Spotlight on Speckle Park Volume 1 Issue 1

President REPORT

The much-anticipated launch of our new publication, Spotlight on Speckle Park has arrived. Much effort has been put into the magazine and it is our goal to get it into the hands of as many cattle people as possible. This is a world class publication, and it will continue to get even better.

I would challenge anyone to find a more exciting time to be a Speckle Park breeder than right now. Our membership numbers along with our registrations continue to grow exponentially. In my short time as President of the Canadian Speckle Park Association, the relationship between the American Speckle Park Association, Speckle Park International and ourselves has grown strong. All three associations are focused on creating a smooth system of information sharing and we continue to learn from one another. What this translates into for the individual breeder is providing access to a far less cumbersome system in which to sell our genetics to the world.

Other accomplishments include revamped guidelines and a much-improved catalogue for our National Sale. The membership has spoken to us about the setting of new sales parameters as well as the need for a higher quality advertising strategy for our premiere show and sale. The board has listened and has made the necessary changes.

There is a new world stage available for us to showcase our stock, creating profitable opportunities for our members. If Agribition is the Stanley Cup of Cattle Shows, Cattlemen’s Congress is the Super Bowl. The inaugural Speckle Park show and sale will take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA January of 2023.

I am proud of our board and our office staff. These people are determined and tough, facing each challenge head on with strength and a genuine desire to make things better. They care about our association and it’s an honour to serve with these talented, knowledgeable individuals.

My dedication to the board, the membership and this wonderful breed remains unwavering. With your continued support we can all accomplish our desired goals.

Janice Harasymchuk CSPA President

President REPORT

Le lancement de notre nouvelle publication,Spotlight on Speckle Park est maintenant arrivé après beaucoup d’anticipation. Beaucoup d’efforts ont été investis dans cette revue et notre objectif est de le circuler parmi toute l’industrie bovine. Il s’agit d’une publication de classe mondiale, qui continuera de s’améliorer.

Plus que jamais, il est très excitant d’être impliqué dans l’élevage Speckle Park. Notre nombre de membres ainsi que nos enregistrements continuent de croître de façon exponentielle. Au cours de ma courte période en tant que présidente de l’Association canadienne Speckle Park, notre relation avec l’association américaine et Speckle Park International s’est très renforcée. Les trois associations se concentrent sur la création d’un système fluide de partage d’informations et nous continuons à apprendre les unes des autres. Pour les éleveurs, cela se traduit à l’accès à un système beaucoup moins lourd qui permet de vendre notre génétique partout au monde.

D’autres réalisations importantes ont pris place, soit des directives remaniées et un catalogue bien amélioré pour notre vente nationale. Les membres ont souligné l’importance d’établir de nouveaux paramètres de vente ainsi que la nécessité d’une stratégie publicitaire de meilleure qualité pour notre exposition et vente nationales. Le conseil vous a écouté et a fait les changements nécessaires.

Une nouvelle scène mondiale s’offre à nous pour présenter notre bétail, créant ainsi des opportunités rentables pour nos membres. Si Agribition est la Coupe Stanley des expositions d’animaux, le Cattlemen’s Congress est le Super Bowl. Un concours et une vente inauguraux de Speckle Park auront lieu à Oklahoma City, Oklahoma au États-Unis en janvier 2023.

Je suis fier de notre conseil d’administration et de notre personnel de bureau. Ces personnes sont déterminées et tenaces, affrontant chaque défi avec force et un véritable désir d’améliorer les choses. Ils se soucient de notre association et c’est un honneur de servir avec ces personnes talentueuses et bien informées.

Mon dévouement envers le conseil d’administration, les membres et cette merveilleuse race demeure inébranlable. Avec votre soutien continu, nous pouvons tous atteindre nos objectifs.

Janice Harasymchuk Président Association canadienne Speckle Park

Office REPORT

We hope you enjoy this first edition of the Spotlight on Speckle Park. This has been a project which has been quite some time in the making for all involved on the publication committee and is a great success to see come to actuality.

The registry desk is hard at work processing all the work coming in. As such we have a few reminders for our members to help keep everything running smoothly. There are many resources on our website with different tutorials to get you started with the online system and calf entry. This can streamline the process for everyone.

1. You can enter your calves online 2. Send the office an email with the UNR numbers for the calves you are doing DNA on 3. Mail your hair cards directly to the lab

This can all be done in the matter of a day. Many members who have taken advantage of this streamlined process have commented on, the ease of completing the process in this way. You can keep an eye on all results that have come back under your lab results tab when you are logged in as well. Please also keep an eye on your lab data for mature animals in your herd inventory and ensure that if you have any cows (or older bulls you are still using) that don’t have SNP testing on file that you either request to upgrade those dams for SNP or SNP and conditions when you send in your UNR numbers or make a note on those calves that they also require STR testing for parent verification. This is still a source of delay for many of our members and something we are

diligently working on case by case. If you have older animals that were tested for conditions at Genserve or Quantum Genetix, and have not yet forwarded us those results, please do so and we are happy to enter that data in the system to ensure we have as much available data on animals as possible.

