Maritime cows headed to Russia, Kazakhstan for premium price

Larry and Pat Ward have a Hereford farm in Middle Musquodoboit. They said years ago they got a call that Russians and Kazachs who were willing to pay $1,200 for each Maritime calf. It was a premium at a very bad time for beef farmers.

“I think I jumped for joy,” said Larry Ward. “Any heifer calf that meets a certain criteria, they’ll take.”

The demand for Maritime Hereford cows is so high, local breeders say they can’t keep up.(CBC)

The Hereford cows is a hardy animal that does well in tough climates, which is a big selling point for both Russia and Kazakhstan.

When a call comes in from Canadian-based exporters working with either country, things move fast. A week later calves are trucked out.

The calves are shipped to Ontario where they are quarantined. Then they’re flown or shipped overseas.

It’s part of a growing trade between Canada and both countries. In 2012, Kazakhstan was Canada’s top market for purebred cattle, but it remains a small market worth under $8 million.

This year local breeders aren’t certain the Russian calls will come, given the political tension over Ukraine.

Larry Ward said that may not be such a bad thing.

“You have to be careful not so to sell all your cattle to Russia. You’ve got to keep some back or you’ll be short of cattle,” he said.