Spotlight on Speckle Park Spring 2025 by Canadian Speckle Park Association

PARK

SPOTLIGHT ON

SPECKLE PARK

EDITOR & PUBLICATION MANAGER

Cayley Brown

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Keltey Whelan

Premium pages will be priced upon request and sold first come, first served. If an ad is placed in both the Spring & Fall editions, a 15% discount will be applied to the second ad rate. For more information and to book space, contact Cayley at info@canadianspecklepark.ca SPOTLIGHT

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

MONA HOWE

Mona Howe is the owner and operator of Mo Angus, a ranch in Southeastern Alberta raising purebred and commercial Angus cattle, Quarter horses and Border Collie and Corgi dogs. She began freelance writing in 2018 in her spare time as an opportunity to share her passion for all aspects of the livestock industry.

CATHERINE BROWN

Catherine is an avid writer with a lifelong passion for cows. Her day-to-day life involves cattle management in both commercial and purebred enterprises. She has a special interest in subtle energy, particularly as it relates to cattle and cattle handling. She has written for and edited several Canadian livestock publications for over 35 years and will soon launch her first book project. She and her husband currently manage a cattle ranch in the southern interior of BC.

Spotlight on Speckle Park Mission

Our mission is to educate and inform our membership, to build enthusiasm and create community within the breed, whilst continuing to market and showcase the Speckle Park cattle to their maximum potential - with emphasis on the breed’s efficiency, longevity & quality beef production.

note from

the Editor

CSPA members, Spotlight readership, and Speckle Park enthusiasts, welcome to the March 2025 Issue! This marks the fifth issue I’ve put together since joining the CSPA team. We’re honoured that you’re here and taking the time to explore the great group of advertisers featured in this magazine, along with what I hope you find to be both educational and inspirational content.

Our River Hill profile article (see pages 50) shares the story of this legendary operation. Adults and juniors alike should take note of the wisdom shared here. Additionally, our secondary feature article highlights JC Cattle Company (see pages 22). JC Cattle Company exemplifies the power of proactive marketing, and I consider them leaders in creating a “beef to table” model that aligns with today’s evolving consumer demands.

In our Idea Exchange section (see pages 28), we focus on Bull Selection. We hope this timely topic provides valuable points of reflection for your own decision-making processes when selecting bulls for your breeding program. Special thanks to Joan Craig for her contributions to this section. The “Idea Exchange” was Joan’s brainchild, and it has been a joy collaborating with her on this over the past few issues.

One of my highlights in my work with the CSPA is connecting with you, the membership. If you have ideas to share or questions for me, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we turn inspiration into action, creating the momentum needed to advance the Speckle Park breed.

We hope to see you at various shows and events throughout the year. Don’t miss our AGM on the beautiful East Coast (see details in the “News” section on page 18) and be sure to sign up for the 2026 SPX Show! This unique event has been designed to highlight the power of Speckle Park cross cattle (see more details in Carla’s Show Report on page 12).

CAYLEY BROWN

If you have news, show results, or ideas for the next issue of Spotlight, please send them to me via email at info@ canadianspecklepark.ca.

As the Marketing and Promotions Manager and editor of Spotlight, I frequently field concerns about feeder calf prices each fall. I want to acknowledge that, on an association level, we hear you. We are actively working toward solutions in collaboration with you, the breeders. Initiatives like the branded tag program aim to improve recognition of Speckle Park cattle in sale rings (see more details on page 17). Additionally, the Marketplace page on the CSPA website is designed to help buyers and sellers connect and to facilitate breeders grouping calves together for larger-scale sales, which can often lead to better prices. We hope to continue to provide creative and alternative ways to help you market your cattle as we continue to gain traction and respect within the industry.

When speaking with industry professionals, there’s no reason Speckle Park cattle should be docked at auction marts. However, we’re often up against biases at the buyer level. Changing these perceptions takes time and persistence. Group dynamics and “group think” often lead to the spread of incorrect narratives. It’s through consistent efforts, education, breeding quality stock and showcasing the value of our breed that we can influence these cultural perspectives and create lasting change.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to the Speckle Park breed. Let’s keep working together to share its strengths and potential with the broader cattle industry and beyond.

Membres de l’ACSP, lecteurs de la revue Spotlight et passionnés de Speckle Park, bienvenue au numéro de mars 2025 ! Il s’agit du cinquième numéro que j’ai rédigé depuis que j’ai rejoint l’équipe de l’ACSP. Nous sommes honorés que vous soyez ici et que vous preniez le temps d’explorer le grand groupe d’annonceurs présentés dans ce magazine, ainsi que ce que j’espère que vous trouverez être à la fois éducatif et inspirant.

Notre article sur le profil de River Hill (voir pages 50) raconte l’histoire de cette entreprise légendaire. Les adultes, autant que les juniors devraient prendre note de la sagesse qui y est partagée. De plus, notre article de fond secondaire met en évidence JC Cattle Company (voir pages 22). JC Cattle Company illustre le pouvoir du marketing proactif, et je les considère comme des chefs de file dans la création d’un modèle d’affaire « du bœuf à la table » qui s’aligne sur les demandes changeantes des consommateurs d’aujourd’hui.

Dans notre section Échange d’idées (voir pages 28), nous nous concentrons sur la sélection de taureaux. Nous espérons que ce sujet d’actualité fournira de précieux points de réflexion pour vos propres processus de prise de décision lors de la sélection de taureaux pour votre programme d’élevage. Un merci spécial à Joan Craig pour sa contribution à cette section. La rubrique «échange d’idées » était l’idée originale de Joan, et ce fut un plaisir de collaborer avec elle sur ce sujet au cours des derniers numéros. L’un des points forts de mon travail avec l’ACSP est de communiquer avec vous, les membres. Si vous avez des idées à partager ou des questions à me poser, n’hésitez pas à me contacter. Ensemble, nous transformons l’inspiration en action, créant ainsi l’élan nécessaire pour faire progresser la race Speckle Park.

Nous espérons vous voir à divers expositions et événements tout au long de l’année. Ne manquez pas notre AGA sur la magnifique côte Est (voir les détails dans la section « Actualités » à la page 18) et assurez-vous de vous inscrire au Concours SPX 2026 ! Cet événement unique a été conçu pour souligner la puissance du croisement des bovins à Speckle Park (voir plus de détails dans le rapport d’exposition de Carla à la page 12).

Si vous avez des nouvelles, des résultats de concours ou des idées pour le prochain numéro de Spotlight, veuillez me les envoyer par courriel à info@canadianspecklepark.ca.

En tant que directrice du marketing et des promotions et rédactrice en chef de Spotlight, je réponds souvent aux préoccupations concernant les prix des veaux d’engraissement lors des ventes d’automne. Je tiens à souligner qu’au niveau de l’association, nous vous entendons. Nous travaillons activement à des solutions en collaboration avec vous, les éleveurs. Des initiatives comme le programme d’étiquettes visent à améliorer la reconnaissance des bovins de génétique Speckle Park dans les encans (voir plus de détails à la page 17). De plus, la page Market Place sur le site Web de l’ACSP est conçue pour aider les acheteurs et les vendeurs à se connecter et pour faciliter le regroupement des veaux pour faire des lots à plus grande échelle, ce qui peut souvent mener à de meilleurs prix. Nous espérons continuer à fournir des moyens créatifs et alternatifs pour vous aider à commercialiser votre bétail alors que nous continuons à gagner en popularité et à gagner en respect au sein de l’industrie.

Lorsqu’on discute de cette situation avec des professionnels de l’industrie, il n’y a aucune raison qui explique pourquoi le bétail de Speckle Park est parfois pénalisé aux encans. Cependant, nous sommes souvent confrontés à des préjugés au niveau de l’acheteur. Changer ces perceptions demande du temps et de la persévérance. La dynamique de groupe et la « pensée de groupe » conduisent souvent à la propagation de récits incorrects. C’est grâce à des efforts constants, à l’éducation, à l’élevage de bovins de qualité et à la mise en valeur de notre race que nous pouvons influencer ces perspectives culturelles et créer un changement durable. Merci de votre soutien continu et de votre dévouement envers la race Speckle Park. Continuons à travailler ensemble pour partager ses forces et son potentiel avec l’ensemble de l’industrie bovine et au-delà.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

CSPA CORNER

Welcome to the 6th edition of Spotlight on Speckle Park!

Many by now will be well into calving and bull sale preparations. With that, comes the opportunity to steer the future of the breed. Every bull sold and breeding decision made will impact the future of Speckle Park. The price of beef is strong, making it is a great time to improve quality within the breed. It is important to keep in mind what we have to offer.

“You have a unique breed; you identified the traits that your breed excelled in, and you really exemplified that and as you progressed and you bred these cattle, you made them the kind that really worked for you, and you never lost what you were noted for. These cattle work all over the world. They’re easy fleshing, they’re stout, they marble like none other, they’re hardy and when I look through all these females in this ring, they’re really good headed, they’re stout, they’re good at the ground, they’re great bodied, they’ll be the kind that work in the show ring, but they’ll also work for you back at the farm and that’s the main thing” - 2022 National Speckle Park Show judge, Dennis Serhienko

We possess a maternal breed with an exceptional carcass. Speckle Park are easy calving, easy feeding, easy to work with cattle that deliver exceptional carcass quality. They are the commercial cattleman’s dream.

While there is strength in numbers, quantity without quality is nothing but folly.

Speckle Park are becoming even more globally recognized with new associations in the U.K., Brazil, and South America. This can attest to the versatility and value of Speckle Park animals.

We are glad to be collaborating with breed associations globally to help promote international expansion while maintaining integrity within the breed.

Our junior program is stronger than ever with a newly formed junior board now operating and a growing membership across the country.

As always, I am happy to answer any questions and am always available to hear your thoughts & concerns.

Peter Watson CSPA President

Bienvenue à la 6e édition de « Spotlight on Speckle Park » !

Beaucoup d’entre vous doivent être maintenant bien avancés dans les de vêlages et les préparatifs de vente de taureaux. Voilà le temps idéal et l’opportunité de former l’avenir de la race. Chaque taureau vendu et chaque décision d’élevage prise aura un impact sur l’avenir du Speckle Park. Le prix du bœuf est élevé, ce qui présente un moment idéal pour améliorer la qualité au sein de la race. Il est important de garder à l’esprit ce que nous avons à offrir.

« Vous avez une race unique ; vous avez identifié les caractères dans lesquels votre race excellait, et vous l’avez vraiment illustré et au fur et à mesure que vous progressiez et que vous éleviez ces bovins, vous en avez fait le genre qui fonctionnait vraiment pour vous, et vous n’avez jamais perdu ce pour quoi vous étiez connu. Ces bovins d’adaptent partout dans le monde. Ils sont faciles à entretenir, ils sont corpulents, ils atteignent le persillage comme aucun autre, ils sont robustes et quand je regarde toutes ces femelles dans le ring, elles ont vraiment une belle tête, elles sont musclées, elles sont solides sur leurs pieds et membres, elles sont bien profondes, avec du style pour le ring d’exposition, mais le type pour faire des bonnes productrices à la ferme ce qui est le plus important”- Juge du Concours

RAPPORT DU PRÉSIDENT

National Speckle Park 2022, Dennis Serhienko

Nous possédons une race maternelle avec une carcasse exceptionnelle. Les animaux Speckle Park vêlent facilement, ils s’engraissent bien, et ils sont dociles. Ils sont le rêve de tout éleveur commercial.

S’il y a de la force dans le nombre, la quantité sans la qualité n’est qu’une folie.

Speckle Park est de plus en plus reconnu à l’échelle mondiale avec de nouvelles associations au Royaume-Uni, au Brésil et en Amérique du Sud. Cela peut attester de la polyvalence et de la valeur des animaux de Speckle Park.

Nous sommes heureux de collaborer avec les associations de race du monde entier pour aider à promouvoir l’expansion internationale tout en maintenant l’intégrité au sein de la race.

