The quality of U.S. beef and pork is helping keep demand strong in international markets despite headwinds from tight supplies, a strong U.S. dollar and trade restrictions to Russia, an official with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said recently.

"You really should be proud of the product you are producing. It represents itself very well in the world markets," John Hinners, USMEF assistant vice president for industry relations, told livestock farmers and others gathered in San Diego during the American Farm Bureau Convention earlier this month. "We are not the cheapest product out there, but we have been able to maintain sales through consistent marketing, which emphasizes...