Strength in numbers

Created in 1974, the Fédération des producteurs de bovins du Québec (FPBQ) is an agricultural association constituted under the Professional Syndicates Act.

Supported by approximately 22,030 producers on 13,100 cattle farms throughout Quebec, the FPBQ is composed of 14 regional syndicates. Quebec cattle producers market 811,000 head of cattle per year worth a farmgate value of $556 million, making it the third largest livestock production sector in Quebec.

Through its affiliation with the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), the FPBQ extends its sphere of influence and benefits from an impressive collective force to help develop and implement solutions adapted to the realities of Quebec's beef and veal sectors.

Tools to develop the production

Since 1982, the FPBQ has been administering the Joint Plan des producteurs de bovins du Québec, the Quebec cattle producers' joint marketing plan, which applies to its five production sectors: feeder calves, fed cattle, cull cattle and bob calves, grain-fed veal and milk-fed veal. The plan gives the FPBQ the power to regulate the marketing of cattle to make it more orderly and efficient.

The FPBQ also administers a payment guarantee program which protects producers against possible bankruptcies of buyers or auction barns.

The FPBQ has also set up a research fund to finance taking part in major projects along with governments, universities, research centres and private partners. The research projects cover areas such as the environment, animal health and welfare, farming techniques, as well as the economy and marketing.

The grain-fed and milk-fed veal sectors have their own promotion funds which are used to promote the popularity and consumption of their products with consumers in Quebec and elsewhere.

Involved downstream from production

Since 2002, the FPBQ has been a shareholder in Réseau Encans Québec, which handles more than 75% of cattle sold through auctions in Quebec. Producers have also invested collectively in food processing enterprises downstream from production. Since 2006, cull cattle producers have owned Levinoff-Colbex, the largest cull cattle slaughter and processing facility in eastern Canada.

Mission and values
The FPBQ's primary mandate is to defend and promote the professional, economic and social interests of Quebec cattle producers. To ensure that Quebec cattle producers earn the highest possible net income and enjoy a decent standard of living, the FPBQ has given itself the following mission: To support the development and growth of farm businesses, production, and the entire Quebec cattle industry, with a view to offering our ultimate customers - consumers - a high-quality product that meets their requirements; To manage collective marketing mechanisms efficiently, taking each production sector's specific rate of development into account; To support unifying the concerns specific to the various production sectors as well as seeking solutions beneficial to all producers.

To learn more about our major orientations, consult:
Managing our Future