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Volume 13 Issue 8 • April 27, 2015
CCA IS THE NATIONAL VOICE OF CANADA’S 68,500 BEEF FARMS
In This Issue...
• Trans-Pacific Partnership Update
• Budget 2015 positive for beef
producers, agriculture
• Commentary - Gina Teel, CCA
Communications Manager
• Canadian Beef Cattle On-farm
Biosecurity Standard Principle 1 - Managing and Minimizing
Animal Movement Risks
• It’s a wrap: Steaks for Soldiers
campaign to hold final event May 9
• Defining the environmental footprint of
Canadian beef production
Trans-Pacific Partnership Update
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) was just outside Washington DC. last week participating
in the latest official meetings regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP holds great
potential for Canadian beef through reduction of tariffs, particularly in Japan. The objective for the
Canadian beef sector is to eliminate Japan’s 38.5 per cent tariff on beef imports and eliminate a
‘safeguard’ whereby Japan can further increase its tariff if beef imports exceed a certain trigger level.
The CCA shares this position with its Five Nations Beef Alliance (FNBA) partners (http://www.cattle.
ca/news-events/news/view/negotiators-urged-to-secure-high-quality-tpp-deal/). There is also an
excellent opportunity to secure duty free access to Vietnam and Malaysia.
Canada joined the TPP negotiations in late 2012 and Japan joined in mid-2013. In that time, little
detail has emerged regarding a potential tariff or safeguard outcome. In fact, the state of the
negotiations between Canada and Japan on beef has moved little beyond opening positions. In
contrast, negotiations between the U.S. and Japan are well advanced, and while no details have been
confirmed, it appears there may be agreement for a very substantial result for U.S. beef in Japan.
Significant unresolved issues both inside and outside agriculture remain between the U.S. and Japan,
but with recent activity in the U.S. Congress to confer Trade Promotion Authority on the President,
those unresolved issues could be dealt with and an overall TPP deal could emerge very quickly
this spring.
In 2014, Japan was the fourth largest export market for Canadian beef, valued at $103 million. In
early 2015, the Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into force, so that Australian beef now pays only 32.5 per cent duty, while Canadian
beef continues to pay 38.5 per cent. Canadian beef exporters already report they are having difficulty holding ground due to the tariff disadvantage with
Australia. Should the U.S. reach a deal with Japan without the same terms being available for Canada, it could be ‘game over’ for Canadian beef in Japan.
Canada can keep pace with the U.S. and regain lost ground versus Australia however by doing whatever it takes to be part of the deal. Should a package
come together this spring, Canada needs to get on board quickly to be part of a 12-country package, or risk being left on the outside and having to
negotiate its way back into the TPP. This almost certainly will mean being left behind on beef access in Japan, much the same as what happened in the
Korea FTA.
Another consequence of being left out of the TPP could be the missed opportunity to set the conditions for new entrants. Both Korea and Taiwan have
indicated that they want to be admitted into the TPP. As soon as Canada is in the TPP, it can insist that those countries have to remove any barriers to
Canadian beef as part of their price of admission. Since neither Korea nor Taiwan are currently allowing Canadian beef imports, this could be a valuable
Volume 13 Issue 8 • April 27, 2015
lever. If Canada were in the TPP it could also insist that Korea agree to accelerate the tariff elimination on Canadian beef to match the rate enjoyed by
U.S. beef.
In conclusion, the next several weeks could be very critical in shaping the conditions for Canadian beef in Asia for the next decade. There should be no
excuse for Canada to miss this opportunity. There is no status quo….we either move forward or we fall backward.
Budget 2015 positive for beef producers, agriculture
Economic Action Plan 2015 contains several measures of direct benefit to beef producers and agriculture
in general. This includes investments to enhance and expand market access and trade opportunities and
promotional and branding efforts. An increase in the lifetime capital gains exemption for dispositions of
qualified farms is another measure of practical importance to producers, particularly those wishing to retire
or transition from the industry.
On the research side, $2 million per year of the $15 million annual investment allocated to the Canadian
Institute of Health Research will support additional research to better understand and address the health
challenges posed by anti-microbial resistant infections. This new funding provides additional opportunities
for collaborative research between the medical and agricultural research communities to better understand
the interplay between antimicrobial use and resistance in both human and livestock medicine.
Most of the proposed measures start in 2016-17. To view the CCA News Release, click here
(http://www.cattle.ca/news-events/news/view/budget-2015-positive-for-canadas-cattle-producers/).
Commentary - Gina Teel, CCA Communications Manager
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) devotes a considerable amount of time to crisis management
and preparedness. This includes having a solid crisis plan in place, understanding how the crisis plans of
other industry organizations and provincial and federal governments work and how the CCA’s plan fits within
those. Regular testing of these systems through simulations is important; it helps to identify gaps in delivery
or process which once remedied result in a more effective response.
