Producers from around the world are in Regina for Canadian Western Agribition. Dan McCarty is a rancher and National Cattlemen's Beef Association representative from Colorado. He says Canadian and American cattle producers have a lot in common.

"There's a lot we could be doing as beef producers in Canada and the United States to enhance our industry and enhance our image and ultimately increase demand with the beef consumer. We're all raising the same product and we all need to get on the same page."

McCarty said Country of Origin Labelling is definitely one of the issues we have in common. "We have producers in the United States that are fully in favour of a mandatory COOL program, we also have a lot  that support it somewhat and some that are totally against it. No matter what side of the fence you're on it is a law of the United States and we're pretty much to the point now where it's not up to any of the industry or consumers, it's going to be decided by the World Trade Organization."

McCarty said the U.S. cattle herd is the smallest it's been since the early 60s. American cattle producers are concerned about losing infrastructure as slaughter facilities lose their viability with shrinking production.