TheBeefSite Newsletter - 13 May 2009

Wednesday 13th May 2009

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: End of the Tunnel for Beef Hormone Dispute, or Just Another Turn?

The long awaited EU, US resolution to the beef hormone dispute came close to a harmonious end this week when US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton agreed on a way forward...in principle.

The agreement would provide additional duty-free access to the EU market for high-quality beef produced from cattle that have not been treated with growth-promoting hormones â€“ 20,000 tonnes in the first three years, increasing to 45,000 tonnes by the fourth. In return, the US will uphold current sanctions, but not impose new ones.

The two sides say they will seek to conclude a longer-term agreement and refrain from further litigation for at least 18 months. The longest ever dispute that the World Trade Organization has ever had to deal with may at last have an end in sight, but don't get your hopes up just yet.

Adam Anson

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 6 new features this week:

The Life and Death of BSE
Fifteen years ago Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was causing havoc in the EU. This fatal, neurodegenerative disease of cattle seemed both incomprehensible and unstoppable, but today many countries are looking to eradicate it once and for all, writes Adam Anson, TheCattleSite.

Cattle Outwintering Systems
This feature describes out-wintering systems for suckler cows based on trials conducted in a wide range of environments, by Quality Meat Scotland and SAC (Scottish Agricultural College).

Effects of Breeding for RFI in Heifers
With feed costs such a significant portion of beef production, animal scientists at Kansas State University recently finished a study on heifers that were sired by bulls chosen for their genetic residual feed intake (RFI) merit.

Arcobacter: Genome of Foodborne Pathogen Exposed
Mapping of the genome of Arcobacter butzleri by scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service is a first step in control of this foodborne pathogen. Previously thought to be a member of the Campylobacter family, it has been found in farm animals and a variety of retail meats, including chicken, beef, pork and lamb, with a high prevalence in poultry.

May Beef Management Tips
Beef management tips for May, by Dr. Scott P. Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, Virginia Tech.

World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates - May 2009
Total U.S. meat production for 2010 is projected to be fractionally above 2009 as declines in red meat production are more than offset by increases in poultry. Beef production declines on tighter supplies of cattle, according to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, produced by the USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board.