Table Of ContentrHE COMPETITIVE POSITION OF
:ANADIAN LIVE CATTLE
'ND BEEF IN U.S. MARKETS
teport to the Senate Committee
in Finance on Investigation
lo. 332-2.41, Under Section 332
1f the Tariff Act of 1930,
a Amended
UTC PUBLICATION 1996
ILY 1987
led States International Trade Commission I Washington, DC 20436
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
COMMISSIONERS
Susan Liebeler, Chairman
Anne E. Brunsdale, Vice Chairman
Alfred E. Eckes
Seeley G. Lodwick
David B. Rohr
Kenneth R. Mason, Secretary to the Commission
This report was prepared principally by
David Ludwick, Thomas Westcot, and Rose Steller
Animal and Forest Products Branch
A~riculture, Fisheries, and Forest Products Division
Robert Feinberg
Office of Economics
Office of Industries
Erland H. Heginbotham, Virector
Address all communications to
Kenneth R. Mason, Secretary to the Commission
United States International Trade Commission
Washington, DC 20436
PREFACE
The Commission instituted the present investigation on December 15, 1986,
following the receipt of a request therefor on October 16, 1986, the U.S.
Senate Committee on Finance. The investigation was conducted under section
332(g) of the Tariff.Act of 1930 (19 u.s.c. 1332(g)) for the purpose of
gathering and presenting information on the competitive position of Canadian
live cattle and beef in U.S. markets. !I Specifically, the Cormnission was
asked to:
o Describe. the U.S. and Canadian live cattle and beef industries;
o Describe the U.S. and Canadian markets - in terms of consumption
levels and trends, production cycles, and both import and export
levels and trends;
o Describe in detail the trade in cattle between the United States and
· Can~da;
o Describe the effect on trade in live cattle of U.S. and Canadian
Government policies;
o Identify Federal, State, and Provincial government assistance programs
that are available to the cattle growing and processing industries;
o Discuss other competitive factors, including product prices and
transportation costs.
Public notice of the investigation was given by posting copies of the
notice at the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Cormnission,
Washington, DC, and by publishing the notice in the Federal Register of
December 29, 1986 (51 F.R. 46942). !,/
The information.presented in this report was obtained from fieldwork,
private individuals and organizations, the international agencies, State and
Federal Government sources in the United States, Federal and Provincial
Government sources in-Canada, and other sources. 11
Public notice of the hearing was given by posting copies of the notice at
the Office of the Secretary, U.S .. International Trade Commission, Washington,
DC, and by publishing the notice in the Federal Register of February 19, 1987
(52 F.R. 5199). !I
!/ The request from the United States Senate Committee on Finance is
_reproduced in appendix A.
z1 A copy of the notice of the Commission's investigation is reproduced in
appendix B.
11 A list of witnesses appearing at the hearing is presented in Appendix D.
!/ A copy of the notice of the Commission's hearing is reproduced in
Appendix C.
ii
C 0 N T E N T S
Preface---------------------------------------------------------------- i
Executive Summary------------------------------------------------------ xiii
The U.S. industry:
Description and uses---------------------------------------------- 1
Live cattle-------------------------------------------------- .1
Beef and veal---------------------------------------~-------- 5
Economic significance of cattle and beef-------------------------- 11
Structure of the. U.S. industry:
Number of producers------------------------------------------ 13
Cattle inventory--------------------------------------------- 15
Industry concentration:
Live c.attle and calves- - --- - - - - --- --- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - 15
Beef and veal----------------------------------~-------- 16
Geographic distribution-------------------------------------- 18
The Corn Belt------------------------------------------- 18
The Western Rangelands---------------------------------- 23
The Southeastern States-----~--------------------------- 24
Dairy cattle-------------------------------------------- 25
The Canadian industry:
Description and uses and economic significance of cattle and beef- 27
Live cattle-------------------------------------------------- 27
Beef and veal----------------~------------------------------- 28
Structure of the Canadian industry:
Number of producers and industry concentration--------------- 29
Cattle inventory-----------------~--------------------------- 31
Geographic distribution-------------------------------------- 31
Prairie Provinces- - - - - -- - - - - -·- -- - - -- -- -- - - - -- - -- --- - ---- 32
Ontario------------------------------------------------- 32
Quebec- - ... - - - - - - - - - --- - -:-- - --- - - - - -- ---·-- - - - -- - -- - - - - ---- 33
Other Provinces-------------------------------~--------- 33
Movement of live cattle and calves from Western Canada
to Eastern Canada------------------------~----------------- 34
.The U.S. market:
Cattle cycle-----~----------------------------------------------~- 35
Production levels and trends-------------------------------------- 39
