Although marketing beef genetics outside of the United States is certainly not something that is routine for every seed-stock producer, international markets can be very rewarding to those that make the effort. US beef genetics are very well regardedin many countries, and according to the USDA Economic Research Center the numbers of beef cattle exported by the United States in 2008 are expected to reach or exceed the 2003 (pre-BSE) levels. In 2003 the United States exported almost 99,000 head of beef cattle valued at about a quarter of a billion dollars. Live cattle exports dropped to just over 15,000 head in 2004 and slowly climbed to over 64,000 in 2007. From just January to March of 2008 over 38,000 head have been exported which compares to just under 14,000 for the same period in 2007. Exporting breeding cattle from the United States is big business again, and it is not as difficult to tap into these markets as you might think.
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