More Requirement Details For U.S. Beef to China

U.S. beef is making its entrance about a month ahead of schedule from what Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue Predicted back in February. Kansas Livestock Association Vice President of Communications Todd Domer says producers will have to take certain measures to make their cattle eligible for trade with China. He shares what the requirements are

Domer: "The specified requirements include that beef cannot contain growth promotants or feed additives or other chemical compounds like ractopamine. Cattle must be traceable to the U.S. birth farm using a unique identifier or if they are imported, to the first place of residence or port of entry. Beef and beef products must be derived from cattle less than 30 months of age."

He shares one possible scenario of how producers will see the return for the added requirements of cattle for the Chinese trade.

Domer: "It's probably going to be a top down process where packers are going to determine what premiums are going to be paid and if they are going to be compensated on the other side of that transaction with sales to China. But I know that a lot of producers are looking into this. It is a huge market. One that probably presents the most potential of any country in the world."