Canadian Packers Ask For Government Aid For Safer Beef
11/04/2009 04:09PM
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Reuters reports Canadian beef packers want C$26 million to pay for disposing beef specified risk materials associated with mad cow disease.
The risk materials include brain, spinal cord and tonsils and are more common among cows over 30 months of age. The C$26 million ($24.5 million) breaks down to C$31.70 for each animal. Packers currently have to pay the disposal fees. The costs hurt small packers more than large packers. Canadian packers are concerned that they won’t be able to compete on a level playing field with U.S. packers who are pay less to dispose risk materials and can sell some of the byproducts as livestock feed.
Packers, farmers and renderers spoke with the House of Commons agriculture committee on Tuesday, but the committee has not responded yet. Other cattle-farming groups met with the New Democratic Party on Wednesday to ask for government aid.
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Source: Reuters