Beef Exports will be a big topic of discussion during this year’s Beef Cattle Short Course at Texas A&M next month.
“The beef cattle export markets are a very important part of the U.S. beef industry,” said Dr. Jason Cleere, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist and conference coordinator.
Indeed, just this summer, a 14-year ban on U.S. Beef exports to China was lifted, opening up markets for beef producers.
China had banned the import of American beef products in 2003 over fears of mad cow disease. Since then, Australia and Uruguay stepped up to become a big supplier to China.
According the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China’s beef imports increased to $2.5 billion last year from $275 million in 2012.
Tracy Tomascik, who deals with cattle and regulatory issues for the Texas Farm Bureau, has said that China’s middle class population is exploding, “and becoming wealthier, with more money in their pockets. They want to eat high quality meat, and U.S. prime beef fits that description.”
However, cattlenetwork.com reports that all beef bound for China must be from cattle less than 30 months of age, from cattle whose place of birth can be traced and from cattle not exposed to certain growth promoters, among other requirements.
It is estimated that about 90 percent of feedlot cattle receive hormones that would prohibit export to China, as do nearly all cattle on larger commercial feedlots.
Although cattle producers in Texas and elsewhere may not ship much cattle at first, according to Tomascik, “If we stay on task, this will have long-term benefits, but there will be baby steps, moving a little at a time.”
In the meantime, beef producers attending the 2017 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course on August 7-9 can get an overview of export markets and a general beef cattle market outlook for the remainder of the year.
“We have a full lineup of speakers who will discuss these markets, what trends are happening in the current domestic markets, as well as hear from a few who have direct business experience,” says Dr. Cleere.
For more information or to register, visit www.beefcattleshortcourse.com or call 979-845-6931.