Notre programme junior est plus fort que jamais avec un conseil junior nouvellement formé et un nombre croissant de membres à travers le pays.

Comme toujours, je suis heureux de répondre à toutes vos questions et je suis toujours disponible pour entendre vos pensées et préoccupations.

Peter Watson Président ACSP

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

CO-CHAIR OF SHOW COMMITTEE

Peter Watson Branchton, ON · 519-242-0933 petemar162@gmail.com

VICE PRESIDENT CHAIR OF THE COMMERCIAL & BREED IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE

Craig Brown Wetaskiwin, AB · 780-360-3276 maplelanestockfarm@gmail.com

DIRECTORS

Harv Fehr TREASURER Hague, SK · 306-290-6780 highmark.hf@gmail.com

Curtis McAleer

CO-CHAIR OF THE COMMERCIAL & BREED IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE Unity, SK · 306-228-3689 ctmcaleer@sasktel.net

Carla Ducherer CO-CHAIR OF THE SHOW COMMITTEE Lashburn, SK · 780-870-4401 cducherer@hotmail.com

MEMBER AT LARGE Vince Stenenson Shaunavon, SK · 306-297-7950 kerkainfarms@gmail.com

DIRECTOR/YOUTH PROGRAMS

Makenzie Olson Tisdale, SK · 305-921-3402 youth@canadianspecklepark.ca

OFFICE MANAGER’S REPORT

CSPA CORNER

By now many of our producers are into the full swing of calving season and hopefully seeing indications of Spring on the way. If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2025 or are wanting to purchase a new membership for the first time, please reach out to the office and we would be happy to get you set up. With a new year also comes credit card updates, if your card has expired, please provide the office with updated expiry dates to avoid any delays.

Remember to get your transfers in within 60 days from bull sales to take advantage of the lower transfer fees. If you have set up your registrations for online storage, you can log into the online system and complete your transfers immediately from home. If you are in possession of the physical copy of the animal’s certificate, please complete as many details as possible on the back of that certificate and mail it to the office for completion of transfer.

We are always looking for any weight or carcass scanning data to improve our data on file and share with IGS to improve EPD accuracy. If you have these details, please submit them to the office or enter your weaning and yearling weights online to constantly improve our database for accuracy.

There will be more information coming out in the coming months regarding all the fantastic opportunities available to our members in 2025. Our AGM with be held July 4-6 in Truro, Nova Scotia. Events will include tours and youth events, in addition to our meeting. Bookings for accommodation can be made by phone or online directly with The Inn on Prince Hotel and Conference Centre. Mention the Canadian Speckle Park Association when booking for the best available rates.

Plans for the SPX Jackpot show are also well underway for 2026 and detailed information can be found on our website in regards to all the opportunities this great event will offer. We look forward to the opportunity to showcase, in one ring, the value of Speckle Park genetics in commercial offspring. The early registration discount ends April 30, don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to showcase what Speckle Park genetics can do!

Ciara Mattheis CSPA Business Manager & Registrar

CANADIAN SPECKLE PARK ASSOCIATION

5160 Skyline Way NE Calgary, AB T2E 6V1

Hours of operation: Monday to Wednesday 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Tel: 403-453-9544

info@canadianspecklepark.ca

canadianspecklepark.ca

Une autre année, une autre saison de vêlage et, espérons-le, au printemps précoce! Cela veut aussi dire que votre adhésion pour 2025 doit être renouvelé ou peut-être vous souhaitez devenir membre de l’association pour la première fois? Alors veuillez nous contacter au bureau et nous serons heureux de vous aider. Il faut aussi s’assurer que votre carte de crédit en dossier soit à jour. Si votre carte est expirée, donnez-nous un coup de fil pour mettre le tout à jour et pour éviter tout retard.

N’oubliez pas d’effectuer vos transferts dans les 60 jours suivant les ventes d’animaux pour profiter des frais de transfert moins élevés. Si vous avez configuré vos enregistrements en version digital, vous pouvez vous connecter au système en ligne et effectuer vos transferts immédiatement vous-même. Si vous êtes en possession de la copie originale imprimée du certificat de l’animal, veuillez fournir autant de détails que possible au verso de ce certificat et le faire parvenir par la poste au bureau de l’association pour que le transfert soit effectué.

Nous sommes toujours à la recherche de données d'analyse de poids ou de carcasses pour améliorer nos données enregistrées et les partager avec l'IGS afin d'améliorer la précision des EPD. Si vous disposez de

ces informations, veuillez les soumettre au bureau ou saisir vos poids de sevrage et à un an en ligne pour améliorer constamment l'exactitude de notre base de données.

De plus amples informations seront publiées dans les mois à venir concernant toutes les opportunités fantastiques qui s'offriront à nos membres en 2025. Notre AGA aura lieu du 4 au 6 juillet à Truro, en Nouvelle-Écosse. Les événements comprendront des visites et des événements pour les jeunes, en plus de notre réunion d’association. Les réservations d'hébergement peuvent être effectuées par téléphone ou en ligne directement auprès de The Inn on Prince Hotel and Conference Centre. Mentionnez Canadian Speckle Park Association lors de la réservation pour bénéficier des meilleurs tarifs disponibles.

Les préparatifs pour le concours SPX Jackpot sont également en bonne voie pour 2026 et des informations détaillées peuvent être trouvées sur notre site Web concernant toutes les opportunités qu'offrira

ce grand événement. Nous attendons avec impatience l'opportunité de présenter la valeur de la génétique Speckle Park au niveau commercial, avec tous les animaux dans un même arène en même temps. La réduction sur les frais d’inscriptions se termine le 30 avril, ne manquez pas cette opportunité fantastique de montrer ce que la génétique Speckle Park peut faire !

Ciara Mattheis

CSPA Directrice des affaires et registraire

Second Annual Bull Sale

March 7-8, 2025 on DLMS March 7-8, 2025 on DLMS

RAPPORT DU CHEF

CSPA CORNER

202 6 SPX JACKPOT SHOW

Breeding season is here, and we’re excited to invite you to qualify your genetics for the SPX Jackpot Show at Agribition 2026! By participating, all commercial progeny from DNA-traceable CSPA registered bulls and females that you own or have bred will be eligible to compete in this premier event.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

The SPX Jackpot Show is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to highlight the value and versatility of Speckle Park genetics in crossbreeding programs. This event provides:

• Public exposure – Showcasing your genetics on a grand stage at Agribition.

• Marketing benefits – Buyers will seek out your program for eligible cattle & genetics.

• ✔Industry recognition – Champion progeny earn prize payouts and breeder recognition.

• Event funding – All funds from participating breeders go directly into creating a world-class event with substantial prize money.

REGISTRATION INCLUDES

• Branded promotional content for sale catalogs, social media, and online advertising.

• Eligibility – Any progeny from your program can compete, no matter who owns or exhibits them.

• Increased exposure – Participating breeders will receive advertising mentions leading up to the event.

SHOW GUIDELINES

• Open to 2026 calendar year heifers and steers

• One parent must be CSPA registered

• Purebred cattle are not eligible

• Parent verification may be required for declared champions (cost covered by CSPA)

FEES & DEADLINES

Early Registration: $500 (Deadline: April 30, 2025) Late Registration: $750

Don’t Miss Out – Register Today! This is your chance to elevate your program, maximize visibility, and increase demand for your genetics. Secure your spot now and be part of the first-ever SPX Jackpot Show!

www.canadianspecklepark.ca/SPXshow.html

Have questions? Contact us at info@canadianspecklepark.ca

Be part of this game-changing event and make sure your genetics are in the spotlight at Agribition 2026!

CANADIAN NATIONAL SPECKLE PARK SHOW

SPECKLE PARK SHOW: 9:00 AM, Wednesday, November 2 6th – Chevrolet GMC Arena

JUDGE: TBD

CANADIAN SPECKLE PARK SALE: 3:30 PM, Wednesday, November 2 6th – John Deere Sale Arena

ACCOMMODATIONS COORDINATOR: Ciara Mattheis 403-453-9544 office@canadianspecklepark.ca

FIRST LADY CLASSIC: Tuesday, November 25th – Chevrolet GMC Arena

PRESIDENT’S CLASSIC: Tuesday, November 25th – Chevrolet GMC Arena

CANADIAN JUNIOR BEEF EXTREME: Saturday, November 29th– Chevrolet GMC Arena

AGRIBITION BEEF SUPREME Presented By CN: Saturday, November 29th– Chevrolet GMC Arena

SHOW RULES

1. All entries are subject to the General Rules & Regulations of Canadian Western Agribition. Please refer to these rules and read them carefully, as they will be enforced. In particular, please note the General Rules & Regulations with respect to registration papers, ownership, production of certificates, and tattoos. The responsibilities of the breed association in these matters have been delegated to the Speckle Park Barn Boss, who is also an official of Canadian Western Agribition. A hard or digital copy of registration papers must be provided at time of weighing.

2. Alcohol: Exhibitors are responsible to comply with the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Act. Alcohol is permitted in licensed areas only. Underage drinking and minors in possession of alcohol will result in a fine of up to $2000. Underage drinking WILL NOT be tolerated and could result in removal from grounds.

3. Entry fee: $90/entry. Tie-Out Fee: $35/head. GST payable on all fees. Deadline October 1.

4. Current year heifer and bull calves from cow/calf units may NOT [**NEW 2025] be shown separate from their dams in their respective classes for calendar year calves.

5. Classes will be split if the entries exceed eight animals. The classes will be split equally.

6. All Speckle Park entered in this show must be completely registered with the Canadian Speckle Park Association before the show as purebred, or a minimum of 93.8% or higher. Solid black animals which meet these requirements are eligible to be entered.

7. All Speckle Park shown in this CSPA sanctioned show must have a DNA certificate file number recorded on their registration certificate or be accompanied by a separate DNA certificate. If classes are offered for commercial cattle, a DNA certificate is not required.

8. The use of any PAINT product (white or black) is not allowed at the Canadian Speckle Park Show. This rule will be strictly enforced and any animal in violation will be excused from the show. There will not be any aerosols allowed in the marshalling area.

9. Exhibitors must wear a show harness clearly displaying their show number, both front and back, while showing. Exhibitors wearing show numbers on their hip or elsewhere will be denied entry into the show ring.

10. Exhibitors must wear a CSPA sanctioned black show vest and white long -sleeved shirt underneath. Exhibitors failing to meet attire requirements will be denied entry to the show ring.

SECTION 185 CLASS

1. Heifer calf, born March 1 to July 15, 2025.

2. Junior Division, Champion and Reserve Champion Heifer Calf.

3. Heifer calf, born February 1 to February 28, 2025

4. Intermediate Division, Champion and Reserve Champion Heifer Calf.

5. Heifer calf, born January 1 to January 31, 2025

6. Senior Division, Champion and Reserve Champion Heifer Calf.

7. Yearling heifer, born April 1 to December 31, 2024.

8. Junior Division, Champion and Reserve Champion Yearling Heifer.

9. Yearling heifer, born February 1 to March 31, 2024.

10. Intermediate Division, Champion and Reserve Champion Yearling Heifer.

11. Yearling heifer, born January 1 to January 31, 2024

12. Senior Division, Champion and Reserve Champion Yearling Heifer.

13. Two-year-old female, born 2023 with her own 2025, natural, tattooed calf at foot. Cow and calf to be judged as a unit. Calf is NOT eligible to be shown as a single animal in the heifer or bull calf classes.

14. Champion and Reserve Champion Two-year-old female.

15. Mature cow, born prior to January 1, 2023 with her own 2025, natural, tattooed calf at foot. Cow and calf to be judged as a unit. Calf is eligible NOT to be shown as a single animal in the heifer or bull calf classes.

16. Champion and Reserve Champion Senior Female.

17. Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Female.