As we are getting into weaning and showing amongst harvest for those with crop in the ground, it is pertinent to give yourself enough time for DNA results to be processed and back to register in time for upcoming deadlines. This is a busy time of year for Neogen and turnaround times can get stretched to their maximum limit.

If you still have animals that were started at CLRC or at the time of transition, please email the office with a list of tattoos for those specific animals and we can look into them on a case by case basis for our members.

The last topic that has caused much confusion since the transition is animal transfers. There are two ways we can complete a transfer of an animal that has been sold;

•If the animal has a printed certificate in circulation, we need that original certificate sent back to the office with the sellers signature and transfer details in order to complete the transfer.

•If the animal was registered in the new system and the certificate was held for transfer, you can complete those transfers in the online system or send an email to the office with the transfer details and the completed transfers will be issued and mailed directly to the purchasers for any animals you have sold.

Ciara Mattheis CSPA Registrar & Business Manager

Office REPORT

Nous espérons que vous apprécierez cette première édition de la revue Spotlight on Speckle Park. Ils’agit d’un projet qui a pris un certain temps à se mettre sur pieds avec plusieurs personnes impliquées sur le comité de publication et dont son succès est maintenant concrétisé. Le bureau d’enregistrement travaille fort pour traiter toutes les demandes que vous nous faites parvenir. Pour assurer un traitement efficace, nous avons quelques rappels pour nos membres: Il existe de nombreuses ressources sur notre site Web avec différents didacticiels pour vous aider à démarrer avec le système en ligne et l’entrée des veaux. Cela peut simplifier le processus pour tout le monde. Vous pouvez déclarer vos veaux en ligne, puis suivre avec un courriel au bureau de l’association avec les numéros UNR pour lesquels vous enverrez des cartes d’échantillons de poils et envoyez-les directement au laboratoire, le tout en l’espace d’une journée. De nombreux membres qui ont profité de ce processus simplifié, ont commenté sur la facilité de terminer le processus de cette manière. Vous pouvez également garder un oeil sur tous les résultats qui sont retournés sous l’onglet des résultats de laboratoire, lorsque vous êtes connecté au site. Veuillez également garder un oeil sur vos données de laboratoire pour les animaux matures dans votre inventaire de troupeau. Assurez-vous que si vous avez des vaches (ou des taureaux plus âgés que vous utilisez encore) qui n’ont pas de test SNP en dossier, que vous demandez qu’ils soient mis à niveau pour le SNP ou le SNP et des tests de condition lorsque vous envoyez vos numéros UNR. Vous pouvez aussi le noter sur leurs progénitures nécessitant également un test STR pour la vérification des parents. Cette situation demeure une cause de retard pour plusieurs de nos membres et nous y travaillons assidûment cas par cas.

Si vous avez des animaux plus âgés qui ont été testés pour des conditions chez Genserve ou

Quantum Genetix, et que vous ne nous avez pas encore transmis ces résultats, veuillez le faire et nous serons heureux d’entrer ces données dans le système pour assurer que le plus de données disponibles soient disponibles.

Alors que nous entrons dans la saison de sevrage tout en entreprenant les récoltes pour ceux en grandes cultures, il est pertinent de vous donner suffisamment de temps pour que les résultats d’ADN soient traités et de retour à temps. C’est une période chargée de l’année pour Neogen et les délais d’exécution peuvent atteindre leur limite maximale.

Si vous avez encore des animaux dont le processus d’enregistrement a débuté avec la Société Canadienne d’enregistrement des animaux ou au moment de la transition, veuillez informer l’association par courriel avec une liste des tatous pour ces animaux spécifiques et nous pourrons les examiner cas par cas. Le dernier sujet qui a causé beaucoup de confusion depuis la transition est celui des transferts d’animaux. Il y a deux façons de procéder au transfert d’un animal qui a été vendu ;

• Si l’animal a un certificat imprimé en circulation, vous devez retourner ce papier original au bureau de l’association signé par le vendeur et les détails de la vente afin de compléter le transfert.

• Si l’animal a été enregistré dans le nouveau système et que le certificat a été retenu en anticipation d’un transfert, vous pouvez effectuer ces transferts dans le système en ligne ou faire une demande par courriel au bureau avec les détails de la vente. Une fois transféré, le certificat sera acheminé a l’acheteur de vos animaux.

Ciara Mattheis Registraire et chef d’entreprise Association canadienne Speckle Park

By Sean McGrath, PAg

Speckle Park breeders are pursuing an opportunity to develop and have EPD available for use in their cattle population. This is an exciting development but also needs to tempered with reality. There may be a lot of expectations of what having EPD available may mean, particularly from a marketing perspective, but first we need to delve into exactly what an EPD is, where it comes from and what they can or cannot do.

