After first choosing to reduce the daily slaughter capacity at its High River beef processing facility, Cargill has now suspended cattle kills completely, though temporarily.
According to several sources familiar with the plant, Cargill will stop all slaughter shifts for the week of April 13, 2020, but will continue to process beef cuts. The plant originally announced a slaughter reduction to 1,500 head per day, down from its 4,000-head capacity, for two weeks while it addressed positive COVID-19 cases in its work force.
Cargill’s High River plant accounts for 36 per cent of Canadian beef processing capacity, according to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
Cargill has not yet responded to RealAgriculture with a statement.
The JBS plant at Brooks, Alta., has yet to announce any COVID-19 slaughter restrictions at this time.
More to come…
