The Gelbvieh Guide is mailed out to purchasers of Gelbvieh cattle when registration certificates are transfered; the seller of the animal for a registration certificate when you purchase a Gelbvieh animal.
To be added to our mailing list contact the CGA office. Domestic subscription is $26.25 and International subscription is $50.00.
Canadian Gelbvieh Association gelbvieh@gelbvieh.ca 403-250-8640
President’s Message
Eddie Marsman
Hello fellow Gelbvieh enthusiasts.
I’d like to start this time around by putting our Juniors in a bit of a spotlight. I enjoyed the junior show in Stettler tremendously this year. It seems that with each year that passes this event surpasses the previous years. The future of our breed is in very capable hands. A great job was done by all, and the quality of cattle in the ring was excellent. I gladly would have taken home any or all of the animals in the final drive. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of the parents and many sponsors that stepped up to the plate. I need to acknowledge the hard work put in by the people that made this possible such as Aaron Birch, Joe Barnett, Olivia and Chad Koziak, and many others. Thank you for your hard work which makes this event so successful. I apologize in advance for forgetting quite a few names
that helped at the junior event but you know who you are. Please feel free to educate me on my omissions when we see each other at one of the many fall events coming up. One highlight that stood out in particular was the induction of Calvin and Donna Beamish into the Gelbvieh Hall of Fame. Many congratulations, well deserved!
With September half gone at the time of this writing, it will soon be time for a lot of producers to wean calves. Here’s hoping for heavy weaning weights on both replacement stock and market animals. Prices are continuing to hold strong, and that will have a positive effect on the many sales events coming up. I find myself looking forward to Farmfair, Agribition, Wishlist weekend and many more events. Unfortunately, I had to scrap my plans for taking animals to show this year. I’m just too busy to properly prepare a showstring. However, I do hope my schedule will allow me to take in as many events as possible in person. Who knows, I might even man a booth at one of these events for a day or so.
On a different note, the CGA has signed up with the Herdbook Group to provide us with a new registry system once our contract with Digital Beef expires. Once again, we are aiming for as smooth a transition as possible. Of course, some start up difficulties are to be expected, but Sarah is more than prepared to help each and every one of you with any issues you might encounter. She’s just a phone call away. Also, this new registry will provide us with significant cost savings.
In late October, Sue and I will be off to Hawaii to further promote the Gelbvieh breed internationally and to A.I. a number of cows to Gelbvieh sires. Hopefully our adventures on the beautiful island of Kauai will provide another article for the Gelbvieh Guide.
In closing, we hope to see all of you this fall, and in the meantime, breed and cross breed Gelbvieh!
Office Report
Sarah Van Schothorst
The Canadian Gelbvieh Association has developed a renewed strategic plan this year. At the forefront of our initiatives and goals is member support that would drive sustainable success and growth.
One of the programs that we developed is a member mentorship program. A focus group of members was contacted to see if there was a desire to participate in an organized program and what topics might be of interest. After receiving this feedback, the mentorship committee decided on “The Roadmap to Public Promotion” Series. This program is broken down into six modules focusing on the steps required to prepare and set up an animal for a fall show or sale event and culminates at the Wish List Sale and Canadian People’s Choice Bull Futurity held in Stettler, AB from December 6-7. The modules are being held on Microsoft Teams and led by an industry partner relevant to the topic.
Modules 1 through 4 will have been completed by the end of September.
Module 1. Picking Your Animal
Module 2. Feeding Your Animal in Preparation
Module 3. Halter Breaking / Clipping
Module 4. Supporting the Photographer
Module 5. Post-Photography Session
Module 6. What to Expect at the Wish List Event
All modules will be recorded so anyone who isn’t able to attend the live version will have the opportunity to listen in on the discussions upon request.
In this issue there is a theme of demand for sustainable beef production practices. I think something important to keep in mind is that beef producers were sustainable before it was the “cool” word to use. Success over decades and the challenges faced, the industry has proven people’s ability to adapt and change to more sustainable and efficient beef production. I think it
is also important to note that what may be the most sustainable practice for one environment may not be best for another. I think that selection for superior producing genetics and individual animals that are going to stay in the herd longer are goals that many producers strive for whether you are a seedstock or commercial cattleman, which will also vary dependent on the production environment those animals need to perform in.
Gelbvieh breeders saw a 24.3% increase in genotyped animals in 2023. The IGS average increase in animals genotyped was 19.0% in 2023. This is 5.3% above the average of all other breed associations having an evaluation performed with IGS. This is commendable and proves that the Gelbvieh breeders are investing in data collection that gives seedstock and commercial producers the tools to select the best genetics to achieve their production goals.
The Canadian Gelbvieh Association continues to support the CBIN iniative and with the level of genomic data we are collecting we will be at the forefront of having the ability to utilize the added benefits this initiative will bring to our members and their customers.
2023 Board of Directors L to R: Kirk Hurlburt, Sarah Van Schothorst, Cody Girling, Bev Milne (Vice President), Eddie Marsman (President), Lorna Okell, Cody Congdon, Duncan Pearson
2024 Board of Directors L to R: Braylen Blake, Vicky Horn, Sarah Van Schothorst, Bev Milne, Eddie Marsman (President), Lorna Okell, Cody Congdon, Duncan Pearson (Vice President)
Gelbvieh Association of AB/BC News
Darrell Hickman
I would like to welcome everyone to attend Farmfair International this year from November 6-9th in Edmonton and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Farmfair event! It is stacking up to be an incredible week with many National breed shows, a cowboy market event and increased numbers of livestock. Our National show is Thursday morning at 9 am and we welcome you to attend and watch!
The Wishlist event is always an incredible networking event for all of us as Gelbvieh breeders, and the best opportunity to source new and exciting genetics in our breed, bar none! We have an even better set of people who have dug deep to offer you an honest and productive set of cattle to appraise. The banquet, and incredible networking and visiting are one of the most important don’t miss pieces of the Fall for all of us and we look forward to hosting everyone! New this year, is a fundraising event which will most definitely be exciting with several great prizes to be won. The host hotel has
changed this year, so make sure to secure your rooms early as town will be filling up earlier than normal.
We are privileged this year to have the donation heifer being donated from the great folks at Keriness Cattle Company and she is a beauty! We look forward to seeing everyone out this Fall and if there are any questions please reach out to a board member and we will gladly help!
Gelbvieh – The Versatile Breed at the Cutting Edge of Sustainability
The latest catchword in agriculture is sustainabilitythe three pillars of sustainability in beef production that are of utmost importance to both commercial and purebred cattlemen include economic viability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The Gelbvieh breed is positioned to lead the way with respect to economic viability through superior genetics along with the use of hybrid vigor (cross breeding) as more and more social pressure is placed upon the beef industry.
