Cct150112

MANAGING COLD STRESS 路 A CALVING CHECKLIST

Rawes Ranches Ltd. 32nd Annual Performance Tested Charolais Bull Sale

THE BEEF MAGAZINE

Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at the ranch, Strome, AB

MORE DETAILS ON PG 61

The Ranch where performance is no accident!

January 2015 $3.00

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

A RESTFUL

Calving Season

Chad, Crystal, Cassidy and Carlee Ross

of Estevan, Sask.

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240

.ca

The Breed You Can Trust

Canadian Hereford Association • 5160 Skyline Way NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6V1 • 1-888-836-7242 • herefords@hereford.ca

Established 1938 ISSN 1196-8923 Cattlemen Editorial Editor: Gren Winslow 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 (204) 944-5753 Fax (204) 944-5416 Email: gren@fbcpublishing.com

Contents canadian cattlemen · JANUARY 2015 · Volume 78, No. 1

 ca lv i ng

Field Editor: Debbie Furber Box 1168, Tisdale, SK S0E 1T0 (306) 873-4360 Fax (306) 873-4360 Email: debbie.furber@fbcpublishing.com Advertising Sales Deborah Wilson RR 1, Lousana, AB T0M 1K0 (403) 325-1695 Fax (403) 944-5562 Email: deb.wilson@fbcpublishing.com Crystal McPeak (403) 646-6211 / (403) 360-3210 Email: crystal@fbcpublishing.com Head Office 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 (204) 944-5765 Fax (204) 944-5562 Advertising Services Co-ordinator: Arlene Bomback (204) 944-5765 Fax (204) 944-5562 Email: ads@fbcpublishing.com Publisher: Lynda Tityk Email: lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com Associate Publisher/Editorial Director: John Morriss Email: john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com Production Director: Shawna Gibson Email: shawna@fbcpublishing.com Circulation Manager: Heather Anderson Email: heather@fbcpublishing.com

When calving starts the cows take over the work on the Ross L-7 Ranch.

HAVE A RESTFUL CALVING SEASON  ca lv i ng

FEATURES

President: Bob Willcox Glacier FarmMedia Email: bwillcox@farmmedia.com

A calving checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Why is she open?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Contents of Cattlemen are copyrighted and may be reproduced only when written permission is obtained from the editor and proper credit is given to Cattlemen.

Rotational grazing for beginners. . . . . . . . 20 Scoring newborn calf vitality . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Cattlemen and Canadian Cattlemen are Trade Marks of Farm Business Communications.

Have a restful calving season. . . . . . . . . . . 30

Cattlemen is published monthly by Farm Business Communications.

Head office: Winnipeg, Manitoba. Printed by Transcontinental LGMC. Cattlemen is printed with linseed oil-based inks.

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What to do about cold stress in newborns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

A calving checklist Get ready ahead of time.

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What you need to know about colostrum for beef calves. . . . . . . . 44 Verified Beef Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

DEPARTMEN TS

Circulation inquiries: Call toll-free 1-800-665-1362 or email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com U.S. subscribers call 1-204-944-5766 Member

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Our commitment to your privacy: At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1. Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call 1-800-665-1362.

Some advice on when and how to resuscitate calves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Calving Tips and Tales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

PRINTED IN CANADA

The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Canadian Cattlemen and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis.

However, the editors, journalists, Canadian Cattlemen and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Canadian Cattlemen and Farm Business Communications assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

30

What to do about 34 cold stress in newborns

Congratulations!

To our January survey winner, M. Oldfield, Dundalk, Ont. This month’s survey is on page 64.

Cover Photo: Our photo is supplied by the Ross family

Comment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Newsmakers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Our History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Vet Advice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Holistic Ranching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Research on the Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Straight from the Hip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Prime Cuts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 CCA Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 News Roundup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Purely Purebred. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 The Markets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Market Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Sales and Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 C at t l e m e n · j a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

3

 COMMENT

By Gren Winslow

It’s all about the money

Alberta Beef Producers seeks a return of the mandatory checkoff

A

fter five years of doing without and a year of town hall meetings and weeks of internal discussion Alberta Beef Producers is primed to put its case for a non-refundable checkoff before the Alberta government this spring.

The question will be carved into the revised five-year plan governing the ABP operations that will be presented first to the provincial gatekeepers who sit on the Agricultural Products Marketing Council and ultimately Agriculture Minister Verlyn Olson for a final decision.

As the producer delegates gathered in Calgary last month to put the final touches on their proposal the irony of the situation wasn’t lost on anyone. While most of them were wondering how to invest the windfall profits coming from their calves this year, their cattle organization was scrimping just to meet its current obligations.

At a time when the industry is largely optimistic about the future and busy negotiating some lofty targets for a new National Beef Strategic Plan to ensure Canada’s beef business remains competitive it is increasingly clear that it doesn’t have the money to pull it off.

Alberta has long been the engine that drives the industry but the ABP simply won’t be able to prop up the grand plans the industry is making for itself, not without some significant changes to its checkoff. Total revenues are down with shrinking cattle numbers and bound to go lower in the foreseeable future. Add to that a fairly steady drain of about $2 million a year in refund claims and the ABP has been short of cash for some time now.

The pressure on the nationally funded Canada Beef and Beef Cattle Research Council isn’t quite as severe since an earlier agreement between the ABP and Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association left the national checkoff dollar nonrefundable. ABP provides 27 per cent of Canada Beef’s total budget and a similar portion for the research council.

The remaining $2 of the provincial checkoff can be refunded twice a year, in June and December.

The drain has been fairly consistent since the first refunds were made in June 2010. An average of 320 cowcalf producers have filed for refunds totalling between $170,155 and $304,527 so far. Between 149 and 191 feedlots filed claims during the eight refund periods between 2010 and 2013, with the totals ranging from $871,955 to $1,281,630. A small number of feedlots takes out most of the funds but the names remain confidential.

At the same time the total provincial checkoff has shrunk from $12.8 million in 2009-10 to $10.8 million in the last fiscal year, 2013-14. Last year, once they deducted the refunds and dealer rebates that left $8.3 million. Of that $3.7 million is national checkoff funds and went off the top to Canada Beef and the Beef Cattle Research Council. Another $1.6 million went to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, to support its work.

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What’s left is set aside to fund the ABP’s operations (including the CCA allotment) the following year. Up to now, they’ve managed to keep $5 million rolling forward after refunds every year to cover their expenses.

In searching for a way out of this zero sum game, the ABP had no choice but to consider raising the checkoff.

One option was to raise the national checkoff to $2 per head but no one wanted to try and sell that option, not when other provinces aren’t collecting their full share of the levy, and others are clawing some of it back to run their own marketing and promotion programs.

They also considered a single checkoff at the farm gate, possibly tied to the sale of RFID tags, and a single checkoff at slaughter or export but dismissed both as either unfair, or unworkable.

ABP simply won’t be able to prop up the grand plans the industry is making for itself, not without some significant changes to its checkoff In the end they decided to broach the idea of raising their own provincial checkoff. Obviously that won’t go down well with the majority if these few hundred producers continue to pull out their share whenever they want.

To get around that the board proposed a three-piece checkoff that added a non-refundable $1 provincial levy to be spent solely on marketing, promotion, research, and industry communication and collaboration with other beef groups. The $2 service charge that pays for ABP and CCA lobbying, administration and legal bills would remain refundable. Add the national $1 and this would give Alberta a $4 per head checkoff with half of it still refundable.

It was a compromise, one that obviously didn’t sit well with the delegates who were clearly fed up with the refundable checkoff, and those who claim it every year.

In a series of heated debates the delegates recommended the board ask for a non-refundable $4 checkoff.

Short of that they want the names of those requesting refunds to be made public. They also supported the creation of a credible Cattle Industry Leaders Forum to advise the ABP board on where the checkoff money should be spent.

Now it is up to the gatekeepers and the minister. The ABP hopes to have an answer by June. c

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

 THE INDUST RY

NewsMakers Greg Bowie

Bob Lowe

Roland Cailliau

The Alberta Beef Producers re-elected Greg Bowie of Ponoka to a second term as chair of the provincial cattle organization at its annual meeting last month in Calgary.

Nanton rancher and feeder Bob Lowe was re-elected to a second term as vice-chair.

Joining them on the executive is Roland Cailliau of Valleyview as finance chair.

The Chattaways of Bar S Ranch.

The Alberta Beef Producers presented the Chattaway family of Bar S Ranch with its 2015 Environmental Stewardship Award last month in Calgary. Clay Chattaway, along with his sons Morgan and Scott and families run the ranch located west of Nanton in the Porcupine Hills. The Bar S Ranch is a fourth-generation cow-calf yearling operation covering roughly 2,000 acres.

“My grandfather came in 1900 and ranched about five miles north and in 1919 he bought a good part of what’s known as the Bar S today. The best part about ranch-

ing is the family aspect and watching subsequent generations come in. The whole family is part of the management team,” said Clay, speaking to the multi-generational heritage.

Rotational grazing plays a large role in the grazing systems implemented at the ranch and cattle are typically moved every three to four days. Weather permitting the cattle graze year round and with a 1,000-ft. variation in elevation across the ranch higher ground is utilized throughout the warmer months and lower ground during the winter.

Springs have been developed to ensure cattle always have easy access to clean water using gravity-fed watering systems. The use of machinery is kept to a minimum.

“Preferably when we move cows it’s with a horse. It’s quieter and in the end always easier… they’re relaxed, you’re relaxed and a more relaxed animal makes everybody more money,” said Morgan. “Sustainability to us is being able to carry on what we’ve always done and being able to add more.”

The Canadian Angus Association honoured Steve Eby and family of JSE Farms in Kincardine, Ont., with its Eastern Feedlot of the Year Award in November. Eby sits as a director of the Bruce County Cattlemen’s Association, Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, and is a member of the OMAFRA Livestock Medicines Advisory Committee.

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has appointed Cargill’s vice-president of corporate affairs, Chantelle Donahue to the Farm Products Marketing Council for a three-year term. Donahue also co-owns her family

grain and oilseed farm at Biggar, Sask., is the current chair of the Canada Grains Council and the Western Grain Elevator Association Management Committee, co-chair of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Grains Roundtable and Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops, vice-chair for the Barley Council of Canada, a member of the Canada Meat Council Beef Committee, the steering committee for the Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and a representative on the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Beef Value Chain Round Table.

Copper Creek Ranch of Princeton, B.C., owned

by Ron a n d Sharon Stevenson and family, is the proud owner of the Canadian Hereford Association’s registraPhil Brown tion number 3,000,000.

The landmark number will likely be assigned to CCR 100W Adela ET 2B, a heifer calf born January 29, 2014, say ranch managers Catherine and Phil Brown, who snagged the Catherine Brown number for $4,750 in a special auction for the reserved number held halfway through the national Hereford show at Canadian Western Agribition.

Number 300,000,001 went to Dallas Farms of Bowden, Alta., for $1,000. T Bar C Cattle Company, Cattle In Motion and Agribition donated their services to the cause with proceeds earmarked for the Hereford Research Fund.

In 1981, the association reserved registration number 2,000,000 in the name of Keith Gilmore, the founder of The Canadian Hereford Digest, and 2,000,001 was reserved in the name of Fred Clark, director of the Canadian National Livestock Records Corp. The millionth mark passed without fanfare.

Scott Holt is the new North American marketing manager for Allflex USA Inc. and will oversee the company’s large-animal business in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Page Newton, the former agronomic services manager for Viterra in southeastern Alberta was recently named territory manager with Canterra Seeds in central Alberta. c

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www.canadiancattlemen.ca

 our histo ry

Jack Dillon remembered Reprinted from the Canadian Cattlemen, June 1948

C

losing a colourful career, Jack Dillon passed away in Calgary on March 15, 1948. From the time he left his birthplace, Limerick, Ireland, at the age of three until his death at the age of 66, Dillon poured his energy into various activities ranging from law student, cowhand, rancher, commission agent, ranch manager, livestock association secretary, political organizer to rodeo and oil promotion.

Dillon and his family moved to South Chicago in 1886 where Dillon became interested in tales of ranchers and ranching in the West, and this lure of the West was in later years to cause him to give up his law studies at the University of Chicago and to journey into the Sand Hills of Nebraska where he worked on a horse ranch. But he was also interested in cows and soon he was buying cattle in the Dakotas and then went into the commission business at Sioux City, Iowa. He returned to Chicago only long enough to claim his wife and he and his young bride went to ranch at Elkalaka, Montana, 90 miles from the nearest town. When the First World War broke, the French government’s horse-buying commission came to the U.S. and it was not long before young Dillon was assembling and breaking horses for the commission in Montana.

In 1918 he moved to Canada as manager of the OH Ranch, west of High River, Alta. It had been purchased by Mayer & Lage from Walter Ings and Dillon had

been associated with the former in his horse buying activities. Soon he was to engage in the livestock commission business in Calgary. He became interested in the 1919 Calgary Stampede and was judge of the relay races and the Roman standing races. In 1923, he became senior bucking horse judge and later assistant to Guy Weadick in the arena and became arena director in 1932 upon the retirement of Weadick, a position he was to hold until 1946, when ill health forced him to take it easier. In 1947 he was made director

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of the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede and it was while representing that organization in San Francisco, Calif., as director of the International Rodeo Association that he was to take an illness from which he failed to recover.

In 1919 when a group of stockmen organized the Cattlemen’s Protective Association of Western Canada Dillon became director. This group was active in the eradication of mange and in combating the high U.S. Fordney-McCumber tariff of 1922. Dillon made several trips with D.E. Riley to Washington, D.C., and to the Corn Belt states where he argued the case of the Canadian producer of feeder cattle. When the Protective Association took over the charter of the Western Stock Grower’s Association and assumed its name, Dillon became honorary secretary of the latter organization, a position he held for several years.

He became interested in local, provincial and federal politics, being organizer for the Civic Government Taxpayers’ Association in Calgary and a Liberal worker in the provincial and federal fields. In later years he became actively interested in oil development and was associated with C.C. Cross in the successful independent development of the now famed Leduc oil field. c For more of the past from the pages of our magazine see the History section at www.canadiancattlemen.ca.

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375

BULLS

M.C. Quantock Bull Sale “Canada’s Bulls” Saturday, Jan 31, 2015

12 noon MST

Lloydminster, AB/SK • All cattle in heated facility! • Free Beef Lunch 11 a.m.

My family and I have spent more than 40 years supplying in excess of 10,000 bulls to Canada’s commercial cow men. We’re sincere and solid. You have my word we’ll look after your business in a caring, friendly manner. Read what our customers have to say, then this year call me for your bulls. Sincerely, Mac

We sell and deliver for free, hundreds of bulls all across canada. Here's what our customers say...

“We used your Super Baldie bull for 11 years, he was the best bull we ever had. We keep daughters and really improved our herd. When we sold him he was still going strong and in great shape. I think you run a wonderful operation and I want to thank you so much for that bull.”

— B. Hogg, MB “The Sight Unseen Purchase Program you offer, coupled with a rock solid reputation, unquestioned convenience and a large battery of quality, affordable sale bulls has again made bull buying from your ranch a pleasure.”

— J. Comrie, MB “Our ranch has been using M.C. Quantock Livestock bulls for over 10 years. We presently have over 50 Red Angus, Super Baldies and Black Super Baldies in our pen. We have had great success calving from April 5 to May 20. Our Baldie calves sold September at Dawson Creek at the top market. We sold 1300 calves in 1 hour and could have sold more if we had them. Thanks Mac and family, your great line of bulls makes a difference in our herd.

— N. Combell and Sons, AB

“Excellent service, the only place we buy our bulls.

Small birth weight calves, excellent growth. Our calves are weaning steadily heavier in the last 5 years, better replacement heifers, better genetics.”

— D & G Lyons, AB “It is a pleasure to do business with you. Never yet have I been disappointed with Sight Unseen purchases. Best of all, I like the temperament of your bulls and Mac’s integrity and reliability is tops with me.”

— D. Armstrong, MB “I must say, I couldn’t have picked a better bull myself, so thanks — calves hit the ground running, lots of vigor, the bull passed on this good disposition and conformation.”

— G. Gramlich, AB “Nothing but a positive experience. Even being a small producer, you have treated me like I was important to you.”

—S. Goldie, SK

“Pleased with the RA bulls, good shape when they arrived and at the end of the dry summer in MB remained in good condition.” — K & G Archibald, MB

“We had problems with one of our bulls. We called Mac and he took it back and made an adjustment. We had had the bull one year. Very pleased with your service and prompt reply. I have been very satisfied. You take a professional approach to your business. Something that is often neglected in agriculture.” — L & R Cooper, SK

“The bulls always do good and any problems I’ve had were solved immediately. Bull loaned free of charge.

Keep up the great service. Thanks.”

— J. Sykes, MB

“We bought 2 bulls over the phone. I met Mac in Bonnyville and was very pleased. The bulls were exactly what we were told we were getting.”

— R. Ulliac, AB

“Extremely pleased with our sight unseen purchase and would not hesitate to buy this way again. Our local vet remarked, ‘That’s one heck of a nice bull.’”

— D. Parkin, SK “I thought our Charolais bull was not working and you replaced him promptly. We were will satisfied.”

— Cayenne Ranches, AB “The bulls are excellent and we have no trouble. We run 30 bulls which are all hybrids.” — J & G Naylen, MB “Very impressed with how smooth and fast the sale ran, to run that many bulls in that amount of time was truly impressive. It was also reassuring to know that you were there after the bull had been delivered to ensure that everything was okay.”

— B. Wilson, SK “We needed an unexpected bull and Mac delivered an excellent bull on the day and time he said. Very nice to deal with people who respect your time.”

– Crowley's, SK “The bulls, the sale, the service is second to none.

Buying from M.C. Quantock for the past 3 years has been a huge stepping stone for the ranch. It is always a pleasure to deal with you.”

— JV Ranch, MB “Just got home with my bull, great head, real good feet and legs, clean in the shoulder and thick bull. I was nervous about this Sight Unseen Purchase thing,

never done it before. I was impressed with the bull and the way you do business.”

— R. Mattison, MB “Very impressed with your sale. The best one I have attended in 30 years of ranching. Quality of cattle was excellent and the sale went smooth and fast. I was impressed with the quality of people you having working for you and how well they worked under the stress of the day.”

— B. Howell, BC “I’m 100% satisfied with the quality of bulls I’ve bought with your Sight Unseen system. When taking delivery I’ve always felt I’ve gotten more value than I paid for.

Your integrity is appreciated.” — M. Carr, ON “I was very satisfied as a first time buyer ‘Sight Unseen’ — you deserve a huge amount of praise for your ‘Pay in full when delivered and sight unseen policy.’ Keep up the good work.”

— D. Denis, SK “Being able to buy a bull over the phone is great peace of mind, and Mac was very easy to talk to and is very knowledgeable about his bulls. The bulls I got were perfect. It was as if I was at the sale. I am 100% satisfied and will buy again from M.C. Quantock.”

— M. Arnold, SK “I’m really impressed with the bull you suggested. I wanted a long, deep, thick, meaty bull and that’s exactly what I got. I’ve been to a lot of sales in MB this spring and this bull would be a high seller at any of them.”

— J. Brown, MB

Call Mac... 1-800-561-BULL (2855) Everything is on our new website (www.mcquantock.com or www.canadasbulls.com), catalogues, video, hundreds of pictures...… View it today or just call 1-800-561-bull (2855) or email us at mcquantock@hotmail.com and we’ll send you your very own catalogue and DVD.

 calving

By Heather Smith Thomas

A Calving Checklist Get ready ahead of time

B

efore calving, you want everything on hand that might be needed, and all facilities and equipment functional and ready for use. Don’t wait till the last minute to get machinery out of the calving barn or maternity pen if that’s where you parked it, or to try to find the new box of OB gloves you bought last year.

Remember where you left your calf puller or halter if you haven’t used them for a few years. It’s frustrating to be rummaging around in the night trying to find something when a heifer decides to calve three weeks ahead of schedule and needs help, or you discover that the equipment is broken and needs to be repaired or replaced.

BEFORE CALVING

Dr. Steve Hendrick, Coaldale Veterinary Clinic, Coaldale, Alta., says proper nutrition for cows is important to ensure healthy calves at birth and a healthy cow. “I always talk to producers about what they feed cows in the last trimester. This is when the fetus is growing the fastest, demanding the most nutrients — like a parasite. Nutrition is crucial — especially energy and protein, but also the minerals. If producers are not supplementing yearround with minerals, they should at least do it during that last trimester. If cows are deficient it can have negative consequences down the road regarding health and viability of that calf, as well as increasing the odds of not shedding placental membranes in timely fashion, and future reproduction,” he says.

Adequate nutrition is important, but you don’t want heifers getting too fat. “Feeding

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too much is not only expensive, but could lead to difficulties and dystocia,” he explains.

If the heifer is too fat, the birth canal may not be as roomy (too much fat in the tissues) and the heifer will tire sooner during labour and quit trying to push the calf out.

Handling cattle before calving, getting them used to people walking among them, getting them used to the maternity facilities ahead of time, can make things easier and less stressful when they calve. “If you have to chase a cow to get her in, it does more harm than we realize in terms of calf viability, bonding, cleaning, etc.”