When we buy or sell seedstock, we usually want to look at the animal we are buying or maybe check out its’ performance, for example we want to see the birth weight of a bull for use on heifers. In reality, we are not interested in the individual animal we are looking at, instead we are really interested in the DNA that that animal possesses and can pass on to their offspring. If we look at the heifer bull example, it does not matter what the birth weight of the bull was (he is already born), what really matters is the birthweight, or more importantly the calving ease with which his calves are born.

To describe differences between the DNA that an animal contains we turn to a technology called an EPD or Expected Progeny Difference. An EPD provides a relative measure of where animals fit compared to each other. In other words, if I used 2 sires with different EPD on the same group of cows, how much average difference would I expect from their progeny based on the DNA from the sire. EPD are calculated from pedigree information (we assume that related animals share more DNA than unrelated

ones), performance information and now direct measurement of DNA through high density SNP panels.

One of the key concepts of EPD (and one of the most important aspects of participating) is the idea of a contemporary group. In an EPD evaluation, performance is only ever compared between animals in a contemporary group. This means that cattle are roughly the same age, the same sex, raised on the same farm as a group, weighed on the same scale and managed in the same way from birth. This is really important to understand as it means that your management is not being compared with the neighbour. What is being compared are differences in animal performance under the exact same management conditions. If an animal is the result of their genetics interacting with the environment and the environment is all the same, then a large portion of the differences we see must be due to the genetic differences between the animals.

This leads us to another key point of the comparison process, complete reporting. Often the tendency is to provide information only on those animals that we wish to register, however in calculating EPD it is extremely important that all animals in the group have data reported. A simple example is shown in Table 1. Failing to report the lower end of the calves, actually results in the data showing relatively poorer performance of the best cattle, biasing the EPD downward.

I N AN EP d E v AL u ATION , PER f ORMANCE IS ONLY E v ER COMPARE d BET w EEN ANIMALS IN A CONTEMPORARY g RO u P .

If we can remove management/ environment from the differences, then we can tie animals together using pedigree information like a giant spider web to create comparisons across herds and individuals. This allows us to make objective comparisons between potential breeding stock without the influence of management.

The above is a very basic description of the technology, but there are some realities that as breeders we need to face with eyes wide open.

1. EPD are calculated using data. If you are committed to developing/providing an EPD tool for genetic selection then you have to have a commitment to collecting and reporting accurate and complete data on your calves/cows.

2. EPD describe differences between animals for traits on which we collect data and conduct evaluations. New traits are continually being developed and evaluation models are continually being improved.

3. EPD work. Research has shown that EPD are 9 times more effective than using adjusted weights or indexes when selecting cattle.

4. You need to have selection goals. The myth that EPD do not work is largely predicated on the idea that people keep selecting higher and higher EPD values for a trait. In reality many traits have an optimal range that is neither the highest or lowest EPD value. For example, we do

not need a bull in the top 1% of the breed for calving ease if he is only going to breed mature cows.

5. We need to actively pursue knowledge about EPD and how to best apply them in our own breeding programs and those of our customers. Part of the employment of a powerful technology is ensuring that we use it in a way that best serves our customers in the long term.

6. We need to be committed to the best science and to working together to build a program to calculate and implement a genetic evaluation program.

The work being done to develop genetic evaluation for the Speckle Park Breed is encouraging and exciting. The ability to compare cattle across the breed and in comparison, to other options for the commercial industry is exciting for a breed that has much to offer. As well, with the smaller scale of the breed the improved ability to identify superior seedstock allows breeders to make rapid improvements and identify outstanding individuals with more precision.

There is a lot of work yet to do and one of the key steps that can be done at home is to work on diligently collecting data that can be contributed to the system moving forward.

Cow/Calf

Caelid h Jo h anson Herd Legacy Speckle Park

By Dr. Roy Lewis, DVM

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Producers both commercial and purebred are in the best position to control stress and maximize resistance to disease when timing of weaning is totally in their control. It has been proven time and again in the past with preimmunized (vaccinated) calves both morbidity (% getting sick) and mortality (% dying) are reduced. It is far better to prevent disease by vaccination than treat it both in terms of costs death loss and chronics.

If you have not immunized at spring turnout for the common diseases such as blackleg (7 0r 8 Way), IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV do it NOW. The most prevalent respiratory pathogens Mannheimia Hemolytica, Pasteurella Multocida and Histophilus are also thrown into the mix. Most veterinarians are recommending these as the common infectious diseases to vaccinate for. The most important thing to remember is the calves ideally should have protection to these diseases before the stress of weaning occurs. If vaccinated initially at spring turnout the booster can be given right at weaning. .

Any other stressful procedures such as castration of the poorer bulls or tattooing are best done ahead of weaning as well. Hopefully these procedures are already done but if not don’t leave them till after weaning. The only stress at weaning should be the actual weaning event itself. .

If the calves were not immunized at spring turnout the priming or initial shots must be given at least two weeks prior to the major stress of weaning. This allows the calves to achieve maximum immunity. This requires the herd to be brought in, separated, immunized and put back together. Effort that is well worth the investment in healthier calves that go on to gain well and make good breeding stock. If doing the two-stage weaning with the nose flaps these could be put on now. Thy however are only

left in about 5 days and removed and weaning would occur then. Most producers can attain the protection they require by giving two main vaccinations in the fall. A multivalent viral and bacterial vaccine contains protection against IBR, PI3 and BRSV the respiratory viral diseases as well as BVD and Mannheimia. A couple vaccines on the market also contain protection against Pasteurella Multocida another bacteria that can cause pneumonia. BVD is often involved in the respiratory disease complex as well as causing severe diarrhea. BVD and IBR are also the two main reproductive diseases we want to especially protect the replacement heifers from. The second vaccination involves 8-way blackleg combined with histophilus. For those purebred operators that export to countries not allowing IBR the way around this would be to use the intranasal products to get local immunity. In Canada I would not jeopardize the health of themselves or the rest of the herd by not using some form of IBR vaccine for protection of both the respiratory and abortion forms of the virus. . Your veterinarian could best advise the best combination for your farm and geographic area. Use the combinations, which minimize the number of shots necessary. The trend is always to use the modified live vaccines (where you mix the liquid to activate the powder) because they instill a longer immunity in the calves and are generally cheaper. These are fragile vaccines once mixed so don’t overheat or freeze them and use any mixed product within two hours when vaccinating. If the modified vaccines are used in the spring at turnout and/or in the fall it is imperative the cowherd has been well protected for the reproductive diseases IBR and BVD ahead of time. As long as the cows have good immunity to these diseases the calves can be given the modified live vaccines while still sucking their mot hers. Shedding

from the calves has been proven minimal but in my mind the cowherd should be protected as well for these reproductive diseases IBR and BVD.

Histophilus (ITEME) was once a significant killer in feedlots but vaccinating has severely reduced its incidence. A lot of the chronics in feedlots from heart abscesses to severe arthritis can be traced back to this disease.

Vaccinating prior to weaning is critical to acquire the immunity necessary to protect calves from the many forms of this disease.

Even though feedlots vaccinate directly upon arrival they still have a large number of cases. This is simply because it is too late and vaccinating when calves are stressed does not achieve as high a level of immunity. This constitutes a second choice option at best. You as seed stock producers have the option of vaccinating at the most ideal time so please incorporate it into your vaccination protocol. Follow the weather reports and try to wean when weather is the most stable. Snowstorms or times when ambient temperatures are really fluctuating are obviously not ideal times to wean. When temperatures fluctuate below freezing at night to warm during the day this allows for a natural buildup of extra fluid on the lungs. In stressed calves this is where the respiratory viruses such as BRSV will multiply causing respiratory disease. We definitely see more severe cases of BRSV in farm-raised calves then in purchased ones. Remember to apply an endectocide together with an oral dewormer like safeguard, as this should remove all internal and external parasites improving gain and maintaining healthier calves. This is getting to be a routine procedure now across Canada. Removing the parasites helps the calves develop a good immunity to vaccines as well as improve gains.

We always try to use subcutaneous vaccinations whenever possible to maintain

beef quality. This way is easier and there is way less chance of needle breakage. The transition period to get calves started on proper feed is critical. Ideally if they have had creep feed over the summer the change will be minimal? If the calves are used to the pen and know where the watering bowls etc are change is again minimized. It is best to remove the cows and leave calves in their familiar surroundings. This is not always possible I know. Make sure clean water is readily available and there is lots of bunk space. It is also good to spread the forage in several locations to get calves started. Grass hays are the best to start with as they most closely mimic the pasture situation. If grain is introduced begin very gradually and bring up over a weeks time.

When all precautions have been taken still watch diligently especially the first two weeks for signs of respiratory disease and digestive upsets. In my experience there is usually a bit more problems in the rapidly growing bull calves after weaning versus heifers but watch all groups diligently and if practice low stress weaning and low stress handling will significantly reduce disease incidence. Work with your nutritionist and veterinarian to assist setting up the ideal program for your calves. Specific pneumonia treatments are best left up to you and your personal veterinarian.

By utilizing these procedures it is not uncommon to keep death loss very low (in the order of 1%) and purebred herds could be even less than that. I know most of you have tons of experience weaning your purebred herds so this article may have been more of a review but hopefully a few ideas were learned. Hope the weaning and processing this fall goes well. The herd will be protected and heifer and bull calves will maintain maximal growth.

The Canadian Speckle Park Association was saddened by the recent death of Keith Kis see. Keith was a very exuberant man that was full of passion for everything that he did. Speckle Park cattle were one of those passions. Keith was a pioneer when it came to the sales and marketing of cattle. He has imported many great cattle into the United States and sparked a market that is only just being started. Keith will be greatly missed by many and leaves a big hole in the cattle industry. Our sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends. May he Rest in Peace.

Speckle Park cattle offer a new and balanced approach to the genetic improvement of the beef industry. Their built-in hybrid vigour or heterosis creates an animal with increased vigour, performance, and longevity; which in the beef industry means more profit.

Combining feed efficiency on a moderate frame with high performance makes Speckle Park a profitable choice for terminal cross. With recent drought conditions and high feed prices, producers have realized the importance of an efficient cow herd. By adding Speckle Park genetics into a commercial herd through bulls or females, a producer can be confident they are adding moderation in frame size and feed efficiency without compromising in calf quality or productivity, thus producing more pounds with less inputs and increasing profitability.

Each caracass in Canada is given a quality grade and a yield grade. A yield grade is based on the percentage of saleable meat. The highest Yield Grade is 1, which means the carcass produces 52.3% or more of saleable meat. The highest quality grades are prime and AAA, which means the meat is firm, bright red, with a slightly abundant amount of firm white or amber fat.

In July 2021, 106 Speckle Park steers were slaughtered at Cargill and the following carcass traits were found in Table 1.

Table 1. Carcass evaluation on 106 Speckle Park steers.

% Graded Prime or AAA 58%

Average hot carcass weight 757 lb Average saleable meat 58.8%

The steers were on feed for an average of 287 days starting at an average weight of 507 lbs. Over the course of the feeding period they gained an average of 3.10 lbs per day to finish at an average weight of 1391 lbs.

These results demonstrate how Speckle Park carcasses on average have the highest yield grade while maintaining quality grade carcasses. High yield grade being produced on a moderate framed and efficient animal is setting Speckle Park up to be an industry leading sustainable beef breed that doesn’t compromise quality. Speckle Park genetics are adding value throughout the production chain from the cow-calf producer, feeder, and packer, to the consumer enjoying a quality product.

By Sarah Van Schothorst, BSc

By Maureen Tubman

only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.”

Jordan Belfort

I didn’t think I was good enough to be a photographer with ShowChampions. Until a friend gave me the same advice I dish out to others: “Just apply, what’s the worst that could happen?” My job interview was the Calgary Stampede, believe it or not. I had just a few days to prove myself, learn, grow, and give them a great impression. It went well. Very well!

Soon thereafter I was hired for Farmfair International and Canadian Western Agribition. Then, it was the American majors. I spent three days (36 hours total) at the Hereford backdrops at my very first National Western Stock Show. It was 2016, and the world’s most trusted livestock photographer put ME at the “Super Bowl of Cattle Shows” Hereford backdrop. I had to leave it all on the table! Exhaustion in a place of bliss can teach you plenty if you let it. You either win or you learn. Within a few short months I had completed all 16 days of the National Western Stock Show, 20 days of the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, and three weeks of the largest livestock show in the world in Houston, Texas.

I can’t tell you how much I learned, but my skills and abilities were tested by long days photographing hundreds of animals, multiple species, and dozens of show rings. One thing is for sure: your confidence better grow, or you can fade into the background quickly. People trust that you are in control and know exactly what to do. I grew quickly by taking on every challenge that I was introduced to and by learning to receive feedback and critique. There is always something new to learn.

The opportunity doors kept opening, and I kept walking through. Sometimes people don’t see the opportunity as it lies right in front of them. You have to know when to say no, and when to say yes…on repeat. I in front of them. You have to know when to say no, and when to say yes…on repeat. I

try to live as if I won’t have the opportunity to experience things again, as often we don’t. Saying no one time can shut down an amazing relationship you could have had for 20 years. I photograph with that in mind. I photograph as if it is the last chance…

When the first show season cooled off, I found myself in an awkward place. I was in the middle of a very trying personal time, in a new city, newly divorced, and struggling to find an employment opportunity. I am sure I applied for 50 jobs that summer and was called for one interview. I was discouraged.

Luck is when opportunity and preparation meet. That’s when Allan Browarny, the CEO of ShowChampions, asked me about my editing abilities. I had my own business as a portrait photographer prior to ShowChampions, so I was fluent in post-processing photographs. I demonstrated my talents at the time to Allan, and the rest really is history! I quickly became the senior editor for Mr. Browarny. The Browarny name is affluent around the globe, and now I was the one carefully placing that name on each photograph and delivering to clients from Alberta to Brazil, New Mexico, Australia, Chile, Thailand, and more.

