The Western Feedlot Management School, an event that provides important information for producers who would like to get into the cattle feeding sector, is in Saskatoon this week.

Organized by the U of S, the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association and the Ministry of Agriculture, it offers information on marketing, animal health and the industry itself.

Dr. John McKinnon says the feedlot sector has seen some challenges over the years including the BSE crisis and U.S. Country of Origin Labelling -- but there is optimism.

"If we start to look at getting past some of the issues we're dealing with in terms of access to markets and if we start to look at the competitiveness of the industry in western Canada, particularly in Saskatchewan, we've got room to grow."

McKinnon said the event is really about giving producers the tools needed to understand the industry and to help them be profitable in that segment of the industry.