361: Why Canadian Cattle Matter More Than Most U.S. Producers Realize with Curtis Vander Heyden

On today’s episode of the podcast, Lauren is joined by Canadian cattle producer Curtis Vander Heyden for a conversation about the similarities—and important differences—between the U.S. and Canadian beef industries. While separated by a border, producers in both countries face many of the same challenges: rebuilding the cow herd, navigating volatile markets, managing drought, and producing high-quality beef for consumers around the world. Curtis shares insights into Canada's cattle industry, how cross-border trade strengthens North America's beef supply, and why collaboration between producers on both sides of the border is more important than ever. The conversation also explores consumer demand, Country of Origin Labeling, herd rebuilding, sustainability, and the future of beef production across North America.Links:Curtis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-vander-heyden-ab141326a/Canadian Cattle Association: https://www.cattle.ca/CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/CattleUSA App IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cattleusa/id1673147759CattleUSA App Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edgarmcbee.cusamobile&pcampaignid=web_shareFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamediaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusa.shop/products/cattleusa-drive-premium-daily-newsletter?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&brid=YWdncwFNXt0EmdzFy5cJJBp84J9gCattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ShowboatmediacoThe Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/Key Takeaways:The U.S. and Canadian beef industries are deeply connected through tradeProducers on both sides of the border face many of the same challengesCross-border cattle movement helps strengthen the North American beef supplyHerd rebuilding remains a slow process in both countriesConsumer demand continues driving optimism throughout the beef industryCountry of Origin Labeling remains an important topic for producers and consumersCanadian cattle producers are focused on efficiency, sustainability, and profitabilityBeef quality and food safety standards remain priorities across North AmericaTrade partnerships create opportunities for both U.S. and Canadian producersStrong collaboration benefits the entire North American beef industryThe future of beef depends on innovation, producer resilience, and consumer trustDespite different policies and production systems, producers share the same end goalChapters:00:00 Meet Curtis Vander Heyden and the Canadian cattle industry03:15 Comparing Canadian and U.S. cattle production systems07:10 Why cross-border cattle trade matters to both countries11:30 Country of Origin Labeling and common misconceptions about Canadian beef16:00 Herd rebuilding challenges north and south of the border20:15 Consumer demand, exports, and the global reputation of North American beef24:45 Sustainability, efficiency, and adapting to changing industry expectations29:00 What U.S. and Canadian producers can learn from one another33:15 The future of the North American beef industryCanadian cattle, Canadian beef, U.S. cattle industry, U.S. beef industry, North American beef, Canada cattle producers, American cattle producers, beef trade, cattle trade, cross-border cattle trade, Canadian ranching, Canadian ranchers, beef exports, beef imports, cattle markets, cattle industry, beef industry, herd rebuilding, cattle inventory, beef quality, food safety, cattle profitability, ranching in Canada, beef supply chain, cattle operations, agricultural policy, North American agriculture, livestock markets, beef exports, cattle podcast, agriculture podcast, Curtis Vander Heyden