TheBeefSite Newsletter - 18 November 2009

TheBeefSite Weekly Newsletter

Wednesday 18th November 2009

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Promoting Beef

Recent statistics have shown that Japanese consumption of beef is finally picking up, and Canada is not going to let this pass it by.

Last week the Canadian Agriculture Minister launched the Brand Canada Initiative, and promoted "safe and quality" Canadian beef in Japan. Currently Canadian beef exports to Japan are restricted to products from animals under 21 months of age.

The Brand Canada Initiative is a C$32 million venture that will promote Canadian products abroad as well as at home will drive market research, advertising, store features and other promotional activities.

With debates continuing in Taiwan over imports of US bone-in-beef products, New Zealand has taken it upon itself to remind Taiwanese consumers that New Zealand beef is available, natural, safe and healthy.

In the UK, new price structuring introduced by meat plants a couple of weeks ago has already had a positive effect on cattle prices. The new price structuring was introduced to give bonuses to producers who sent cattle to slaughter under 30 months old and in between 280 and 380 kg weight. Recently abattoirs had seen an increase in overweight (over 400 kg) and older (over 30 month) cattle.

As well as bonuses for in-spec cattle, deductions are also applied to out-of-spec cattle. The short term effects of this have seen steer and heifer prices increase, however, the long term implications of these changes are unknown.

New evidence from the University of California suggests that UN estimates that livestock generates 18 per cent of global greenhouse emission could be six times too high.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 4 new features this week:

Fish Oil in Diet Reduces Methane
At a time when agriculture is coming under more and more criticism regarding greenhouse gas emissions, researchers at University College Dublin, have discovered that the inclusion of two per cent fish oil in the diet (20 g/kg DMI) of steers will reduce methane output by approximately 25 per cent, and reduce feed intake by 10 per cent, writes TheCattleSite junior editor, Charlotte Johnston.

Crossbreeding Beef Cattle
It is important for producers to optimise economically important traits whilst trying to reduce costs of production in order to remain competitive. Beef Extension specialists explain how crossbreeding reduces costs and improves production.

US Feed Outlook - November 2009
Global competition has reduced US corn export prospects for 2009/10, according to the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) Feed Outlook for November 2009.

US Beef and Dairy Outlook Report - November 2009
While the dairy export forecast for 2010 appears robust, total US beef exports are expected to decline compared to last year, according to the USDA's ERS November 2009 Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook.