Cattle Breed Improvement Program
Grain Feeding

Beef Quality

Grain-Fed for Outstanding Eating Quality

An Abundant Supply of Grain

Canada is one of the largest grain producers in the world. In the western provinces, farmers often grow crops of barley and wheat. In Eastern Canada, the climate supports the growth of significant amounts of corn. Given the abundance of feed grains, Canada can supply beef produced from cattle that are fed diets containing barley, wheat and corn.

Outstanding Eating Quality

Canada’s feeding practices enable more than 85% of cattle raised for beef production to be harvested at 2 years of age or less. A younger age at harvest enhances tenderness and overall eating quality. Feeding corn, barley and wheat grain contributes to well-marbled, flavourful and tender Canadian beef with firm, white-coloured fat.

Canada’s National Livestock Feed Program

The CFIA administers a national livestock feed program to verify that livestock feeds are manufactured and sold in accordance with the federal Feeds Act. The program includes evaluation by Feed Section personnel of products before sale, as well as post-market inspection and monitoring by Canadian Food Inspection Agency field staff located throughout Canada

Careful management of the cattle feeding process is essential to produce premium quality grain-fed Canadian beef.

Will Lowe, Chair, National Cattle Feeders’ Association

Internationally Recognized Livestock Genetics

The ultimate goal of Canada’s breed improvement programs is to enhance beef quality for consumers while also targeting more efficient cattle production.

Breed Selection and Genetic Improvement Programs

Breed Associations incorporated under The Animal Pedigree Act of Canada, are responsible for ensuring accurate pedigrees and developing breed improvement programs. These associations support the ongoing efforts to enhance quality attributes through breed selection and genetic improvement programs. Canadian breeding stock producers utilize tools such as real-time ultrasound to examine the rib eye area, backfat and marbling levels in the live animal, to help determine its genetic potential. In this way characteristics of the live animal are related to yield and quality attributes of the carcass. Statistical analysis is also used to calculate carcass Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) which provide cattle producers with an effective tool to select breeding stock.

Breeding Stock Production

There are approximately 10,000 cattle producers who produce breeding stock in Canada. Through their focus on genetic improvement with each successive generation, Canada has become an internationally recognized supplier of breeding stock. Canada’s cooler weather allows the extensive utilization of Bos taurus type genetics, which include breeds such as Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Simmental and Limousin. Bos taurus are known to produce high-quality, tender beef on a consistent basis. Canada raises more than 30 Bos taurus breeds and cross breeding is used to combine the best characteristics of several breeds into one animal. Over time Canadian producers have produced cattle that deliver more beef in the carcass which delivers additional value with fewer resources.

Ultrasound measurements are used to determine the rib eye area in the live animal and are taken at the same site used for grading of carcasses.

Canada Beef Performs Newsletter


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