The Rural Voice, 2002-09, Page 41P
research and development to
complete the circle," Shaver says.
• They haven't created a new breed
and have no intention of closing their
herd and moving toward breed status,
he stresses. "We're always willing to
consider new genetics."
"My purpose would end the day
(we became a breed) because what 1
do and what I've been trained to do is
to do research and development, and
identify superior genetics."
When one out of 50 bulls qualify
for semen collection, how much do
you have to charge for semen to
recover the cost of having 50 bulls
tested and having 25 go to slaughter
for meat, he asks.
e experimented with selling
semen on masse at cheaper
. prices but it didn't work so
now he reserves semen from elite
bulls to sell to his co-operators at a
higher price.
"In that way we know a guy in
Alberta will have just as good
genetics 4 a guy in Manitoba
because we're giving him access to
our best stuff."
If a franchisee were to create a
closed herd in Alberta or
Saskatchewan, within a few cattle
generations there'd be a variation
between what Shaver is selling and
what the franchisee is selling because
of new genetics being introduced. As
part of their partnership, the co-
operators have to be willing to update
their genetics to the new Shaver
standard, he says.
"It's like Tim Horton's or any
franchise system," he explains. "You
can't buy a Tim Horton's franchise
and then go and buy your dough and
flour at the Loblaws. You get all of
your product from Tim Horton's
because then you have consistency of
product."
He readily admits that the
franchise concept of the Shaver
BeefBlend cattle has not been
embraced the way his family had
hoped it would be.
Based on the marketing budget a
large company would give to a new
food product, Shaver says he doesn't
have deep enough pockets to earn
Beefblend cattle name recognition
among all cattlemen in the country.
"Probably 1 have to interview 10
people to find one person 1 consider a
good prospect as a franchisee. But
PURINA...
Gets The Most Out Of Your Cattle
an By Fitting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together!
find today!
To out more... give us a call
AI•Mar
Feed Centre
Exeter
1-888-644-2844/235-1919
Bluewater Feed
Company Ltd.
Tara Desboro
934-3122 794-2327
Milton J. Dietz
Ltd.
Seafor,n
522-0608
Howson &
Howson Ltd.
Blyth
1-800-663-3653/523-9624
Listowel
Farm Supply
Listowel
291-2501
Milverton Farm
Supplies Inc.
Milverton
595-2048
McPhail's Feed
Services
St, Marys
1-800-774-9758/284-4000
Springbank Farm
Supply
R.R. 3, Walkerton
881-4492
INS
■ ■
PURINA
■
•
SEPTEMBER 2002 37