Ontario Beef - February 2022

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO

BEEF ON T A R I O

LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT CHANGES • ROAD REMINDERS FOR FARM IMPLEMENTS • WINTER MANAGEMENT OF BEEF CATTLE • FEBRUARY 2022

INTRODUCING THE

ONTARIO BEEF YOUTH ALLIANCE

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Number 0040007029

The Ontario Hereford Association invites you to participate in the ANNUAL MEETING being held on Saturday, April 9th at 7:00pm via Zoom.

For the latest Hereford event details, please go to the “CHA Marketplace” at www.hereford.ca HIDDEN-VIEW POLLED HEREFORDS Joe and Karen Paszternak Norwood, ON 705-9573739 or 705-957-7470 karen.paszternak@gmail.com Cows & heifers for sale

CORP CREEK FARM Bill and Jill Corp and Family Omemee, ON 705-799-4788 (Bill’s Cell) 705-772-9345 (Jill’s Cell) corpcreekfarm@hotmail.com Registered Breeding Stock JDL CATTLE CO. & D&S LIVESTOCK David, Shirley, Josh & Jessica Lasby Justin, Jaimie Lasby & Family Mulmur, ON 519-943-4147 or 519-278-6819 jessica.lasby@hotmail.com Good-looking, Sound, Functional Cattle!

www.ontarioherefords.ca

WHISKEY LANE LIVESTOCK Herford and Angus Scott, Paula, Jason and Shelby Cornish Indian River, ON 705-295-2925 705-878-3248 (Scott’s Cell) 705-341-3220 (Paula’s Cell) wll@nexicom.net Visitors Always Welcome

LIAN MOR POLLED HEREFORDS Wallace & Fern Pugh & Trevor & Amy Pugh Mono, ON Wally & Fern lianmore@sympatico.com · 519-941-8515 Trevor and Amy tpush@yahoo.com · 519-939-7489 Breeding stock available O’SHEA FARMS Jamie and Mel O’Shea Denfield, ON 519-477-1238 osheafarms@hotmail.com Bulls & Females for Sale

Lois Batty,ON President – 705-328-4302 KAREN PASZTERNAK Dr. | Norwood, • 705-957-3739 • karen.paszternak@gmail.com www.ontarioherefords.ca PRESIDENT JESSICA LASBY | Mulmur, ON • 519-939-0283 • ontarioherefordassociation@outlook.com SECRETARY MANAGER

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO

BEEF ONTARIO

February 2022

Volume 63, Number 1

COMPLIMENTARY MEMBER-SUPPORTED PUBLICATION

18

CONTENTS 4

Ahead of the Heard

6

The Beef Beat

8

Between You, Me and the Fencepost

12

Rural Ramble

14

Innovation Awards Announced

24

OMAFRA Update

28

Introducing the Ontario Beef Youth Alliance

36

AgSights Update

ON THE COVER

38

CCA Update

40

Canada Beef Update

46

Farm and Food Care Update

48

LRIC Update

Our feature story in this issue of Ontario Beef highlights our newly formed Ontario Beef Youth Alliance (OBYA), which will be comprised of members between the ages of 18-35 who have an active interest in the Ontario beef industry. Read about the evolution of this initiative, and our plans to support this powerful group who have energy and enthusiasm to grow, protect and advocate for Ontario’s beef industry.

49

Focus on Herd Health: Neonatal Calf Diarrhea on Your Farm

52

Market Information

56

Calendar of Events

Calving season has begun for another year. Special thanks to Katrina Laine Photography, and Rob and Coleman Campbell of Smith Falls, Ontario for this fitting cover photo of a new crop of calves. Don’t miss out on submitting your photos for our May issue. Please send your spring-inspired photos by April 15 to be considered for the cover.

58

Wellness on the Farm

Digital photos that are at least 300dpi are preferred and can be emailed to info@ontariobeef.com.

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ONTARIO BEEF • Beef Farmers of Ontario 130 Malcolm Road, Guelph, ON N1K 1B1 • Phone: 519-824-0334 • Toll Free (for Ontario callers only) 1-866-370-BEEF (2333) Fax: 519-824-9101 • info@ontariobeef.com EDITOR LeaAnne Wurmli CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Bethany Storey ADVERTISING MANAGER Cathy Lasby, Preferred Agri-Marketing Services Guelph, ON Phone: 519-763-8833 • Fax: 519-763-8833 pams@sentex.net DESIGN and LAYOUT Prism Studios Advertising and Design Inc. Guelph, ON PRODUCTION and PRINTING Beck’s Printing Services, Brantford, ON

PROVIDING A FORUM FOR THE ONTARIO BEEF INDUSTRY Ontario Beef is the official publication of the Beef Farmers of Ontario. Contents of this publication may be reproduced only by permission of the Editor and with credit acknowledged.

Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and/or editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Beef Farmers of Ontario. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement or approval by Ontario Beef or the Beef Farmers of Ontario of products or services advertised.

Advertising deadlines are January 10, April 15, July 15, September 15 and November 15. The publisher reserves the right to refuse or cancel any advertising, including advertising that is inconsistent with BFO’s Sponsorship Policy, available at www.ontariobeef.com. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published, however no responsibility can be assumed for advertising not received in clear, type-written form.

C an adi an P u b l i c a t i o n s M a i l P r o d u c t S a l es A g r eem en t Nu m b er 0 0 4 0 0 0 7 0 2 9 POSTMASTER: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Beef Farmers of Ontario, 130 Malcolm Road, Guelph, ON N1K 1B1

AHEAD OF THE HEARD

By Rob Lipsett, BFO President info@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

The End of a Chapter W

e’ve just wrapped up another year of local association annual general meetings. While many groups intended to return to in-person meetings, the Omicron variant had different plans for us and all meetings were held virtually. I know we’re starting to feel the burnout of virtual meetings, but we do appreciate the participation of our members at these meetings and the active discussion on a number of files like processing capacity and the transportation regulations. I hope many of you took the time to review our provincial update video, which was shared through our local associations. Since our meetings began on January 4, I’m happy to share a few new developments on a couple of files.

Unfortunately, in late December, a spontaneous atypical case of BSE was detected in an eight-year-old beef cow on a farm in Alberta.

Fortunately, however, the case was detected as part of Canada’s routine surveillance initiatives, it did not enter the food system, and the reporting of this atypical case will not affect our negligible risk status, which was attained in 2021. We had hoped that market access for Canadian animals and beef products would remain unaffected, but we did see South Korea, China and The Philippines halt Canadian beef imports late in the year. Thankfully, the Government of Canada and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association both worked quickly, and in mid-January, we saw the re-opening of the markets in South Korea and The Philippines. Work will continue to regain access in China.

As I mentioned earlier, the transport regulations were a hot topic of discussion at many local meetings last month. Livestock groups, including BFO and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association lobbied aggressively throughout much of 2019 for amendments to the proposed reduction of the maximum time off feed, water, and rest (FWR), from the current 48 hours to 36 hours. Our view was that outcomes for cattle transported in Canada were already exceedingly BFO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2021 Rob Lipsett (Background Director) - President Phone: 519-375-2080 • Email: lipsettrob@yahoo.ca Jack Chaffe (Feedlot Director) - Vice-President Phone: 519-301-3034 • Email: jdchaffe@quadro.net Don Badour (Cow-Calf Director) Email: don.badour@ripnet.com Don Hargrave (Cow-Calf Director) Email: dchargrave@gmail.com Jason Leblond (Cow-Calf Director) Email: jsacres5@gmail.com Joe Dickenson (Feedlot Director) Email: joe@dickensonfarms.com David Millsap (Feedlot Director) Email: davidwmillsap@gmail.com Jordan Miller (Northern Director) Email: b.jordan.miller@gmail.com Craig McLaughlin (Eastern Director) Email: cmblackhorse@gmail.com Ron Stevenson (Southern Director) Email: ron@metzgervet.com Jason Reid (Director-At-Large) Email: reidridgefarm@tbaytel.net Kim Jo Bliss (Director-At-Large) Email: kimjobliss@gmail.com

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O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

positive, with more than 99 per cent of all animals arriving at their destinations safely and without incident. Despite our efforts, the federal government did not adjust the regulatory requirements.

Instead, a two-year transition period of non-enforcement was put in place set to expire February 20, 2022.

Since the time of the announced enforcement delay under the two-year transition period, we have been pushing for a further delay in enforcement until the current research on the welfare impacts of cattle fed, watered, and rested at rest stop stations during longdistance transport was completed. This research is currently being funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council, BFO, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and is set to be completed this year.

Recently, we were briefed on the government’s decision with respect to our request to further delay enforcement measures until the current research was completed. We were informed that enforcement of the new regulations will come into force as scheduled as of February 20, 2022, however, under amended parameters: • Enforcement of FWR requirements will not be prioritized where the maximize time allotted is exceeded by 4 hours or less and all animal welfare outcomes are being met.

• Inspector discretion will be used when enforcing the prescriptive FWR time intervals if the incident is due to an unforeseen circumstance such as vehicle breakdown, traffic accident or unexpected weather events (for example, BC flooding in 2021). In these cases, the driver should make the best welfare decision for the animals and should take measures to minimize animal suffering.

While this is not the outcome we hoped to achieve, it does represent an improvement from the previous plan to limit time off FWR to 36 hours. For more details on the transport regulations and requirements for producers, see page 18.

BFO STAFF Executive Director Richard Horne • richard@ontariobeef.com Manager of Policy and Issues Thomas Brandstetter • thomas@ontariobeef.com Policy Advisor Darby Wheeler • darby@ontariobeef.com Policy Advisor Evan Chaffe • evan@ontariobeef.com Director of Communications LeaAnne Wurmli • leaanne@ontariobeef.com Manager of Public Engagement and Digital Strategy Jennifer Kyle • jennifer@ontariobeef.com Communications Specialist Bethany Storey • bethany@ontariobeef.com Market Information Coordinator Jamie Gamble • markets@ontariobeef.com

Accountant Amber McIntyre • amber@ontariobeef.com Office Manager Tammy Purdham • tammy@ontariobeef.com Manager of Producer Relations Dan Ferguson • dan@ontariobeef.com Senior Producer Relations Specialist Jaclyn Horenberg • jaclyn@ontariobeef.com Producer Relations Specialist Robert McKinlay • robert@ontariobeef.com Check-Off Inspector Chris Millar • chrism@ontariobeef.com Provincial Supervisor, Ontario Feeder Cattle and Beef Breeder Co-op Programs Cheryl Russwurm • crfeederfin@wightman.ca Water Quality Specialist Chris Attema • chris@ontariobeef.com

Another issue we heard about that has been impacting some regions in the province, specifically northern and eastern Ontario, is the lack of access to veterinary care. BFO has been working to address this shortfall in the province for the last couple of years with a specific focus on increasing the number of food-animal veterinarians in Ontario. To help build a strong pipeline of veterinary leaders, BFO recently approved two scholarships with the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph that will support students pursuing a career in large animal health and welfare.

• T he BFO DVM Entrance Scholarship is a renewable scholarship of $1,000 per year payable over four years for a student entering their first year of the DVM program with work and/or volunteer experience with beef cattle, and who have selected food animal practice as their career goal.

• The BFO DVM Convocation Award is one prize of $5,000 that will be provided annually to a student who has successfully completed Phase 4 of the DVM program in the Food Animal or the Rural Community Practice stream, has completed the beef rotation with the Ontario Veterinary College, and has interest in and involvement with beef cattle.

In addition, we’re involved in a couple of working groups with livestock and veterinary groups to develop initiatives and/or incentives to address the veterinary access issue and look for ways in which we can collaborate with government.

Speaking of government, on January 19, The Honourable MarieClaude Bibeau, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and The Honourable Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, made a joint announcement that they are investing up to $4 million dollars through a Livestock Veterinary Innovation Initiative, which will provide cost-share funding to farmers and stakeholders in the veterinary sector to improve virtual care options, expand telemedicine access and address issues with mobile clinics.

Eligible applicants can receive up to 35 per cent cost-share for eligible expenses province-wide and up to 50 per cent cost-share in areas identified as underserviced in terms of available veterinary capacity. Veterinary businesses can apply for support through this initiative starting February 15, 2022 to March 31, 2022.

Lastly, I wanted to share a reminder that our Ontario Beef Quality Assurance Rebate Incentive Program will continue into this year which will provide BFO check-off paying members with a 75 per cent rebate on VBP+ audit fees paid for members who become VBP+ certified through the completion of training, and an on-farm audit. Our hope through financial support of this program is that we will improve the supply of Ontario certified sustainable calves for Ontario certified sustainable feedlots and encourage enrollment and support in quality assurance programming (a key component of our Ontario Beef Market Development strategy). As always, Ontario feedlots have the option to be certified under the OCFBQA through the completion of training, assessments and an on-farm audit. If interested in learning more, see page 34.

This month signals the end of a chapter for me as I’ve made the decision to step down as president after serving two years, but will remain on the board as background director for my final year. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be faced with the closing of a federal packing plant, a global pandemic and having to navigate a virtual world like we’ve never experienced before when I threw my hat in the ring to vie as president in February of 2020. It’s been a wild ride to say the least, but I am very proud of my fellow directors and our staff for adapting and managing to do our very best to serve the needs of our members. During my term as president, we’ve worked hard to maintain Ontario’s Risk Management Program and advocate for improvements to all business risk management programming, fought for solutions to our processing capacity shortage, supported our members in northwestern Ontario who were severely impacted by drought conditions, forged ahead by building momentum with our consumer engagement work,

developed a forum for youth involvement within our association, created the beginnings of a more inclusive environment for those within and outside of our industry, and set the tone for more open conversations about mental health in the agriculture sector.

I’d be lying if I said the last two years has not taken a toll on me. It has. One can only carry so much on their shoulders before they realize they need a helping hand. There’s no shame in asking for support when the light at the end of the tunnel is only a mere dull glow. As farmers, we face many things outside of our control, but it’s important to be reminded that we can gain control of our mental wellbeing. It’s okay to take some time for ourselves to find gratitude in small things and ask for help. If nothing else, talking can do a world of good to release tension and worry until you can restore that light in the tunnel to a blistering beam of sunlight.

I’ll close my chapter with this note of gratitude. I’m grateful to be a farmer, to grow and raise such a nourishing protein for my family and my fellow Ontarians on land that I continue to protect. I’m grateful to have a supportive community of neighbours, friends and family, but also a community of beef farmers from across the province who share many of my values and aspirations. I’m grateful to have had the support of my wife, children and close family over the last two years who have allowed me to serve my industry. For that, I will be forever thankful.

I wish you all the best in the year ahead. It’s been a pleasure to serve you as president. OB Developed and launched by the Canadian Mental Health Association - Ontario Division in partnership with the OFA, a new service is available to all farmers across Ontario, including members of their family, and is provided by LifeWorks. Accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, in English and French, farmers can call 1-866-267-6255 to speak to a counsellor and access up to four free counselling sessions with a mental health professional.

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DON & JEANNETTE CURRIE 2234 Conc. 11, R R #1, Nottawa, Ontario L0M 1P0 Phone/Fax: 705-445-1526 Cell: 705-715-2234 • Email: doncurrie@glenislay.com ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

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THE BEEF BEAT

By Thomas Brandstetter, BFO Manager of Policy and Issues thomas@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

Policy Update O

ur 2022 county and district annual general meetings wrapped up at the end of January. We all hoped they would have been in person so we could have reconnected with friends and colleagues, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Fingers crossed we will soon be able to come together again in person for some friendship and comradery while taking in a barbecue and enjoying a roast beef dinner!