18. Bull calf, born January 1 to January 31, 2025

19. Senior Division, Champion and Reserve Champion Bull Calf.

20. Bull calf, born February 1 to February 28, 2025

21. Intermediate Division, Champion and Reserve Champion Bull Calf.

22. Bull calf, born March 1 to July 15, 2025

23. Junior Division, Champion and Reserve Champion Bull Calf.

24. Yearling bull, born January 1 to January 31, 2024.

25. Yearling bull, born February 1 to December 31, 2024.

26. Champion and Reserve Champion Yearling Bull.

27. Two-year-old bull, born 2023

28. Champion and Reserve Champion Senior Bull.

29. Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Bull.

30. Progeny of Dam: Two animals, either sex, the progeny of one dam must be exhibited in previous classes. One animal must be owned by the exhibitor. No entry fee, but entry must be made.

31. Get -of-Sire: A group of three animals from the same sire. Both sexes represented. At least one animal owned by the exhibitor. Animals must have been shown in previous classes. No entry fee, but entry must be made.

32. Breeder’s Herd: A group of four animals bred by the exhibitor. Both sexes represented. Animals must have been shown in previous classes. At least one animal must be owned by the exhibitor. No entry fee, but entry must be made.

33. Pairs of Bulls: Bred and owned by the exhibitor. Must have shown in the single classes. No entry fee, but entry must be made.

34. Premier Breeder: Points awarded as per CWA rules.

35. Premier Exhibitor: Points awarded as per CWA rules.

PREMIER BREEDER AND EXHIBITOR AWARDS

Premier Breeder and Exhibitor Awards will be calculated as follows: 1 st place – 6 points; 2nd place – 5 points; 3rd place – 4 points; 4th place – 3 points; 5th place – 2 points; 6th place – 1 point. In the event of a tie, the exhibitor with the highest placing in the Breeder’s Herd class will be declared the winner.

• Points awarded to the animals in joint ownership can only be awarded to one owner.

• Any discrepancies must be brought to the Show Committee’s attention, in writing, prior to the end of Canadian Western Agribition.

PREMIER BREEDER AND EXHIBITOR AWARDS

• Points awarded to the animals in joint ownership can only be awarded to one owner.

• Any discrepancies must be brought to the Show Committee’s attention, in writing, prior to the end of Canadian Western Agribition.

34. Premier Breeder: Points awarded as per CWA rules.

35. Premier Exhibitor: Points awarded as per CWA rules.

AGRIBITION HERDSMAN AWARD presented by BLAIR’S FAMILY OF COMPANIES / PerforMAX NUTRITION

PREMIER BREEDER AND EXHIBITOR AWARDS

Banners will be awarded to herdsmen or farm exhibitors putting on the best display during the period of Canadian Western Agribition. A winner in each breed will be declared by an impartial judge who has been requested when making judgement to consider the neatness of the exhibit , the grooming of the animals, and the courtesy of the attendants.

• Points awarded to the animals in joint ownership can only be awarded to one owner.

SALE RULES

1. Deadline for nomination to the sale is July 1, 2025.

• Any discrepancies must be brought to the Show Committee’s attention, in writing, prior to the end of Canadian Western Agribition.

2. All nominations are subject to approval by the Selection Committee. The selection will be based on quality and saleability. The number of males approved for the sale may be limited to ensure that sellers will receive reasonable and fair prices for their nominations. The committee’s decision is final.

AGRIBITION HERDSMAN AWARD presented by BLAIR’S FAMILY OF COMPANIES / PerforMAX NUTRITION

3. All cattle must be shown in the Speckle Park show at CWA to be eligible for the sale. Frozen genetics are exempt from this requirement.

4. All live animals and frozen genetics must be purebred or a minimum of 93.8%.

5. All pedigrees in the sale catalogue will clearly indicate the presence of any solid black ancestry.

SALE RULES

1. Deadline for nomination to the sale is July 1, 2025.

6. All females offered in the sale as bred, exposed, or in calf are required to have certification of pregnancy prepared by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days prior to sale date. The certification must be presented at the time of processing, or the animal will be disqualified from the sale.

7. The CSPA registration paper, with a signed transfer, a DNA certificate (if the DNA certificate is not on the registration), and a cheque for fee of the transfer of ownership must be in the hands of the salesclerk prior to the sale.

8. Entry fee: $120/head, includes selection .

9. Sale commission will be deducted. ~

3. All cattle must be shown in the Speckle Park show at CWA to be eligible for the sale. Frozen genetics are exempt from this requirement.

SPECKLE SPOTS

The Canadian Speckle Park Association (CSPA) is proud to congratulate Barry and Elaine Ducherer of River Hill Farm on being awarded the prestigious CSPA Lifetime Achievement Award.

This award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to the Speckle Park breed and the broader cattle industry. Barry and Elaine’s tireless dedication, innovative breeding practices, and unwavering passion for Speckle Park cattle have left an indelible mark on the breed’s history and success.

BARRY AND ELAINE DUCHERER OF RIVER HILL FARM HONORED WITH CSPA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Through their leadership and commitment, River Hill Farm has become a cornerstone of the Speckle Park community, earning respect and admiration from breeders across the country and beyond. Their efforts have not only advanced the quality and reputation of Speckle Park cattle but have also inspired a new generation of breeders to follow in their footsteps.

On behalf of the CSPA and the entire Speckle Park community, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Barry and Elaine Ducherer for their remarkable contributions. Your legacy will continue to shape the future of the breed for years to come.

See more on page 50.

CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS

Have someone in mind who deserves recognition? Don’t wait—nominate them today! The CSPA is accepting nominations for the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award and the Commercial Cattleman Award.

Submit your nominations at any time by emailing Cayley at info@ canadianspecklepark.ca . Help us celebrate the leaders, innovators, and hardworking individuals who are shaping the future of Speckle Park cattle.

REGISTRATION PROCESS REMINDER

When registering animals, a reminder that you can complete this process yourself online as soon as we have received results back from the lab! If an error code pops up, please contact Ciara (office@canadianspecklepark.ca) and she will complete the registration process on our end.

CELEBRATING HENRY POORTINGA: A SPECKLE PARK PIONEER IN ONTARIO

CSPA Commercial Cattleman Award Winner 2024

Henry Poortinga’s lifelong passion for cattle began in childhood, growing up on his family’s dairy farm. In 1996, a newspaper advertisement for Speckle Park cattle caught his eye. Intrigued, he purchased his first Speckle Park animals from Dale Chibri and John and Dale Herbert, becoming the first Speckle Park breeder in Ontario.

A few years later, Henry expanded his herd with additional Speckle Park cattle sourced from Western Canada. Today, his operation includes 80 cow/calf pairs and a feedlot where he feeds 50–100 Speckle Park-influenced calves annually. Henry is a dedicated advocate for the breed, frequently attending the Ontario Livestock Exchange sale barn to bid on and purchase Speckle Park calves. Although health challenges prevented Henry from accepting his award in person at the Canadian Western Agribition CSPA banquet, his contributions have not gone unnoticed. On behalf of the CSPA board and membership, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Henry for his enduring support and commitment to the Speckle Park breed.

SPECKLE PARK BRANDED TAGS

After our open forum discussion at the 2024 AGM and recommendations from the floor to have a visual recognition for Speckle Park cattle, our Tag program has arrived!

There will be two styles offered, both made by Allflex;

• The ATag™ Cow is designed for long term application as a onepiece option. It is self-piercing with a pinhole tip, which means faster healing and reduced animal stress. The ATag™ Cow has high retention, especially in thick eared animals, due to a longer tag anchor.

• The Global Maxi 2 piece is ideal for applications in show, dairy and long fed markets. It makes a great cattle tag for easy identification. It boasts a high retention, along with a very large

surface area for marking. This is the most popular Allflex size for both mature cattle and calves.

These tags are sold in packages of 25 and can be shipped direct. Colour options available in our Speckle Park branded tags are yellow, blue, pink and red.

Tag policy: A registered Speckle Park bull must be owned and have been transferred into the name of the tag purchaser prior to the order being placed. One order of 25 tags may be placed for each owned bull in said name. Calves tagged Speckle Park must result from a mating with a minimum of 50% registered Speckle Park genetics. Contact the office to order tags or order directly off of www.canadianspecklepark.ca

SPECKLE SPOTS

WRAYDIANT FARMS REPRESENTS THE BREED AT MANITOBA AG DAYS!

In the words of Deanna Wray: As a mixed farming operation raising both grain and cattle, one of the annual events we make a point to attend is Manitoba Ag Days. This event showcases agricultural production expertise, technology, and equipment, making it the largest indoor farm show in Canada! This year, I (Deanna) decided to take our two oldest kids on Tuesday. After checking out some new equipment, we stopped by to listen to 4-H speeches presented by two local young women. The 4-H booth happened to be right next to the theatre, where we were surprised to see a familiar face—our oldest son, Declan, featured on a large promotional banner! The photo was taken at his very first Fat Stock Show with our local 4-H club, Foxwarren/Solosgirth Beef Club, in 2023, where he proudly exhibited a purebred Speckle Park heifer.

Here’s a little backstory on how that moment came to be: In the summer of 2023, 4-H Manitoba was looking for new promotional photos, so I submitted a few from our Fat Stock Show. By the following year, Declan’s photo had been printed on 4-H pamphlets handed out at Manitoba Ag Days. This year, we were thrilled to see it displayed on the banner!

We are incredibly proud of Declan for representing the Speckle Park breed in Manitoba 4-H and look forward to many more years of showing ahead!

Wraydiant Farms, Devryn & Deanna Wray

CSPA AGM 2025

THANK YOU TO EMILY WATSON, BY GRACE LIVESTOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

Thank you to Emily Watson of By Grace Livestock Photography for her incredible generosity and support of the CSPA Junior Association.

Emily graciously donated five stunning framed photos, which were auctioned to raise funds for the junior association at the Agribition banquet. Her beautiful photography and dedication to the Speckle Park breed helped generate significant financial support, contributing to the continued growth and success of our junior program.

Mark your calendars! The Canadian Speckle Park Association Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place from July 4-6, 2025, in Truro, Nova Scotia. In addition to our AGM on Saturday, we are planning exciting tours and a junior event, making this a great opportunity to connect, learn and celebrate our breed. More details will be available soon!

NEW CSPA MERCHANDISE NOW AVAILABLE: WINDBREAKERS AND TUMBLERS

We’re excited to announce the launch of new merchandise, now available for purchase on our website!

PROMOTE YOUR FEEDER CATTLE AND COMMERCIAL FEMALES ON THE CSPA WEBSITE

The CSPA is reminding all members to take advantage of our dedicated Marketplace page to advertise feeder cattle and commercial heifers for sale or wanted.

This page was created with our breeders in mind, offering a convenient and effective platform to market your cattle. Whether you’re a purebred or commercial Speckle Park breeder, the Marketplace is designed to connect you with potential buyers and sellers within the Speckle Park community.

If you have feeder cattle or commercial heifers to sell, or if you’re looking to purchase, don’t miss this opportunity to reach an engaged audience. Contact Cayley at info@ canadianspecklepark.ca to have your listing added to the website.

SHOW CIRCUIT SUCCESS FOR US HEY MA 15 M

THANK YOU TO UNDERHILL SPECS

for providing coffee at both the Royal Winter Fair and Agribition!

This past year, US HEY MA 15M had an impressive run, claiming Heifer Calf Champion honours across three provinces - Paris Fair (Ontario), Expo Boeuf (Quebec), and NB Beef Expo (New Brunswick).

Bred by Underhill SPECS (ON) and now proudly owned by Midway Farms (NS), US 15M is out of DKR 4D, a standout cow in the Underhill SPECS program.

Congratulations to all involved!

FREE EBLAST SERVICES FOR CSPA MEMBERS

Did you know the Canadian Speckle Park Association offers free eblast services to its members? Whether you’re promoting an upcoming sale, event, or other Speckle Park-related activities, our eblast platform is here to help you reach your audience effectively.

To take advantage of this complimentary service to maximize exposure for your sale or event, contact Cayley at info@ canadianspecklepark.ca for more information.

