Cattle Ranchers in British Columbia can expect a revenue increase over the next few years after a Russian ban on the province’s beef was lifted this week, said an industry spokesman.

Russia lifted a ban on cattle used for breeding from B.C. it had in place since 2003 when BSE, more commonly known as mad-cow disease, was found in Canada.

The initial ban affected all cattle and beef from Canada and was slowly rescinded over the years.

But, with the final lifting of the ban on B.C. breeding cattle the entire Canadian cattle industry now has full access to the Russian market.

General Manager of the B.C. Cattleman’s Association Kevin Boon said the development will at first only mean an additional $8 million for the province’s $600 million cattle industry.

But Boon said, over the next 10 years B.C.’s exports to the Russian market should increase as Russia works to improve its cattle herd genetics and wean itself off billions of dollars worth of foreign beef imports.

“There is potential for growth,” he said. “It looks like trade is going to pick up.”

In its quest to produce its own, high-quality beef Russia has even recruited ranchers from the west to teach locals how to properly raise herds.

Earlier this year Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev paid a visit to U.S. cowboys working on a ranch in the country’s southwestern region.

The farm in Bryansk has more than 7,000 head of cattle, many of which were imported from the United States.

As the search for more breeding stock goes on, B.C. is in a good position to cash in, said Boon.

“Russia’s climate is somewhat similar with Canada’s fairly cold climate, so our genetics fit in well,” he said.

“Bringing cattle from a warm climate to a cold one can be a little dicey.”

According to the Boon, the unique ban only applied to B.C. cattle but he said that was because B.C. was the last province to have any trace of BSE.

He said the B.C. dairy industry should also see a boost in business due to the rescinding of the ban.

The lifting of the ban comes as the BCCA's president, David Haywood-Farmer leaves for Japan and China in an attempt to have partial bans on Canadian cattle lifted in those countries.

Haywood-Farmer will be making the trip as part of a larger Canadian trade mission to Asia.

With files from the Associated Press