With meetings being held virtually again, it did allow staff and board members to take part in more meetings across the province, which was a positive. Thank you for attending your local AGM and for asking questions about issues affecting the Ontario beef industry. Some of the recurring issues that came up included livestock transportation regulations; processing condemnation rates in Ontario abattoirs; and veterinary access in northern Ontario and other underserviced areas of the province.

Updates made to the transport of animal provisions in Part XII of the Health of Animals Regulations, came into force in February, 2020 led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. A two-year transition period was announced pertaining to the feed, water and rest (FWR) time interval provisions, which is set to end this month. Many questions have been asked about the regulations and more specifically

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O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

about individual producers transporting their own animals to a local abattoir or sales barn and if the regulations apply (which they do). To assist, we have prepared a frequently asked questions document, which can be found on page 18 of this issue. I would also encourage you to contact our office for hard copies of an Animal Transport Record, or you can access a fillable form on our website. To clarify, this form does not need to be used if you already capture this information on other farm documentation, but if you don’t and would like some help, we are happy to share this resource.

Together with the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association, Meat and Poultry Ontario and Veal Farmers of Ontario, we analyzed condemnation rates in Ontario abattoirs between OMAFRA and CFIA. BFO also conducted interviews with various veterinary practices to gain knowledge from their experiences and views on the practices currently being employed and what they feel could be improved. If you have been impacted by an abnormal increase in condemnations and have any reports you are willing to share, please connect with me.

Veterinarian access in northern Ontario and other underserved areas of the province is an ongoing issue BFO has been working to address.

Last month, the federal and provincial governments made a joint announcement that they are investing up to $4 million dollars through a Livestock Veterinary Innovation Initiative, which will provide costshare funding to farmers and stakeholders in the veterinary sector to improve virtual care options, expand telemedicine access and address issues with mobile clinics. Eligible applicants can receive up to 35 per cent cost share for eligible expenses province-wide and up to 50 per cent cost-share in areas that have been identified as underserviced in terms of available veterinary capacity. Veterinary businesses can apply for support through this initiative starting February 15, 2022 until March 31, 2022. Application details are still being finalized and we will be sure to communicate them to members once they are available.

To help increase the number of food-animal veterinarians in Ontario, BFO recently approved two scholarships with the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph that will support students pursuing a career in large animal health and welfare, which was highlighted in Rob’s article.

In addition, BFO is involved in a couple of working groups with livestock and veterinary groups to develop initiatives and/or incentives to address the veterinary access issue and look for ways in which we can collaborate with government. We participated in the Veterinary Medicine and Beef Farming Sector Working Group and included members from BFO, College of Veterinarians, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians, Ontario Veterinary College, OMAFRA and producers and veterinarians from Northern Ontario. The purpose of this group was to better understand the issue of accessing a veterinarian in underserviced areas and come up with solutions to address this issue. Last month BFO formed an industry working group comprised of members from OFA, provincial ag and livestock organizations to investigate initiatives and incentives to address the vet access issue. The group will also look for ways in which it can collaborate with government to address the issue across parts of the province. We recognize the issue is complex and will require short-, medium- and long-term solutions to properly address it. We will be sure to provide regular progress updates in the coming months.

Take care, stay safe and all the best! OB

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

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BETWEEN YOU, ME AND THE FENCE POST

By LeaAnne Wurmli, BFO Director of Communications leaanne@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

Plug Into BFO’s Communication Network F

inding effective ways to communicate with our members and industry partners is always evolving. With so much information for farmers to absorb, our communications team continues to brainstorm ways we can ensure our information sifts to the top of the pile. As we begin a new year, I thought it would be appropriate to remind our members of how we communicate industry updates, market information and important news relating to the beef sector, including some new additions for 2022.

Ontario Beef Magazine Ontario Beef magazine is the official publication of BFO. It is issued five times per year in February, May, August, October and December to over 16,000 beef farmers. Ontario Beef covers topics of interest in the beef industry, including research, producer profiles, policy issues, market information and industry updates. A complimentary copy of the magazine is sent to all of our active members.

Bull-etin Board E-Newsletter The BFO Bull-etin Board e-newsletter is issued every Friday afternoon to its subscribers. The e-newsletter captures the headlines of the week, news releases, upcoming events and weekly market information. If you would like to receive the Bull-etin Board in your inbox, visit the homepage of ontariobeef.com and click “sign up for our newsletter”. We also encourage you to share event information with us to post in the Bull-etin Board and on our website. Please

submit information online or by emailing Beth Storey at bethany@ontariobeef.com.

Industry Updates and Breaking News To expand our reach, members of BFO are encouraged to provide us with an email address so that we can share important industry updates and breaking news direct by email from BFO. While this is similar to the Bull-etin Board, the information through this channel is shared as it happens and will help keep you up-to-date on issues in more detail impacting the beef and agriculture sectors. If interested, visit http://eepurl.com/hnb6XP to subscribe.

BFO Website Our website is home to a wide variety of industry, market, policy, producer and communications information. We also continue to post updates on resolutions and progress on various files. We hope you take the time to visit our site and become familiar with the information that is provided. If you are having difficulty locating something, let us know and we will be happy to point you in the right direction!

Social Media For those on social media, we encourage you to follow, like and engage with us on our BFO social media channels. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Bulls will be semen tested and ultrasounded.

FOR DETAILS CALL Allan Hargrave: 519-375-5541 Don Hargrave: 519.375.1500 Jarrett Hargrave: 519-374-5516 harprey@gmail.com • 307483 Centre Line A, Proton Station, ON, N0C 1L0 8

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

Wellness on the Farm The overall sustainability and health of the agricultural sector is dependent on our producers and their mental wellness. As many challenges faced within the sector cannot be controlled or eliminated, stress, anxiety, social isolation and burnout can be inevitable.

At BFO, we have been increasing our efforts on prioritizing the mental health of our members. We have an excellent resource page on our website under Services, and we continue to incorporate mental health conversations into our programing. Turn to page 58 for a couple of upcoming workshops that you might find helpful.

Rural Ramble on the Road New in 2021, we introduced a video series entitled “Rural Ramble on the Road” where BFO’s producer relations team hit the highway and backroads for some casual conversations with our members on important and interesting topics like checking cattle, grazing cover crops, fencing and watering systems and feed testing. You can watch our entire series on BFO’s YouTube Channel, and watch for more videos this year, which are posted on our social media channels as they are released.

Virtual Information Sessions We continue to host webinars and information sessions for beef farmers and industry members. These webinars are a great way to hear from industry leaders from the convenience of your own home.

Those participating live also have the opportunity to ask questions and interact with other attendees, but typically all webinars are recorded and available online after the session. Have an idea for us? Send it our way.

Market Information BFO provides a timely market reporting service for our members and industry stakeholders. Information is provided primarily by Ontario

beef farmers, auction markets, the DTN service and Canfax. There are a number of ways to access this popular information. Please contact our Market Information Coordinator, Jamie Gamble, by email at jamie@ontariobeef.com or by phone at the BFO office if you are interested in being added to our distribution lists. See page 51 for the many ways you can access our market information – by email, phone, mail and fax.

Consumer Engagement E-Newsletter New in 2022, we will begin sharing details on our consumer engagement efforts on a quarterly basis with BFO members. This will give you a unique look from behind the scenes of our campaigns and projects, which are typically focused on engaging with urban folks across the province. If interested in receiving this e-newsletter, visit http://eepurl.com/hnb6XP to subscribe.

We continuously do our best to communicate with our members as effectively as possible, while understanding there is always room for improvement. Let us know how we are doing! If you have suggestions and ideas on how we can better reach our members, please let us know. We want to make sure we are providing you with the information you need in a format that works for you! OB

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ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

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ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

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RURAL RAMBLE

By Dan Ferguson, Manager of Producer Relations dan@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

My New Word I

have discovered a new word. Confusional. Text it to someone, its real. It seems appropriate in these times. With all the news, changing news, pivoting, and flip flopping, the powers that be address graphs, predictions, and models that spin us into despair. Many times, I have pointed the remote at the idiot box and forcefully hit that red button thinking this direct act will make this all go away. But I always pick it up again to watch the well-dressed news folks sitting six-feet apart, smiling as they speak to masked people, follow line ups around city blocks, panning footage of arenas full of people getting jabbed, not playing sports.

Old and young alike are unknowingly numbed by the inability to socialize. Our moods change quicker because our assumed and usual support systems have been altered. Playgrounds, daycare, school, sports and extended family are not there for our children who need extra engagement. Meetings, card games, meals out, hotel getaways, weekend breaks, and even unmasked smiles are few and far between.

We get restless and take risks when we don’t heed the advice of the experts.

Here at BFO, we have just finished our round of local AGM’s and although Zoom is an altered stage for interactions, some of us seem to enjoy the chatter before and after the meat of the meeting. Seeing inside someone’s house, family members passing through the screen, children gazing into the screen from a parent’s knee, and some teasing and sparring can be good therapy. At the Haliburton meeting I recently attended, they were addressing local issues including a pending vet vacancy. A serious topic with numerous contributing

factors and no clear path to a solution. A vet has become not just an expert on animal health, but a psychologist, a doctor, a lawyer, listener, and therapist. The Haliburton producers recognize that the remote beautiful area where they farm is also very isolated and allows them few options for area coverage. They have a passionate committee and were exploring options to resolve the issue as it is key to livestock in the area. The collective groups genuine concern felt good to be part of even if the situation was a bad one.

Here on our farm, there’s always odd circumstances occurring that I try to manage. A feed wagon with four wet bales is parked on the hill for evening feeding and disappears and is found the next morning 200 yards down the hill on the edge of the frozen pond. Confusional.

A morning sunrise illuminates our escaped herd in the back yard.

Who left the gate open? Confusional. My great neighbour has terrific fireworks display on New Year’s Eve in the thick fog that no one can see but my gun-shy dog yelps at every blast. Confusional. We had a Christmas gathering and worried about the other C-word, but the grandchildren all came down with a case of hand, foot and mouth. I didn’t see that one coming.

The BFO staff did put together a short holiday video greeting to you all and it’s posted on our YouTube channel. My hope for the upcoming year was immunity. We all approach the current challenges differently, but none of us are immune to how they affect us. We have to reach out, have a visit, share a smile and a story and listen. For me to use the word listen, now that’s confusional. Be safe. OB

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SUNRISE CHAROLAIS Jim Baker / Elizabeth Richardson 705-888-5061 jbfarm2018@outlook.com

BRIDOR CHAROLAIS Brian and Doris Aitken 519-323-7036 bridorcharolais@yahoo.ca

MOYER CATTLE CO Evan Moyer 519-993-5010 moyercattleco@gmail.com

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

CONCERNED ABOUT TAG RETENTION?

WE ARE LISTENING Photo courtesy of Canadian Gelbvieh Association

canadaid.ca

CCIA

CANADIAN CATTLE IDENTIFICATION AGENCY

IMPROVED TAGS = BETTER RETENTION SHEARWELL RFID — An innovative one-piece wrap-around beef tag, the first of its kind. The microchip is overmolded in a plastic insert so readability and read range of the transponder are never compromised.

DESTRON DMR RFID — Upgraded version of the Destron eTag. Improvements include a fully molded outer tag housing for better durability and water resistance with an enhanced locking mechanism for greater retention.

ALLFLEX - Is continually striving for the improvement of their product and the new design and manufacturing methodology for their male tag stud is in response to tag retention issues reported by producers.

MORE RESEARCH = BETTER RETENTION Tag retention is important to a successful traceability system and the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) has done our research.

Ongoing tag testing trials, intensive research and direct producer feedback on their experiences have resulted in manufacturers improving their tag offerings. To learn more about CCIA’s research activities visit https://www.canadaid.ca/traceability/research/

BEST PRACTICES = BETTER RETENTION Better tag application practices mean better tag retention.

Always use the manufacturer recommended applicator with the tag and follow placement guidelines.

Check out our new and improved tag offerings at tags.canadaid.ca or contact us directly at info@canadaid.ca | 1-877-909-2333

To provide feedback on your tag experience, fill out and return the Approved Indicator Quality Control Form found at: https://www.canadaid.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Approved-Indicator-Quality-Control-Form_fillable-2021-11-19.pdf

CCIA

CANADIAN CATTLE IDENTIFICATION AGENCY

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

13

Community Impact through Sharecost Innovation

By Bethany Storey, BFO Communications Specialist

T

he Sharecost Program, administered each year by BFO, continues to be a well-utilized program with the majority of local associations participating. In support of producer and consumer initiatives, 31 participating counties and districts took part in 2021 receiving a total return to the local level of just over $70,000. Each year, local associations put forth time, effort and commitment to supporting local initiatives and programs to promote and raise awareness for the beef industry. In November of 2021, final applications were submitted, including invoices and record of payment for each activity.

In return, BFO provides a cost-share of 80 per cent, up to a maximum of $2,500 for consumer initiatives and $2,500 for producer initiatives, with a total maximum return of $5,000 per local association. In 2021, qualifying producer applications ranged from youth programs and scholarships, and educational workshops, while consumer activities included generous support of local food banks throughout the province, engaging consumer awareness partnerships with local grocery stores and drive-thru agriculture education events.

As an additional component of the BFO Sharecost Program, local associations were encouraged to send submissions for the BFO Sharecost Innovation Award. Associations may submit an application for either a consumer or producer project that the county/district is especially proud of. The award is presented based on leadership, innovation, creativity and success of execution. While the pandemic continues to limit the number of projects many of our associations

WAYDAMAR SIMMENTALS Bulls are our Business with Data to support Decisions

Customer Service • Bred for Performance Calving Ease/Temperament • Ultrasound Tested Yearlings & 2 Year Olds • Black, Red & Blaze Faces Dave, Gayle & Grant Milliner 225641 Southgate Road #22 • Dundalk, ON N0C 1B0 Phone: 519-923-9188 • Cell: 519-377-9188 Email: milliner.dg@gmail.com Follow us on: www.facebook.com/WaydamarFarms

Marywood Breeders Group Consignor Bull Test Station with Winter & Summer Groups Contact: Dave: 519-375-0122 Josh: 519-362-5373 • Grant: 519-387-0429

14

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

would support or plan, COVID-19 also resulted in new and innovative ideas being developed.

These programs and projects demonstrated Ontario beef farmers’ support for their communities and their industry. We congratulate all the exceptional entries. The firstplace winner is awarded $500, while second place receives $250 and third place receives $100.

In 2021, BFO was pleased to receive four innovative entries from Durham, Lambton, Middlesex and Thunder Bay. It was a great set of entries, making it difficult to select only three from this outstanding bunch.

Congratulations to our 2021 winners: Middlesex Cattlemen’s Association, Beef Farmers of Thunder Bay and Beef Farmers of Durham Region!

1st Place – Burger Up!

In a great effort to celebrate Canada’s Agriculture Day, Middlesex Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) partnered with four local grocery stores along with the Middlesex Federation of Agriculture to highlight the availability of local, Ontario beef. The MCA purchased $2,000 in ground beef and supplied 400 lbs to each participating grocery store. Directors of the MCA volunteered at each location, thanking customers, answering questions and raising awareness about beef farming in Ontario. Along with the in-person success of this event, the MCA received positive feedback and engagement on social media with increased followers to their pages.

2nd Place – Know Your Forage

Northwestern Ontario endured an overwhelming drought in 2021, resulting in shortages of feed for the region’s beef herd. This also resulted in producers being forced to look for other options in regards to alternative feeds, which for some were unfamiliar, including an understanding of their nutritional quality. The Beef Farmers of Thunder Bay, in consultation with OMAFRA staff, recognized the need to provide information and education to producers to ensure the quality and value of the feed was adequate. Working together, they developed the “Know Your Forage” Workshops, providing four sessions for producers: Forage Sampling and Analysis, Basic Rumen Anatomy, Building a Ration 101 and Feeding for Finishing. Beef Farmers of Thunder Bay also purchased a forage probe, allowing registrants of the workshop to take feed samples to be analyzed. Producer education workshops such as these are an excellent chance for producer groups to come together to learn more, build on each other’s knowledge and continue improvement within the Ontario beef industry.