When heifers are more fertile, reach puberty earlier, calve easily and rebreed back quickly they will inevitably produce more pounds of beef over a lifetime which translates into profits. Dr. Larry V Cundiff, geneticist at University of Nebraska says “Research has demonstrated that heterosis favorably influenced the cow in a herd by approxmately 25 percent”. Combined with Stayability ST (longevity of the cow) we see a correlation to the $Cow INDEX (the genetic value in dollars of profit of an animal when retained as a replacement female relative to other animals in the herd). Sustainability starts with the female
Crossbreeding takes advantage of hybrid vigor (heterosis) and Dr. Weaber from Oklahoma State University says that it adds 20 to 40% more in calf weaning weight depending on the cross. The resulting females if used as replacements have more milk, reach puberty earlier, have added fertility and should be productive longer. If a Gelbvieh bull is used, USDA Meat Animal Research Centre (MARC) in Nebraska further confirms that calving ease, rebreeding back quickly and more pounds of calf weaned/cow exposed are three more important economic traits. The Beef Cattle Research Council says that calves born in the first 21 days of calving season can gain 48 more pounds than cows bred in the third cycle.
In Bar GR Cattle’s experience in Northern Alberta using Gelbvieh bulls and calving out 350 head of cattle over many years and weighing them at birth and at weaning that is a very conservative figure.
and it takes 6-7 years to pay for her, thus any calves produced after that are an excellent return on investment. As well that older cow takes the place of a heifer which requires 2 years to develop before she calves.
The study, “Breed and heterotic effects for mature weight in beef cattle” released in the August 2021 Journal of Animal Science concluded that the estimate of heritability for mature weight from the latest MARC data was 0.56. This meant that a response would be seen when selection pressure was applied to the trait. The breed differences were expressed as deviations from Angus which had the heaviest mature weight in the experimental population. When the six major beef breeds in the United States were compared to the Angus, Gelbvieh showed the most moderate mature cow weight at -145.4 lbs lighter than the Angus. Looking at the breed differences of other highly used breeds - Charolais weighed in at -19.6 lbs lighter than Angus; followed by Hereford at -38.5 lbs; Simmental at -73.5 lbs; Limousin at -95.3 lbs;
Gail Anderson
and Red Angus at -98.6 lbs.
These six breeds could benefit from a crossbreeding program to the lowest mature weight Gelbvieh in order to produce replacement females that weigh less .
Gelbvieh are gold, dark red, and black in colour thus when used in crossbreeding programs they complement most breeds.
In the study “Breeding Sustainable Beef Cows: Reducing Weight and Increasing Productivity’ by Warren M. Snelling et. al. University of Guelph it was noted that ‘the most sustainable cows observed in his study are the low cow weight and high cumulative weight weaned cows. These cows should have lower resource requirements and lower enteric methane emissions than heavier herd mates, while avoiding reproductive failure and other reasons for premature culling thus weaning more total calf weight over a lifetime. These traits contribute to economic sustainability.’ Economic analyses have shown that the increase in output equates to a reduction of 8-10% in the cost of production (almost 1 extra calf plus an extra 600 lbs. WW). The Gelbvieh-X females will be more feed efficient which favourably lowers feed input costs and it also goes hand in hand with producing less methane.
done to make genetic improvements by measuring Residual Feed Intake RFI.’ Both of these factors increase profitability as feed makes up somewhere between 40 to 70% (depending upon the area) of the input cost according to the University of Nebraska.
Feedlot operators quickly learn that the feeder calves also grow faster as can be seen in the green chart. Let’s not forget about docility. Bar GR Cattle noted that in their personal experience shipping liner loads of steers to feedlots, the truckers always commented on how the calves were so easy to load into the Livestock Semi Trailer aka the Cattle Pot. The late George Schoepp of Tri-S Feedlot in Stony Plain also commented that the Gelbvieh-X steers settled in more quickly and were so quiet and docile that some fed out to slaughter weight up to one month earlier than the other breeds.
In conclusion, as the world grapples with climate change we cattlemen are at the point of transition where we must be ever cognizant of the economic viability of beef production. In order to be successful our breeding programs need to reflect performance, production, and profit! Commercial producers should note that Gelbvieh and Balancer Herd Sires can be your key to success due to the resulting maternal superiority of Gelbvieh-X females. We as seedstock producers must work diligently to provide the beef industry with the type of cattle required.
A news release in Drovers from the American Gelbvieh Association suggests that the commercial cow/calf producer now has the capability to select cattle that are genetically feed efficient and gain the same as contemporaries but eat less through the Efficiency Profit Index EPI. Secondly, Dr. Jock Buchanan-Smith, professor at University of Guelph, in his article ‘Optimizing Feedlot Efficiency’ says ‘selecting cattle that are genetically feed efficient is important. Much research has been
Crossbreeding is one of the cheapest tools that the commericial cattleman can use to bring profits to the table and sustainability starts with the cow.
ManSask Gelbvieh Association News
Cynthia Wirgau
Wow, here I am writing my last report for the Man Sask Gelbvieh Association as I will step down from an executive role for my final year on the board. It has been a great summer. Now everyone is busy with harvest and weaning. 4-H clubs are reorganizing and juniors are picking their project calves. Markets continue to be strong.
Thank you to Davidson Gelbvieh for donating this years donation heifer. Every $10 donation gets you a chance to win this heifer. This year we encourage you to purchase your tickets ahead of time. All donations over $100 will be announced during the Gelbvieh show at Agribition. Tickets will be auctioned, and draw made December 14. Contact Cynthia for more info.
Congratulations to the Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Associaton and organizers on hosting another successful junior show. We have sponsored a variety of junior shows in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as awarded 45 tokens to 4-H members this year. We also had a booth at the Canadian Beef Conference in Saskatoon. It was well attended, a few new contacts were made.
Maureen made up postcards to advertise the breed and our members. Please let us know if you would like some at your events.
Don’t forget to submit your nominations of Purebred and Commercial Breeder of the year to Neil Overby or Ryan Zalinko. Deadline is Oct 15. Presentation will be held at Agribition during the Gelbvieh & Balancer show.
We are also looking for sponsorship and volunteers for our show at Agribition. Your support is greatly appreciated. Let Cynthia Wirgau know if you can help out in any way. We hope you can join us at the show on November 27, and join us for pizza after the show.
Davidson Gelbvieh is also a major sponsor for the Gelbvieh junior activities that take place at
Agribition.
Juniors are encouraged to enter the Agribition youth showmanship and team grooming as well as the Canadian Junior Beef Extreme show. Deadline to enter those classes are October 1 on the Agribition website. Juniors can also participate in sales talk, judging and art work. Contact Cynthia Wirgau to enter those events.
Make plans to join us for lunch and attend the AGM in Moose Jaw Dec 14. We will be looking for directors this fall, so let us know if you would like to have your name nominated. We will have the fun auction that evening that I am sure will help you prepare for Christmas. This is another one of our major fundraisers for our association.
Looking forward to seeing you all this fall at an upcoming show or sale.
KelsyJr.SchmitzScholarship Recipient
When I was 16 years old, I dreamed of owning my own heifer to which I could take in 4-H and other junior shows. I wanted a heifer that was different from my family’s Angus herd so when I heard that there was a Gelbvieh female sale nearby, I jumped on that idea very quickly. I purchased my first Gelbvieh heifer in the fall of 2021 and there began my journey and the start to my Gelbvieh herd. We went to many shows but the show that will forever be a great memory was the Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Show in Stettler, AB. I was very worried that I was not going to like it because I hardly knew anyone that was there. From the minute I got there, I felt welcomed and knew that it was going to be a blast.
I knew I wanted to be more a part of the Gelbvieh breed so when I was asked to attend the junior association meeting, I instantly said yes. Luckily enough, I was voted on the board as vice president and that was just the beginning to many opportunities. I was very honoured to plan the 2023 Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Show in Swift Current from July 27-29. I loved working with the whole board to put on such a successful event. I felt very accomplished when I got to see every junior have
fun that weekend and was extremely grateful to give back by helping younger members. That weekend I was also very happy as I was voted on as president for the association.
Being president came with extra tasks that were ultimately rewarding for me. I planned and ran every meeting this past year and tried to keep everything organised as best as I could. I am super proud to plan this year’s show in Stettler and cannot wait to see so many juniors promote such an outstanding breed. Without the Gelbvieh breed, I would not be the person I am today. Within this breed, I have created many lifetime friendships and many people have become family to me. I will forever be grateful for what the Gelbvieh breed has done for me and cannot wait to see how much further my Gelbvieh herd and the Junior Association takes me.
Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Association
National Show Results
SHOWMANSHIP
Champion Senior Showmanship Colby Hollman
Res. Champion Senior Showmanship Avvi Brehault
Junior Champion Showmanship Cam Davidson
Res. Junior Champion Showmanship Shelby Horn
Sponsored by: Royal Western Gelbvieh Div. of Real World Genetics
Assiniboia Veterinary Clinic Green Acres Cattle Company
Thanks to the ring people, Marshall’s, and all the other volunteers
Thank you Seven D Media for taking the photos for our event!
Junior Shelby Horn
Senior Colby Hollman
Sponsored by: Rocky Top Gelbvieh
CJGA President’s Report
Kelsy Schmitz
President- Kelsy Schmitz
Hello everyone!
We are pleased to announce our 2024/25 board members. We have an outstanding group and are thrilled about the upcoming year!
Vice President- Shelby Horn
Secretary & Social Media- Aspen Blake Treasurer- Colby Hollman
Members at Large- Cameron Davidson, Raleigh Little & Ethan Currall
Adult Advisors- Jessica Pearson & Braylen Blake
We would like to thank every Junior member for attending our 2024 Junior show in Stettler, AB. Each and every Junior did so well and the future of Gelbvieh cattle is in great hands. We would also like to thank all our spon-
sors; without you we would not have been able to make the show possible. To all the volunteers, we appreciate every single minute you put into helping us and making sure the show ran smoothly. To our judges, for taking time out of their busy lives to come evaluate all our different competitions and confirmation. We are grateful for each of you and know that this show will continue to improve every year.
Planning is already underway for the 2025 CJGA Show happening in Swift Current, SK from July 24-26. A block of rooms has been booked under “Canadian JR Gelbvieh Show” at the Home Inn and Suites. We cannot wait to see you all there!
Please check our Facebook page- Canadian National Junior Gelbvieh Association for updates throughout the year and feel free to reach out to any of the board members or adult advisors.
Have a great fall.
Farmfair International Judge
Matt Criddle Was born and raised in Balgonie Sk, and was introduced to the cattle industry at the age of 14 through the local 4-H program. Matts passion for the industry was strong at a young age allowing him to gain experience working for multiple reputable breeders and organizations across North America. Matt worked for Six Mile Red Angus and then went on to start his career as a sales consultant with Bohrson Marketing Services. Matt now works for Bullseye Feeds as a Beef Consultant supplying quality supplements and nutrition to purebred, commercial cow-calf and feedlot operations across Western Canada. Matt and his Wife Bailey now Reside in Wrentham Alberta on Baileys Family Ranch. Matt and Bailey started their Red and Black Angus Seedstock division Called “Wauter Valley Ranch” in 2018 and continue to progress their herd through an intensive embryo program and will be setting up for their 4th annual private treaty bull sale come the spring of 2025.
Canadian Western Agribition Judge
Dennis and Katie, along with Dennis’ wife Lissa & Katie’s sister Cassidy operate Serhienko Cattle Co. raising purebred Charolais cattle at Maymont, SK.
The Serhienko operation is proud to have successfully bred and exhibited many Canadian champions as well as Agribition and Farm Fair Supreme Champions. They are honoured to have had Serhienko bred cattle excel on an international scale with success ‘south of the border’ at major American shows. Serhienko bred stock have been declared Champions at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Oklahoma’s Cattlemans Congress, Kansas City’s American Royal, Ft. Worth Stock Show, and Louisville’s North American International. The Serhienko family has also bred champions further abroad in Mexico and Australia.
Dennis has evaluated cattle at many major North America shows including Canadian Western Agribition, Denver’s National Western Stock Show, Kansas City American Royal, Toronto Royal, and Edmonton’s Farm Fair. He has also judged internationally at the Expo Ganadera in Jalisco, Mexico and the “100th Anniversary of Angus” show in South Africa. In 2021, Dennis had the honor of evaluating the two largest breeds at Canadian Western Agribition’s 50th Anniversary Show as he was selected to judge both the Black Angus and Hereford shows at this historic event.
As a team Dennis and Katie have evaluated the 2022 National Speckle Park show at Agribition, 2023 CCYA Charolais, 2023 Olds Fall Classic & the 2024 YCSA World Simmental show.
Katie is one of the emerging young judges in Canada bringing a wealth of industry experience to her growing judging resume from her integral involvement in the Serhienko Cattle Co. operation along with her role in graphic design with T Bar C Cattle Co.
Dennis is the Semex Beef Sire Acquisition manager where he evaluates sires of all breeds in various geographic regions for both phenotype & genotype for the Semex Beef Program.
Dennis & Katie are looking forward to evaluating the 2024 CWA Gelbvieh show.
Gail Anderson
SILVER SAGE BEEF“Prairie Beef Naturally”
Silver Sage Beef has been a custom butcher shop in Calgary Alberta since 2011 starting out in the Calgary Farmers Market.
Now they are situated in their own standalone store in the trendy Marda Loop area. Over the last 13 years Silver Sage has branded the reputation of the “Farm to Plate” program creating a large following of loyal connoisseurs to buy their beef. The cornerstone of the store is beef that is raised without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones.
In 2017 Lorne and Sandi Zentner were the recipients of the GAA/BC Commercial Gelbvieh Breeder of the year award.
The Zentner ranch is located near Consul Saskatchewan, which provides the beef sold in the butcher shop. The ranch is south of Cypress Hills in the Palliser Triangle (a semi-arid steppe intersecting southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana). It consists of beautiful untouched native grass along with tame grasslands which have been in the family since 1910 and spanning five generations. The land in this area is perfect for cattle production due to the nature of the soil structure. The mountain ranges surrounding this area (the Bear Paw mountains to the south, Sweet Grass to the west and Cypress Hills to the north) create a unique micro-climate. Lorne and Sandi have dedicated the last 47 years to keeping the native grass in abundance by graz-
ing it at the right time to keep production at its peak even through drought. Along with all the grasslands the ranch also produces an organic wheat crop for cattle and human consumption.
In 1996 Lorne and Sandi were looking for the best breeds to crossbreed. After trying every breed under the sun, Sandi met Garth Simpson (Cypress View Gelbvieh). Garth was one of the first cattlemen to have Gelbvieh in Saskatchewan and was an avid promoter of the breed. With Gelbvieh’s docility, growth rate and maternal instincts they finally found the right fit for their mostly Angus herd. That fall they bought their first four purebred Gelbvieh heifers and their daughter also fell in love with the breed and started showing Gelbvieh in 4-H for the next 10 years. The Gelbvieh Breed is proud of Lorne and Sandi because of their passion to produce the best beef possible with the use of Gelbvieh genetics combined with Angus for the Silver Sage butcher shop.
Crossbreeding is part of the ranch operation as economic viability plays an important role in being sustainable and more profitable.
The bulls are selected through a vigorous process of EPD’s (milk, growth, maternal) and ultrasound for carcass data that shows the actual size of the rib eye and marbling of the animal. Gelbvieh are known for their high rate of gain and feed efficiency thus they are able to produce tender beef. Using genetics and carcass data Lorne and Sandi have developed a product that is consistent which keeps their customers coming back. The EPD’s along with carcass data are used also to select for the maternal side of the cow/calf operation. Their cows need to have good feet, maternal instinct, milk and growth. These maternal cows are the backbone of the operation.
‘Heritage Plaque’ & ‘Tomahawk Steak (Rib eye with Bone)’
Saskatchewan is known as the “Land of the Living Skies” in Canada and the vibrant landscape starts with a beautiful large blue sky. The vista of waving green grass as far as the eye can see is dotted with contented grazing cows and calves. This area is dominated by prairie shortgrass with some brush (Silver Sage). This shortgrass has proved for centuries that it is a power house of natural nutrition for the growth of ruminants. The beautiful coulees provide cattle with shelter from the cold. These grasslands are involved with oxygen production, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, erosion management, watershed management and nitrogen fixation. The cattle live in harmony with wildlife which maintains the natural habitat for rare and endangered species (the Burrowing Owl, Piping Plover, Loggerhead Shrike, Swift Fox, Leopard Frog, Sage Grouse and Ferruginous Hawk). In addition, the prairie grasslands provide nesting cover for waterfowl and upland game birds.
The cattle are humanely raised on the open range and just before winter sets in the calves are weaned and backgrounded on a high roughage diet, primarily hay and green feed for about five months. Feed analysis is done and mineral and salt are used specifically to help supplement any other feed requirements. In the spring these yearlings are returned to grazing pastures allowing them to grow naturally in a low stress environment with clean air, water, sunshine and an abundance of room to roam. Animal welfare is of the upmost importance to the Zentner ranch. As these feeder animals are fed naturally without antibiotics and growth hormones they are 2 to 2 1/2 years old before they are finished. They are finished on a diet of hay and silage and other grains for about 100 days at the feedlot. These older animals provide more flavor with enhanced marbling. All Silver Sage beef is dry aged for 21-28 days on the hook which further enhances the flavor and tenderness. All animals are age verified as per the Canadian regulation and are fully traceable.
The ranch and Silver Sage are a family affair. Lorne and Sandi’s daughter, Kristine and her husband Monty and
their three children Emerson, Bronx and Holden are a part of the everyday life on the ranch. Because they want to have a low impact on the grasslands they still ride horses to move and manage the cattle on a daily basis. Their son Kent is the Vice President and General manager of Silver Sage Beef in Calgary. Silver Sage Beef isn’t just for beef. Kent has sourced all natural protein products such as chicken, turkey (seasonal), lamb, pork and bison from reputable producers. For dog lovers they sell 100% all beef raw dog food as well as bones. It’s important to use all the carcass from nose to tail. Their newest venture is processing the farm’s organic wheat into flour for their consumers.
It has been said that “there is family, there is history and there is heart” so yes you are paying a little more at Silver Sage for your Natural products but you can rest assured that your beef quality is top notch and humanely raised on grass. Content “happy” cows produce exceptional beef. Customers appreciate Silver Sage’s ability to provide them with information about various cuts to purchase for each occasion, how to cook the products and most importantly their friendly service.
Let’s just say that Silver Sage Beef is a “cut above” thanks to the carefully selected Gelbvieh and Red Angus genetics.
Getting The Perfect Shot
Maureen Tubman
The average person takes 22 photos a day. More than 3.2 billion images, and 750,000 videos are shared daily. The power of one image can make or break a sale, there is no debating that!
Your business is perceived by its image. Obtaining a great photograph of your livestock all comes down to presentation. Are the cattle in good physical condition? What do their surroundings look like? Are they clean, have they been clipped? Does your photographer or camera gear have the ability to capture all of your hard work accordingly? What does it mean to be a herd bull or a brood cow?
Herd bulls look best in good physical working condition, while being photographed on green grass. To me, that is the definition of an attractive bull representation. They’re at the peak of their abilities. Hormones are flowing nicely, and they look like they should…bulls!
Breeding females look best when they are in good physical condition, and milking. Again, often on green grass. These conditions are, after all, the soul purpose of breeding cattle. And so, it is ideal to represent them to the very best of their abilities.
Sale animals obviously need to be photographed in a time frame that works with your marketing plan. This is the time to pull as much interest and profit out of them as possible. Photographing on a sunny day, with little distractions surrounding the cattle is the most ideal. Clipping the animals helps to create a clean lined look and more striking final image that naturally will draw the attention of more eyes. However, clipping cattle is not entirely necessary, and does work in some areas and marketing plans.
The single most important part of getting a great image is the conditions.
Weather, grass, clean ground, animal presentation and physical condition, etc. After that, it is your photo area, surroundings, and photo assistants. You could have every element near perfect, but if your photo pen assistants struggle to help pull the best attributes out of those animals, you’ve only made it to 50% of the final outcome. Not everyone is a great photo pen help, and oftentimes the people you don’t expect to be great help, truly are.
Hiring a professional photographer is ideal, as they are trained to be a part of your marketing plan, and understand what makes or breaks a powerful image. After all, this is simply product representation!
