The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) took an important step in opening the border to live cattle, live sheep and carcasses from Canada. On Halloween day, it announced an amendment to its bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) regulations and the adoption of some recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health, called the OIE. The proposed rule change rates Canada as minimal risk, allowing the border to open to live cattle under 30 months of age, and sheep and goats 12 months of age and under.

The week of the announcement cattlemen were anticipating the news, says John Newman, member of the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association executive. With American cow inventories low and beef prices setting record highs, stocker prices at the Keady sale barn, south of Owen Sound, went through the roof, recording the highest prices in Ontario. One steer, between 600 pounds and 700 pounds sold for $1.44 per pound. A heifer in the 500 to 600 pound range sold for $1.37 per pound.

Prices at Cookstown were lower, but high enough to make the trip more than worthwhile. High price of the top selling 600 to 700 pound steer was $1.26 while the high for a 500 pound to 600 pound heifer was $1.29.