Canada Beef Exports To Rise Slightly In 2010

Canadian beef exports will increase slightly this year despite the cattle industry’s decline, as exports to Mexico and Asia offset fewer shipments to the United States, a top export official said Feb. 18. Farmers and ranchers have downsized their herds of hogs and cattle to the smallest levels in more than a decade due to

Canada Livestock Exports To U. S. Continue Fall

Canada’s livestock exports to the United States continue to fall, even after last year’s free fall caused by the U. S. country-of-origin meat labelling law. Cattle exports to the United States fell 23.1 per cent in the first 30 days of 2010 to 71,277 head, compared with January 2009, according to the Canadian Agriculture Department.


Tories Accused Of Stalling On SRM Subsidy

Conservative members on the House of Commons agricultural committee are being accused of obstruction in blocking a recommendation for financial aid to Canada’s cattle processors. In a December 11 letter to the beef industry, opposition committee members accused Tory members of repeatedly preventing a vote on a motion to recommend subsidizing the slaughter of older

SRM Subsidy Critical To Survival, Packers Say

“There’s a very real possibility that there would not be a cow killer east of Brooks.” – BRAD WILDEMAN, CCA Canada risks losing its entire processing sector for older cattle unless the federal government subsidizes the cost of removing specified risk materials (SRMs) from beef carcasses, the industry warns. New, less stringent regulations for SRM


Downer Animals Can No Longer Go To Slaughter

Recent changes to provincial legislation make it illegal to transport “downer” animals to slaughter plants in Manitoba. Bill 2 (The Animal Care Amendment Act) now only allows downers to be transported to veterinary clinics. The bill recently passed public hearings by the Manitoba Legislature Standing Committee on Agriculture and Food. It defines a downed animal

U. S. Finalizes Ban On Cattle Too Sick To Walk

Cattle too sick or injured to walk will no longer be allowed to enter U. S. slaughterhouses, the Agriculture Department said in a rule finalized March 14, nearly a year after the largest meat recall in American history spurred the change. The USDA proposed a total ban on all “downer” cattle from being slaughtered in


Industry Vies For Federal Money

The Canadian livestock and meat industries are wishfully thinking as they wait for details on how the $50 million promised for Canadian slaughterhouses in the federal budget will be distributed. Jim Laws, executive director of the Canadian Meat Council in Ottawa, said he was surprised by talk that the money could be used to expand

Pre-marketing preparation pays off

Recent Sheep and Goat Market Reports come off as somewhat negative and scary for many producers. I would like to address these reports and the many phone calls I have received from other producers worried about their impending fate. The first article (Page 11, Nov. 27) titled “Beginning of the end for some goat producers?”


USDA needs to improve slaughter inspection: report

The U. S. meat inspection system has flaws that may create food safety risks, although the problems that forced a California packer to conduct the largest meat recall ever are not widespread, according to a federal review. The audit by USDA’s inspector general came after a videotape released Jan. 30 showed Hallmark/Westland Meat Co. workers

Winnipeg beef plant gets new corporate structure

“If they can make it work, great. We’re in favour of it.” – Martin Unrau, MCPA Manitoba’s newest beef processing project has a new name and a new corporate structure. Natural Prairie Beef Inc. and the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council are joining hands to form Keystone Processors Ltd., which will kill cattle and process beef