Pork exports shine - Beef aims for recovery

Aug 14, 2023

The US pork industry celebrates an excellent start to 2023. As per USMEF data, June pork exports rose by 12%, equating to 245,964 metric tons (mt). This surge brought the six-month total to a robust 1.47 million mt, with a value of $4.05 billion.

Mexico showed an exciting 21% growth in first-half value, setting a record. There were also notable increases in exports to regions like Australia, Taiwan, and the Dominican Republic. An outstanding 32% jump was seen in pork variety meat exports to China.

Dan Halstrom, USMEF's head, praised the widespread international growth, highlighting strides in the Asia-Pacific and Western Hemisphere.

The beef sector faced some hurdles. June exports came to 115,107 mt, showing a 12% dip from last year. The value, however, marked at $909.5 million, held potential. The first half's performance was 10% below the previous year but 8% above 2021.

Countries like Taiwan, Mexico, and Canada provided hopeful statistics. Some markets, such as South Korea, China, and Japan, did experience a drop, but potential remains.

Halstrom emphasized the steady contribution of beef exports to total production, underlining their significance in overall value. In contrast, lamb exports saw a downturn, especially in the second quarter. June figures displayed a 56% decrease in volume and a 45% drop in value.

Video: Intrauterine Vaccines in Swine - Dr. Heather Wilson

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Heather Wilson from VIDO at the University of Saskatchewan explains how intrauterine vaccination is being developed as a new option for swine health. She shares how formulation, adjuvants, and delivery methods influence immune responses and what early trials reveal about safety and reproductive performance. Listen now on all major platforms.

"The idea was that an intrauterine vaccine might avoid a tolerance response and instead create an active immune response."

Meet the guest: Dr. Heather Wilson / heather-wilson-a8043641 is a Senior Scientist and Program Manager at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan. Her work centers on vaccine formulation and delivery in pigs, including the development of intrauterine vaccination to support reproductive health and passive protection of piglets. Her background spans biochemistry, immunology, and functional pathogenomics.