If a group of heifers have never been in the maternity pen, or in the barn, it pays to quietly put them in ahead of calving, with some gentle older cows that know the way. Feeding a little hay in there can help them feel at ease.

If they’ve never been in the barn, do a few trial runs, easing them into the barn with an older, quiet cow. If heifers are not afraid to go into the barn or the pen, this will make things easier if you have to help them calve or need to put them in the barn to calve on a cold night.

“If you are moving them from winter pasture or feeding area to a calving pasture or paddock, make sure the calving area is as clean as possible, with lots of bedding.

This can help keep udders clean and prevent scours and other issues,” says Hendrick.

BEDDING AND WINDBREAKS

“For people who are calving in January through March, there is immense value in having some piles of straw that the calves can nestle down into,” says Claire Windeyer, assistant professor, University of Calgary.

“If a calf can lie in bedding, so the legs are buried, some researchers say this is equivalent to ambient temperature being about five degrees (Celsius) warmer,” she says. The bedding serves as cushion (between the calf and frozen ground), helps keep calves dry, acts like a windbreak, and traps warm air around the calf.

“Wind fences and calf shelters also provide huge benefits. We had a severe winter last year, with people calving at 40 below zero. It was a challenge just trying to keep calves alive. Most people consider January and February the toughest months to calve, but you know what you are getting into and can plan accordingly. By contrast, March is so unpredictable you never really know what you will get,” she says.

PREPARED FOR CALVING

Hendrick say it’s important to have a maternity pen or handling facility where you can quietly ease a cow or heifer into it and restrain her for examination if there are concerns about the birth. “Veterinarians occasionally have to do C-sections with the cow tied to a post or to a tractor. If a person has to run the cow around to rope her and tie her up, this is stressful,” he says.

“Having a box stall with a head gate to restrain the cow and a swing gate makes your vet’s life easier and less risk for people getting injured,” says Windeyer. “A regular hydraulic chute or something you’d use for pregchecking can be a nightmare when cows go Continued on page 12

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ca lv i ng

 managem e n t

Pasture management Claire Windeyer says preparation for calving actually starts with feeding and pasture management of the cows. “It helps if the cows calve in a different pasture than where they overwintered — for scours prevention.

Having a clean area for the cows to calve is essential. In conjunction with that, it is important to move pairs out of that calving pasture as quickly as possible,” she says.

“Put them into a separate pasture and, if possible, group the pairs according to age of calves — so all the calves in one pasture are within three weeks of age.” Then you are not putting new babies in with older calves that may already be shedding scours pathogens. Those pathogens in the environment can increase exponentially as calving season progresses; calves born later in the season may be exposed to much greater concentrations if they are kept in the same environment as the early-born calves.

Claire Windeyer, assistant professor, University of Calgary.

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Continued from page 10

down.” With a swing gate you can open it and the cow can be lying comfortably while you finish pulling the calf or doing the C-section.

You just need to make sure she is not choking in the headgate; have one that is easy to pop open, or with straight sides rather than curved to fit the head and neck.

“I like chutes with sides that actually split.

You can open the top part to do a C-section, or the bottom part to suckle a calf. It’s all about human safety as well as ease of handling and working with the cattle,” she says.

“We always recommend using an obstetrical sleeve when checking or helping a cow,” says Hendrick. “This protects both the cow and the person. In Canada we are lucky in that we have very little brucellosis anymore — just a couple bison herds. Our cattle population is free of brucellosis, but we still promote using the sleeve for protection if you need to examine a cow to see if she is progressing in labour or there are complications,” says Hendrick.

“The sleeve will keep you clean, and helps protect the cow from contamination. You also need a bucket and scoop for warm water, and soap or disinfectant to wash the cow’s hind end before you examine her, and a good obstetrical lubricant to put onto your sleeve and glove before you insert your arm. Many people think that’s what the soap is for, but soap can be very irritating to the membranes.

It lifts off the mucus that protects the lining of the birth canal,” he explains.

Windeyer suggests a gentle soap like Betadine for scrubbing the cow, and plenty of lube.“One trick is to put the lube in alongside the calf with a stomach tube and pump. This can really help, especially if you are working with a dead calf that’s dry, when all the birth fluids have been lost. If you can insert the tube into the birth canal past where you can force your hand, and pump in some lube, this may help. But some calves are just too big and should be delivered by C-section. If you can’t get your hand between the calf and the pelvis, the lube isn’t going to help,” she says.

“Another thing to have on hand is baler twine to tie the tail and keep it out of the way and out of your face,” says Hendrick. “If the cow has a halter on, just tie the twine to the halter rather than to the fence or chute.

Then if the cow falls down, her tail is tied to the halter instead of something immobile — which could damage the end of the tail.”

Make sure OB chains and handles are clean, and stored in a clean place, not out in the barn where they may get dusty. “Dirty

equipment is a common way that bacteria are introduced into the cow,” says Windeyre.

“This is especially true if you happen to tear the lining of the uterus when using contaminated equipment. A problem with handles is that sometimes as they get older and worn, they don’t grip onto the chain as well. If you are putting your weight into pulling a calf and the handle slips, you may go flying onto your back,” she says.

“Be sure your calf puller is in working condition and not rusty,” says Hendrick. “Some people get by using a rope or come-along rather than a calf jack, but the calf jack provides better leverage if used properly,” he says.

“If a heifer is sore after a difficult birth, it often pays to give her a painkiller like Meticam or Anafen. There are some good drugs that will alleviate some of the pain and allow her to mother the calf,” says Hendrick. She’ll be more inclined to bond with that calf if she’s not feeling miserable.

BE PREPARED TO TAKE CARE OF CALVES

“There are some resuscitation devices for calves if they are weak at birth and you are trying to stimulate them to breathe. A few producers use a face mask with a bag, to force air into the lungs and resuscitate some that are slow to breathe,” says Hendrick.

“When I first started veterinary work, there was a drug on the market called doxipram. This is a respiratory stimulant and we can still get pharmacies to compound this drug. This one is amazing and will stimulate calves that won’t start breathing. You need a prescription from your veterinarian to get it since it is no longer commercially available. You might discuss, ahead of calving, the things your veterinarian might recommend, or not recommend.”

Have towels on hand for rubbing and drying calves. “If you had to assist the birth, you need to get the calf breathing, and dry it so it won’t get chilled. If the calf wasn’t born in a clean place, disinfect the navel stump. We usually recommend an iodine solution — a mixture of iodine and alcohol. Dip the navel once or twice, until it dries up and is no longer vulnerable to infection.”

If the calf is unable to nurse the cow for some reason, you need colostrum on hand and a way to get it into the calf. “Frozen colostrum from one of your own cows is best (to thaw and feed) but a commercial product in a bag (to mix with warm water) is convenient,” he says. Be sure to buy the highest quality colostrum replacement, rather than a colostrum supplement. The latter doesn’t contain enough antibodies.

“If you have a cow restrained that you assisted

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calving

at calving and she has decent colostrum, you can milk a little from her to save and freeze, or to give to her own calf if necessary,” says Hendrick.

This can be fed with a nipple bottle if the calf can nurse, or with an esophageal feeder if the calf is unable or reluctant to nurse.

“Sometimes a person is tired and doesn’t take the time to try to feed the calf with a bottle, and uses the esophageal tube. But it’s much better for the calf to suckle; this puts the milk into the stomach (where it is properly digested), rather than into the rumen.” Suckling stimulates opening of the esophageal groove that bypasses the rumen and puts milk into the simple stomach. Suckling also encourages the calf to nurse, and it may try to nurse its mother after it gets a taste of what you fed it.

“If you are using the esophageal probe feeder, check the bulb at the end of the tube to make sure it is still smooth. This bulb can get roughed up by the teeth if you’ve used it to get fluid and electrolytes into older calves.”

They often protest and grab the bulb with their teeth before you can get it past the teeth and down the throat.

“Those little scratches harbour bacteria and can be hard on the throat. We’ve opened up dead calves during necropsy that had infections all down the throat from this scraping, and can’t swallow. These probes are not very expensive and it’s wise to keep a couple new ones on hand, and keep a separate one for tube-feeding colostrum versus the one you use for giving fluids to sick calves,” says Hendrick.

Other things to have on hand at calving include a good flashlight with fresh batteries, and maybe a toolbox or plastic carrier to keep everything handy that you take out to the barn or pen to deal with a calving emergency or treat a calf. A thermos jug is handy — something large enough to put a bottle of colostrum into if you take it out to the barn in cold weather. Warm water in the jug can keep colostrum the right temperature.

“A calf sled is useful — for pulling a newborn calf to the barn,” says Hendrick. You can pull one of these by hand or behind a quad, and the cow will follow since she is able to see and smell her calf as you go along.

This is a lot easier (and safer) than trying to carry that calf. c

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13

 calving

By Heather Smith Thomas

Why is she open?

Not all pregnancy losses are due to infection

A

fter a cow is bred, she should calve about 283 days later. But sometimes the pregnancy is terminated early and when you go hunting for a reason you’ll discover they are many causes for a lost pregnancy.

Most of the time when there’s a poor pregnancy rate in a herd we suspect infectious causes like trichomoniasis, campylobacteriosis (“vibrio”), lepto, IBR or BVD, but there may be non-infectious causes. Pregnancy may be lost within the first week after conception — or at any stage of gestation.

Late pregnancy loss is visible; you may find the aborted fetus or a cow with placental membranes hanging from the vulva, but with early pregnancy loss you may have no indication, says Dr. Barry Blakley, a toxicologist at Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. And if cows are pregnancy-tested early, a few that were determined pregnant will lose their fetus before calving time.

Blakley says there are four basic causes of loss: genetics, infections, toxins and nutritional deficiencies.

Losses due to genetic causes are nature’s way of weeding out defective offspring that cannot survive. These include defects in DNA that terminate the conceptus very early on, as well as some abortions and stillbirths.

Stress is another factor that is often overlooked. There are many kinds of stress, including nutritional deficiencies, envi-

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than-usual number of late calvers. Cows that settled late may have bred early but lost their pregnancies and rebred on a later cycle.

EARLY PREGNANCY LOSS

Dr. Barry Blakley

ronmental stress (heat, cold, bad weather), systemic disease, etc., that make conditions less than optimum for continuing the pregnancy. Reproduction is a luxury; if the cow is in poor body condition, ill or otherwise stressed, she will either not become pregnant, or may lose the calf, says Blakley.

She must first be healthy herself to have a healthy pregnancy.

Dr. Ahmed Tibary, professor of theriogenology, department of veterinary clinical sciences, Washington State University, says pregnancy loss should be considered a possibility whenever there’s a longerthan-average calving season, or a higher-

“Early loss generally doesn’t affect length of time in which the cow returns to estrus,” says Tibary. “She comes back in heat on schedule, just as though she wasn’t bred.

Most embryos that are lost degenerate and die before the eighth day, before or just as they come down the fallopian tube into the uterus. There’s also substantial loss before day 14. The overwhelming majority of pregnancy losses occur before day 14, which will not affect the cow’s return to heat in her next cycle,” he says.

Causes of early loss include alterations in the egg itself, and in the fertilizing semen.

“Researchers are looking at possible defects in semen and the effect of genetics on quality of the embryo. In some situations the bullcow combination (genetically) may lead to increased early embryonic loss,” he says.

“About five to eight per cent of pregnancy losses in beef cattle (of pregnancies that continue beyond 21 days) are lost in the first 42 days. Rapid weight loss in the cow, or other stress such as transportation in early pregnancy can lead to losses.

The biggest factors include sudden change in nutrition, environmental stresses like severe cold, or heat. Stressful conditions

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calving

may cause hormonal disturbances. Moving cattle, particularly in the first 42 days of pregnancy, can be a factor, especially if it involves a lot of stress,” Tibary says. A long truck haul, gathering cattle swiftly to get them away from an approaching wildfire, or cattle being continually harassed by wolves are examples of stress that may lead to pregnancy loss.

TOXIC CAUSES OF PREGNANCY LOSS

Toxic plants, including endophyte-infected tall fescue, are often responsible for early pregnancy loss. “Fescue toxicity hinders ability to thermo-regulate, and affected cattle suffer more heat stress or cold stress. In some situations feed may be contaminated with mycotoxins, mould or estrogen-like substances that may interfere with pregnancy,” says Tibary.

Some toxicants affect the fetus — including lupine, hemlock, locoweed, pine needles, ergot alkaloids, certain moulds, etc. For instance, pine needle abortion causes loss in late pregnancy when cows consume Ponderosa pine needles. The greatest risk is when cows consume pine needles for three days or more, and have a high level of toxicant — which constricts blood vessels in the placenta, hindering supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, killing it. The toxicant also increases uterine contractions that expel the fetus.

“Mycotoxins are common causes of pregnancy loss,” says Blakley. “These are metabolites produced by fungi. Zearalenone is one that produces estrogenic effects and infertility,” he says.

“T-2 toxin, dioxynivalenol (also known as vomitoxin or DON), etc., affect rapidly dividing cells — the embryo or fetus — causing embryonic death or abortion.

There are at least half a dozen mycotoxins that affect rapidly dividing cells or affect hormones in the animal. They may cause abortions or deformities, or failure of the conceptus to implant in the uterus,” explains Blakley.

Another toxic concern is ergot. “This mycotoxin is a mixture of several alkaloids that can have adverse effects on the animal. In Canada we are seeing more of this problem with changing growth conditions, moisture, temperature and weather,” he says.

“Some of these problems are increasing because of the way farmers manage their crops. No-till farming is becoming more widespread, and if farmers don’t till the fields, the fungus stays on top and spreads.

If surface material is tilled into the ground,

then the bugs and microbes eat the fungi and get rid of it,” says Blakley.

“Harmful fungi and mycotoxins can also develop in moist areas like ditches and then spread into the grain fields and affect various grasses. If farmers don’t till their fields properly or don’t till them at all, the fields are more heavily contaminated and then the crops are more contaminated,” he says.

“Ergot doesn’t affect the fetus in terms of deformities, but can affect blood supply

to the uterus (which could lead to death of the fetus) and also causes band contractions on the uterus, which might expel the fetus.”

“Consumption of certain metals like lead can cause problems including abortions. In the area where we are, there are many oil industry chemicals, and some of these can cause abortion due to organ damage. Certain hormones build up or don’t build up, Continued on page 18

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Continued from page 15

“Some plants accumulate cyanide which can cause fetal deformities and abortion — though often it kills the cow. Wilted/frosted cherry or chokecherry leaves cause a lot of problems. In Canada we also have a problem with arrowgrass,” he says.

Problems can also be caused by plants that accumulate selenium (since too much selenium is toxic), or plants that contain harmful alkaloids. “The alkaloids cause liver damage, and then the cow can’t maintain the pregnancy,” he says.

“A major concern in certain areas of the world is poor-quality water. It may have high levels of sulphate, which interferes with absorption of copper, etc.” This creates a deficiency in the animal even if soils and feeds contain adequate amounts of copper.

because of this damage, or may be altered by impaired metabolism, or it may allow for buildup of other toxic chemicals which would otherwise be eliminated by the body.”

If the liver isn’t functioning properly it can’t break down and eliminate toxins.

“And in some cases these chemicals actually cause the liver to break them down more quickly and this causes lower levels of certain hormones like progesterone. Therefore the cow can’t maintain the pregnancy,” he says.

“Occasionally certain moulds enter the bloodstream and cause what we call a mycotic abortion. Cattle may also inhale spores from mould and get a fungal pneumonia — which stresses the animal,” he says.

Some plants contain nitrates under certain conditions, and nitrate poisoning can cause fetal death. “Another concern is fertilizers that contain nitrates. Cattle may eat the fertilizer or drink contaminated water.

There may not be enough to kill the cow, but enough to affect the fetus. The fetus is much more susceptible to nitrate poisoning than the cow,” Blakley explains.

NUTRITIONAL STRESS

Nutrition has been linked to embryo loss, especially trace mineral deficiencies.

Cows losing a lot of body condition just before or immediately after being bred may experience altered hormonal profiles, says Tibary. “Nutritional stress can cause early or late pregnancy loss. Specific

“When my pen riders pull cattle, I want them to have a fast acting treatment that’s cost-effective.”

nutritional deficiency (such as certain trace minerals) can be a factor, even in a herd that’s well fed in terms of energy and protein. The top three trace minerals that affect reproduction are selenium, copper and manganese,” he says.

“Certain parts of North America are deficient in copper and/or selenium,” says Blakley. “If the animals aren’t getting enough of those important trace minerals they will have reproductive problems. I’ve seen some herds where the reproduction was poor, and after supplementation with copper the reproduction rate returned to normal,” he says.

“Our No. 1 problem in Canada in winter is associated with cattle eating poor-quality feed. The vitamins that were at high levels in forage during summer — particularly vitamins A and E — drop dramatically after feed is stored for a long time during winter.

These vitamins are necessary for placental and fetal development. We encounter many vitamin A and E deficiencies in stored feeds. In milder climates this isn’t a problem because there’s green feed nearly yearround. But in our region, starting in October there is almost no green feed available and it may snow under; cattle must eat cut forage,” says Blakley.

“Properly feeding your animals is the best way to prevent pregnancy loss in most situations. Certain genetic problems might be an issue in purebred herds, but under normal conditions with crossbred cattle these would not occur because the defective genes would not be expressed,” he says. Most of these defects have to be inherited from each parent. c  m a nag e m e n t

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18

When a cow conceives twins, there may be twin reduction in early gestation. If a cow carries a twin in each horn of the uterus, the risk for loss is less than when twins are carried in the same horn.

Sometimes the cow loses both, and sometimes just one. The producer may find only one calf, but if it’s a heifer freemartin, you know there had to be a twin bull calf present earlier.

C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

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 grazing

By Steve Kenyon

Rotational Grazing For Beginners

I

’ve recently had a few newer producers attend my seminars and schools who reminded me that there is still a large part of the farming population who consider rotational grazing to be a completely foreign notion. Not necessarily because they disagree with it, but just simply because they’ve rarely heard about it; and definitely have never been advised on how to put it into action on their own farms or acreages.

The reasons to begin rotational grazing are numerous. I always have an easy time selling the idea of bale grazing to producers, as it is a very efficient and easy production practice. It saves you time and money.

The increased fertility on bale-grazed sites is often, I think, just considered a bonus.

Rotational grazing on the other hand is a little bit of a harder sell as it costs producers both time and money. However, in the long run it can end up saving producers both.

Do you want your land to have better quality forages? Would you like to save money by not needing to fertilize or spray your land? Do you want your kids to inherit fertile and healthy land? If so, then rotational grazing is definitely for you. The little bit of time and expense that you’ll put into getting started will save you a lot in the future. It is a long-term investment.

With those thoughts in mind, can you afford not to rotationally graze?

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I’ll run through the basics on how to set up a simple rotation on your farm, but keep in mind no one magazine article can replace attending schools, conferences and seminars to further your learning. There are also many excellent books out there. That’s how I learned most of the practices I now have in place on my grazing operation, and I still try to attend conferences and seminars when other speakers are in my area.

I believe that the very first thing any farmer starting off rotational grazing needs to learn is how to manage the grazing concepts. Without these you will never quite know how to put rotational grazing into effective practice in your environment.

To make your operation a success, keep in mind the four grazing concepts while planning your grazing cell. They are easily remembered as GRAS (just pretend that we farmers never learned how to spell grass!); Graze period, Rest period, Animal impact and Stock density.

Graze period is a very important concept that most conventional farmers bypass when considering how to graze their land.

This is strictly a measurement of time. You want to make sure your animals are off a paddock before they have a chance to take a second bite of the same plant. This depends on your season and your environment.

Rest period works in direct relation to graze period. This is how long you allow a

piece of land to rest in between graze periods. Depending on your environment, this can be anywhere between 30 to 365 days.

You want to make sure that by the time your animals are back on a paddock, the plants are in late stage two of production and have transferred energy to their roots.

The next grazing concept is Animal impact. This refers to how much soil stimulation is going on from animals walking on and through the paddock. Animal impact can either be positive or negative and works directly with the next concept — stock density.

Stock density is strictly a matter of how tightly grouped the animals are in a paddock.

It is often confused with stocking rate, which is how many animals you have in a series of paddocks (a cell) for an entire season.

Using these concepts, you can now go into designing a grazing cell for your business.

In my area, I recommend having no fewer than 16 paddocks, as this is the minimum that I’ve found in my area for adequately managing the grazing concepts. In drier areas you may need up to 100 paddocks.

Everything depends on your environment, but the concepts remain the same.

You will want to separate out forage types and any major riparian areas. When planning a grazing cell, you will also want to plan for easy animal movement. Keeping it

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grazing

as easy and simple as possible will save you money and headaches in the future.

The next step to rotational grazing is to start planting fence posts. There are many different types of fencing options available.

You might want to use one wire temporary electric cross fencing at first, as you may want to adjust things as you start putting rotational grazing into practice. If your animals have never seen an electric fence before, it’s a good idea to train them on it in a secure pen with a very hot fence before putting them into their first paddock.

A trick that I use for training animals to electric fence is to tie pop cans to spots along the electric fence using metal wire.

When the animals are put into this training pen their curiosity will lead them to sniff the electrified cans. They will learn quite quickly to stay away from fences.

You will also want to put in a watering system.

