What will save this turn of cattle feeding?

[smcgrath76]

I think the problem with COOL is that it
changed not only the rules, but the
entire game and once again we are
playing reactionary instead of
visionary. We fought it until it was
law, and have not had time to develop a
Canadian premium product.
I think a big part of the suffering here
is by the fact that the export business
(read USA) was built on cheaper product
($0.67 dollar) rather than product
quality and innovation. Innovation is
hard to copy/replace/substitute, a cheap
product isn't and is at the whim of the
government of the day to add costs.

[smcgrath76]

I think the problem with COOL is that it
changed not only the rules, but the
entire game and once again we are
playing reactionary instead of
visionary. We fought it until it was
law, and have not had time to develop a
Canadian premium product.
I think a big part of the suffering here
is by the fact that the export business
(read USA) was built on cheaper product
($0.67 dollar) rather than product
quality and innovation. Innovation is
hard to copy/replace/substitute, a cheap
product isn't and is at the whim of the
government of the day to add costs.

[smcgrath76]

I think the problem with COOL is that it
changed not only the rules, but the
entire game and once again we are
playing reactionary instead of
visionary. We fought it until it was
law, and have not had time to develop a
Canadian premium product.
I think a big part of the suffering here
is by the fact that the export business
(read USA) was built on cheaper product
($0.67 dollar) rather than product
quality and innovation. Innovation is
hard to copy/replace/substitute, a cheap
product isn't and is at the whim of the
government of the day to add costs.

[smcgrath76]

I think the problem with COOL is that it
changed not only the rules, but the
entire game and once again we are
playing reactionary instead of
visionary. We fought it until it was
law, and have not had time to develop a
Canadian premium product.
I think a big part of the suffering here
is by the fact that the export business
(read USA) was built on cheaper product
($0.67 dollar) rather than product
quality and innovation. Innovation is
hard to copy/replace/substitute, a cheap
product isn't and is at the whim of the
government of the day to add costs.

[Sawbones]

We're looking for hormone free, EU eligible calves...any out there

[smcgrath76]

number, size, weight and veterinary
qualifications? Do they have to have been
inspected/vaccinated by a veterinarian?

[smcgrath76]

number, size, weight and veterinary
qualifications? Do they have to have been
inspected/vaccinated by a veterinarian?

[kato]

A major reason we have not taken a visionary role is that our beef processing industry consists of one packer that is American owned, and one that has been able to take a terrific advantage to grow and prosper just the way things are now.

They do not want things to change. They are doing just fine the way they are. With no processors having a vested interest in changing the status quo, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

I resent when Canadian cattle producers are blamed for this. I resent when we are told that we have sat back and let this happen. We as a group have knocked ourselves out for the last six years in so many attempts to help the situation that I've lost count. This is not an easy thing to do, especially when we are pretty much doing it on our own.
Improving the way the cattle business in Canada is run is going to take years. In the meantime, without those extra U.S. bids on our cattle to keep at least a tiny bit of competition going, we won't be around long enough to win it. That's why we need to keep fighting COOL. Give up on this one, and another will just be added to it, because we have basically said we'd take whatever is handed to us without a fight.

[jensend]

went to brandon yesterday to the manitoba cattle enhancement council forum. todd churchill was interesting explaining how he developed thousand hills and what he learned about consumers and cattle in the process. charlie gracey and ted bilyea made the 400 km drive each way worthwhile in the hour and a half they had together. they said what a lot of cattle producers have been thinking and explained in depth what will work. canada has to go on its own. there are other markets in spite of what nilssons' and the cca will tell you and they are acceessible (specifically europe and japan and china as time goes along). the market and more processing opportunities have to come simultaneously so the canadian govt. is going to have to learn from alma and people who have real knowledge. gracey and bilyea have so much knowledge and experience to offer i hope their ideas will be pursued at least by the alberta govt. so ottawa and the cfia can get into the real world.

[perfecho]

I do agree that the packer monopoly is the major factor in a good deal of our woes, however I do believe we are also at fault.
At fault for not stepping up and educating the consumer to what is happening......at fault for not storming the legislature for allowing the packer monopoly.....at fault for not getting rid of our older cows during BSE and fighting for a "Premium Label.....at fault for not making sure the Acheson Plant was kept for slaughter and not "file storage" by the AB gov......etc etc.
A few Gays were able to persuade major legislation to change, a few "sex change" candidates were able to alter the AB gov's spending changes. It is not only bankrupt corps and banks that are able to get "bail out" money....the one common thread amongst all of these imitatives is that they "stood up".........
Something I believe we are lacking.
But that is why "they" are able to continue......we can't get our sh together!
But then....I could be wrong ;-)

[jensend]

i think you can say producers are partly to blame but then you have to blame consumers for concentration in banking and financial services, farmers for agrium buying up every independent fert dealer, producers for concentration of ownership of machinery dealerships and on and on. the business strategy for the past forty years has been to get bigger to have more influence on markets. the governments have been bought out so that their is no competition legislation to keep a small group from controlling large portions of the economy. all the efficiency, innovation and creativity has disappeared from north america and that is why our economy is screwed. i don't know how much worse it will have to get before it gets better.

[shaney]

I may be on an island but I think you guys are
missing the point. The beef industry in North
America has some major systemic issues. If you
think that the packer is on easy street and thinks
the business is a licence to print money you are
wrong. Whether you are a rancher, feeder or
producer there are huge challenges staring the
industry in the face. I agree that it would be nice to
have 6 packers in Canada but that would not make
people eat more meat.

Having 6 packers in Canada would also not allow us
to produce beef at the same cost of production as
South America.

Don't fall into the trap of hating the larger
corporations of the world. Their consolidation is a
concern but not the elephant in the room which is a
trend of decreasing beef demand.