February 12, 2007

 

Tyson agrees with USDA on Canada beef imports

 

 

Several cattle groups in the US have voiced opposition to the government's plan to fully resume imports of older Canadian cattle following the discovery of the ninth case of mad cow disease in Canada.

 

Canada confirmed its ninth case of mad cow disease since 2003, in an Alberta bull that died on a farm last week.

 

However, Springdale-based Tyson Foods Inc, which operates beef processing plants on both sides of the border, still wants the restrictions to ease.

 

Tyson recently reported its beef export sales were still only 32 percent of the pre-BSE highs recorded in 2003, despite some key markets opening several months ago.

 

Company officials said they support the view of the American Meat Institute on the full restoration of cattle and beef trade with Canada.

 

The USDA has proposed to allow import of cattle older than 30 months from Canada in a bid to increase trade.

 

Travis Justice spokesman for the Arkansas Beef Council said the new BSE case raised concern because cattle older than 30 months of age were at a higher risk of developing BSE.

 

The beef industry has only recovered roughly 50 percent of the trading volume lost when beef exports were banned in 2003, he added.

 

The National Cattlemen's Association however, felt otherwise. The latest case of BSE does not necessarily raise new concerns because the animal appears to be in the same age category of previous cases within Canada, but it does illustrate some of the concerns they have already expressed about the proposed rule, it said.

 

If older Canadian cattle were allowed to be imported they would have to be permanently marked all the way through harvest so as to be able to trace their origin, noted Joe Schuele, spokesman for the cattlemen's association.

 

Meanwhile, the USDA would probe an inquiry into the incident.