3rd Place – Feeding the Community

The third-place winner of this year’s innovation award is the Beef Farmers of Durham Region. In the spring of 2021, 200 lbs of ground beef was delivered to 11 food banks across the region. The project gained the attention of Rogers TV Durham, and Durham’s President, Dale Mountjoy, was given a 30-minute television interview on the local station. This was an excellent opportunity to share information about the beef industry, the health benefits of beef and issues faced by beef farmers today. This project was also able to garner a great deal of social media coverage.

Congratulations to all 2021 winners and entrants; BFO looks forward to receiving more fantastic and innovative entries this year. OB

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

15

Looking for Community & Producer Engagement Ideas?

• • • • • • • • • • •

Create a social media platform or website Submit a column or advertisement in a local newspaper or community magazine Sponsor 4-H and local youth programs Host a virtual judging or drive-by achievement programs Sponsor scholarships or bursaries Sponsor youth sports programs, which could include a beef logo or messaging on team shirts Run advertising with a local radio station Develop an e-newsletter Secure urban/highway billboards or road signs Develop a community cookbook focused on beef recipes Create a farm-themed community “photo booth” in a downtown setting • Create a display where members of the community can take a photo Host a virtual cooking demo featuring a local chef highlighting Ontario beef Partner with a local butcher shop or retail store to engage with customers Host a drive-thru, farm-themed Christmas light tour Consider running a beef-themed “Meals on Wheels” service Host a farm-themed front porch or barnyard drive-by photo contest Host a 4-H member photo shoot – show-ready animals and photo shoot – sponsor the cost of the photographer Farm family photo shoot tour for producers and create a calendar – sponsor the cost of the photographer and sell the calendars Themed local food boxes with local commodity partners – “Date Night”, “School lunches”, “Quick Dinners” Classroom education - follow the life of a beef farmer or beef calf for a year (September to June). End the year with field trip to the farm.

• Adopt a farmer • Facetime a farmer • Adopt a calf Host a drive-thru barbecue, picnic, breakfast, tailgate party, graduation party, lunch • Include “bling bags” with info/promo items, recipes Partner with a local culinary school Host a chili cook-off, rib fest, extreme burger competition, steak eating contest etc. with local Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kinsmen or Kinettes or ag societies

• • • • • • • • •

• • •

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O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

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ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

17

LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT CHANGES AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ensuring excellent animal welfare outcomes is extremely important to our industry. Canada’s Health of Animals legislation, including updates made to the transport of animal provisions in Part XII of the Health of Animals Regulations, came into force in February, 2020.

NOTABLE CHANGES TO THE TRANSPORT REGULATIONS Records and Transfer of Care

Under the new regulations, every commercial carrier or any person who transports animals in the course of business and/or for financial benefit, regardless of the quantity, frequency or duration of animal transports, are required to keep records related to the movement of those animals. These records must contain: • the name and address of the producer or shipper, consignee or receiver, the transport company (if applicable) and the driver’s name • an identification number (license/registration number) of the conveyance in which the animals are moved • the measurement in square meters and/or square feet of floor area available to animals in the conveyance • the date and place that the conveyance or container were last cleaned and disinfected • the date, time and place that the animals came into the carrier’s (driver’s) custody • the description of the animals in the load and actions taken to address concerns should be documented (e.g. species, class and any other relevant information) • the last time the animals had access to feed, water and rest To assist beef farmers and our industry’s service providers in complying with the revised regulations, BFO has developed a Animal Transport Record, which includes the required transfer of care documentation as outlined in the regulation. Hard copy booklets, in triplicate form, can be accessed through the BFO office and are available to auction markets, producers and transporters, free of charge.

If you would like a hard copy booklet mailed to you, please contact Bethany Storey at bethany@ontariobeef.com, or call the BFO office at 1.866.370.2333.

A fillable online version of the form can also be accessed on BFO’s website under the Services tab.

Compromised and Unfit Animals

Under the new regulations, the definitions for unfit and compromised animals, for transportation purposes, have been updated. Unfit cattle must not be transported unless being taken directly to a place (outside of a slaughter establishment or assembly center) to receive veterinary care and meets the following conditions: • it is individually loaded and unloaded without having to negotiate any ramps inside the conveyance; • it is isolated during confinement and transport; • measures are taken to prevent the animal’s unnecessary suffering, injury or death during loading, confinement, transport and unloading; and • a veterinarian recommends that the animal be transported to receive veterinary care.

Compromised cattle may only be transported under the following conditions: • • • •

it is isolated (or transported with one other animal with which it is familiar if to do so is unlikely to cause either animal suffering, injury or death and if they are segregated from other animals) it is individually loaded and unloaded without having to negotiate any ramps inside the conveyance; measures are taken that are necessary to prevent the animal’s suffering, injury or death during loading, confinement, transport and unloading; and it is transported directly to the nearest place, other than an assembly center, where it can receive care or be humanely killed.

Contingency Plans

Every commercial carrier and those persons who transport animals in the course of business or for financial benefit must have a contingency plan. The plan will establish measures to be taken to reduce or mitigate avoidable suffering if: • there are any unforeseen delays or circumstances that could cause avoidable suffering, injury or death • an animal becomes compromised or unfit during loading, confinement, transport or unloading Continued on page 20.

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O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

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LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT CHANGES - CONTINUED FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q1

When do you need to use a transfer of care document?

Q2

Where can I find an example of the transfer of care document?

A transfer of care document needs to be used anytime the responsibility of care is transferred from one party to the next i.e. shipper to transporter and transporter to receiver.

An Animal Transport Record, which includes the required transfer of care documentation as outlined in the regulation has been developed

by BFO. Hard copy booklets, in triplicate form, can be accessed through the BFO office and are available to auction markets, producers and transporters, free of charge. If you would like a hard copy booklet mailed to you, please contact Bethany Storey at bethany@ontariobeef. com, or call the BFO office at 1.866.370.2333.

A fillable online version of the form can also be accessed on BFO’s website under the Services tab.

Q3

When do the regulations come into effect?

Q4

Will CFIA be performing inspections only at federally regulated plants or will they also be performing inspections at provincial abattoirs and auction facilities?

The updated regulations have been in place since February, 2020, but the CFIA has focused its enforcement efforts on compliance through promotion, education, and awareness measures. Beginning in February, 2022 CFIA will start to issue fines at their discretion.

All modes of transporting animals are regulated: aircraft, carriage, motor vehicle, trailer, railway car, vessel, crate, cargo container, cage, module and/or any other conveyance or container used to move animals. The Humane Transport regulations are applicable at federal abattoirs, provincial abattoirs, assembly yards, auction marts, etc. Any movement of animals by commercial transport fall under the regulations, CFIA staff is able to do inspections of any of these places at any time.

Q5

When cattle go through an auction market, when is a transfer of care document needed?

Q6

What are the requirements for transporting my own cattle to an auction market or abattoir?

Q7

What is the process of shipping my cattle to another one of my facilities through a commercial transporter?

Q8

What are the requirements for a contingency plan?

Q9

How can a driver complete a transfer when dropping off at a site after hours? Will sending an electronic message (i.e., text message or email) suffice to confirm the transfer of care?

A transfer of care document is needed for each individual (owner/shipper) to the auction market and then a separate transfer of care document is needed from the auction market to each individual receiver.

A transfer of care document is required because you are transferring the responsibility of the care of your animals at the end of their journey. You would be considered both an owner/shipper and transporter in that scenario.

A transfer of care document would still need to be utilized as you release your animals’ care to the commercial transporter. This would mean that you also have to sign off that you received the cattle at the destination as care is being transferred back to you.

A contingency plan is to establish measures to reduce or mitigate avoidable suffering if: • there are any unforeseen delays or circumstances that could cause avoidable suffering, injury, or death • an animal becomes compromised or unfit during loading, confinement, transport or unloading There is no prescribed format for a contingency plan (can be written or verbal). However, regulated parties must be able to demonstrate that they know what to do in a variety of predictable, possible, transport situations and any contact information must be up to date.

It is the responsibility of regulated parties to make sure they are following the transfer of care process. The provision of the transfer of care notice and document may be done electronically as it does not require the consignee to be present. While it is best practice for the consignee to be present, the regulation was written this way to offer flexibility in situations such as these. However, there should always be someone responsible for the care of the animals and this is the intent of this requirement.

Q10

How long should producers keep the livestock transport documentation?

The transfer of care documentation is not considered a record so there is no specific regulatory requirement for parties to keep it.

However, it is recommended that all parties should keep the transfer of care documentation (original or a copy) for two years.

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O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

Saunders Charolais 17th Annual Bull Sale Saturday April 2, 2022 Sale to be held in person and Broadcast online

Selling 32 Charolais Bulls 5 Simmental Bulls

Catalogue & Videos can be viewed online at www.dvauction.com Sarah Buchanan 306-681-5340 sarah@goldenthread.ca For More Information on Charolais Bulls Brent Saunders c: 519-372-6196 e: saunders@bmts.com

s arm i a ol e F

is har a l ro ns C a h ai C Blue Mountains Charolais rs ount Harvie & John Reekie e c: 519-374-7108 nd M u e c: 519-373-7643 af SaBlue s e al l oc a l t s S nt e e l r l r u u g u ll c B h a t l ** a t wi 2 n 02 e 2 E m 12 AT il 2, D m pr LE Si tion et SA ay, A .m. ark e n di d 00 p k M r O u E c t ’ 2: sto s Sa e r ive u L t u dy a F Ke Darrell Saunders c: 519-373-6788 e: dbjsaunders@gmail.com

For More Information on Simmental Bulls Todd Campbell c: 519-379-7565 e: tcampbell@rbafinancial.com

to Th ly d t e r a On he g t d n wi tmen ions be a e i V oin ect will l l u App dir ols B le By l for otoc a s al y pr eC r t P

Auctioneer: Scott Kuhl Keady Livestock Market 519-477-2339 Follow us on Facebook for the latest updates

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

21

**

Road Reminders for Farm Implements

By Ontario Federation of Agriculture

W

and one red taillight facing rearward.

When towing implements, the rear-most unit must have at least one red taillight. Farm vehicles or towed equipment over 2.6 metres wide must have two taillights, and over width equipment have other specific requirements (HTA 109).

Farm implement or combinations over 6.1 metres long need side marker lights; two green or amber lights at the front and two red lights at the rear; clearly visible from 150 metres.

hile we are a few months away from busy spring activity on the farm, it’s an important time to brush up on key requirements for farm vehicles (tractors, combines, towed implements) driven on public roads for the safety of you, your employees and our communities. As a reminder, farm implements driven on the roads are subject to the Highway Traffic Act (HTA).

Driver’s Licenses

You do not need a driver’s license to operate a farm tractor or self-propelled implement of husbandry (SPIH) along a highway, but you must be at least 16 years old. Children younger than 16 can only drive farm vehicles directly across a highway. A driver with an impaired driving license suspension cannot drive farm machinery on a highway.

Where to Drive

Although it is legal to drive farm equipment on some road shoulders, you should drive on the travelled portion of the highway.

The shoulder may not be able to support the weight of your farm equipment, and there may be obstacles on the shoulder.

Although farm equipment is exempt from HTA vehicle width rules, you must yield half the roadway to oncoming vehicles. If you leave your lane to travel on the shoulder, you must yield to any traffic in the roadway before re-entry.

Lights

Farm vehicles on a highway between a half hour before sunset and a half hour after sunrise, or when vehicles are not clearly visible from 150 metres, must have at least two white headlights facing forward,

SMV Signs

Every farm tractor or self-propelled implement on a highway must display a Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) sign centered on the rear of the vehicle, 0.6 to 2 metres above the road. Any vehicle using an SMV sign cannot exceed 40 km/h.

If your slow-moving vehicle is towing something, you need to display the sign at the rear of the towed object. Farmers may tow implements behind a pickup truck. The truck/implement combination cannot exceed 40 km/h. Replace faded SMV signs. They must be clearly visible from 150 metres.

When loaded on a truck or trailer, a slow-moving vehicle is a load; it is no longer an SMV. Remove or cover any SMV sign on the load.

Slow-moving vehicle signs are for SMVs only. You cannot attach them to fixed objects such as mailboxes, fences, or gate posts visible from the road.

High-Speed Tractors

All farm equipment, including those capable of road speeds over 40 km/h must obey the 40 km/h speed limit and use the SMV sign. This

Join us for an Open House & Private Treaty Sale on February 26th 2022 at our New Facility

Location: 2730 Shirley Road Port Perry, ON Time: 10am-4pm

Assortment of 2 yr Old Bulls, Bred Heifers and Yearling Heifers for Sale

Call Office for Details. (905) 898-4463, Please Leave a Message Or email, galtenlandlivestock@gmail.com 22

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

is based on HTA 76 (SMV Signs). Section 76 identifies farm tractors and SPIHs as slowmoving vehicles, requires all slow-moving vehicles to display the SMV sign when on the roads, and requires all SMVs displaying the sign, including high-speed tractors, to obey the SMV 40 km/h speed limit.

Safety Chains

The HTA requires farm wagons and implements drawn along a highway behind a farm tractor, SPIH, pickup or car, to have two separate means of attachment, so if one fails the towed implement will not separate from the towing vehicle. The draw bar/hitch provides the first means of attachment; a safety chain/cable the second. A single safety chain is the most common way to meet this requirement. A safety chain must be strong enough to hold the weight of towed implements plus their loads. When towing multiple implements, each draw bar/hitch combination must have its own safety chain.

A three-point hitch does not require a secondary means of attachment. Two chains, crossed under the draw bar is a requirement only for heavy truck trailers.

ON-FARM OPEN HOUSE &

Tag sale April 10th, 2022

Open Heifers - Purebred & F1 Baldies Cow Calf Pairs, Bulls Guest Consignor - Vintage Herefords

Self-Propelled Implements of Husbandry (SPIH)

SPIHs are vehicles manufactured, designed, redesigned, converted, or reconstructed for a specific use in farming. When converted from former road vehicles, an SPIH must exhibit significant outward, physical change to the cargo-carrying portion of the vehicle. The modifications should enable it to perform its specific farm use and not its previous function.

SPIH can travel on a highway without license plates only if travelling from a farm to farm, to perform a farm use, or to or from places for maintenance or repairs. All other uses, including farm to commercial elevator or processing plant, require plates. OB

Jamie & Mel O’Shea

Denfield, ON 519-477-1238 For updates follow us on:

osheafarms@hotmail.com

Profitable Pastures T

he Ontario Forage Council is pleased to announce that Profitable Pastures will proceed in webinar format again this year in March.

There is no cost to register and CEUs will be available for Certified Crop Advisors. Visit the Ontario Forage Council website to register.

March 9, 2022, 7:30 p.m. EST 2022 Ontario Mapleseed Pasture Award Recipient - TBA The Ontario Mapleseed Pasture Award recipient will be announced in February.

March 8, 2022, 7:30 p.m. EST Planned Grazing – Making the Cows Work for You, Pam Iwanchysko Planned grazing refers to the process of moving livestock from paddock to paddock at the correct time and for the correct duration.

Subdividing pastures into paddocks enables producers to control the movement of livestock which provides many benefits. Pam will share findings on a three-year project that was developed and monitored at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives Research Farm that looked at the benefits of reducing or eliminating the practice of continuous grazing.