Consumption levels and trends------------------------------------- 41
U.S. exports of live cattle and beef and veal--------------------- 42
U.S. exports of live cattle---------------------------------- 42
U.S. exports of beef and veal-------------------------------- 42
U.S. exports of hides, tallow, and offal--------------------- 43
iii
CONTENTS
U.S. imports:
Live cattle and calves- - - - - - - - - - - - ... -- - - --·-- -- - - - --- -·- - - - - -- - - - - - - - 45
U.S. imports of live cattle and calves from Canada----------- 46
Importer profile--------------------------------.,.------- 46
U.S. import levels and trends, by class of animal------- .48
Magnitude of imports of live cattle and calves from
Canada in relation to imports from other major
sources----------------------------------------------- 51
U.S. imports of live cattle and calves from Canada in
relation to U.S. production and consumption----------- 52
Destination of U.S. imports of live cattle and.calves,
. by region- - - - - - - -. - - - - - - -:- - - - - - - - -·- - - - - - - - - - - - - - ..,- - - - - 53
U.S. imports of live cattle and calves from Mexico-.; ________ _ 61
Beef and veal:
U.S. imports of beef and veal from Canada---- .. -----------.; __ _ 64
U.S. imports of beef and veal from Hexico-----;.-------------- 68
The Canadian market- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - --·-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 69
The Canadian cattle cycle----------------------------------------- 69
Consumption:
Live cattle and calves------------------------------.,.-------- 73
Beef and veal- - - ---- -- - -- ---- ----·----------- -.--- ___ _:_ - -- ----- 74
Production:
Live cattle- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.- - - - _.; _ -- -.- - -- - - - -- - - - - - - - - -.-- - - - - 75
Beef and veal- - - - - - - - -.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ._ - - - - -·- - - - - - - - - - - ., - - - - 75
Imports:
·Live cattle and calves----·-------_;--------------------------- 76
Beef and veal- - - - - - - -.- - - - - - - -·- _ _; _- - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - .. - - - - - - 77
Exports:
Live cattle and calves---------------:-------·----------------- 81
Beef and veal- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -·- - - - - - - - - 82
·U.S. Customs treatment-- - - ------ --- - -- --- ----- - ------ --- -·- ___ .:,· __ -- ---- - 85
U.S. tariff treatment---------------------------._----------------- 85
The Keat Import Act of 1964 and the .Keat Import Act of 1979------- 88
Section 204 of the Agricultural Act------------------------------:- 90
Health and sanitary regulations----------------------------------- 91
Rinderpest and foot-and-mouth diseases----------------------- 91
Brucellosis and tuberculosis diseases------------------------ 91
The Federal Meat Inspection Act------------------------------ 91
.Canadian Customs treatment--------- - - - ---- --- - - - -.- ------ --- - ----------- 95
Canadian tariff treatment----------------------------------------- 95
The Meat Import Act-----------------------~_; ___________ _; _________ _
95
Countervailing and antidumping duties----------------------------- 97
Health and sanitary regulations------;.-----------------:--:--:-.,.----- 99
The Food "Inspe·ction Directorate--.;-- - --- __ ;._ ---- - ----·---- --- - 99
The Health of Animals Directorate---------------------------- 100
Animal Pathology Division-------------:------------------ 100
Animal Health Division- - -- ----.- - - -- --- - ----- - --- ---- - - - - 100
iv
CONTENTS
U.S. Government programs:
Dairy termination program,----- -- -- --- - - ---- -·- - - - - - - - - -- ----- - - - --- 105
National S..~hool L~zych Act----------------------------------------- 106
Research.and development-----------------:---------:----------------- 107
Domestic and overseas promotion:.-
National beef promotion program--~--------------------------- 107
Beef export prom9tic:m ·program- - - - - - - - - - - ,. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 108
The Meat.Export Federation----------------------------------- 109
Food for Peace Program---~----------------------------------- 109
Federal income:,tax·laws-------~---------------------------.;._______ 109
· C~sh accou~ting- - .:. - - - - -: - - - - .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 109
Depreciation and investment tax credits---:------------------- 110
Capita! gains-: 7 ---------------------------------------------- 111
Emergency feed programs-------------------------------------- 111
Canadian Government programs:- - - - --:. - ----- - -- -:..-:-- -- -,..------.---- - --- ----- - 113
Canadian Federal Goyernment-programs:
The Agricultural Stabilization Board of Agriculture Canada ·
and the Agricultural Stabilization Act: :
Price stabilization programs prior to 1986-------------- 113
The Tri-Partite program-------..;------------------------- 113
}'rograms of Agriculture .Canada's Livestock.Feed Board of
Canada------------------------------------------~--------- 115
Program~ of the Animal Production Division of Agriculture
Qanada- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -·- - - .,. - -.- - - ""- - - - - - - - .:. - - _. _ - - - - - - 116
Programs of the Marketing and Economics Branch of
