(Alice McFarlane/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Beef Industry

Beef demand amid COVID-19 concerns

Mar 24, 2020 | 12:39 PM

Canadian beef groups took part in a telephone town hall to discuss how the industry is managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beef supplies at some supermarkets are limited but the price farmers are receiving is not reflecting that shortage.

Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director Dennis Laycraft said U.S. cattle future markets have dropped in response to concerns about the ability of the packing system to maintain current production.

“We are talking to processors and retailers and there’s not a simple answer to the difference in the demand for beef and the current live cattle prices,” Laycraft said. “Hopefully, as we move more and more cattle through, we’ll continue to see recovery on those prices, making sure our plants are able to operate safely, and we’re able to maintain our ability to export our products and our livestock as well.”

The Beef Cattle Research Council released a list of recommendations for cattle sales during COVID-19. The recommendations were made through consultation.

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Canadian Beef Breeds Council Executive Director Michael Latimer said maintaining business continuity is vital for the industry.

“We need commerce to take place between buyers and sellers. Sellers need to get their bulls sold and buyers need bulls to get their cows bred so they have cows a year from now,” Latimer said. “One of the things we looked at when we put the document out, which was really to just create a baseline all the people hosting bull sales or planning to attend a bull sale could use as a reference document to take precautionary measures and their neighbour was going to do the same thing. I’m really just focusing on keeping everybody safe while still facilitating the important trade that we have at this time.”

National Cattle Feeders Association President and CEO Janice Tranberg said while it is very important to show our appreciation for the medical community. She said the public needs to do the same thing for everyone involved in the food chain.

“We want to say thank you to all the frontline workers for their efforts to keep Canada healthy and safe and protect the welfare of those who are in the beef industry,” Tranberg said. “From primary producers, to truckers, to those working in our packing plants and all our supporting services. We want to say thank you. Your work is as important as ever.”

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF