Meat + Poultry - February 2006 - 10

Business Notes
Canada identifies fourth case of B.S.E. in Alberta
Canadian government officials in Ot- until the investigation is complete;
tawa confirmed the discovery of the however, it is probable the source is
nation's fourth case of bovine
contaminated feed, according
spongiform
encephalopathy
to the C.F.I.A. This scenario is
in mid January. Officials were
consistent with Canada's previquick to point out no part of
ous experiences and that of the
the infected animal entered
international community.
the Canadian food supply. The
"This latest diagnosis is proof
infected animal was identified
the
system is working," said
Eby
as a cross-bred cow born and
Stan Eby, president of the Canaraised in Alberta that is thought to be dian Cattlemen's Association. "The inapproximately 6 years old.
cidence of B.S.E. in the Canadian cattle
The Canadian Food Inspection Agen- herd remains low and continues to decy, working with the animal's owner and cline due to intervention measures such
the Province of Alberta, has launched as the ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban."
an investigation into the feeding regime
Eby added that while the animal was
and storage practices employed on the born after the introduction of Canada's
farm, as well as the production and feed ban (in the late 1990s), almost evsource of feeds delivered to the farm. ery country with B.S.E. has found and
Consistent with international standards, continues to find a few cases born after
the C.F.I.A. will identify cattle born on the introduction of feed controls.
the farm within 12 months before and
Following C.F.I.A.'s announcement,
after the infected animal, as well as off- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Jospring of the affected animal born dur- hanns said the U.S. would not ban the
ing the last two years. Any live animals importation of Canadian beef into the
found from these groups will be segre- U.S. "As I've said many times, our beef
gated and tested.
trade decisions follow internationally
Definitive conclusions regarding the accepted guidelines that are based in
source of infectivity cannot be made science," said Johanns.

Pilgrim's Pride net income plummets
Pilgrim's Pride Corp., Pittsburg, Tex- withdrew its guidance for the year
as, posted a net income of $25.7 mil- (see "Pilgrim's Pride stumbles,"
lion, or $0.39 per share, for the first M&P, Jan. 2006, Page 4).
fiscal quarter of 2006 ended Dec. 31,
"When compared to the same
2005, a decline compared with net period last year, our Mexico operaincome of $48.5 million, or
tions suffered as the tradi$0.73 per share, in the first
tional bump we see during
quarter of fiscal 2005. The
the Christmas holiday seacompany also reported net
son did not live up to typical
sales for the first quarter of
patterns," said O.B. Goolsfiscal 2006 of $1.343 billion,
by, president and C.E.O.
a decrease compared with net
"Also, higher energy related
Goolsby
sales of $1.368 billion for the
costs and lower sales prices,
same period last year.
primarily for chicken leg quarters
The announcement of the com- in our U.S. operations, negatively
pany's results comes several weeks impacted our performance in the
after Pilgrim's Pride executives quarter versus the same period last
slashed its previously announced year and the fourth quarter of fiscal
first-quarter earnings guidance and 2005, respectively."

MEAT&POULTRY

February 2006

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Hardee's introduces
Steak 'N' Egg Burrito
Hardee's has added the Steak 'N'
Egg Burrito to its roster of breakfast items. The quick-service restaurant chain had previously expanded its breakfast menu with
the introduction of its burrito in a
bowl concept.
"Burritos have become a staple
in the American breakfast diet,"
said Brad Haley, executive vicepresident of marketing. "And,
steak and eggs is a classic combination at breakfast that tastes
great together in a burrito."
The Steak 'N' Egg Burrito is
available at participating Hardee's
restaurants for a suggested retail
price of $2.99 each.

Animal I.D. consortium
established
After nearly a year of debate about
what group would manage the animalidentification database needed for the
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's National
Animal Identification System, the
United States Animal Identification
Organization was formed. The group
is independent and will manage the
N.A.I.S. database.
At the U.S.A.I.O.'s first board meeting, the group elected a board of directors, including a chairman, Charles
Miller, a cow-calf producer from Nicholasville, Ky. The group said it will
expand its board of directors as other
industry groups join the consortium.
The U.S.A.I.O. has submitted a
memorandum of understanding to the
U.S.D.A. to form a strategic partnership and fulfill Secretary Johanns' directive for the industry to develop the
database repository.

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Meat + Poultry - February 2006

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