Industry Code: 01200
This industry covers employers engaged in the raising of beef cattle. The focus of beef producers is the breeding, raising and maintenance of the animals. Maintaining the health of the cattle is extremely important in producing the maximum economic return. While the principal use of beef cattle is meat production, other uses include leather, cleansers, lotions and other cosmetics.
Employers in this industry may grow and harvest various forms of feed primarily for the consumption by their cattle (as opposed to a farm dedicated to grain production).
Operation Details:
Farming is often a family run venture, with larger farms requiring hired help.
There are three main stages in beef production: cow-calf operations, stocker or holding enterprise (also referred to as backgrounding feeder calves), and lastly, finishing (usually feedlot) operation.
Cow-calf operations involve maintaining a breeding herd to produce the heaviest weight of weaned calves possible. Mating occurs in early summer and peak calving happens in the following spring. Once calves reach 225-275 kg (500-600 lbs), they are weaned from their mothers and put on a forage or hay-based diet. Normally attached to the cow-calf or the finishing enterprises, the stocker operation is essentially the period of growth (to approximately 900 lbs) between weaning and the finishing phase (6-12 months). Finishing takes place at the feedlot where cattle are brought to a market weight of 1300 to 1450 lbs.
Employers in this industry may grow and harvest various forms of feed for their livestock and may maintain and repair their own equipment and buildings. They may also truck their own livestock and feed.
The equipment used is typical of any farm, encompassing a myriad of traditional farm machinery and often specialized equipment that may be needed for feeding. Smaller scale farms may not have the diversity of specialized equipment and will rely on manual labour to a greater extent.
Also included is the operation of grazing leases (on crown land). Farmers pay rent to grazing associations to graze livestock. These associations contract employers to maintain the lease and animals.
Stock Contractors who provide bulls and steers for rodeo (i.e., riding, bucking, wrestling and roping) events would be classified in this industry. Aside from caring for the animals, the Stock Contractor is responsible for placing the animals into bucking chutes and loading them into trailers to transport them to and from the arena.
Underwriting Considerations:
Cattle farming involved with only the finishing operation or the stocker enterprise in combination with the finishing operation would be classified under Industry 01201 – Feed Lots.
Cattle farming for the purposes of raising dairy cattle would be classified under Industry 01203 – Dairy Farms.
Farms that clear land for the express purpose of cattle farming, or cut timber or mill timber for the express purpose of building on the farm do not require additional industries. Such activities, when performed in support of the farm, are included in the cattle farming industry. Permits and licenses can be used to distinguish between farming related operations and commercial logging and milling.
Farm coverage also includes limited capital construction of farm buildings. However, the appropriate construction industry should be used with significant undertakings (involving foundations and/or general contractors to manage extensive projects such as large shops and dairy/hog barns). Farm coverage is not extended to construction or renovation of residences, even where they are located on the farm and are considered as the farm office - in these cases, a separate optional application under Industry 40405 - Residential General Contractor is required.
Cattle farming businesses may be involved in other business activities which are not integral to a traditional cattle farming operation. Farming businesses engaged in value added processing, custom or contract work, other than an exchange of services, will require an appropriate classification for such operations, separate from the cattle farming industry.
Stock Contractors only providing horses for either saddle or bareback bronc riding rodeo events should be classified under Industry 01206 – Riding Academies/Horse Stables.
When determining if an additional classification is required, policy 07-01, part II should be reviewed.
Premium Rate History:
Activities:
Cattle Ranches/Farms
Crown Grazing Land - Leasing of
Grazing Leases
Stock Contractors - Providing Cattle
Rate Group History:
In 2016, new rate groups were established to better define the various types of farming operations being conducted in Alberta. The Large Animal Producers/Handlers rate group encompasses industries that pertain to the farming of large animals.
Effective January 31, 2020, farm and ranch employers with six or more waged non-family workers can choose to have their workplace insurance coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act or through a private insurance provider. Employers are not required to have workplace insurance if they have five or fewer non-family workers, or hire workers for less than six consecutive months.
