2017 Jan ECOSA Newsletter

ECOSA EAST CENTARAL ONTARIO SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION

FEBRUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INCLUDED!

President’s Message...

2016 ECOSA PRESIDENT John Pearsn

Greetings From Grafton!

I expect that most of you are well started into calving season by now. We have been fortunate to have 12 cows calved, with 13 healthy calves and only 2 more cows to go.

The East Central Club was certainly very active last year. We had a display/promotional booth at both the East Central (Lindsay) Farm Show in March and the Hastings County Plowing Match in August.

Many of our Juniors participated in the Ontario Trillium Classic at Metcalfe in July.

We hosted the club picnic at our place in August. Montana Stillman graciously represented our club and the OSA as the 2016 Ambassador.

Several of our breeders exhibited their cattle locally, across Ontario and at the Toronto Royal. We also gave out Post Secondary Scholarships to Katrina Mason and Victoria Robson and were Banner Sponsors at Youth Forum.

I think we need to stop for a moment and recognize how many of us are also active with Cattleman Associations, the OSA, other breed associations and perhaps most importantly, 4-H Club Leaders.

We have already booked a booth space at the East Central Farm Show March 8&9.

I think that we are very fortunate to have such a great event right in our own back yard.

Let me know if you can help staff this booth. Also get your name in for the scholarships and the 2017 ECOSA Ambassador.

We intend to do an updated membership list brochure to be given out at these booths etc. So get your 2017 membership paid, only $20.00 to have your name listed and promoted.

Hope to see you all at Villiers Hall on February 25. It promises to be a fun night!

John Pearson ECOSA President

MARK YOUR CALENDARS....

ECOSA

2017

ANNUAL MEETING

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2017 AT 6:30PM VILLIERS HALL, INDIAN RIVER, ON Who’s coming?

Any ECOSA new and old members and juniors.

What’s Happening?

Pot luck supper Fund Raising Auction (unwrapped items) Elections Annual meeting ECOSA Junior Card game Why should you come?

Great food Good friends New friends Help promote the Simmental breed in our area.

Learn what ECOSA has done in 2015 To get away from the barn.

ECOSA HAD A BUSY 2016 YEAR...

March 2016 ECOSA scholarships were awarded to Victoria McEldon and Katrina Mason. Congratualtions!

March 2016 ECOSA had a a booth at the Lindsay Farm Show. Thanks to all the volunteers who manned the booth.

March 2016 Montana Stillman our ECOSA Ambassador was named the OSA Amabassador for 2016. Congratulations!

July 2016 ECOSA juniors participated in the OYCS Trillium show in Metcalfe.

August 2016 ECOSA shared a booth with Wild Oak Simmental at the Hastings Plowing Match.

August 2016 ECOSA picninc was hosted by Academy Hill!

ECOSA Scholarship Application 2017 Scholarship Purpose and Guidelines 1. To encourage and financially assist members or family members of the East Central Ontario Simmental Association membership enrolled as full time students in a post secondary education institution.

2. A maximum of two (2) scholarships of $250.00 each can be awarded per calendar year assuming funds are available.

Applicant Eligibility 1. An applicant or an applicant’s family must be a member of the East Central Ontario Simmental Association. ECOSA memberships must be current ( dues paid) for the year of application.

2. An applicant must be enrolled as a full time student in a post secondary education institution ( college or university) in the year of application.

Proof of enrolment is required.

Applicant Information Name of Applicant ______________________________ Address ____________________________________ Telephone/cell number __________________________ E-mail address _______________________________ Post Secondary Institution__________________ Program of Enrollment _____________________________ Applicants are required to make a written presentation to the ECOSA BOARD MEMBERS by March 1st, 2017.

Please remitt to ECOSA secretary Juanita Elmhirst 1870 Settlers Line, Indian River, ON K0L 2B0 or by email at ircc@nexicom.net The presentation is to be based on: 1. Please list school and community activities you have been involved in. ( other than Simmental related) 2. Please list Simmental related activities you have participated in.

