ALDER FLATS, Alta. — Lower prices are allowing bison meat to be more competitive with beef in the lucrative European market, says a meat exporter.
Eric Boiral of Bouvry Exports of Calgary, said fresh bison meat is now competitive with higher-priced beef.
“It’s looking good because of the new prices,” said Boiral during a bison bull and heifer sale at Moore’s Auction in Alder Flats.
“In the last few months prices have not been that positive, but me, I’m very positive,” he said.
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The meat-export company slaughtered 2,800 bison in 2000, most for export to Europe. This year it expects to increase that by 50 percent.
Boiral exports fresh meat direct to restaurants and retail stores to fill European’s demand for quality meat.
“Europe requests high standards for quality,” he said of Europeans who are confused about meat choices
because of fears over bovine spongiform encephalopathy and its human equivalent, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Alternative meat
Sale of horse meat, which Boiral also exports, has increased as well.
Europeans are trying alternative meats like kangaroo and ostrich to maintain a healthy diet, but bison is one of the few alternative meats that can guarantee a consistent supply.
“Customers are looking for natural meat — hormone and chemical free. They spend more to eat less and feel healthier.”
Boiral thinks most Canadians have the opposite attitude. They want lots of inexpensive food, he said, making a gesture with his hands of a big belly.
“Canadians are cheap to spend money on food.”
Bill Bouffioux, president of the Canadian Bison Association, said its emphasis will be to raise consumers’ awareness of bison meat’s benefits.
Through the new Canadian Bison Marketing Council, it will help producers develop tools to market their animals in Canada, Europe and the United States.
“I think there’s nowhere to go but up,” said Bouffioux.
