This week, R-CALF filed a class action lawsuit in Federal Court in Chicago against the four largest meat packers in the United States. CEO Bill Bullard says their lawsuit is against Tyson Foods Incorporated, JBS S.A., Cargill Incorporated and National Beef Packing Company L.LC.
He says they’re accusing the packers of colluding to depress fed cattle prices from January 1 of 2015 to the present.

He says while the packers depressed the meat prices they also reduced demand for cattle and profited by doing so.

Bullard says the result of the depressed cattle prices led to several cattle producers exiting the business.

A statement released by Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said they’re disappointed this baseless case was filed and as with similar lawsuits concerning chicken and pork, there’s simply no merit to the allegations that Tyson colluded with competitors.