SAN ANTONIO, Texas Ñ Allowing Canadian cattle back into the United States this March is not expected to disrupt beef prices or supplies. “The psychological effect may be worse than the actual opening,” said Randy Blach, executive vice-president of the market analysis firm Cattlefax. If Canada exported 700,000 fat cattle over a 12 month period, […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Yaks’ value based on wool, meat, milk production
DENVER, Colorado Ñ There are many things Jim Watson likes about Tibetan yaks. They are hardy, produce flavourful meat and luxurious fibre and in spite of a formidable set of handlebar horns, are gentle and quiet. But best of all, “they are smarter than cattle,” said the Montana breeder who also raises bison. Watson inherited […] Read more
Export markets will be slow to rebuild for U.S. beef
SAN ANTONIO, Texas Ñ The United States did not fully appreciate the value of export markets until they were gone. “Until we don’t have access to it we really don’t have an appreciation for it,” said Randy Blach, executive vice-president of Cattlefax. In its annual outlook the American market analysis firm said the events of […] Read more
U.S. producers compromise on BSE stance
SAN ANTONIO, Texas Ñ Montana rancher Bill Donald came to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association annual meeting ready for a fight over renewing trade with Canada. Instead, the president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association presented a compromise he hopes cattle producers in his state can live with once the United States resumes trade in cattle […] Read more
U.S. cattle group tours Alta. feedlots, feedmills
An American cattle producers’ tour of the Alberta beef industry from nose to tail may dispel concerns about how Canada handled its BSE situation. Some members of the U.S.-based National Cattlemen’s Beef Association have suggested the United States delay opening its border to Canadian cattle, which is scheduled for March 7. The members cite two […] Read more
Alberta’s wealth has environmental cost
Alberta’s economic growth could come at the expense of its wildlife and landscape. “Today’s landscape is the pristine landscape relative to where we are going,” said biologist Brad Stelfox, who owns the environmental consulting firm Forem Technologies. He told the Alberta Conservation Association annual meeting Jan. 28 that throughout the 1900s, land has been lost […] Read more
Ducks less common on Prairies: DU
About 80 percent of North America’s wildfowl is produced on the Canadian Prairies but the total duck population is down almost 50 percent since 1970. Shrinking wetlands and loss of nesting areas have contributed to the declining duck population, which conservation groups hope to restore through agreements like the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. “The […] Read more
‘You’d do the same’: U.S. rancher
DENVER, Colo. Ñ If the shoe was on the other foot and the United States had multiple BSE cases, Canada would impose equally strict restrictions against the U.S., says a Montana rancher. “You folks would be no different in what we’re doing today if we were the ones with BSE,” said Leo McDonnell, outgoing president […] Read more
ID system coming to American herd
DENVER, Colo. Ñ American livestock producers may be leery of an animal identification system, but more are accepting its necessity. “Animal identification is a huge issue with all of the livestock industry, not just beef,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary Bill Hawks. Speaking at the Ranchers-Cattlemen’s Action Legal Fund annual meeting, Hawks assured producers […] Read more
BSE fight health-based: R-CALF
Western Producer reporter Barbara Duckworth attended the Western National Stock Show and R-CALF meeting in Denver, Colorado, and filed these reports. DENVER, Colo. Ñ Texas rancher Chuck Kiker says until the full risks of BSE are known, he wants the Canadian border closed completely. That is a commonly held view among members of the Ranchers-Cattlemen’s […] Read more