I know that a lot of producers allow their cattle to drink straight out of a dugout, but in a rotational system this cost is usually quite minimal in the long run. It saves a lot of labour down the road. There are many

types of watering systems out there. I recommend doing your research before putting any one into practice.

Last you will be putting your animals into your new system. If you follow the grazing concepts you will see your land perk right up in the years to come. You will see a decrease in the amount of weeds in your pastures and enjoy the fact that you no longer have to actively fertilize your land. Your cows and the bugs that you will start to see in the soil will be doing all of the work for you.

Keep in mind that this is just a quick overview of rotational grazing. As you look further into the world of sustainable management, you will quickly learn what I am still learning. The more you know, the more you know you don’t know. If you’re eager to learn, your management practices and land will profit from it.

Best wishes and God Bless! c Steve Kenyon runs Greener Pastures Ranching Ltd. in Busby, Alta., www. greenerpasturesranching.com, 780-307-6500, email skenyon@greenerpasturesranching.com or find them on Facebook.

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 vet aDvi c e

Vectors And Emerging Disease: A Growing Dilemma

V

ectors — mosquitoes, ticks, midges, flies — have always been a major reason for the spread of disease among animals and people. Their importance has been magnified in recent years, confounded by things like new pathogens, climate change, global travel, antibiotic and pesticide resistance and the decline of public sector investment in disease surveillance.

The multitude of vectors and the diseases they spread is daunting. They are extremely mobile and easily transported — locally and internationally — by humans, aircraft, trucks, animals, migrating birds, ships and the wind. They are potentially transported in and on goods, material and living creatures that travel the globe. Climate, once a significant barrier to their establishment, has moderated, creating environments where both pathogens and vectors become ensconced where they never existed previously.

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) currently account for 17 per cent of the global burden of all infectious diseases. The most deadly of which, malaria, causes an estimated 627,000 deaths annually. Conditions that affect livestock can also have a significant economic impact. For example trypanosomiasis accounts for losses in cattle production of up to $1.2 billion a year. The prevalence of tick-transmitted diseases like anaplasmosis and Lyme disease steadily grows.

The range of blue tongue virus infections followed the spread of midges capable of transmitting the virus across Europe from the Mediterranean basin. Diseases like dengue fever, chickengunya, rift valley fever sit at the doorsteps of susceptible populations far from where they ever existed before. New species of mosquitoes capable of transmitting new diseases are being found in places like California and Florida. West Nile virus jumped ship in New York City and is now established across North America, carried by migratory birds.

The International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) commissioned an “industry first” white paper entitled: The growing threat of vector-borne disease in humans and animals. The white paper was produced through support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Infographics (ifahsec.org) produced by the IFAH press office complement the white paper. This material should be mandatory reading for all veterinarians and livestock producers.

Combating vector-borne diseases is an ever-changing and complex challenge. As the representative body for companies engaged in the research, development and manufacturing of animal medicines and health products, IFAH is uniquely positioned to address the challenges and help explore intrinsic links between human and animal health.

Key points made in the white paper include: • Arthropod vectors and the pathogens they transmit exert a major impact on the health and welfare of companion animals and livestock. The economic impact of VBD is measured in billions of dollars annually.

• The relative significance of most VBDs is extremely difficult to quantify because many countries have no formal surveillance systems or methods to assess the prevalence of disease and diagnostic systems in many countries are underfunded and in a state of disarray. Without these tools, estimates of economic impact remain elusive.

• Many VBDs currently lack effective medicines for treatment and prevention. Vaccination has the potential to be one of the most effec-

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tive methods of preventing disease, but pharmaceutical sector activity in combating VBDs is often constrained by the lack of a market.

• Combating VBDs is likely to face an increasingly serious combination of challenges in the coming years. The potential impact of climate change on vector distribution and VBD incidence remains an unknown; habitat change introduced by humans will influence establishment of vectors; the increased movement of goods, humans, livestock and companion animals worldwide is insatiable; and insecticide resistance, considered by some to be the single greatest threat to traditional disease control, steadily increases.

• VBD management must be based on realistic, achievable objectives, and, in general, the eradication of vectors or pathogens from a system is not one of these. The white paper delves into the importance of reducing emphasis on pathogen-targeted research, with more research into the qualities of healthy animals — physiological and behavioural — and management systems that foster better health. Improvement of basic husbandry practices in developing countries could mean a significant contribution in this field.

• Effective surveillance systems need to be established for most insectborne diseases. Risks related to the transmission of disease need to be determined including evaluation of the potential spread to new areas, or the introduction of exotic species or diseases. Further surveillance is then needed to see if controls implemented were effective.

• Awareness of the need to manage the development of resistance must be paramount in any attempt to use insecticides to control vector populations. Simple approaches are needed to incorporate the use of physical barriers to protect hosts from vector feeding. These may include bed nets, and mesh netting covering windows and doors. Such techniques may often be used in conjunction with an insecticide.

• Training and education is paramount. Local governments and local staff need to be directly involved in developing strategies to manage and control VBDs. Communities need to be shown examples of success stories, and assisted in undertaking cost-benefit analysis of VBD management and control versus inaction. Improving levels of relevant expertise is particularly important for farmers in poorer countries, so that they can implement appropriate management and control of VBDs. Donor-funded information campaigns for farmers so they know when it is appropriate to use insecticides, which ones to use and how to use them are desperately needed.

• The concept of One Health must move beyond an abstract idea into logical and intuitive application. It’s critical for One Health to become a collaborative, multidisciplinary and holistic force, capable of optimizing the interdependent skills necessary for animal, environmental and human health. While approaches to the control of VBDs in animals can be very different to approaches to VBDs in humans, there is common ground. It must be found. Progress depends on animal and human health sectors adopting a One Health mindset.

The thrust to move forward will come with collaboration. c Dr. Ron Clarke prepares this column on behalf of the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners. Suggestions for future articles can be sent to Canadian Cattlemen (gren@fbcpublishing.com) or WCABP (info@wcabp.com).

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

s Far i w

Le

A

th

u ll

LFE 3057A ADVANCE X LFE 514N

s

B

m

Y R A S 30 R E V I N N

SELLING: 140 Simmental Yearlings  120 Extra Age  40 Angus Yearlings

e l Sa

February 28, 2015 1:00 pm Spruce Grove, AB

LFE 3086A ROYAL X LFE 3018P

Volume Discounts LFE 3078A BUNDI X FULLY CHARGED

LFE 3097A THROTTLE X SHEAR FORCE

Many Bulls Homozygous Polled

LFE 583A CHESAPEAKE X SAMURAI

LFE 3172A JUSTICE X STIMULATION

ANGUS

ANGUS LFE 3009A RITO X ALLIANCE

LFE 3244A AYERS ROCK X U-2 DYNAMO

& ertility Bulls F Tested Semen

Website: www.lewisfarms.ca Office Ph.: 780-962-5050 Fax: 780-962-2467 Kyle Lewis: 780-220-9188 Jordan Buba: 780-818-4047 Ken Lewis: 780-818-3829 emails: kyle@lewisfarms.ca jordan@lewisfarms.ca lewis@xplornet.com Fullblood Bulls: Mark Land & Cattle , Lenny Mark 780-842-7207

 Nutritio n

By John McKinnon

The Role of Technology in the Efficient Production of Wholesome Beef

I

recently had the opportunity to do a series of producer meetings in southern Alberta and was reminded about the important role that technology such as growth implants and feed additives play in our industry. In light of the marketing hype that some national chains are using to influence the consumer’s perception about the wholesomeness of Canadian beef, I think it is important that we remind ourselves and consumers that these products, when used according to Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulations, are safe and effective tools for efficient production of beef in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Take, for example, the class of feed additives known as ionophores. These are a special category of antibiotics that can be used in both the cow-calf and feedlot sectors. There are three products currently registered for use in Canada. These include lasalocid sodium, monensin sodium and salinomycin sodium. Originally marketed for control of coccidiosis in poultry, these products were found to have similar biological activity in beef cattle. Coccidiosis is a protozoa infection of the lower gut, typically seen in young animals, particularly those that are under stress (i.e. weaning, shipping and mixing). The protozoa that cause this disease have a unique life cycle that includes an oocyst stage that occurs outside the animal and both asexual and sexual reproductive stages that occur within the small and large intestine of the animal. Calves are infected when they ingest oocytes that have been shed in the manure of infected animals. Severely infected animals can develop a watery diarrhea that may or may not be discoloured with blood. Other symptoms include depression, dehydration, weight loss and even death. In less severe cases, cattle tolerate the infection and develop immunity. However, growth and feed efficiency can be adversely affected. Ionophores work by interfering with the normal cell function of the protozoa that cause this disease. As their name suggests, they interfere with ion exchange across cell membranes and by so doing, hinder the growth and reproduction of the protozoa causing the infection. Both lasalocid sodium and monensin sodium are registered for coccidiosis control in Canada, monsensin sodium at 22 milligrams per kilogram (ppm) of diet dry matter, lasalocid at 36 milligrams per kilogram of diet dry matter.

Control of coccidiosis is only one of the many benefits that ionophores provide to beef cattle operations. They are also registered at inclusion levels that may or may not be the same as for coccidiosis control for improvement of weight gain and/or feed efficiency. Cattle fed ionophores typically eat less feed while gaining the same or slightly better than non-ionophore-fed counterparts. It

24

C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

is not uncommon to see feed efficiency improve by five to 10 per cent when these products are fed at approved levels. To understand how ionophores influence feed efficiency, one needs to examine the nature of rumen bacteria. There are two broad classes of rumen bacteria; these include those classified as gram positive and gram negative. When rumen bacteria ferment feed, they produce fermentation gases such as acetate, propionate, butyrate, lactate and methane. Without going into detail, gram positive bacteria are less efficient at fermenting feed than gram negative bacteria. Specifically, they produce more acetate and methane than gram negative bacteria. Methane and the energy it contains are lost to the environment when the animal belches. In contrast, gram negative bacteria produce more propionate during rumen fermentation which results in more feed energy being available for use by the animal. Feeding an ionophore such as monensin promotes the growth of gram negative and hinders the growth of gram positive bacteria. The result is a shift in the rumen microbial population and a more desirable rumen fermentation pattern, particularly in terms of feed energy capture. The result is less feed for the same gain and, as a result, improved feed efficiency.

The shift in rumen bacterial population also has implications for control of rumen acidosis. For example, when cattle are fed high-grain diets, specific species of gram positive bacteria will produce lactic acid, which can accumulate in the rumen and lead to digestive disturbances such as acidosis. In contrast, under the same conditions, specific species of gram negative bacteria utilize lactic acid. By shifting the balance towards more gram negative bacteria, ionophores help to minimize the buildup of lactic acid and to control fluctuations in rumen pH. While not a label claim, studies have shown that monensin-fed cattle are more stable in terms of their eating patterns and as a result are less prone to digestive disturbances and off-feed related issues. Specific ionophores (i.e. monensin sodium) are also used to help reduce the incidence of bloat and bloat-related mortalities in growing cattle grazing legume pastures. In this case, a slow-release rumen bolus is used to deliver the designated dosage.

One could go on, but it is fair to say that technology such as ionophores are an essential component of modern beef production. Their use prevents disease, improves feed efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Why as an industry we have to defend their use is perplexing, particularly when those who suggest subliminally or otherwise, that beef produced with such technology is somehow tainted are in the same business as the rest of us — that is producing and marketing highquality Canadian beef! c

John McKinnon is a beef cattle nutritionist at the University of Saskatchewan

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch

Vernon & Eileen Davidson 306-625-3755 davidsongelbvieh@sasktel.net www.davidsongelbvieh.com Ross & Tara Davidson & Family 306-625-3513 lonesomedoveranch@sasktel.net www.davidsonlonesomedoveranch.com

O'Faelan Farms Inc. Ron Whalen 902-651-2006 Vernon River, PEI drrwhalen@yahoo.ca www.ofaelanfarms.ca

Foursquare Gelbvieh

Roger & Kim Sayer 403-875-8418 Carstairs, AB rogerandkimsayer@yahoo.ca

Twin Bridge Farms Ltd.

Ron, Carol, Ross, Gail, Owen Stone Gate Farm & & Aaron Birch Ron & Carol 403-792-2123 V&V Farms Ltd. Aaron 403-485-5518 Darrell & Leila Hickman Lomond, AB 780-581-0077 Gelbvieh Stock Exchange Sale Group aaron@tbfarms.ca Vermilion, AB Don Okell - 403-793-4549 www.tbfarms.ca darrell.hickman@lakelandcollege.ca jenty@eidnet.org Vern & Vivienne Pancoast www.jentygelbviehs.com 403-548-6678 Gary or Nolan Pahl - 403-977-2057 Maple Grove Gelbvieh Redcliff, AB garypahl@shockware.com Lee & Neal Wirgau vvfarms@xplornet.com www.towerviewranch.com 204-278-3255 Narcisse, MB maplegrove@xplornet.com Keriness Cattle Company Ltd. Prairie Gelbvieh Alliance Sale Group Kert Ness - 403-860-4634 Kirk Hurlburt - 306-222-8210 kertness@shaw.ca hurlburtlivestock@sasktel.net Gelbvieh Association of Joe Ness - 403-852-7332 Chad Nicholas Airdrie, AB Alberta/BC 306-436-7300 jonus@telus.blackberry.net c/o Merv Tuplin - 780-450-1280 cnicholas@mccoycattle.com Edmonton, AB Ian Thackeray mervtuplin@gmail.com 306-861-7687 Carroll Creek Cattle Company tgfis@sasktel.net Jason Hurst Fir River Livestock 519-881-7929 Dave Hrebeniuk - 306-865-6603 Durham, ON Eastern Canadian Gelbvieh Assoc.

Darcy, Renee, Colt & jasonhurst0@gmail.com c/o Laurie Hurst Kenzie Hrebeniuk - 306-865-7859 Durham, ON Hudson Bay, SK 519-369-1763 firriver@xplornet.com carrollcreekcattleco@gmail.com Man-Sask Gelbvieh Assoc. www.gelbviehworld.com www.go-gelbvieh.com c/o Lee Wirgau - 204-278-3255 Narcisse, MB maplegrove@xplornet.com Skyline Way NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 6V1 CANADIAN GELBVIEH 5160Ph: 403.250.8640 • Fax: 403.291.5624 Email: gelbvieh@gelbvieh.ca • www.gelbvieh.ca ASSOCIATION

 calving

By Debbie Furber

Scoring Newborn Calf Vitality

P

roducers have all sorts of ways of assessing calf vigour, yet subjective evaluations can be inconsistent and some signs of distress or trauma from hard births may not be obvious.

As part of her PhD research at the University of Guelph, Christine Murray developed a VIGOR scoring system to rate signs of distress in a newborn calf and decide on a course of action.

The VIGOR score was developed along the lines of the APGAR system used to assess newborn babies on appearance (colour), pulse (heart rate), grimace (stimulation), activity (muscle tone), and respiration.

Similarly, VIGOR is an acronym for five observable and measurable signs of newborn calf trauma: visual appearance, initiation of movement, general responsiveness, oxygenation and rates (see scoring chart).

Sometimes the effects of a hard birth (dystocia) on a calf that survives are obvious, such as a broken leg bone, swollen nose and tongue, lack of gumption to get-up-and-go and/or sucking reflex to get the all-important first feeding of colostrum for immunity, energy and survival.

Other common consequences not easily picked up by observation alone include broken ribs and vertebra, internal bruising, bleeding in the brain, and liver ruptures. These injuries can heal with time but cause discomfort and reduce vitality, Murray says.

Trauma from dystocia also compromises a calf’s ability to regulate body temperature because it may weaken the shivering reflex and impair mobilization of fat for energy. This can decrease a calf’s motivation to stand and consume colostrum, especially in temperatures outside of its thermoneutral zone of 10 C to 25 C. More subtle yet is hypoxia, or inadequate oxygen to cells and tissues when the umbilical cord detaches before the calf takes its first breath. Respiratory acidosis occurs as carbon dioxide builds up in the blood, Murray explains. Long and/or intensive labour exacerbates the condition because the calf has to rely on anaerobic glycolysis to get oxygen to the tissues and this leads to a state of metabolic acidosis.

Murray’s thesis project started with assessing how calving difficulties affect a newborn calf’s physical condition and behaviour at two hours, 24 hours, seven days and 14 days of age, and evaluating the extent to which those characteristics are associated with calf vitality, passive transfer of immunity and growth.

She monitored 45 calvings at the University of British Columbia’s Dairy Education and Research Centre from the first sign of contractions, recording everything from the first appearance of fetal membranes until two hours after birth when each calf received the same quality and quantity of colostrum replacer.

Calves born from a hard pull took significantly longer to rise and rest on the sternum and had significantly weaker sucking reflexes than those born unassisted.

Immunoglobulin concentration in the blood at 24 hours was adequate in all calves, indicating that calving difficulty in itself didn’t reduce the calf’s ability to absorb antibodies from colostrum. That said, had calves from hard pulls not been fed colostrum replacer, they may have lacked the motivation to stand and suckle on their own. In turn this

26

C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

University of Guelph: Calf Vitality Score Sheet Date: ______________________________ Sex: Bull or Heifer Calf ID:___________________ Time since birth of calf: _______________ Completed by:_____________ Visual Appearance 1. Meconium staining

2. Tongue/head

Normal: no staining

Slight: around anal/tail head area

Moderate: extending over body

Severe: completely covered

3

2

1

0

Normal: no swelling, tongue not protruding

Tongue protruding but not swollen

Tongue protruding and swollen

Head and tongue swollen, tongue protruding

3

2

1

0

Initiation of Movement Taken within: 3. Calf movement

0 - 30 min.

30 min. - 1.5 hr.

1.5 hr. - 3 hr.

> 3 hr.

Standing/ walking

Attempts to stand

Sternal

On side, no efforts to rise

3

2

1

0

General Responsiveness 4. Suckling reflex on fingers 5. Head shake in response to straw in nasal cavity

6. Tongue pinch

7. Eye reflex (in response to touching eyeball)

Strong

Medium

Weak

No response

3

2

1

0

Shakes head vigorously

Moves head away

Twitches or flinches

Does not respond

3

2

1

0

Actively withdraws tongue

Attempts to withdraw

Twitches tongue

Does not respond

3

2

1

0

Actively blinks and closes eye

Slow to blink

Does not respond

2

1

0

Oxygenation

8. Mucous membrane Colour

Bright pink

Light pink

Brick red

White/blue

3

2

1

0

Rates 9. Heart rate**

10. Respiration (approximate)

< 80 bpm

80 - 100 bpm

> 100 bpm

0

2

1

SLOW (~ 24 rrpm)

NORMAL (~ 24 - 36 rrpm)

FAST(~ > 36 rrpm)

1

2

0

** Heart rate: Put your hand on the calf’s chest.

Take pulse for 15 seconds then multiply by 4.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

calving

could reduce colostrum intake and lead to failure of passive transfer of immunity.

Murray found that calving difficulty was significantly associated with VIGOR score.

Bull calves had worse VIGOR scores than heifers, probably because of their larger size.

Calves that had worse VIGOR scores were also more acidotic and had lower weight gains out to six weeks of age.

Meloxicam shows promise

Past research indicates that dystocia and health problems following difficult births account for up to 50 per cent of calf deaths. Severe dystocia can increase the odds of stillbirth by 20.7 times, respiratory disease by 1.7 times, digestive problems by 1.3 times, and mortality by 6.7 times. Failure of passive transfer of immunity is common, with colostrum intake reduced by as much as 74 per cent in some cases.

It seemed reasonable that if a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as Meloxicam, could reduce swelling and discomfort, the newborn may get off to a better start. The analgesic effect lasts for about three days, giving the calf time to get up, suckle colostrum and heal, Murray explains.

Two trials were set up to assess the VIGOR scoring system and the use of the NSAID Meloxicam to improve calf vitality, passive transfer, health and growth. One was a semi-intensive trial involving two dairy herds with 284 calves and the other was a field trial involving 10 dairy herds with 842 calves.

Farm staff recorded calving details and scored each calf using the VIGOR system before randomly assigning each calf to receive either a single one-millilitre injection of Meloxicam or a placebo solution.

Calves in the semi-intensive trial were VIGOR scored again one to six hours after treatment with Meloxicam or the placebo.

For the semi-intensive trial, researchers visited the herds three times a week to measure blood gases at less than two hours of age, serum total protein, sucking reflex, rectal temperature, health scores, milk intake, weight and height up to eight weeks of age.

The field trial involved weekly visits to record the same parameters with the exception of blood gases, sucking reflex and milk intake.

Murray says calves that received Meloxicam following birth had significantly improved VIGOR scores and sucking reflex from the first to the second assessment, significantly greater milk intakes during the first 30 days (from automated milk feeders typically used in dairy barns), and better overall www.canadiancattlemen.ca

health throughout the eight weeks compared to those that received the placebo.

While Meloxicam improved weight gain in the first week of life by 1.1 kilograms on average in assisted calves, the unassisted calves that received Meloxicam actually had reduced weight gains compared to the placebo-treated calves. The reason for the lower weight gain isn’t clear and will require further investigation.

