Press Release
Québec Feedlot Presented with Eastern Feedlot of the Year Award
August 27, 2012: for immediate release
Calgary, AB- The Canadian Angus Association is pleased to honour Ferme Jacques and Eric Desrosiers and Ferme B&L (Liette and Benoit) Desrosiers senc of Mirabel, Québec, with the Eastern Feedlot of the Year award. They were presented with the award by CAA Director of Field Services Brian Good and CAA General Manager Michael Latimer, for their work feeding and promoting Angus and Angus cross cattle. Ferme Jacques & Eric Desrosiers & Ferme B &L( Liette & Benoit) Desrosiers senc are a family farm-feedlot operation located in the territorial region of Mirabel, Quebec, an off-island suburb Northwest of Montréal in Québec. In 1970, Jacques & Liette purchased the farm from Jacques’ father. They managed a herd of dairy cows on a 120 acre farm that was leased from the federal government. This land was part of the expropriation for the construction of the Mirabel Airport. Over the ensuing years they leased additional land in Mirabel and improved the herd. In 1980 the operation sold the dairy herd and the milk quota to start a beef herd. With purchased land, in 1979 they built a feedlot with a slatted floor barn. With the proceeds from the sale of the dairy herd, 300 feeder calves were purchased. In 1983 an extension of the feedlot was built as well as corrals to hold 600 head. In 1987, the federal government sold back the family farm and the operation constructed a feedlot (drylot) with a capacity of 400 head. The family was fortunate to have two sons interested in agriculture to continue to improve the land and the buildings. In 1994, son Eric finished his course at AgSchool, the Institut Technologique et Agroalimentaire (L’I.T.A.) and joined Jacques to form an operating farm company. In 1997, son Benoit finished his course at AgSchool, the Institut Technologique et Agroalimentair (L’I.T.A) and formed a business partnership with Liette. Another feedlot (drylot) with a capacity of 1500 head was included. In 1999, Jacques and Liette sold the farm equipment to Benoit and Eric to do custom work for the other two enterprises. In 2000 the capacity was once again increased to 2,000 head. Angus feeders are now bought from Western Canada for the feedlots. Today, Jacques Desrosiers, Liette, Eric and Benoit own 1900 acres, of which 1550 acres are all drained, cultivated land for crops –corn, soybeans and wheat. The total number of animals sold in 2011 was 4000 head with a total gain of 3 million pounds. 90 percent of these animals were Angus Influence. Congratulations to Ferme Jacques and Eric Desrosiers and Ferme B&L Desrosiers. Your hard work and dedication over the years has definitely paid off, and the Canadian Angus Association proudly awards you for your efforts last year and for years to come. The Canadian Angus Association introduced the Feedlot the Year award last year to recognize feedlots that promote Angus to their customers and that feed Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed tagged cattle. The award for 2010, recognized in 2011, was presented to Ferme d’Anjou et Fils of Saint-Agapit, Québec. The Canadian Angus Association is Canada’s largest purebred beef breed organization. The Association represents 3,000 members across Canada for the purposes of registering and recording the pedigrees of purebred Angus cattle in the closed Herd Book and promoting the breed across Canada. The member-approved mandate is to maintain breed registry, breed purity and provide services that enhance the growth and position of the Angus breed.
Today’s Angus Advantage Early Fall 2012 26