Beef May Soon Be Hoofing it Across the Border

By 250 News

  The U.S. Court of Appeals has rejected the request for a permanent injunction that would prevent all live shipments of Canadian cattle from entering the U.S. 

The case put forth by “R.C.A.L.F.”  (Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, out of Montana) argued live Canadian beef presented a threat of mad cow disease.

The Court ruled there were enough safeguards in place and the U.S. Department of Agriculture was correct in designating Canada “a minimal risk country.”

The R.C.A.L.F. group has yet to decide if it will appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the meantime, B.C. Agriculture Minister, Pat Bell, is pleased “This should open the way for a re-opening of the U.S. border for animals of all ages” says Bell.  

That would include the movement of replacement animals into the U.S. dairy market.   “The U.S. hamburger market is also very important, as older animals often made their way into that strain.  There was a time you could get 50-70 cents a pound for those older animals” says Bell “ but since the border closed, that dropped to  30 – 35 cents a pound.”  Bell says that market is now rebounding some as cattle ranchers were optimistic the border would reopen for older animals, and the prices have started to climb again. “This very good news for the industry.”

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