When Japanese Markets Re-open to US Beef, Will Your Cattle Be Qualified for Export?

Cattle farmers are anticipating the re-opening of the Japanese markets to US beef. Since December 23, 2003 – the date of the first announced BSE case on US soil – US cattle and beef have been prohibited from entering this lucrative market. After lengthy negotiations and technical discussions between Japan and United States, it appears that Japan will start accepting US beef some time during 2006.

However, not all cattle will qualify as a source of beef for Japanese markets. Cattle that do qualify are likely to be more highly valued at market. However, it may also be more costly for you to meet these requirements. The best decision for you will require some pencil-pushing for your particular situation.

USDA has established guidelines to qualify cattle for Japanese export. To qualify, cattle must be part of a USDA-approved Quality System Assessment (QSA) program. While each program may have unique features, the basic elements will require the producer to identify animals, document birth dates and have a written management system.

In order to find out more about how you can qualify your cattle as a source for eventual beef exports, click below:

http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/content/AgeAndSourceVerification.htm

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