3. How has involvement with the Simmental industry been beneficial to you.

4. Please state you future goals upon graduation.

2017 Membership form If not attending the ECOSA Annual Meeting, please mail form to ECOSA Treasurer: Cathy Person PO BOX 157, GRAFTON, ON, K0K 2G0 905 349 3415 | j.kpearson@sympatico.ca Farm Name: _________________________________________________________________________________ Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________ Email: ___________________________________ Website: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Amount due: $20.00

Appication for ECOSA Amabassador Open to any ECOSA Junior between the ages of 12 and 25 willing to represent the ECOSA membership at various functions in our zone and at Simmental events. The winning participant will also compete at the OSA annual general meeting to represent the Simmental breeders of Ontario. Its a wonderful opportunity to network with all sectors of agriculture and in particular the Simmental breeders of our zone and province. This position will also be a valuable asset to put on a future job resume.

Applications are due to Juanita (email) (ircc@nexicom.net) by March 1st, and as part of this application we request - A brief biography and - A few reasons why you would like to be the ECOSA Ambassador.

2016 ECOSA & OSA Ambassador Montana Stillman

8 ideas for developing an old, productive cow herd Dan E. Gary in BEEF Daily

Help your clients combine good selection, a little feed and timely culling to create cows with longevity and that can create greater profit.

I believe and have evidence we can extend the productive life of cows beyond 15 years of age, thereby increasing their return on investment.

For example, I have worked with a ranch near Logan, N.M., for more than 15 years, and there are 37 cows ages 14 to 17 in one pasture that have never missed a calf. In fact, they were 81% calved out in the first 30 days of calving, in a 90-day calving season.

I have spent a lot of time with these cows looking for longevity traits. The only things I noticed were that all 37 cows have moderate-size udders and small teats; the teats were level with the ground, meaning no forward slope.

But a cow herd with longevity is developed. Here are eight thoughts about keeping old cows productive.

1. Older cows need more feed than running-age cows.

2. Put old cows with the second-calf heifers. They both need about 10% to 15% more feed than running-age cows, and the second-calf heifers need leadership.

3.

Put the oldest cows with the first-calf heifers. They both need about 15% to 20% more feed than running-age cows, and the firstcalf heifers need leadership.

4. Select replacement heifers, on the cow, from these “super cows” — and not in the sorting alley, where identity is lost. This applies to all replacement heifers, in my opinion.

5. Broken-mouth cows are the critical class. They can’t graze properly.

6. Check teeth on all cows in the fall after about age 7.

7. Sort off all broken-mouth cows, and put them in a trap or pasture by themselves. (A large-animal practitioner who had tremendous experience with old cows once told me that a cow is in the broken-mouth stage for six to 12 months … never less, never more … before she goes into the smooth-mouth stage.) These cows will need extra attention and maybe even a little alfalfa.

Next year, a new set of broken-mouth cows go in this pasture, and the ones leaving can go with the rest of the cows.

Cattle graze new growth and regrowth. I have taken more grass samples over the last 20 years than anyone I know of. I take them with my thumb and index finger and with a sideways motion, tear the grass. And yes, I know that a cow’s pallet and gums are tougher than my fingers.

Smooth-mouth cows have no problem grazing.

8. In the fall, cull cows for body condition. Hard-looking cows go, no matter the age, and cows in good body condition stay, even if they are old enough to vote.

Remember, too, that every ranch is different and every set of cows is different.

Dan E. Gary is a ranch consultant and owner of Adobe Walls Nutrition in Amarillo, Texas.

Better Colostrum, Better Calves

By Beef Daily

A cow’s diet during the last third of her pregnancy is critical not only for calf development, but also for the creation of high quality colostrum. Give your calves the best start possible by placing cows and heifers on a high plane of nutrition during the last few months of pregnancy.

As a popular pizza chain states, better ingredients make all the difference. The same can be said for our cattle.

We need to give them the proper nutritional building blocks to allow them to perform as desired. As we are heading toward calving season, we need to think about making sure that our cows have the best supplements to deliver the nutrients necessary to birth and rear a healthy calf.

