031207 Canada Sees Cattle to USA in Early 2004

Canada expects the U.S. to reopen its border to Canadian cattle under 30-months old in early 2004, Canadian Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief said on Wednesday.

Asked when he expected the U.S. to permit entry of such cattle after Canadian beef was barred following the May 20 discovery of one case of mad-cow disease, Vanclief said: "Early in 2004."

The comments came while Washington is in the midst of a review of the restrictions, but one analyst said Vanclief's remark suggested the U.S. could re-open its borders earlier than previously anticipated.

"The way the guy is talking, he is suggesting it would happen sooner than the market expected it would," said Chuck Levitt, senior livestock analyst with Chicago-based Alaron Trading Corp.

Although imports of Canadian cattle into the U.S. have been barred since last May, the ban on imports of Canadian beef was partially lifted after several months.

Canada last year provided about seven percent of U.S. total beef supplies.

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