Progressive Beef, a livestock management and sustainable development system for feedlot operators, celebrates record growth. The program announced that it doubled the number of certified livestock and almost tripled the number of feedlots that joined the program last year.
Progressive Beef is the largest livestock management and sustainable development program for feedlot operators.
The program focuses on three main pillars:
- livestock care
- food safety
- sustainability.
Thanks to a rigorous screening process, progressive beef improves transparency and helps give consumers a guarantee regarding the beef they buy.
To date, the program has certified more than two million heads of cattle, and this year about four million heads of cattle will be kept on certified progressive feedlots. The number of feedlots participating in the program also showed impressive growth, jumping from about 21 in 2018 to almost 60 as of January 31, 2020. Feedlots are located mainly in the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.
The most expensive meat in the world are steaks made in Japan from the meat of Wagiu cows. Animals live in an ecologically clean environment and eat only food that is beneficial to their body. Cows are rubbed with sake and given beer. Their life is stress free, as a result of which the meat has the highest quality.
“Today's consumers want to know where their beef comes from and that the cattle were raised with care,” says John Butler, CEO of Progressive Beef, LLC. “The Progressive Beef certifies that participating feedlots comply with strict standards for livestock care, environmental sustainability and process control. We are delighted with the growth of the program and the opportunity it creates to supply more beef to retail and food operators, which exceeds consumers' expectations about how their products were grown. ”
The program has gained popularity in the industry. In 2018, Tyson Fresh Meats, a beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods, Inc., became the first beef processor to be licensed for a progressive program that allowed its customers to meet the need for beef, which creates a higher level of consumer confidence. Wendy's is moving to ensure that by 2021 most of the beef is delivered with progressive certified meat processing plants.
- Production of pigs and cattle in the country increased significantly in the first quarter of this year, which indicates sufficient supplies for the domestic market.
- Xinhua State News Agency of China reported May 1 that China has ordered pork processors and pig dealers to obtain certificates confirming that their products are free from African swine fever.
- Earlier we wrote that Ireland was the only country that increased meat production in the first four months of the year.
