Saudi Arabia announced it’s reopening its markets to U.S. beef after a four-year ban that was put in place due to concerns about BSE, or Mad Cow Disease.
Pro Farmer’s First Thing Today says the country will immediately allow beef imports from cattle less than 30 months old. After a phase-in period, imports will expand to include beef products from cattle under 48 months old. Eligible products include bone-in and de-boned beef, along with ground and processed beef. The U.S. exported more than $31 million in beef products to Saudi Arabia as recently as 2011, just prior to the ban going into place.