That year was completely wild and equally fantastic! I was soon travelling for on-farm photoshoots, having photographed my first cattle dispersal that fall. I travelled with and assisted Allan on select on-farm photoshoots, learning how he handles customers, business, video, and photoshoots. I knew I always had to take every ounce of intel I could. It is akin to being able to travel with and play alongside Gretzky in his day. There can be many exhausting and uncomfortable moments, but it sure is rewarding!

Allan and I travel and work well together. We soon took on many international and on-farm photoshoots together, building the ShowChampions brand wherever we saw opportunity. Doing so has built many oncein-a-lifetime relationships and friendships. Since 2016, these are some of the events and places I have had the pleasure to work:

•National Western Stock Show (5 times)

•San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo (5x)

•Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (5x)

•Canadian Western Agribition (6x)

•Farmfair (6x)

•Calgary Stampede (6x)

•Sydney Royal Easter Show, Australia (3x)

•Royal Highland Show - Edinburg, Scotland

•Mexico’s National Brahman Show & Congreso Ganadero de las Estrellas

•Monterey California County Fair

•Toronto Royal (3x)

•Texas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, California, B.C, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba

I am sure it was my parents; they encouraged making something great with mediocre ingredients. That’s what our culture was about. Descendants of Ukrainians, my Mother and Father made sure I knew how to “do things well.” It truly takes the same amount of time to do something well as it does to do it poorly. I was raised in East Central Saskatchewan on a multi-generation mixed farming operation. Teamwork and getting the job done no matter the circumstances are something we in the livestock industry can all relate to.

I purchased my first camera when I was in my early teens, sending multiple rolls of film to the city with my Mother on a monthly basis. Like anyone with new gear, I photographed everything as it was, learning

to make it look its very best. With much trial and error I discovered how to find the “beauty in the beast.” I am a self-taught photographer who benefited from the best mentors I could find. We are very privileged to live in the age of the internet. Google was and still is my university. The subject does not matter, but there is always a way to make it look its best. My high school art teacher instilled in me that all art is a matter of light and perspective. A great metaphor for life, too!

Presentation of your subject is the first and major thing to consider—being prepared, having help, and keeping everything clean. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Do the very best with what you can at that moment. You will invest so much of your time and money sourcing genetics, marketing, breeding, feeding, fitting, etc., but it all comes down to the final presentation, which is the photograph. You don’t have a second chance to make a first impression. It is so important in this competitive market that you grab the viewer’s attention as quickly as possible. A photograph is single-handedly almost always the thing that will draw customers to your farm or ranch to view the animals.

When photographing cattle, consider the setting and backgrounds. Animals up against a fence or structure will become lost. It is said that the background will suck all the power out of the animal. Keep distractions behind the animal(s) at a minimum. If you must have a fence, the less fence the better. It is understandable that not all cattle are used to an electric wire, but if you can at least keep the cattle from standing up against a background they will look more present and stronger. I find that distractions in the background are just that: distractions that will prevent the viewer from focusing on the main character, your animal.

Photoshoot day can certainly be stressful. However, it is my job to make sure the client has an enjoyable experience. It comes with the territory that there is a lot of work, expectations, and money wrapped up in photo day, but a crew that does not jive well together just does not pull the best out of the scenario. I cannot stress the importance of having keen photo pen help with great cattle sense and knowledge of animal energy. Be sure to set expectations, be clear about what it is you need, and practice patience. A great photographer is truly like an orchestra conductor. When I shoot, I am acutely aware of what the animal is going to do next, where the photo pen help is at, how to direct said help, and where I need to be to get the shot.

Sunshine is the ideal lighting to photograph animals. It brings out the dimension, shape, and muscle of cattle and brightens up the whole scene. Green grass or any type of colour in your scene can really make a difference in the final outcome. I like to utilize contrast if I can. Photograph dark cattle in a lighter area and lighter cattle with a darker background if possible. These are unnecessary but small tools to play with if you have the ability.

Marketing photos, group shots, and stock photos are equally important. You want photos that show off your program in its entirety: a great group shot of your bull pen offering; cow-calf pairs in the summer with a big calf at side its mother on green grass; herd-bull photographs; scenic images of your ranch; really any great image that entices the audience and might encourage customers to visit or purchase from your program. A great stock photo or scenic image showing off your groups of cattle can really go a long way in instilling the perception of your program and selling your genetics! I do always encourage people to

hire professionals. It is an opportunity to have the job done efficiently, professionally, and allows you to focus on what you do best in your day to day. Having that extra network of people to discuss and showcase your program is also a benefit.

When I am not travelling, my favourite place to be is with my son Wagner and spouse Ryan at our home near Saskatoon. Ryan is a professional auctioneer in the cattle industry, and we spend a lot of our time at cattle sales and industry gatherings. Wagner enjoys speed skating, building Lego, and has recently taken up archery. We do have some commercial cattle, and we enjoy the fall time as it allows us to spend some spare time in the barn preparing sale heifers. That is truly our hobby. Our life is very full, but when we manage to be together it sure is special!

