TheBeefSite Newsletter - 17 February 2010

TheBeefSite Weekly Newsletter

Wednesday 17th February 2010

Our Sponsors: Helping keep you updated for free!

ON-LINE SHOP Â Â Â News Â Â Â Company News Â Â Â Events Â Â Â Articles Â Â Â Diseases Â Â Â Treatments Â Â Â Employment Â Â Â Cattle Breeds Â Â Â SEARCH

Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Link Between Meat And Cancer Flawed

A high profile report which suggests possible links between meat and cancer has been found to be significantly flawed by leading academics.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) 2007 report has been consistently cited as proof of a perceived link between red and processed meat consumption and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, despite now privately acknowledging a number of errors and noting that these will be taken into consideration as part of an ongoing review, the charity has said it is not planning to inform the public and policymakers directly of the flaws.

In the UK, EBLEX Chairman John Cross and counterpart at BPEX Stewart Houston, wrote to Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific adviser at WCRF, asking WCRF to acknowledge publically the flaws in the report.

In the EU, farm leaders have exchanged views with the new EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos on the future CAP, agreeing on the need to maintain CAP direct aid payments to farmers in a bid to safeguard a viable and competitive EU agriculture sector.

Five of world's major beef exporting nations, Canada, US, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand are meeting this week in hope of progressing trade policy and techincal issues within the industry.

It is hoped that the countries will work together to face the many challenges facing them, however it is also an opportunity to understand different countries' approaches to climate change.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 4 new features this week:

Studies Step up Battle Against Illegal Growth Promoters
Due to the economic benefits that can be gained from the use of illegal growth promoters in beef cattle, their illegal administration continues, writes TheCattleSite senior editor Chris Harris.

2009 Irish Livestock Supplies Reviewed
Total cattle disposals in 2009 were four per cent higher than previous year levels at just 1.9 million head, writes Peter Duggan, Strategic Information Services, Bord Bia.

US Feed Outlook - February 2010
An increase in domestic demand for feed grains has been fuelled by higher demand for ethanol, according to this month's Feed Outlook Report from USDA Economic Research Service.

World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates - February 2010
Cattle price forecasts for 2010 are lowered as larger numbers of fed cattle are expected to pressure prices, according to the USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates for February 2010.