The event kicked off with early arrivals viewing the pre-sort sale at the Atlantic Stock Yards in Murray Siding. The official conference itinerary began with a Friday tour of Dalhousie University’s agriculture campus in Truro.

Participants explored the Ruminant Animal Centre, learning about the campus’s research and management practices. Dr. Ghader Manafiazar presented on sustainable livestock production and greenhouse gas emissions, which provided insights into strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of cattle farming while maintaining efficiency and profitability.

The afternoon featured inspiring talks from Ellen Crane, knowledge mobilization co-ordinator with the Canadian Beef Research Council, who shared her journey in the agricultural sector, and Katie Trottier, ruminant livestock specialist at Perennia Food and Agriculture, who offered insights into her career path.

On Saturday, the group traveled to Nappan for a full day of interactive learning. The first stop was a tour of the Maritime Beef Test Station. Jacy McInnis, beef and sheep carcass ultrasound technician, conducted a carcass ultrasound demonstration, showcasing how the technology assesses meat quality and enhances breeding decisions.

Next, participants visited John Duynisveld, beef research biologist at the AAFC Research Centre. He introduced attendees to the centre’s kelp feed supplementation studies, which aim to improve cattle nutrition and reduce methane emissions.

The conference wrapped up with a tour of Balamore Farm in Great Village, hosted by the Cooper family. The juniors enjoyed a hospitable lunch while learning about the farm’s cattle and strawberry divisions.

The organizers extend a sincere thank you to all participants, sponsors and hosts who made the conference a great success.

The post 2025 Stars Leadership Conference appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

And sometimes it can also mean solving their own problems.

When their local abattoir had to cut back on processing capacity due to the owner’s health problems, Sarah Hunt knew this would affect sales of their Limousin beef cattle in Pakenham, Ont. While the owner’s health crisis was averted, the abattoir was permanently closed, leaving the Hunt family without a local processing plant.

When an abattoir came up for sale about 100 kilometres down the road right before the pandemic, buying it as an additional enterprise to Corad Farms meant they would not need to send their animals farther away than needed.

The whole idea hadn’t been a thunderbolt from the sky. Hunt and her husband, Chad, had been looking into building an abattoir from scratch years before, which would have cost $3 to $4 million.

“You have to go farther and farther away to find different abattoirs. And then we thought, well, it would be kind of nice to be able to be in control of the whole process, and be able to book our own animals based on our own demand as we were growing and evolving.”

Now that they own the Farmersville Community Abattoir, located in Athens, Ont., Hunt said they are in control of the entire process from start to finish. It’s an attractive option, she said, even with the extra kilometres to contend with.

Most animals going through the facility are custom cuts with cattle from the Hunt’s family farm accounting for only 10 per cent of the abattoir’s total output. Some local cattle producers bring in their own animals for slaughter and processing for their retail stores or to fill their own freezers. Hunt said they aim for 12-15 beef cattle a week, plus another 15 pigs, goats and sheep. During COVID, they were busy year-round as the demand for local meat went “through the roof,” she said. Unfortunately, things have gone back to a pre-COVID demand where they are busy for four months of fall processing with not a lot to do for the rest of the year. It’s a hard when a third of the year is an overwhelming feast, and the other two-thirds is a famine with the bills still needing to be paid, she said.

“You only have so many spaces and so much cooler space and so much freezer space, but the demand is there. You’re trying to do as much as you can, but then after the new year, then it dies off again.”

One thing that financially saves them is selling their home-grown beef.

From May until the end of October, people can find Hunt at the local farmers market every Saturday selling freezer beef. The Hunts’ story is an interesting one for customers. Their animals never leave their care, from the farm where they are born until they are processed at the abattoir. That resonates with people, said Hunt.

It was a tough market to get into, but the best meat is only as good as the cut, she said.

Chad has been working with cattle his whole life so taking over the barn management was a likely fit. But Hunt was coming from the human resources and school administration fields. Working in the abattoir required a career change for her, but with a great team already on staff, she was able to learn what she needed for a consistent, high-quality product.

“Our team trained me on how to help with the slaughter process. I’m on the floor every week with them with the processing and harvesting of animals. That’s been a switch — from an office environment to the slaughter floor.”

Without any red seal certification for meat cutting, options for learning butchering and meat-cutting techniques are limited to local programs and on-the-job training. Hunt was lucky, she said. But like most sectors of the agricultural industry, butchers are a dying breed. Skilled labour is on the way out with limits as to what the talent pipeline is pumping in.

The best thing that the abattoir industry could do is to make that path easier for young people interested in the industry, said Hunt.

“The best solution for them would be just giving it time, and be brought in under the wing of someone who is very well seasoned in the industry so that they can just soak in all of the knowledge that they possibly can from someone that’s been doing it for years.”