SPECKLE SPOTS

Coat Color Inheritence

Black coat color is dominant over red. Therefore for an animal to be red they must carry two copies of the red gene (one from each parent). Registered Speckle Park animals must carry at least one copy of the black gene and are phenotypically black. Homozygous black animals (EDED) will only pass on the black gene to their offspring. Heterozygous black animals (EDe) carry one copy of the red gene. When mated to another EDe animal; 25% of the calves will be EDED, 50% will be EDe, and 25% will be red (ee). If an EDe animal is mated to a EDED animal then 50% of calves will be EDED and 50% will be EDe. Only phenotypically black animals are eligible for registration with the CSPA.

Coat Color Inheritence Patterns

Speckle Park cattle have 3 different coat color patterns; speckled, white with black points, and black. Similar to coat color, when you mate animals of the same or different coat patterns you have a certain likelihood of a resulting coat color in their progeny.

Speckle x Speckle: 25% chance White pointed, 50% chance Speckled, 25% chance solid black Speckle x White Pointed: 50% chance White pointed, 50% chance Speckled White pointed x White Pointed: 100% chance White Pointed White pointed x Solid Black: 100% chance Speckled Speckled x Solid Black: 50% chance Speckled, 50% chance Solid Black Solid Black x Solid Black: 100% chance Solid Black

h E S PE ckl E P ark

oo S t

By Sarah Van Schothorst

Nita and Kara Wilson manage their third generation farm that was started by Kara’s Grandpa in 1917. He raised registered Shorthorn cattle for many years, then Maine Anjou cross. In the early 1990’s they switched to raising straightbred Angus.

Recently it was decided that another breed needed to be added to the operation to increase heterosis and performance in the herd. Speckle Park was chosen because Nita and Kara were impressed by the thickness, depth, and length of hip that the breed has to offer. In 2019 they purchased their first bulls from INC Cattle Company. In the fall of 2019 they purchased 6 more. They like to have at least two bulls in each pasture. An older one and a young one to keep the older ones working. Nita and Kara have been pleased with the docility of the Speckle Park bulls as they do most of their handling on foot.

Each year Nita and Kara calve out 350 to 400 cows in early March to April. With the addition of Speckle Park genetics, they have noticed an increase in calving ease and calf vigor. Kara says “the calves are quick to get up and get going”. She has seen some calves trying to get up before they have come all the way out. They check every two hours during calving to put the pairs into the calving barn when it is cold in the early parts of March. Between checks she can come out to another ten calves on the ground. With the increased calving ease and calf vigor they have also noticed a decrease in scours and pneumonia. This can be attributed to calves getting up and consuming colostrum faster, ensuring

they receive the passive immunity from their dam, which protects them until they can be vaccinated 2 months later at branding. Kara does all the tagging and banding at birth. Two neighbor boys, Ethan and Brayden, enjoy coming and helping out on the ranch.

Every year they retain a few bull calves for their own use out of their exceptional cows. Kara makes the initial selection at birth and then culls twice more; at branding and weaning. Around 60 to 80 replacement heifers are retained each year.

Nita and Kara pride themselves on raising their herd on native grass pastures. Having an efficient hearty herd is the key to their operation. Any animal that might require added grain to their ration would not be kept. The average mature weight of their females is 1350lbs. From birth to weaning and putting heifers out to pasture, the Speckle crosses have performed better than the straight bred Angus. Kara said “The Speckle Park crosses have better hair coats and have been able to thrive on the conservative feed that was required through winter after the drought and they out performed straightbred Angus”.

“T HE CAL v ES ARE qu ICK TO g ET u P AN d g ET g OIN g .”

On a good year with good grass supply steer calves average 600 to 625 pounds. Nita and Kara sell their steer calves at a Speckle Park sale at Balog Auction, Lethbridge, AB in the fall. Nita and Kara have had discussions with feedlot producers and the Speckle Park crosses are of high interest. Nita and Kara encourage purebred Speckle Park breeders to send their best steers to these sales to help continue to build the market and show the feedlot producers the benefits of buying and feeding Speckle Park genetics. This support will help the commercial producers with marketing their calves and ensure they are receiving the going price. They also suggest that perhaps a group of producers or commercial producers get together to bring enough calves to market for a feeder to fill a big pen or two with Speckle and Speckle influenced calves. Sometimes the quantity of calves just isn’t there. Kara said “It is one of our goals to top the market with our Speckle Park cross steers”.

