Canadian Government Secures Market Access for Live Cattle to Ukraine

Aug 27, 2012

Canadian Cattle Genetics to Benefit Ukrainian Cattle Farmers

The Canadian government announced that cattle farmers will have another opportunity to sell their superior genetics and breeding livestock to Ukraine. The announcement was made by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Trade Minister Ed Fast. The new market access deal allows Canadian cattle producers to sell live cattle to Ukraine. This new partnership is expected to be worth over $12 million over the span of three years.

"This is good news for our hard working livestock producers who can now sell their world-class cattle to the promising Ukraine market," said Minister Ritz. "Our Government will continue to create new sales opportunities for Canadian producers around the world, contributing to long-term prosperity, job creation and economic growth."

The last time Canada shipped live cattle to Ukraine was only once in the 1980’s as part of an artificial insemination project between the two countries. The Canadian government has been quick to respond to the needs of Canadian cattle producers, as the deal was made shortly after industry leaders identified this specific market as being a good opportunity for both Canadian and Ukrainian cattle producers.

This announcement is a major breakthrough especially since Canada is currently in the midst of negotiating a full-fledged free trade agreement with Ukraine. It’s estimated that agriculture and food products account for more than $22 million in export sales for Canada.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.