An equally important piece is communicating to stakeholders. For the CCA, this means the people who
operate Canada’s 68,500 beef operations. In the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak - the most likely
threat facing the beef industry - the potential impacts would be far and wide. At the industry level, there
could be border closures, market implications and economic impacts. At the producer level, quarantine and
movement restrictions could be imposed as part of the containment measures. There could be animal welfare
concerns to manage. On-farm biosecurity practices would be ramped up, especially by those producers in or
around the affected area. Business could come to a grinding halt.
It’s a challenging scenario to contemplate but it is one that must be planned for. Ideally on-farm emergency preparedness planning should be as top
of mind as it is at the CCA. My observation, gleaned from the reactions of producers in simulations and during real life crises, is that there is room for
improvement.
Volume 13 Issue 8 • April 27, 2015
Even if there is an on-farm emergency management plan, it may not be well-communicated to employees or regularly reviewed with staff and/or
family. The void created by a lack of understanding or clear instruction could create gaps in the implementation of biosecurity practices aimed at
stopping the spread of disease. Staffing itself could be an issue – creating an additional layer of issues. Basic emergency operational considerations
may be overlooked, such as ensuring sufficient stockpiles of food and feed and biosecurity staples like disinfectant and other sanitation supplies are
on site at all times. In an emergency situation, such oversights would clearly add layers of stress to an already high pressure event on-farm.
Benjamin Franklin famously said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With that in mind, today Action News is launching a four-part
series aimed at preparedness on-farm. The focus of this ground-up approach is bio-security, specifically practices that can help reduce the risk of
disease on-farm. Biosecurity is a first line of defense on-farm and should be the foundation of any emergency management plan. In a crisis, the value
of having a solid response from the ground up to meet and support the CCA’s top-down effort is incalculable.
This series will focus on main principles of the Canadian Beef Cattle On-Farm Biosecurity Standard. The CCA participated in the development of the
Beef Cattle Biosecurity Standard along with producers, academia, provincial governments and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency through funding
provided by the Growing Forward policy initiative of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
The main principles are:
• Managing and Minimizing Animal Movement Risks;
• Managing the Movement of People, Vehicles, Equipment, and Tools;
• Managing Animal Health Practices;
• The Biosecurity Knowledge and Training of Personnel on the Operation’s Biosecurity Plan.
These principles are supported by one-page fact sheets. Available in English and French, the fact sheets are an excellent resource for all personnel
(owners, managers, staff and family). The CCA encourages producers to review these fact sheets with their staff and to make them available in the
office and include them in training new staff.
Those wanting more information can find it in the Canadian Beef Cattle On-Farm Biosecurity Standard
(http://www.cattle.ca/assets/CB-CattleStandard-Eng-web.pdf) which has an accompanying producer implementation manual
(http://www.cattle.ca/assets/annual-report/BeefImplementationManual-eng-Final.pdf), both available for download on the CCA website
(http://www.cattle.ca/about-us/reports-and-publications/annual-reports/).
Canadian Beef Cattle On-farm Biosecurity Standard
Principle 1 - Managing and Minimizing Animal Movement Risks
Controlling and limiting the movement of livestock is recognized as one of the most important biosecurity practices to minimize transmission of disease
pathogens. Managing and minimizing the risks surrounding commingling and the movements of high-risk and highly susceptible animals will help reduce the
likelihood of introducing disease to the herd.
Commingling occurs when cattle from one operation mix or come into contact with cattle from another operation. Commingling represents a significant risk
factor because disease risks and management practices can vary between operations. As such, when cattle are mixed together, cattle from one operation
may be exposed to infectious diseases present in animals from another operation. Commingling is common in the cattle industry and though it’s not
practical to stop it, feedlot and cow-calf operators should recognize and manage the risks through applying appropriate biosecurity practices.
CCA Director Colin Campbell (AB) shared some of the biosecurity management practices he uses when introducing new animals. This includes inspecting
the animals prior to purchase and isolating them from the main herd for a period of time. The new animals are isolated with a couple of heifers to
acclimatize, which allows Campbell to monitor if there is a reaction in his animals to pathogens that the new animal may have. “That period of isolation is
longer than two weeks in most cases,” he said.
Volume 13 Issue 8 • April 27, 2015
A purebred breeder, Campbell has situated his herd in a geographic area that is isolated from other herds, so there are no common fence lines. Minimizing
direct and indirect contact with animals from another operation, or from other species, to the extent possible is a recognized biosecurity practice.
“As I haul all of my own cattle and I keep my trailer clean for sanitation and resale value purposes, the spread of pathogens from the physical movement of
animals is as minimized as possible,” he said.
Minimizing movements and having clean trucks are important when dealing with high-risk and highly susceptible animals - two categories of animals that
can put the health status of the herd at risk. The opportunity for introducing or spreading disease is greater with these animals, making it important to
manage their movements.