What does the world need to know about your product and how does the customer perceive it?
An ideal photo pen is tidy, with a clean looking fence.
Broken boards and pieces distract from the final look, and at the end of the day can read negatively to the audience. The cattle should have enough room to be comfortable to travel in, and take a look around. If the pen is too small, the cattle will tend to have a more compacted look, and not feel comfortable to come in, look around, and pose comfortably. A popular method is to have cattle standing right along a wind-fence. This, however, is not a powerful or striking look. The fence sucks the power out of the cattle, and makes them look small. I like to pull the cattle off the fence, utilizing perception. The subject is close, and the background is far, thus keeping your subject as the focus.
Ideally, the background is as open and free from distractions as possible. Multiple different poses and angles are necessary to try, as the shadows can really add or subtract shape and dimension.
Post-processing of your photographs is very important. Cropping properly, exposing and colour correcting anything that was not able to be done in camera. This is an area I excel in, handling most all ShowChampions on-farm images with over 17 years of experience in photoshop.
Calvin & Donna Beamish from Beamish Land & Cattle
Inducted into the Hall of Fame
Calvin and Donna started raising Gelbvieh cattle in 1991 when they purchased a bull from Ossie Kohlruss also of Jarvie AB. They found Gelbvieh to be extremely easy calving and maternal, had great udders, offered a calm and docile temperament, were moderate easy keepers and had good feet. Sunburned udders and pinkeye were not a problem and they quite simply felt that the breed was strong in every aspect that a cattle breeder needs in order to produce a superi-
or product each and every year. Now that they are older, they are no longer in the seed production business and have retired.
They participated in purebred cattle shows for 11 years and sold purebred bulls and females private treaty as well as through the Pembina Valley Gelbvieh Breeders Sales.
In 2000 they had fed out eight steers from the same sire in a local feedlot and obtained the carcass data. The steers were slaughtered at 12 to 13 months of age and had an average live weight of 1446 pounds with an average carcass weight of 813 pounds and an average carcass yield of 61.7%. Two steers graded AAA, five graded AA and one graded A. The Beamish’s liked
to retain the carcass data for their records as they are constantly trying to improve their program.
This carcass data led them in 2001 to utilize another valuable way to showcase their program! They entered a pen of 5 Feeder Steers at Farmfair International and they had the ‘Champion Pen’. These 5 Gelbvieh cross steers were sired by DGM Dee Gee Cocoa 178F (out of the AI sire Cocoa 35C). They purchased him from Dee Gee Meadows (Garth and Donna McRorie Jarvie AB). They had this amazing bull for 9 years and not only did he bring performance into the herd but maternal qualities as well. Longevity of the females is another trait that impresses the Beamish’s. They find that it is not a rare occurrence for them to have cows of moderate size that are 14-years old and are still producing 750 lb. steers in 205 days. They feel it is important to keep extensive records on each and every animal and every heifer and steer has a birth certificate and is age verified.
So, in 2005 they changed their program focus, stopped selling bulls and began to showcase their cattle in the commercial pen shows at the Stockade Round-Up in Lloydminster, Farmfair in Edmonton and Agribition in Regina. They found it was a really great way to get the attention of the feedlots and also the cattlemen who
wished to purchase replacement heifers with some Gelbvieh influence.
At Beamish Land & Cattle they summer their cattle on creeping red fescue which is a hard grass that is high in protein. This type of pasture supports high milk production and if managed properly can be grazed well into December if there isn’t too much snow. Steer calves have access to creep feed which consists of oat screenings and this conditions them for the feedlot. In the winter the cows are fed 35 pounds of alfalfa silage which is approximately 20% protein plus free choice barley straw to make up the remainder of the ration. They feel it is also very important to provide a custom-made mineral for your location.
Interestingly they have done extensive research over the past few years looking for another breed to introduce into their cow herd to offer hybrid vigor, but they have yet to find a superior influence.
Some words of wisdom from Calvin; “There is a niche to be filled – the highest quality commercial cattle – the Gelbvieh breed can fulfill that need.”
Checks & Balances
Mike Panasiuk, a feed sales representative from Country Junction Feeds, co-hosted the Roadmap To Public Promotion Series Module 2. He said “The best way to describe proper nutrition and diet is keeping nutrition in balance and diet in check.”
It is important to ensure cattle receive adequate protein, vitamins, and minerals to promote muscle development. For a calf that is growing, it’s not uncommon to utilize a ration that is at least 16% protein to ensure adequate muscle growth. In addition to protein, a balanced vitamin and mineral package is important. Most show feeds contain adequate levels in their ration to maintain required growth. A few of Mike’s favorite rations contain chelated minerals, which are combined with amino acids, resulting in better absorption through the bloodstream.
Mike is also a huge advocate of putting yeast in a ration. Yeast is a feed additive that promotes a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the rumen, promoting gut health. Because we need to maximize growth in our cattle, he also prefers to see high levels of zinc to complement the complete mineral package. Adequate amounts of zinc have been shown to maintain hoof integrity and faster healing of wounds. All of this will contribute to a well-rounded, healthy diet.
Whether you’re looking at textured rations or pelleted rations, there is no right or wrong. A lot of producers link a pelleted ration to screenings, and in many circumstances, that’s not the case. Pellets allow the feed company to source more readily available commodities that are more cost-effective on average while being a carrier for other vitamins, minerals, and proteins to make a balanced ration. Another advantage is that pellets can
be fed free choice in a creep feeder. In prepping cattle for the fall shows, Mike highly recommended starting well enough in advance. He advised starting 100 days in advance of the sale or show event. Another advantage of pellets is free-choice feeding. When everyone has such a busy schedule; affordable, free-choice pellets are a huge advantage. One disadvantage of pellets is fines or breakdown in the pellet, which could compromise intake. Textured rations, use rolling grains such as corn,
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
barley and oats. Grains are a great source of energy and will produce fat cover much faster to all livestock. While protein grows muscle in pellets, textured rations grow fat, and fat cover is also necessary for nice presentation of your show cattle. By using a mix of grains, the energies break down at different intervals, and that will contribute to an overall well-balanced diet. One major disadvantage of textured rations is it’s easy to overfeed cattle. Grains such as barley and corn are great sources of energy, but overfeeding of these products can have long-lasting detrimental effects, for example, blown out feet. In breeding livestock, this can negatively impact the longevity of your herd.
Inconsistent feeding times and overfeeding can also contribute to acidosis. Acidosis is associated with the ingestion of highly fermentable carb-rich feeds, such as grain, which results in excessive accumulation of acid in the rumen. When an animal first gets up and shows a bit of bloat, that is usually an indicator of an irregular pH in the rumen, and it can lead to a rollercoaster effect in eating patterns thus affecting your gains.
Consistency is key.
