Before the border was re-opened we couldn't handle the market ready cattle. Right now, we have the largest calf-crop in a while and our feedlots are full. Because of all of this, the demand is high for Canadian live cattle within the U.S. packing industry.
Because feeder cattle flow to where the feed is the cheapest, a lot will depend on what happens this summer with the weather.
It's obviously unwelcome, but pretty well around the world there have been what's referred to as 'BARB' cattle. Those are born after the ruminant ban.
Access to over 30 month aged cattle should open up in the third or fourth quarters of 2006.
We want to make sure we don't slide back to where we are too dependant on cattle exports and we don't have enough capacity in Canada . The only way processing exists, is if its able to make a return on investment.
U.S. beef processors are active and there seems to be a strong sense of confidence in resumption of trade with Japan, and Korea.
We expect those (cattle) imports to resume shortly.
This is finishing the job. We are going to be a different industry when we're done this.
It's not unexpected that we're going to see a few more isolated cases. It's obviously unwelcome, but pretty well around the world there have been what's referred to as 'BARB' cattle. Those are born after the ruminant ban.
Although it's too early to know precisely, the fact it is contained -- it was in the herd in which it was born -- is going to greatly facilitate the investigation.