Food-handling and sanitation training is another important part of the job. Most of the team members have food-handling certification, including Hunt, and a supervisor is required to be on the floor during the meat-cutting process. After the day is done, a deep clean and sanitization of the cutting room, what Hunt and the team call “doing the dishes,” gets the room ready for the next day.

A government inspector comes in for a pre-op assessment once a week. Sanitation problems can put an immediate halt to all production, so cleanliness is extremely important to Hunt and her team. They have a positive working relationship with Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and compliance is not hard and makes life a lot easier, she said. Some lingering policies around bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) seem like overkill given that the World Health Organization has deemed Canada a “negligible risk,” she said, but she and her team are still willing to follow all rules and regulations the government has put in place.

“There’s typically a reason behind it. The BSE stuff is a little far-fetched. It’s gotten pretty ridiculous, and it’s very, very expensive on top of it. There are practices that we have to do for BSE that don’t make a lot of sense, but we do them because we’re told that that’s what we have to do.”

With so many moving pieces, it has been a challenge to find people with the specific skills they need at the facility, especially since the wages they can pay are limited to how much they can charge, said Hunt. However, she tries to keep the workplace compensation package as competitive as she can. Living and working in rural Ontario, it’s not like people can take the bus to work, so it takes special people to be able to do the job. Knowing how physically and mentally draining the job can be, Hunt said she also tries to make the entire workplace experience as positive as possible. The quarters are tight with everyone assigned to specific stations to handle the flow of meat as it’s processed. If there is “bad energy” or something doesn’t fit, the overall welfare of the team can suffer, she said.

So far, they have been lucky with the people who have come to work for them, especially since they are working a demanding job that isn’t glamorous by any stretch, said Hunt.

“Anybody that has worked with us has been fantastic, but I network with other processors as well, and it’s not always that way. Having a good and positive working environment is very important as well.”

For any farmer wanting to locally process their own animals, finding a local abattoir is becoming more and more difficult, said Hunt. Farming, in general, is a tough gig and when you throw in running a business, Ontario is an expensive place to have a small operation, she said.

More and more farmers are choosing to sell on the sales barn floor, said Hunt, and why not? They get the cheque that day and they don’t have to peddle their products. But farmers lose out when they see that drop in market value, she said. Hunt misses the high demands that COVID brought with that focus on local sales, even though it is a challenge to market and advertise their animals.

Both industries, the farmers and the processors, need each other, she said, and it’s disappointing that both cannot seem to thrive together.

Corad farms has been in the family since Judy and Mervin Hunt bought the farm in 1969. Now with a 400-head Limousin herd and their son, Cory, and his family, involved in the operation, the abattoir is Sarah and Chad’s focus.

– Becky Zimmer is a freelance journalist based in Humboldt, Sask. Her farming and small-town background has given her a passion for Prairie journalism, provincial and national government policies, civic politics, community events and the challenges of rural health care and infrastructure.

The post Beef producers create their own supply chain in rural Ontario appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

In other news, the Canadian Junior Limousin Impact Show was held August 15-18, 2024, in Lindsay, Ont. Seventy-three exhibitors and 112 head from five provinces attended. Showmanship and conformation were judged by Jamie and Ellen Blenkiron of Belwood, Ont. 

Congratulations to Grand Champion Showperson Rebecca Hess of North Gower, Ont. (see photo at top), and Reserve Champion Showperson Margaret Darling of Castleton, Ont. Grand Champion Female was Pinch Hill Linda 308L, exhibited by Rebecca Hess, and Reserve Champion Female was JBA Miss Magnolia, exhibited by Avery Annett of Mildmay, Ont. 

A great class of 16 bull calves saw Champion Purebred Bull Calf going to BLCC Big Bad Billy B, exhibited by Abby Staples of Janetville, Ont., and Reserve Champion Purebred Bull Calf to McConnell’s Mr. Good Time, exhibited by Kyler Van Esse of Thamesville, Ont. The bull calf class was sponsored for the second year by Hollee Limousin and Beef Farmers of Durham in memory of Brian Lee. 

The 100K Jackpot was held on August 16 at the show. The first of this kind for the Limousin breed in Canada, the 100K Jackpot was judged both on EPDs before entering the ring, and phenotype in the show ring. All entries had to have a DNA test completed through the association before the show. Fifty per cent of the final score was based on EPDs, and the other 50 per cent on their phenotype, judged in the show ring. 

EPD judge was Joe Epperly of Next Gen Cattle Co. in Paxico, Kansas. The EPD information was sorted based on cow efficiency and long-term profitability. Replacement values are at all-time highs, so traits of economic relevance long-term took precedence over the immediate profitability of carcass traits. An index value was used to group animals by their rankings over various economic traits relevant to the commercial cattle producer. Calving ease, pay weight and fertility traits made up 84 per cent of the index with the remainder being carcass traits. Those groups were then judged based on overall merit. Those in the bottom 25 per cent of the breed for traits such as BW, WW, STAY, DOC, faced deductions. 