Cattle are creatures of habit, and maintaining as close to a 12 hour interval as possible will maximize productivity. A general rule of thumb is to use 1-2% of body weight for feed intakes based on body weight. For
Easy fudge ingredients
1: Chocolate chips ( I prefer Belgium chips )
2: Sweetened condensed milk ( make sure to grab the condensed milk and not the evaporated milk! )
3: Vanilla extract
This easy fireball fudge recipe is the perfect recipe to make for the holidays or anytime. A very simple recipe.
Ingredients
3 ½ cups chocolate chips
1 cup sweetened condensed milk ( or 8 fluid oz)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup fireball whiskey ( or any cinnamon whiskey)
Instructions
instance, depending on the breed, a 1000 lb. bull calf can easily eat up to 20 lbs., whereas heifers can easily be on point at 1% of body weight.
It is important to remember the regular maintenance items. Always have clean water readily available. Supplement with a good quality forage. Mike personally prefers a good grass hay. For producers utilizing a silage-based ration, make sure the silage is fresh every day and avoid overfeeding or overheating.
Mike said “Country Junction Feeds has developed a nice series of steps in their show rations: - Show cattle primer - Show cattle conditioner - Show cattle bloom.”
**Primer** is our new textured/pelleted show feed coming on the market later this month. I consider this our backgrounding or slow grower ration for just getting the cattle revved up.
**Conditioner** has been our mainstay for quite a few years at CJ Feeds. For lack of better words, it’s our “finishing” ration higher in fat content. It really puts the nice fat cover on our cattle
**Bloom** is our high fiber feed. When you show cattle for long periods of time, they tend to get stale or not stay fresh. Show cattle bloom contains less fat and more forms of fiber, which keep the cattle feeling full and drop that belly.
RECIPES BY JOHN MULCAIR Three
1: Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish
2: In a large bowl melt the chocolate chips in the microwave according to package instructions.
3: Stir in the sweetened condensed milk, the vanilla extract, and the whiskey.
4: Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and let set completely. Refrigerate for 1 hour before slicing. Refrigeration is optional.
5: Enjoy and store in an airtight container for two weeks.
Guess Which Gelbvieh is Greener
Written by Dr. Al Schaefer
There is a significant amount of public interest and concern surrounding the issue of global warming, green house gas and carbon footprints. This concern includes our food production methods and agriculture science is continuously conducting research to find more efficient ways of producing our food. Agriculture is reputed to represent approximately 17% of the so called anthropogenic or man-made Green House Gas (GHG). Even though agriculture is not the largest producer of GHG, finding efficiencies in food production is still important for two reasons. More efficient food production will help reduce the GHG but it will also help reduce the production and input costs for a producer.
In terms of food production, grasslands represent an important ecosystem especially in countries like Canada. To utilize grassland resources we have cultivated the use of ruminant species, notably cattle, that can turn a non-human consumable product, grass, into a high density - high protein – high quality product, beef. This all makes agronomic sense.
So as part of this equation, how do we find and create more efficient cows? Historically, producers try to identify and select the cows that would be referred to as “easy keepers”. A more accurate way to do this is to determine and measure the amount of feed required per unit of cattle growth. A more accurate way still is to measure in a cattle test station the so called residual values for feed intake and growth. Basically a measure of the feed intake and growth expected for a beef animal compared to what would be actually measured. However, these feed intake and growth measurements, besides being costly, take time, in the order of 70 days plus to complete. Furthermore, if any weather or health events affect the animals during those tests the measurements are biased and inaccurate. Some of these factors could be managed by placing the tested cattle in a controlled growth chamber and actually measure the energy utilized very accurately but of course that approach is also very costly and the equipment often
technically complex. Hence, very few animals could be tested at a given time. As a result, how does an average producer find more efficient cattle in their herd for selection?
In animal science, it has been known for the best part of one hundred years that the majority of the energy an animal exchanges with the environment is through radiated energy in the infrared spectrum. However, measuring the radiated energy has been a challenge due to the availability, cost and technical complexity of the cameras used to measure infrared radiation. However, technical developments over the past twenty years in particular, has produced cameras that can rapidly and inexpensively measure radiated energy from an animal including cattle. Using this technology, research scientists have been able to parallel test conventional feed tests with radiated energy values for domestic animals. Furthermore, a rapid method has been developed to test an animal for radiated energy efficiency with a 20 second scan. This technology is now moving from a research lab situation to actual on farm tests. The following is a description of an energy efficiency test conducted on a Gelbvieh producers farm in the summer of 2024.
Gelbvieh cattle are an interesting breed in that they are reputedly selected historically for growth efficiency. In June of 2024 Dayspring Cattle Co. and 7T Cattle of Sylvan Lake provided the opportunity to conduct an infrared thermography test on their cattle. We were able to monitor yearling bulls and heifers. The following figures illustrate the type of images and data obtained in these tests.
A number of biometric variables can be calculated from the infrared thermal scans including a so called Thermal Efficiency Index or TEI which is the average radiated temperature for an animal divided or normalized for the metabolic size of the animal called body weight to the ¾ power.
Dayspring Cattle Co., Sylvan Lake AB
Examples of Infrared Images on the
High Thermal Efficiency Index (TEI) (Less Efficient Cattle) MeanTemp
Discussion:
By comparison to other cattle groups that we have scanned and measured in parallel feed test stations, differences in these TEI and temperature values between the highest and lowest efficiency animals would represent a difference in feed conversion between 1-2 kg/d. Pragmatically, for the same feed intake the more efficient or low TEI animals would consume hundreds of dollars less feed during their growth period to reach a typical target market weight.
Dr. Al Schaefer is an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta and the President of Animal Inframetrics Comp.
References:
Schaefer A. L., K. Ominski, S. Thompson, G. Crow, C. Bench, J. Colyn, A. Rodas-Gonzalez, D. Maharjan, R. Bollum, N. J. Cook, J. Basarab, and H. von Gaza. 2018a. Energy utilization in cattle with steady state and non-steady state methods: the importance of thermal neutrality.
Set up for scanning at Dayspring Cattle Co. Dr. Al Schaffer at the computer with a camera on a tripod. Camera took images of the animal with their head up. We had to shade the heads of the animals from the sun so it didn’t interfere with the readings. Photo supplied by Sarah Van Schothorst.
Dr. Schaffer’s computer showing the photos taken by the camera. Collecting images and animal information as they come through the chute. Photo supplied by Sarah Van Schothorst.
Back up images were taken by hand with an additional camera of each animal. Photo supplied by Sarah Van Schothorst.
Schaefer, A.L., O. Iheshiulor, H. von Gaza, P. Charagu, G. Simpson and A. Huisman. 2023. Thermal Profiles: Novel phenotypic measurements of growth and metabolic efficiency. J. Thermal Biol. 113: 103537.