March 10, 2022, 7:30 p.m. EST Grazing Ruminants - The Original Soil Builders Lessons learned from my Nuffield Scholarship, Ryan Boyd Ryan will detail insights gained from visiting with farmers and ranchers across the globe researching grazing systems as part of his Nuffield Scholarship and a lifetime of grazing on his own farm. New ideas about how to effectively manage pastures to maximize stocking rate, soil carbon sequestration, and overall profitability will be shared including the technique of ultra-high stock density grazing. OB ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

23

OMAFRA UPDATE Winter Management of Beef Cattle

By James Byrne, Beef Cattle Specialist, OMAFRA • www.omafra.on.ca

W

inter in Ontario brings freezing temperatures, frequent wind chills and, usually, lots of snow. Good winter management will ensure cattle remain healthy, productive, and feed costs are kept reasonable. Beef cattle adapt to cold conditions by growing a longer thicker coat of hair and depositing an insulating layer of subcutaneous fat just beneath the skin (NRC, 1981). In addition, on cold days beef cattle eat more to increase their metabolic rate (i.e., increased heart rate, respiration, and blood flow), which helps increase body heat production. Ensuring cattle have a dry clean coat, access to shelter from the wind and an appropriate feed supply are critical to cattle tolerance to outdoor winter conditions.

Adaption to cold occurs gradually over the fall as cooling temperatures trigger metabolic and hormonal changes. These changes lower the thermal neutral zone to the point that once adapted to the cold, beef cows in mid gestation may tolerate temperatures as low as minus 21° C in dry, calm conditions without being negatively affected. The thermal neutral zone is the range of environmental temperatures within which cattle do not have to expand additional energy to maintain normal body temperature.

Increasing the thickness of the coat and depositing a layer of subcutaneous fat lowers the environmental temperature threshold at which normal body temperature can be maintained without expending additional energy. Cold tolerance is only effective when the coat remains dry and cattle are sheltered from the wind. The insulating effect of a dry coat is derived from trapped air within the hairs of the coat. Anything that removes that air (e.g. strong winds, rainfall), reduces the effectiveness of the coat as an insulator. A wet or mud-covered coat essentially loses all its insulating properties.

This can be a particular problem for Preston & Terry Cull in the spring when 923 Spence Rd, Douglas, Ont. cold wet conditions and the issue of mud is more common.

Therefore, keeping cattle as dry as possible and sheltered from the wind are key components of winter management.

ANNUAL BRED HEIFER SALE Friday Evening May 13 at 7:00pm

Approx 85 Charolais X-Bred first & second calf Heifers

Bred to large frame Charolais Bulls, all Double Vaccinated.

Majority with calves at foot.

Go to prestoncull.com for full listing and pictures in March.

For more info call Owner/Auctioneer Preston Cull at

613-649-2378

24

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

Shelter

Beef cattle must be protected from the wind particularly during those times when it’s bitterly cold. Air movement strips away the insulating air cushion within the coat reducing its insulating properties.

Under dry calm conditions, beef cows can tolerate

temperatures as low as minus 21°C before negative effects are observed.

However, at a temperature of 0° C and a wind speed of 25 km per hour, the wind chill effect or “real feel” is a temperature of minus 27° C, which is below the temperature that winter adapted cattle can tolerate without any negative impact. Providing shelter significantly reduces the impact of “wind chill” and if constructed or provided correctly can provide shelter to a large area “down-wind”. Research by Anderson and Byrd (2004) showed that the best shelter is provided by a combination of constructed wind fences and mature trees. Multiple tree rows of varying height and maturity planted 50 to 100 feet upwind from the wintering area will slow the wind and allow drifting snow to drop among the trees, reducing the amount of snow deposited in the pens (Anderson, 2016).

Constructed wind fences temporarily or permanently placed along a fence line or within the wintering area can be very effective. Wind fences can reduce wind speeds by as much as 80 per cent. Wind fences should be at least 20 per cent open to allow some air to pass through but will still reduce the speed of the wind to an area between 10 and 30 times the height of the fence.

A 10-foot wind fence will provide shelter between 100 and 300-feet downwind depending on wind direction and velocity. Porous wind fences help spread out snow accumulation whereas solid fences encourage swirling and snow accumulation immediately downwind, reducing the effective shelter area. Hay/straw bales or other inedible biomass pushed up along the fence line can also make very good temporary wind fences.

Bedding

Depending on how cattle are wintered, bedding may be required to reduce the impact of the cold by keeping cattle dry and providing insulation from snow or frozen ground. Bedding also helps keep cattle clean. Beef cows in good condition are ok to lie on clean snow but bedding should be provided to cows that will calve outdoors. Newborn calves should always have access to bedding, which should be consistently kept fresh. It’s critically important that bedding for new-born calves is always kept dry as possible. The deeper the bed, the better. It must be stated that in addition to good bedding, new-born calves must have access to shelter.

Where good shelter is not available, consider bringing calves indoors, at least during periods when weather conditions are particularly poor.

Bedding also helps prevent frost bite to the udders of beef cows.

Beef bulls for breeding wintered outdoors should always be provided with bedding to reduce the risk of testicular damage from the cold. This can result in decreased fertility.

Winter Nutrition

Preparing beef cows for the winter begins in the fall. Cows need to be in good body condition prior to the onset of winter. Cows in good body condition (i.e. a body condition score of 2.5 to 3) have adequate fat reserves to enable them to tolerate very cold conditions without any impact on performance. Body condition scoring of the herd should be carried out prior to the onset of winter but can be carried out at any time and is a critical winter management exercise. Body condition scoring allows any thin animals that may require additional feeding to be identified and separated out for extra feeding. Weaned cows have a significantly lower feed requirement and gain condition easier than cows still suckling calves. For spring calving herds, calves should be weaned off prior to the onset of winter or by early winter at the latest.

Temperature must be considered when providing feed to cattle since Continued on page 26.

BLACKBERN e WHITEWATER e KIRLENE

CHAROLAIS BULL SALE Saturday, March 12 2022

1:30 PM, Renfrew Pontiac Livestock, Cobden, ON

KBF 14J LT Del Rey 6161 x Rosso Double Down 8Z

Offering 24 YEARLINGS

4 LONG YEARLINGS

KBF 29J SCX Triumph 50B x Gerrard Montezuma 6T

KAB 3J DC/BHD Warlord F2003 x Winn Mans Big Rig 639Y

HPF 488J Homo Pld • Sparrows Fargo 811U x KAYR Velocity 812Z

Offering Bulls Sired by: Turnbulls Equipped 216E, DC/BHD Warlord F2003, SCX Triumph 50B, C2 Galeleo 3G, Sparrows Fargo 811U Auctioneers: Stewart James 613-445-3269 Stewart James Jr. 613-222-2815 (bilingual)

Sale broadcast by

View catalogue & videos online at charolaisbanner.com in early February

WhiteWater Livestock

Keith, Karen & Tyson Black H 613-646-2673 C 613-570-8464 Forester’s Falls, ON • blackbern@hotmail.com Blackbern Farm

Kirby & Arlene Hakkesteegt and family Kirby 613-848-6917 Angela 613-922-4671 Brighton, ON • kirbyh@lks.net Kirlene Cattle • @kirlenecattle

Kurtis & Chelsea Black C 613-585-3873 • Haley Station, ON whitewaterlivestock@gmail.com WhiteWater Livestock • @kurtisblack_1

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

25

Continued from page 24. – OMAFRA

Update

voluntary daily feed intake increases as temperatures cool. Beef cows will consume between 2 per cent and 2.5 per cent of their bodyweight in dry matter daily but at minus 5°C, dry matter intake increases to between 2.2 per cent and 2.75 per cent of body weight daily. At minus 15°C or less, intake increases to between 2.5 per cent and 3.2 per cent, or greater, of bodyweight daily. As an example, a 1,400 lb beef cow may consume 28 lb per day of dry matter at 0°C but at minus 15°C, this requirement has increased to 35 lb per day. Temperatures lower than minus 15°C are common in Ontario and can last for a prolonged period, particularly in northern Ontario. A rule of thumb for cows adapted to cold conditions with a dry coat and sheltered is to increase the total digestible nutrients (TDN) by 1 per cent for every degree below minus 21°C. If the coat is wet or animals do not have access to shelter, increasing dietary TDN will need to happen at a much warmer temperature threshold.

It is critically important that all animals have equal access to feed and this must be considered when feeding cattle. Often, when feed space is limited, thinner and younger cattle lose out to healthier and fitter animals, exacerbating any feed challenges they may already have. To this end and where possible, divide the herd into groups of similar animals. For example, group thinner cows that may require a higher plane of nutrition, replacement heifers and younger cattle. If separating the herd into smaller groups is not possible, close monitoring of the body condition of the herd should be performed and any animal losing condition should be removed for extra feeding.

Will Stoneman 587.873.7257 Brian Whitwell 905.768.5148 k.whitwell@hotmail.com

On most cow-calf farms where beef cows are in good body condition at the start of winter, a forage diet is typically adequate and supplementary feed is only required for those cows in less-than-ideal condition at the start of winter or for those cows that lose condition over the winterfeeding period. This assumes good forage quality. Forages are highly variable and testing these forages for quality is important. Beef cows can very quickly lose body condition when offered poor quality forages during very cold periods. Cattle have starved to death on full stomachs during the winter months simply due to the very poor quality of forage being fed. The highest quality forages should be reserved for younger stock, beef cows close to calving and any thin cows in the herd. Where testing indicates less than ideal forage quality, supplementary feeding with grains for energy and/or protein may be required. As cows near calving, additional energy and protein supplementation may be required even where good quality forage is provided. Consult with a nutritionist who will be able to advise the best feeding strategy for a given situation.

Time of feeding has also been shown to be of benefit during extreme cold periods. Anderson (1982) demonstrated that feeding cows late in the evening increases heat production through the physical activity of eating and ruminating.

Access to Water

Beef cattle need a constant supply of fresh, clean water daily. It’s important to regularly check water bowls to ensure that they are not frozen and that cattle can access the water. Research from Alberta has shown that cows will “eat” snow as a water source without any ill effects provided that the snow is soft, powdery, and clean. Beef cattle must learn how to eat snow as a water source and this adjustment takes about three days. Snow that is iced over or contains hard ice pellets will not be consumed leading to reduced water intake followed by reduced feed intake. Under these circumstances, free flowing water will need to be provided. Good monitoring of the quality of snow available for eating is an important task when using snow as a water source.

Replacement Heifers

Offering Registered Yearling Angus bulls; AgSight Performance Tested Select Registered & Commercial Replacement Heifers available Growth, Carcass Merit, Calving Ease and Maternal Performance are the foundations of our program.

Visitors always welcome!

26

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

Replacement heifers in calf require special attention when wintered outdoors. These heifers are still growing but also pregnant and consequently have higher feed requirements than other classes of livestock. Ideally, replacement heifers in calf should be grouped separately from the mature beef cow herd and fed the highest quality forage available. Depending on forage test results some supplementation may be required but this must be done carefully to avoid heifers becoming overfat this can lead to calving difficulties. Heifers are usually timid around mature cows and can easily lose out if feeding space is limited, leading to inadequate feed intake and loss of body condition. Feeding as a separate group can eliminate this issue. The replacement heifer group is an ideal group to place thinner mature cows or older cows for extra feeding in, where creating many different cow groups on-farm is not practical.

Beef cows will adapt to cold winter conditions provided they are in good body condition prior to the onset of winter, have access to shelter to minimize any wind chill effect, have access to dry bedding where required, have access to a steady supply of good quality forage and have access to fresh water or snow. The winter-feeding period requires continuous and active herd management. Test forages prior to the start of the winterfeeding period and test on a regular basis thereafter. Act when cows lose body condition by separating out and providing additional feeding. If possible, separate the herd out into specific groups to make feeding and management easier in the long term. OB

COMPLETE DISPERSAL SALE FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH, 11 AM, AT THE FARM 300 Head

46 Bulls – 21 Polled – 3 Homo Polled 32 Bred Heifers – 8 Polled 50 Open Heifers – 12 Polled – 2 Homo Polled 120 Bred Cows – 20 Polled 50 with Calves – 34 Polled About 30 are full Patton breeding

Sale Consultants: Carl Wright (auctioneer) Jack McCoubry Doug Briggs Erin Briggs

519-369-7489 519-671-2776 705-890-8458 705-345-2970

Bilingual Sale Consultant

Bernard Dore 514 910 4935

Largest Full French Dispersal in Canadian History Catalogue & videos will be online with descriptions at www.mlcattleco.com

Roger Maloney and Helen Lynett 2420 Jermyn Line, Indian River, ON K0L 2B0 Roger: 705.761.7316 roger@mlcattleco.com

www.mlcattleco.com

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

27

Introducing the Ontario Beef Youth Alliance O

ver the years, BFO has sought ways to engage, support and encourage the next generation of beef farmers within our organization through policy development, initiatives, events and program offerings, and resource development.

We know our organization will need strong leaders providing thoughtful direction for years to come, and we strongly believe that an investment in youth development is an investment in our collective future. While our efforts have been well received, we think it’s time to take it to the next level and bring all youth efforts under one umbrella. So, BFO is pleased to introduce the Ontario Beef Youth Alliance – a powerful group of individuals with energy and enthusiasm to grow, protect and advocate for Ontario’s beef industry.

The Ontario Beef Youth Alliance (OBYA) will be comprised of members between the ages of 18-35 and who have subscribed to become a member of the OBYA. Members must have an active interest in the Ontario beef industry, but do not need to be BFO check-off paying members.

Membership benefits will evolve as the OBYA welcomes members and begins to take shape. Every effort will be made by BFO to provide the following benefits: • Networking and engagement opportunities with other like-minded individuals • Youth-based programming and events • Mentorship connections • Access to information and resources on current funding programs to support on-farm development

JPD

ANGUS

Breeding for Cow Families Purebred black Angus yearling bulls and heifers for sale by private treaty.

Backed by superior genetics selected for phenotype,calving ease, growth and performance as well as carcass merit.

Please feel free to give us a call to arrange a socially distanced farm visit or to discuss your needs and obtain a list of our offering.

Michaela’s cell: 705-720-0085 michaela.jpdangus@gmail.com

Lori’s cell: 705-720-0829 lorijchalmers@gmail.com

Located just north of Barrie off of Hwy 400 in Oro-Medonte.

28

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

• Platform to share career opportunities related to the beef and agriculture sectors • Complimentary subscription to Ontario Beef magazine • Eligibility to run as a candidate and/or elect candidates for the youth positions on the BFO CowCalf, Feedlot and Research Committees – New in 2022!

If you are between the ages of 18-35 and have an active interest in the Ontario beef industry, we would welcome you to visit www. ontariobeef.com to subscribe where we will collect your contact information and enter you into the OBYA database.

Communications will be sent to members throughout the year. If at any time you wish to unsubscribe from the OBYA, you can unsubscribe by following the prompts in BFO’s communications, or you can contact Bethany Storey directly at the BFO office to be removed from the OBYA.

Ways in which BFO has supported youth development Finding a Future in Beef workshops Cow herd expansion initiatives across Ontario Lobbying for enhancements to the Ontario Feeder Cattle Loan Guarantee Program, which is largely subscribed to by members under the age of 40 Securing Ontario’s Risk Management Program which provides timely and predictable support to beef farmers BUILD Leadership Development Program bfoUP webinars and programming Beef Youth Development Program Young Producer Program at BFO’s AGM Young Cattlemen’s Council (YCC) Ontario Representation on BFO’s Board of Directors

New in 2022!

In addition to the establishment of the Ontario Beef Youth Alliance (OBYA), we have a few exciting initiatives already in the works.

