EDMONTON - Some American cattle producers want the U.S. government to block the possible sale of a troubled Alberta company's beef operations.
The Ranchers-Cattlemen's Action Legal Fund says it is concerned about JBS USA's option to purchase XL Foods Inc. plant in Brooks, Alta., two U.S. slaughtering plants and other properties.
Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF, has written a letter to the U.S. Justice Department saying if the deal goes through it would make JBS USA a dominant player in the beef industry.
Bullard asks the department to determine how the deal would affect cattle producers and consumers and to block it if it would lead to further consolidation of the beef market.
JBS USA is now managing the XL Foods plant that was involved in an E. coli scare and has an option to buy it and other plants.
JBS USA and the Canadian Cattlemen's Association say they aren't concerned about R-CALF's lobbying efforts.