Though her research indicates that

Meloxicam therapy shows considerable promise to ease short-term challenges with newborn vigour, Murray advises checking with your veterinarian on using it for this purpose. It is approved in Canada to improve appetite and weight gains and pain relief following de-budding of young calves.

Murray is now the ruminant nutrition research scientist with Nutreco Canada at Guelph and can be reached at christine. murray@nutreco.ca. c

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C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

27

 Holistic R a nc hi ng

By Don Campbell

profit versus production

T

here is a tendency in the cow-calf business to put production before profit. I don’t understand this tendency and certainly don’t agree with it. Profit is essential if you want to stay in business. It is important to analyze our individual businesses and structure them for profit. Some of the areas we might analyze are: cow size, time of calving and cow-calf versus cow-long yearling. A business structured for profit in these three areas is likely to produce a profit in the short term and sustainability in the long term.

The easiest place to see the production tendency is at your local auction market. It is interesting to watch people’s reaction when a fat dry cow, a big calf or a heavy yearling comes through. The comments are: “Wow,” and, “That one brought a lot of dollars.” What is never asked is: “Did that animal generate a profit?”

Today’s market is likely to lead to more emphasis on production.

I think this would be an unfavourable outcome of our current situation. This is an ideal time to build profit into our businesses.

Let’s look at cow size and profit (Chart 1). For this example we will compare three cow sizes: 1,200-lb., 1,500-lb. and 1,800-lb. cows.

We will graze the cows for 165 days. Our summer pasture will be our limiting factor. Consumption will be three per cent of body weight.

We begin with enough grass for 100 head of 1,500-lb. cows and then determine how many 1,200-lb. and 1,800-lb. cows we can carry using the same total amount of grass.

Chart 1 clearly shows that if we have enough grass for 100 head of 1,500-lb. cows we could carry 125 head of 1,200-lb. cows or 83 head of 1,800-lb. cows on the same grass. The choice is up to us.

Now let’s look at the number of calves produced and the income generated from these three herds. To compare the herds we will use a 90 per cent weaning rate. We will wean at 170 days of age. For the 1,500-lb. cows we will use a birth weight of 90 lbs. and a daily gain of three lbs. This will result in a weaning weight of 600 lbs. [(90 + (170 x 3)]. For the 1,200-lb. cows we will use a birth weight of 85 lbs. and a daily gain of 2.5 lbs. This will result in a weaning weight of 510 lbs. [(85 + (170 x 2.5)]. For the 1,800-lb. cows we will use a birth weight of 100 lbs. and a daily gain of 3.4 lbs. This will result in a weaning weight of 678 lbs. [(100 + (170 x 3.4)].

We will use the WLPIP (Western Livestock Price Insurance Program) settlement average price for October 2014 as a base price. Using this information a 600-lb. steer will sell for $2.76. I used Canfax average prices for October to determine the slide. The slide from 600 lbs. to 510 lbs. was $27. The 510-lb. steer will sell for $3.03 ($2.76 + $27). The slide from 600 lbs. to 678 lbs. was $16. The 678-lb. steer will sell for $2.60 ($2.76 - $16).

Chart 2 demonstrates that reducing our average cow weight from 1,500 lbs. to 1,200 lbs. will result in an extra 3,630 lbs. of beef produced.

This is a seven per cent increase in pounds of beef (3,630/54,000). This change will also result in an 17 per cent increase in income of $25,579.

All this is achieved using the exact same resources.

This chart also shows that reducing our average cow weight from 1,800 lbs. to 1,200 lbs. will result in an extra 13 per cent or 6,780 lbs. of beef produced which results in a 32 per cent increase in income of $42,409 from the same resources.

Increasing cow size from 1,500 lbs. to 1,800 lbs. has the exact opposite effect. Pounds of beef produced drops six per cent by 3,150 lbs. with an 11 per cent drop in income of $16,830.

28

C at t l e m e n · j a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

CHART 1. cow size Cow weight

% BW

Grass/day lb.

Days

1,500

3%

45

1,200

3%

36

1,800

3%

54

Cows

Wean %

Calves

100

90%

125

90%

83

90%

75

Cow wt.

Cows

Cull %

# Culls

Lb./sale

Price

Income

1,200

125

10%

12.5

15,000

$1.10

$16,500

1,500

100

10%

10

15,000

$1.15

$17,250

1,800

83

10%

8.3

14,940

$1.20

$17,928

Grass/cow lb.

Cows

T grass lb.

165

7,425

100

742,500

165

5,940

125

742,500

165

8,910

83

742,500

Wean Wt.

Beef lb.

Price

Income

90

600

54,000

$2.76

$149,040

113

510

57,630

$3.03

$174,619

678

50,850

$2.60

$132,210

CHART 2.

CHART 3. cull cow income

CHART 4. summary Cow weight

Cows

Calf income

Cow income

1,200

125

$174,619

$16,500

Total income $1 9 1,119

1,500

100

$149,040

$17,250

$166,290

1,800

83

$132,210

$17,928

$150,138

Change +15% -10%

Things look pretty clear at this point. The smaller cows make significantly more money. But wait, someone is bound to ask: “What about all the income from those big cull cows.” This is a valid point and needs to be considered. For this example we will cull 10 per cent of the cows each year. We have priced the 1,200-lb. cows at $1.10, the 1,500-lb. cows at $1.15 and the 1,800-lb. cows at $1.20.

Chart 3 shows that decreasing cow size reduces cull cow income slightly. The next chart shows the total income for calves and cull cows.

Chart 4 shows that reducing cow size from 1,500 lbs. to 1,200 lbs. will result in a 15 per cent increase in income while utilizing the same resources. Is there any other change you could make on your place that would increase income by this amount?

Increasing cow size from 1,500 lbs. to 1,800 lbs. will result in a 10 per cent reduction in income while utilizing the same resources.

I don’t think that there is any doubt: smaller cows make more money when all the factors are considered. What cow size might be most profitable for you is your decision. If for any reason you like big cows you should continue on. If you want to focus on profit don’t rely on my numbers. Use your own numbers to determine what cow size might be most profitable on your place. I wish you success in building a profitable cow herd. Happy trails. c Don Campbell ranches with his family at Meadow Lake, Sask., and teaches Holistic Management courses. He can be reached at 306-236-6088 or doncampbell@sasktel.net.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Simm-December 14.indd 1

12/11/2014 9:38:51 AM

 COVER STO RY · ca lv i ng

By Debbie Furber

Have a restful calving season The Ross family planned for one

C

alving is the year-round focus on Chad and Crystal Ross’s 800-head cow-calf operation, but when calving season actually rolls around it’s the cows’ turn to do the work.

The idea of letting cows calve on their own wouldn’t have entered their minds back in 1999 when they set up their place on the Ross L-7 Ranch homesteaded by Chad’s great grandfather in 1906. His parents, Brian and Rosalie, run another 700 cows from their ranch a few miles east to complete L-7 Ranch and L-7 Feeders, located south of Estevan, Sask., pretty much on the U.S. doorstep.

Letting the cows do the work through calving and growing the calves right on through the winter are two of many changes that have freed up time for life beyond cows, all the while allowing them to gain efficiencies and expand through some really rough times in the beef industry. Now with brighter prospects, they’ve doubled their herd size within the past two years.

30

C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

“BSE taught us a lot of things about efficiency, not to be afraid of making changes and to make the cows work for us — all good lessons we need to remember going into these good economic times,” says Ross.

“Change is continual because there are always new ideas. If you aren’t willing to change, things become stagnant.”

Calving season starts with the cows “carrying the calves” to summer pasture around April 15, a month before calving gets underway. It’s way easier trailing cows the 12 miles than moving pairs any which way you do it and this strategy has proven to be a real labour- and cost-saver, he explains.

The summer pastures have all that calving cows need with stockpiled grass supplemented by free access to grass-alfalfa bales pre-set in a grid pattern that provide shelter, and natural water sources. The rest is up to the cows as the Rosses turn their attention to seeding corn and barley to see the herd and feedlot through the winter months ahead.

They do ride the heifer pasture daily, which is a job they’ve been able to pass on to their daughters Cassidy and Carlee, now 14- and 13-years-old. The main herd, split into groups of about 200, gets checked every few days just as they normally do through summer.

Driving around to catch and tag newborn calves in the pasture was taking too much time and fuel, so that’s now one of the jobs taken care of at branding in mid-July when the bull calves are castrated and all calves are vaccinated with an 8-way clostridial vaccine and 4-way modified live virus vaccine for respiratory diseases.

“We’ve been doing this for 10 years now, having the cows calve on their own, and it works well,” Ross says. “We just don’t have the problems like before. We lose less calves, the cows are healthier out there getting lots of exercise, and there are no disease problems with the calves.”

Continued on page 32

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

21st Annual Bull Sale

FIRST SONS SELL

Supplying Cattlemen with the Quality, Quantity & Selection they demand, and the service they deserve.

MRL To The Max

with Select Open Females

45

Saturday, March 7, 2015, 1:00 pm

Red & Red Blaze Polled Simmental Bulls

At the Ranch (heated sales arena)

150 Bulls Sell

FIRST SONS SELL

20 Select Open Females

Herd Bulls Designed by Ranchers for Ranchers

• All bulls born, bred & developed right here at MRL • Large sire groups 1/2 and 3/4 brothers Penfulls of uniform bulls in every category • Sight Unseen Buyer’s Program (Can’t make it sale day, give us a call.

Almost 25% of our bulls sell SUS. Quality in Quanity and 95% go Many repeat customers year after year.)

Commercial Cowbo ys.

• Semen evaluated and guaranteed • Free Delivery in Western Canada.

Cost sharing to the East (Our trailer is most likely going right past your gate.)

• Sound rugged Bulls developed on a high roughage ration (Born, bred and fed to work and stay working) • Extra age bulls ready to cover some ground. Offering a select group of coming 2 year olds & January/February born yearlings.

• Genetically engineered to excel for the commercial cattleman.

Calving ease, performance and packed full of maternal traits.

MRL El Tigre

• Affordable Bulls •

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ca lv i ng Continued from page 30

Looking back, lots of calving problems had to do with genetics — hard-calving cows, weak calves, mis-mothering, poor udders — and a strict policy of removing those problem cows and any that don’t bring in a calf is largely behind their calving success today.

Their breeding program has remained constant through the years with Simmental bulls for the most part on the mature cows, adding Charolais bulls now and then for a three-way cross. The heifers are bred to easy-calving Angus bulls.

Even in the Estevan area, renowned for having the sunniest skies in Canada yearround, the biggest snag in the spring calving system has been late spring blizzards. After a couple of wrecks in April, they bumped the start date to May 1 and still couldn’t escape occasional storms. May 15 seems to be Mother Nature’s turning point, and experience has taught them that it’s much more efficient and enjoyable to work with nature than fight it.

When his family worked in the seedstock business, calving took place in corrals in January and February. With the change to

commercial cattle in 1991, they moved to calving on grass in April and the calves were weaned into the farm’s feedlot in November, which brought another set of health issues because of changeable weather conditions.

May calving ushered in later weaning, sometime from December into January.

The most recent change to weaning around March 1 was to achieve greater efficiencies and health, Ross says. The cows are able to maintain body condition very well grazing corn and it still gives them a good rest before calving starts in May. The winter feeding period typically starts around October 1 when all of the cows and calves go through the chute for vaccinations and form into one large group for winter grazing. Access to three-quarters of standing corn is controlled by electric fences dividing it into 40-acre paddocks, but they have free-choice access to hay bales placed on an adjacent quarter of hayland. The combination works nicely to balance the diet and reduce the risk of grain overload on corn. A custom vitamin-mineral package designed by their nutritionist includes an ionophore to help prevent acidosis and coccidiosis and improve feed efficiency.

The electric fence now stays in place yearround and they sow the next corn crop around it to save the time of putting it up and taking it down each year. It takes about three days in the fall to haul and set bales in place on the hayland and another three days or so during winter to top them up. Twine is removed because it’s notorious for catching and ripping out tags, but bales with netwrap are left as is because the fine mesh breaks before the ear tags snap or rip out of the ear.

On average, the corn provides 200 grazing days per animal unit per acre, replacing approximately 7,000 pounds of hay or nearly six 1,250-pound bales per cow.

Multiplied by 800 pairs, that’s 4,800 bales worth of summertime baling that no longer has to be done. The bonus is the manure on the land, but in their view the real reward is having the cows grow the calves.

“This way, we can winter the first-calvers with the cows and all of the calves together because we’re not pushing them. It’s an advantage with our single water source, too. They have feed and water available all day and night, so they can eat and drink anytime. They all get their fair share and there’s never any fighting,” Ross says. “The average daily gain on the

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calving

calves isn’t as high because they move around so much (compared to feeding them in the feedlot), but the cost of gain is so much lower.”

This program has evolved from winter feeding in pens, to extended grazing systems involving combinations of swath grazing, rolling bales out on cereal stubble, using a bale processor to spread hay on stubble land, bunching chaff and straw behind the combine and bale grazing. Each method had merit, but also drawbacks in one way or another for what they were trying to achieve. The neverending worry, especially with swath grazing and bunch grazing, was losing feed to geese and deer or under heavy snow and ice.

They started growing corn 11 years ago, mainly for silage for the feedlot. The math didn’t work out to spend $100 per acre ensiling corn and then another $16 per tonne hauling it back out to supplement cows in the extended grazing program when the animals could be harvesting it on their own.

They introduced standing corn little by little, first for fall grazing while bale grazing hay and greenfeed for the remainder of the winter, and then gradually worked up to today’s standing corn-hay bale system.

As with any extended grazing system,

Ross says it’s important to keep a close watch on cow body condition and provide shelter from winter winds. He works with a nutritionist to be sure the cows are getting adequate nutrition to maintain body condition while nursing a growing calf through their second trimester in the cold.

After weaning, as the weather warms up, they feel comfortable working the cows a little harder. The standing corn is given a final graze along with six quarters of corn stover (combined the previous fall) while still providing free-choice hay bales and the custom vitamin-mineral mix until the year runs full circle with them being trailed to summer pasture in mid-April. Most of the pastures are tame stands of meadow brome with some alfalfa on reclaimed coal-mining ground.

The other side of L-7 is the 1,500-head feedlot, which took the hardest hit of all after the BSE-related border closures in 2003. Even though it’s just coming back into full swing finishing some calves in the last couple of years, it remained an integral link in the farm’s four profit centres during the downturn.

The cow-calf operation feeds the feedlot, the cropping operation supplies the feedlot

and the cow-calf operation, and the yearling grasser operation adds value to the calves, Ross explains.

After weaning, their calves go into the feedlot along with 500 to 1,000 purchased calves and/or custom feeders. In the middle of May, the heaviest calves and the purchased calves are sorted into packages and sold.

The remaining 300 feeders and 250 replacement heifers go to grass for the summer. The steers return to the feedlot in the fall while the bred replacement heifers winter on corn stubble near the feedlot where they have access to grazing corn along with a total mixed ration.

Changes aimed at improving efficiencies have proven to be as good as a rest in some regards, but they’ve not been without challenges along the way. One of their best networks for advice has been the fellow members of the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association. Ross currently serves on the board of directors, and says there’s a lot to be said for learning from the practical experiences of others.

Planning for change has become routine for the Rosses, but with that there’s always a need for contingency plans and some flexibility. c

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 calving

By Heather Smith Thomas

What to do about cold stress in newborns

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alves born in cold weather may suffer adverse effects if they are unable to get right up and nurse before they become chilled.

Dr. Steve Hendrick of Coaldale Veterinarians, Coaldale, Alta., says anyone calving during winter has to deal with these issues and it can be a challenge. “Make sure you have lots of bedding for the calving cows.

You also need to be monitoring and checking cows routinely, going out with your flashlight, or having cameras in the barn or calving lot. Some of the larger outfits have technology to aid them — but you still need to get out there and move those calving cows or newborn calves inside,” he says.

Dr. John Campbell, head of the department of large animal clinical sciences, at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, says that once a calf is up, suckled and dried off, it has a remarkable ability to generate enough body heat to thrive in cold weather. “We don’t see cold stress very often in older calves or in cows. They need more feed, obviously, in cold weather, but they can deal with cold temperatures quite well.”

Most problems with hypothermia are in newborn calves. “They don’t have as much

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ability to regulate body temperature when they are first born. In addition, they are wet, and more readily chilled. The hair coat is remarkably insulating, once it is dry. It’s much harder to chill a dry calf. ” During the first two to three hours of life, calves are unable to regulate body temperature and even a normal calf can become hypothermic quickly if weather is cold. “Those chilled calves are unable to get up, unable to suckle, so they don’t get colostrum — and this compounds the problem.

Even if they survive, they are likely to get sick later,” says Campbell.

“One of the rancher’s most valuable tools is a digital thermometer, especially when calving in cold weather. These are inexpensive, and a far better indicator of body temperature than just feeling the calf’s mouth. If the calf’s temperature is higher than 38 C (about 100 F) it’s normal enough. You still might need to worry about ears freezing, but the calf is not at risk for severe cold stress,” he says.

“If the calf’s temperature is between 35 to 38 C, this is borderline hypothermia. Below 35 C you’ve got to quickly warm that calf.

For the ones between 35 and 38 degrees you can probably just put them in a warm room, a hot box, the cab of your truck — anyplace

warm — and tube them with warm colostrum and they will be fine.” The warm colostrum helps warm them from the inside and the high fat content provides energy to create body heat. You don’t want the colostrum too hot, but it needs to be cow body temperature.

“If the calf’s temperature is much below 35, the hot box or warm room won’t help enough, especially if the calf is already dry.

The hair coat works as insulation, just like an insulated cooler; it not only keeps things hot, but can also keep things cold. I’ve put some of these calves in a hot box and left them there for hours and they don’t warm up. Their interior body temperature is so cold, and the dry hair so insulating, that a hot box won’t help them as much as you’d expect,” he explains.

Hendrick says the fastest way to warm these calves is with warm water. “This direct contact is quicker than warm air. You don’t want frozen feet, ears and tails. Even after you’ve thawed and dried a calf, and he’s back out with mom, these are things you need to watch for,” he says.

“The advantage of a hot box is that the air is warm and the calves are breathing warm air into their lungs,” says Campbell.

“The lung surface is actually their biggest

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calving

body surface, so the circulating warm air in a hot box is helpful. But the most success I’ve had with really cold calves, and the way we deal with hypothermic people, is to use a warm water bath. The only way I’ve been able to save those calves is to tube them with warm colostrum and put them in a tub, with water temperature near body temperature — about 38 C, feeling warm to your touch,” says Campbell.

It takes effort to warm them. “You’ve put this giant ice cube in the water, and the water cools down very quickly. The water must be warmer than the calf, so you have to keep changing it. It is labour intensive and someone needs to be there in case the calf can’t hold its head up. A big laundry tub works nicely because you can fold the calf in there with head upright,” he explains.

It’s best if you can prevent problems by finding these calves before they are stressed, but sometimes you don’t find them that quickly. “High-risk calves need to be identified sooner — such as the ones that don’t get up right away and maybe don’t roll up onto their chest immediately after birth,” says Campbell.

“If a calf takes more than a few minutes to become upright, it may be low on oxygen due to problems during birth, and is much more likely to suffer cold stress. That calf is not going to get up as quickly as a normal, vigorous calf and won’t suckle right away,” he says.

“The calf may have taken too long to be born, or is weak for some other reason, but you need to identify these individuals quickly so you can get them in and tube them. Early intervention can make sure they don’t end up being hypothermic.”

Even a normal calf can become hypothermic quickly if weather is severe. “You must be more vigilant and intervene sooner if you’re not sure whether they’ve sucked or not. In warm weather you can give a pair more time to bond and get the calf suckling. In cold weather we have to step in sooner,” says Campbell. A digital thermometer can help you assess a calf, to know if you can just put the calf in a hot box or go to the effort of a warm water bath.

A calf may have been able to get up, and is standing by the cow trying to nurse, but if its mouth is cold and it’s too chilled it won’t be able to get the teat in its mouth. “This is the beauty of a digital thermometer; it enables you to assess how hypothermic the calf really is, and tailor your approach accordingly.”

In a veterinary clinic a severely chilled calf might be given warm IV fluids, but at home a hot water bath will give you a chance of

saving those calves. “It’s easy to tell that a calf is chilled, but the thermometer helps us sort them regarding proper treatment,” says Campbell.

“We haven’t done any formal research, but we dealt with a lot of calves on a big ranch we used to go to on a calving rotation. This is where I learned many things about hypothermic calves, when we had bad wrecks with calves born during very cold weather. We learned through trial and error what worked best to warm them.”

“A person gets tired during calving season and it’s sometimes hard to be on top of everything,” says Hendrick. “A lot of calves come all at once and then the last ones are more spread out and maybe you aren’t watching them as closely, and a calving cow might get missed. You find that calf later and its already cold.”

You need to get colostrum into the calf.

Even if the calf is indoors, if it’s five hours before it gets a belly full of colostrum, it’ll suffer more cold stress than if it was able to nurse within the first hour. The colostrum contains two to three times the fat of regular milk and provides the energy to keep warm.

“This is one of the biggest issues, because even if you get the calf warmed up, if it hasn’t nursed mom you are behind the eight ball. The calf needs nutrition from colostrum and the antibodies to protect it from disease. The faster you can get warm colostrum into the calf the better,” says Hendrick.