Youth Positions on the BFO Cow-Calf, Feedlot and Research Committees

Beginning in February, BFO will have new youth positions open on the BFO Cow-Calf, Feedlot and Research Committees. In an effort to further engage with Ontario’s young beef farmers and to increase youth participation within BFO, members of the Ontario Beef Youth Alliance will have the opportunity to elect candidates to BFO’s standing committees at BFO’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) for two-year terms and as non-voting members. By establishing these positions, we can ensure that youth perspectives are heard on issues impacting the industry.

To allow for an election for youth committee positions to occur each year, interested candidates will have the opportunity to put their names forward for the Cow-Calf and Feedlot Committees at the 2022 BFO AGM, with an election for the Research Committee to occur in 2023. Elections for these positions will be conducted online and will take place in advance of the BFO AGM.

Ontario Beef Youth Alliance Launch Event

At the time of writing, we are busy planning a virtual session for OBYA members to meet and connect with one another on the evening of Tuesday, February 22, 2022, which will be held in conjunction with

BFO’s 2022 Virtual Annual General Meeting. Members will hear from guest speakers and an update on both national leadership programs, the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders and the Young Cattlemen’s Council. OB

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

29

LOOKING AHEAD TO

Contact any of these Breeders to arrange for a private viewing of Cattle For Sale.

3 RIDGE FARMS Jon Bell 217294 Conc. 3 Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N5 519-378-4006 roundbale14@hotmail.com

CLARK CATTLE CO. David Clark 2280 McCullough Rd. Port Hope, ON L1A 3V7 905-449-0149 clarkcattle1@hotmail.ca

CROWN HILL ACRES Craig and Michelle Kennedy 258 Sturgeon Rd. Omemee, ON K0L 2W0 705-741-6700 crownhillacres@gmail.com

HILLSIDE FARMS Ray and Stacie Stanton 4250 King Road, King City, ON, L7B 1K4 416-505-0707 rays@londonproperty.ca

ARCON CATTLE CO Art Thompson, Jim & Connor Wiley 5174 Concession Road 4 Everett, ON L0M 1J0 Art 705-434-8582 Jim 705-734-7379 arconcattleco@gmail.com

LOYAL LINE LIMOUSIN Brent and Vicky Black 82509 Loyal Line Goderich, Ontario N7A 3Y3 Cell: 519-955-1234 brentblack204@hotmail.com

DARLING FARMS 4172 County Rd 25 Castleton, ON K0K 1M0 905-375-4019 dmdarling13@gmail.com

AFTER HOURS LIMOUSINS Rob & Erin Weppler 117078 Grey Rd. 3 , Tara, ON 519-375-6108 Rob@gbtel.ca

BEE ZEE ACRES The Zwambag’s 4140 Glendon Drive, Glencoe, ON N0L 1M0 Bill: 519-494-9613 Matt: 519-870-3219

SPARE TIME LIVESTOCK Don & Donna Scott & family Oxford Mills, ON Don: 613-913-1579 Laura: 613-316-8728 sparetimelivestock@gmail.com

GIBSON FARMS Dave and Emily Gibson 2148 Concession 4, RR1, Ripley Ontario N0G2R0 Dave-519-357-6174 Emily 519-440-9907

BROWN EDEN LIMOUSIN Neil & Suzanne Brown 768 Zion Road Little Britain, ON, K0M 2C0 705-768-1605 nsbrown@bell.net

30

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

FUTURE PROFITS?

LIMOUSIN

ADD

TO YOUR HERD

Start planning for this year’s breeding season

LIMOUSIN

LAKESIDE FARM Wayne and Nancy Lawrence 263657 Southgate Rd. 26 RR#4 Durham, ON N0G 1R0 519-369-2806 PINCH HILL LIMOUSIN Paul, Brandon & Chad Homer Stittsville, Ontario 519-339-9659 or 613-987-0822 pinchhill@gmail.com SELBY GENETICS 1762 County Rd. 11 Selby ON KOK2ZO 613 388 9286 rick.steggles@bell.net

RAIL LINE FARMS Paul and Brad MacIntyre 221 Bruce County Rd. 1 RR #3, Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0 519-528-2423 pcmacintyre@hurontel.on.ca

NEW LIFE LIMOUSIN Justin and Melissa Burgess 261269 Conc. 18 Hanover, ON N4N 3B8 519-270-5415 New.life.limousin@gmail.com

POSTHAVEN LIMOUSIN John and Ena Post #7396 Sideroad #20, RR #2, Alma, Ontario N0B 1A0 519-846-9320 ejpost@posthavenlimousin.com

SMART LIMOUSIN Garry and Sheila Smart 137606 Grey Road 12 RR#2, Meaford, ON N4L 1W6 519-538-4877 www.smartlimousin.com

WINDY GABLES LIMOUSIN Bryce & Nathan Allen RR #4, Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0 705-924-2583 YOUNG LIMO FARMS JIM AND JOE YOUNG 601 Tara Road Ennismore ON 705 755 6820

HIP LIMOUSIN Denver Cassidy Tweed, Ontario K0k3j0 613-84-81381

Check out our Website for LimoNews: www.ontariolimousin.com

Ontario Limousin Association

Chad Homer, President • Phone: 519-339-9659 ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

31

It’s time to test the waters.

Grand Valley Fortifiers Announces the Acquisition of Valley Nutrition I

Think your stock water is fine?

Bad water can lead to a 30% increase in open cows and thousands of dollars in losses.

Visit BeefResearch.ca or scan the QR code for information about water systems for beef cattle.

SCAN FOR MORE INFO

32

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

n January, Grand Valley Fortifiers announced the acquisition of Valley Nutrition Inc, a dairy nutrition consulting business with a strong dairy and beef customer base in British Columbia, Alberta and southern Saskatchewan.

With the addition of the Valley Nutrition ruminant nutrition consultant team of six, the ruminant focused strength of Grand Valley Fortifiers and its sister company, Fortified Nutrition Limited has grown significantly in the western provinces.

Grand Valley Fortifiers and Valley Nutrition hold to many of the same company values while both embrace a culture that is centered around providing ideas, opportunities and solutions to Canada’s dairy and beef producers, maximizing their farming operations’ efficiency, productivity and profitability. At the technical nutrition and ration balancing level, Grand Valley Fortifiers’ and Valley Nutrition’s ruminant nutrition teams are also very well aligned on feeding approaches, nutritional philosophies and sources of mineral and nutrition technology ingredients.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to adopt the talented and experienced Valley Nutrition team into our Grand Valley Fortifiers family and into the GVF group of companies” says Ian Ross, President and CEO of the GVF group of companies. “Both Grand Valley Fortifiers and Valley Nutrition are businesses that bring nutrition technology and a consultative approach direct to the farm. Fundamentally, however, both businesses are people businesses - people serving people for the betterment of Canada’s livestock farming operations and for Canada’s food supply”.

With the purchase of Fortified Nutrition Limited in March 2012, Grand Valley Fortifiers entered the Prairie province swine nutrition and feed market. Collaborating and working closely with the GVF nutrition and technical support team, Fortified Nutrition Limited has achieved significant growth over the last 10 years. In recent years, Grand Valley Fortifiers has worked to deploy its dairy and beef expertise and product portfolio in the western dairy and beef market, desiring to have an opportunity to work closely with some of Canada’s best milk and beef producers in these provinces. OB

Bull Sale One sale day, three powerful sire groups…

March 26, 2022 • 1:30 pm at the farm View the bulls anytime ahead of sale day The catalogue will be online at cornerviewcharolais.com

View the sale/bid online or bid by phone

1012 Snake River Line, Cobden, ON Brian Coughlin 613-312-0270 | Brett Coughlin 613-312-1378 Auctioneer Ab Carroll 705-344-6654 ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

33

Adding Value to

Ontario Beef Through

Quality Assurance

Steps to become VBP+ Certified:

s T e P s T e P

AUDIT PREP During the training webinar, you will learn about the audit requirements. Operations must have at least six months of records for cow-calf producers and three months of records for feedlots.

s T e P

ON-FARM AUDIT Schedule an on-farm audit with a trained auditor coordinated through the national office.

Complete any Corrective Action Requests from the audit to successfully become a VBP+ Certified operation.

s T e P

1 2 3 4

TRAINING Currently offered as a free, live webinar.

Please email jaclyn@ontariobeef.ca for upcoming training dates.

MAINTAIN ACTIVE VBP+ STATUS Complete yearly record requirements to ensure that you are still in compliance with the program.

On-farm audits are completed once every five years.

Ontario feedlots also have the option to be certified under the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Quality Assurance Program through the completion of training, assessments and an on-farm audit.

For more information on the OCFBQA, please contact

John Baker

Audit Level LeveL LeveL LeveL

1 2 3

ON QA Rebate

• COW-CALf • SHORT-TERM BACKGROUNDING

$1,250

$937

• BACKGROUNDING (MORE THAN 4 MONTHS) • FINISHING

$1,750

$1,312

$2,000

$1,500

(4 MONTHS OR LESS)

•

COMBINED COW-CALF AND BACKGROUNDING (more than 4 months)

•

COW-CALF TO FINISH

* Ontario's QA Rebate Incentive of 75% of the VBP+ audit cost is available until December 31, 2021 on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding for this program is provided by the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) and the Joint Marketing Committee (JMC), a partnership between BFO and the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association.

john@ontariocornfedbeef.com Dan Ferguson dan@ontariobeef.com 34

Audit Cost

Operation Type

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

Jaclyn Horenberg jaclyn@ontariobeef.com

Canadian Angus Bulls – The Genetic Advantage Because of their balanced profile of calving ease, growth and carcass quality, Canadian Angus cattle work well in both purebred and commercial operations. Use Angus bulls to make top performing feedlot steers and beautiful replacement females.

Visit the Ontario Angus Association website for more information: www.cdnangus.ca/ontario-angus-association

Contact any of the breeders below to arrange for your private viewing of cattle for sale.

Fallis Land and Cattle

Loval Farms

Mike, Lisa and Cole Fallis 1273 6th Line Selwyn, ON K9J 6X5 705-740-4878 sunsetacres@nexicom.net

Scott & Sandra Honey 127 Honey Road Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0 705-924-3809 lovalfarms@gmail.com

Gilchrist Farms

Maple Line Farm

Brad & Kristie Gilchrist 1269 Grey Ox Ave RR#5 Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0 519-440-6720 brad@gilchristfarms.com

Glen Islay Angus

Don Currie 2234 Conc 11 Nottawa, ON L0M1P0 705-715-2234 doncurrie@glenislay.com

Harprey Farms

Allan Hargrave/Don Hargrave 307483 Centre Line A Proton Station, ON N0C 1L0 Allan 519-375-5541 Don 519-375-1500 harprey@gmail.com

SCOMAC Livestock

Scott, Paula, Jason & Shelby Cornish 2295 Hwy 7 Indian River, ON K0L 2B0 705-341-3220 wll@nexicom.net

Silver Springs Farm

Darcy & Courtney McMorris 573333 Boot Jack Ranch Road Priceville, ON N0C 1K0 226-203-4506 windcroftfarms@gmail.com

Ian & Tim Rudkin 3320 Bradburn Road Blackstock, On L0B 1B0 Ian 905-718-5331 Tim 905-213-6518 maplelinefarm@hotmail.com

James, Joan and Robert McKinlay 609027 12th Sideroad RR#1 Ravenna, ON N0H 2E0 519-599-6236 jmckinlay@bmts.com

Meadow Bridge Angus

Tullamore Farms

JJ Deslippe 922580 Rd 92 RR # 4 St Mary’s, ON N4X 1C7 519-275-1739 deslippe@quadro.net

Rob Roy Angus

Don & Betty McNalty 634514 Road 63 RR#2 Singhampton, ON N0C 1M0 705-446-4740 robroyangus@gmail.com

Whiskey Lane Livestock

Scott & Elizabeth MacDonald 4169 Highway # 6 Hagersville, ON N0A 1H0 Scott 519-820-1272 Elizabeth 226-971-0015 scomaclivestock@gmail.com

Bill & Sylvia Jackson 12201 Torbram Rd Caledon, ON L7C 2T4 Home 905-843-1236 Cell 647-990-2697 tullamore.angus@gmail.com

Upper Glen Angus

Rick Stull 12249 8th Line Georgetown, ON L7G 4S4 905-703-0503 rickstull93@gmail.com

Windcroft Farms

Whitney Black Angus

Karen & Marty Whitney 51 Balsam Rd Ramara, ON L3V 0K8 705-326-9272 mwhitney@whitneyblackangus.com

Worth-Mor Cattle

Kyle, Rachel, Jordyn and Mason Petherick 950 County Rd 8 Campbellford, ON K0L 1L0 705-768-3560 worth-mor@hotmail.com

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

35

AGSIGHTS UPDATE

Strategies for Selecting Your Next Sire

By Jasper Munro, AgSights Manger of Research and Innovation jmunro@agsisghts.com • www.agsights.com

I

n general, our cow herds are only as good as the sires we select. If you’re a closed herd, the new genetics entering your herd are solely supplied by the sire(s) you select. On average, after three generations of retaining heifers, close to 90 per cent of the genetic make-up of your retained females will be the result of the last three bulls you purchased. Even in the case of an open herd, where you purchase replacement heifers, much of your genetic influence overtime can be traced back to your sire selection decisions.

I think we all know the importance of sires to our herds, so what matters to you when selecting a sire? For most breeders it still comes down to loyalty. According to a 2020 American survey, over 70 per cent of breeders buy bulls from the same supplier they have for over three years. This loyalty may come back to the trust we have in bull suppliers to make the bull selection/purchasing decision for us.

However, there are many factors that come into play that we still need to consider on our own, such as price, performance, input costs, appearance, and genetics. In the end, we want to select a bull that produces calves that bring the most profit in the short and long term.

To do this, we need to know our market and the traits that will bring us the most value in that market.

If we are selling market animals, the traits that matter will be different then if we are selling breeding stock, or if we are in direct-toconsumer sales. In some cases, we are likely hitting multiple markets, increasing the number of traits to consider. Identifying traits is the easy step, determining the economic value of those traits is the challenge.

For instance, many of us are familiar with expected progeny differences (EPDs), a tool that allows us to predict the performance of a bull’s progeny for various traits. If we compare the weaning weight (WW) EPDs on two bulls, Bull A has a WW EPD of 50, Bull B has a WW EPD of 30. This difference of 20 means that on average Bull A is expected to produce calves that weigh 20lbs heavier at weaning. If 500-599 lb weaned calves are selling at $2.25/lb then each calf from Bull A is expected to be worth $45 more (20lbs * $2.25/lbs) then Bull B’s calves. Figure 1 walks through this example over a bull’s lifetime.

Figure 1

WALNUT DRIVE FARMS PROUD MILESTONES

• 2022 marks 70 years in the purebred Hereford business • 100 years of Spidel genetics • 150 years of our farm in one location at Vancise Corners near Stayner, Ontario • 224 years in farming in Ontario.

257G (pictured) weighed over a ton at 2 years of age, on roughage diet. We have many unique bloodlines worth your consideration. All focused on grass and beef!!

Bulls and Females FOR SALE

WDF 36

WALNUT DRIVE FARMS John W. Vancise Home 705-445-0407 • Cell 705-351-1466 email: jwvancise@gmail.com

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

Weaning weight is a trait that market value is well understood but what about calving ease, rib eye area, or heifer pregnancy rate.

How much is a 1 per cent increase in unassisted births worth, or a 1 per cent increase in pregnancy rate, or one-square-inch increase in rib eye area? This is the challenge with effectively using EPDs, while comparing their differences is straight forward, it becomes a complex formula when we consider all traits that matter for our market, how much they matter, and what their value to us is. This can be overwhelming and may be why many breeders resort to price, loyalty, and appearance when making a bull selection decision, but a cheaper bull is not always more profitable.

