A recent Celebrating Rural Ranching Women conference in Moose Jaw heard the flow of Holstein calf imports from the United States to Canadian packers will actually improve competition for local cattle by packers.
An Alberta packer imported 12,000 to 15,000 head of Holsteins a month last year, said Canfax analyst Brian Perillat.
“These imports are why we can have three packing plants in Western Canada. Overall it means as the supply of castle tightens in the end you are going to have more competition for your calves.
“Our cattle herd is hardly big enough to support the infrastructure we have.”
Canada’s cow herd has been shrinking dramatically, losing 25 per cent on four years.
Harmony Beef, with a strong dairy cattle program along with white fat cattle and conventional cattle, fills market niches.
“I understand a bit of concern at Holstein cattle imports. You can’t cut off trade. We export 70 per cent of our beef to the United States.”
Changes by U.S. packers made the Holsteins to Canada an option.
The European Union trade deal hasn’t been that good for Canada’s beef industry, said Perillat.
“We import more than they import. They’ve just got so much red tape and regulations.
“We don’t really have a supply chain in terms of getting certified to get European volumes going.”
A small packer in Lacombe, Alberta is developing a program to export non-implanted beef to Europe.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
Correction: An earlier verison of thie story should not have said Harmony Beef imported Holstein calves from the United States. The company does not import any cattle. Our apologies for the error.