ID 788 Heifer
ID 791 Heifer
ID 222 Bull
ID 221 Bull
Low Thermal Efficiency Index (TEI) (More Efficient Cattle)
Maternal Excellence 2024
Dams of Merit & Dams of Distinction
Recognized Females Meet the Following Criteria
• All data must be submitted to the CGA office by September 10
• A Dam of Merit must have produced at least 3 calves and a Dam of Distinction must have produced a minimum of 8 calves.
•Age at first calving must not exceed 25 months
•Produced a calf that was born between January 1, 2023 and March 1, 2024
•Possess a minimum average weaning weight ratio of 101 for all calves
•Maintained a regular calving interval. Average calving interval must not exceed the value calculated using the following formula:
(# of calving intervals x 365 days) + 30 days)/# of calving intervals
OR
•The female had her third calf before her fourth birthday and maintained a 365 day calving interval thereafter.
Top 20 for Owners of Dams of Merit and Dams of Distinction for 2024
Top 20 for Breeders of Dams of Merit and Dams of Distinction for 2024
News & Notes
Twin View Livestock hosts Government of Saskatchewan Department of Ag Staff
Twin View Livestock of Parkbeg, SK hosted 50 internal staff from the Government of Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture on August 15. The focus of the tour was sustainability. Visitors learned about the Gelbvieh breed and learned how making better genetics makes the cattle industry more sustainable. They also saw rotational grazing and water systems in action and learned more about the importance of partnerships between producers and government branches.
Ron & Gail Anderson from Bar GR Gelbvieh donate toward
Junior Registrations
Ron and Gail have generously donated funds toward 25 junior cattle registrations. On a first come first serve basis each junior can have one herd assessment fee covered under this donation. With their donation they hope to make it easier for junior members to register cattle in their name and pursue raising Gelbvieh cattle.
The Canadian Gelbiveh Association would like to thank Ron and Gail for their generosity and appreciate their continued support and passion for growing the Gelbvieh breed.
CJGA Travel Bursary proudly supported by
Royal Western Gelbvieh + Nelson Gelbvieh & Unger Land & Livestock
FLR LUSTRE 5L
The 2024 Wish List Sale will feature a Bred heifer Donation Lot with 100% of the proceeds going to this unique CJGA program.
This has all been made possible by the selfless generosity of Unger Land & Livestock who originally won FLR Lustre 5L & immediately re-sold her in the 2023 Wish List sale. Purchased by Royal Western Gelbvieh & Nelson Gelbvieh creating the initial funds to start this once in a lifetime travel Bursary. In 2024 she sells in her entirety to the highest bidder with 100% of the proceeds going to the CJGA travel bursary. Providing unmatched opportunity to CGA’s youth, building a strong breed through youth development.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE BULL FUTURITY
December 6-7, Stettler AB
$400 Membership
Provides the member with one voting card, the chance to win their choice of the Futurity Bulls and draw down prizes. Draw down prizes will include cash value vouchers to purchase animals or genetics from any Bull Futurity Member either privately or from a sale.
$200 Bull Entry Fee
Only Bull Futurity Members are eligible to enter bulls. No limit on number of entries.
Updated set of rules:
• Futurity Entries must be born on or after January 1st of the previous year (2024).
• Bulls will only be allowed to enter the Futurity once.
• Futurity Member must be the registered owner of their Futurity Entries by August 1 of the current year.
• All entries must be CGA or AGA registered PC88, Purebred or Fullblood
• All Futurity Entries must be virgin bulls and not have had semen collected.
• All entries must have a minimum of complete SNP parent verification on file (both parents) with the CGA or AGA by Monday November 27th, 2024. 100K, polled and color DNA testing is up to the discretion of the Futurity Member but is recommended.
• All bulls will be tattoo checked and weighed at the event.
• All bulls must have videos taken before the Futurity that can be made available on-line.
• The Bull Futurity Entries may be cataloged in conjunction with the Wish List Sale catalog. Entry deadline to be included in the catalog is October 1st. Late entries and substitutions can be made up until November 27th.
• The Bull Futurity will provide a stall card that must be displayed. All other promotional signage is at the discretion of the Futurity Members.
• On-Line voting will be available for Futurity Members who are unable to attend the event, there will be no proxy voting.
• The Futurity Entry that receives the most votes will be named the Bull Futurity Champion.
• The last name to be drawn will be the Draw Winner and have their choice of the Futurity Entries. This bull will be the Selected Futurity Bull.
• The Draw Winner is not eligible to choose their own bull.
• The Bull Futurity Committee has the discretion to assign pay out amounts to each of the winners and other prizes.
• Full ownership of the Selected Futurity Bull is assumed by the Draw Winner and the prize money paid to the owner of the Selected Futurity Bull when the bull passes a breeding soundness evaluation or if the Draw Winner chooses to take ownership before that. Until ownership is assumed the care of the Selected Futurity Bull is the responsibility of the owner.
• The owner of the Selected Futurity Bull Champion may draw in herd semen. They may not sell this semen or use it to breed cows they do not own.
• Purchase of insurance of the Selected Futurity Bull is up to the discretion and/or responsibility of either the owner of the Selected Futurity Bull or the Draw Winner.
• The Draw Winner has the option to sell the Selected Futurity Bull any time after they take ownership.
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENTS
Please send in any junior achievements by the content deadline of the given Gelbvieh Guide issue. The CGA is proud to showcase all junior achievements and sucesses including Gelbvieh and Gelbvieh influenced 4-H projects.
