Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Sheep Industry In Manitoba
 

Manitoba is ideal for the development of a sheep enterprise. Despite the increased productions costs due to higher feed prices the land in Manitoba is affordable, climate is clean and dry with plentiful forages suitable for sheep. Sheep as a value added enterprise to grain farming is a perfect fit being an efficient converter of forages and grains into meat and milk. There are tremendous local as well as national opportunities in sheep products including meat, milk and wool.  Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program is bringing more and more immigrants to the province opening up doors for sheep industry as immigrants are major consumers of lamb meat.  Manitoba is home for the largest sheep feedlot in Canada. Several other smaller feeding operations as well as auction marts also provide opportunities for feeder, finished or market lambs. Shipment of live sheep to the Eastern and Western provinces has always been an option for Manitoba producers. For those wishing to develop a private market for freezer ready lamb several provincial inspected abattoirs exist for slaughter. The average size of the Manitoba farm flock is just under 100 ewes, representing an additional enterprise in a mixed operation or as an enterprise in conjunction with an off-farm occupation.  Many operations in the 200-500 ewe flock exist along with few much larger operations. Both extensive range type operations as well as highly intensive operations exist in Manitoba.

For More Information, Contact:

Mamoon Rashid
Business Development Specialist - Sheep/Goat
Livestock Knowledge Centre
545 University Crescent
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5S6
Phone: 204-945-7557
Fax: 204-945-4327