Conformation judges Scott Cornish of Whiskey Lane Livestock and Billy Elmhirst of Indian River Cattle Company sorted through over 60 head of cattle on show day. Heats were all placed based on conformation. The top two animals based on their score for conformation and score for EPDs were invited back to the championship round. The top five animals had the overall highest score for conformation and EPDs, and were each awarded a cash prize. Thank you to the committee volunteers and judges and congratulations to all exhibitors! 

The Grand Champion 100K Jackpot Female was Darling Ladies Night 118L, exhibited by Margart Darling. EPD score: BW -0.8 WW 49 Milk 27 Docility 14. 

Reserve Champion 100K Jackpot Female was BLCC L715 Zoom Bloom, exhibited by Roland Belanger. EPD score: BW 2.5 WW 65 Milk 29 Docility 13. 

Congratulations to all the winners at the Impact show. 

The post Limousin association news appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

Congratulations to the 2023 Herd Building winners: 

• Laura Seward of Darlingford, Man., $1,000 live animal voucher 
• Carly Arnold of Grafton, NS., $250 frozen genetics voucher 
• Bailey Lawrence of Durham, Ont., $1,000 live animal voucher 
• Emily Lawrence of Durham, Ont., $250 frozen genetics voucher
• Lincoln Miller of Westlock, Alta., $250 frozen genetics voucher
• Avery Miller of Westlock, Alta., $1,000 live animal voucher

Congratulations as well to the 2023 Canadian Junior Limousin Association scholarship essay winners. Katie Brock (above) of Danville, Que., received a $500 scholarship. Brock and her family breed both purebred Limousin and Hereford. She is attending Bishop’s University, studying elementary education. 

Jocelyn Kennedy (above) of Omemee, Ont., received a $500 scholarship. Kennedy is the current president of the Canadian Junior Limousin Association and the Ontario Junior Limousin Association. She is studying agriculture at the University of Guelph.

Also, congrats to Harvie Ranching

Congratulations to Cole and Jill Harvie of Harvie Ranching at Olds, Alta., on winning the 2024 National Western Stock Show Reserve Grand Champion Hereford Carload and Junior Champion Carload classes.

The post Limousin breeders announce scholarship and “Herd Building” winners appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

(Below is a shortened version of a write-up by Ashton Hewson)

Rocky and Debbie Payne celebrated the 24th anniversary of Payne Livestock in 2023. Located near Lloydminster, Sask., Payne Livestock has been breeding Limousin cattle and showcasing their genetics worldwide. They are well known for their generosity, passion and dedication to the breed.

Rocky bought his first Limousin female from the Pacesetter Sale in 1975. Debbie was raised on a farm with purebred Charolais cattle and continues to develop and build her herd today. Married on June 8, 1991, they supported each other with their own herds and in 1998 built their farm where they reside today. 

Through the years of breeding Limousin cattle, they have seen numerous females and bulls influence not only their own program, but many herds across North America. RPY Paynes Derby 47Z went undefeated in all eligible divisions through three show seasons and has played a huge role in their maternal foundation through the years. A female that Rocky and Debbie are proud to have bred and raised is RPY Paynes Will I Do 23W — a Limousin female that to this day is the only Limousin female to be crowned the Legends of the Fall, All Breeds Champion. She then made her presence known within the Payne Livestock program, being an instrumental donor. Her legacy lives on with daughters and granddaughters within their herd today. Other notable females throughout the years are Heatwave, Simply Irresistible, Princess and, most recently, Zena. 

They still cherish the memories of Caesar parties and social drinks after tie-outs and sales with the many friends they have made in the industry. That is why they have become one of the most respected and decorated breeders in Canada, not only for their dedication to the breed but for their continued support of the Canadian Limousin Association and Canadian Junior Limousin Association.

More recently David Carson Farms and Auction Services has been a huge supporter of the Ontario Limousin Association by hosting a fall Limousin-influenced feeder calf sale in October, as well as a Limousin-influenced female sale in November. In the fall of 2021, they graciously opened their doors to the Ontario Limousin Association and hosted a Junior Show and Display Day for youth and breeders in place of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair that year and it was met with great attendance and enthusiasm.

In the summer of 2022, the OLA used the facilities again to put on a junior Limousin show in the morning and then followed it up with a very well attended annual meeting.Thanks to David Carson Farms and Auction Services Ltd. for their past, present and future support of the Canadian Limousin Association, juniors and breeders.

The post Canadian Limousin Association Awards of Distinction appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

“We didn’t have the capital to buy a place and cattle,” says Anne Brunet-Burgess. “We started slowly, but got really involved in 2015, with Wayne’s nephew Justin, who was fresh out of school and bought a small farm near Hanover, Ont. We added two Limousins to his herd and we got the bug.” 

Basically, the Burgesses buy high-end breeding cattle or buy shares in the cattle. The producers they buy from feed, water and take care of the animals and, in some cases, show them. 