Nita and Kara also sell butcher beef to a few locals. Since adding Speckle Park to their herd their customers have noticed an increase in tenderness. They have been very happy with the quality of the carcasses. Kara was also proud to sell Speckle Park cross steers to some kids from Duck Lake, who went on to do very well in their clubs. Overall, Nita and Kara have been pleased with the addition of Speckle Park to their operation, they appreciate the friendly and helpful nature of the breeders they have worked with so far.

Youth SPOTLIGHT

4-H AWARDS

THE CSPA REWARDED 94 4-H MEMBERS FOR EXHIBITING SPECKLE PARK PROJECTS IN 2022. Award tokens are available to any 4-H member who has a purebred Speckle Park or a Speckle Park-influenced animal. Check out the CSPA website for more info.

Amy Fradette with Fradette Babe Commercial Speckle Park Heifer Reserve Female, Weyburn Fair Grand Champion Commercial Heifer, Summer Synergy Pangman-Ogema 4H Beef Club

Andie Fradette with Ravenworth Willow 337G Weyburn Fair. Reserve Champion AOB Pangman-Ogema 4H Beef Club

Heidi Fradette Second overall at Saskatchewan Provincial 4H Judging Will be on Team Sask 4H at Agribition Pangman-Ogema 4H Beef Club

Tell

Year

Park

Pair

Tell

Mason Zwicker with Nova Frost 32H Champion Purebred 2 Year Old Pair Summer Synergy

Brynne Yoder with Outback

Lookin 52J Grand Champion

Synergy

Female

Shelby Horn with Pepper Champion

Shelby Horn Champion Commercial Yearling Heifer Summer Synergy

Ty Olson Grand Champion Heifer Calf Tisdale 4-H Beef Club

Hadley Tanner Reserve Champion Yearling Heifer, Spring Break Showdown, Kiskatinaw Fair & Peace Country Junior Cattlemen’s Club

Jenaya Nunn Reserve Champion Lightweight Steer Minitonas 4-H Beef Club

Jessika Edwards Reserve Champion Steer Fort Saskatchewan 4-H Beef Club

Lillianna Brundige Pair Champion Bonnyville District 4-H Show & Sale

Luke Brundige Champion Steer Beaver River Beef 4-H Club

Mara Vogel

Champion Female Yorkton 4-H Regional Show & Sale

Melody Brundige Grand Champion Heifer Bonnyville District 4-H Show & Sale

Mirrah Webster Reserve Champion Homegrown Steer Top Speckle Park Steer Chilliwack Fair

Nate Immerkar Champion Lightweight Steer Minitonas 4-H Beef Club

Luke Brundige with Wolf Lake Jog-ALong 11J Reserve Grand Champion Purebred Female Summer Synergy

Elli Vogel

Champion Market Steer Division 7 Steer Champion Yorkton 4-H Regional Show & Sale

Flint Vogel

1 Champion Market Steer Yorkton 4-H Regional Show & Sale

HEIFER CALF CHAMPION

SHIFT

RESERVE

HEIFER CHAMPION

TRILLIUM 7J

Land & Livestock

PAIR CHAMPION

CHANEL 22C

COW/CALF PAIR CHAMPION

CRUSHER JOY

OLD BULL

FEMALE CHAMPION

EMBER

March 5, 2022 -

ALL BULLS SELL

Bulls headed to 4

best bull

bull sale crew,

LOT 1 = $7,000

date.

to

March 27, 2022INTEGRITY SPECKLE PARK BULL & FEMALE SALE

Auctioneer: DLMS Farmgate Timed Auction

The Integrity group hosted their first online bull

this spring, with D.A.M. DOTS JOKER 24J

had

DC Farms, Regina SK

you Ell family!

LOT 2 = $7,000

Maple Lane Stock Farm, Wetaskiwin AB

you Brown family!

LOT 3 = $7,000

Beisview Speckle Park Ranch, Ripley ON Thank you Beishuizen family!

LOT 4 = $5,500

Tanner Ranch, Dawson Creek BC

you Tanner family!

LOT 5 = $5,000

Meadowbreeze Farms Ltd, Annan ON Thank you Sytsma family!

LOT 6 = $5,350

Genberg Speckle Park, Cawston BC Thank you Genberg family!

LOT 7 = $4,600

Walker Land & Cattle Co, Caledonia

Thank you Walker family! Extra bull = $5,500

Williamson Cattle Co, Brussels ON Thank you Williamson family!

the bulls at $8,000 to Fleetwood Farms, Iona Station, Ont.

AVERAGES

$3,737

FINAL

The

Amy’s

Maungahina

son,

$55,000(AUS). The

for $24,000(AUS) and

for $7,000(AUS).

for

DESIGNER

CATTLE

INTEGRITY

JOHNER

MAPLE

STOCK

MCALEER RANCHING

NEOGEN CANADA

OKLAHOMA CITY SHOW

PRAIRIE GATEWAY

PARKE

SALE

RANGELAND

RAVENWORTH CATTLE

STERLING FARMS