Cattle Industry Says Blockade At Coutts Could Result In Another Backlog Of Cattle

The President of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association Bob Lowe says the blockade is preventing the meat from moving south, which will result in a slow-down at the packers which will back up a whole bunch of cattle again.

"I did hear that Cargill was going to quit their Saturday kill this week because of backing up, and JBS has told us that they were going to slow down next week. You know, if things didn't change if the border didn't come open."

He notes the issue at the border is also delaying feed shipments, more specifically the dried distillers grain (DDG) that producers and feedlot operators use as protein in their feed rations.

Lowe says most of the hay has been coming in by rail, but the DDG's come by truck and is currently held up in Montana.

"I had one grain broker tell me that there was between 500 and 1000 metric tons (of DDG's) sitting at Shelby waiting to come up. So, if you figure 25 metric tons to a truckload, that's quite a few trucks."

Greg Schmidt with the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association says the unintended consequences of these closures and delays, further affect already existing shortages on products like animal feed that have been caused by drought, trade disruptions, and transport issues.

He notes the transportation delays can severely impact the beef supply chain from cattle feed to grocery shelves.

Thursday, Alberta RCMP reported that a second blockade just north of Coutts leading to the main border crossing had been lifted.

However, the truck blockade remains at the Coutts/Sweetgrass crossing, with truckers clearing one lane each way to allow for traffic to flow through.

RCMP were still advising motorists yesterday to avoid the area as it is congested and slow-moving.

According to Lowe, $44 million dollars worth of goods go back and forth through that border crossing every day.

"The center of Canada's cattle industry is Alberta with 80-85 percent of the packing capacity, and 50 percent of the cow herd, and that border is essential to keep moving cattle and beef back and forth."

Lowe says it's time that this blockade ended.

"It started out as a peaceful demonstration to raise a point, I think that point has been raised. The longer the blockade stays in force, the longer there is an impediment to trade, the more they're going to start losing support."

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