Agriculture Canada- - - - - - -:- - - - - - - - -. - - - - - ., . - - - - - - - - - - -·- - - - - -- 116
PrograD1.s of the Research Branch of Agriculture Canada-·------- 116
Programs of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administratio~
of Agriculture Canada- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -.- - - -·- -- - - -,- - - - - - - - - - 117
PrograD1.s of th~ Farm Credit Corporation of Agriculture
Ca.nada- - - - - - - - - - - -. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.- - - :. - - - - - --- .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 117
The. Fa.rm Credit Act.----------------.--------------------- 117
11),e Farm Syndicates .credit Act- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 117
Canadian Dairy Commission of A,griculture C~nada---,-.---------- 117
Drought a.ssistance- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.- - - - - - - -: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 118
Canadian Provincial. Governme.nt programs:
Provincial Governmellt st~bilization programs:
The Quebec Farm Incpme S:tabiliza·tion Insurance Program- - 118
Manitoba's Farm Income Assurance Plans Act-------------- 119
Saskatchewan Agricultural Retums Stab.ilization Act---·-- 119
British Columbia's Farm Income Insurance Act of 1973---- 120
Other Prov:incial government· stabilization programs------ 121
Provincial Government programs except· s.tabilization programs:
The Alberta Feed Grain Market Adjustment Program-------- 121
Quebec Meat Sector Rationalization -Program-------------- 122
Financing programs in.Quebec---------------------------- 122
Quebec Veal Producers Income Assurance Plan------------- 123
Northern Ontario livestock programs--------------------- 123
v
CONTENTS
Canadian Government programs--continued
Canadian Provincial Government programs--continued
Provincial Government programs except stabilization
programs--continued
Ontario Farm Tax Reduction Program---------------------- 123
Ontario Young Farmer Credit Program--------------------- 123
Ontario Beginning Farmer Assistance Program------------- 123
Ontario Farm Adjustment Assistance Program-------------- 124
Ontario Operating Loan Assistance Program--------------- 124
Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation loans and
loan guarantees--------------------------------------- 124
Saskatchewan Financial Assistance for Livestock and
Irrigation-------------------------------------------- 124
Alberta Agricultural Development Corporation low-
interest loans and loan guarantees-------------------- 124
British Columbia low-interest loans and loan guarantees- 124
British Columbia partial interest reimbursement--------- 124
New Brunswick loan guarantees and grants under the
livestock incentives program-------------------------- 124
New Brunswick financing provided under the Farm
Adjustment Act of 1980-------~------------------------ 125
Prince Edward !~land Lending Authority long- and short-
term loans-------------------------------------------- 125
Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board programs-------------------- 125
Nova Scotia Beef Cow-calf Support Program--------------- 125
Newfoundland Farm Development Loan Act------------------ 125
Conditions of competition:
Product pricing---------------------~----------------------------- 127
Beef prices-------------------------------------------------- 127
Cattle prices------------------------------------------------ 131
Feeder cattle-------------------J----------------------- 131
Slaughter cattle---------------------------------------- 133
Cull cattle-------~------------------------------------- 133
Veal calves--------~------------------------------------. 136
Price impacts of Canadian imports--------------------------------- 136
Expenses for cattle-feeding operations--------·-~------------------ 139
Operating margins for cattle-feeding operations------------------- 140
Great Plains and Canada West operations---------------------- 143
Corn Belt states and ~anada.East operations------------------ 143
Exchange rates- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - 143
Meatpacking and processing---------------------------------------- 147
Level of technology-------------------~--------------------------- 148
Transportation---------------------------------------------------- 148
vi
CONTENTS
Appendix A.--Copy of the letter to Chairman Liebeler from Bob Packwood,
Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance--------------------------- 151
Appendix B.--The Commission's notice of investigation------------------ 155
Appendix C.--The Commission's notice of public hearing----------------- 159
Appendix D.--Witnesses at the public hearing----~---------------------- 161
Appendix E.--Statistical tables---------------------------------------- 165
Appendix F.--Excerpts from posthearing submission of the Canadian
Cattlemen's Association---------------------------------------------- 237
Appendix G.--U.S. impor~s of live cattle and calves, by State, as
reported by "Quarterly Recap of Import Animals Inspected"------------ 239
Appendix H.--Sample ~opy of USDA form 17-300 "Quarterly Recap of
Import Animals Inspected"-------------------------------------------- 241
Appendix I.--Explanatio~ of the rates of duty applicable to live
cattle and meat of cattle and selected portions of the Tariff .
