December 30, 2003

Cattle Fax Says U.S. Beef Demand Remains Strong

According to Cattle Fax, a national beef industry market research firm located in Denver, Colorado, U.S. domestic beef sales and demand remain strong and largely unaffected by the news of the single cow in the state of Washington that was diagnosed with BSE last week. U.S Food Service and Retail sales have remained strong for the past week. Several major food service operations including Wendy’s, McDonalds and Burger King have been quoted in the business news media as reporting that they have seen no measurable impact on sales. All early indications suggest that U.S. consumers remain confident in the safety and wholesomeness of the U.S. beef supply.

Cattle Fax says the early feedback from beef marketers is extremely encouraging and that further research during the next few days and weeks will be required to quantify domestic beef demand more accurately.

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