The Canadian beef cattle industry has been in serious trouble since May 2003 when a case of BSE was discovered in Alberta. The export of live cattle was stopped for over two years.
However, boneless boxed beef from cattle under 30 months of age was allowed to reenter the U.S. after about three months.
Cattle ranchers and feedlot operators suffered seriously during this period. Dairymen also suffered as they could not export heifers or older cows or bulls. The total cattle population has increased over the last two years. This has added to the problem.
The U.S. border is now open for live cattle over 30 months of age, but will it remain so?
What is the future for the export of Canadian beef?
Speaker: Ted Haney is President of the Canada Beef Export Federation. He was raised in Southern Alberta on a mixed farm. Ted graduated from the University of Alberta in 1982 with a B.Sc. in Agriculture and again in 1992 with a M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics. Before joining the Canada Beef Export Federation in 1992, Ted worked as an agricultural consultant in Canada and Asia.
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