“If you have to take the calf away from mom to warm it before it has nursed, it’s not getting the antibodies, it’s not getting nutrition, and you need to supply some during the warming process. It will be hard on that calf if it’s six hours later before it gets colostrum from mom.” It pays to give that calf a jump-start with colostrum as soon as possible, before you take the calf back to mom.

“Once they are dry, it is amazing how well these calves can do. If they are dry and had adequate colostrum, they can handle a lot of cold weather. If they have bedding and a good mother, they generally do fine. Some people use blankets and even calf earmuffs to keep ears from freezing. Short-eared calves get docked at market, without good reason. The best way to avoid this is to get them dry immediately,” Hendrick says. c

“Cattle coming into my feedlot are usually heavier, so I treat ’em with long lasting ZACTRAN on arrival.”

Heavier weight cattle are often at lower risk to BRD so it makes sense to treat them with the fast acting,1 long lasting2 product that won’t break the bank. (And it’s plastic, so you won’t break the bottle either.) ®

Treat them with ZACTRAN .

Ask your veterinarian why ZACTRAN is ideal for cattle in your feedlot.

1. Giguère S, Huang R, Malinski TJ, Dorr PM, Tessman RK & Somerville BA. Disposition of gamithromycin in plasma, pulmonary epithelial lining fluid, bronchoalveolar cells, and lung tissue in cattle. Am. J. Vet. Res. 72(3): 326-330 (2011).

2. Based on label claims.

ZACTRAN® is a registered trademark of Merial Limited. © 2014 Merial Canada Inc. All rights reserved. ZACT-13-7560-JAD-E

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C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5 3515 Zactran Metaphylazis-CndCttl.indd 1

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2013-12-13 8:37 AM

Publication: Canadian Cattlemen Size: 4.58” x 5”

Agency: ON Communication Inc Agency Contact: Raellen Seaman

Age_Verification_for_Calving_Season.pdf 1 17/12/2014 5:29:10 PM

CALVING SEASON: Cost-free age verification support AGE VERIFICATION associates an individual animal’s birth date with its approved Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag number in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database at www.clia.livestockid.ca. To create or activate a CLTS account, please contact a CCIA Client Services Representative toll-free at 1-877-909-2333 or email at info@canadaid.ca.

To age verify, producers may enter exact birth dates with corresponding tag numbers, or a calving start date associated with a tag range that allows for all calves born within a 90-day time period to be age verified using the same calving start date. NOTE: A producer should only age verify an animal if the birth date is known for certain. A producer should age verify an animal only after applying an approved CCIA RFID tag. A producer should not age verify a package of tags before applying the tags to animals.

Whether a producer age verifies animals to meet breed standards, comply with provincial/territorial regulations or maintain herd management records, CCIA has prepared this reference as a support tool during calving season 2015.

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CCIA recommends AGE VERIFYING your animals using the FILE UPLOAD method when you: • Have a slow Internet connection that often disconnects; • Do not have enough time to finish age verifying the animals in one session; OR • Have more than 10 approved CCIA RFID tags with non-consecutive/non-sequential numbers.

In order to use the FILE UPLOAD method of entering events, you must have Microsoft Office, OpenOffice or NeoOffice installed on your computer. If needed, you can download the latest free versions of OpenOffice at http://www.openoffice.org/ OR NeoOffice at http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php.

There are three steps to submitting information using the FILE UPLOAD method:

STEP ONE: Downloading the Birth Date Template to enter animal birth date data

Go to http://support.canadaid.ca and select the Events heading at the top of the page.

Under Operation Type, select the Producers link.

Scroll down to Events and select the option to download a template from the Templates column featured in the Birth Date row. A box will appear with three options: 1. Open – To open the spreadsheet template (NOTE: CCIA recommends saving the template file on your computer, since your computer will not save the template automatically); 2. Save – To save the template in your computer’s Downloads folder; and 3. Save as – To save the template in a location of your choice in your computer.

Select a location on your computer to save and rename the template (e.g., “2015 Calf Birth Dates”), then click Save.

STEP TWO: Filling out the Birth Date Template Open the template you renamed and saved in Step One. Enter information into the columns with red headings, which are mandatory fields (i.e., event type, source account, date of birth, date of birth method, and tag start). NOTE: Though the columns with black headings are optional to complete, CCIA recommends providing as much information as possible.

The data entered into the template must match the specific format displayed within each heading’s comment field, which is shown by hovering the mouse cursor over these comment fields. NOTE: The cells for Event_Type, DOB_Method, Tag_Type, Sex, Species and Colour have drop-down menus to assist completing the spreadsheet. Go to the cell under the heading and click on the arrow to view the options and select the option you want, which will appear in the cell. Continue this process for all rows used.

Fill out all of the required cells and enter as much information as possible in the optional cells. Once completed, you are ready to upload the file to the CLTS database. Remember to save the file regularly as you work and when your work is complete.

STEP THREE: Uploading the completed file to the CLTS database

Go to www.clia.livestockid.ca. Enter your CLTS account username and password, then click Login.

There are two ways to access the File Upload option within the home page.

1. Go to the heading Events and select Submit Events – File Upload from the drop down menu.

2. Under the Submit Tag/Animal Event Information heading, select Option 2: File Upload.

On the Submit a Data File screen, select Browse.

When the pop-up window appears, find and select the file that you created (so that it shows in the File name text box) and select Open.

The file information will appear in the text box. Select Upload File. NOTE: If you receive an error message, open your original file to correct the information and resubmit the file.

On the Confirmation screen, review the sentence that appears to ensure it displays the correct account name and account ID. If the information is incorrect, select Cancel, re-open the file and correct the information before submitting it.

If the information is correct, select Submit.

At this point, a transaction identification number in alphanumeric format (i.e., letters A to Z and numbers 1 to 9) will be assigned to your submission. Please make note of this number in your calving records, and check your transaction status to ensure the information processed successfully.

After an animal is age verified in the CLTS database, a BIRTH DATE CERTIFICATE may be printed from the site identifying that the animal has been age verified.

Creating a birth date certificate: Go to www.clia.livestockid.ca. Enter your CLTS account username and password, then click Login.

On the home page, select the Birth Date Certificate option featured in the Certificates/Permit heading at the top of the page.

There are six options to add tags to your list. Any of these options may be repeated as many times as necessary.

NOTE: Do not use spaces, dashes or slashes between the numbers.

If you select: 1. Single Tag: Enter the last nine digits of the animal’s approved CCIA RFID tag number in the field provided and select Add Tags to List.

2. Tag Range: Enter the lowest number of the tag range in the field beside Range Start. Enter the highest number of the tag range in the field beside Range End and select Add Tags to List.

3. Tag Range with Quantity: Enter the lowest number of the tag range in the field beside Range Start. Enter the quantity of tags used in the with Quantity field and select Add Tags to List.

4. Transaction ID: Enter a transaction ID in the field provided and select Add Tags to List.

5. Birth Certificate ID: Enter a birth certificate ID from a previously created birth certificate in the field provided and select Add Tags to List. NOTE: You may only use IDs from birth certificates you have created using your CLTS account.

6. Spreadsheet File: To use this option, you must create a spreadsheet using Microsoft Office, OpenOffice or NeoOffice.

Open a new spreadsheet; enter the heading Tag_Start in column A, row 1. Enter your tag list in the cells below the heading.

Save the worksheet and change the file name to something familiar using alphanumeric characters only (e.g., Tag List 2015).

Return to the Create Birth Date Certificate: Data Entry page and click Browse to find the file you created.

When the pop-up window appears, find and select the file that you created so that it shows in the File name text box, then select Open.

Once the file appears in the text box, select Add Tags to List. The tag number(s) will now appear at the bottom of the screen under List of Tags to include in the Birth Date Certificate. Continue to add tags until your list is complete, then click Next.

On the Confirmation page, ensure all the tags entered in the previous step appear in the tag list, then click Create Certificate. NOTE: Tags will be listed in sequential order and grouped into ranges.

The Birth Date Certificate will now appear in PDF format in a new window. Alternatively, you may view the certificate by selecting one of the View Options from the details page. NOTE: You must have your browser’s pop-up blocker disabled for the certificate to appear automatically.

Confirm the birth date appears in the Birth Date column.

Sign and date the lower part of the certificate before providing it to a purchaser. Congratulations! You have finished age verifying your animals.

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 researc h o n t h e r eco r d

By Reynold Bergen

Is Bloodless Dehorning Really Painless?

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n January 2016, Canada’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle will expect beef producers to consult with their veterinarians and use pain control when dehorning calves after the horn bud has attached. In other words, producers will be expected to use pain control when dehorning calves older than four months.

Earlier dehorning is easier for you and the calf. The best way to dehorn is to use homozygous polled bulls.

Second best is to disbud before the horn has attached to the skull. Older calves have larger horns, suffer larger wounds, likely experience more pain and have a longer recovery period. As one wag has suggested, the longer the horns are attached to the calf, the more attached the calf is to its horns.

Age is the biggest factor in minimizing pain. But a team from Kansas State University recently reported that dehorning method is also important, especially in older calves (Effects of three dehorning techniques on behaviour and wound healing in feedlot cattle, J. Anim.

Sci. 92:2225).

What they did: Forty horned beef calves averaging 690 lbs. were divided into four groups of 10. One group was not dehorned. The second group had the horn tips removed at the point where the horn was about three cm in diameter. The third group was mechanically dehorned using a keystone (guillotine) dehorner, and the wound was heat-cauterized to minimize bleeding. The fourth group was dehorned using a Callicrate band (also used to castrate feedlot bulls) at the base of the horn. The band is intended to block blood flow to the horn. This should kill the living horn tissue, and the horn eventually falls off. The cattle were observed daily for a variety of behaviours (vocalization, depression, gait, posture, appetite, lying) and wound healing for the month after dehorning.

What they learned: During the operation, the tipped cattle made no more noise than the control cattle. This suggests that tipping wasn’t very painful. The nerves in the horn do not extend all the way to the tip. So if the operation is done properly, tipping is probably more stressful than painful. Cattle in the two dehorning treatments made more noise, but at different times. The mechanically dehorned cattle vocalized more than the banded cattle during the operation, but the banded cattle vocalized more than the mechanically dehorned cattle in the days following the operation. This suggests that the pain of mechanical dehorning decreased in the days after the operation, while the pain of band dehorning lasted much longer.

Cattle dehorned with bands were also more likely to lie down with their hind legs extended or flat on the side (indicators of comparative discomfort),

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while cattle in the other three groups lay more normally. Banded cattle tended to have worse scores for depression (reluctant to move unless approached closely), compared to the other three groups (bright, alert and responsive when the pen was approached).

Banded cattle tended to stand and move abnormally (head tilted, hunched posture) than cattle in the other groups (normal to stiff gait). These abnormal lying, depression and posture behaviours were more noticeable in the banded cattle than for cattle in the other three groups throughout the entire four weeks of observation.

Bleeding did not differ among the four groups in the first week after dehorning, likely because the wounds were cauterized in the mechanically dehorned calves.

In the first week, increased redness was seen around the dehorning wounds in some mechanically dehorned calves. Inflammation became apparent in the banded calves after three weeks; bleeding started when the horns fell off. Three horns had fallen off the banded group by the end of the month, while the bands themselves fell off four animals.

What it means: When done properly, tipping does not appear to be painful. Tipped horns can still cause serious carcass bruising. However, tipping large horns (e.g. grass cattle entering the feedlot with lengthy horns) does reduce the risk that the horn will be accidentally broken off during subsequent handling. Mechanical dehorning causes acute, but relatively short-lived pain. In contrast, band dehorning is more likely to fail, and causes chronic, prolonged pain.

Contrary to the manufacturer’s suggestion, bloodless isn’t necessarily more humane. While a larger study with more cattle may have found measurable differences in behaviour or wound healing between the other three groups, these results clearly indicate that band dehorning greatly prolonged the discomfort and healing process.

Results of Canada’s latest National Beef Quality Audit found that fewer fed cattle had horns in 2011 (12%) than in previous audits conducted in 1999 (30%) and 1995 (40%). In 2016, the next National Beef Quality Audit will assess whether this progress is continuing.

The Beef Research Cluster is funded by the National Checkoff and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada with additional contributions from provincial beef industry groups and governments to advance research and technology transfer supporting the Canadian beef industry’s vision to be recognized as a preferred supplier of healthy, high-quality beef, cattle and genetics. c Dr. Reynold Bergen is the science director of the Beef Cattle Research Council.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

 calving

By Roy Lewis, DVM

Some advice on when and how to resuscitate calves

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oth dairy and beef producers have their own views on the best way to stimulate a weak calf that doesn’t want to breathe. Based on my experience of what works, and what doesn’t, the procedures worth doing do not require a lot of expense but saving one extra calf these days converts into significant dollars down the line.

There are many reasons why calves come out slow and weak and recognizing these conditions might give you a heads up about what to do to save the calf.

Every time you must assist an oversized fetus with a hard pull, or any malpresentation occurs, you need to realize that time is running out and a weak, barely alive calf is a real possibility.

Cows that have been sick, losing weight or suffering some abnormality during pregnancy are other warnings that a calf in need of resuscitation may be on the way. Remember, a cow losing body condition in late pregnancy could be carrying twins so after any assisted calving it is a good idea to carefully examine the uterus for either tears or another calf. If you find another calf, assist in its delivery immediately.

There are several forms of resuscitation for calves.

One thing we know for sure hanging calves to get fluid out does no good and in fact makes it more difficult for the calf to breath by forcing the organs down on the chest. The fluid that does come out is generally draining out from the stomachs not the lungs. You are much better advised to get the calf sitting up in a frog-legged position so both lungs can get air equally, as happens in a standing calf.

Extend the neck forward to open up the airways and then go to work.

Wipe away any large amounts of mucus around the mouth before you attempt any form of resuscitation.

There are some good calf resuscitators out there. Some simply bath the area in extra oxygen, which helps if the calf’s breathing is not strong. Some provide suction as well.

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation pretty much does nothing as the air simply goes down the esophagus and inflates the stomach but doesn’t get into the lungs where it is needed.

If the calf is breathing slowly but has a strong heartbeat you should first try to stimulate breathing by either sticking a straw up the nostril or pouring cold water or snow in the ear — essentially to irritate the calf — and get it going.

If you don’t think that would be irritating enough try using a straw next time during a normal calving and see the quick response you get.

If there is still no response, the calf is in trouble and the only thing I have found that has worked is a respiratory stimulant. I used to use Dopram but it goes under different trade names and is harder to come by now. Your veterinarian can look for respiratory stimulants and hopefully find one but he or she may need

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Calves with a strong heartbeat may respond to a straw up the nostril.

to prescribe it as it may only be approved for other species. To be helpful the stimulant has to be close, in your calving kit and readily accessible when needed. Time is of the essence as a few seconds at this critical point can make the difference between life and death.

In general, the need to stimulate calves should be the exception in today’s cow-calf operations as calving problems have been greatly reduced by better management and better genetics. So unless it is a hard calving or there has been a delay in getting the calf out such as occurs with a full breech birth, resuscitation shouldn’t be a routine occurrence.

With hard calvings it sometimes pays to stop pulling and let the calf get a few breaths when the rib cage is out before you pull the hips through. The calf may bellow as it is alive and feels pain so be prepared for this response.

If you are getting too many weak calves your veterinarian will likely want to look at several potential trouble spots.

Is intervention too slow, especially in the case of heifers? Once the calving process has started, regardless of whether the water bag has broken, time is ticking. It is an old myth that you have lots of time if the water bag has not broken. That simply isn’t true.

Intervention when no progress has been made for one to oneand-a-half hours is still a good rule.

I have also seen cases where the calf needed to be resuscitated when the water bag failed to break and the calf was drowning in a cup of fetal fluids. This can happen in quick, easy births when there is not enough pressure to break the bag.

With breech births (backwards with both back legs ahead) and torsions we know time is often running out so it is imperative that you be ready to stimulate the calf as soon as it is out. Once the tail head of the calf comes through the pelvis in a backwards calving the navel is

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

calving

essentially broken and the calf tries to start breathing. This is where a fast pull will save calves, and also explains why we should always assist backward calves where possible.

Weak calves may also be the result of poor nutrition or vitamin and mineral deficiencies so we need cows that have good body condition scores and are on a sound mineral/vitamin program.

These deficiencies happen as the calf is developing so reversing it during pregnancy is never a quick fix.

A selenium deficiency, for example, can lead to weak calf syndrome and iodine deficiencies lead to a goiter and weak or dead calves at birth.

If a calf is stillborn or weak and dies soon after birth a lot can be gained from a post-mortem to pin down a diagnosis to find ways of avoiding the problem in the future.

If the placenta is starting to come first, you may already be too late, but if there is any sign of life get the calf out as fast as possible.

One last word of advice on delivering a calf and pre-empting the need for resuscitation. Check the viability of the calf by putting fingers in its mouth to check its swallowing or gag reflex. If this is very weak you can be sure the calf will be sluggish when delivered.

Also, if the calf is overly active and thrashing around this could be a sign time is running out as the calf is deprived of oxygen and needs to get out as soon as possible. c Roy Lewis is a Westock, Alta.-based veterinarian specializing in large-animal practice. He is also a part-time technical services vet for Merck Animal Health.

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41

 straigh t f ro m t h e h i p

By Brenda Schoepp

Eco Politics and the French Connection

W

hen speaking with my farming colleagues from France, they often reflect a worry for their industry. It is not that the French don’t love to eat — non — they continue to flaunt their gastronomic flair. Nor is it because they don’t fancy trade, as the largest producer of agricultural products in the EU they are aggressive traders and have an agri-food trade balance. Farm subsidy through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has kept French farms and landowners in cash since 1962. They do, however, try to thrive under a system of intense environmental requirements.

The farming population in France is aging, as it is in Canada. Young farmers are creative and enthusiastic but are realistic in terms of their longevity in the industry. Many will tell you on site that the life span of their farm is in 10-year blocks because of environmental pressure and CAP reform.

Cross compliance to the environmental regulations within CAP are now tied directly to farm payments.

Now ratified, CAP did not begin to address environmentalists’ concerns and they continue to protest loud and clear across France. So much so that violent clashes are now costing lives among protesters and police. Political parties are lining up to take credit for environmental support — they know where the votes are.

As I have discovered in my travels, most land from a global perspective is leased, not owned, by farmers.

French farmers must abide by mandatory environmental regulation while the benefit may still go to the church, the royal family or some other land owner. Environmentalists continue to block agricultural improvements such as the dam on the Tescou River for irrigation and fight for greater areas for wildlife, less waste, no GMO crops and the elimination of herbicides and pesticides.

Politicians have listened and France leads the promotion of organic farming and “high-value environmental agriculture.” The squeeze is tight enough that meat imports are taking the place of traditional beef in French meat dishes. The 13 million hectares of land used for grass-fed beef production in France is being eyed by some as a source of pollution and farmers are faced with an ever-diminishing palate for beef.

Chefs have played a role in bringing back sense and sensibility to the discussion by reviving French cuisine.

A typical lunch of steak and salad is now not as common but there is leadership from the higher-end establishments. This concept of the chef leading the charge is getting to be a new wave in the religion of food. A few years ago chefs in Australia started importing Longhorn cattle for the meat quality and the newly released book The Third Plate brings to life the role of the chef in farming and the environment. This is exciting for food and for farmers. Having the leading chef onside is like a Billy Graham revival for beef.

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It is good for France because it allows for alignment between farmer and end-user to a greater degree which should, in a secondary way, remove extra environmental pressure.

Don’t get me wrong, I strongly advocate for environmental consciousness and responsibility by farmers. There is always room for improvement but we need more than ourselves as farmers in the voting box when it comes to making Canadian food happen and we would benefit from being ahead of environmental regulation. New policy is best when it is collaborative in nature and inclusive to all aspects of production from water through to end-user.

Best production practises are a common adaptation in Canada by beef and other primary industries. It is a good time to keep our eye on the environmental file and not be lulled by the current federal diversion from it. We don’t want to be like France, supported to the point of overproduction, with every decision tied to a regulation that we did not create or have an equal say in.

Julie Child once said that the only time to eat diet food was while waiting for the steak to cook. Traditional recipes were heavy on presentation and taste and that trend is coming back around in many parts of the world. But there are two catches to the end of the story. As immigration increases worldwide, those principle beef dishes are being tossed for a vegetable-based meal so the competition for beef to be at the centre of the plate continues to heat up. And second, the cost of extreme environmental regulation must be carried by the product. And that may put some cuts out of reach. This differs from sensible environmental practice which will over time reduce costs and increase production as soil health improves.

There is a French connection to Canadian farmers. We both live in extremely beautiful countries with a great history of beef on the menu. We both face environmental challenges every day with an ever-aging farming population and a general population who does not remember where food comes from. We both have a diverse cultural shift occurring in food and are outspoken when someone crosses our boundaries on policy.

