Cattle feed supplies are getting tighter in some areas as winter doesn’t want to make way for spring.
There was an additional 2 to 5 centimetres of snow in central regions of Saskatchewan on Wednesday. April temperatures have been at least 8 to 10 degrees below normal for most of the month.
Rick Toney, chair of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, says hay production was lower in areas impacted by dry conditions last year.
“It would have put people in a really close situation of getting through the winter. Now, it’s a prolonged winter and there are people out there buying hay.”
The hay, which often comes from long distances, can be an unplanned expense.
“I’m hearing prices of $200 a ton that they are paying for hay. That’s going to cut into the extra money they were getting last fall for their calves.”
Toney says additional feed is needed until the snow melts and pastures are ready for grazing.
