U.S. Feeder Cattle Exports to Canada More Than Double

December 29, 1999

U.S. exports of feeder cattle to Canada under the Northwest Cattle Project reached 105,374 head in the first 11 weeks of the 1999-00 season, more than double the 51,009 total for all of the 1998-99 season. The latest report is from the U.S. embassy in Ottawa and estimates the current value of U.S. feeder cattle exports at $70 million.

In mid-December, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced that more than 90,000 head of U.S. feeder cattle were shipped to Canada in the first eight weeks of the 1999-00 season. Most of the cattle come from Montana, but Alaska, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington and Hawaii also participate in the program.

During 1997-98 only 1,000 head were exported to Canada under the project that helps U.S. feeder cattle exports to Canada under expanded animal health approvals for cattle from selected states.

Of the 105,374 head exported from Oct. 1-Dec. 17, 98,647 went to Alberta; 4,796 went to British Columbia and 1,931 to Saskatchewan, according to figures from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.