Weekly USMEF Audio Report: U.S. Beef Making Inroads in Brazil, but Challenges Remain

It has been just over one year since U.S. beef returned to the Brazilian market, following a long absence resulting from the December 2003 BSE case. Cheyenne McEndaffer, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) technical services manager, was recently in Brazil and provides an update on how demand for U.S. beef is developing. 

 

McEndaffer notes that U.S. picanha (top sirloin cap) was expected to perform well in Brazil, and demand for this cut has been strong. Brazilian buyers are also interested in U.S. loins, ribs, tri-tips and livers. She joined several USMEF member companies in São Paulo for the APAS Supermarket Show, one of South America's largest food trade shows, to discuss these and other U.S. beef cuts with prospective customers.

 

McEndaffer explains that Brazil has plant and product label registration requirements that have presented obstacles for some U.S. exporters. Import procedures also vary by state and by port, so she is working to educate U.S. suppliers about these issues to help U.S. beef shipments move more smoothly into the Brazilian market.

 

Video: Dr. Jay Johnson: Bioenergetics of Heat Stress in Sows

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jay Johnson from the University of Missouri explores the bioenergetics of heat stress in gestating sows and how it affects growth and fat deposition. He discusses energy partitioning, thermoregulation, and genetic strategies to improve thermal tolerance without compromising productivity. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Gestating sows under heat stress grow faster than those in thermoneutral conditions, with much of that growth going into backfat."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jay Johnson earned his Ph.D. from Iowa State University and is now an Associate Professor of Animal Welfare and Stress Physiology at the University of Missouri. His research focuses on heat stress, swine productivity, and practical welfare innovations through physiology and genomics.