World Angus Forum
The job is not finished until the paperwork is done In the post World Angus Forum 2009 Commemorative Issue of Angus World I stated that report would be my final
one. But as they say, “The job is not finished until the paperwork is done.” Well, we have now completed that paperwork and a final wrap up and financial report was presented to the Canadian Angus Association Board of Directors at the October Board meetings. The WAF committees have now completed their task and I feel that is it is important that we communicate the results to the CAA membership. I’m very pleased to be able to report a better than budgeted and very positive financial outcome. The investment by the CAA was well managed by all WAF committees and your association. Once grant monies are received I am confident we will not have used all of the CAA allotted funds. The Canadian 2009 WAF was a great success in many ways and it certainly was a challenge to have the finances end in a strong position as the scope of the project and
number of participants grew beyond expectations. The commitment made by the CAA is an investment that will impact our industry in a most positive way for years to come. This journey has been an experience. I believe it is worth noting and I’m gratified that ALL Organizing Committee members who started six years ago remained and completed their commitments (including Keith Kaufmann who was missed being listed in the post WAF Commemorative Issue; sorry Keith!). The same holds true for OC members added as well as Sub Committee Chairs and Coordinators. It was not always easy, but these volunteers and fellow breeders did not waiver, Thank you to all and I hope we made the members of the CAA proud to have hosted the 2009 World Angus Forum in Canada. John Lee, Chairman WAF 2009 Organizing Committee
Requirements of Feedlot/Backgrounders Finishing and backgrounding feedlots wanting to participate in BIXS must provide the following data: CLTS premise ID; individual animal CCIA tag numbers; date of animal’s move in to feedlot; weight in pounds of individual animal at move in to feedlot; date at individual animal move out of feedlot; and, whether the feedlot is a Verified Beef Production operation. All other production, performance, health data/information feedlot participants choose to enter is strictly optional. Requirements of Packer/Processors Packer/processors wanting to participate in BIXS must provide the following data/information: CLTS premise ID; individual animal CCIA tag number, animal’s slaughter date; individual animal hot carcass weight, and carcass yield, quality and fat grade data. All other carcass data packer/processor participants choose to enter is strictly optional but can include yield percentage, ribeye area and other electronic grading data. Requirements of Auction Markets In time auction marts will be able to participate in BIXS. Participation is strictly optional but if markets choose to enrol in BIXS they can choose to enter individual animal data at a move-in date, move-out date or both. If markets opt to participate they must provide the individual animal CCIA tag number; animal’s move-in or move-out date and sender CLTS premise ID. BIXS will enable third party
authorization whereby third party entities like auction marts and IT firms among others can enter data/information on behalf of their customers who have granted the authorization. September 14, 2009 BIXS moves to ‘soft launch’ phase with cow-calf producers Working with a group of about 100 dedicated and supportive cow-calf producers and platform partners across Canada the BIXS program has moved to the ‘soft launch’ phase of development. For the next few weeks these cow-calf producers will help test out the registration and animal data upload and transfer process. The aim is to identify and work out any fundamental glitches prior to going to a full launch to cow-calf and feedlot producers this coming fall. “It is critical to the success of BIXS to make this program and process as simple and user-friendly as possible from the start,” says Larry Thomas, national coordinator of the Canadian Beef Advantage and BIXS programs. “At the same time we must assure the data and information power of the BIXS is maintained, which is an interesting balancing act. Our cooperating cow-calf producers will help us hone the program to attain the correct balance prior to moving to full launch.” Feedlots set to join BIXS this fall should collect and store required data now BIXS is in the cow-calf testing phase at present and will go to full launch to cow-calf and feedlot operators
across Canada this fall. While there is no fee to participate in BIXS there is a minimal amount of required information participants must submit. For feedlots, this required information includes their CLTS Premise ID; the date cattle enter the feedlot, the weight of the cattle as they enter the feedlot and the CCIA tag number of those individual animals. Through the initial and on-going test phase and early launch period of BIXS cattle from cow-calf operations that have yet to join BIXS will be gone from the farm or ranch through the fall run. These cow-calf producers will join BIXS and enter their required and optional data as the program gets up to full speed through the fall and early winter. Obviously, not all cattle coming to feedlots will, ultimately, be BIXS program animals. But chances are a good number will be and if the required information upon feedlot entry is not collected a step in the process is missed. This will not be a concern later as BIXS evolves and participation across the beef chain builds, but for now it is a reality of starting a new program. With this in mind it is strongly urged that feedlots record the CCIA tag numbers of all cattle entering their feedlots this fall/winter and link the CCIA tag identifier to the In-Date (DD/MM/YYYY) and InWeight (in pounds) of the cattle. Store that information for future upload to the BIXS database once the program is fully launched and your feedlot operation is registered onto BIXS this coming fall. Beef InfoXchange System website: bixs.cattle.ca
John Lee
Angus World
Fall Edition 2009**
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