Our difference in Canada is that we have a say in how environmental policy is shaped and we have the opportunity to nurture another generation of men and women who farm with environmental consciousness on their terms. And we can do this without draining the public purse. That means the consumer and the chef and the public can be our friends. You could not ask for anything more. c Brenda Schoepp is a motivating speaker and mentor who works with young entrepreneurs across Canada and around the world. She can be contacted through her website www. brendaschoepp.com. All rights reserved. Brenda Schoepp 2014

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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 calving

By Claire Windeyer, Lorraine Doepel and John Kastelic

What you need to know about colostrum for beef calves

W

ith cattle prices at historic highs, it’s important to get the 2015 calf crop off to a great start and minimize sickness and death. Most cattle producers know that colostrum is important for calves; this article will briefly review background information regarding colostrum, and provide some practical tips.

Colostrum is a critical source of antibodies, specialized proteins that provide protection against infectious diseases, including those caused by bacteria and viruses.

The main antibody in colostrum is called immunoglobulin G (IgG). Newborn calves have a naive immune system; they do not have their own antibodies, and antibodies from the dam do not cross the placenta during pregnancy. Therefore, it is essential for the health and survival of a calf that they receive antibodies from colostrum very early in life, a process called transfer of passive immunity.

During the first hours of a calf’s life, their intestinal wall can absorb large molecules, including the antibodies in colostrum. This ability to uptake antibodies is most effective in the first six hours after birth. The efficiency of antibody absorption decreases over time (starting soon after birth), with essentially no absorption possible by 24 hours after birth.

Antibodies are produced in response to stimulation by various antigens, including bacteria, viruses and vaccines. To increase the concentration of specific antibodies in colostrum, heifers and cows can be vaccinated during late pregnancy. Vaccinations should be given no later than approximately six weeks before the expected start of calving, to allow time for antibodies to form and accumulate in the colostrum. It takes about three weeks for antibodies to be produced in response to most vaccines, and the process of putting antibodies into the colostrum occurs three weeks before calving.

There are several factors that determine the transfer of passive immunity in young calves, including the quality and quantity of colostrum, when it’s ingested and the level of hygiene. Colostrum quality, specifically the amount of antibodies present, varies widely among cows, breeds and farms. Good quality beef colostrum has at

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When a calf is suckling, the ingested material is shunted directly into the abomasum, which facilitates absorption of the antibodies least 100 g/L of IgG. However, we rarely know the concentration of antibodies, so guidelines have been developed to estimate the likely concentration present in a cow’s colostrum.

Both the amount of colostrum and when it is ingested are important to the transfer of passive immunity. In general, the mother is the best source of colostrum for a newborn calf, and with most cow-calf pairs, no intervention is needed. To suck an adequate amount of colostrum, the calf must be strong enough to stand and suck, the mother must produce sufficient amounts of colostrum with a high concentration of antibodies, and she must be willing to allow the calf to suck. If the calf is slow to stand, or if the dam is unwilling to allow the calf to suckle, some assistance is needed.

In these cases, the cow and calf should be housed in a confined space, if possible, and carefully monitored, particularly if the cow shows any aggression towards her calf. These cows should be restrained and the calf assisted to find and latch onto the udder. If that fails, the calf should be given at least one litre of good-quality colostrum

within four hours after birth and then either nurse from its dam or receive another litre of colostrum before it is 12 hours old.

Ideally, every calf receives its mother’s colostrum. However, this is not always possible. Therefore, an alternative source of colostrum is needed. It’s a good idea to store frozen colostrum. Mature cows from the same herd with ample colostrum are a good source. Colostrum from dairy cows has much lower concentrations of IgG, so it’s not ideal for beef calves. However, if dairy colostrum is the only source available, give double the recommended volume. Keep in mind that colostrum from another farm always has the potential to introduce an infectious agent.

There are also commercial sources of colostral antibodies that can be given to calves that do not get sufficient colostrum.

The quality of these products is variable.

So read the label. Beef calves need 150 to 200 g of IgG within the first 12 hours of life; lower-concentration products may be unable to supply that amount, although they may serve as a supplement for calves that have already consumed some colostrum. Having a good commercial colostrum replacement product on hand during calving season can literally be a lifesaver.

Good hygiene when collecting, storing and feeding colostrum is also important, as bacterial contamination reduces the efficiency of antibody absorption, besides being a source of disease.

Wash and dry your hands and the udder before you milk out the colostrum. Don’t collect from cows with any signs of mastitis, and milk the colostrum into a clean container with care to minimize contamination with manure or other contaminants.

Any container or nipple used to feed colostrum should be cleaned prior to each use and never used to feed or treat sick calves.

Fresh colostrum needs to be used within a few hours, or frozen immediately to minimize bacterial growth. Zip-lock plastic freezer bags that hold one or two litres work well. Place the bag in warm water (50 C) to thaw, as high heat will likely damage the antibodies.

As we have already stated, the best way for a calf to ingest colostrum is by suck-

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calving

ling its dam. The next best option is to suck colostrum from a nipple bottle. When a calf is suckling (its mother or an artificial nipple), much of the ingested material is shunted directly into the abomasum (fourth stomach), which facilitates absorption of the antibodies. If a calf is too weak to suck, it may be necessary to use an esophageal feeder. Used incorrectly, these can harm and even kill a calf.

Be sure the tube is in the correct location and feed it down gently before releasing the colostrum.

When a calf does not absorb sufficient amounts of antibodies, that condition is termed failed transfer of passive immunity. It is the single greatest risk factor in pre-weaning mortality; calves with failed transfer of passive immunity are highly susceptible to infectious diseases and often die of diarrhea (scours) or respiratory disease (despite early detection and vigorous treatment).

The transfer of passive immunity can be confirmed by measuring blood IgG concentrations in the lab. A minimum 10 mg/mL is considered adequate. Alternatively, serum total proteins can be measured in the field or at your local vet clinic with a hand-held refractometer, with 5.2 g/dL considered a minimum acceptable value. Blood samples can also be taken at one to seven days of age to monitor the number of calves in a herd that failed to gain passive immunity as part of an investigation when a number of calves have become sick or died. c The authors are faculty members in the department of production animal health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary.

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45

BUILDING TRUST IN CANADIAN BEEF

Shake up your meeting mindset How to get more from a VBP workshop It’s the busy meeting season. Lots of choices on where a producer can spend their time.

Why should a Verified Beef Production (VBP) workshop be on that list?

Melinda German thinks there is a twopart answer to that question. One is understanding the opportunity. The second is capitalizing on the learning experience.

German, the general manager of Manitoba Beef Producers has had broad experience in the beef industry, and worked extensively as an educator and extension agent. Here’s her advice.

Build the tool box. “A big factor is our changing industry,” says German. “We’ve known for years that consumers are more disconnected from farming. Now we see retailers and restaurants getting involved to answer questions about how beef animals are raised.

“The VBP program is one of the best in Canada in terms of being a simple, easy tool to put in every farmers’ or ranchers’ tool box. It tells consumers and the public what, how and why we do things. And it tells why we are an important part of the social and economic fabric of Canada.”

Understand the fundamentals. Before you attend, think about what you are coming to learn. Why is it important to your farm or ranch? What do you expect to get out of that? Do a little Internet research ahead of time to get a feel for where the industry and public are at.

“If you understand the basics then you can get to important questions that matter to you on your farm.”

Avoid the knowledge danger zone.

Sometimes people think they know this information already so they kind of shut down in the session. But it’s important to keep an open mind. It’s OK to challenge and to share thoughts in a respectful manner. But be prepared to see the other side of the discussion.

Stay after class. Some of the best, most open and honest discussion can take place after a presentation when people gather for discussion. They often aren’t as inhibited as during the session and cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. It’s a great time to learn.

Build a VBP relationship. Get the most out of the knowledge in the room. Send questions of direct interest to you ahead of time or have them available at the start of the session. Or follow up afterwards.

“It’s all about building relationships you can use to your benefit,” says German.

Join the family. “The coolest thing about the beef industry is that it is in many ways a big family. And it doesn’t take long to become part of that.

“I can go anywhere in Canada and find people I’ve worked with, taught or known from the industry. I consider that one of the greatest learning opportunities we all have in this industry.”

Melinda German, general manager — Manitoba Beef Producers.

Find a VBP workshop VBP workshops are available across Canada. For a listing of contacts in your area click on VBP Across Canada at www.verifiedbeef.org.

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2015 Conference Sessions Feed – Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Production Various Presenters 20/20 Foresight: Next Decade & Beyond for the Global Meat Industry Presented by Bob Treadway Wednesday, February 18th 8:00 am Registration 9:30 am Pre-Conference Workshop 6:00 pm Tradeshow Dinner & Welcome Reception | Sponsored by Alltech & John Deere

Canadian Beef Advisors - Looking Ahead Panel Discussion David Bolduc, President, Canadian Beef Breeds Council Jack Hextall, Chair, Canada Beef Inc Tim Oleksyn, Chair, Canadian Beef Research Council Dave Solverson, Chair, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Jeff Warrack, Chair, National Cattle Feeders’ Association Moderator – Bryan Walton, General Manager, NCFA

Thursday, February 19th 8:15 am Keynote Address 8:30 am 20/20 Foresight: Next Decade & Beyond for the Global Meat Industry 9:30 am Canadian Beef Advisors 10:30 am Coffee 11:00 am Make it Canadian 12:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm Innovation at its Best: Using Genomic Testing in Commercial Ranch Selection 2:00 pm Coffee 2:30 pm Lessons Learned & Opportunities for Growth 3:30 pm If I Can 6:30 pm Taste of Alberta Banquet

Make it Canadian Rob Meijer, President Canada Beef Inc Daisuke Shimojima (Shimo), Director - Business Development, Asia Jorge Mendez-Manzanilla, Director, Business Development, Latin America

Friday, February 20th 9:00 am Through the Eyes of Our Consumers 10:00 am Coffee 10:30 am McDonald’s & Sustainable Beef: Perspectives and Approaches 11:30 am Cattle Markets and Steaks Need Context

Innovation at its Best - Using Genomic Tests in Commercial Ranch Selection John Genho, Eldon Farms/Livestock Genetic Services Lessons Learned & Opportunities for Growth – Alberta Pork Ben Woolley, Sunterra Ltd If I Can...

Chris Koch Through The Eyes Of Our Consumers Ira Blumenthal McDonald’s and Sustainable Beef: Perspectives and Approaches Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, Senior Manager, Sustainability Michele Banik-Rake, Director of Sustainability - Worldwide Supply Chain Cattle Markets and Steaks Need Context Bruce Cobb, Consolidated Beef Producers

For a complete listing of session descriptions, please visit us online at:

www.abiconference.ca

 prime cuts

By Steve Kay

All about the numbers

N

umbers are the lifeblood of the North American beef industry. Whether it’s cattle prices, wholesale beef prices, slaughter and production levels, or cattle and beef exports and imports, the industry pores over numbers every week to glean what might lie ahead.

Forecasts for 2015 start with cattle numbers. The early prospects continue to be bright for cow-calf operators but not for cattle feeders, beef processors, those who buy beef and those who consume it. That’s because cattle numbers in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico were expected on January 1 to be down 835,000 head on a year ago. This would be a 9.6 million head decline in five years.

Canada’s herd total might decline to its lowest level in just over 20 years. The total on Jan 1 last year was 12.220 million head.

Forecasts have it declining to 12.060 million or 11.950 million head (USDA’s number).

Either number would bring the total back to 1994 or 1993 levels, respectively. USDA forecasts that Canada’s beef production this year will fall 40,000 metric tons from 2014’s estimated 1.050 million mt.

Cattle feeders and packers will thus have fewer cattle available to run their operations, and consumers will have to pay more for beef. USDA forecasts that consumer beef

prices in the U.S. will increase 4.5 to 5.5 per cent this year from last. That’s far less than the 11 per cent to 12 per cent increase it forecast for prices in 2014 versus 2013. But those record prices caused beef sales to slow in the final third of 2014 and that trend will be evident at least the first half of this year.

The decline in Canadian cattle numbers mostly reflects a decline in beef cow numbers. Analysts have well documented the reasons for the decline. One reason that needs to be re-emphasized is the labour shortage, especially in Western Canada.

Many readers, I’m sure, know first-hand how hard it is to find someone to work on a ranch or in a feedlot.

Not surprisingly, three representatives of the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) group pressed the labour issue at a series of meetings in Ottawa last November. Cattle farmers, ranchers, feeders and meat processors are having a hard time finding the skilled workers needed for the many available jobs in Canada, they said. Vacancies on farms and ranches include two or three spots at a time, with processing plants seeing vacancies in the hundreds.

The worsening labour shortage is most acute at the plant level, where it is hobbling production, especially of value-added products. The crisis has been mounting

for some time. But the Canadian government exacerbated the crisis last June when it interrupted a temporary foreign worker program. The meat industry had been using the program since 2002 to help fill vacancies. The industry as of last November had more than 900 vacancies in nine processing plants across Canada, the Canadian Meat Council’s Ron Davidson told me. But the vacancy issue will get much worse. This is the most serious threat facing the industry in Canada. Nor is it confined to the industry. The rest of agriculture and other sectors of the economy like trucking face a similar crisis, he says.

The 900 vacancies included 320 at Cargill’s High River, Alta., beef plant and 150 at JBS’s Brooks, Alta., beef plant. These plants need more than 2,000 workers each to operate at the level they want to. It’s little wonder then that John Masswohl of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association warned last November that a corporate headquarters outside Canada might do the math and decide it was not worth operating a plant in Canada. Let’s hope the government was listening. c A North American view of the meat industry.

Steve Kay is publisher and editor of Cattle Buyers Weekly.

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www.canadiancattlemen.ca

 CCA repo rts

By Dave Solverson

THE right fix

T

he end of 2014 is fast approaching but there’s no slowing down for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). The Canadian cattle industry remains fluid and dynamic with much activity in the areas of trade and market access, and the CCA is at the table working on behalf of Canada’s 68,500 beef operations.

November and December saw CCA officials travelling to meet with U.S. cattle industry allies to ensure they remain motivated by the potential of retaliatory tariffs to lobby U.S. politicians to fix U.S. mandatory country-oforigin labelling (COOL).

I met with representatives from Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado and Montana in Regina at a round table organized by the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association on November 25. Along with CCA director of government and international relations John Masswohl, I next visited Iowa and Nebraska where we were asked to present to the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Nebraska Cattlemen’s meetings. Earlier, Masswohl had travelled to Kansas, along with CCA director Doug Sawyer, and had also been to Washington, D.C., and Washington State.

These missions are important as these states rely on importing both feeders and fed cattle from Canada to keep their feedlots and packing plants operating at efficient levels. We still see divisions between U.S. cattle producers who support COOL and those who recognize COOL for the long-term threat that it represents to their businesses. Our presence is intended to help those on the fence recognize that we are stronger working together than forcing retaliation and I can see that we are making a difference towards that.

The CCA also plans to attend a meeting of state agriculture and rural legislators (SARL) and the American Farm Bureau (AFB) meetings in January. AFB’s position is that they support COOL but feel it needs to be WTO compliant. We will make sure they understand that Canada is serious about imposing tariffs on a wide variety of U.S. agriculture and processed products if the discrimination against our livestock is not eliminated. We hope they will adopt a more proactive position in support of Canada’s position.

At this stage, the CCA is interested in the right fix as opposed to a fast fix. This would involve the U.S. making an appropriate resolution to COOL that is acceptable to Canada and Mexico in order to avoid retaliation.

These various meetings are timely following the November 28 decision by the U.S. to appeal the World Trade Organization (WTO) Compliance Panel ruling of October 20, which found that the U.S. has failed to bring its COOL program into compliance with its WTO obligations. The appeal is the U.S.’s final procedural option before Canada can exercise its right to

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retaliate, and the CCA remains focused on eliminating the unfair discrimination on U.S. imports of cattle (and hogs).

Efforts like these keep the COOL reform momentum building in the U.S., including with groups that will be impacted by the retaliation that will follow if the WTO again rules in Canada’s favour on this latest appeal. The CCA believes the U.S. will lose their appeal — a move which we view as a stall tactic. While this process is expected to take several months, with a decision perhaps as early as the spring of 2015, the CCA believes it will be faster than many of its U.S. opponents anticipate.

The impact of COOL on the combined Canadian cattle and hog sectors was estimated in 2012 to be about $1.1 billion per year; however, the impact has increased since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) amended the regulation in 2013. The CCA will continue to work with the Government of Canada on the COOL file until it is fully resolved, including preparing to impose tariffs on U.S. exports selected from the June 2013 list of targeted commodities, including beef.

The Government of Canada announced the conclusion of the ratification process of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) in both Parliaments, a milestone that puts Canada and South Korea on track to bring the agreement into force on January 1, 2015.

Having the CKFTA implemented by January 1 was a critical objective for the Canadian beef sector as it enables Canada to keep pace with its U.S. and Australian competitors from a tariff reduction perspective. The CCA is pleased that the CKFTA will be in place on time to restore a competitive position for Canadian beef in the Korean market.

In 2002, Korea was a $40 million market for Canadian beef and its fourth-largest export destination. In 2013, with a growing tariff disadvantage relative to U.S. beef, Canada exported $7.8 million. In 2014 exports will be up $4.7 million from the previous year. Korea is still a promising market with growing consumption.

It’s estimated the new market access will result in gains realized over a number of years as Canadian production rebuilds.

Trade deals like the CKFTA are important because they provide the ability to get every piece of the animal to the highest value market, and that’s what maximizes the price that Canada’s producers receive for their cattle.

In other interesting news, the CCA announced a new partnership with Viewtrak Technologies to expand the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS). This partnership will help bring BIXS to the next level and I look forward to watching the progress. c

Dave Solverson is president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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Silas Chapman (403) 741-2099 • Shane Castle (306) 741-7485 Auctioneer: Don Raffan (250) 558-6789

 THE INDUSTRY

CalvingTips&Tales Calving tips 1. Get more feed into calves. The smaller the calf, the more critical. Add another meal when temperature is lowest, at night.

2. Consistency. Feed same volume, same amount of solids at the same time and same temperature. Do not overheat milk before feeding.

3. Add colostrum cubes. Freeze colostrum in ice cube trays. Add two cubes per calf.

4. Add starter. Increase energy and heat of rumination heats calf. Keep feed buckets clean and at appropriate height for calves.

5. Don’t skimp on water. Warm water to 38.5 C so calf doesn’t have to expend energy to warm the water.

6. Focus on first 48 hours. Keep pens clean with deep bedding and warm calf within 24 hours of birth. Feed sufficient amounts of heated colostrum from vaccinated cows with protein greater than 5.8 per cent. Dip navels.

7. Ventilate calf barns so fresh air exchange occurs even in cold weather to remove moisture.

8. Spend time in the pen to determine that the calf has a safe secure environment.

Beth McKeown Duncan, B.C.

Calving cameras go online I have used cameras in the barn for about 30 years. Last year I set up Internet IP cameras.

I had coax cable to the barn and used Ethernet over coax to get Internet to the barn.

I ran two $50 Foscam cameras (low-priced colour models that pan and tilt). This year I plan to run another camera in a shed 200 feet away using a buried Ethernet cable.

Anyone with an iPhone or Internet connection anywhere in the world can watch and move the cameras. I had relatives in Norway watching my cows last year.

The price of the setup is very low and the payback is big in time and calf savings (with today’s calf prices).

The cameras are $35 to $50, Ethernet cable is $90 per 1,000 feet. Routers are about $100 and can handle four to six cameras.

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A one-camera setup is about $100 and a four-camera set up is $400 to $500.

Cameras save time and you don’t disturb the cow. Anyone can watch your cameras if they download the free viewer app and have your IP address.

Wayne Hagen Lake Alma, Sask.

The tale of our 25-year-old cow My name is Christine Pascal and my husband Lawrence and I have farmed north of Lake Dauphin, around Fork River, Man., for 33 years now. We were grain farming here since 1981 but in 1989, we brought my little herd of cows and yearling heifers over from my dad’s, because he said he was getting too old to look after them. He had given me three little heifer calves when I was around 10. My dad had kept nice replacements for me, in the hopes that I’d start ranching some day.

From those three calves, we have built our entire herd up to hundreds of descendants over the years! We were pretty excited to see our first batch of calves born, on our own farm in 1990.

There was a funny little one, with three little specks on her nose. She was so tiny and shy and would hide behind her Mama anytime we tried to come close to her! So we called her Speckles.

She was too small to sell that fall, but I think we both used that as an excuse to keep her because she was just so cute.

Well, that little calf grew, but never to the same size as the other cows we kept as replacements! However, she was an easy calver. For the first couple of years, everything was fine, and her calves were almost as big as her by fall, so she sure had a great milk bag. Then on the her third calving, my husband was in the barn with her after she’d calved, and from a docile, sweet little pet-like cuddly thing, she suddenly turned into a psycho cow and almost flattened Lawrence into the manger. Good thing she was so short, he joked later, she’d have only broken his knee caps! Well, each year after that, we had hair-raising stories about her calving suddenly in -30 C, and our death

defying acts of trying to bring her shivering baby into the barn.

It was impossible to predict when she’d calve. She always managed to fool us. And there we were again, freezing in the middle of the night, trying to trick her into looking the other way, while we “stole” her calf.

Before BSE hit Canada, I’d been hoping to build a nice big calving barn, but we only had a barn with three stalls and a lot of cows calving at the same time. I’d usually have the first 100 cows calved out by the end of January in those days, and the rest in February and March. That meant a lot of shuffling and moving possessive cows around — very hard to do. I had a lot of crazy cows in those early days! (We gradually learned what the word “cull” meant.)