Top: US Hey Ma 15M Right: DKR 4D, dam of US Hey Ma 15M

bridging

Q UALIT Y B EE F & C OMMUNITY

JC Cattle Co’s influence in southwestern Ontario through Speckle Park beef sales, conservation efforts and a novel presence on the edge of town.

Written by Catherine Brown, writer & freelance journalist based in Princeton, BC

Acostco shopping experience for an Ontario couple in the fall of 2021, afforded them a dose of inspiration that would change the trajectory of their farming and life journeys, going forward.

On their way home, the couple – Jonathan DeVries and Morgan Kuepfer – called up their friend - a work colleague of Jonathan’s - Christine Chalmers and shared their experience of sticker shock at the price of beef in this large discount retail chain. It was the spark that lit the idea that would take the shape of a thriving small-scale direct-to-consumer beef operation of their own.

By November of that year, Jonathan, Morgan and Christine went as a team to purchase one bred Speckle Park heifer each.

Three years later, they run a whole cowherd of Speckle Park and production is expected to triple in 2025, relative to 2024, as their business gains momentum in the local marketplace. All of this was managed without a farm, per se; the result of a lot of innovative thinking. Their biggest issue, to-date? A lack of freezer space!

All three partners manage this jointly owned beef operation, while also carrying on their original occupations. Jonathan and Christine work “full-time” on a local cash crop and chicken/layer operation. Jonathan has worked there nearly 15 years,

while Christine has worked there for five years. Jonathan’s wife Morgan is a music teacher for an elementary school in Listowel. All love their fulltime jobs and have no plans of leaving them anytime soon.

Christine lives on her family’s fourth generation farm operation in Milverton. The original log home of the 1800s is still there. It’s where her dad grew up. Her dad, Kevin, still lives there, having retired the dairy operation that it once was.

They came to admire the breed for its maternal strength, feed efficiency and temperament, while their customers rave about Speckle Park beef’s flavour, tenderness and marbling.

As plans unravelled, the vacant dairy barns were renovated from its previous tie-stall set up and the farm became the home to two Speckle Park cows and then many more.

“Their feed conversion is amazing!” says Christine.

Originally purchased because of “the look of them”, they came to admire the breed for its maternal strength, feed efficiency and temperament, while their customers rave about Speckle Park beef’s flavour, tenderness and marbling. They also keep getting comments about it being the best ground beef that their customers have ever experienced. All said, these cattle “checked all the boxes,” says Morgan.

The experience led to the ultimate establishment of a 90-95 per cent purebred Speckle Park herd and freezer beef that is 100 per cent Speckle Park.

Their business - under the name, JC Cattle Co. - is a freezer beef production operation that evolved into a cow-calf operation rather than the other way around.

Outside of some heifer calves retained annually as herd replacements, all other weaned calves are kept and fed or beef sales.

Christine and Jonathan oversee cattle management. Feeding involves an 80 per cent forage and 20 per cent non-gmo grain TMR (Total Mixed Ration).

The feeder cattle are fed homegrown grains of rye, Sorghum and corn silage. And hay is purchased from a local operation.

The main herd is rotationally grazed on pasture for as many months as possible from May through November. Cover cropping and no-till are two practices in place to ensure sustainable production practices. They are also proud to say that their crops are glyphosatefree (Roundup-free). And there is no use of steroids or hormones in their cattle management practices.

Jonathan, whose winding trek into this business started as a childhood dream, studied agriculture at Kemptville College. His wife Morgan tends to the social media part of this business, using her strong organization and planning skills. She does a lot of the behind-the-scenes orchestration. She is a strong supporter of youth in agriculture and of educating the public about beef production and farming – a learning curve which she herself recently navigated.

Christine’s dairy farm background was the beginning of her love of cattle and through work on local farms, she discovered the Speckle Park breed, setting the goal to one day start a herd of her own. Her parents have been a great support in providing the facility, while also helping out when possible.

Cattle are slaughtered at Peel Meat Packers in Drayton – a halfhour drive north, where they hang for two weeks and are inspected. They are then butchered, cut and wrapped, a half hour’s drive south of their operation, in Tavistock, at Yungblut Meats.

Christine Chalmers, Jonathan De Vries and Morgan Kuepfer

While Christine resides on her family farm, just outside of Milverton, Ontario, Jonathan and Morgan live in a small neighbouring community.

The partners’ innovative way of forging a business together is based on a passion to raise the best beef possible for their customers, while educating their wider community about production practices and the role of cattle in healthy ecosystems and conservation initiatives. Equally impressive are their innovative and “organic” marketing efforts. There wasn’t a concerted marketing effort so much as there was an intentional integration in their community and outlying areas.

In the shadow of the city of Cambridge, near Guelph, this little operation has impressive outreach!

In a 2024 search for additional pastureland, Jonathan, reached out to the Rare Charitable Research Reserve within the town boundaries of Cambridge, ultimately forming a long-term lease agreement with them. A 42-acre parcel of land that is part of the Grand River Conservation Authority, became their new pasture, which is also home to endangered species such as the bobolink that lives in its grasslands.

Jonathan, Morgan and Christine were then successful in leveraging grants to install a solar-powered water system and electric fencing for rotational grazing on the leased land. And as fate would have it, a retired beef farmer and family friend volunteered to regularly check the herd on this pasture, sending updates to them by way of text messages.

The Ontario Beef Farmer magazine featured the JC Cattle story with the headline, “Cows in the City”. The pasture is adjacent to public areas, a bus stop and busy streets.

Christine coined the term “Cows of Cambridge” and so-named a new community Facebook page which now serves to inform visitors about the cattle and serves as a forum through which Christine, Morgan or Jonathan can answer questions. Signs were posted around the pasture and neighbouring bus stop to advertise the Facebook page. As the Ontario Beef Farmer article indicates, it was an opportunity to steer traffic to JC Cattle Co’s online store. Morgan says the website features a simple ordering system and is a good portal for information about their operations.

They do not support farmgate sales but further outreach happens at local Farmer’s Markets. They sell beef at the Stratford Farmers’ Market every Saturday.

In the spring and summer months, they attend markets in Milverton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Stratford, Listowel and Toronto.

Online ordering is advertised and encouraged and delivery is provided. There are also two local retail outlets which sell JC Cattle Co beef.

Marketing is also accomplished through their presence at local events, including the Christmas parade where they present their cattle. That is possible because some of their cattle are “show-broke” as they like to exhibit their cattle at local shows, also taking part in Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair Speckle Park breed show. They have attended the Royal two years in a row now.

The town of Milverton is shut down once annually for a Moonlight Madness event in which JC Cattle also participates. They also display cattle at the Stratford Fair and participate in iFarm – a breakfast hosted at the farm for school children on arranged field trips.

JC Cattle partners also take responsibility for conscientious conservation and sustainability initiatives. They effort to use every part of each slaughtered cattle beast, from nose to tail. The only exception is that of the hide but they continue to seek out tanners or other outlets that might be interested in their hides.

Organ meats that aren’t spoken for are sold to a Wingham area dog treat company. JC Cattle makes and sells their own bone broth which is pressure canned. They also sell frozen bones. They currently curate and sell beef fat, tallow and raw materials to local companies but also sell tallow skin cream and intend on expanding to a full skincare line.

While its partners are still passionate about their full-time employment projects, JC Cattle Co has become more than a sideline project in what was originally intended to satisfy its owners’ so-called “cattle addiction”. Serving community, while onerous in their attention to detail, has become their ultimate joy, speckled with this unique and popular breed which is behind a growing network of niche markets across the country, to be sure!

Find JC Cattle Co. on Instagram or visit their website jccattleco.ca/

JC Cattle Co. is also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ jccattleco3/ and on the Facebook group Cows of Cambridge: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1037559794619911/

IDEA EXHANGE

BULL SELECTION

The herd bull, whether a walking bull or an artificial insemination (AI) sire, is undeniably the cornerstone of any breeding program. The genetics he contributes can influence your herd for generations, impacting everything from calving ease to carcass quality, maternal traits, and overall profitability. For new breeders, herd bull selection can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with countless options, varying opinions, and the pressure to make the “right” choice. This is a decision that deserves thorough research and a balanced evaluation of both genetic and physical traits.

A great herd bull should not only align with the goals of your operation but also elevate your herd’s overall performance in a way that makes sense for the overall goals and objectives of your breeding program. Understanding what you want to improve on in your cow herd is essential when deciding what to prioritize. Consider factors such as Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs), structural soundness, fertility, and health protocols when selecting your new sire. This is where record keeping, as discussed in the October 2024 issue of Spotlight on Speckle Park, comes into play—tracking your herd’s performance helps you pinpoint areas that need improvement, giving you a clear understanding of what to focus on. Of equal importance is taking the time to evaluate the bull’s dam and lineage—

JOHNER STOCK FARM

Written by Justin Johner

strong maternal genetics often correlate with better-producing offspring. One could argue that it’s the cow family behind a bull that truly makes all the difference.

Budgeting is another critical aspect of herd bull selection. A well-researched investment in a bull that meets your operation’s specific needs often yields the best results, regardless of the price tag. One must also decide where to purchase—from a sale or by private treaty—and ensure that you are working with a reputable source that offers post-sale support.

In this edition of Idea Exchange, we’ve gathered insights from experienced cattle breeders and industry leaders who share their perspectives on what’s most important when selecting a herd bull. From evaluating structural soundness and genetic traits to understanding market trends and ensuring proper health protocols, their advice is designed to help you make informed decisions.

Whether you’re building a foundation for your herd or looking to improve existing genetics, we hope this column provides the knowledge and confidence you need to select your next herd bull. After all, the right bull isn’t just an expense—it’s an investment in your operation’s future.

When selecting a herd bull, it’s essential to stay true to the type of cattle you want to produce. Chasing trends or fads will only hinder your ability to build a consistent and uniform cow herd. If you study the top breeders worldwide, you’ll notice they all have one thing in common—they remain steadfast in their vision. Producing a specific type of cattle will naturally attract like-minded cattlemen and women to your operation.

As producers with decades of experience in selling seedstock bulls, we believe consistency is key to meeting customer expectations. Within our own program, any bull we offer for sale should align with the breeding philosophy we stand behind. If we wouldn’t use a bull in our own herd, he wouldn’t be in our bullpen for sale. That said, there should always be a bull in your pen that fits, regardless of current industry trends or fads that buyers may feel they need to follow. We breed four different breeds of cattle, yet many of our customers purchase across all four because, regardless of breed or color, our cattle are bred with the same foundational principles in mind. Consistency in type and function is what truly matters.

www.johnerstockfarm.net **See Johner Stock Farm’s ad on page 70 of this issue**

RAVENWORTH CATTLE

Written by the team at Ravenworth Cattle

Garry, Donna, Grayson, Ryker and Huxley Berting

One of the most important parts of any cow calf operation is sire selection. This should be a top priority and there are many things to consider. With the goal of always improving your next calf crop, having a vision of the type and kind of cattle you want to produce is essential and you must keep this in your sights at all times. Evaluating cattle is a continuous learning process. The more you learn, the better your choices will become.

First, assess your cow herd to identify traits that are lacking or areas for improvement with a new sire, such as feet, length, frame score, spring of rib or udder quality, among others. Evaluating your cow herd should be an ongoing process. Keeping notes on the sires used for specific cows that resulted in successful mating is a useful exercise. If possible, selective breeding for each female is optimal, as they are all slightly different. Next, sort females into breeding groups by traits, pairing them with a sire selected for each group. Having determined what traits you want to improve in your females, you can begin developing a vision of the bull.

With these desired traits outlined and the necessary phenotype and genotype of a bull identified, combine this information to form a comprehensive overview of your next sire. Imprint this in your mind so that when looking at potential sires you have a clear vision of the desired bull. Part of evaluating bulls will include analyzing data such as birth weight, performance and calving ease. These are tools used to assess a sire, but we also suggest researching this same information for the bull’s sire, dam and siblings as well, if possible.