Many genetic solution providers are trying to simplify bull (and female) selection by providing selection indexes that do these calculations for us. AgSights’ BIO$ Economic Index, by combining across-breed EPDs (ABCs), their economic values, and their relative importance, predicts the expect profit for each bull. More custom selection index tools, such as AgSights’ Amplify, are becoming available that allow you to select the traits that matter to you and their relative importance, and the tool then brings in trait economic values to produce index values for each animal. Although these tools simplify the selection process it is important to understand what is occurring behind the scenes, to help build your trust and confidence in using these tools when reviewing the next sale catalogue. OB

SHORTHORN SPECIALTIES Maternal Power • Calf Vigour • Docility Pays

SHORTHORNS EXCEL • Mothering + Milk + Newborn Vitality = Best Possible Calf Start • Calm Cattle Gain Faster & Breed Back Faster (AI & Natural) • Calm Cattle Don’t Cause Injuries to You or Their Yard Mates

Use a Shorthorn Bull this Spring!

Check out Shorthorn bulls listed for sale at www.ontarioshorthorns.com/sales

David Banbury, President - 519-513-3962 email: drbanbury@gmail.com

Follow us on Facebook and check our website for current news at

www.ontarioshorthorns.com ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

37

CCA UPDATE National News Submitted by CCA Staff www.cattle.ca

W

ith the new year upon us, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is eager to make progress on the policy priorities that are important to Canada’s cattle producers as well as continuing to have conversations with Canadians on the link between cattle production and the environment.

Now that the 44th Parliament is in session, we have started to meet with Parliamentarians again. In early December, it was great to have CCA directors and staff on the Hill for in-person meetings and events to better understand the priorities of the current government and the opposition parties, as well as provide insights into how our priorities can support their goals and policies.

Canada’s economic recovery and climate change continue to be top of mind for everyone, as well as the Next Agricultural Policy Framework set to launch in 2023. Bringing strong recommendations forward to government for consideration is our focus over the next number of months. As negotiations on the next Framework proceed, it is our hope that a forward-looking framework is developed with an increased funding envelope and policies designed to foster a competitive business environment as well as tackle the impacts of climate change.

We have highlighted some of our key recommendations below.

Over the last number of years, the Canadian beef industry has increased efforts to share its stewardship story. We have the unique ability to deliver significant environmental services including carbon storage and sequestration, wildlife habitat preservation and flood resiliency. As government policies and the next Framework are developed, it is critical that policymakers recognize that agriculture, and particularly the beef production, play a significant role in meeting our climate change goals. Equally important is that environmental policies resonate with cattle producers as much as they do with government and the public.

Increasing investment into research and innovation is another pivotal policy consideration, as advancements in this area enhance our ability to be competitive, while supporting our stewardship and conservation efforts as primary producers. The opportunity for CCA

President, Bob Lowe, to address the agriculture ministers in November on this topic was a great avenue to begin discussions on our research priorities including renewing the Agri-Science Clusters and Projects programs, further encouraging industry and government applied research collaborations, and the need for predictable, long-term research funding commitments for both basic and applied research streams to help attract additional investments by the private sector.

We also cannot forget the importance of having sufficiently funded business risk management programs that are as market and production neutral as possible and delivered consistently across all jurisdictions in Canada. There are many risks beyond our control and having effective and equitable safety net programs can be the difference for many farmers, ranchers and feeders getting through inevitable difficult times.

This is particularly true for our younger producers who represent the future of Canadian agriculture.

As we look to the future, another important investment is in the next generation of our industry. CCA’s Cattlemen’s Young Leader’s (CYL) Mentorship Program applications are now open until March 31.

Mark your calendars! If you are interested in getting more involved in the Canadian beef industry, or know someone who would benefit from the CYL program, please encourage them to apply. To learn more about the program or download the application form, please visit cattlemensyoungleaders.com and look under “Apply”. Don’t miss your chance to get involved!

Lastly, Canada’s Agriculture Day is on February 22. CCA will be celebrating the stewardship practices undertaken by Canadian cattle producers by showcasing the 2021 national recipient of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA), along with the regional nominees. The Public and Stakeholder Engagement team will be approaching various media outlets to connect them via in-person or virtual interviews, so Canadians can get a glimpse into the care and commitment that is taken to raise cattle, while protecting and preserving the environment. We are also exploring opportunities to engage Canadians through social media channels such as Tik Tok. OB

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O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

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CANADA BEEF UPDATE

Canada Beef Launches Canadian Beef Information Gateway

By Gina Teel, Manager, Stakeholder Communications, Canada Beef

C

anada Beef is pleased to announce the launch of the Canadian Beef Information Gateway (Gateway), its most ambitious initiative to date.

The Gateway is dedicated to supporting the future growth of the Canadian cattle industry and an outstanding beef eating experience for customers in Canada and around the world.

Canada Beef recognizes the importance of keeping information accessible at key time points relating to beef purchases and preparation.

Consumers simply scan a Gateway QR or UPC code with a smartphone or tablet to access content that inspires them to try new beef cuts, recipes and preparation methods with confidence.

The launch of the first-phase of the Gateway showcases approximately 75 beef cuts organized into categories of Roasts, Steaks, Grounds and Other beef cuts. Each product has a digital profile that features essential information including recommended cooking methods, food safety and storage information, written recipes along with ‘hands-in-pans” instructional videos, nutritional information and shopping lists.

Canada Beef President Michael Young said the Gateway’s blend of convenience and technology will maximize the food basket for grocers, increase carcass utilization for producers and increase consumer satisfaction.

“Our goal is to enhance the customer experience and we intend to accomplish this through direct-to-consumer promotion and collaboration with retailers as well as other supply chain partners,” he said.

The first edition of the Gateway is designed for local retailers and those looking for quick-to-implement solutions. Future phases of the Gateway

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O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

will feature co-branded partnerships with national retail banners that incorporate customizable content. Canada Beef is actively engaged in talks with the grocery sector and continues to evolve the Gateway in response to the feedback received. A French version of the Gateway resources will be available later in 2022.

The launch of the first-phase of the Gateway comes as consumers continue to seek out new ways to enjoy Canadian beef including information on preparation methods and recipe ideas. As food costs increase, the mandate to deliver an outstanding eating experience continues to be of great importance to the sector. It also follows more than a year of innovation and collaborative effort at Canada Beef to develop a modern digital ecosystem that provides awareness of the versatility of Canadian beef with a goal to inspire a wider repertoire of beef choices more often.

Scan the code below using the camera on your smartphone to try the Gateway for yourself. Watch for ads in regional and national industry publications, as well as consumer publications from January to March including Canadian Living, Reader’s Digest, Chatelaine, Maclean’s magazine, Style at Home, House and Home, Western Living and Toronto Life.

Canada Beef recently provided support for Ontario-based Beretta Farms export expansion in Europe through the Export Market Development (EMD) Program.

Canada Beef’s EMD Program provides cost-shared funding support for eligible Canadian beef representative-company-initiated projects and activities with the goal of increasing Canadian beef export volumes and value.

Beretta Farms, whose main office is located in King City, Ontario owns and operates a federally inspected and export-approved processing facility in Lacombe, Alberta. They work with a network of partner ranches located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C., Manitoba and Ontario. Their beef brands include Beretta, Heritage Angus and Black Apron.

Canada Beef supported Beretta Farms as they invited their key beef importer and distributor clients in Europe to travel to Canada to visit their beef processing facility and partner ranches. Ten customers visited Canada on two separate trips during October and November 2021. The goal of these visits was to maintain and potentially expand existing markets for their beef products in Europe.

The reported outcomes of these visits included further development of customer relationships and the launch of a new weekly export program and beef brand to a new customer. This added additional products to their weekly product mix and both new and incremental beef export sales volumes and values.

“We are thankful for the support received from Canada Beef. The Export Market Development program helps us to effectively leverage funding available through Canada Beef and allows us to expand the promotion and marketing of our beef brands in both Europe and other export markets and helps grow our sales,” said Mike Beretta, President, Beretta Farms.

Canadian beef exports to the EU region year to date November are up 50 per cent in volume and 43 per cent in value from last year and is Canada’s highest value export market at $16.34/kg CAD. OB

Feeding the Calf Before it’s Born The Effects of Late Pregnancy Energy Supplementation on Colostrum Production and Cow-Calf Performance

By Emily Croft, Koryn Hare, Dr. Katie Wood, Dr. Michael Steele

F

eeding pregnant cows is a constantly evolving challenge faced by the beef industry. It is now well known that nutrition during pregnancy has the potential to influence the calf after it is born. This includes the final few months before calving. The cow’s energy requirements change rapidly due to exponential calf growth and udder development. Physical changes at this time, related to the growing calf in late gestation, begin to crowd the digestive tract, and can be a limiting factor in the capacity of the rumen and digestive tract. As a result, it may become difficult for the cow to consume and digest enough forage to meet the increased nutrient demands of late pregnancy, particularly if forage quality is low. The negative energy balance that could occur if the cow is unable to meet her nutrient requirements could have implications on the cow’s ability to maintain her own body reserves, as well as support her growing calf, both pre- and post-calving. This suggests there may be a benefit to providing supplemental energy in diets leading up to calving to may help meet the cow’s energy requirements.

A project led by Koryn Hare (PhD) and Emily Croft (MSc) under the supervision of Drs. Michael Steele and Katie Wood, set out to explore the effects of late pregnancy energy intake in beef cows. The experiment used 156 pregnant Angus-Simmental cows from the Ontario Beef Research Centre (University of Guelph, Ontario) were assigned to low, control, or high energy diets that provided 80 per cent, 100 per

Message from BFO’s Producer Relations Team

Robert McKinlay, Producer Relations Specialist As calving season approaches or is already upon us, the question of minimizing calf mortality and disease is on everyone’s minds. It is no secret that ensuring calves receive colostrum is key to the success of a calving season, but what if the colostrum that calf receives isn’t good enough? In our 2021 calving season our farm decided to adopt a new management practice to ensure colostrum quality for our calves. We used a brix refractometer to measure our colostrum quality and then followed up by using the same refractometer to measure immune cells present in the calves’ serum 48 hours after birth to measure the success of passive transfer of immune cells. We were able to collect colostrum samples from our dams and using the refractometer were able to supplement calves whose dams failed their colostrum quality test. We feel this tool gives us the opportunity to avoid further health problems caused by immunity compromised calves by allowing us the chance to rapidly correct poor colostrum quality. The brix refractometer is an inexpensive tool that is simple to use and will be in our calving kit in future years to help us maximize our calves’ immune transfer success.

Continued on page 44.

The BREED for all seasons.

Secretary • Ciaran Yool • 905-807-8185 • ciaranyool@gmail.com

www.easterncanadiangalloway.ca

42

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ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

43

Continued from page 42. – Feeding

the Calf Before it’s Born

cent or 120 per cent of their predicted energy requirements, respectively according to NDS formulation software. The cows were enrolled on these diets an average of 53 days before calving. We hypothesized that with the addition of a grain supplement to the 100 and 120 per cent diets we could correct any possible energy deficits resulting from physical changes to digestion and capacity for feed intake at this time. More specifically, the 120 per cent diet included whole corn, which may increase energy available to the cow. As a result, the inclusion of whole corn is expected to contribute more energy to support the growing calf and the development of the cow’s udder to prepare for colostrum production. By correcting these possible energy deficits, the cow should be able to protect her body reserves, support fetal growth, as well as colostrum yield and composition available for the calf. To assess the effects of the provided diets, cow and calf performance was followed from eight-weeks before due date to eight-weeks after calving.

Additionally, calves were followed to weaning.

The initial results of the study did not see any differences in cow weights or body condition score, and these diets fed for eightweeks before calving did not influence calf growth performance, including weaning weights or average daily gain from birth to weaning.

Despite no initial differences in calf performance, there are some benefits that may be seen from supplementing energy to cows during late pregnancy.

Ultrasound measurements of rib and rump fat depth before calving were found to have differences across treatments over time. This suggests that cows that were fed a high energy diet were mobilizing less fat than cows fed low energy, high forage diets leading up to calving. In addition, energy supplementation impacted colostrum production. The antibody IgG is important in the transfer of passive

*NEW for 2022* First-Come, First-Serve Basis

immunity from the cow to the calf and was lower in concentration in the colostrum of cows fed the high energy diet. However, the total mass of IgG produced, and the total yield of colostrum was also greater.

Supplementation of energy during late pregnancy may offer benefits to producers looking to spare cow condition leading up to calving, or those who are looking to improve their colostrum management for young calves. Future analysis will investigate the effects of late pregnancy energy provision on cow metabolism. Current research at the Ontario Beef Research Centre looks to identify the most appropriate time during pregnancy to begin supplementation of energy to pregnant beef cows. These further analyses may demonstrate that supplementing energy to pregnant cows in the months before calving is a useful nutritional tool for cow-calf producers. OB

RIVER POINT Cattle Co.

Reed & Jane Crawford Reed Cell:519-857-7333 Jane Cell:519-317-5263

riverpointcc@hotmail.com www.riverpointcattlecompany.com

All bulls will have Complete Breeding Soundness Examinations performed (Semen Test, Scrotal Measurement & Examination).

Horn/Polled tests & Homo Black tests are done on Simmentals. Free board on bulls until May 15th. Don’t hesitate, contact us to view the bulls.

For Shorthorns Contact: Gord Crawford 519-870-2396 44

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

Other inquiries: Rex Crawford 519-940-1748 All information can be viewed at: www.riverpointcattlecompany.com

Advantage : ger in a n Ma Colv 75 s e ic hton 57-67 om v r Se As 9) 3 il.c r be 51 a@gma ( Mem l: os Cel ices. v ser r e b mem

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

45

FARM & FOOD CARE ONTARIO A Year in Review

By Amber Anderson, Communications Manager, Farm & Food Care Ontario

W

ith the ongoing COVID-19 realities of 2021, Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) continued to reimagine many of its traditional outreach programs and create new opportunities to engage with consumers both online and through in person events that took pandemic protocols in place. With large followings on social media and strong website platforms, FFCO was able to expand its outreach, making 2021 a remarkably successful year, despite the complicated circumstances.

livestock responder with significant expertise in this area. In 2021, new video content was filmed featuring a livestock trailer being cut apart, as would be done in an accident scenario. This has added significantly to the course which covers the factors that are important to the decision-making processes for accidents involving livestock trailers, including trailer design and the implications for extrication points, animal behavior, laws and regulations, euthanasia protocols, and how to develop response teams.

Training and Workshops

The Real Dirt on Farming

FFCO supports member groups, farmers and the broader agricultural industry through a variety of speaker services and training. In 2021, this included 36 presentations and 12 virtual Speak Up and media training courses designed to help participants effectively engage with the public or media.

Other virtual training sessions focused on activist-related issues and providing advice on how to protect farm properties from unwanted visitors. FFCO continues to support its members on issues related to animal activism and, in 2021, created Animal Protection Zone signage on behalf of its livestock members for distribution across the province.

Six virtual training courses focusing on responses to livestock emergencies including truck rollovers were held for 60 first responders both in northern Ontario and across southwestern Ontario. These courses are run by FFCO staff in partnership with Victor MacPherson, a

The fifth edition of The Real Dirt on Farming received several industry communications awards in 2021. From the Canadian Agricultural Marketing Awards, the publication received a Best of CAMA in the category of Company or Industry-Funded Marketing Tactic Directed at the General Public. It was also recognized with two prestigious gold awards presented by the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation (CFWF).

The Real Dirt on Farming was supported by commodity groups and agribusinesses across Canada and covers topics such as the relationship between grazing animals and the environment and careers in the agri-food sector. 32 career profiles are featured, including two beef farmers and a beef researcher. A new, interactive website (www.