They are currently invested in 70 head of cattle at eight different locations in four Canadian provinces — Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. 

Anne and husband Wayne live in Olds, Alberta. Anne is the general manager of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, and Wayne is one of the top salespeople with Ford Canada. He’s also the president of the Canadian Limousin Association. 

In the beginning

They got serious when they bought the top-selling female Limousin from Eric Boon at B-Bar Cattle in Saskatchewan in 2016. 

“That was our first big purchase,” Anne says. “She became a donor cow, which, when it works, provides a faster return on investment.” 

Donor cows are treated to super ovulate so they produce more than one egg. They’re inseminated and the embryos are flushed. The embryos are then placed in recipient cows.

[RELATED] Feeding cows for fertility

The reason they’re only interested in high-end, pedigreed cattle is that they get a small percentage of the revenue that the animals make. 

“It’s easier to make money on a top-end cow because on a regular or even a really good cow, the (income) pie isn’t big enough for everyone,” Anne says. When they acquire a female, they hope she becomes a donor, and only the top few per cent of females in a breed are donors. 

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of model — it depends on the people, the cattle and situations,” she says. While Anne and Wayne have day jobs, most of their partners are full-time cattle producers. 

Wayne is from a Limousin background and Anne grew up on a Hereford farm — which is why they have so far concentrated on these two breeds.

Wayne has managed a large Limousin farm in the past and is a former editor and publisher of the Limousin Voice. He marketed cattle full-time with his former business Venture Livestock Enterprises. The Burgesses kept the business name when they started buying breeding stock. 

Both Anne and Wayne are interested in genetics, so they do their homework on the pedigrees of the animals they are looking to buy. 

“We like the animals — with the prospect of some return on investment. We also look at the potential markets and, as important, the partners,” Anne says, adding that they usually go for younger producers who are keen, are at the top of their game in terms of animal husbandry, are good managers and share the same values as they do. 

As an example of their business model, in 2017, when Anne was in Ottawa, she bought a half-interest in a couple of calves owned by her friend Laura Naismith and her husband Paul Stafford, which turned out very well. 

“One was the Reserve Champion female at the Royal Winter Fair in 2018 and we have had lots of show successes with the Herefords ever since,” she says. 

While they have done well with most of their partnerships, not all of them have worked out. 

“There have been a few challenges. The greatest one is to achieve a balance where our partners and ourselves feel that the arrangement is mutually beneficial. Sometimes, it’s simply not a good fit,” she says. 

They like it when their partners are as excited as they are and keep them informed as to the progress of their investments. 

“Keeping in touch fuels our interest — we love getting news about our cattle,” she says. 

She understands that producers are very busy, but says that given the distances between the farms and themselves — some 3,500 kilometres in some cases — they aren’t able to keep tabs on the animals’ progress in any other way. The Burgesses do try to visit their partners in person once or twice a year but also rely on email or phone updates from them. 

Stunning results

The Burgesses continue to be supportive of nephew Justin, who has thrived as a cattle producer from the partnership and on his own. Today, he has a young family, continues to work off-farm and is just as passionate as his uncle and aunt about his Limousins, having had three Champion or Reserve Champions at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF). 

Anne says that on average, donor cows will give five embryos per flush. Fresh embryos have a much better chance of conception — at approximately 80 per cent — than frozen embryos, at 50 per cent. 

In one instance, the Burgesses and the Boons of B-Bar Cattle bought the right to flush a Limousin cow that produced a stunning 14 embryos. 

“Eric only had 13 recipient cows ready and all 13 caught, with a 100 per cent pregnancy rate, which is unprecedented,” she says. 

All the calves were born alive and were either sold or kept. 

Out of those 13 animals, they took three bulls and two females to Canadian Western Agribition, the largest livestock show in Canada. “The one female won the heifer calf division and was the top seller at the sale. One of the bulls was Grand Champion, one was Reserve Champion, and the third won its class,” she says, noting that they could not have done better as show cattle before marketing.

“We don’t expect to duplicate that,” says Wayne, adding that, while this kind of success was the result of excellent management, it also took a lot of luck.

Out of the group, they kept one female, Eric Boon kept two, they sold one female and all nine bulls were sold.

The 14th embryo was frozen and implanted into a recipient this year, and they’re looking forward to 2023 and another live calf. Wayne says that there are many partnership cattle in the industry, but not many do it on the scale that they do.

The couple is passionate about investing in top breeders and regularly take their vacation time by going to cattle shows or sales and visiting their cattle. 

“We appreciate our partners so much and we enjoy contributing to their success,” Anne says. “Some people have a cottage or a boat — we have cows.”

The post Partnering to produce high-end purebreds appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

Last year’s sale was an excellent opportunity for farms to offer their good-quality Limousin-influenced female breeding stock. Because of the positive feedback from the sale, it was decided to repeat the opportunity. Breeders are welcome to consign their purebred Limousin-bred heifers, commercial Limousin-bred heifers and commercial heifers bred to a Limousin bull, open heifers and bred good young cows.