Keegan Little LCF Lavender 347L
Grand Champion Female Abbey / Lancer 4-H Beef Club
3rd place Purebred Light Weight Steer Abbey / Lancer 4-H Beef Club
Reserve Champion Purebred Heifer 4-H regional show
Lane Wall
LML Samantha 16K
Reserve Grand Champion Gelbiveh Female
Swift Current Frontier Days
Little LCF Lady Pebbles 607L
3rd in class
Abbey / Lancer 4-H Beef Club
Raleigh Little LCF Lady Pebbles 607L
3rd in split class 4-H regional show
Bryce Hicks
AWB Twin View Rosemary 94L
Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female
Swift Current Frontier Days
Grand Champion Yearling Heifer over all breeds at the Swift Current & District 4-H Show
Keegan LIttle Stewart
Raleigh
Raleigh Little Big Chunga
Keegan
Kaden Hollman
CK Maybe it was Memphis 74L
Reserve Champion Heifer
Kneehill Valley 4-H Beef Show
Kaden Hollman
CK Justified Vintage 11J
Reserve Champion 3 Year Old Pair
Kneehill Valley 4-H Beef Show
Colby Hollman
Champion Senior Showmanship and Reserve Champion Senior Grooming
Kneehill Valley 4-H Beef Show
Brantley Horn
JNA Georgia 1084L
3rd in class AOB
Summer Synergy
Kaden Hollman
JM Kloee 332K
Champion 2 Year Old Pair
Kneehill Valley 4-H Beef Show
Hollman
JM Kloee 332K
Reserve Grand Champion Female
Kneehill Valley 4-H Beef Show
Kaden Hollman
Reserve Int Showmanship and Res Int Grooming
Kneehill Valley 4-H Beef Show
Brantley Horn
JNA Georgia 1084L
Advanced in Showmanship
Summer Synergy
Austin Hollman
CK Twizzler 81K
Reserve Champion 2 Year Old Pair
Kneehill Valley 4-H Beef Show
Hollman Cruz
Reserve Champion Lightweight Steer
Kneehill Valley 4-H Beef Show
Austin Hollman
Champion Jr Showmanship and Res Jr Grooming
Kneehill Valley 4-H Beef Show
Kaden
Austin
AD Index
Events
October 15 - ManSask breeder of the year submission deadline
October 18 - Function & Finesse 6.0 Female Sale, Twin View Livestock Parkbeg SK
October 19-21 - Danell Diamond Six Ranch Complete Bred Heifer & Heifer Calf dispersal, Timed Online Auction
October 30 - Gelbvieh calf presort sale, Medicine Hat Feeding Company, Medicine Hat AB
October 31 - Gelbvieh calf presort sale, Heartland Livestock, Swift Current SK
November 6-9 - Farmfair International 50th Anniversary, Edmonton AB
November 7 - National Gelbvieh Show 9AM Hall B, Farmfair International, Edmonton AB
November 20-21 - The Destination Female Sale, DLMS Farmgate Timed Auction
November 25-30 - Canadian Western Agribition, Regina SK
November 27 - Canadian Western Agribition Gelbvieh Show at 1:30PM, Regina SK
December 6-7 - Canadian People’s Choice Bull Futurity, Stettler AB
December 7 - Wish List Sale, Stettler AB
December 9 - The Gathering Female Sale, Bowden AB
December 14 - ManSask Gelbvieh Association AGM & Donation Hefier draw at 12:00 PM, Grant Hall, Moose Jaw SK
December 14 - Prairie Gelbvieh Alliance Sale, Moose Jaw SK
March 3 - Severtson Annual Bull Sale, Red Deer County AB
March 4-5 - Jen-Ty Gelbviehs Annual Bull Sale, DLMS Farmgate Timed Auction
March 7 - Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch 36th Annual Bull Sale, Ponteix SK
March 19 - Milne’s 32nd Annual Bull Sale, Fairview AB
Advertising Content
The Gelbvieh Guide assumes no responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of submitted advertising copy, and has the right to refuse any ad copy or photos. Advertisers shall indemnify and hold harmless the Guide containing pedigrees or statements regarding performance must conform to records kept by the Canadian Gelbvieh Association. Copy deviating from official records may be changed as necessary without advertiser consent.
Editorial Polilcy
Opinions expressed are the writers and not necessarily those of the Gelbvieh Guide or Canadian Gelbvieh Association. Photos are welcome, but no responsibility is assumed during transit or while in the office.
Publisher’s Statement: All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claim as its own, and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.
United States
This Spot Could Be Yours $180 / Year
This Spot Could Be Yours $180 / Year
This Spot Could Be Yours $180 / Year
CBBC Report
Sandy Russell
Advancing Canadian Beef: The Canadian Beef Information Network Update
The Canadian Beef Information Network (CBIN) aims to drive innovation in the beef industry, ensuring that Canada remains at the forefront of producing high-quality beef. As an initiative of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC), CBIN is dedicated to extending and expanding the use of quantitative and molecular genetics technologies to support a broader set of selection and operational decisions faced by producers across sectors.
This update will highlight a few early program milestones and highlight key program themes as the CBIN staff work towards a phased launch of an enhanced program platform and toolset in the coming months.
Expanding Genetic Technologies for Better Breeding Decisions
One of the core objectives of CBIN is to harness the power of genetic technologies to improve the breeding
of beef cattle. This year, CBIN has undertaken a series of program activities to integrate advanced quantitative and molecular genetics tools into its data products and services.
These tools include a genomics data warehousing and analysis toolset, tools to manage identity linkage across sectors and settings, and an extensible compute and analytics ecosystem to support development and deployment of new and novel genetics reporting and decision support tools.
As part of a bigger ecosystem, we believe that curating a set of tools and resources to manage, analyze, and report on genetic information will enable producers to make more informed breeding decisions, ultimately leading to healthier and more productive cattle.
(continued page 50)
One of the early focus areas of CBIN is to try to extending access to genomics and genetic analysis outputs across sectors including commercial, feeding, and packing sectors. We believe that by designing systems to support decision makers outside of the traditional purebred centric genetic evaluation user pool, we can broker improved data sharing relationships, and through those gain access to information on seedstock performance in commercial, feeding, and packing settings.
We believe that the next big wave of genetic advancement of the Canadian Beef population will be driven by data and analytics and these analyses will be informed by data captured on animals under true commercial production settings.
Data Products Tailored to Producer Needs
The CBIN program has a commitment to support producer decision-making through creation and sharing of a wide range of data products. These products are intended to be user-friendly, ensuring that producers at all levels of familiarity can benefit from the information provided.
In the coming months, CBIN will launch a set of tools aimed at supporting the integration of production data from various industry segments. Initially these tools will
allow producers to submit data on events and measures specific to their sector, and as data volumes allow, CBIN will develop a set of extended genomics informed reports and decision support tools for each sector.
By consolidating this information into a single platform and with the support of genomic technologies to understand the relationships between individual animals across production settings, CBIN hopes to make it easier for producers to identify trends, address challenges, and capitalize on opportunities.
Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Data Collection and Sharing
The success of CBIN’s initiatives is largely dependent on the quality and quantity of data collected from producers. Recognizing this, CBIN has intensified its efforts to foster collaboration across the industry. This includes partnerships with breed associations, research institutions, and technology providers to ensure that data collection is as comprehensive and accurate as possible.
Sustainability at the Forefront
As the global demand for sustainably produced beef continues to grow, CBIN remains committed to helping Canadian producers meet these expectations. The integration of advanced genetics and data-driven decision-making processes plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. By enabling producers to select cattle that are more efficient in converting feed into high-quality beef, CBIN supports the industry’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.
Moreover, the emphasis on animal health and welfare, as part of CBIN’s genetic improvement programs, contributes to the long-term sustainability of beef production in Canada. Healthier animals require fewer resources and are more resilient to the challenges posed by climate change, making them better suited to the demands of the future.
Looking Ahead
The Canadian Beef Information Network continues to evolve, driven by the needs of producers and the broader industry. The latest program updates come at an exciting time where work on the first phase of the CBIN portal is nearing completion, early breed association integration work is well underway, data endpoints and preliminary data products are mapped out and under development.
Over the coming months, the program will be extending invites to an increasing set of stakeholders to explore how best to support the broad set of data tools and decision support needs across the industry.
