Minnesota District Court Judge John R. Tunheim has dismissed without prejudice a beef antitrust lawsuit against Cargill, JBS, Swift Beef Company, Tyson Foods and National Beef Packing Company wherein three cow-calf ranchers alleged the companies conspired to suppress fed cattle prices, which in turn caused the prices of cows and calves to collapse.
Plaintiffs James Specht, Jerry Kelsey and Tad Larson alleged the companies implemented their “buying cartel” by agreeing to (1) reduce slaughter volume; (2) limit their purchases of cash cattle; (3) coordinate buying practices of cash cattle;…