Some of the phenotype traits we find attractive in our herd are masculinity, scrotal size, skull shape, length of spine, spring of rib, overall muscle shape, maternal qualities, udders and most importantly, structural correctness. When we are selecting a bull, the skull shape should be angular from nose to ears - we like to see a nice poll shape and a large muzzle. All of these traits are significant, for example, a large muzzle is preferred for feed intake reasons. The shape of the head is also strongly related to calving ease. When discussing length of spine, it is important because longer cattle weigh more and in the end, producers get paid by the pound. We attribute a lot of importance to muscle shape, depth of body and spring of rib because these three combined will also add the right kind of pounds to the calves.

When discussing structural correctness, we are speaking of the actual skeleton of the animal, how the bones fit together and the angles in which they are constructed. This comes into play when looking at leg angles, hips, topline and underline, and how the neck projects from the shoulder. Structure is incredibly noticeable when the cattle are in motion. This part of evaluating cattle is extremely important as it tends to coincide with the longevity of the animals. This is especially true when it comes to the evaluation of hips, feet and legs, as this determines how the hoof hits the ground. A correctly structured animal will place their hoof on the ground squarely, therefore wearing their hooves properly and having significantly less hoof and foot problems. References for structural correctness are available online in diagrams to study. Our family has spent a lifetime studying structure in cattle and will continue to do so.

www.ravenworth.com

Upon determining what traits and genetics are optimal to breed into your cowherd, the challenge becomes searching out and locating a bull that will tick as many of these boxes as possible, with your most important traits being essential. As there is no such thing as a perfect sire, you will have to judge each of them yourself and determine which one will do the most good in your program.

One of the other important factors in selecting a bull is looking at his pedigree and assessing as many of his ancestry as are available. For example, having found a potential sire for your breeding program, next evaluate his dam and sire. If you’re looking to improve udders, for example, view the udder of the dam and the udder of the paternal grand dam. Research the siblings and half-sibs from the dam and sire from previous years to see if the type and kind has been strong in that genetic line.

As your cow herd develops over the years and is getting closer to the target of what you want to produce, you can become more and more specific with the selection traits. Adding to the existing list of criteria such things as hair coat thickness, tail attachment and many more traits.

As you spend some time researching sires and females, certain traits and styles that are appealing will start to develop for you. Breeding cattle, we always say, is like playing chess – it takes a lot of research, studying, concentration and commitment.

We are constantly evaluating bull calves and watching heifers and females we appreciate. Searching for a sire is a never-ending task, as you will always be requiring another one every year or two. Our motto is - “We are always looking for a bull”. If we find one that would be the right fit for us, we put him to work. Getting out and about touring herds, going to cattle shows and attending sales in person is a great way to get to know other herds and what they are producing. When selecting a sire, touring the bullpens of breeders and their herds is an excellent place to start. They will have a wealth of information about their herd, specifics about the dams and grand dams and be able to give you a lot of information.

Having accomplished all of this, keep in mind, bull selection is a moving target each year as new replacement heifers and perhaps newly purchased females will need to be evaluated.

Our goal is to build an extraordinary cowherd. All of our breeding decisions are based on this goal, selecting high priority traits in females we appreciate and then selecting our bulls accordingly. Secondly, we demand consistency in a sire, being able to pass on his desirable traits to all or most of his progeny is invaluable in a breeding program. Thirdly, docility is a must in our selection of bulls. Not only is it preferable to work with quiet cattle, but they also generally do better on feed. Why build an extraordinary cow herd? Great cows have great bull calves packed with maternal punch.

The payoff for the effort put into sire selection shows up in the following years calf crop, but truly, if the sire is great, you will see the effects for many years to come in the replacement heifers and females retained in the herd.

WILBAR CATTLE CO.

We think that the key to matching a bull to your herd is to be really honest about your cows and where they need to improve to get where you want to be. That requires a couple things: not being sentimental and having a vision for the future. When we say not being sentimental, we mean being willing to accurately evaluate your cows without bias for how much they cost, where they came from, if she’s the first one you raised, etc. Things get tricky and can set you back when you make excuses for your cows. Secondly, having a vision for the future is going to set the direction you want to go and will significantly impact the traits you want to focus on.

We believe in balanced trait selection and breeding. We have different priorities for some cows based on their strengths and weaknesses, but we saw consistency in our herd increase dramatically when we started breeding for ¾ siblings. This strategy has allowed us to more quickly see the improvements or setbacks a bull causes. By breeding groups of sisters to the same sire, successes and failures are revealed more quickly. Rather than breeding each cow a different way, we select bulls that offer improvements in multiple traits and support the advances we’ve already made. Some things don’t work out though, so don’t be afraid to pivot away from a bull (or cow) that isn’t working.

When we make bull selections, we like to not only see the dam but also the cow herd in general. We prioritize foot and udder quality, milking ability, performance and longevity. We like to see long standing cow families. Those are the things our customers expect from us and that’s how our herd was built.

There are pros and cons to purchasing a bull in a sale or private treaty - it really depends on where you can find the genetics that interest you. Overall, it’s more important to deal with a reputable breeder whose program you like. The price of a bull matters less than whether or not he is the right fit for your program. The best bull is the one that drives your program in the direction you want or need to go.

To find reputable breeders requires an investment of time. We like to use cattle shows to meet people. We also attend other industry events and follow programs through magazines and social media. We pick up the phone and visit with people to get to know them and learn about their experiences.

If you’re just starting out, find someone to mentor you. Over the years, we have spent a lot of time looking at and talking about cattle with people we look up to. We’ve found most people are very willing to help and offer advice. There’s always something to learn and always someone to learn from. There are good cattle and good people in all breeds. www.wilbarcattle.com

**Registered Angus cattle since 1963 and breeders of the reigning CWA & FarmFair Supreme Champion bull, Red Wilbar Hennessy 3K. Their 30th annual bull sale will be held at the farm on March 12th, 2025.**

KFC FARMS

Written by KFC Farm Manager Ashley Anderson

When selecting a herd bull a few things generally come to mind. What is the desired outcome of the cross? Are you selecting for calving ease or performance? Will these matings be a terminal cross or something to keep replacements from? What is the budget?

Functional soundness and a passed breeding exam are the first and most important things to consider.

The dam of the bull is so influential. What do her udder and feet look like? How many calves have been registered out of her, where have her previous bulls been sold to and have the heifers been retained in their herd as replacements? Strong cow families are so important, especially when looking at keeping replacements. One cow in your herd is not nearly as significant as a herd bull that you use to breed 40+ cows a year.

Is there anything in your herd that you’d like to improve? This is an important question to ask. If the foot quality in your herd is great, but you would like to clean up udders, that might be something you consider. The dam of the bull you select should have a very strong udder, so that your replacements will also hopefully improve with the cross.

There are a lot of traits you can also use to select a herd bull. Remember that these numbers are sometimes manipulated with things like feed. Compare bulls with their adjusted weights against the other bulls in their contemporary group. This tends to level the playing field when looking at cattle of different ages or that were weaned at different times. Utilize numbers in catalogues like indexes - this will compare bulls to each other in their contemporary group.

Because the EPD’s are in their infancy for the Speckle Park breed, I do find there are some holes when comparing EPD numbers to the actual inputted data of the cattle. The only way this will change is with more time and more data recorded. Genomic markers are a tool that add a lot more accuracy to the EPD, but the breed is still not at a point to utilize the information. I have had more success in selecting based on the real data of the bull than going off the EPDs they show.

When looking at the cost of a herd bull I do not believe that more money spent is always going to get you a better product. That being said, the better bulls generally go for more money because other breeders have noticed that the bull excels in certain aspects that are also desirable to them. Buy bulls within your budget that fit your criteria. If you are having trouble finding the right bull at the right price, you may need to adjust either what you’re looking for or increase your budget. This decision will vary with each operation. Choose a breeder that is transparent with their program, a herd that is on a vaccine protocol and works with a nutritionist. Ask questions. Go with a breeder and a program that you trust.

www.kfcfarms.com

**See KFC’s ad in the inside back cover of this issue.**

We were asked to contribute to the Idea Exchange on the topic of ‘herd bull selection”. As your herd bull contributes to 50% of the genetics in your herd, the bulls you select are extremely critical to the success of your program. The wrong selection can take several years to be fully realized and can set you back for a long time if the genetics do not end up working the way you had hoped. Much can be said on the physical traits or characteristics to be looking for in a herd bull. To simplify, we have narrowed it down to three points that we hope are helpful from what we have learned from our personal experience starting out in the breed.

1. Do your research. Look at the pedigrees and the performance of related offspring. A bull can look incredible under the show ring lights but never have the progeny that follow them up. To be profitable we need cattle that will last. If you are able to, we highly recommend farm visits to look at the dam of the bull you are interested in and related females and see how they are producing in real world environments. Take a look at the temperament, udder quality, foot and leg structure of those females.

2. Have confidence in the breeders that you buy from. When looking for a new herd bull we have typically looked to the breeders that have programs we have admired. There are breeders that consistently produce the type of cattle we like. They have done years of work to get to where they are and sourcing bulls from people that have had so much experience in the breed is the best short cut you can take for success. When starting in the breed, sometimes partnering with someone on a top end bull can be a great way to leverage their reputation onto the herd you are looking to build. When doing so, it is as important to do your research on the breeder as it is on the cattle. Before embarking on this path, make sure this is something that will work for you to help achieve your goals. We have partnered with some great people on

several bulls over the years that have had mutual benefit for both programs. When we started in the breed, we knew we needed to find a bull that could make a statement for what we wanted to build the foundation of our herd on. We looked around for a long time and finally settled on partnering with Johner Stock Farm on a yearling bull by the name of Trade Secret. It has been humbling for us to see Trade Secret become one of the top AI sires in the world for the breed, knowing his first ever progeny was here in the Wolf Lake herd.

3 Sometimes it’s worth taking a chance. It is easy to get caught up in chasing after the big-name bulls that have everyone talking. Even if a bull isn’t catching everyone else’s eye in the show ring, he may have the genetic components that fulfill exactly what your herd needs. We are always looking for the bulls that will produce progeny better than themselves. Sometimes you can be surprised by what the right cross can do. Although it is hard to be patient, when purchasing new sires, it can also be prudent to introduce them slowly by breeding a handful of cows the first year to see if they are the real deal. AI is also a huge benefit to try out different genetic lines with minimal risk.

To sum it up, being a breeder can sometimes be a frustratingly slow process. Sometimes it may feel like you are taking two steps forward and one step back as you work through and find the genetics for the type of cattle you are looking for. Last word of advice is to be consistent with the type of cattle you want to raise. Be true to what you are breeding towards and don’t get caught up in chasing the fads of the day. It doesn’t happen overnight but when you look back and see your prefix working in other people’s herds, it makes it all worth the while.

www.wolflakespecklepark.com

**See Wolf Lake Speckle Park’s ad on page 33 of this issue**

WOLF LAKE SPECKLE PARK

Written by the Brundige Family

SHOW RESULTS CLASSIC HERITAGE BEEF SHOW

September 19-22, 2024

GRAND CHAMPION FEMALE

KFC Hocus Pocus 9L

Mid Way Farm

GRAND CHAMPION BULL

GW/ID Loyalty 30 L

Mid Way Farm

RESERVE CHAMPION FEMALE

Stetson Hailey 5L

Mid Way Farm

RESERVE CHAMPION BULL

Fortbrook Maritimer 3M

Mid Way Farm *no photo

Windsor, Nova Scotia

Judge Toby Noble

Photographer N/A

ROCKTON FALL FAIR

October 12, 2024 Rockton, Ontario

Judges Austin & Jennifer Fisk

Photographer (miscellaneous)

GRAND CHAMPION FEMALE

Watson Stetson Parade 48L

Watson Land and Livestock Inc.