RealDirtonFarming.ca) provides opportunities for digital learning and content sharing.

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O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

Sire of the black bulls Owen Martin 4550 Ament Line, Wallenstein Ont. N0B 2S0 C. 519-501-2207 E. owenmartin4550@gmail.com

A supplementary Teachers’ Guide created in partnership with Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC) was distributed in 2021 to AITC partner groups across Canada.

In addition, the magazine has been shared with Ontario MPPs and municipal leaders, MPs and Senators from across the country, and was distributed through Post Media newspapers to homes across the country.

winter webinars on topics related to food labelling, the effect of COVID-19 on the foodservice sector and international food trends. In November, FFCO again partnered with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to host a virtual version of the annual Food & Nutrition Forum and connect with 215 attendees from the same target audience. Topics included reducing food waste, agricultural sustainability and a panel discussion on agricultural migrant workers.

FarmFood360°

Virtual Food & Farm Field Trips

With teachers and students continuing online learning in 2021 and agricultural organizations seeking to connect with consumers virtually, www.FarmFood360.ca welcomed a million visitors to 22 farms and food processing facilities in 2021, joining the beef farm tour that was developed in partnership with BFO and released in the winter of 2021.

In February of 2022, a new educator resource will be available on the website to accommodate requests from many teachers across Canada wondering how they can use the VR site in their classroom teachings.

FFCO and AgScape continued a successful partnership 2021, offering a series of 26 livestreamed farm tours which reached a staggering audience of 269,000. These field trips gave viewers, including students and teachers, to connect with farmers in real-time.

FFCO and AgScape will continue to offer these tours throughout 2022.

Breakfast From the Farm Working with partners at the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers and Carp Fair, the Lindsay Exhibition and the Western Fair District in London, three drive-through Breakfast on the Farm events gave 1,000 carloads of families the chance to meet Ontario farmers and see livestock, crop and equipment displays up close. At the end of each event, they received a breakfast bag full of local, Ontario products like beef jerky, eggs, milk, fruits and vegetables, cheese, bacon or sausage and more to make their own breakfasts at home.

Virtual Food & Nutrition Forum FFCO again used the virtual space to connect with its target audience of food influencers. Working with Farm & Food Care offices in Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island, the groups hosted three

Faces Behind Food Faces Behind Food continues to highlight the diversity of people and career opportunities within the Canadian agri-food system. A total of 104 people were profiled in 2021 including several butchers working at Ontario retail stores, both the Leblond family and country music singer/beef farmer Bonita Mercer of northern Ontario, the Eby family of Kincardine and the Wooddisse family of Palmerston.

Farm Animal Care Helpline The Farm Animal Care Helpline is a confidential service that allows concerned farmers and community members to report situations where they feel farm animals require better care, or where farmers themselves can call should they require help. FFCO received 13 calls in 2021, and worked with farmers, experienced staff and commodity groups to investigate reports. The helpline is operated in partnership with all major commodity organizations, including BFO. OB

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47

RESEARCH UPDATE

Beef at Guelph Will Make it Easier, Faster to Access Research Results

By Lilian Schaer for the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation

G

etting research results into the hands of producers and others in the industry who can use them is a leading goal of any research program.

A new initiative by the University of Guelph and supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is designed to make it easier for the beef industry to do just that. Beef at Guelph was unveiled at the 2022 virtual Beef Symposium and hopes to mirror the success of the Dairy at Guelph and Soils at Guelph programs.

“We want to get research results into the hands of producers in a medium they can use so that the information is more accessible,” says Dr. Jessica Gordon, a veterinarian and assistant professor at the Ontario Veterinary College. “Beef at Guelph will also connect everyone on campus involved in beef research, which will put us in a better position to access more funding and collaboratively work towards the same goals.”

Gordon has been working with Dr. Katie Wood, associate professor in Guelph’s Department of Animal Biosciences, and OMAFRA beef cattle specialist Megan Van Schaik on the project.

According to Wood, research results from Guelph are being released in the form of published journal articles or reports to funding agencies, but the industry has lacked a single, centralized spot where all the information is available in an easy to use way.

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O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

The team has launched the Beef at Guelph website, beefguelph.ca, which will serve as the hub for information about beef research activities.

“Although we report on our research results to a variety of different funding bodies, it’s not always easy for a farmer to find out about the projects that are happening right here in Ontario. Now they’ll be able to come to this new site,” Wood says. “It will also help with promotion and recognition of our talented researchers to have all this information available under the Beef at Guelph brand.”

In addition to featuring Ontario beef research, the goal is also to help to bring together research from other parts of Canada with information about how those results can be interpreted or adapted for production systems common to Eastern Canada, including for producers with smaller herd sizes. Highlights of the most relevant material will be shared through Beef at Guelph’s newsletter.

“This is where we will frame things in an Ontario perspective by taking resources that are out there already and interpreting what’s important and how to adapt to Ontario environment,” Gordon says.

“We want to remove those barriers and make research done elsewhere applicable to Ontario.”

The project first got off the ground just before the start of the pandemic, but it wasn’t until last summer that work resumed in earnest as the new Ontario Beef Research Centre at the University of Guelph’s Elora site was nearing completion.

“We want to increase the profile of beef research at the University of Guelph, and that includes making sure that producers can use the work that we are doing and that there’s greater connectivity between researchers and the industry,” says Wood. “We have a beautiful new world-class barn to help showcase the work we are doing as well, so the timing is right for this.”

Gordon, Wood and Van Schaik have worked collaboratively with others in the beef industry, including Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Beef Cattle Research Council, to ensure Beef at Guelph complements instead of duplicating existing outreach efforts.

An advisory board will be set up with industry representation.

Gordon and Wood encourage producers to sign up for Beef at Guelph’s newsletter and provide feedback on the type of information and delivery options, from e-news and media articles to Twitter and presentation, they most prefer.

“Producer dollars fund a lot of research, so it’s really important to have awareness on both sides,” Wood says.

Find Beef at Guelph online: Web: beefguelph.ca; Twitter: @beefguelph; or YouTube: BeefGuelph OB This article is provided by Livestock Research Innovation Corporation as part of LRIC’s ongoing efforts to report on research developments and outcomes, and issues affecting the Canadian livestock industry.

FOCUS ON HERD HEALTH Neonatal Calf Diarrhea on Your Farm

By Daniel Pecoskie, DVM, Metzger Veterinary Services

W

inter calving season is well underway, meaning that spring calving is not far off. Even with the best intentions for prevention, issues with calf diarrhea can run away on you. As you scour the internet for recommendations, do not forget to reach out to your local veterinarian for advice. There are many important factors to consider when developing a thorough calf diarrhea prevention plan.

However, it is important to consider one concept: Timing. Below are some factors to consider in your plan to approach scouring calves:

Pathogens – When does diarrhea occur?

There are many bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can be involved separately, or together, causing diarrhea and sick calves. Below is a chart listing the most common causes of diarrhea in young calves, and the timeframe during which they commonly cause diarrhea: CAUSE OF DIARRHEA

AGE OF ONSET

E. coli

< 4 days

Rotavirus

4 – 21 days

Coronavirus

4 – 21 days

Cryptosporidium spp.

5 – 28+ days

Salmonella spp.

5 – 28+ days

Nutritional

(any time)

Coccidia spp.

21+ days

There are certainly exceptions to the chart above. Commonly scours occurring within the first few days of life are bacterial in origin, and should respond to fluid therapy, with antibiotic intervention if necessary. Other scours, such as those caused by coccidiosis, occur later in the growing period. Therefore, the timing in which we manage these scours comes in later.

Prevention – When is the optimal time to protect my calves?

Prevention decisions depend on the risk status of your herd, the number of first-time heifers versus mature cows, your previous experiences with neonatal diarrhea, amongst other factors. There are

many options for prevention that can be implemented depending on how and when you process your herd.

Bred heifers and cows can be vaccinated against rotavirus, coronavirus, E. coli, and Clostridium bacteria species in the form of scour vaccines. In the first year, these vaccines need to be given, and then boostered, a few weeks apart in pregnant cattle. These vaccines are given to heifers and cows in the one to three months leading up to calving. In subsequent years, a single annual revaccination pre-calving is all that is required. These vaccines help to stimulate antibodies in the colostrum of the cows, to pass on to their calves. In that sense, it becomes very important that calves receive an adequate volume of high-quality colostrum in the first six to twelve hours of life so that the scour vaccines can be optimally effective.

Other producers prefer to give scour prevention products directly to day-old calves. There are many options that, similar to colostrum, need to be given to a calf in the first 24-hours of life to be effective. Ask your veterinarian for more information on these products.

Later in the growing period, scour prevention against coccidiosis can be addressed using orally-administered preventative drugs at one-week of age, or by offering a medicated ration as a creep feed for growing calves.

Treatment – When, and how, should I treat with fluid therapy?

Calves showing signs of scours will have some degree of dehydration. All calves can benefit from drinking enough to replace the fluid they are losing from diarrhea. Some calves continue to drink milk and do not require significant intervention. However, most calves require supplemental bottles of electrolytes, to replace vitamins, minerals, and ions lost in diarrhea. Electrolytes can either be suckled from a bottle or tubed directly into the stomach. Milk should still be offered to dehydrated calves, as they require the fat, sugars, and protein from milk to help heal their damaged guts. Milk should be offered as a separate feeding to electrolytes, not mixed together. In severely dehydrated calves, intravenous fluids may need to be given directly into the vein. In the chart below, the degree of dehydration is outlined as a percentage. In calves experiencing 8 per cent dehydration or higher, fluid therapy directly into the vein is often Continued on page 50.

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49

CHECK-OFF DEDUCTION REMITTANCE FORM Every cattle seller (including sales by private treaty) is required under Regulation 54 of the Beef Cattle Marketing Act (BCMA) to pay a $4.50 per head Ontario license fee and a $1.00 per head national levy, for a total of a $5.50 per head check-off. Breeding stock, cull dairy cows, and beef calves are included. Exemptions exist only for cattle sold for the production of milk and veal. Fees are payable by the 15th of the month following deduction. Please note: Licenced Livestock Dealers who sell cattle within seven business days of having purchased them may apply for a rebate with proper documentation.

Firm or Individual Producer Reporting

Forward cheque payable to the Beef Farmers of Ontario with this report. Please retain one copy for your files.

HST Registration No: Period Covered by this Report: a) Number of Head Sold:

Finished:

Stocker:

Breeding Stock Females:

Culls:

Breeding Stock Bulls:

Calves:

I declare that this information represents a true and accurate statement of check-off deductions required to be made under Regulation 54 of the BCMA and the Canadian Beef Cattle Research Market Development and Promotion Agency.

b) Total BFO Check-off ($5.50xa)

Date:

c) HST on BFO Check-off (bx13%)

Signature:

d) Total Amount Owing (b+c)

Print Name: Mail to: Beef Farmers of Ontario 130 Malcolm Road Guelph, Ontario N1K 1B1

Address:

HST# R107797128

!

Continued from page 49. – Focus

on Herd Health

environment and the concentration of disease-causing pathogens.

Manure management, cow-calf movement, and clean, dry bedding required, and the calf may be unwilling to rise. The table can be used are crucial for reducing diarrhea in young calves. By knowing the to assess how dehydrated your scouring calves are: expected calving period, and the number of pregnant cows, you can plan ahead to manage your calving pens.

You will be able to bed the pens to provide HOW LONG MUCOUS a dry calving area, and know when you DEGREE OF EYES SUNKEN PINCHED MEMBRANES MENTATION SUCKLE need to move older cow-calf pairs out of DEHYDRATION INTO HEAD SKIN ON NECK (GUMS, (ATTITUDE) RESPONSE the maternity/calving pens to make room STAYS TENTED NOSTRILS…) for new calves. Managing the cow-calf < 5% Not noticeable Not noticeable Moist Bright and Alert Present pairs in smaller groups will help reduce Mildly tacky/ the shedding of pathogens in the manure, 5-7% Slight < 5 seconds Quiet and Alert Present sticky which can help to reduce calf scours overall.

Mildly 8-9% < 5mm > 5 seconds Tacky Decreased By understanding the timing of depressed pathogens, prevention protocols, Skin stays Severely treatment intervention, and environment 10-12% > 5mm Dry Absent tented depressed management, we can reduce the severity of diarrhea cases and help to address Environment – When are my expected calving dates? scours efficiently. For more specific protocols for the prevention and As much as medical prevention and treatment come into play, one treatment of neonatal calf diarrhea, work with your veterinarian to of the biggest factors to consider is the cleanliness of the calving develop a plan that suits your farm and your cattle. OB

50

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

MARKET REPORTING B E E F

F A R M E R S

O F

O N T A R I O

Providing Timely Market Reporting for Ontario’s Beef Farmers The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) provides a timely market reporting service for Ontario beef farmers and industry stakeholders. Information is provided primarily by Ontario beef farmers, auction markets, the DTN service and Canfax.

There are a number of ways to access this popular information!

WEBSITE - Extensive market information can be found on BFO’s website at www.ontariobeef.com. Noon reports, daily reports, weekly reports, individual auction market reports and much more can all be accessed under Market Information. Statistical information can be found under Industry - Statistics.

EMAIL - Daily and weekly reports are distributed every day by our Market Information Coordinator. If you would like to receive these reports in your inbox, email a request to markets@ontariobeef.com.

PHONE - Pre-recorded market information can be accessed by phone where

two reports are updated daily. Call our office at 1.866.370.2333 and ask for ext.

301 for the noon report (updated daily by 12:30pm) or ask for ext. 300 for the daily report (updated daily by 4:30pm). This recorded information can also be accessed outside of regular office hours.

FAX - Daily and weekly reports can be faxed. If you would like to receive these reports by fax, contact our Market Information Coordinator with your fax number by calling 1.866.370.2333 ext. 235.

MAIL - Weekly reports can be mailed. If you would like to receive these reports by mail, contact our Market Information Coordinator with your complete mailing address by calling 1.866.370.2333 ext. 235.

www.ontariobeef.com ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

51

MARKET INFORMATION UPDATE

By Jamie Gamble, BFO Market Information Coordinator markets@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

T

he Ontario railgrade market took a stronger turn the second half of 2021 and held on to the higher pricing. From June to November, prices rallied between $260.00-$270.00 dressed and climbed another $10.00 in December and is holding steady at $290.00 at time of reporting in mid-January. The annual average rail steer price for 2021 was $258.14 which is the third highest recorded, following only 2014 and 2015. The second half of 2021, Ontario was trading on a positive basis to Alberta and was stronger than U.S. prices for the majority of 2021.

Federal processing volumes in Ontario are currently sitting at 608,496 head for 2021, noting numbers are preliminary and could increase as final volumes become available. 2021 is up 6.5 per cent from 2020 volumes, down 2.2 per cent from 2019, down 1.3 per cent from 2018, up 2.5 per cent from 2017 and 7.6 per cent higher than 2016 volumes. On a provincial level, processing volumes in 2021 are sitting at 83,273 head with December stats not included.

This volume is up 5.9 per cent from 2020, up 15.9 per cent from 2019, up 20.3 per cent from 2018, up 17.6 per cent from 2017 and 17.4 per cent higher than 2016.

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Carcass weights in the beginning of 2021 were record high for a short period of time and were above normal for the first half of the year as backlogs of cattle were worked through. Weights really did not fall below the seasonal norm until fall when soaring feed prices kept feedlots current. In fact, Ontario carcass weights have been below the last two years and the five-year average for the last quarter of 2021 and are starting out 2022 approximately 10-20 pounds below January 2021. The 2021 annual steer carcass weight is tied with 2016 for the largest weight at 957 pounds, which is also the largest annual weight since data collection began in 1997. The average Canadian steers carcass weight in 2021 was 920 pounds down just 1 pound from 2016 and the second largest annual average since data collection began.