The breeding stock sale will be held at Dave Carson Auction Barn on November 19, 2022. If you would like to consign or get more information about the sale, contact Mike Geddes at 519-502-8864 or Dave Carson Auctions.

The post Commercial breeding stock Limousin-influenced sale appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

The Canadian Junior Limousin Association annual general meeting was held on July 18, 2019, in conjunction with the Canadian Junior Limousin Association Impact Show in Saskatoon, Sask. Jocelyn Kennedy and Sienna Bohrson were elected to the board of directors, joining an all-female board for the first time for the 2019-20 year. The entire board includes: Samantha Kennedy (president), Omemee, Ont.; Cheyenne Porter (vice-president), Wainwright, Alta.; Madi Lewis (secretary), Meaford, Ont.; Jackie Wismer (treasurer), Killam, Alta.; Jocelyn Kennedy (press reporter), Omemee, Ont.; and directors-at-large Kaitlyn Davey of Westbourne, Man., and Sienna Bohrson of Hanley, Sask.

The post Limousin breeders elect board of directors appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

As a Canadian Angus tag user you are eligible for free age verification services through the Canadian Angus Association. You are also eligible for a free membership to the Commercial Angus Identification and Performance Program (CAIPP) which records pedigree and performance information on your commercial Angus-tagged animals. CAIPP uses this information (and DNA parentage testing) to provide you with valuable marketing and genetic selection tools.

Benefits to using Canadian Angus RFID tags: The only way to get Red Angus cattle into any Angus-branded beef program in Canada is for them to be tagged with the Canadian Angus tag. There are a number of branded beef programs in Canada that are unable to find enough verified Angus cattle to satisfy their program demands. The only way to verify is with a Canadian Angus tag. We are moving closer to where major Angus-branded programs will need to prove that what they are selling is Angus, and the only way to verify minimum 50 per cent Angus genetics is by procuring cattle that wear the green tag.

Canadian Beef Grading Agency programs that demand Angus or Angus crossed animals include:

• Angus Hearts, Angus Pride, Certified Angus Beef — Cargill Foods, High River, Alta.
• Angus Trim Verification — Cargill Canada, Spruce Grove, Alta.
• JBS Food Canada Inc., Brooks, Alta.
• St. Helen’s Meat Packers, Toronto, Ont.
• Meyers Angus Beef — Cargill Foods, Guelph, Ont.
• Paradise Black Angus, Paradise Premium Black Angus, Paradise Signature Black Angus — Canada Select Meats, Toronto, Ont.
• Ryding Regency Angus, Ryding Regency Selected Angus — Ryding Regency Meat Packers, Toronto, Ont.
• St. Helen’s Angus Classic — St. Helen’s Meat Packers, Toronto, Ont.
• Sysco Butcher’s Block Reserve Angus — Cargill Foods, High River, Alta.
• Western Royal Angus — Canadian Premium Meats Inc., Lacombe, Alta.

Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) introduced its new leadership team last month in Regina. Bruce Holmquist of Kinistino, Sask., was re-elected as president. He’s volunteered at the CWA for 40 years in several capacities, joining the board of directors in 2007 and the executive in 2012. Holmquist is, of course, the general manager of the Canadian Simmental Association. The other members of the CWA executive are vice-president Chris Lees of Arcola, Sask., and executive members at large: Kim Hextall, Grenfell, Sask.; Levi Jackson, Sedley, Sask. and Curtis Kuchinka of Regina and past president Stewart Stone, also of Regina.

The remaining directors are: Kelsey Ashworth, Oungre, Sask.; Carla Borsa, Waldheim, Sask.; Marty Kratochvil, Milden, Sask.; Ross Macdonald, Lake Alma, Sask.; Ali Pike, Grand Coulee, Sask.;  Jodi Banks, Regina, Sask.; Michael Latimer, Calgary, Alta.; Courtney MacDougall, Regina, Sask.; Blake MacMillan, Nokomis, Sask.; and Barry Young, Carievale, Sask.

Appointed directors include: Jerry Flegel (City of Regina), Dana Lajoie (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Kim Onrait (City of Regina), and Grant Zalinko (Sask­atchewan Ministry of Agriculture).

While Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) posted a profit from operations of $270,411 last fall, its impact on the provincial economy amounted to $73.6 million. It was a milestone year for the organization, starting with the opening of the International Trade Centre (ITC). The CWA contributed $1 million to the project. But it didn’t stop there. A number of records were set at the 2017 show: $2 million in purebred cattle sales; 27,000 attendees at evening events; 365 international buyers from 86 different countries who spent more than ever before; and record operating revenue of $4.6 million. The 2018 show will over more of the same plus a new after-party cabaret in the Brandt Centre on Saturday night after the final Pro Rodeo performance.

