May 30, 2008

US imports 67 percent more Canadian cattle on-year 
 
 

The US imported about 290,000 head of Canadian cattle from January to mid-May, up 67 percent from last year's corresponding period, according to a preliminary weekly data by the USDA.

With a weekly average import of 14,500 head, US feeder cattle imports from Canada are higher than a year ago every week except for the last week in January.

Year-to-date slaughter steer and heifer imports totalled 311,000 head or about 16,000 per week as of mid-May, down 8 percent on-year. However, the most recent preliminary weekly data suggest US slaughter steer and heifer imports from Canada should be larger than last year in May.

The data said US imports of Canadian slaughter cows averaged just over 3,000 head per week, meaning that about 70 percent of US cow slaughter through May 12, 2008 are Canadian cattle.