Meat & Poultry

XL Foods is owned by Nilsson Brothers Inc. of Edmonton, a privately held, Canadian-owned company with a network of livestock-based businesses including auction marts, feedlots and ranches throughout Western Canada. As well, it runs Canada’s largest procurement operation, acquiring cattle from a diverse mix of sources. In 2008, XL Foods paid U.S. giant Tyson $107 million for its meat operations, including its feed yard and processing plant, Lakeside Packers in Brooks. Brian Nilsson and Lee Nilsson are the co-CEOs of Nilsson Bros., and Patrick Bieleny is the chief financial officer. Nilsson Bros. entered the meat-packing business in the late 1990s with the purchase of Edmonton Meat Packing and XL Foods. …

Erin Morrison (Minnesota), Katie Stroud (California), Emma Jumper (Arkansas), Jacquelyn Brown (Oregon) and Chandler Mulvaney (Alabama) were chosen as the 2013 National Beef Ambassador Team at the annual National Beef Ambassador competition, which is funded in part by the Beef Checkoff. 22 senior contestants ages 17]20, were judged in the areas of consumer promotion, classroom presentation, media interview technique and issues response at the event held in Sacramento, California. …

Kunzler and Company Inc., celebrating over 110 years in business is a leading manufacturer of fine meat products including hams, bacon, franks, pretzel dogs, luncheon meats, and specialty items, is introducing its newest product- Bacon Pork Roll …

Arizona consumers and businesses may be incorrectly charged for meat and other products at local butcher and specialty meat shops. …

“The total size of the cattle industry has been shrinking, and shrinking rather abruptly for the last couple of years,” said Mike Sands, Informa Economics vice president. The nation’s cowherd was at 90.8 million head to start 2012 (see chart). But as summer turned to fall, drought had hit three-fourths of that herd. Speaking at the Feeding Quality Forum in Grand Island, Neb., and Amarillo, Texas, in late summer, Sands said he expects that to shrink another million head or more by January 2013. …