News Update
April 13, 2009

Korea, Vietnam Lead Beef Exports Upward

Total beef exports were up slightly for the month on a year-over-year basis: 4% in volume and just under 1% in value. The trend, however, was the reverse of the pork model, with beef muscle cut exports increasing 9% while variety meats declined slightly, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

“We anticipated sharp declines in pork exports to certain markets, including China, when compared to the results we saw last year,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “But markets such as Japan and Mexico continue to perform extremely well, and U.S. pork is really gaining traction in many key regions across the world. The diversity and global reach of our marketing efforts are really paying off.”

Seng also noted that the slumping currencies in both Mexico and Canada have been affecting U.S. beef exports to those two markets, but said that situation is starting to improve. “We are also seeing some impact from the declining volume of live cattle imports from those two countries, which is increasing their own domestic beef supplies,” he said.

Increased beef exports to South Korea and Vietnam helped overcome declines in the beef industry’s leading markets of Mexico and Canada. February beef plus beef variety meat exports increased 4% in volume (66,155 metric tons or 145.8 million pounds [lb.]) and showed a slight increase in value ($220.5 million) over February 2008. Contrary to the trend in pork exports, beef muscle cut exports increased by 9% in volume to 40,964 metric tons (or 90.3 million lb.) and 7% in value to 172.9 million, while beef variety meat exports dropped slightly in volume to 25,191 metric tons (or 55.5 million lb.) and declined nearly 17% in value to $47.6 million. Year-to-date, beef muscle cut exports have increased 11% in both volume and value over the same period last year, while variety meat exports have declined 11% in volume and 20% in value.

Beef exports to Korea slumped near the end of 2008, with December results totaling 3,335 metric tons (7.4 million lb.) valued at $15.2 million. But the new year has seen a rebound in exports to Korea, with the January-February monthly average now standing at 6,550 metric tons (14.4 million lb.) with an average value of $24.9 million. This places Korea third among all destinations for U.S. beef, trailing only Mexico and Canada, in both volume and value.

Vietnam ranks fourth in volume and fifth in value for U.S. beef plus beef variety meat exports, with year-to-date exports to Vietnam doubling in volume over 2008 (to 10,972 metric tons, or 24.2 million lb.) and increasing 174% in value to $36.2 million.

Japan continues its steady rise as a destination for U.S. beef exports, with 2009 totals through February increasing by 19% in volume (to 8,056 metric tons or 17.8 million lb.) and 17% in value (to $43.3 million).

The strong performance of these markets helped offset a slowdown in exports to Mexico, Canada and Taiwan. Though Mexico and Canada have held their position as the top two destinations for U.S. beef, year-to-date exports to Mexico have declined 22% in volume (to 51,238 metric tons or 113 million lb.) and 17% in value (to $179.1 million). Export volume to Canada declined 14% (to 18,116 metric tons or 39.9 million lb.) and by 22% in value (to $73.1 million). Beef exports to Taiwan have dropped even more sharply, declining by 29% in volume (to 2,750 metric tons or 6.1 million lb.) and 28% in value (to $13.3 million).

While consumers in some global markets are ‘trading down’ in terms of the U.S. beef cuts they are purchasing, Seng noted that customers in Taiwan are not as well-positioned to do that because of market access limitations.

“We are still restricted in Taiwan to boneless beef from cattle under 30 months of age,” he said. “If we are able expand our market access there, I feel we can reverse any further declines in that market by exporting a strong volume of short ribs and other bone-in beef cuts.”

Despite continued economic uncertainty in key markets, Seng reiterated USMEF’s commitment to recapturing U.S. beef market share and growing the reach of high-quality U.S. middle meats.

“Certainly, it’s a tough marketing environment for beef right now, both globally and domestically,” he said. “But we currently have some high-end cuts to offer at very competitive prices, and USMEF is having notable success with those cuts in certain markets. We are also encouraged to see the currencies of some of our key trading partners beginning to stabilize. That will also help make U.S. beef more affordable overseas.”

— Release provided by USMEF.

Montana Livestock and Nutrition Conference

The 2009 Montana Livestock and Nutrition Conference will take place April 21-22 at the Gran Tree Hotel in Bozeman, Mont. The theme of this year’s conference is, “They are Black and They’ve Had Their Shots. … Any Other Questions?”

This symposium is designed to answer the following questions:

• Black hided and shots: Is this all we need to produce to be successful?
  
• Who will pay for a national animal identification program?
  
• How are ranchers reducing expenses?
  
• Beef Product Sampling: What is your opinion of Montana products?
  
• What is the meaningless information that cattle buyers don’t value anymore?
  
• How does protein supplementation change fertility of my cows?
  
• How does protein supplementation influence reproduction of my heifers?
  
• How do I grow supplemental feed energy on the ranch?

Registration for both days is $65 and includes a lunch on Tuesday. Return registration form by mail to Anita Gray, 221 Linfield Hall, MSU, Bozeman, MT 59717; or register by phone (406-994-3414); or by e-mail at anitag@montana.edu.

OSU Extension Raising Animal Welfare Awareness

Animal welfare is an issue that stirs the emotions no matter on what side of the fence one stands. On the agriculture front, Ohio State University (OSU) Extension continues to be proactive in educating the farming sector on how to get the most out of animal productivity in a nurturing environment. Animal welfare is the concept of minimizing emotional or physical suffering of animals in whatever capacity they are serving their purpose in society.

Naomi Botheras, an OSU Extension animal welfare specialist, said that producers might not realize that how they verbally and physically handle their livestock could have a profound effect on animal behavior, as well as performance.

“Animals are incredibly sensitive to our behavior. Everything from physical force, such as slapping, to more mild behavior, such as yelling or quick movement around animals, can be aversive,” Botheras said. “The idea behind the animal welfare education is to turn people’s negative behaviors — kicking, hitting, shouting — into positive behaviors — walking slowly, talking calmly, and being more physically gentle.”

For the past several years, OSU’s Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences has worked to boost animal welfare awareness in Ohio. The efforts have been in collaboration with Australia’s Animal Welfare Science Centre, a joint organization with Australia’s University of Melbourne, Monash University and the Victorian State Department of Primary Industries. The Centre is internationally recognized as a leading research and educational facility of animal welfare topics.

The following are some examples of OSU Extension’s animal welfare research projects and educational efforts:

• Botheras and her colleagues conducted research during a six-month period on the effects of different flooring surfaces on dairy cattle performance. The findings found no significant statistical difference in cattle performance between concrete floors and rubber mats. However, Botheras contends the results would be different if a longevity study was conducted.
  
• Botheras is also leading a research study on the interaction between humans and turkeys — how human contact affects the birds’ productivity. “Basically, those animals that are most fearful have the lowest productivity,” Botheras said.
  
• OSU Extension has launched animal welfare training programs for swine and dairy producers. ProHand Dairy Cows and ProHand Pigs are cognitive behavioral intervention training programs that train producers and workers on developing and implementing the right attitudes and beliefs toward how they handle the animals. So far, farms that have participated in the programs have noticed an increase in animal productivity due to the behavioral changes of the workers.

“When it comes to handling animals, people tend to use long-established behaviors, what we tend to do every day through force of habit,” Botheras said. “What we are striving to do is change those behaviors, undo that way of thinking and get people to realize just how significant harmful negative interactions can be.”

For more information on OSU Extension’s animal welfare initiatives, contact Naomi Botheras at 614-292-3776 or e-mail botheras.1@osu.edu.

— Adapted from release written by Candace Pollock, provided by OSU Extension.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.