This industry covers employers engaged in the raising of beef cattle. The focus of beef producers is the breeding, raising and maintenance of the animals. Maintaining the health of the cattle is extremely important in producing the maximum economic return. While the principal use of beef cattle is meat production, other uses include leather, cleansers, lotions and other cosmetics.
Employers in this industry may grow and harvest various forms of feed primarily for the consumption by their cattle (as opposed to a farm dedicated to grain production).
Premium Rate History:
Activities:
Cattle Ranches/Farms
Crown Grazing Land - Leasing of
Grazing Leases
Stock Contractors - Providing Cattle
Operation Details:
Farming is often a family run venture, with larger farms requiring hired help.
There are three main stages in beef production: cow-calf operations, stocker or holding enterprise (also referred to as backgrounding feeder calves), and lastly, finishing (usually feedlot) operation.
Cow-calf operations involve maintaining a breeding herd to produce the heaviest weight of weaned calves possible. Mating occurs in early summer and peak calving happens in the following spring. Once calves reach 225-275 kg (500-600 lbs), they are weaned from their mothers and put on a forage or hay-based diet. Normally attached to the cow-calf or the finishing enterprises, the stocker operation is essentially the period of growth (to approximately 900 lbs) between weaning and the finishing phase (6-12 months). Finishing takes place at the feedlot where cattle are brought to a market weight of 1300 to 1450 lbs.
Employers in this industry may grow and harvest various forms of feed for their livestock and may maintain and repair their own equipment and buildings. They may also truck their own livestock and feed.
The equipment used is typical of any farm, encompassing a myriad of traditional farm machinery and often specialized equipment that may be needed for feeding. Smaller scale farms may not have the diversity of specialized equipment and will rely on manual labour to a greater extent.
Also included is the operation of grazing leases (on crown land). Farmers pay rent to grazing associations to graze livestock. These associations contract employers to maintain the lease and animals.
Stock Contractors who provide bulls and steers for rodeo (i.e., riding, bucking, wrestling and roping) events would be classified in this industry. Aside from caring for the animals, the Stock Contractor is responsible for placing the animals into bucking chutes and loading them into trailers to transport them to and from the arena.
Underwriting Considerations:
Cattle farming involved with only the finishing operation or the stocker enterprise in combination with the finishing operation would be classified under Industry 01201 – Feed Lots.
Cattle farming for the purposes of raising dairy cattle would be classified under Industry 01203 – Dairy Farms.
Farms that clear land for the express purpose of cattle farming, or cut timber or mill timber for the express purpose of building on the farm do not require additional industries. Such activities, when performed in support of the farm, are included in the cattle farming industry. Permits and licenses can be used to distinguish between farming related operations and commercial logging and milling.
Farm coverage also includes limited capital construction of farm buildings. However, the appropriate construction industry should be used with significant undertakings (involving foundations and/or general contractors to manage extensive projects such as large shops and dairy/hog barns). Farm coverage is not extended to construction or renovation of residences, even where they are located on the farm and are considered as the farm office - in these cases, a separate optional application under Industry 40405 - Residential General Contractor is required.
Cattle farming businesses may be involved in other business activities which are not integral to a traditional cattle farming operation. Farming businesses engaged in value added processing, custom or contract work, other than an exchange of services, will require an appropriate classification for such operations, separate from the cattle farming industry.
Stock Contractors only providing horses for either saddle or bareback bronc riding rodeo events should be classified under Industry 01206 – Riding Academies/Horse Stables.
When determining if an additional classification is required, policy 07-01, part II should be reviewed.
Rate Group History:
In 2016, new rate groups were established to better define the various types of farming operations being conducted in Alberta. The Large Animal Producers/Handlers rate group encompasses industries that pertain to the farming of large animals.
Effective January 31, 2020, farm and ranch employers with six or more waged non-family workers can choose to have their workplace insurance coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act or through a private insurance provider. Employers are not required to have workplace insurance if they have five or fewer non-family workers, or hire workers for less than six consecutive months.