GRAND CHAMPION BULL

JSF Airforce 22K

Watson Land and Livestock Inc. *no photo

RESERVE CHAMPION FEMALE

RESERVE CHAMPION BULL

Watson Cougar Radiant 15M Mid Way Farms

MartinStar Moofossa 9M

MartinStar Farms

NB BEEF EXPO

EXPO BOEUF

October 11-13, 2024 Victoriaville, Quebec

Judge Philippe Hardy

Photographer Showchampions (with exception of RES BULL photo)

GRAND CHAMPION FEMALE

Caron Dou Lizzy 1L

Ferme Caron

GRAND CHAMPION BULL

Lougami Ringo Staar 53K

Ranch Lougami *no photo

PREMIER BREEDER Ranch Lougami

RESERVE CHAMPION FEMALE

Lougami Bianka 2G with calf at side Ranch Lougami *no photo

RESERVE CHAMPION BULL

US Simple Man 7M

Underhill SPECS

PREMIER EXHIBITOR Ranch Lougami

SHOW RESULTS

MANITOBA AG EX

October 27, 2024

GRAND CHAMPION FEMALE

Brandon, Manitoba

Judge Kurtis Reid (Speckle Park Show Judge) & Amy Bonchuk (Junior

Photographer Showchampions Photography

Colgan’s Kiss And Tell 27K with calf at side Colgan’s Magnum 127M Colgan’s Cattle Company Corp & KFC Farms Ltd.

GRAND CHAMPION BULL

RESERVE CHAMPION FEMALE

Ravenworth Lightening Lady 508L

Ravenworth Cattle

RESERVE CHAMPION BULL

Show)

X-Treme’s Laroo 8L

X-Treme Speckle Park & Calico Creek

Colgan’s Lawman 08L

Colgan’s Cattle Company Corp & KFC Farms Ltd.

PREMIER BREEDER Ravenworth Cattle

PREMIER EXHIBITOR X-Treme Speckle Park

JUNIOR

SPECKLE PARK SHOW

GRAND CHAMPION FEMALE

Wilcox/Graham Creek Baby 42L

Myelle Minchell & Emma Wilcox

RESERVE CHAMPION FEMALE

Legacy Sadie 24L

Elli Vogel

LLOYDINSTER STOCKADE ROUNDUP

October 29 – November 1, 2024

GRAND CHAMPION FEMALE

Highmark Kountess 16K

Highmark Stock Farm

GRAND CHAMPION BULL

Lloydminster, Saskatchewan

Judge Chad Wilson

Photographer Christine Boake

RESERVE CHAMPION FEMALE

Ravenworth Lightening Lady 508L

Ravenworth Cattle

RESERVE CHAMPION BULL

Carmark Laredo 101L

Carmark Cattle

Greenwood Kobra 3K

Greenwood Speckle Park & Ivery Downs Speckle Park

SHOW RESULTS

The Royal AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR

GRAND CHAMPION FEMALE

RESERVE CHAMPION FEMALE

Watson Leopard Trillium 7J with calf at side

GRAND CHAMPION BULL

Watson Stetson Parade 48L

Watson Land & Livestock Inc.

Watson Stetson Theona 27M

Watson Land & Livestock Inc.

RESERVE CHAMPION BULL

Martin Star Lightening 6L

MartinStar Farms

JSF Air Force 22K

Watson Land & Livestock Inc.

November 1-10, 2024 Toronto, Ontario

Judge Dennis & Katie Serhienko (Speckle Park Show)

Phil & Catherine Brown (National Junior Beef Heifer Show)

Photographer Showchampions Photography

PREMIER BREEDER

Watson Land & Livestock Inc.

PREMIER EXHIBITOR

Watson Land & Livestock Inc.

NATIONAL JUNIOR BEEF HEIFER SHOW RESERVE AOB

KFC Hocus Pocus 9L Belle Carter

FARMFAIR INTERNATIONAL

Colgan’s Kiss And Tell 27K with calf at side Colgan’s

Judge Garth Rancier Photographer Showchampions

Canadian National Speckle Park Show

CANADIAN WESTERN AGRIBITION

•CATTLEMEN’S CONGRESS •

AMERICAN NATIONAL SPECKLE PARK SHOW

January 6, 2025 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Judge Blake Nelson (Open Show) & Brandon Callis (Junior Show)

AMERICAN NATIONAL CHAMPION FEMALE

RH 005 Luck Be A Lady 66L Hay Creek Speckle Park

Photographer Next Level Images (with exception of the Reserve Junior Heifer and Reserve Bull Photos)

RESERVE AMERICAN NATIONAL CHAMPION FEMALE

Cross W Marshall 02M

Wright AMERICAN NATIONAL CHAMPION BULL

RESERVE AMERICAN NATIONAL CHAMPION BULL

Ludicrous TM8L

Alison

Martinstar Margarita 7M Martinstar Farms (sold to Blue Ridge Farms at the Cattlemen’s Congress Speckle Park Sale)

Trouble

Tina Williams

JUNIOR SHOW

CHAMPION FEMALE

RH 005 Luck Be A Lady 66L

Brynlee Sonnentag/Hay Creek Speckle Park

RESERVE CHAMPION

FEMALE

Wilcox/Graham Creek Baby 42L Emma Wilcox

2024 Speckle Park North American Champions

Taking Humble Beginings to NEW HEIGHTS RIVER HILL FARM

Written by Mona Howe

30years of hard work and unwavering dedication to the Speckle Park breed have moulded and shaped River Hill Farm Speckle Park into the breed leading operation it is today. That hard work and dedication all started with Canadian Speckle Park Association’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement award recipients, Barry and Elaine Ducherer. “It is a huge honor to be recognized with this special award in this great breed with so many good people. It really is second to none,” they share with pride.

The Ducherer family first got involved with the Speckle Park breed in 1995 when Barry and Elaine’s daughter, Carla, chose a Speckle Park heifer as her 4-H project animal. This was the beginning of a much larger love for and commitment to the breed for the entire family, including Barry and Elaine’s son, Cory, who now owns half of the family farm. Like many others, Carla was intrigued by the signature appearance of the Speckles.

It was an exciting transition from raising strictly commercial cattle to the purebred world. Long-time friends and neighbors, Chip and Wanda Chibri, were the source of the first few Speckle Park females at River Hill Farm, including Carla’s 4-H heifer.

Chip and Wanda offered the Ducherers plenty of encouragement to become more involved with the breed, selling them their herd of 16 purebred Speckle Park cows a few years later. “We were familiar with the breed, it was developed only a few miles from us, beginning back in the late 50’s and early 60’s,” mentions Barry. “We definitely weren’t the first ones in it, some neighbors got in to them as few years before we did,” he continues.

When asked about their approach to breeding Barry suggested that one main goal was to add a bit more performance to the breed, saying, “When we started, the breed was a little on the small side. Some guys were saying the cattle were too small. So, we bred for a little more performance and a little bigger birth weight. Because you're still selling to the commercial guys, who are still selling by the pound.” That being said, they still valued the calving ease inherent to the breed as well as other superior maternal traits, carcass quality and docility, but they just made an effort to offer genetics with added performance as an option to their customers as well as for use in their own commercial herd. Docility was one trait that initially endeared them to the breed and one that is still a top priority. It is a trait that they still cull

hard on to ensure the manageability of their herd. Both Barry and Elaine recommend to young producers looking to get into the breed to pay close attention to temperament. “When you’re working with the cattle everyday you want to be working with the good-natured ones,” they agree.

Docility was one

trait

that initially endeared them to the breed and one that is still a top priority.

In the beginning, Barry and Elaine crossed their Speckle animals with high quality purebred Angus to breed up much like Bill Lamont did in the breeds early years. “This type of breeding was allowed when Speckle Park was known as an ‘evolving breed’ with the Animal Pedigree department in order to add in different genetics,” explains Barry. “We had bought a small herd of purebred Angus cows from Chuck Raines that we used to cross the Speckle Park bulls on. We got a few out of that,” he says. Those speckled calves would then be mated back to speckled Speckle Park cattle. Once Speckle Park was declared a ‘distinct’ pure breed under the Animal Pedigree Act in 2006, the herd book was closed and only registered speckled animals were allowed to produce registered offspring. In highlighting the essence of their breeding program Cory says, “You just keep trying to pick the best parts of every animal you can and try to enhance them and do a lot of selective breeding. When we know that there are things that we would like to improve on specific animals, we try to select sires that will improve those parts to try to keep making the next generation better.”

Ducherer family. They, along with other family and neighbors, can attest to the fact that Speckle Park adds a taste, tenderness and marbling to the beef like no other breed they’ve experienced. “When we first butchered and tried some of our own Speckle Park beef, we were really happy with it,” comments Barry, “We started selling it to family and friends who were very impressed and just kept coming back for more,” he says. They have built up nice side business selling beef direct, marketing 25-30 head that way per year. “Most of our customers prefer not to eat meat from a grocery store anymore. We've ruined a lot of people going to restaurants because the steaks just don't taste as good in a restaurant as when you throw it on the barbecue at home. We take a lot of pride in that,” expresses Cory.

Speckle Park adds a taste, tenderness and marbling to the beef like no other breed they’ve experienced.

Carcass quality has long been a point of pride for Speckle Park producers, and this has been no different for the

Convinced of the superior quality of their beef early on, River Hill entered the carcass competition at the Calgary Stampede. Winning Grand Champion carcass in 2006 along with Reserve Champion carcass honors in 2007 and 2010 at this prestigious competition proved their product was indeed exceptional. Over the years, Speckle Park cattle continued to dominate, with 7 out of 12 years seeing a Speckle Park entry claim the winning carcass. In one of those years, three River Hill-influenced animals made the top 10, further cementing the breed's reputation for superior carcass quality.

Much like the carcass competition, the Ducherers have used the show ring to see how their cattle would measure up outside of their pasture. It proved to be a

Hennessy, Katlin, Cory and Scarlett

Barry Ducherer

Elaine & Barry Ducherer

great tool to increase the exposure of their breeding program as well as see what other genetics were out there that they may want to use to improve their herd. “The reason we took our cattle out to the shows was to get our animals out there and then see what else was out there and in turn, see how we could better our herd,” illustrates Barry, “If you don't ever get out there, you don't know what everybody else is doing, that was the main reason why we started showing.” For many years they have exhibited cattle at Edmonton’s Farm Fair International, Lloydminster’s Stockade Roundup and at Agribition in Regina. More recently, River Hill

Top to bottom:

River Hill 26T Walker 60W

River Hill 54Z Elle 25E with River Hill 105D Glitter 25G

took cattle to exhibit at Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma for it’s inaugural Speckle Park show and sale.

River Hill Speckle Park is no stranger to the international stage. They sold the very first bull into the Australian market after Speckle Park became registered here in Canada as a distinct breed in 2006, not to mention the considerable amounts of semen and embryos exports that followed. Along with that River Hill has had several record high sales of animals and frozen genetics over the years. They were also instrumental in getting the breed started in the United States, selling and delivering the initial Speckle Park animals in the US to New Jersey. “We helped start a herd for Ron Carty down in New Jersey. He came up here to Farm Fair and he ended up buying some cattle from us, so we trucked them all the way down there for him,” remembers Barry. An experience not many people can say they’ve had, exporting the very first of a breed to another country. Since then, Cory has delivered River Hill cattle to many buyers throughout the United States. “Over the years we sent quite a few embryos to the U.K. too and we’ve made great friends there, including with Sid and Anne Hollier,” states Ducherer.

They sold the very first bull into the Australian market after Speckle Park became registered here in Canada as a distinct breed in 2006, not to mention the considerable amounts of semen and embryo exports that followed.

