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Beef cattle

JBS says US beef division facing challenges, Seara unit improving
Low cattle supply behind weakness in US division; headwinds expected to continue
Brazilian meat-packer JBS expects margins of its Seara processed foods maker in Brazil to reach double digits in the first weeks of 2024, citing operational improvements designed to shore up the unit, executives said today.

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures slide to two-month lows
Data signals producers still sending cattle to slaughter instead of rebuilding the U.S. herd
Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures tanked on Tuesday on fund selling and as markets remained under pressure from bigger-than-expected U.S. feedlot placements, brokers said.

Klassen: Feeder market rally stalls
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quoted $3-$4/cwt on either side of unchanged.

Local food system would reap big economic benefits researcher says
B.C. researchers found that the Okanagan could produce two thirds of its own food while maintaining exports
Assuming an average Canadian diet, the Okanagan can currently produce 88 per cent of its dairy needs, Mullinix and colleagues wrote in a report on the study. It can produce 60 per cent of its poultry needs, 34 per cent of its fruit needs (due to fruits eaten that can’t be grown in the region, or are eaten out of season), and small amounts of other food groups like grains, red meat, eggs and oils.

Disease affecting U.S. dairy cows re-identified as bird flu
U.S. officials say threat to the public is low; cows don't appear to spread infection within herd
A wild waterfowl-borne disease creating milk production problems in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico dairy herds has been identified as a strain of bird flu, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says.

Producers welcome change to cash advance program
After much lobbying, federal government increases interest-free portion of program to $250,000
The interest-free portion of the federal Advance Payments Program will be $250,000 this year, much to farmers’ relief. The amount had been set to drop back to $100,000 at the end of this month after sitting at $350,000 for 2023.

Avian influenza cause of U.S. dairy disease
Older, lactating cattle more likely to be severely impacted, effected farmers say
U.S. dairy producers are reporting high onset of and high morbidity from Texas Agalactiae Syndrome, with confirmed cases in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico. Lactating cows are considered particularly vulnerable.

Beef Farmers of Ontario tests new voting technology
Organization offered Simply Voting app at its recent annual meeting
Many farm organizations want to offer a hybrid in-person/virtual option to allow attendees more flexibility, but when voting is required, the process can be cumbersome. That’s why the Beef Farmers […] Read more

Kansas beef plant shuts down after fire
National Beef Packing Company, one of four major U.S. beef processors, said it suspended production at its Liberal, Kansas, plant for a second day on Friday, after a fire.

Veterinary association calls on federal government to address workforce shortage
National testing centre is needed to onboard internationally-trained vets, CVMA says
An organization representing Canadian veterinarians is calling for the federal government to intervene as it faces what it calls a severe workforce shortage.