I’m not sure why we were so stupid to keep her when most farmers would have sold her after the first year. I think in those days, I enjoyed the challenge. Many times, I’d have to call my neighbour Rick, who always got a laugh at some of my predicaments, but helped me with ornery cows and any other calving difficulties. I learned everything about pulling calves and calving techniques from him and my dad, when Lawrence was not there to help.

Lawrence calls her the “Herd Boss” and she kept on calving till she was 19. Normally cows don’t last that long, but she’d developed a little lump on her neck, just behind her jaw, which the vet said was a “grass lump” or something that wasn’t bothering her, but it meant she couldn’t be sold at an auction mart, because buyers don’t like that. So, it was just another excuse to keep her, I suppose!

Our little Herd Boss was a born leader and way too smart for her own good. We kept a part of the herd, mostly the older cows, closer to home, along the lakeshore, in summer. We had that fence almost a half mile into the lake and it didn’t matter. She figured out that at a certain time in the afternoon, the lake went down and she was waiting! Then off they’d go, around the fence and, into the adjoining field and down to the Mossey River Dam. The grass was always greener on the other side for that cow!

The people who worked that field would phone us, madder than hornets, and tell us our cows were in their field or at the dam again. So we’d drop everything we were

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

calving tips & tales

doing, and have to run after them through overgrown, thorny bushes and swamp, trying to entice them back with pails of oats.

About the only good thing since the flood of 2012, is that the level of Lake Dauphin is so high now they can’t swim around the fences anymore.

Speckles was so deceptively tame and calm most of the year, and loved to be scratched and petted, but from the moment that calf drops to the ground, she shifts into “killer mode.” Even the barn cats knew not to cross into her stall or they’d be tossed into the next pen or squashed into the floorboards.

Well, those were some of the memories we will always have of our little Speckles, the Herd Boss. She chased us each and every year.

Now she’s in retirement, and when she hears Lawrence call her in the pasture, she puts her head up and comes trotting over and sniffs his pocket. She knows he brings her some oats in a plastic bag and she’s happy.

She is 25 years old now, and she was there when we started ranching, and now, we’re downsizing — she’ll probably outlast us! Our cow herd has been full of lovely tame cows for many years now, which is fine with us since both of us can’t outrun a cow these days.

We were happy to sell a lot of the herd privately to some good farmers all over Manitoba, so my cow legacy will live on. My dad would probably be happy to hear that, if he was still alive. Cows were something we never tired of talking about.

I just think this tough little cow needs

to have her story told. We’re hoping she’ll be able to make it through another hard Manitoba winter in good health. North Lake Ranch just wouldn’t be the same without her.

Christine Pascal Fork River, Man.

r t fo tter hir up sle t-s gn w ee Si r ne fr a ou get d an

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 TH E INDUST RY

NewsRoundup identification No more beta tests, pilots, soft launches or sequels. It’s full bore ahead for Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS) from here on in. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and ViewTrak Technologies are teaming up to form a new company with the provisional name of BIXSCO, that will work with industry partners to take BIXS to the next level.

The new company is headed by president and CEO Hubert Lau and executive vicepresident Ted Power, both of ViewTrak, working with a five-member board of directors that will include two representatives from each organization and a mutual appointee. BIXS staff will transfer from the CCA to the new company and BIXS will retain its name and original vision as development continues.

The CCA founded BIXS in 2008 to support the Canadian Beef Advantage branding initiative. It’s free, voluntary and confidential, designed for cow-calf producers, feedlots, packers and now, further processors and distributors, to track and share relevant animal production, performance, health, genetic, carcass and other information with whomever they choose for man-

Photo: Kim Berlie Photography

BIXS FIX

BiXSCO CEO Hubert Lau (l) and executive vice-president Ted Power.

agement and marketing purposes. The pilot was launched in fall 2010 and limped along until it was laid to rest at the end of 2013. A lighter, more user-friendly BIXS 2.0 emerged in spring 2014 at which time the three million carcass records and 3.4 ani-

mal birth records were transferred from the old to new. Uptake by producers continued to be disheartening with fewer than 1,000 users signed on by fall 2014, when admin-

- Holly L., Didsbury, Alberta, 2014 AWC Delegate

y! . da e d to it er lim st s gi g i Re atin Se

“ Thank you for helping me on my journey as a woman, rancher, mom and human.

All the speakers were amazing and relevant in so many ways.”

Continued on page 56

Capitalize on your opportunities and reap the benefits of your growth! This conference could change your life. Join women from Ag and related businesses as they reveal the secrets to their success. Attend in Calgary or Toronto - or both. Early Bird and Group Rates available now.

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WESTIN HARBOUR CASTLE, TORONTO, OCT 5 & 6, 2015

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Advancing Women Conference / Canadian Cattlemen 7” x 3.357” / Alberta Quote

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Untitled-2 1

2014-12-04 7:44 AM

News Roundup

Affordable financing for Canadian cattle feeders • Non-Pooled Security Deposit

Continued from page 54

• Apply for the loan amount your operation requires

istrators said BIXS 2.0 would go the same way as its predecessor if couldn’t attract many more users.

“Kudos to CCA for having the vision, taking it this far and recognizing it’s time to move stewardship of the program forward,” Lau says. “The new company will combine the best of breeds — CCA’s experience, connections and understanding of the beef industry and ViewTrak’s entrepreneurship, technology and creativity.”

Lau and Power, whose roles are reversed with ViewTrak, know what “taking it to the next level” means. ViewTrak itself has forged ahead since June 2012, when Marc de La Bruyere, chair of a large residential real estate development group, and W. Brett Wilson, entrepreneur and former “Dragons’ Den” dragon, purchased the Edmonton-based company. ViewTrak

• Feed Advances (equity draws) • Cattle can be tracked on a pen by pen basis, allowing for proceeds to be returned sooner upon the sale of livestock

“Our staff works hard to offer and maintain a cattle financing service that is flexible and competitive.”

Call us to discuss details, or visit our website:

www.cattlefinance.com Phone: 780-448-0033 Suite 306, 13220 St. Albert Trail Edmonton, AB T5L 4W1

now has offices in Alberta, Ontario, the U.S., New Mexico, Japan and China working with clients to customize hardware and software solutions for product tracking and quality assurance. In the North American beef industry, the company is best known for cow-calf, feedlot, auction market, and packer/processor software management systems.

The next level for BIXS starts with what Lau calls collaborative economics. “All of the who, what, why, when and where questions have been answered along the way, but no one has asked ‘how — how will this help us make more money?’” he explains.

“The how must get answered, so we will go back and listen to what producers, feedlots, packers and retailers say about the value to them and work together to achieve the value they expect.

“Timing is good because big companies are now asking for production information to assure their own customers of certain beef attributes, but there’s no time to lose. If we move quickly, we will have an impact at the global level as a whole.

Now is the time to lock arms and get it done. The faster people hop on board and

Family Day Sale 10th Annual

February 16, 2015

With over 2000 mother cows exposed in 2014, we at Ole Farms know what it takes to raise trouble free cattle. In order to be pro�itable we believe that a cow must be able to: *Feed herself on forages for as many days as possible with minimal mechanical intervention *Re-breed each summer and wean a calf every year.

All of our cattle must be deep-bodied, easy �leshing and have solid feet.

This enables them to hold condition and breed without being pampered. Our sale bulls are 21 months of age. They are moderate, forage developed and ready to make your operation more pro�itable.

1:00 p.m. at the farm at Athabasca, AB – Lunch at 11:30 a.m.

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CANADA’S LARGEST SELECTION OF 2 YEAR OLD ANGUS BULLS

“Sharing in the Excitement of Agriculture”

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www.olefarms.com

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www.canadiancattlemen.ca

NEWS ROU NDUP

the more people on the system, the more developmental work we can do.”

BIXS stays open for business as usual while development under the new company continues. Whether you are already on BIXS or participating for the first time, the process remains the same.

The framework for working together envisions that joining BIXS and some of the program components will be free but at the end of the day after all of the “how” questions regarding value have been discussed, there will be a fee for certain features and services.

One of those fees will likely be for carcass data. The CCA had worked out a cost-share agreement to secure carcass data from the packers for BIXS, and BIXS 2.0.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

While many details on BIXS operation are yet to be completed, any further funding of BIXS will be backed by ViewTrak.

The initial funding to develop BIXS came from the federal Agricultural Flexibility Fund, and more recently from the industry’s own Canadian Beef and Cattle Market Development Fund or “Legacy Fund” which runs out in March of this year.

“The heart of this is that I have travelled the world and know that Canadian beef is truly an amazing product. If we want to share our product with the world, the only way is to get it out there and the best way to do that is through collaborative economics,” Lau sums up.

BIXS’s original and lasting vision has four outcomes: better breeding, market-

ing and overall outcomes for producers, better sharing of information for benefits throughout the supply chain, the ability to respond to food safety emergencies and reduce market disruption, and customer satisfaction throughout the supply chain.

For detailed information about BIXS, visit www.bixs.cattle.ca, or call 1-877-995-0687.

Trade

If the EU interests you, start early

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) estimates producers will need to raise 500,000 head per year to fill all the Continued on page 58

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57

GREENER PASTURES

News Roundup

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Continued from page 57

duty-free quota that will become available once the Canadian-European Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) takes effect.

That’s expected to be in late 2016 or early 2017 which gives Canadian beef producers two years to assess this lucrative market composed of 28 countries and begin registering cattle for their first shipments. They’ll probably need all of that lead time.

Technical talks to ratify CETA have been underway since the negotiations wrapped up this fall, but Mark Klassen, the technical director of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, says no change is anticipated in the steps cow-calf producers, feedlots and packing plants must follow to become certified and eligible to export to the EU.

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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) rules for certified hormone free EU beef were revised in 2011 to reduce the number of veterinary visits required and remove the need to purchase special EU program ear tags and eliminate urine testing at feedlots. Additionally, it’s now possible for cattle raised in community pastures and sold through auction markets to remain EU eligible provided certain requirements are met.

Klassen says the current technicial discussions centre around the requirements for beef plants, particularly the use of hot-water carcass pasteurization as a food safety intervention. Canada’s larger processors also use other treatments for carcasses and cuts that, while supported by research and approved in Canada, are not presently accepted by the EU. There are, however, three smaller EU-approved packing plants in Canada eligible to export beef products.

The CCA is encouraging anyone interested in the EU market to begin this spring because the enrolment process will require a growth-enhancing product (GEP) assessment, training, and possibly new operating procedures.

21st Annual

Red SimmentaL - Charolais Guest Consignor Saddleridge Charolais

Feb 24, 2015 at 1:00 pm Bow Slope Shipping Association Brooks, AB

Selling: 70 Head of Simmental & Charolais Bulls 58

Brian Bouchard Sales Manager 403.813.7999 Office: 403.946.4999 Fax: 403.946.4919

C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

Rainalta Simmentals & Charolais Bill Swenson 403.362.0854

Rainier, Alberta rainalta@eidnet.org

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

N EWS ROUNDUP

Cow-calf producers are encouraged to enrol before calving but they can enrol any time before their EU animals leave the birth farm provided growth-promoting products are not used for other animals on the farm. Feedlots must be approved before they receive certified animals.

Klassen has compiled easy-to-read summaries of the requirements for cow-calf producers and feedlots that are now available on the CCA’s website, http://www.cattle.ca/market-access/marketaccess-requirements/.

The full text of the EU protocol is available on the CFIA’s website at www.inspection.gc.ca.

Stewart Cattle Co. & Guests

7th Annual Black Angus Bull Sale 50 Black Angus Bulls & Simmental x Angus Bulls

FEBRUARY 26 / 2015 1:00pm NEEPAWA AG-PLEX

Getting started

The whole point of the protocol is to verify that beef being offered for export to the EU is from animals raised without GEPs (supplemental hormones and beta-agonists including MGA, ractopamine or zilpaterol).

This doesn’t mean GEPs have to be banned from your entire operation, just the EU-bound animals and that there is supporting documentation on file to back up this claim throughout the chain.

The first step is to discuss program requirements and costs with a CFIA-approved veterinarian. Klassen says producers typically work with their own veterinarians who must take some training developed by the CFIA on the EU program. CFIA district offices should have a list of local vets who are already approved.

If you decide to proceed, your approved veterinarian will do an Continued on page 60

Phone or email for catalogue: stewartcows@wificountry.ca Sale catalogue & video will be available from consignors or online @

www.stewartcattle.com FREE BOARD on all bull purchases until April 1, 2015 Stewart Cattle Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204.773.6392 DJ Cattle Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204.841.3880 Legaarden Livestock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204.546.3052

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800-874-8494 C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

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News Roundup Continued from page 59

on-farm GEP assessment, issue the official certificate of compliance once everything is satisfactory, and work with you to complete the enrolment form and training. For this, you’ll need a premises identification number as well as a written program that includes an organizational structure identifying who will be responsible for program tasks.

The enrolment form and producer declaration must be renewed each year. Cow-calf producers are responsible for contacting their approved veterinarians to renew the GEP assessment on their operations at least once a year. It’s twice a year for feedlots.

Paper trail is proof

Your approved veterinarian will have the required forms and certificates. Alternatively, records generated from farm and industry animal-tracking programs already in use are acceptable as long as they include the required information.

Animal inventories must be kept up to date as animals move into and out of the program.

If an animal’s national RFID tag is lost, it must be replaced and recorded as required by Canada’s traceability regulations as well as in your EU program records. First, the animal must be

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inspected by the operation’s designated person for evidence of implant use and the records reviewed to ensure the animal was never fed GEPs. Mixed-status operations need to develop a manual of procedures describing GEP use for non-program animals and have a system in place to track individual animals that shows how program animals are segregated and visually distinguished from non-eligible animals. Mixed feeds and supplements purchased from commercial feed mills fed to program animals must come with a guarantee that they do not contain any GEP residues. Likewise, if you mix your own feed, you’ll need a written plan to ensure feeds containing GEPs remain segregated, and some way to monitor this practice.

Whether program animals are sold through an enrolled auction market, shipped directly from the birth farm to another enrolled operation, or to an EUapproved packing plant, the load needs to be accompanied by a CFIA-accepted transfer document listing the RFID numbers of program animals.

What if there is a mixup?

If an animal’s identification doesn’t match up with those on the transfer document, the receiving feedlot needs to get back to the farm of origin to determine whether the animal is eligible for the program. If so, the farm must provide a supplemental transfer document.

If evidence of an implant is detected or even suspected, the approved veterinarian must be notified. All animals from the same source will be deemed ineligible for the EU until an investigation is completed.

Alley entries up 50 per cent and display pens in The Yards filled to the brim. Organizers say interest in The Yards, introduced in 2013, has been phenomenal. They were able to make room for eight additional pens, bringing the total to 26 this year and people were lined up to get space in next year’s commercial show.

The commercial heifer sale reached highs of $3,550 per head for a pen of five bred heifers and $3,150 for a pen of 10 bred heifers. Pens of five open replacement heif-

ers topped out at $2,500 and pens of 10 at $2,050 per head.

Total sales for the 75 open replacements sold in pens of five and 10 from the ring tallied up to $145,750 for an average of $1,943 per head compared to the 2013 average of $1,063. Bred-heifer pens rang up $411,750 in sales on 140 head for an average of $2,941 per head compared to the 2013 average of $1,707. Complete show and sale results including consignors and buyers are available at www.agribition.com. c

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The Stock Exchange commercial cattle barn was a hub of activity with Bull Pen www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

61

 NEWS ABOUT YOU

By Deb Wilson

PurelyPurebred receiving the two $1,000 Canadian Charolais Association Scholarships. n Our condolences go out to David Bolduc, and family, on the unexpected passing of their wife and mother, Margaret Bolduc, in mid-November. Margaret was a familiar hostess at the annual Cudlobe Angus Sale, and one of the key components of the sale was the pies baked by Margaret and Dyce’s wife. David is past president of the Canadian Angus Association and is the current president of Canadian Beef Breeds Council.

n Highland Stock Farms of Bragg Creek, Alberta & Payne Livestock of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, are the proud owners of the completely undefeated for two years Canadian National Grand Champion Limousin Bull and two-time Canadian Limousin Show Bull of 2013 & 2014 — RPY PAYNES DERBY 46Z. He was named Grand Champion Limousin bull at the Olds Fall Classic this year and for 2014 and 2013 at Lloydminster Stockade Roundup, Farmfair International and Canadian Western Agribition Regina, Sask.

n Canadian Western Agribition, hosted a roundtable meeting Nov. 25 focused on improving dialogue between Canadian and American beef producers. Producers from Colorado, Minnesota, Montana and Nebraska met with their Canadian counterparts through this program organized by the Canadian Consulates in Minneapolis and Denver and the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA).

Discussion topics focused on the integration of meat and livestock industries, sustainability and innovation, intergenerational succession planning and key trade issues such as U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) and regulatory cooperation. “The North American cattle industry operates as an integrated market and by working together on shared issues and eliminating trade barriers such as COOL both our countries can benefit greatly,” said SSGA president Doug Gillespie.

n The Canadian Charolais Association would like to commend the youth that applied for the 2014 CCA Scholarships; the applications are getting tougher to narrow down each year as the calibre of submissions keeps getting stronger!

Congratulations to Shae-Lynn Evans of Kenaston, Sask. as the 2014 recipient of the $1,500 Dale Norheim Memorial Scholarship, and to both Chloe Gresel of Erin, Ont. and Jade Marshall of Red Deer County, Alta. as the successful applicants

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C at t l e m e n · j a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

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Sales results For more details see www.canadiancattlemen.com

Peak Dot Ranch Fall Bull Sale Dec. 4, 2014, Wood Mountain, Sask.

128 Older bulls, gross $1,051,500, av. $8,215 1 Bred heifer (Donation), gross $3,500, av. $3,500 129 Total, gross $1,051,500, av. $8,178 Cudlobe Angus Bull Sale

Dec. 10, 2014, Foothills Livestock Auction, Stavely, Alta.

140 Yearling bulls, gross , $1,077,580, av. $7,697

n On Nov. 4, Canadian Beef Breeds Council hosted a delegation from Turkey. It was looking for information regarding the beef production system in Canada, as well as on specific breeds of beef cattle. It is anticipated that live cattle access to Turkey will occur in the near future. n Canadian Beef Breeds Council also sponsored a luncheon in co-operation with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development at Farmfair International. This included a seminar to inform international attendees about Canadian live-

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stock production. Specific topics were genomics, traceability, and reproduction techniques.

ighlights — mature bull sold for H $62,000; bred heifer for $20,000; heifer calf for $26,000.

n Canadian Western Agribition CEO Marty Seymour said their 2014 show “shot the lights out on beef sales,” which were at least 50 per cent higher than last year.

(This doesn’t include results from Saturday’s commercial and prospects sales.)

• Angus Sale Total sales — $283,325; 46 lots for an average of $6,159.

Highlights — $31,000 for choice of 2014 bull calf and $24,000 for pick of any 2014 calf; buyers from across Canada with one heifer calf going to Oklahoma.

• Speckle Park Sale Total sales — $132,900; 20 lots for an average of $6,645.

Highlights — $13,250 heifer calf; $12,900 bull calf; package of three embryos to Dorchester, England.

• Gelbvieh Sale Total sales — $71,550; 14 lots for an average of $5,111.

Highlights — high-selling heifer calf for $11,000.

• Shorthorn Sale Total sales — $117,625; 26 lots for an average of $4,524.

Highlights — high-selling heifer calf sold to an Ontario buyer for $18,750.

• Charolais Sale Total sales — $157,450; 17 lots (all females) for an average of $9,262.

Highlights — Pick of herd — cow $32,500; bred heifer $18,000; heifer calf $13,000.

• Hereford Sale Total sales — $136,750; 23.5 lots for an average of $5,819.

Highlights — high-selling heifer calf for $10,300; half interest in a bull calf for $7,500; embryo package to Texas.

• Simmental Sale Total sales — $126,800; 17 lots for an average of $7,459.

Highlights — high-selling heifer calf to Alberta for $15,000.

• Limousin Sale Total sales — $173,450; 21 lots for an average of $8,260.

Highlights — half interest in a bred cow for $16,000; half interest in a bull calf for $12,500; bull calf for $15,000 with several head going to buyers in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

• Angus Power and Perfection Sale Total sales — $361,350; 33 lots for an average of $10,950.

n As noted earlier, CBBC nominee and legendary livestock photographer, Walt Browarny was inducted into the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on November 9 in Toronto, Ontario in conjunction with the Royal Winter Fair.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

n The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair wrapped up its 92nd season of agricultural fun and competitions including its famous Queen’s Guineas Show and Sale. This year, Ryan Scott of Brant County took home the top prize in the Queen’s Guineas competition and earned the first spot in the sales ring for the 2014 Queen’s Guineas auction later that night. His steer, High Hopes, was purchased

by Cargill for $11,440. Cargill was one of the biggest supporters of the youth participants in the competition as top buyer in the 2014 Queen’s Guineas sale, followed by MacNeil Farms and Premier Farm Equipment.

The Queen’s Guineas is now in its 68th year of operation, making it the longestrunning youth competition at The Royal.

