In its request for investigation, R-CALF USA states that in addition to exposing domestic cattle to potential disease spread, it is the opinion of the group that imported Canadian cattle owned by Agri Beef Co. were not authorized to graze on the Three Rivers Ranger District in the Colville National Forest.
R-CALF USA has asked Justice and GIPSA to determine if Agri Beef Co.'s use of these imported Canadian cattle constituted an unfair and deceptive practice under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
� ���"We believe the effect of Agri Beef Co.'s improper use of these imported Canadian cattle was to lower the company's cost of cattle procurement and to reduce the demand for domestic cattle,� �� � Bullard alleged. � ���"Given Agri Beef Co.'s market dominance in the Pacific Northwest, it is our opinion this is an example of a meatpacker engaging in unfair and deceptive practices that gives the company the ability to unfairly lower both the demand and price for domestic cattle raised by Washington state cattle ranchers.� �� �
R-CALF USA informed Justice and GIPSA there may be up to 26,000 imported Canadian cattle that were supposed to have been delivered to the El Oro Cattle Feeders feedlot since April 2009 and it asked the agencies to determine the disposition of these cattle as well.
� ���"We are hopeful there is now sufficient information regarding these imported cattle to enable the agencies to determine the extent to which Agri Beef Co. may be using imported Canadian cattle to engage in anti-competitive practices and/or antitrust activities that are effectively lowering the value of domestic cattle in the Pacific Northwest,� �� � Bullard said.
� ���"U.S. cattle producers already face the prospect of lower cattle prices than they received last year and they can hardly withstand the adverse market effects of a meatpacker using unfair and deceptive practices to gain a pricing advantage in the marketplace,� �� � he concluded. � ���"We hope our federal agencies will get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible.� �� �
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R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALFUSA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALFUSA directors and committee chairs are extremely active unpaid volunteers. R-CALFUSA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.
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