Reading Time: 3 minutes The longer cattle are exposed to steroids and other growth promotants before slaughter, the more likely its beef will pay a penalty in terms of tenderness, said a researcher from the University of Alberta. Meat scientist Heather Bruce and her team recently conducted a study on the effects of growth promotants on collagen cross-links — […] Read more
Growth promotants in cattle can impact tenderness, says study
Researcher warns against steroid or beta-agonist use in cattle that won’t be slaughtered until they’re 16 months or older
Public comments sought on definition of ‘sustainable’ beef
Committee seeks indicators which accommodate producers, consumers and the environment
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) is seeking the public’s comments on the first draft of its sustainability “indicators” for beef operations. The indicators are part of the verified sustainable beef framework the organization is developing, and reflect what will be measured in terms of sustainability on individual operations. “The CRSB has developed indicators […] Read more
McDonald’s confident it is now serving ‘verified sustainable’ beef
It’s only a small amount at present, but McDonald’s says beef that meets its environmental and other standards is now in the supply chain
Reading Time: 3 minutes McDonald’s says it is now selling ‘verified sustainable’ beef — but is holding off on saying it has fulfilled the pledge it made to consumers two years ago. “We’re confident that we are sourcing verified sustainable beef because we have completed 82 full verifications,” said Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, senior manager of sustainability with McDonald’s Canada. “Because […] Read more
Christmas came early for beef and pork producers
Faced with the prospect of punishing sanctions, Congress includes repeal of COOL law in omnibus bill
Reading Time: 2 minutes Elated.” That was the word the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association used to described the U.S. Senate passage of Congress’s omnibus appropriations bill that would repeal U.S. country-of-origin labelling (COOL) for Canadian beef and pork. “This is fantastic news for Canada’s beef cattle producers,” said CCA president Dave Solverson, who ranches near Camrose. “The CCA initiated this […] Read more
ABP and government partner on new research initiative
The five-year agreement has a series of specific goals to reduce costs and boost productivity
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers and the provincial and federal governments have agreed to a five-year partnership to advance research and extension activities related to the forage and beef sectors in the province. The agreement has specific, measurable, long-term strategic goals: Build and maintain research and extension capacity; Reduce winter feeding costs by 50 per cent; Reduce […] Read more
Make hay while the sun shines
It’s good times in the cattle business, but there are things that need to get done before the next downturn
Reading Time: 5 minutes Good times don’t last forever, so use them wisely. That, in a nutshell, is the advice of four Alberta cattle producers who were asked for their thoughts on the current state of the sector and what lies ahead. A decade of misery following the BSE crisis in 2003 has been followed by record-high prices, and […] Read more
‘Probably carcinogenic’ needs to be put in context
The risk — if there is one — is small, and the nutritional benefits of red meat are known and are substantial
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has reviewed the monograph, Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat as published in The Lancet, which summarizes the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) review of red meat and processed meats. The Working Group charged with the review classified consumption of red meat in Group 2A, or “probably […] Read more
The nitty-gritty of becoming a ‘verified sustainable’ beef producer
Alberta Beef Producers chair Greg Bowie, who was verified in May, explains what’s involved
Reading Time: 4 minutes Thinking of becoming a producer of ‘verified sustainable beef,’ but wondering just what it involves? There are 31 indicators (available at vsbpilot.ca) that cow-calf producers must meet to qualify for McDonald’s program — and at first glance, it can all seem overwhelming. But it’s actually not that challenging, says Greg Bowie, a seedstock producer from […] Read more
Cattle carcass contamination increasing
The incidence of broken needles is up tenfold, and 100,000 pounds of beef are thrown out yearly because of buckshot contamination
Reading Time: 3 minutes Consumer confidence in Canadian beef is being eroded by a preventable problem — carcasses contaminated with needles, buckshot, and drug residues. “We want to make sure that all the cattle we’re producing — calves and cull cattle together — are going to be able to have a steak or roast off them without somebody either […] Read more
Maple Leaf swings to profit but shares slide
Maple Leaf Foods swung to a rare profit in the third quarter as the company nears the end of its restructuring plan. The profit is only Maple Leaf’s second in the past 11 quarters, but was slightly smaller than expected. Shares fell nearly seven per cent in Toronto trading to $20.95, as the company delayed […] Read more
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