2025 will mark the 15th year of River Hill Speckle Park selling bulls via a sale platform. Prior to that bulls were mainly marketed private treaty off the farm. The idea for a sale came up in conversation between Barry, Gary Kiziak and Jason Goodfellow back at the Calgary Stampede. They joined forces to put on what they called the Summit 3 Sale held at Codiak Acres. “We had a good market over there in Alberta and were able to cover a wider area selling bulls a province over. There were other breeders around home, but out there it was little bit newer, so it seemed to work out really well,” explained Barry. “This year on March 28th we will host our second online timed farmgate auction via DLMS directly from the farm,” mentions Cory who now heads up the marketing and promotions department at River Hill. They also keep a large inventory of semen and embryos on hand for interested buyers. Barry and Elaine are very proud of the fact that their genetics have made such a deep impact on the breed. “In just about every catalog you look at, there are quite a few River Hill genetics in each one. We don't think you'll find a catalog that there aren’t some,” they point out.

Picturing Bulls at River Hill

Beyond the breed itself and the traits it’s well known for, the Ducherers say it’s the people that really set Speckle Park apart. Barry and Elaine have attended sales of other breeders Canadawide making lifelong friends with many people in the breed. Since it’s inception, they have attended every AGM wherever it happened to be held across the country. “A lot of our best friends are Speckle Park breeders. So many of them are just very good people to work with and deal with,” the two of them agree.

Barry and Elaine credit much of their success to their hands-on approach with their cattle right from the beginning. Whether it was the two dairy cows they started with when they were first married or the large number of purebred Speckle Parks that they are currently in the midst of calving out, they are with the cattle everyday. As Carla points out, “It’s their dedication, their true love for it. Every cow is important to them, whether it's a commercial or a purebred. They’re out there day and night and barely sleep this time of year.” There is no question those countless hours spent with their herd has led to positive outcomes such as better culling choices, better breeding decisions and a quieter herd, just to name a few. “Through the many ups and downs, hard times and good they’ve always believed in the cattle and the breed and stayed true to that,” acknowledges Cory.

Knowing their cattle so well and operating with the highest level of integrity has truly set them apart. “Dad is willing to

Holding, not only themselves, but also their cattle to the highest standard has brought River Hill to where it is today.

talk to everyone and he’ll be the first one to take you in the pen and tell you which ones you want and which ones you don’t,” affirms Carla. Cory goes on to say, “They've been really good on customer service, they've always been super easy to deal with. If anybody ever had an issue, talk to us and we'll make it right was their philosophy.”

Holding, not only themselves, but also their cattle to the highest standard has brought River Hill to where it is today. “A lot of good ones likely went to the stockyards over the years,” admits Elaine, “Some we should have at least kept semen on, but that’s what happens in the process of improving the herd,” she says. “They're darn hard on bulls. Bulls don't see a long life around our place if the quality isn’t there,” states Carla. “What we've always aimed for is to have a commercial relevance with the cattle because we ultimately want to sell bulls,” adds Cory. “We aim to sell 90% plus of our bulls into the commercial industry with only, the very, very top end going into other herds as stud breeders, and they all have to be good enough to better the breed,” he continues.

There is no question that being a family affair has enabled River Hill Farm Speckle Park to thrive far beyond what Barry and

Cory Ducherer tours through the cow herd with Chris and Kayla Robinson

Elaine ever imagined, and they couldn’t be prouder of that fact. “Carla and Cory have definitely helped us a lot along the way to get here,” they state proudly. “Cory is a great promoter on the marketing side and Carla does an excellent job of managing the show cattle,” they continue. Cory takes care of the farming aspect of the operation, putting in about 2500 acres of cash crops annually. Carla also has started her own Speckle Park herd operating under the Carmark Cattle brand; however, she still works very closely back and forth with her parents and brother. “Carla has her own place and a good job, but she can still be here at the farm in 20 minutes to give us a hand,” says Barry. The Ducherers also give a great deal of credit to their hired man of over 25 years, Floyd Whitney. “He has put in a lot of hours here over the years allowing us to focus on building our brand and promoting the breed,” the two of them acknowledge. Between Barry, Cory and Carla (current CSPA Director & Chair of the CSPA Show Committee) they have all served on the CPSA board of directors contributing time, energy and ideas to the breed they are so passionate about. Elaine has elected to dedicate her time to the cows instead. “If you've heard anything from anybody, mom is the kingpin of the cow operation around here for sure,” admits Cory, “She's the one who says what can be sold and what can't be. It's quite funny. There are some running jokes with people

about not asking Elaine if there’s something they want to buy from River Hill because she won't sell them,” he chuckles. With the next generation of Speckle Park enthusiasts, Cory and Katlin’s girls and Carla and Mark’s boys, coming up the ranks there is plenty of optimism for the future.

Never in their wildest dreams did the Ducherers think that what started out as one 4-H project for their daughter would lead to the breed leading Speckle Park operation they have today, known the world over for its superior genetics. Whether it be in the show ring, sale ring or pastures across the globe, you don’t have to look very hard to find River Hill genetics on display. ~

YOUTH SPOTLIGHT

This past little while has been an exciting and productive time for the Canadian Speckle Park Juniors, filled with events, achievements, and new initiatives.

The Junior Board hosted a successful junior gathering at Agribition, with around 20 juniors in attendance. The event featured team bonding activities, trivia, and games with prizes generously donated by supporting farms. It was a great opportunity for members to connect, have fun, and discuss their goals for the future of the program.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Donation Heifer Raffle! With your generosity, we raised over $40,000. A special thank you to Carla Ducherer for the generous donation of the heifer and to the teams at T Bar C and DLMS for their help in making the raffle a success. Congratulations to PJS Speckle Park on winning the heifer!

At the Speckle Park Banquet we announced our 2024 bursary and Youth Stockperson of Excellence award winners. We are proud to recognize our bursary recipients for 2024: Senior Division (17-21):

$500 – Austin Olson $250 – Lily Brundige Junior Division (6-16):

$500 – Austin Cartwright $250 – Eli Vogel

The Youth Stockperson of Excellence award, sponsored by Underhill SPECS, is a $500 award that recognizes a junior who exemplifies passion, advocacy, and leadership within the breed during the fall show run. Congratulations to Alivia Ainslie, this year’s well-deserving recipient!

Planning is underway for the 2025 Annual General Meeting, with exciting opportunities for junior members. During the meeting on Saturday July 5 there will be team-building activities and fun events to ensure juniors stay engaged.

Additionally, a Junior Show will take place on Sunday July 6. The planning committee is working hard to make this event a great success! The National Junior Show will continue to be held in conjunction with Summer Synergy July 7-11.

We continue to support 4-H members through our Breed Token Awards. Any 4-H member with a Speckle Park influenced project can have their club leader apply for a Breed Token Award. Applications open on March 1, 2025, and close on September 30, 2025.

We are also now accepting youth bursary applications, providing further opportunities for juniors to receive financial support for their involvement in the breed.

With so many opportunities on the horizon, I am thrilled for what 2025 will bring. Thank you to everyone who continues to support and grow the Canadian Speckle Park Junior Program!

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions.

Makenzie Olson CSPA Youth Director

Dernièrement, les membres juniors Speckle Park ont jouies d’une période passionnante et productive, remplie d’événements, de réalisations et de nouvelles initiatives.

Le conseil d’administration de l’association junior a organisé avec succès un rassemblement de ses membres à l’Agribition, avec la participation d’une vingtaine de jeunes. L’événement comprenait des activités de consolidation d’équipe, des quiz et des jeux avec des prix généreusement offerts par les éleveurs qui supportent nos activités. Ce fut une excellente occasion pour les membres de se connecter, de s’amuser et de discuter de leurs objectifs pour l’avenir du programme.

Un immense merci à tous ceux qui ont soutenu le tirage de la génisse qui nous a été donnée ! Grâce à votre générosité, nous avons récolté plus de 40 000 $. Un merci spécial à Carla Ducherer pour le généreux don de la génisse et aux équipes de T Bar C et de DLMS pour leur aide au marketing de la loterie. Félicitations à PJS Speckle Park pour avoir gagné la génisse !

Lors du banquet de Speckle Park, nous avons annoncé les gagnants de nos bourses 2024 et du prix « Youth Stockperson of Excellence » (Jeune vacher par excellence). Nous sommes fiers de reconnaître nos récipiendaires de bourses pour 2024 : Division senior (17-21):

$500 – Austin Olson $250 – Lily Brundige Division junior(6-16):

$500 – Austin Cartwright $250 – Eli Vogel

Le prix « Youth Stockperson of Excellence », parrainé par Underhill SPECS, est un prix de 500 $ qui récompense un junior qui illustre la passion, le plaidoyer et le leadership au sein de la race lors des expositions d’automne. Félicitations à Alivia Ainslie, la récipiendaire bien méritée de cette année !

La planification est en cours pour l’Assemblée générale annuelle de 2025, avec des opportunités passionnantes pour les membres juniors. Lors de la réunion du samedi 5 juillet, des activités de consolidation d’équipe et des événements amusants auront lieu pour garantir que les juniors restent engagés.

De plus, un concours Junior aura lieu le dimanche 6 juillet. Le comité de planification travaille fort pour faire de cet événement un grand succès ! Toutefois le concours national junior continuera

de se tenir conjointement avec Summer Synergie du 7 au 11 juillet à Olds en Alberta.

Nous continuons de soutenir les membres 4-H grâce à nos prix d’appréciation. Tout membre des 4-H ayant un projet influencé par la génétique Speckle Park peut demander à son chef de club de postuler pour un prix. La mise en candidature commence le 1er mars 2025 et se conclura le 30 septembre 2025.

Nous acceptons également désormais les demandes de bourses pour les jeunes, offrant ainsi aux juniors de nouvelles opportunités de recevoir un soutien financier pour leur implication avec la race.

Avec autant d’opportunités à l’horizon, je suis ravie de ce que 2025 apportera. Merci à tous ceux qui continuent de soutenir et de développer le programme junior canadien Speckle Park !

Comme toujours, n’hésitez pas à nous contacter pour toute question ou suggestion.

Makenzie Olson

Directeur des programmes juniors pour l’ACPS

YOUTH SPOTLIGHT

JUNIOR PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Hello everyone!

I would like to start by saying a huge THANK YOU to all the people who have supported our Canadian Junior Speckle Park Association (CJSPA) over the past year.

I can speak on behalf of the entire Junior Board in saying that we were truly overwhelmed by the results of our fundraising efforts at Agribition.

Thanks to Carla Ducherer with her generous donation of Carmark Marilyn 14M, and the support of Speckle Park Breeders across North America, our newly formed Junior Association has a strong foundation. I am very grateful to be part of a breed that encourages the younger generation.

The CJSPA is proud to offer a number of opportunities for Juniors, including the National Junior Speckle Park Show, 4-H breed token awards, the junior points show award system, annual bursaries and more! I encourage juniors to take full advantage of these opportunities and to get involved!

To stay up to date with news regarding the CJSPA, check us out on FacebookCanadian Junior Speckle Park Association.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns, we would love to hear your ideas!

Emily Watson, CJSPA President ~

CJSPA Board of Directors

Left to right: Mackenzie Olson, Mirrah Webster (Treasurer, B.C. Director), Alivia Ainslie (Fundraising Chairperson, Central Director), Lily Brundige (Secretary, Alberta Director), Austin Cartwright (Junior Member at Large), Emily Watson (President, Eastern Director) Amy Fradette (Vice President, Central Director), Mackenzie Martin (Media Manager, Eastern Director)

AGES 6-16

$500 Austin Cartwright $250 Elli Vogel

AGES 17-21

$500 Austin Olson $250 Lily Brundige

A Heartfelt Thank You to Carmark Cattle

We extend our most sincere gratitude to Carla Ducherer of Carmark Cattle for her incredible generosity. Thanks to Carla’s donation heifer, the CSPA Juniors successfully raised over $40,000 at Agribition. These funds will play a vital role in strengthening and enhancing the junior program, ensuring its continued growth and success.

YOUTH SPOTLIGHT

CSPA Announces 2024 Junior Points Show Winners

The Canadian Speckle Park Association (CSPA) is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 Junior Points Show Program. These outstanding juniors have demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill, and passion for Speckle Park cattle, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.

