The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has started negotiations with Ottawa to set up a delayed marketing program for fed animals followed by an orderly slaughter and BSE testing scheme for older cattle. “We had unanimous support for the strategic plan,” said association president Stan Eby, after three days of meetings among beef producers in Calgary Aug. […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Meat could serve as cheap fuel source
A research project is assessing ways to get rid of inedible animal byproducts in an environmentally clean manner. The project involves burning rendered material as a cheap fuel source to generate electricity. “It is done already all over the world whether it is human garbage or animal byproducts,” said Darcy Fitzgerald, manager of the Alberta […] Read more
Canadian cattle herd continues to grow
The Canadian cattle herd continues to grow, not by choice, but by the misadventure of a single case of BSE halting exports since May 2003. Total herd size hit a record level of 16.76 million on July 1, up 6.5 percent from the same time in 2003, reports Statistics Canada. The beef cow herd rose […] Read more
Canadian beef may go it alone
Canadians struggling to regain Asian markets lost after BSE was found in North America last year feel betrayed by the United States. Canada believed it would work with the U.S. to promote a harmonized North American approach in Asia after the U.S. discovered a BSE infected cow last year. “This has not proven to be […] Read more
Burgers get more PR
Promoting a burger as a healthy choice at the local fast food joint is a tall order for the Beef Information Centre. It will be going up against chicken and salads as one of the strategies to move more beef from mature animals as borders remain closed to livestock and meat from cattle older than […] Read more
Cattle group uses NAFTA against U.S.
BARONS, Alta. – Angry Canadian beef producers have initiated a precedent setting trade challenge against the United States government under the North American Free Trade Agreement. A group of five feedlot operators is seeking $150 million in damages under Chapter 11 of NAFTA. The group called the Canadian Cattlemen for Free Trade is also demanding […] Read more
Alta. feedlot owners unite for fight
BARONS, Alta. – Several Alberta feedlot operators are hunkering down for the fight of their lives as borders remain closed to Canadian cattle. A group of five people, calling themselves the Canadian Cattlemen for Free Trade, served notice of a legal challenge to the United States government using the North American Free Trade Agreement as […] Read more
B.C. imposes tougher meat inspection laws
Some British Columbia farm groups worry packing capacity could be lost when the province implements its new meat inspection regulation Sept. 1. The new regulation is designed to streamline and enhance meat inspection across the province. Inspectors must be available to check animals before and after slaughter, no matter what the plant capacity. Beef producers […] Read more
Purebred ranchers face toughest test
People with a lifetime invested in their cattle may be facing the toughest period of their lives this fall. BSE-restricted trade leaves commercial and purebred breeders musing about their ability to hang on for another year as they face soft calf sales this fall. For Scott Pahl, the new president of the Canadian Hereford Association, […] Read more
Ranchers must hone management skills
OKOTOKS, Alta. – Business as usual seems unlikely as the United States border remains closed and beef exports are limited, says an American livestock marketing consultant. That means other approaches and skills are needed to survive this crisis, Harlan Hughes told the Canadian Hereford Association annual meeting Aug. 7. Hughes advised planning savvy over emotion. […] Read more