Schedules of the United States, Annotated, 1987---------------------- 245
Appendix J.--Live cat~le and meat of cattle: ·U.S. rates of duty,
by TSUS items-----------~-------------------------------------------- 255
Appendix K.--Recognized breeds authorized for duty-free entry under
the Tariff Schedules of the United States---------------------------- 259
Appendix L.--The Meat Import Act of 1964------------------------------- 265
Appendix M.--The Meat Import Act of 1979------------------------------- 269
Appendix N.--Actions taken under the Meat Import Act of 1964 and
the Meat Import Act of 1979------------------------------------------ 275
Appendix 0.--Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956--------------- 281
Appendix P.--Selected portions of the Canadian tariff schedules-------- 285
Appendix Q.--Canada's ~eat Import Act---------------------------------- 291
Appendix R.--Actions ~aken under Canada's Meat Import Act-------------- 299
Appendix S.--Excerpts from the Food Security Act of 1985--------------- 301
Figures
1. Wholesale cuts of beef-------------------------------------------- 6
2. Retail cuts of beef----------------------------------------------- 7
3. Wholesale cuts of veal-------------------------------------------- 8
4. Retail cuts of veal----------------------------------------------- 9
5. Steer carcass yield----------------------------------------------- 10
6. Beef cattle feedlots: Location in the United States, 1982-------- 19
7. Corn farms: Location in the United States, 1982------------------ 20
8. Soybean farms: Location in the United States, 1982--------------- 21
9. Beef cattle farms: Location in the United States, 1982----------- 22
10. Dairy farms: Location in the United States, 1982----------------- 26
11. Typical beef production schedule---------------------------------- 37
12. Cattle and beef cows on farms, 1965-87---------------------------- 38
13. Live cattle and calves: U.S. imports from Canada, by intended
uses, 1984-86--------------------------------------------------- 47
14. Live cattle and calves: U.S. imports, from Canada, by region,
1984-86--------------------------------------------------------- 54
vii
CONTENTS
15. Map of Canada-------------------------------------------~--------- 70
16. 50 percent chemical lean frozen boneless manufacturing beef:
Comparative U.S. and Canadian average prices, by quarters,
January 1980-March 1987----------------------------------------- 128
17. 85 percent chemical lean frozen boneless manufacturing beef:
Comparative U.S. and Canadian average prices, by quarters,
January 1980-March 1987-------------------~--------------------- 130
18. Feeder cattle: Comparative U.S. and Canadian auction prices, by
quarters, January 1980-March 1987----- .. ---------------~--------- 132
19. Slaughter cattle: Comparative U.S. and Canadian auction prices,
by quarters, January 1980-March 1987---------------------------- 134
20. Cull cattle: Comparative U.S. and Canadian auction prices, by
quarters, January 1980-March 1987------------------------------- 135
21. Veal calves: Comparative U.S. and Canadian auction prices, by
quarters, January 1980-March 1987------------------------------- 137
22. Cattle feeding operations: Total expenses of operations in the
Great Plains States and Canada West, by quarters, January
1980-March 1987---------------------~--------------------------- 141
23. Cattle feeding operations: Total expenses of operations in the
Corn Belt.States and Canada East, by quarters, January
1980-March 1987--------------------------- .. --------------------- 142
. ,24. Cattle feeding operations: Net margins of operat~ons in the
Great Plains States and Canada West, by quarters, January
1980-December 1986---------------------------------------------- 144
25. Cattle feeding operations: Net margins of operations in the
Corn Belt States and Canada East, by quarters, January 1980-
