Expensive steaks here to stay as drought cuts Canada cattle herd

Winnipeg

FROM burger meat to prime steaks, the rising cost of beef from Canada shows no signs of easing anytime soon. To understand why, look no further than ranchers such as Shawn Freimark who cannot afford to feed their cattle.

A drought has parched pastureland throughout the biggest beef-producing provinces and left Canada, the world's seventh largest exporter, with its smallest herd in 22 years. Mr Freimark was unable to grow the grass normally used to feed his 200 cattle in Castor, Alberta. He has sold one-fifth of his animals to cut his losses, and may unload even more.

"We're going to be buying all of our feed," said Mr…