Canadian producers welcome U.S. border reopening Monday to older cattle, meat

"I don't think we're on the same playing field as far as BSE risk goes"

- After more than four years of restricted trade following a mad-cow disease scare and an estimated loss of more than $1.7 billion, Canadian producers are looking forward to Monday's reopening of the U.S. border to older live Canadian cattle and their meat products.

The move comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture ruled that the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Canadian cattle is "negligible."

"The border opening is going to be tremendous for all purebred breeders and all breeds because the U.S. has been a fairly substantial marketplace for us," said Helge By, of By Livestock, who co-manages the Regina Bull Sale. Read more