A cow’s diet during the last third of her pregnancy is critical not only for calf development, but also for the creation of high quality colostrum. For first calf heifers, this last trimester is also critical for the development of mammary tissue that will affect her milk production for the rest of her life. To say that nutrition is crucial during the last third of pregnancy can’t be overstated!

Ingestion of colostrum (first milk) is necessary for the transfer of passive immunity to the calf. It is vital that calves receive colostrum within the first 24 hours of life in order to be able to effectively absorb these protective antibodies. Calves that receive adequate passive immunity transfer will experience benefits for the first 3 to 5 weeks of life. Failure of passive immunity transfer is a real issue and is documented to occur in roughly one third of dairy calves but is also an issue in beef calves even though not as well documented. Calves with inadequate immunity transfer are more susceptible to disease. Not only are these calves likely to have greater input costs due to medical treatment, but they are also at a greater risk of falling behind their contemporaries early and being culled down the road.

It is well known that all colostrum is not created equal. Multiple studies have shown differences in overall volume of colostrum as well as concentration of nutrients and antibodies known as immunoglobins. Immunoglobins, specifically IgG, are crucial for subsequent passive immunity. Calves need to receive a minimum amount of IgG to be fully protected. Colostrum that contains inadequate concentrations of IgG increases the risk of failure of passive immunity transfer. One key bit of information though, even if colostrum contains lower concentrations of IgG, calves can receive adequate IgG simply by consuming more. But the catch is that they must consume this higher volume of colostrum while the gut still has the ability to absorb the IgG. Immunoglobin transfer across the gut is optimum during the first 4 hours but then declines rapidly after 12 hours. Having lowered IgG concentrations increases the risk that calves might not consume adequate IgG within this window of time.

Research has demonstrated that supplementation with key trace minerals (copper, zinc, selenium), particularly organic forms, can positively influence IgG levels in colostrum. This makes perfect sense since these trace minerals are necessary components for the production of immunoglobins in the dam.

Transfer of immunoglobins from blood serum to the mammary glands begins roughly a month prior to calving and peaks a few days prior to birth. For this reason, it is critical for cows, especially first calf heifers, to be on a high plain of nutrition during those last few months of pregnancy.

While your cows and heifers should be on a high quality mineral supplement throughout their entire pregnancy, it is even more important during the last trimester. Supplementation with organic sources of trace minerals can be particularly beneficial at this time.

Orange Ginger Beef Get the recipe for Michael Smith’s Orange and Ginger Beef

Blade steak plays the starring role in this easy to make one-pot supper. Braising transforms this ‘simmering steak’ into a richly flavoured, Asian inspired meal.

Timing Hints: 15 minutes to prep, 1 hour to simmer; can be made a day or two ahead and easily reheated...

Equipment Hints: A thick bottomed stewing pot large enough to fit the steak with a tight fitting lid...

Ingredients 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil 1 blade simmering steak, boneless, about 1 pound or .5 kg 2 onions, chopped 1 knob ginger, rinsed well, unpeeled, sliced thinly 2 Tbsp of Soy sauce 1 10 oz can of beef stock 1 cup of orange marmalade 1 cup of orange juice 1 Tbsp of five-spice powder (optional) 1 bunch of cilantro 1 bag of baby spinach 1 cup of bean sprouts 1 bunch of green onions, chopped Directions 1. Preheat the pot over a medium high heat then add the oil. Sear the steak on both sides until evenly browned. Add the onions and ginger and stir for a few minutes until lightly browned. If the pan starts to burn, add a splash of water and continue…

2. Add the soy sauce, orange juice, marmalade, beef stock and five-spice powder. Rinse the cilantro well then thinly chop the root end of the bunch, add to the pot. Reserve the leaves. Bring all the ingredients to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover with a tight fitting lid and continue simmering until tender, about 1 hour.

3. When the meat is tender enough, break it into smaller chunks. Split the spinach and bean sprouts evenly between four bowls. Stir the green onions into the broth then ladle into each bowl. Top with a sprinkling of the reserved cilantro leaves. Enjoy!