What does this mean???

[grassfarmer]

I bought one batch of cows at Burnt Lake a couple of years ago and I wouldn't go back as a buyer. Glencross was blatently running everything up and if I spotted it I'm sure the professionals do to.

[grassfarmer]

One thing to remember about the Cow plant that BIG C has put it's support behind is that the bridge financing comes from the Federal Government. Certainly provincial government, whether Saskatchewan or Alberta would have some sort of involvement, but loan guarantees from the Feds would hopefully help with some CFIA hoops that would have to be jumped to allow testing of these cows.

[cswilson]

They wrote a book about a rancher that thought Nilson's were there for the rancher it was called 'GULLIBLE's TRAVEL'S'

[cowman]

nerves: Part of the problem is the USA decision that you can't kill cows and fats in the same plant? However in most situations the cow beef is deboned and leaves the plant in ton bins anyway to a further processor where they add the trim...usually from fats that were sent to them untrimmed by other plants. A classic example would be the Lucerne plant in Calgary? Or Caravel meats in Calgary? Lucerne buys the fats and breaks them down for Safeway. They buy cow beef and blend the two(trim and cow) for hamburger. Caravel does the same thing and at one time sold just about everything to MacDonalds and Wendys?
I suppose they could and would buy cow beef from a big plant just as well as a small one.
rpkaiser: If the feds will come up with the money then that very well might change the picture! And with a minority government who knows they might be anxious to mend some fences? I'd look for a site where the vote was fairly close and they stand a good chance of pulling it off next time?
Grassfarmer: I am sure Australia has some very quality beef...but that is not the market they are filling here? In fact it is "manufacturing beef"? Like the stuff at subway and the delis? It is a very lean product and totally suitable for that market?
Whether we like it or not the North American palate is conditioned to baby grain fed beef. That is the desired product for the majority. White fat, well trimmed and marbled and juicy. Montanas steakhouse chain tried the Australian steak and it was basically a disaster and they returned to the grain fed baby beef? I did have one of these steaks and I sent it back and had the chicken. If I'm paying $16 for a steak it sure better taste good!

[cowman]

When Nilsons took over the Burnt Lake Mart it was really going down hill fast. Sellers had lost confidence in the way Sask. pool was running it. Glencross came in and completely turned it around!
I don't think Glencross makes any bones about the fact he is bidding on cattle? I mean he stands right up by the ring in front of everyone and buys them? Afterall Nilsons are in the feedlot and slaughter business too? If you think he is bidding to high then why would you bid?
Is this some sort of conflict of interest or something? The mart at Innisfail does the same thing. Either Mark or Jack Daines will leave the auction stand and go sit in the crowd and buy cattle...and they don't try to hide that fact either?
Maybe I am naive or something but like I said(from a sellers perspective) Nilsons really turned that mart around and gave us a mart where you wouldn't get screwed...at least not more than normal! They also brought in a good yard staff instead of the gong show Sask. pool had in the back. Now at least your cattle don't come into the ring all beat up and wild as hell!

[nerves]

cowman that is my point, if you build a plant in another province and it is big cow plant, then you will also need access to a plant that kills fats. If that plant decides that you are making to much money they cut off your supply of trim. A big plant will then be forced to cut back on thier kill. This is why I think you need a co-op kind of set up and many mid-sized plants to share product, you don"t want to be held hostage by the big operators.

[grassfarmer]

Cowman you point out that the USA decided over and under 30 month cattle had to be killed in seperate plants. This is just another piece of British legislation transferred to North America. When we had the big market collapse in 1996 due to BSE and virtually no animals were moving through the auctions/kill plants for nearly three weeks the NFU suggested to the Government that they start differentiating between over and under 30 month animals. The Government was out of ideas so jumped at this suggestion and ever since have been incinerating everything over 30 months.I think it is unfortunate that Canada when faced with 1 BSE case picked all the rules set up in Britain where they had a far greater problem with BSE. It's great how this magic thirty month rule is set in stone - it certainly is not a product of "sound science". It seems however that it will mean the different age animals will be killed in seperate plants for many years to come.