Grain-Fed Veal

Did you know?

In 2007, the Table filière veau lourd (milk-fed calves and grain-fed calves) sponsored an AGÉCO study to evaluate the sector’s economic spinoffs in Quebec. Here are the highlights of this study :

  • Sector expenditures: $378M
  • For each dollar injected into the sector, the contribution to the GDP is $0.72, which is higher than the $0.66 average for the Quebec bio-food industry.
  • Labour: the heavy calf commodity chain generates slightly over 4600 jobs.

Marketing

Marketing

Producers of grain-fed calves, grouped within the Fédération des producteurs de bovins du Québec, have created their own sales agency. The sales agency is the only channel through which the producers can market their grain-fed calves. This structure allows them to ensure efficient and orderly marketing of their product.

All producers and buyers have access to the grain-fed calf market on the same conditions. To guarantee their application, the producers have entrenched these conditions in a production and marketing regulation (Règlement sur la production et la mise en marché des veaux de grain). The Régie des marchés agricoles et alimentaires du Québec oversees the enforcement of this regulation as an independent administrative tribunal. 

Grain-fed calves are sold at one electronic auctions per week. The producers register their offers to sell. With the sales agency's advance authorization, the buyers exercise their purchasing power by bidding against each other.

A grading system, operated by the Canadian Beef Grading Agency, gives producers an incentive to supply a high-quality product.

Supply management

Producers of grain-fed calves have established production volume and surplus management control mechanisms to ensure regular supply of the market.

For more information on market prices, go to the Price-Info section.

Gérard Lapointe

Gérard Lapointe,
Chair of the Marketing Committee for Grain-Fed Calves