Purebred Show Heifer of the Year

Congratulations to Belle Carter with her heifer, KFC Hocus Pocus 9L

Speckle Park Influence Show Heifer of the Year

Congratulations to Elli Vogel with her heifer, Legacy Sadie 24L

Show Steer of the Year

Congratulations to Riley Breuer with his steer, Louis

Overall Showmanship Winner

Congratulations Belle Carter

Runner up

Emily Watson with her heifer, Watson Stetson Parade 48L

Runner up

McKenna Webster with her heifer, Manhattan

Runner up Mirrah Webster with her steer Aztec

Runner up Mirrah Webster

We would also like to extend our gratitude to all the juniors who submitted their show results this past year. We applaud each and every one of you for your hard work and so appreciate your participation in this program!

Congratulations to all our winners and participants! Your efforts continue to inspire and strengthen our Speckle Park community.

The CSPA Junior Points Show Program recognizes and rewards the achievements of our young members across Canada, highlighting the future leaders of the Speckle Park breed.

A big Thank You to the Canadian Junior Speckle Park Association for creating the Junior Point Show Award. It brought great joy to hear that my Legacy Sadie 24L female has been awarded the Speckle Park Influence heifer of the year! This past year has been a memorable time for Sadie and I. Sadie comes from our commercial herd (Legacy Speckle Park & Angus). As an April born calf, we traveled to numerous shows. We were in show classes against Speckle Park cattle and all other breeds, and they were usually older. Doing our best, we were proud to showcase how great the influence of Speckle Park is on cow herds. We had some successes, many positive comments, she was often a fan favorite and was appreciated and respected by many fellow cattle breeders and judges. Its truly an honor to end our 2024 show year with this award.

Thank You so much. Elli Vogel & Legacy Sadie 24L.

Elli Vogel & Legacy Sadie 24L

Belle Carter & KFC Hocus Pocus 9L

Riley Breuer & Louis

Alivia Ainslie Wins 2024 Underhill SPECS Youth Stockperson of Excellence Award

The Canadian Speckle Park Association (CSPA) is proud to announce that Alivia Ainslie has been named the recipient of the 2024 Underhill SPECS Youth Stockperson of Excellence Award. The award was presented during the Canadian Western Agribition CSPA banquet, recognizing Alivia’s hard work, knowledge, advocacy and passion for the Speckle Park breed.

Congratulations to Alivia on this outstanding achievement!

The CSPA extends a big THANK YOU to Underhill SPECS for their continued support. Their generosity and commitment to fostering youth excellence plays a vital role in encouraging and inspiring the next generation of Speckle Park enthusiasts. ~

Due to personal health reasons, we must sadly sell our Speckle Park herd. Yearling heifers and pairs available this spring, with more cattle for sale now or this fall. Bloodlines include Premier Logic, Banjo, Yager & Unmarked.

Elli Vogel & Legacy Sadie 24L in CWA Junior Beef Extreme

UNDERSTANDING THE NEW SPECKLE PARK EPD SYSTEM

EPDs (Expected Progeny Differences) are a valuable tool to help breeders make informed decisions about selecting and breeding cattle with desirable traits. Here’s what you need to know to make sense of the new Speckle Park EPD system:

WHAT ARE EPDS?

EPDs predict the genetic potential of an animal’s offspring for various traits, such as growth, carcass quality, and maternal performance. They are calculated using pedigree data, performance records, and genomics.

Each EPD is expressed in units relevant to the trait it measures (e.g., pounds for weight traits). The base value for each EPD is set within the breed population, meaning that an EPD value should always be compared to breed averages, not as an absolute number.

KEY EPD TRAITS & WHAT THEY MEAN

Birth Weight (BW)

Predicts the calf’s birth weight. Lower values are generally preferred for heifers to minimize calving difficulties.

Weaning Weight (WW)

Estimates the calf’s weight at weaning. Higher values suggest faster growth to weaning.

Yearling Weight (YW)

Predicts an animal’s weight at a year old, showing growth potential.

Calving Ease Direct (CE)

Measured in percentages, this indicates the likelihood of unassisted calving. Higher values mean fewer difficulties.

Calving Ease Maternal (MCE)

Similar to CE but evaluates a daughter’s ability to calve easily.

Milk

Reflects a cow’s genetic ability to provide milk for her calves. Higher values indicate better milk production.

Marbling (MARB)

Predicts intramuscular fat, which affects meat quality. Higher values indicate better marbling.

Rib Eye Area (REA)

Measures the size of the ribeye in square inches. Higher values indicate better muscling.

Carcass Weight (CW)

Predicts the carcass weight of an animal’s offspring in pounds.

Docility (DOC) Expressed in percentages, this indicates the likelihood of an animal being calm and easy to handle.

Stayability (STAY) Predicts the likelihood of a cow staying productive in the herd beyond a certain age.

HOW TO READ AN EPD TABLE

Each animal’s EPD values are listed in a table alongside a measure of accuracy. Here’s how to interpret them:

Compare to breed average If an animal’s EPD is higher than the breed average, it indicates genetic superiority for that trait. If lower, it suggests below-average performance.

Accuracy (%) Ranges from 0 to 100%. Higher values indicate more confidence in the prediction, based on more data.

INDEXES: WHAT THEY DO

Indexes combine multiple traits into a single value to help with decision-making:

• All Purpose Index ($API) Measures an animal’s overall genetic value in a maternal-based system, considering calving ease, growth, carcass traits, and maternal ability.

• Terminal Index ($TI) Predicts performance in a terminal system (where all offspring are sold for beef). Focuses on growth and carcass merit.

GENOMICS & ACCURACY

• The IGS system uses Single-Step Genomics, integrating DNA data for more precise EPD predictions.

• Adding genomic tests to an animal’s profile can be as valuable as having 20+ offspring records.

• EPD accuracy improves when breeders submit actual performance data, such as birth, weaning and carcass weights.

WHY THIS MATTERS

By understanding and using EPDs effectively, Speckle Park breeders can make informed decisions to improve herd genetics, increase profitability, and meet industry demands more efficiently.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

ARGENTINA

News from the Argentina Speckle Park Association

Submitted

Agustín Arroyo

In 2024, the Argentine Association of Speckle Park Breeders was founded in Argentina. The decision to introduce this breed to a country with a strong livestock tradition—being one of the world’s leading exporters of both genetics and beef—was made by renowned breeder and international judge Carlos I. A. OjeaRullán. His goal was to contribute to Argentina’s vast and high-quality genetic pool of beef cattle.

At the end of 2021, the first Speckle Park embryos arrived in Argentina, and in June 2024, the first calves were born. This breed, developed in Canada, is the result of a combination of two of the world’s highestquality beef breeds—Angus and Shorthorn—along with one of the longest-standing cattle breeds in human history, the British White Park.

From Argentina, we believe that this exceptional combination of three noble breeds, which have significantly contributed to global livestock development, will provide a much-needed genetic and quality refresh for the future of our beef industry. The Argentine Speckle Park Association was founded in 2024 with 12 founding members.

We consider that the breed’s meat quality, environmental adaptability, moderate frame size, balanced birth weight, early maturity, docility, feed efficiency, and impressive ability to thrive in both extreme cold and heat make it a highly valuable addition to our country’s livestock sector.

The breed’s early progress in Argentina has been excellent, receiving strong interest from both registered and commercial breeders. The first calves have generated significant demand, as has the semen. We are eager to continue expanding in the near future, working closely with breeder associations worldwide to further establish Speckle Park in Argentina.

The Argentina Speckle Park Association's logo features a map of Argentina within it

SALE RESULTS

NOVEMBER

CWA SPECKLE PARK SALE

REGINA, SK

Total head sold 14

Sales Gross for Live Lots

$110,750

Sales Average Live Lots $7,911

Total frozen Packages Sold 11

Sale Gross for Frozen Lots $14,850

DECEMBER

CWA SPECKLE PARK SALE

REGINA, SK

Total head sold 14

Sales Gross for Live Lots

$110,750

Sales Average Live Lots $7,911

Total frozen Packages Sold 11

Sale Gross for Frozen Lots $14,850

FOURTH ANNUAL INTEGRITY

SPECKLE PARK FEMALE

SALE 2024 DLMS FARM

GATE TIMED AUCTIONS

Total Head Sold 18

Sale Gross for Live Lots $104,250

Sale Average $5,792

X-TREME SPECKLE PARK FALL FEMALE PRODUCTION

SALE 2024 DLMS FARM

GATE TIMED AUCTIONS

Total Head Sold 15

Sale Gross for Live Lots $83,250

Sale Average $5,550

THE BIG CHILL SPECKLE PARK SALE PRESENTED BY INC CATTLE CO. & FRIENDS

SASKATOON, SK

Total Head Sold 24

Sale Gross for Live Lots $146,250

Sale Average $6,094

Total frozen Packages Sold 58

Sale Gross for Frozen Lots $18,275

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION

SALE FROZEN GENETICS ON DLMS

Total Speckle Park Packages Sold 5

Sale Gross for Frozen Lots $7650

CANADIAN BEEF BREEDS COUNCIL REPORT

Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) has had an eventful fall and we’re excited to share those updates.

Early November we held our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in conjunction with the 50th celebration of Farmfair International. It was a great opportunity to connect with the membership and hear some of the opportunities for alignment within the seedstock industry from these members. Before the business portion of the AGM we were fortunate to have Mark Lowerison, Partner in The Herdbook Group and the Project Lead on the Canadian Beef Improvement Network (CBIN), present to the membership and our stakeholders. Mark provided an update on the program and fielded a discussion with the group.

A new year brings new Directors to the CBBC Board. CBBC is excited to welcome Cory Ducherer, Brad Gilchrist, Ken Lewis and Garth Rancier as the latest additions. Current and/or re-elected directors are Kevin Blair, Eddie Marsman, Andy Schuepbach, Scott Severtson and Shawn Wilson. Shawn (SW Cattle Co.) has been elected as the 2024/25 Chair and Scott (Severtson Land & Cattle) as Vice-Chair. Shawn is looking forward to working with this new group of Directors to continue to advance the goals of our organization.

We’d like to sincerely thank retiring Chair David Sibbald and retiring Directors Ken Friesen, Marlin Leblanc, Rod McLeod, Dennis Serhienko and Brett Wildman for their service. Committing to a collective vision to bring our membership more value is no small task and we were fortunate to have these individuals’ efforts and expertise guide CBBC.

We’re also extremely excited to have Macy Liebreich join the CBBC team as Program Administrator where we believe her diverse experience in the industry will be an asset for our members. She comes to us with a commerce degree from UBC, roots from the family ranch Merit Cattle Co,

and recent experience from the international import/export division at Alta Genetics.

Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) is always a fall feature as it brings the opportunities to appreciate the genetics showcased and connect with international visitors. CWA also brought forth news of a substantial investment for promoting Canadian genetics internationally. CBBC is pleased to receive up to $871,200 over 3 years (2023-26) from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the AgriMarketing program. The financial support provided through the AgriMarketing Program will assist with global trade initiatives such as participation in major cattle shows, targeted promotional campaigns, incoming and outgoing missions, virtual activities, technical training and bilateral and multilateral meetings.

As a fresh year approaches, CBBC renews our commitment to serving as a unified front and collective voice for the seedstock sector. Our position to champion issues affecting the industry from our membership’s perspective is critical to the wholistic success of the Canadian beef industry. We are honoured to continue to do this work and to collaborate with partners to leverage resources to build upon opportunities for assuring a sustainable future for Canadian beef cattle breeders and producers alike.

Respectfully submitted by,

Sandy Russell, CEO

ADVERTISERS INDEX

Maidstone, SK

David & Arlinda Johner

P: 306-893-2714 C: 780-205-4630 jsf3@sasktel.net

Justin & Amber & Family P: 306-893-2667 C: 306-248-1305 johnerbulls@gmail.com www.johnerstockfarm.net