Age-Certified Cattle Will Have The Upper Hand
It's been reported that the physiological maturity requirement would eliminate the need for age documentation to be eligible for export to Japan. While technically correct in that this does open another avenue, it's important to note less than 8% of cattle will meet this physiological requirement and, to be assured market access, one needs to document age in another manner.
Most of the experts I've spoken to feel the vast majority of cattle that will move to Japan when that border reopens will be age verified. They also feel the physiological maturity score of A40 will be used as a mere supplement to fill market needs that can't be met by age-certified cattle. Additionally, the maturity score isn't assigned until the offal is already removed so many of the items that receive significant price upgrades will be lost like the tongue by using the A40 designation.
-- Troy Marshall , BEEF Cow/Calf Weekly 18 Feb 05
posted by Dr. Harlan Hughes 7:04 PM[edit]
Japanese Government Accepts Findings on US Cattle
Meatingplace.com reported that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has essentially endorsed a decision by the health and agriculture ministries' task force to accept US methodology for determining the age of cattle meant for export to Japan. An LDP subcommittee on BSE said on Wednesday that it would endorse that decision, provided the Food Safety Commission also approves the methodology, which uses a combination of standard USDA meat grading and study of dentition and bone structure to guarantee that slaughtered cattle are under 20 months old.
posted by Dr. Harlan Hughes 6:47 PM[edit]
Canadian RFID Tagging Deadline 1 Sep 2006
The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) announced that it has extended the previously announced RFID tagging timeline to ensure that the majority of 2005 calves make it through the system with a recognized bar coded tag. As of September 1, 2006 all cattle leaving their herd of origin must have a CCIA approved RFID tag applied to the ear. The revised date will assist producers in obtaining the approved RFID tags as well as provide an extended time period for tagging. In order to facilitate bar coded tags on cattle that have left their herd of origin prior to September 1, 2006, the CCIA will also continue to recognize the bar coded tags until at least December 31, 2007.
posted by Dr. Harlan Hughes 6:40 PM[edit]
Statistics Canada Releases Livestock Estimates
Statistics Canada reported the size of the Canadian cattle herd reached a record 15.1 million head as of Jan. 1, 2005. Farmers had 430,000 more cattle on their farms this year than they did on Jan. 1, 2004, or a 2.9% increase. Compared to Jan. 1, 2003, farmers had 1.6 million more head of cattle on their farms. In Manitoba, there were 1,510,000 cattle as of Jan. 1, 2005, compared to 1,450,000 head on Jan. 1, 2004, or a 4.1% hike. On cow-calf operations, farmers are holding 16.9% more cattle than two years ago. The number of beef cows on farms on Jan. 1, 2005 stood at 5.3 million head. By the way, Texas, with 5.75 million beef cows, has more beef cows that all of Canada put together.
The value of beef exports has been affected. In 2002, pre-BSE, total cattle and beef exports hit $3.9 billion or $11 million in sales daily. By 2004, the value of these exports fell to only $1.9 billion, less than half the 2002 levels. Slaughter has climbed to record levels. In 2004, slaughter was 25.7% above 2003 levels and 15.7% above those in 2002. Slaughter prices during the fall of 2004 amounted to 73% of prices last seen in the spring of 2003.
posted by Dr. Harlan Hughes 6:34 PM[edit]