The Canadian Limousin Association will hold its annual general meeting on August 3 in Great Village, N.S., in conjunction with the Canadian Junior Limousin Association (CJLA) Impact Show. The CJLA Impact Show runs August 1-4 at Balamore Farm Limited in Great Village. It is the first time for this youth in the Maritimes to recognize the growing enthusiasm for the Limousin breed in the region. It is growing rapidly! Impact is open to anyone 21 years and under with a one time $25 CJLA membership fee. Cattle will be available for out-of-province juniors to show. Full details can be found online at the Canadian Limousin Association website.

Canadian Junior Hereford Association Bonanza, set for July 17-21 in St. Hyacinthe, Que., is fast approaching. Junior members were being reminded to file their entries for this popular event before the deadline of May 15, 2018. For more information go to the Canadian Hereford Association website.

The 11th Annual Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup is set for August 3, 4 and 5 in Neepawa, Man. For more information go to the Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup website or check out the Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup Facebook page.

The Canadian Angus Association (CAA) honoured the Munton family of Benchmark Angus at Warner, Alta., for its 50 years of consecutive membership in the association during their 22nd annual bull sale on April 2. CAA senior director of business development in B.C./Alberta, Brian Good presented the award (see photo at top).

Doug Munton and his father Stanley began raising purebred Angus cattle in 1960, when Doug, who was still in high school, bought his first female from Coalbridge Farms of Coaldale, Alta., and founded Alcan Angus. Baros of Alcan Angus 40’73 was Champion Angus Bull at the Calgary Bull Sale and his genetics are prevalent today in such bulls as Cudlobe Stemwinder, GDAR Oscar 711, all the Crackerjacks and many more. Doug continued to raise and breed Angus while establishing a chartered accounting practice. In 1990, after his son Michael graduated from Oklahoma State University they formed Benchmark Angus and began building their Angus cow herd on leased land. In 2000 they took ownership of the Morton Ranch west of Warner where today Benchmark Angus runs 300 Black Angus cows and 120 Red Angus cows. Very few purebred females are ever sold. The top end heifers each year go back into the cow herd.

The Canadian Angus Association instituted a long-term recognition award program in 1998 to honour individuals and families that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the Angus breed in Canada by maintaining a continuous membership in the association for at least 50 years. In 2011, the award program expanded to recognize families with 75 and 100 continuous years of membership.

Canadian Beef Breeds Council held its 24th Annual General Meeting in Calgary, March 28, 2018 at the Best Western Port O’ Call Hotel. It was well attended by members, associates and guests. CBBC is pleased to announce that Roger Peters was elected president, Jay Cross vice-president, and Myles Immerkar as new director. The newly elected board of directors also include: David Sibbald, Bruce Holmquist, Mel Reekie, Rod Remin, Stephen Scott, Rob Smith, Reed Rigney, and Tessa Verbeek. Past president Garner Deobald indicated “CBBC is at a critical strategic point in the future development of the seedstock sector in advancing our goals of producing the world’s best purebred cattle and increasing market share in sales of purebred cattle, semen and embryos, both domestically and internationally.”

Rob Matthews was awarded the Don Matthews Memorial Award at the annual meeting of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council on March 28.

The Don Matthews Memorial Award was instituted in honour of the late Don Matthews, a past president of CBBC, whose many other accomplishments also include induction into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. The award is presented annually by the Canadian Beef Breeds Council to an individual who exemplifies excellence and passion in the purebred beef cattle industry.

After graduating from university, Matthews joined the family in operating Highland Stock Farm, a purebred Angus and mixed farming operation. From this point, Matthew’s influence on the farm and his numerous other endeavours had a profound impact on beef cattle production in Canada.

His influence at Highland Stock Farm soon took shape as it shifted from being primarily an Angus operation to expanding into a new frontier as pioneers of the Limousin breed in Canada. As early importers of Limousin cattle, Highland Stock Farms soon established their place as leaders in the breed. He was among the first to introduce polled and black genetics into the breed and was one of the first breeders to utilize embryo transfer technology. With the help of his good friend Dr. Murray Jacobson, the first Limousin embryo calf was born at Highland in 1973 and the first Angus embryo calf was born at Highland in 1975.

The Canadian Beef Breeds Council is extremely proud of the accomplishments that Rob Matthews has made toward beef cattle production in Canada and is honoured to present him an award named in memory of his late father.

Cattlemen Young Leaders Update

CYL mentees have been as busy as ever! Many are spending valuable time getting to know their mentors while continuing to explore everything that the Canadian beef industry has to offer.

A few notable events:

CYL graduate Wilco van Meijl was featured in the cover story of the March 2018 Canadian Cattlemen sharing his experiences at the International Beef Alliance in Paraguay.

