EDMONTON – Canadian beef exporters are gearing up for possible sales of livestock to Britain in case British authorities decide to slaughter thousands of that country’s herd in an attempt to calm consumer fears about mad cow disease.
Herb McLane, executive vice-president of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, said they have received some calls from livestock exporters in Britain and Canada.
“We’ve begun now to take some calls from entrepreneurial people in Britain and Canada,” said McLane, of Calgary.
Canada exports about $20 million of livestock and semen to the United Kingdom each year. About one-quarter of the sales are beef, the rest is dairy.
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“We have begun seeing some increased activity for possible importation of live cattle, embryos or genetics,” said McLane.
He said the potential for exports is hard to measure with reports changing daily of how many or even if any British cattle will be slaughtered.
One caller from Britain inquired about Angus and Hereford genetics. In British restaurants, beef is branded or advertised by the breed. The caller was hoping to capitalize on the British origins of Angus and Hereford beef, said McLane.
Increase unlikely
Rejean Bouchard, assistant director of policy and dairy production with Dairy Farmers of Canada, doubts if there will be any increased exports of dairy animals or semen from Canada to Britain, because Canada’s dairy industry is small compared to Britain’s.
“There is only so much we can export,” said Bouchard.
Canada exports about $5 million worth of dairy cattle and $10 million worth of semen to the U.K. each year.
Perry Wilkes, co-owner of Canada Livestock Services Ltd., said while there is “great opportunity” for export sales, it’s too early to gear up.
“It’s not something that’s going to happen overnight,” said Wilkes, of Calgary.
“There are great potential for sales if the British government does decide to slaughter the national herd. It’s almost an overwhelming possibility,” he said.
The scare over mad cow disease erupted after Britain admitted on March 20 there was a likely link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy and its deadly human equivalent, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
