about 750,000 head of feeder cattle.

The principals of the program are sound:  only a few members have needed help from their fellow members to cover a major shortfall, and almost every one of them have paid back that debt; the interest rates paid on the loans at prime or even l/4 below prime, have been a positive factor in drawing major numbers of young farmers to the program  - almost 25 % of the members annually are under age 35; and the Government’s Guarantee  has never been needed.

Dick Heard of London was the Prov. Supervisor for the first 2 years; Carm Hamilton of Lindsay was the Supervisor for the next 13 years, and now Cheryl Russwurm of Mildmay is the Provincial Supervisor.

The BSE crisis continues to have an impact on the Program: the stats below show declines in the number of active members, cattle purchased, and loan activity.  This creates a cash flow challenge for many Co-ops in their operating accounts.  Beef producers in all parts of the Province are encouraged to seriously consider participating in their local Feeder or Breeder Co-op.  

FEEDER CO-OP STATISTICS	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001
Number of Co-ops:	19	20	20	21	21
Total Membership: Under Age 35:	747 158	763 175	959 228	1057 231	975 216
Active Members: During Year Dec. 31	640 486	748 531	864 723	901 754	840 740
Numbers of Cattle: Purchased in Year: Sold in Year: On Hand, Dec. 31:	65,033 62,347 49,379	53,608 59,551 46,177	63,726 67,391 53,619	74,829 68,690 59,315	72,469 67,658 54,890
Died  % of Purchased	400 0.62%	336 0.63%	443 0.70%	548 0.73%	755 1.04%
Outstanding Loans Dec. 31:	$34.3m	$28.2m	$39.5m	$45.6m	$47.8m
Total $ Committed Dec. 31:	$38.5m	$32.4m	$46.4m	$52.4m	$56.6m