Load Of Cattle Heading To Russia
RUSSIA - Two thousand Canadian cattle are taking a cruise to Russia, and half of them began their journey from a Lindsay farm yesterday.
4 May 2007
2 minute read
John Buckley owns a quarantine farm just east of Lindsay. Yesterday he and a team of farmhands were busy loading 1,000 Holstein and Angus heifers onto trucks. Those trucks left to take the cattle to a port in Beconcour Que., near Montreal. Tomorrow, a ship will take the cattle on a three-week trip to Europe.
They are breeding cattle, selected for their fine genes. They come from farms throughout the country.
Mr. Buckley's farm was the rallying point for half the shipment.
"Canada is highly respected for its breeding cattle," he said.
Of course, business hasn't been easy for Canadian cattle farmers in recent years. The effects of mad cow disease still plague the industry.
"My big thing is that it's a scenario where we've been sitting around because of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy - mad cow disease)," Mr. Buckley said. "We haven't been able to trade around (internationally) since 2003."
The last international shipment of cattle to leave Canada was also quarantined at Mr. Buckley's farm. The farmer said he's glad to be back doing what he loves.
"It's our livelihood," he said.
The contract was given to local business Ed McMorrow Cattle Co. through Calgary-based Alta Exports International. That company was contacted by a Russian cattle-breeding company.
"A lot of countries have had years to look into Canada," Mr. McMorrow said. "Basically, when it comes to cattle-breeding, it's the Cuban cigar."
Both Mr. McMorrow and Mr. Buckley commented on how impressed Russian vets seemed by the animals when they came to inspect the cattle. Mr. Morrow said that Alta has been dealing with Russia for about a year now.
