When predators strike, the help of predator control experts can be priceless for livestock producers.
Gordon Schroeder of the Sheep Development Board, the organization that administers the Livestock Predation Program, recalls how he received a call from a producer who had lost three calves:
“This person was clearly in distress. We sent in a predation specialist to eliminate two suspect coyotes. The program provides options to affected producers. The problem stopped after this intervention. It is not like the predation specialists take out all the coyotes in the area. They target specifically the problem at hand.”
The Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board will again act as the administrator for the 2005-2006 Livestock Predation Program, for which Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food has provided funding of up to $200,000. Last year, 483 producers took advantage of the services that the Board makes available for them — 60 per cent of them were cattle producers facing a predator crisis.
“We get a lot of positive feedback,” says Schroeder. “We have access to about 70 predation specialists that we call into service when the need arises. We work closely with Saskatchewan Environment, the sheep and cattle industry, and we try to be as environmentally friendly as we can in our interventions.”
Ray Nixed is a Livestock Development Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
“The program was launched six years ago to help producers facing the added pressure of predators - mostly coyotes, wolves and cougars. But sometimes, even ravens will attack newborn calves and pick out their eyes.”
When producers experience these kinds of losses that can lead to death, they call up the Sheep Development Board to access a predation specialist who will sometimes shoot, sometimes trap or relocate the offending animals, depending on the circumstance.
“These experts may also suggest different predator management practices, such as a different type of fencing or pen arrangements. During lambing, for instance, it would make sense to keep the lambing pen closer to home.”
Another recommendation could include the proper disposal of stillborn carcasses, since improper disposal will attract predators.
For sheep producers, predator pressure is a year-round challenge. For cattle producers, the problem occurs mostly during spring. Regardless of the frequency of predator activity, it always results in a frustrating, disruptive and difficult situation. It is good to know that help is just a phone call away.
For more information on the Livestock Predation Program, call (306) 933-5200.
For more information, contact:
Gordon Schroeder
Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board
(306) 933-5582
Ray Nixdorf
Livestock Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-6607
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