KAMLOOPS, B.C. – One of the success stories from Canada’s struggle with BSE is the recapture of the domestic manufacturing beef business.
Processed products like burgers, sausages and wieners now contain mostly Canadian beef instead of imported meat.
“We have generated about a threefold increase in the amount of product from animals over 30 months utilized in Canada over a three year period,” said Glenn Brand, merchandising manager for the Beef Information Centre.
“We believe that is a significant accomplishment,” he said at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association convention in Kamloops Aug. 17.
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Total domestic disappearance of all beef in Canada for 2003 was 1.1 million tonnes. In 2004 it was around 972,000 tonnes, of which 866,000 tonnes was Canadian derived.
Commercial beef from non fed animals in 2002 totalled 179,000 tonnes, of which 50,000 tonnes were processed from Canadian animals. In 2003, the Canadian portion grew to 73,000 tonnes and in 2004 it climbed to 112,000 tonnes.
Brand predicted 140,000 tonnes of Canadian beef will be used this year in the further processed sector. With plenty of beef available from older animals, dependence on offshore beef was lessened.
By finding ways to process more Canadian cows and bulls, the industry avoided a possible public relations scandal that would have followed the cull of thousands of healthy animals older than 30 months, as some proposed early in the crisis.
The big challenge was ensuring processors of a consistent supply of cull cows when many are shipped on a seasonal basis. Processors also needed to see the value in the domestic product when they were more familiar with lean, grass-fed beef from New Zealand.
Working with other groups, the Beef Information Centre commissioned a muscling profiling study for older cattle. The final report will be released later this summer.
A commercial beef quality symposium will also be held later this year.
Researchers have also selected certain whole muscle cuts to see if these could be sold for higher value items like steak for sandwiches rather than grinding them up.
A beef manual and posters in English, French and Spanish have been prepared showing the different cuts and what to do with them.
BIC has formed partnerships with food companies to bring beef from older cattle to the market. For example, Maple Leaf Foods introduced a shaved beef package and a pot roast in a microwave package that is ready in 10 minutes. Both sell for more than a 600 gram package of ground beef.
Work is continuing with fast food chains where new products and concepts have been introduced using Canadian beef. These include strip loin sandwiches, Mexican style beef meals and special promotions like the Canadian Whopper from Burger King or the two cheeseburgers for $3 from McDonald’s.
