Weekly USMEF Audio Report: Halstrom Reports to Export Growth Committee at Cattle Industry Convention

Feb 06, 2018

The Beef Checkoff Program’s Export Growth Committee met Friday, Feb. 2 at the Cattle Industry Convention in Phoenix. This committee helps establish industry priorities for international marketing and provides direction to checkoff contractors, including the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), in order to build global demand and increase the value of beef exports.

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom gave the committee a summary of the very strong U.S. beef export results achieved in 2017. He noted that once December data is available, the United States will likely set a new beef export value record of $7.2 to $7.3 billion. Export value per head of fed slaughter exceeded $282, up 9 percent from the 2016 average, with much of this growth driven by top markets Japan, South Korea, Mexico and Hong Kong.

Halstrom also cited some of the factors supporting an upward trend in beef trade, including steady expansion of global protein demand, solid economic growth, increasing U.S. beef production and the recent strengthening of key currencies versus the U.S. dollar.

Source: USMEF

Video: How to Maximize Swine Profitability with U.S. Soy

Are you looking for ways to maximize profitability in swine production? Leading animal nutritionists talk about the "soy effect," asserting the value of using soybean meal (SBM) made from U.S. Soy when formulating feed rations. In this video, Dr. David Rosero, assistant professor at Iowa State University, explains the soy effect and four key reasons for including soybean meal in swine diets for optimal performance and profitability.

Four Pillars of Soybean Meal in Swine Nutrition:
1. Energy Contribution of Soybean Meal in Commercial Diets
2. Soybean Meal as a Functional Bioactive for Animal Health
3. Soybean Meal as a High-Value Protein Source During Late Finisher Diets
4. Soybean Meal-Based Diets to Mitigate Summer Weight Dip
The proven consistency and quality exhibited by U.S. Soy makes for a superior nutritional bundle in animal nutrition, offering a reliable source of protein and energy for high-performing swine.