Beef Remains Key Issue in Canada-EU Trade Deal

Jun 17, 2013

Beef Remains Key Issue in Canada-EU Trade Deal

Beef continues to be one of the stickler points under negotiation for the Canada-European Union trade talks. The EU’s two biggest beef producers – France and Ireland are said to be against how much beef access Canada is requesting.

Despite this, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said that they are optimistic a deal will be reached that will favor Canadian beef producers. The tricky part is not only gaining access, but enough access to make it worth switching some Canadian cattle operations to comply with EU standards.

Cattlemen’s say they are pleased with how Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been handling the negotiations thus far, noting that Canada has been clear that we won’t settle for just any deal, but rather it has to be the right deal.

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.