CALGARY, Alta. — A plan that would see live Canadian cattle shipped to the U.S. for slaughter with the beef immediately returned to Canada has drawn the ire of R-CALF.

R-CALF is the controversial U.S. organization that filed an injunction earlier this year that put an end to hopes the U.S. border would soon re-open to live Canadian cattle. The latest plan would see Canadian cattle sent to the U.S. for processing with the beef returned to Canada for sale here.

It was seen by the Canadian Cattlement’s Association as a win-win, as it would benefit U.S. slaughterhouses that have lost business while also helping deal with the lack of capacity at Canadian packing plants. The plan would also help livestock haulers who have seen their cross-border business dry up entirely since a single case of Mad Cow disease was discovered in Alberta in May, 2003.

R-CALF, however, has expressed concerns about cross-contamination that could occur if Canadian cattle were to be processed at the same facilities as domestic cattle. The organization added, however, that it is still developing a formal position on the proposal.