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US undercounts bird flu in cattle as farmers shun testing

Farmers fear economic losses from positive tests, leading to under-reporting; USDA offers partial compensation

The U.S. bird-flu outbreak in dairy cattle is much larger than official figures suggest due to farmers' reluctance to test their animals and risk the economic consequences of a positive result, according to Reuters interviews with dairy experts, veterinarians, and farmers in six states with known cases.


Calves waiting their turn to enter the Stettler Auction Mart in Alberta. Price insurance covers market risk from futures, currency and basis.

Managing risk when marketing beef cattle

Understanding price insurance, the risk it covers and how it compares to other options will allow you to draft a better risk management strategy

For the past year, cattle prices have remained strong in Canada and look to stay that way in 2024.However, this isn’t set in stone and the market can be quick to change, as producers saw in March 2024 as avian influenza was first detected in dairy cattle in the U.S., introducing risk into a red-hot […] Read more



Photo: File

U.S. livestock: CME cattle fall on rallying corn prices

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures turned lower on Monday as corn futures rallied following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply and demand report that lowered corn ending stocks, traders said. Meanwhile, hog futures were mixed as bargain buying counterbalanced seasonal price pressure. CME most-active October feeder cattle FCU24 closed down 2.05 cents at […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder rally stalls

For the week ending August 3, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. Strong buying interest continued on yearlings straight off grass; however, the “just get’em” type orders that were evident a week earlier now had limits. More cattle will come available in August and buyers are being more patient to see how the market develops.



Jewish organizations say that the decision resulted in a disruption in supply of kosher meat in Canada. Photo: Dave Bedard

CFIA won’t enforce some ritual slaughter requirements after appeal from Jewish organizations

The CFIA will no longer require three determinations of unconsciousness previously mandated for ritually slaughtered animals after a recent federal court ruling. Jewish organizations and companies had appealed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulations in court, claiming they made kosher slaughter difficult, which resulted in a disruption in supply of kosher meat in Canada.