Beef production in Canada was up 6.1 per cent in 2021 from 2020 and 7.4 per cent higher than 2019 in tonnage and is the largest volume of produced beef in this data set. As for the east, beef production in 2021 was up 6.1 per cent from 2020 and 1 per cent higher than in 2019. While Ontario has seen beef production volumes increase and dip back, then increase again over the last six years, Alberta and Canadian volumes have increased steadily.

Fed cattle exports to the U.S. through Ontario ports in 2021 were down 7.8 per cent from 2020 and 10.8 per cent fewer than 2019. In 2021 the stronger Canadian dollar coupled with ample U.S. supplies, put pressure on the demand for Canadian cattle. The demand for cull cows was least affected.

2021 saw slightly fewer cows sell through auction markets this year over 2020, noting a slight decline in beef cows and small increase in dairy breeds. For the most part, beef cow volumes going to market have been fairly steady for the last three years while dairy cow volumes have increased lightly year over year for the last three years. Beef cows sold on a better market this year with prices trading stronger than the last two years for all of 2021.

Stocker and feeder cattle volumes sold through Ontario auction markets in 2021 totaled 237,298 head, which is the lowest number in the last 21 years, followed closely by 2015 at 242,673 head and 2018 at 243,834 head. Steers 900 pounds plus and heifers 800 pounds plus, were stronger in the last quarter of 2021 and held well above the previous two years and the five-year average. Most other weight categories were below 2020 prices but above 2019 and the five-year average. Record high feed prices and drought conditions in many areas put pressure on the light weight cattle prices and during the drought many hard-hit areas had limited to no demand. OB

Continued on page 54.

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

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Continued from page 53. – Market

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Info

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

BEEF EXPORTS - CANADA

United States

Mexico

Jan. 1 - Nov. 30, ‘21 % Change Total

329,691 tonnes

Jan. 1 - Nov. 30, ‘21 % Change

+15%

21,558 tonnes

Japan

China

Jan. 1 - Nov. 30, ‘21 Total

56,151 tonnes

+74%

Jan. 1 - Nov. 30, ‘21

+51%

19,012 tonnes

+99%

BEEF PRODUCTION - CANADA

Jan. 1 - Jan. 1 ‘22

Last Year Same Time

Fed

1,130,296 tonnes

1,065,433 tonnes

% Change +6%

Non-fed

155,336 tonnes

140,421 tonnes

+11%

BEEF IMPORTS - CANADA

Jan. 1, ‘21 - Jan. 1, ‘22

Last Year Same Time

% Change

US

102,912 tonnes

111,127 tonnes

-7%

Non-NAFTA

31,178 tonnes

52,659 tonnes

-41%

EU-28 (beef/veal total) 15,061 tonnes

15,713 tonnes

-4%

191,598 tonnes

-15%

Total

162,002 tonnes

LIVE CATTLE - CANADA IMPORTS

EXPORTS

Jan. 1 - Nov. 30, ‘21

Jan. 1 - Dec. 11, ‘21

Purebred

15,189

Non-Purebred

372,622 Feeder steers & heifers

EXPORTS % Change

Slaughter steers & heifers 429,606

Cows & bulls

-7%

135,696

+20%

35,632

-12%

LIVE CATTLE EXPORTS - ONTARIO

Week ending Jan. 1, ‘22 Week ending Dec. 25, ‘21 Year to Date

Total to US.

1,665

2,156

114,502

Steers, Heifers, Cows 1,515

2,079

107,017

77

7,485

Bulls

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ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

55

CALENDAR

Ontario Beef Industry Events February 20 - Elm Tree and Ferme Forbell Online Simmental Bull Sale.

March 19 - Fully Loaded Limousin Bull Sale (online)

April 9 - Annual Meeting (virtual), Ontario Hereford Association

February 23 - Beck McCoy Annual Bull Sale, Maidstone, Saskatchewan.

March 19 - Rollin Acres-Whiskey Hollow 12th Annual Charolais Bull Sale, Hanover

April 10 - O’Shea Farms Hereford On-Farm Open House and Tag Sale, Denfield

February 23-24 - BFO’s 2022 Virtual Annual General Meeting. Visit www.ontariobeef.com to register.

March 26 - Clarke Family Farms Inc. Angus and Simmental Bull and Female Sale, Blenheim

April 16 - Cedardale Charolais Bull Sale, Nestleton.

Februay 26 - Galten Land and Livestock Angus Open House and Private Treaty Sale, Port Perry

March 26 - Cornerview Charolais Bull Sale, Cobden March 28 - In the Know Workshop, 1:00pm – 5:00pm. Visit www.ontariobeef.com to register.

March 4 - M&L Cattle Company Complete Charolais Dispersal Sale, Indian River.

March 10 - Annual Meeting (virtual), Ontario Simmental Association March 12 - Blackbern Whitewater Kirlene Charolais Bull Sale, Cobden March 16 - In the Know Workshop, 11:00am - 3:00pm. Visit www.ontariobeef.com to register.

May 13 - Preston and Terry Cull’s Annual Bred Heifer Sale, Douglas Due to the continued COVID-19 situation, many beef farmers have chosen to hold online and private sales. Please be sure to check out their ads in this edition of ONTARIO BEEF.

April 2 - Saunders Charolais 17th Annual Charolais Bull Sale and Futures’ One 12th.

Annual Simmental Bull Sale, Keady April 2 - Source For Quality Simmental, Angus and Hereford Bull Sale, Indian River April 2 - 24th Open House and Private Treaty Sale, Smart Limousin, Meaford

BEEF BUSINESS LEADERS HAMMER MILLS FOR RENT Call today for all your feed processing needs.

AgRig • Moorefield, Ontario • Ed Koster Jr. • 519-501-3624

Since 1973

BLUE MOUNTAINS FARM

BAR 5 STOCK FARMS Ron Sr. & Carla Nolan (905) 330-5299

Greg Nolan (416) 616-8834

NOLAN ANGUS FARMS

WHITTON-BROOK FARMS

Ron Jr. & Mike Nolan (416) 993-3218 / (519) 803-0555 WWW.BAR5.COM OFFICE: (519) 986-1330

Mitch & Brooke Whitton (647) 297-1517 WWW.ARTISANFARMS.CA

OFFICE: (905) 670-3450

636077 EUPHRASIA-HOLLAND TOWNLINE RR #3 MARKDALE, ON, N0C 1H0

Bar 5 Stock Farms Ron Sr. & Carla Nolan Mobile: (905) 330-5299 Office: (519) 986-1330

www.bar5.com

Advertise in

BEEF BUSINESS LEADERS Very reasonable rates! Deadline for May 2022 issue is April 15.

Call 519-763-8833 for information

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BOOMER

CREEK LIVESTOCK

636077 Euphrasia-Holland Townline RR #3 Markdale, ON, N0C 1H0

Owen Martin 4550 Ament Line Wallenstein Ont. N0B 2S0 C. 519-501-2207 E. owenmartin4550@gmail.com

Purebred Red & Black Simmentals

GENETICS

Quality Proven Fleckvieh Simmental Breeding Stock

Bulls and Heifers FOR SALE. DNA verified for carcass and feed efficiency.

Ross & Betty Small & Family R.R.#3 Harriston ON N0G 1Z0

Tel: 519-338-2077 • 1-800-461-3504 • Email: doraleegenetics1@sonicwaves.ca See our new website: www.doraleegenetics.com

R.R #5 HOARDS STATION Campbellford, Ontario SALE BARN Dave DeNure 705-653-3660 • Auction Sale Since 1949 • Sale Every Tuesday 12 p.m.

• Three Rings – Beef, Dairy, Pigs • Quinte Cattlemen’s Stocker Sales • Spring and Fall Member of O.L.A.M.A

M i ller La n d & Li vesto c k

Charolais Bulls, Hay, Straw, Feedlot George & Dianne, Dwayne, Ashley and Cowal Miller RR 1, Jarvis, ON N0A 1J0

Ph (519) 587-2755

Cell (519) 429-5902

BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO PRIVACY STATEMENT

The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of producers’ personal information in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Subscribers to Ontario Beef magazine, the official publication of the Beef Farmers of Ontario, do so on a voluntary basis. By subscribing, subscribers are consenting to have their contact information used for the purposes of receiving the magazine and developing an BFO mailing list.

This mailing list will be used for the distribution of the BFO magazine.

The BFO will not sell, trade or otherwise share its Ontario Beef mailing list under any circumstances. A service may be provided whereby items are submitted to the BFO and mailed internally with the magazine but all materials must be approved by and acceptable to the BFO. In rare instances where external, non-commercial organizations, like the provincial or federal government, wish to use the Ontario Beef mailing list to distribute information, the government must provide their mailing materials in a finished format to BFO and/or its mailing house.

BFO will then coordinate the mailing, at the requesting organization’s cost, thus maintaining confidentiality of the list. In cases where the BFO may commission a mailing, the company providing the service is required to sign a mandatory confidentiality agreement.

Subscribers to the Ontario Beef mailing list who wish to have their names removed, should call 519-824-0334 or email bethany@ontariobeef.com. Please allow 15 business days to allow us to update our records accordingly.

BFO’s complete privacy statement, covering areas of information including the electronic update system, Website, membership list and market information can be viewed on its Website at http://www.ontariobeef.com/privacy.asp

Commercial Angus Purebred Red Angus Purebred Black Angus Purebred Hereford

The Seed Family • Greg: 705-648-4274 seesonranch@outlook.com

ONTARIO MAINE-ANJOU ASSOCIATION

Q: Where’s the Beef?

A: It’s in MAINE-ANJOU Offspring

We have both Red and Black Breeding Stock AVAILABLE to help improve your Weaning Weights and Carcass Quality.

Silver Springs Farms

SUNRISE ANGUS

James & Joan McKinlay R.R. 1, Ravenna, Ontario N0H 2E0 Tel: 519-599-6236 jmckinlay@bmts.com

Breeders of Quality Cattle Simmental • Red Angus • F1 Crosses

SILVERTIP

322 Burt Road St. George, Ontario N0E 1N0

Pete Coleman

Garry & Sheila Smart

“Industry Accepted since 1978”

Bulls and females sold private treaty Consigning to Bluewater Angus Sale in October

Joel & Irene Thomas • 477285 3rd Line Melancthon ON L9V 1T5

Phone: 519 925 5661• Cell: 519 940 1258 Email: sunriseangus@xplornet.ca

HUGH MACNEIL

519-861-2722 hugh.macneil@outlook.com

Brantford, ON

(since 1995)

Purebred Black Angus Cattle

SPECKLE PARK

Embryos and Live Cattle for sale.

8400 Huntington Road, Vaughan, ON 1-877-856-SEED (7333) • Fax: 905-856-7509

Andy Millar

109 Bulmer’s Rd. • R.R.#2 Fenelon Falls • ON K0M 1N0 • Tel: 705-887-5142

jennalperry07@gmail.com

Where Quality Counts

CHAROLAIS BULLS FOR SALE • Double Polled • Low Birth weights • Quiet Disposition • Well grown and ready to go to work

845040 Morrow Rd, New Liskeard Ontario, P0J 1P0

Contact: OMAA Secretary: Jenna Perry 613-449-1719 or Facebook

Cell: 519-865-3453 pete.bridgeview@gmail.com www.qualityseeds.ca

Sunny Meadows Charolais

137606 Grey Rd. 12, RR # 2, Meaford, Ontario N4L 1W6 Phone: 519-538-4877 Cell: 519-372-7459 smartlimo@bmts.com www.smartlimousin.com

Breeding Stock Available at All Times.

P: 519-760-0892 E: uspecs@roievents.ca FB: UNDERHILL SPECS

Performance live/frozen genetics available!

WAYDAMAR SIMMENTALS

Simmental Bulls is our Business & Heifers that can Produce them

Black & Reds • Performance • Ultrasound Tested

Contact: Dave: 519-375-0122 Josh: 519-362-5373 • Grant: 519-387-0429

Wright’s 8669 Concession 6 Listowel, ON N4W 3G8

Gates, Hutches, Fencing, Scales, Chutes & More

sales@steelheadag.com • 519-266-6877 • www.steelheadag.com

R.R#1, #402144 Hanover, ON N4N 3B8 Tel: 519-369-3658

Carl Wright Cell: 519-369-7489 Ben Wright Cell: 519-374-3335 Laurie Wright Ofc: 519-369-3658

ON TAR IO BEEF • FEBR U A RY 2022

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WELLNESS ON THE FARM

By Lindsay Bebbington, Program Manager, In the Know

Upcoming In the Know Workshops I

n the Know is a free, four-hour mental health literacy workshop created specifically to educate the agricultural community. Designed to fit with farmers/producers’ schedules, it distills critical information and incorporates agricultural community culture.

An evaluation of In the Know found participants increased their mental health knowledge and confidence in recognizing mental health struggles, speaking about mental health, and helping others who are struggling. Spearheaded by Dr. Briana Hagen and Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton of the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph, and a stakeholder team from farming and mental health backgrounds, In the Know aims to build mental health knowledge and increase help-seeking among farmers.

In the Know is meant for farmers, producers and persons with whom they have regular contact, including family members, peers

BULLS & HEIFERS FOR SALE

An outstanding group of bulls, open heifers and bred heifers are on offer from the Limousin industry’s leading sires.

Don’t be disappointed – call today to arrange a private viewing or discuss the sale offering.

Please Join Us:

and allies in the agricultural industry such as veterinarians, breeders, seed or feed salespeople, financial institutions, accountants or other community members. The course provides education on topics such as stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and how to start a conversation around mental well-being.

BFO is pleased to offer two (2) In the Know mental health literacy workshops in March 2022. These workshops will both be held virtually, with hopes that we will be able to help facilitate some in-person workshops later in the year. The beauty of virtual this time around though is that your location doesn’t matter! The workshops are open to beef farmers, their families and anyone supporting beef farmers across Ontario.

Each virtual workshop has a limit of 20 participants so be sure to reserve your spot early!

Workshop #1 Wednesday, March 16, 2022 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (with a lunch break!)

24th ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE AND PRIVATE TREATY SALE

Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 • 10:00am to 5:00pm • At the Farm

Follow us on Facebook (smartlimousin).

And check our website for videos and sale catalogue.

Garry & Sheila Smart 137606 Grey Rd. 12, RR#2 • Meaford, Ontario N4L 1W6 Cell: 519-372-7459 (Garry) • 519-379-4877 (Sheila) smartlimo@bmts.com “Industry Accepted since 1978”

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www.smartlimousin.com

O N T A R I O B E E F • F E BRUARY 2 0 2 2

Workshop #2 Monday, March 28, 2022 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. (there will be a break!)

To register, please visit ontariobeef.com/ services/wellness-on-the-farm.aspx or contact Jenn or Beth at the BFO office.

To learn more about In the Know, contact Lindsay Bebbington, In the Know Program Manager, lbebbington@ontario.cmha.ca, or visit ontario.cmha.ca/intheknow. OB In the Know was developed at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and is offered through CMHA branches in Ontario with support from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The Project is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

ROLLIN' ACRES | WHISKEY HOLLOW

ANNUAL 12TH CHAROLAIS BULL SALE

YOUR SOURCE FOR FULL FRENCH & FRENCH INFLUENCE CHAROLAIS

MAPLE HILL AUCTIONS | HANOVER, ON | 2pm

THIRD SATURDAY OF MARCH Chester & Karla Tupling ROLLIN’ ACRES | 705-627-0672 Gord & Shauneen Tomlinson WHISKEY HOLLOW | 705-931-5436 Colin Montroy | 519-939-0561 Carl Wright AUCTIONEER | 519-369-7489