December 1986- - - - - - - - - - -- --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - .. --.,..- - -- -- -- -- - -- --- - - - . 145
26. Exchange rates: Indexes of nominal and real exchange rates
between U.S. and Canadian dollars, by quarters, January-March
198~ through July-September 1986-------------------------------- 146
Tables
A. Profile of the U.S. live cattle and beef market, 1982-86------ xvi
E-1. Cash receipts from farming, 1982-86-------------------------.:.- 166
E-2. Cattle feedlots: Number in 5 major cattle-feeding States of
the Corn Belt, by capacity, 1982-86-------------------------- 167
E-3. Number of cattle feedlots in 8 major cattle-feeding States of
the Western rangelands, 1982-86---------------------------- 168
E-4. Number of U.S. firms slaughtering cattle and calves, by types
of cattle, 1981-85------------------------------------------- 169
E-5. Cattle and calves: U.S. inventory, by classes, as of Jan. 1
of 1983-87---------------------------------------~----------- 170
E-6. Cattle: Number of federally inspected slaughter plants, by
sizes, number of cattle slaughtered in such plants, and
shares of total commercial slaughter acco':lllted for, 1982-86-- 171
viii
CONTENTS
E-7. Calves: Number of federally inspected slaughter plants, by
sizes, number of calves slaughtered in such plants, and
shares of total commercial slaughter accounted for by such
·plants, 1982-86- - - - - - - -·- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 172
E-8. Cattle ·and calves: Share of slaughter accounted for by 4, 8,
and 1:2 1a.rgest firms, by types and years, 1980-84----------- 173
E-9. Cattle: Share of steer. and h~if.er and cow and bull slaughter
accounted for.by· the 4 largest volume slaughtering firms,
by specified States, 1972 and 1982-------------------------- 174
E-10. Cash receipts from agriculture in Canada, by Provinces, 1986-- 175
E-11. Live cattle: 'Number of cattle and operations in Canada, by
size of operation, 1981------------------------------------- 176
E-12. Live cattle and calves: Inventory in Canada, by types, as of
Jan. 1 of l983-87-"------.------------------------------------- 177
E-13. Live cattle_ and calves: Number in Canada, by types, regions, and
Provinces, iis of Jari. l, 1986-------.------------------------ 178
E-14. Live cattle and. calves: Sh.ipments from western Canada to
eastern Canada, by uses and by types of transportation,
1982-86--~---~---------------:______________________________ 179
E-15. Live cattle and calves: U.S. production, U.S. imports from
Mexico~ Canada, and total,_ U.S. exports, apparent
consumption, and. imports as a share of production and
consumption, 1982-86---------------------------------------- 180
E-16. Beef and veal;_ U.S. production, imports for consumption from
Canada and all other sources, exports of domestic
merchandise,. apparent consumption, and imports as a share
of consumption and production, 1982-86 ~-------------------- 181
E-17. Red meat and poultry: U.S. production, by types, 1982-86,
January-March 1986, and January-March 1987------------------ 182
E-18. Cattle:· ·commercial slaughter, by classes of cattle, 1982-86-- 183
E-19. Meat, poultry, arid fish: U.S. civilian consumption, total and
•' per capita, 1~82-86------------------~---------------------- 184
E-20. Per capita disposable income and per capita expenditures for
red meat and poultry, 1982-86------------------------------- 185
E-21. Live cattle and calves: Quantity of U.S. exports to Canada, by
.classes, 1982-86-----------~--~-------------~--------------- 186
E-22. Live cattle and calves: U.S. exports to Mexico, by classes,
1982-86----------------------------------------------------- 187
E-23·. Beef and veal: U.S. exports, by principal markets, 1982-86--- 188
E-24. Live. ca t'tle and calves.: · U.S. imports from Mexico, Canada, and
all other sources, 1982-86---------------------------------- 189
E-25. Certain purebred cattle for breeding purposes: U.S. imports
from Canada and all other sources, by types, 1982-86-------- 190
