PBQ sustainability strategy

Quebec cattle producers place great importance on the health and wellness of their animals and workers, as well as on the vitality of the land and rural communities. That is why societal issues form one of the key pillars of their strategy.

Their efforts are already proving successful: the industry has seen concrete advances in animal care. To learn more, see the life cycle assessment developed by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.

By encouraging the adoption of management systems that benefit the health of animals, the wellness of people, and the vitality of the land, the strategy helps advance cattle production in a sustainable way.

Healthier animals: taking action before, during, and after health issues

Quebec cattle producers work closely with their veterinarians to ensure their animals stay as healthy as possible. In addition to preventative measures such as vaccination, they take curative measures by treating sick animals appropriately.

Furthermore, to limit the risks of disease and to reduce drug use, the PBQ collaborated with the Producteurs de lait du Québec and several sector partners to launch the Alliance biosécurité bovine du Québec (ABBQ).

This initiative led to the creation of a concerted strategy and a five-year action plan to increase biosecurity throughout the sector.

For more information, click here:

The main cattle health indicators can be consulted on a quarterly basis. The cattle network continuously monitors the health of Quebec’s cattle herd by collecting data and facilitating rapid detection of health problems. It publishes a quarterly report for producers and stakeholders summarizing the main diseases detected provincewide, along with their prevalence.

To find out more, click on the image to access the most recent report. For access to previous quarters, please see the archives.

Animal welfare: a core concern

Animal welfare is a core concern of Quebec cattle producers. They are actively involved in advancing knowledge and updating codes of practice that serve as a reference for the whole industry.

These codes set out the best cattle farming practices to ensure animal welfare at each stage of life. They are developed in collaboration with animal science experts, veterinarians, producers, and animal protection groups.

 

Find out more about the codes of practice

 

 

 

Learn about producers’ commitment to animal welfare

 

Certification: a mark of quality and distinction

The PBQ firmly believes that certification plays a key role in improving animal welfare, herd health, animal husbandry practices, and farm management.

For this reason, the cattle sector has a number of certification programs, each one adapted to the realities of its sector. These programs allow producers to demonstrate their commitment to meeting high standards while recognizing the work they do with partners and consumers.

To learn more about certification, click on the appropriate logo:

 

Sustaining the vitality of land and rural communities

Cattle production takes place all across Quebec and is a key component in the regional development of our agriculture sector. Over 8,000 cattle businesses contribute to regional economic development and optimize the use of land that is not well suited to crops for human consumption. They raise cattle that feed families from Quebec and beyond.

Cattle production by the numbers (2024):

  • 600,000 head
  • $1.03 billion in annual sales
  • 8,122 businesses

Les Producteurs de bovins de l’Estrie helped create the Viande solidaire project. This circular economy initiative enables the Centre d’action bénévole de la MRC de Coaticook to source beef at a good price, while preventing thousands of pounds of food waste. It is the only food security initiative of its kind in Quebec.