By Canadian Press

BEEF BACKLOG

Cattle backlog needs processing as packing plants resume full operations

Jun 25, 2020 | 8:46 AM

CALGARY- Canada’s main beef-packing plants are returning to normal operations after COVID-19 outbreaks in the spring but there is still a glut of cattle to be processed.

The outbreaks caused closures and slowdowns at beef-processing plants in Alberta.

Hardest hit were the Cargill plant at High River, which shut down for two full weeks before reopening to reduced capacity, and the JBS Canada plant at Brooks, which operated with just a single shift a day for a full month.

Together the two plants process about 70% of Canada’s beef.

Cargill says its facility is now operating at 95% capacity and should be back to normal next week.

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

17h ago

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

JBS says its plant is now fully operational.

Dennis Laycraft with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says it’s welcome news.

But he says it will take months to reduce a backlog of about 130,000 cattle caused by the pandemic closures and slowdowns.

(The Canadian Press)