An animal may be considered high-risk if it is new to the operation or having been away from the operation, sick or recently recovered, is of a different
species or has an unknown health history. Minimizing contacts with high-risk animals reduces the likelihood of introducing disease to a herd. A highly
susceptible animal – those animals that are at a relatively increased risk of infection, including calves and/or young stock, recently weaned calves or sick
animals - may acquire a disease because of an already compromised immune system. For these animals, fewer movements and less contact with other
animals help reduce the likelihood that they will contract disease.
The management practices described in this article are among the recognized biosecurity practices that help to manage and minimize these risks. For
more detailed information, please consult the Commingling Fact Sheet (http://www.cattle.ca/assets/action-news-pdfs/Beef-Fact-Sheet-Commingling-FinalEnglish.pdf) and the Movement of High-Risk and Highly Susceptible Animals Fact Sheet (http://www.cattle.ca/assets/action-news-pdfs/Beef-Fact-SheetMovement-of-high-risk-animals-Final-English.pdf) and pages 11-15 of the Canadian Beef Cattle On-Farm Biosecurity Standard (http://www.cattle.ca/assets/
CB-CattleStandard-Eng-web.pdf) available on the on the CCA website.
It’s a wrap: Steaks for Soldiers campaign to hold final event May 9
The CCA was there in the beginning and it will be on hand at the end, helping to serve the troops and their families’ high-quality Canadian beef at the final
Steaks for Soldiers event on May 9. To be held at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Shilo, the finale will mark the 11th Steaks for Soldiers event held at CFB
bases across Canada. The Steaks for Soldiers campaign has provided nearly 4,200 kgs of high quality Canadian beef to CFB troops since the initial event at
CFB Petawawa in 2007, held as a way for beef producers to express their gratitude to the first troop rotation returning from Afghanistan.
Harvey Dann, Sponsor a Steak for a Returning Soldier campaign spokesperson, is anticipating approximately 800 burgers as well as 800 steaks will be
served at the Shilo, Manitoba event. Dann and his daughter, Jackie Dann, owners of Alert Agri Distributors Inc., independently spearheaded the Sponsor a
Steak for a Returning Soldier campaign in 2010 as a way for beef producers to extend their ongoing gratitude to the Canadian troops.
The campaign proved popular with Canada’s beef producers from the outset. While the CCA sponsored the 1,700 steaks served at the initial 2007 event, the
Dann family’s tireless efforts saw 650 people, 97 per cent of whom are cattle producers, donate nearly $120,000 to the campaign by 2011.
The enthusiasm for the campaign hasn’t waned over the years; Dann said cattle producers are always willing to show their appreciation for the Canadian
troops. Some producers donated funds while others donated time by coming out to help dish up a great meal and say thank you to CFB personnel.
CCA Board member and Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) 1st Vice-President Ramona Blyth will be on hand to represent the CCA and MBP at the final event.
Preferred Meats out of Winnipeg will supply the Canadian beef.
After a good run, it is time for the campaign to wrap up. Any leftover funds from the final event will be donated to two charities in the Canadian Armed
Forces, with the charities and amounts to be determined by a committee at a later date, Dann said.
The CCA would like to extend a special thank- you to the Dann’s for their hard work and commitment over the years in helping make the Steaks for Soldiers
campaign a success.
Volume 13 Issue 8 • April 27, 2015
Defining the environmental footprint of Canadian beef production
Beef is often portrayed as environmentally unfriendly due to concerns about greenhouse gas and manure production, and the amount of water, feed and
fossil fuels consumed in the production, processing and transport of cattle and beef. However, cattle also make positive contributions to the environment
through their ability to convert low-quality forages into high-quality protein for humans, as well as grassland’s contributions to carbon sequestration,
maintenance of watersheds, wetlands, and habitat to support plant, animal, bird and insect biodiversity. Changes in production practices over the decades
have improved production efficiencies that have allowed Canada to become internationally competitive have also had environmental benefits. While there
is a general understanding of the beef industry’s potential environmental impacts (both negative and positive), the available data has never been pulled
together into a reliable summary of the industry’s true environmental footprint, or how it has changed over the years.
Funded by the National Check-off (http://www.beefresearch.ca/about/funding/national-check-off.cfm) and Canada’s Beef Science Cluster (http://
www.beefresearch.ca/about/funding/canadas-beef-science-cluster.cfm), researchers are currently working to gather and assimilate information to
define the Canadian beef industry’s environmental footprint. This information will provide the beef industry with balanced, factual information to justify
the environmental attributes of the Canadian Beef Advantage, assess the environmental goods and services provided by Canada’s beef industry, and
identify ways in which different sectors of the industry can improve their environmental performance. The study will also enrich the Economic, Social and
Environmental Sustainability Assessment being done by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.
To learn more, see the BCRC fact sheet: http://www.beefresearch.ca/factsheet.cfm/defining-the-environmental-hoofprint-of-canadian-beef-production-138
CCA Action News
Staff Contributors: John Masswohl, Ryder Lee, Tracy Herbert
Written, edited and compiled by: Gina Teel, Anthony Murdoch
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is the national voice for Canada’s beef cattle industry representing 68,500 beef
farms and feedlots.
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