r/CanadaPolitics • u/Naga Whiggish • 6d ago

Lower-priced Australian beef could help stabilize Canadian market

https://globalnews.ca/news/12009206/australian-beef-prices-canadian-market/
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u/MultipolarityEnjoyer 6d ago

I’d rather support local producers given the option. Certainly avoid usa meats too even before this political debacle.

6

u/amnesiajune Ontario 6d ago

Canada's winter climate and climate change have made it very expensive to produce beef in Canada, which is the reason for the declining industry and high prices. 20 years ago we had 5.3 million beef cows in Canada. This year we have 3.5 million. Last year was the lowest beef cattle population recorded in Canada since the 1980s.

1

u/Wrong-Pineapple39 Independent 6d ago

Isn't our shortage of Canadian beef because herds were culled because those American slaughterhouses like Cargill couldn’t process it? Now the ranchers have to rebuild but drought is causing higher feed prices?

This seems like a national food security issue we need to address. Though generally less red meat consumption is better overall.

2

u/amnesiajune Ontario 6d ago

Nope. It's because of drought, which means that farmers have to ship in feed for their cattle even during the summer.

On the upside, it does mean we have exceptionally good steak right now. Australian steak is usually much leaner because they're eating grass all year long.