CYL grad Mona Howe and past CYL Lacey McCrae had the opportunity to take part in CYL’s first exploratory trade mission to Texas for the World Braford and Brangus Congresses. The events provided a great breadth of insight into cattle production around the world. Breeders from countries including Brazil, Paraguay, Australia, Uruguay and the United States joined both tours.

CYL Carley Henniger and her mentor, Bob Lowe, had the opportunity to join the Young Cattlemen’s Council’s first ever Lobby Fly-In event in Ottawa. Carley had the opportunity to experience Parliament Hill and discuss important beef industry issues with MPs.

CYL graduate Jessica Sperber was one of two Canadians selected as a scholarship recipient at the recent International Livestock Congress, in Houston, Texas. She had the opportunity to take in the congress, through the scholarship program and was recognized at a luncheon during the event.

Applications for the CYL program closed on March 31 and we will soon have a look at all of the new candidates.

CYL is also very proud to announce that Zoetis has shown their dedication to youth in agriculture by becoming CYL’s newest Foundation Partner

CYL has also launched it’s official Instagram page! If you are part of the Instagram world, give CYL a follow at @Cattlemens_young_leaders!

Cattlemen Young Leaders

Allan Hjertass
Mentor: John Griswold

Raised on a fourth-generation family farm near Redvers Sask., Allan got started in the livestock sector through 4-H. He then started buying and showing purebred Hereford females and exhibited at several Canadian and U.S. junior nationals. After high school Allan began doing custom work for purebred operations typically focusing on show and sale cattle. Allan has exhibited and prepared cattle at major shows across North America, Australia, and Argentina. He is currently employed with Double Bar D Farms, a large mixed farming operation in Grenfell, Sask.

Cale Toews
Mentor: Dr. Cody Creeleman, Veterinary Agri-Health Services

Cale was raised on a third-generation cattle ranch west of Grande Prairie, Alta., started in 1964 by Cale’s grandparents. The family ranch has grown to accommodate a consistent herd of 1,500 Simmental/Angus cows. Cale was extensively involved in the local 4H beef club from the age of nine and in high school pursued the creation of his own purebred Simmental cow herd, marketing his cattle across the province.

After high school graduation, Cale studied in New Zealand for six months. This experience led him to pursue the study of science at a community college in Grande Prairie, working on the family ranch during the summers. He is currently attending the University of Calgary with plans to attend veterinary school upon graduating with his bachelor’s degree.

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While not all of his customers are focused on EPDs, Cross notes that this technology, along with genomic testing, assists in selecting traits to benefit buyers. “The idea is that we’re raising our cattle and selecting our cattle under conditions that mimic the vast majority of our commercial customers,” he continues.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Cross is among the many Canadian beef producers considering the implications of a new method for calculating EPDs. Biometric Open Language Tools (BOLT) is a software for running single-step genetic evaluations, soon to be used by a number of Canadian breed associations.

The primary difference between BOLT and other methods is how it incorporates DNA directly into EPD calculations. Developed by Dr. Bruce Golden and Dr. Dorian Garrick of Theta Solutions, BOLT calculates EPDs using pedigree, performance data and DNA results at once. In previous models, EPDs were calculated with just pedigree and performance data, then adjusted based on DNA information.

With BOLT, an animal’s genomic data will be incorporated throughout its pedigree, affecting the evaluations of its ancestors and progeny. “If there’s 3,000 markers that impact weaning weight, it will include the influence of each of those markers, so it’s a lot more powerful evaluation technology than what we’ve used in the past,” says Sean McGrath, breed improvement specialist with the Canadian Simmental Association (CSA).

BOLT allows for more frequent evaluations due to its computing power, providing a faster turnaround on updated EPDs. “If you collect a yearling weight on your bulls a month before your bull sale, you should have EPDs for your bull sale that reflect that data,” says McGrath.

This new technology promises truer genetic evaluations, but this also raises concerns about animals being reranked. McGrath notes that possible changes to rankings relate to the role of DNA in the single-step model. “The BOLT system, using a 50K DNA test, is equivalent to 22 progeny records,” he says. “The added 22 calves’ worth of data to a young bull could change quite a bit what you think of him.”

Accuracies may also change with this model, but McGrath explains that these possibly lower accuracies are better than those estimated through the previous methodology. “In the BOLT system, accuracy is calculated directly, mathematically, but as a result, the expression of that accuracy has gone down. The evaluation is better, but the way we express accuracy is a little bit lower.”

A major advantage of BOLT is improved risk management, particularly in selecting younger animals. For example, while it previously took years to know if a sire produced long-lived daughters, BOLT promises better predictions on yearling bulls. “If you can buy a virgin bull where you’ve already got as much information on him as if he’d had 15 or 20 calves, that’s a pretty good risk-management tool,” says McGrath.

Many breeds transitioning to BOLT

The Canadian Angus Association uses IGS for Red Angus EPDs, and will soon calculate them with BOLT. Black Angus cattle registered with the association, however, are evaluated with a different single-step method at Angus Genetics, Inc. (AGI).