The competition first took shape when money was released from a grant given to the Province of Ontario in 1946 by the Prince of Wales. From this money, a new competition and prize called the King’s Guineas was created at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. In 1952, when Elizabeth II came to the throne, the competition was renamed as the Queen’s Guineas.

“The Queen’s Guineas is one of The Royal’s most storied competitions, with many past competitors who still carry fond memories of their own days as a competitor,” said Peter Hohenadel, director of agriculture and food at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair n Canadian Beef Breeds Council, Canadian Angus Association, National Cattle Feeders and the Canadian Cattlemen Association presented briefs to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. The committee was gathering information regarding international market development for various aspects of Canadian agriculture. n In efforts to increase positive messaging around beef in human health and wellContinued on page 64

FEBRUARY 14

Prairie Hills Gelbvieh ‘Power on the Prairie Sale,’ at the Ranch, Gladstone, ND

FEBRUARY 25

6th Annual Beck McCoy Bull Sale, Beck Farms Sale Barn, Regina, SK

MARCH 7

Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch 26th Annual Bull Sale, at their bull yards, Ponteix, SK

MARCH 9

Severtson Land & Cattle Bull Sale, at the ranch, Red Deer County, AB

MARCH 10

Gelbvieh Stock Exchange Sale, Medicine Hat Feeding Company, Medicine Hat, AB

MARCH 14

Foursquare 8th Annual Bull Sale, Olds Cow Palace, Olds, AB

MARCH 16

Twin Bridge Farms & Guests Bull Sale, Silver Sage Community Corral, Brooks, AB

MARCH 21

Gelbvieh Advantage Bull Sale, Innisfail, AB

MARCH 21

Saskatoon Gelbvieh Bull & Female Sale, Saskatoon, SK

MARCH 29

Best of the Breeds Bull Sale, Leross, SK

APRIL 4

Prairie Gelbvieh Alliance Bull Sale, Johnstone Auction Mart, Moose Jaw, SK

CANADIAN GELBVIEH ASSOCIATION 403.250.8640 gelbvieh@gelbvieh.ca www.gelbvieh.ca

C at t l e m e n · j a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

63

PU RELY PUREBRED

Continued from page 63

ness, Canada Beef works with the International Meat Secretariat’s (IMS) Human Nutrition Committee. With an exciting nutrition story to share, Canada Beef ’s participation with IMS is a highly valuable addition to advocacy and education work done by Canada Beef to promote beef ’s role in a healthy diet. Backed by science and a global platform of experts, co-ordinating efforts with the IMS Human

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65

 Market Su mma ry

By Debbie McMillin

TheMarkets Fed Cattle November saw the fed market set new records only to be broken again in December. Many market-ready fed cattle heading into December moved through under contract which left light volumes trading on the cash. That partly explains the latest average high of $182.28 set the first week of December, which is $54.88/cwt above last year and $75.77 over the fiveyear average. Looking back on 2014, the fed market climbed steadily for a 40 per cent gain on the year.

The cash-to-cash basis continued to narrow to -14.45/cwt in the first week of December, right in line with a year ago, but still over 6/cwt wider than the fiveyear average. The cash-to-futures basis has improved sharply in recent weeks and is currently right in line with the fiveyear average. Fed cattle exports to date are 12 per cent ahead of the same time last year at 359,460 head. U.S. buyer interest was strong through the fourth quarter thanks to our Canadian dollar and tight U.S. supplies with shipments topping 10,000 head most weeks toward the end of the year.

Domestic slaughter is also up, with steers up five per cent at 1,320,414 by the end of November and heifer kill up nine per cent at 791,894 head. Alberta and Saskatchewan lots had 861,518 head on feed on November 1, three per cent less than a year ago. Placements through October reflecting the large number of calves moved by auction or contracts this fall were up six per cent from the year before at 318,138 head.

Feeder Cattle Record high feeder prices held pretty well throughout the fall run. 550-lb. calves peaked back in October at $294.30/cwt then dropped back to $278 in the heart of the run and climbed back to $292.50 as the numbers started to drop off. The 850lb. feeder steer prices have nearly doubled since May 2013 to average $238.46 by the start of December. While the 850-lb. basis has narrowed over 5/cwt in the past two

66

C at t l e m e n · j a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

weeks, it’s still 30.28/cwt under which is virtually unchanged from last year but 15/cwt wider than the five-year average.

Feeder exports were averaging better than 15,000 per week in the latest five weeks reported, for a total of 407,089 head to date, up 48 per cent on 2013.

Although the fed-heifer slaughter suggests heifer retention is still a ways off, there are signs some producers are starting to build their herds, with premiums being paid at auction on goodquality replacement-type heifers. Stock cow sales also jumped in response to the higher industry prices. Bred cow sales at the start of December were trading between $2,500-$3,200 with dispersal types pushing into a $3,500-$3,700 range. Last year they sold for $1,000$1,700.

Non-Fed Cattle A typical cow market would have seen cow prices peak in the second quarter of the year followed by strong prices through the summer before the seasonal downturn into the fall run. In 2014 cow prices peaked in August and have held strong since then. Reduced non-NAFTA imports, smaller North American supplies of slaughter cows and a strong fed market have all led to a rising demand for non-fed beef products. The contra-seasonal climb resulted in an early December average at $127/cwt for D1,2 cows, $56.70/cwt more than a year ago. D1,2 cow prices have risen nearly 60 per cent in 2014. Domestic cow slaughter is down nine per cent for the year at 373,926 head and exports are down 11 per cent at 237,036. While cow marketings are down, bull slaughter is up 24 per cent to 73,209 head and exports are up nine per cent to 79,209 head. Bull prices have also been climbing in recent weeks, averaging $140.38/cwt at the start of December, which obviously had many producers taking a hard look at salvage value versus the replacement costs of their bulls. c Debbie McMillin is a market analyst who ranches at Hanna, Alta.

 DEB ’S OUTLOOK Fed cattle Looking into 2015, fed cattle supplies will remain manageable and demand solid.

In the near term, we may see a seasonal dip in demand following the holidays, as well as tight packer margins and possibly slower chain speeds. In the U.S. larger numbers placed for January and February and increased carryover are risks. That said, U.S. fundamentals remain positive.

Seasonal trends would suggest sluggish beef demand right after the holidays but business is expected to pick up quickly as packers look to start securing their needs for spring. As always it will be important to keep an eye on consumer spending, changes in the Canadian dollar and competing proteins.

Feeder Cattle Calf volumes for the near term will be lighter and North American demand is expected to remain fully steady. The industry is at an all-time high and the big question is how high can it go. As long as beef keeps moving and fed cattle fundamentals and technical markets remain strong, there will be very good support for feeder calves.

Factors to watch include changes in feed grain prices, the Canadian dollar and export movement, as well as shifts in the technical markets and hedging opportunities. It’s a volatile market and changes in one area will quickly affect all sides. Nevertheless, the seasonal trend for feeder calves moving through the first quarter is strong.

Non-Fed Cattle The reduced domestic slaughter rates for cows this fall buoyed up prices. Limited numbers will continue to set the tone as we start 2015; however, other factors will need to be watched such as Australia’s continued drought, which could send more imports our way. Overall, a solid floor remains under the non-fed market with the softer Canadian dollar and good demand from the U.S. Look for seasonally strong prices at the start of 2015. However, the upswing may be lighter this year since we didn’t have a fall low to climb back from.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

MARKETS

Break-even Prices on A-Grade Steers

Market Prices

190 180 170 160 150 140 130 120 110

290

ALBERTA

250 210 170

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

180

ONTARIO

165

130

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

130

D1,2 Cows

120 110

150

100

135

90 80

120 105

Steer Calves (500-600 lb.)

70 60

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Canfax weighted average price on A-Grade steers

Break-even price for steers on date sold

2014 2013

2015 2014

December 2014 prices* Alberta Yearling steers (850 lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $237.56/cwt Barley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.34/bu.

Barley silage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.25/ton Cost of gain (feed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66.40/cwt Cost of gain (all costs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102.07/cwt Fed steers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177.91/cwt Break-even (May 2015) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184.33/cwt Ontario Yearling steers (850 lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $229.92/cwt Corn silage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.40/ton Grain corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.80/bu.

Cost of gain (feed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74.87/cwt Cost of gain (all costs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.83/cwt Fed steers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177.84/cwt Break-even (June 2015) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177.75/cwt *Mid-month to mid-month prices Breakevens East: end wt 1,450, 183 days West end wt 1,325 lb., 125 days

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Ontario

Alberta

2014 2013

2014 2013

Ontario prices based on a 50/50 east/west mix

Market Summary (to December 6) 2014

2013

Total Canadian federally inspected slaughter. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,545,040. . . . . . . . . 2,454,622 Average steer carcass weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 861 lb.. . . . . . . . . . . . 876 lb.

Total U.S. slaughter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,405,000. . . . . . . 30,664,000

Trade Summary Exports 2014 2013 Fed cattle to U.S. (to November 29). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365,699.. . . . . . . . . . .324,612 Feeder cattle and calves to U.S. (to November 29) . . . . . . . . . . 418,077.. . . . . . . . . . 285,480 Dressed beef to U.S. (to October). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404.39 mil.lbs.. . . . .363.76 mil.lbs Total dressed beef (to October). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 579.22 mil.lbs.. . . . . 513.88 mil.lbs 2014 IMPORTS 2013 Slaughter cattle from U.S. (to October) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 *Dressed beef from U.S. (to October) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240.77 mil.lbs. . . . . . 312.35 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Australia (to October) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.16 mil.lbs. . . . . . . 30.71 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from New Zealand (to October) . . . . . . . . . 21.89 mil.lbs. . . . . . .30.99 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Uruguay (to October) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.75 mil.lbs. . . . . . . 25.95 mil.lbs Canadian Grades (to December 6, 2014) % of A grades +59% 54-58% AAA 20.9 21.8 AA 26.9 9.1 A 1.8 0.1 Prime 0.3 0.5 Total 31.5 49.9

EAST WEST

Total graded 564,522 1,958,101

Total ungraded 21,542 875

Yield – 53% Total 13.2 55.9 2.6 38.6 0.0 1.9 0.9 1.7 16.7 Total A grade 98.1% % carcass basis 82.8% 88.5% Only federally inspected plants

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

C a t t l e m e n · j a n u a r y 2 0 1 5 67

 market ta l k

By Gerald Klassen

Feed Grains: Looking Forward

I

t is that time of year when the discussion in the feed grains complex turns to potential acreage and production for the upcoming crop year. U.S. corn supplies are rather burdensome moving into the later winter and spring period but the corn market appears to be strengthening. U.S rail and barge rates have collapsed since the fall period resulting in a more competitive price structure on the world market. At the same time, feed barley prices continue to percolate higher and have reached up to $205/mt delivered Lethbridge. The final 2014 Statistics Canada survey showed lower than expected barley production and the market will be extremely sensitive to upcoming acreage projections. In the previous issue, I discussed the barley outlook for the winter period. I stated that the barley market needed to ration demand and encourage acreage for 2015 because Canadian barley stocks are extremely tight. Southern Alberta barley prices have potential to reach up to $240/mt delivered Lethbridge in late winter. At this time of the year it is prudent to look at the U.S. corn fundamentals and discuss what the market needs to accomplish as farmers make their seeding decisions.

The 2014-15 U.S. corn fundamentals are rather burdensome because the carryout will be sharply above the 10-year average.

While the U.S. corn market is functioning to encourage demand, other major exporters are in a similar situation because 2014 world corn production was a record 990 million mt, up from the 10-year average of 813 million mt. Looking forward to 2015, the market will function to discourage production largely to the benefit of soybeans, especially in North and South America.

The table offers three case studies for the 2015-16 crop year. In the first scenario, U.S. farmers will decrease acreage by two per cent to 88.8 million acres. Notice this is still above the 10-year average of 88.0 million acres. Using a trend type yield of 168 bushels per acre, production would finish near 13.7 billion bushels. The carryout would likely come in at 2.1 billion bushels and the market would experience a fairly flat situation through the summer and fall of 2015.

In the second case, I’ve shown a four per cent decrease in acreage and a trend type yield of 168 bushels per acre. In this scenario, production finishes at 13.4 billion bushels and the carryout estimate comes in a 1.8 billion bushels. This is slightly supportive for the market and we could see more volatility during the summer pollination season. Prices would move higher over the winter, especially if exports were larger than anticipated due to adverse conditions in other major exporters.

In the third scenario, I’ve shown a four per cent decrease in acreage and a yield of 155 bushels per acre. Keep in mind during the 2014 growing season, the U.S. experienced optimal conditions across all major growing regions. The probability of this occurring two years in a row is extremely low. Notice production drops to 12.2 billion bushels and the carryout finishes at 0.8 billion bushels, sharply below the 10-year average. Given the larger domestic demand, the market is extremely sensitive to small changes in yields. This scenario would result in corn moving back up to historic highs as we saw a couple years back.

I’ve attached a historic chart of weekly CBOT corn futures prices

68

C at t l e m e n · J a n ua ry 2 0 1 5

u.s. corn Supply and demand 10-year average

USDA 14 /15

Case 1 15/16

Case 2 15/16

Case 3 15/16

Acres seeded

88.0

90.6

88.8

87.0

87.0

Acres harvested

80.4

83.1

81.4

79.8

79.8

Yield (bu./ac.)

150.9

173.4

168

168

155

SUPPLY (million bushels) Opening stocks Aug. 1

1,429

1,236

2,008

2,008

2,008

Production

22,125

14,407

13,678

13,399

12,362

Imports TOTAL SUPPLY

33

25

30

30

30

13,590

15,668

15,716

15,437

14,400

USE (million bushels) Feed-waste-dockage

5,312

5,375

5,325

5,325

5,325

Food seed industrial

4,923

6,535

6,530

6,530

6,530

3,606

5,150

5,125

5,125

5,125 11,855

Ethanol Domestic demand

10,292

11,910

11,855

11,855

Exports

1,839

1,750

1,751

1,751

1,751

TOTAL USE

12,130

13,660

13,606

13,606

13,606

TOTAL CARRY-OVER

1,456

2,008

2,110

1,831

794

Stocks to USE Ratio

12.0%

14.7%

15.5%

13.5%

5.8%

 C B OT Cor n W e e k ly Futu r es C hart 850'0

800'0 750'0 700'0

Case 1

650'0

Case 2

550'0

600'3

500'0 450'4

Case 3

400'0 381'0 350'0 300'0 250'0

0.3 0.4 2008 0.2 0.3 0.4

2009 0.2

0.3 0.4 2010 0.2 0.3

0.4

2011 0.2

0.3

0.4 2012 0.2

0.3 0.4 2013 0.2 0.3 0.4 2014 0.2 0.3 0.4

1 Wx

back to the third quarter of 2007. I’ve divided this chart into three price ranges. Case one would result in prices staying near historic lows in the range of $3 to $4.50. Case two would result in prices moving into the middle third of the historic price range of $4.50 to $6. The final scenario of case three would result in prices moving above $6. If we see prices move into the middle or upper third price range, this could have a negative effect on the feeder cattle market due to higher input costs. Therefore, both feedlot operators and cow-calf producers will need to watch corn prices carefully because the market has potential to be very sensitive to weather if acreage is down more than two per cent. c Gerald Klassen analyzes markets in Winnipeg and also maintains an interest in the family feedlot in southern Alberta. He can be reached at gklassen7@hotmail.com.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

 GOINGS ON

Sales&Events Events January

13

10-25 National Western Stock Show & Rodeo, National Western Complex, Denver, Colorado, www.nationalwestern.com 21-23 Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, Evraz Place, Regina, Sask.

23-24 Canadian Beef Industry Congress, Camrose Regional Exhibition, Camrose, Alta.

13

February

17

attle Industry Convention & NCBA C Trade Show, Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas 5-6 Manitoba Cattle Producers Annual Meeting, Victoria Inn, Brandon, Man. 18-19 Beef Farmers of Ontario 2015 Annual General Meeting, International Plaza Hotel, Toronto, Ont. 18-20 Alberta Beef Industry Conference, Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer, Alta.

14 14 16

4-7

April 6-7

dvancing Women in Agriculture — Life A Skills for Leadership, Hyatt Regency, Calgary, Alta.

June

9-11 C anadian Animal Health Institute Meetings, Esterel Resort, Esterel, Que.

October 5-6

dvancing Women in Agriculture — Life A Skills for Leadership, Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Ont.

Sales January 31

31

C Quantock “Canada’s Bulls” Sale, M Lloyd Exhibition, Lloydminster, Alta., www.mcquantock.com Lazy S Bull Power Sale, at the ranch, Mayerthorpe, Alta.

February 7

12 12

ill 70 Quantock Ranch “Barn Burnin’ H Bull Sale,” at the ranch, Lloydminster, Alta./Sask., www.hill70quantock.com Chapman Cattle Co. Bull Sale — Red and Black Angus, Stettler Auction Mart, Stettler, Alta.

Stauffer Ranches — 2-year-old Black Angus Bull Sale, Fort Macleod Auction, Fort Macleod, Alta.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

20 24 26

28

nchor D Ranch Genetic Edge A Simmental Bull Sale, at the ranch, Rimbey, Alta.

26th Annual Mader Ranches Bull Power Sale, at the farm, Carstairs, Alta.

Soderglen Select 2015 Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Airdrie, Alta., www.soderglen.com LLB Angus 29th Annual Bull & Female Sale, at the farm, Erskine, Alta.

Ole Farms 10th Annual Family Day Sale, at the farm, Athabasca, Alta.

Rawes Ranches 32nd annual Performance Tested Charolais Bull Sale, at the ranch, Strome, Alta., www.rawesranches.com Mader Ranches Bull Sale, at the farm, Carstairs, Alta.

Rainalta Simmental & Charolais Bull Sales, Bow Slope Shipping, Brooks, Alta.

7th Annual Stewart Cattle Co. and Guests Bull Sale — 50 Black Angus Bulls & Sim-Angus Bulls, Beautiful Plains Ag Society, Neepawa, Man. Lewis Farms 30th Annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Spruce Grove, Alta.

March 3

4-5 7

7 9 9 16 16 20

elvin Angus Bull Sale, at the farm, B Innisfail, Alta.

2015 Calgary Bull Sale, Stampede Park, Calgary, Alta.

26th Annual Davidson Gelbvieh Bull Sale & Lonesome Dove Ranch Bull Sale, at the bull yards, Ponteix, Sask., www.davidsongelbvieh.com McMillen Ranching Bull Sale, at the ranch, Carieville, Sask.

Harvie Ranching Bull Sale — Polled Hereford, Charolais, Simmental, at the ranch, Olds, Alta.

Braun Ranch & Bar CR Angus — Ranch Ready Bull Sale, Heartland Livestock, Swift Current, Sask.

Remitall Cattle Company Bull Sale, at the ranch, Olds, Alta.

Blades Angus Ranch, Foothills Auction, Stavely, Alta.

Reese Cattle Company Charolais Bull Sale, Innisfail Auction Mart, Innisfail, Alta.

April 1

18

eak Dot Ranch Bull and Female Sale, P at the ranch, Wood Mountain, Sask.

37th Shortgrass Angus Bull & Female Sale, at the ranch, Aneroid, Sask. c

 A DV E RT IS E R IN DEX Page Advancing Women 54 65 Airdrie Trailer Sales Alberta Cattle Breeders Assoc.

55 Alberta Cattle Feeders 47 49 Anchor D Ranch BK Tires 8 53 Beefbooster Belvin Angus 39 Braun Ranch 60 15 Brett Young Seeds Canadian Agri-Blend 65 64 Canadian Angus Assoc.

Canadian Cattle Identification 36, 37 Canadian Charolais Assoc.

OBC Canadian Gelbvieh Assoc.

25, 63 Canadian Hereford Assoc.

IFC Canadian Limousin Assoc.

16, 17 Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society 64 Canadian Shorthorn Assoc.

57 Canadian Simmental Assoc.

29 Cattlemen Financial Corp.

56 Cattlesoft-Cattlemax 21 Chapman Cattle Company 51 Cozy Caps 64 Davidson Gelbvieh 19 Farm Credit Canada 27 Gilbrea Consulting Ltd. 64 Greener Pastures 58 Harvie Ranching 7 Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment 65 Hill 70 Quantock Ranch 5 International Stock Foods 64 11 John Deere Ag Marketing Center Lewis Farms Ltd. 23 LLB Angus 45 Lloydminster Exhibition Assoc.

65 MC Quantock Livestock 9 McMillen Ranching Ltd. 31 Merial 18, 35 Mosaic Company 21, 45 North American Lincoln Red 64 Ole Farms 56 Plain Jan’s Inc. 64 Rainalta Simmentals 58 Rawes Ranches 61 Real Industries 62 Reese Cattle Co. 41 Remitall Cattle Co. 60 Ridley Block Ops/Crystalyx 48 Royal Bank of Canada 13 Soderglen Ranch 70, IBC Stauffer Ranches 43 Stewart Cattle Co. 59 The Cattle Range 6 Tru-Test Inc. 59

 Event listings are a free service to industry.  Sale listings are for our advertisers.

Your contact is Deborah Wilson at 403-325-1695 or deb.wilson@fbcpublishing.com

C a t t l e m e n · j a n u a r y 2 0 1 5 69

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