News Update

News Update
Aug. 10, 2006

U.S. Beef Sells Out In One Day In Japan

The 5.1 tons of beef imported by Costco Wholesale Japan didn’t last long, according to meatingplace.com. Piled into the meatcases of three Tokyo-area Costco stores on Wednesday morning, it was gone by late afternoon.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) representatives were on hand, along with 60 representatives from Japanese media, to hand out samples of U.S. beef as well as literature cued to the “We Care” campaign USMEF has undertaken to reassure skittish Japanese consumers that beef from the United States is safe.

China Reports New Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak

China reported a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), with 230 head of cattle affected in the northwestern province of Gansu, according to forbes.com.

Cattle in Gansu’s Huining county began showing symptoms on July 31 and were diagnosed with FMD last Friday, the Xinhua news agency said.

A total of 607 sheep, pigs and cattle, including the sick animals, were culled following the outbreak, while local agriculture officials quarantined and disinfected the farms and surrounding area, the agency said.

FMD is a severe and highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock. It is not usually fatal but causes losses in the production of meat and milk.

Upcoming Angus Activities

Educational Webcasts, Sept. 12, 8 p.m. Central time, www.angus.org
Outreach Seminar, Sept. 24, Tiffin, Ohio
National Angus Conference & Tour, Sept. 26-28, Boise, Idaho
Angus Foundation “Magic of the Vine,” Oct. 7, Modesto, Calif.
Annual Convention of Delegates, Nov. 13, Louisville, Ky.

Kansas City Steak Company “Spices It Up” with Recipe Contest

Kansas City Steak Co. is looking for your best steak burger marinade, steak rub or steak sauce for its “Spice It Up” recipe contest, according to cattlenetwork.com. The contest ends Sept. 15. Submit your steak recipe to the official Web site at www.kcsteak.com for a chance to win prizes, including a year’s supply of Kansas City steaks and a Wilton Armetale grillware set.

The winning recipe will be featured on the Web site and in the Kansas City Steak Co. grilling guide.

— compiled by Micky Wilson & Abby White, assistant editors, Angus Productions Inc.