The Canadian Charolais Association plans to use a different single-step methodology at AGI, and the Canadian Maine-Anjou Association is not using BOLT at this time.

The Canadian Hereford Association (CHA) also transitioned to BOLT, with its first run published in December. The only traits not included are the feedlot merit and maternal productivity indexes, as necessary updates have yet to be completed, says CHA general manager Stephen Scott.

Along with the American, Argentinian and Uruguayan Hereford associations, the CHA is part of the Pan-American Cattle Evaluation. Currently, the Canadian and American associations use BOLT, with Argentina and Uruguay transitioning to this model this summer.

The CHA now has weekly runs with BOLT, allowing for better return on the members’ investment in DNA testing. “If breeders are paying good money to get these cattle tested, we want that information back to them as quick as possible, so this is the quickest turnaround we can do with genomics,” says Scott. “As soon as it’s done at the lab, it goes in the next extract and will be published within two weeks.”

Developing new tools

The CSA has introduced a new stayability trait using BOLT in conjunction with the American Simmental Association. Previously, both associations scored this on a success/failure model based on whether a cow reached the age of six. The new model gives credit based on the age of the animal, which McGrath calls a better reflection of longevity in herds.

Similarly, the CHA has adopted a new trait called sustained cow fertility, measuring a female’s ability to stay in a herd up to the age of 12 with a calf each year. Hereford breeders will also see new traits to score udder suspension and teat length.

BOLT powers the IGS Feeder Profit Calculator, a free marketing tool introduced in the summer of 2017. This uses sire information as well as details on weaning and health management to predict the potential profit on a group of feeder calves.

After submitting this information, producers receive a Feeder Profit Calculator certificate, which provides a breakdown of the total relative value of the calves. This is a combination of two measurements: relative genetic value, a predicted difference in value between the calves in question and a similarly managed group of average Angus calves, based on genetic merit; and relative management value, a predicted difference in value based on management details.

“The feedback has been phenomenal from all facets of the industry,” says Chip Kemp, director of membership and industry operations at IGS. “Producers have been eager to highlight their calves and to take the knowledge they are gaining back home to refine their own processes and decision-making.” As of January, Kemp reports that about 100 loads of calves have been evaluated using the calculator.

Practical benefits and challenges

“For most of the breeds that are participating in IGS, it’s their individual breed’s decision when or how they want to release the EPDs that come out of the BOLT system, but most of them are targeting mid- to late summer through fall of 2018,” says McGrath.

In other words, producers can expect to see any changes in EPDs of the IGS breeds reflected in next year’s bull sale catalogues.

McGrath notes that while he sees this as a positive initiative, the power of this technology requires producers to have a better idea of what they want. “We can change (cattle) quicker because we can select young bulls and do certain things a lot more accurately than we could in the past,” he explains. “We can change them more quickly in the wrong direction… if we don’t have a plan.”

While Cross supports the CHA’s use of BOLT, he anticipates challenges in adjusting to changes in accuracies and more frequently updated EPDs. “We’re used to seeing an EPD that’s published in an ad or in a catalogue, and if they’re changing every month, the big caveat will be that the EPD at time of publication might be changed, and that’s likely to frustrate people.”

Despite this, he believes that breeders need to be patient in adapting to these changes. “Everybody just has to take a deep breath and remember that if they’re changing over time, it’s because they’re becoming more accurate,” he says. “There’s going to be some adjustments, but I think overall it’s very positive. To have more rapid refinement of the EPD profiles can only be a good thing.”

Cross also views this as an advantage for international sales, given the amount of trade in genetics between Canada and the United States. “If the American associations are making this shift, we really needed to make this shift,” he says. “The American breed associations are moving fairly quickly and therefore gives us an opportunity to move fairly quickly as well.”

Bill Campbell of Campbell Limousin at Minto, Man., is also mindful of the implications of BOLT in selecting quality cattle. Campbell, who has served as president of the Canadian Limousin Association, is now part of its BOLT review committee. “I think the positives far outweigh the negatives, so I’m eager to see how it will evolve,” says Campbell, whose herd currently consists of 70 head of purebred females.

Campbell agrees that education will likely be an early challenge, but higher-accuracy information, weekly evaluations and benefits such as including embryo transfer calves in evaluations are worth it. “I think that will be a great advantage to the industry, that we will have the most current available numbers,” he explains. “It will take a bit of a learning curve, because your pedigree from last fall with the EPDs printed on it won’t necessarily be the same as what they are this spring.”

As well, Campbell predicts benefits for his herd and the Limousin breed in regards to more accurate information on younger, unproven cattle. “We will be able to make better management decisions when we breed those heifers,” he says. “Any introduction of a new program takes some acceptance and the time to understand it, but if we can increase the accuracy and the trustworthiness of the EPD and the genetic selection, I think it’s a positive move.”

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