The Gelbvieh Guide Fall 2021

CDN PUB Agreement # 40012883

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FALL 2021 • VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 3

In this issue...

President’s Report Office Memo Gelbvieh Association of AB/BC News Man/Sask Gelbvieh Assoc. News Coming Events Advertiser Index

8 9 10 11 44 45

Feature articles...

Gelbvieh - How it all Began 16 Vaccine Usage in Western Canadian Cow/calf Herds 20 Maternally Yours 30 Stretching feed Supplies 34 culling Strategies 38

Advertising Deadlines/ Publication Dates Spring - January 1 / February 1 - Herd Sire Issue Summer - May 1 / June 1 - Member Directory Fall - September 1 / October 1 - Commercial Issue

Nothing better than fat cows heading in to winter weather.

Lonesome Dove Ranch

The official publication of the

CANADIAN GELBVIEH ASSOCIATION 5160 Skyline Way N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 6V1 Phone: (403) 250-8640 Fax: (403) 291-5624 Email: gelbvieh@gelbvieh.ca

www.gelbvieh.ca

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Provincial Association Representatives to the CGA Board of Directors Gelbvieh Association of Alberta/BC

CANADIAN GELBVIEH A S S O C I AT I O N

per formance production profit

Directors

President - Jessica Pearson Box 589, Calmar, AB T0C 0V0 780-297-2352 jessica.andruchow@yahoo.ca

Secretary: Lorna Okell Box 627, Duchess, AB T0J 0Z0 Phone: 403-378-4898 jenty@eidnet.org

President

Aaron Birch Box 97 Parkbeg, SK S0H 3K0 Phone: 403-485-5518 aaron@tbfarms.ca Vice President

Bev Milne

Man-Sask Gelbvieh Association Representative - Cynthia Wirgau Box 25 Narcisse, MB R0C 2H0 204.278.3255 maplegrovegelbvieh@gmail.com

President - Ian Thackeray Box 1002 Weyburn, SK S4H 2L0 306-861-7687 tgfis@sasktel.net

Box 1573 Fairview, AB Phone: 780-835-2645 milneranch@live.ca

James Jasper Box 24 Hartney, MB R0M 0X0 Phone: 431-740-5443 jasper30@mymts.net

Ryan Sommerfeld Box 7 Medstead, SK S0M 1W0 Phone: 306-342-2136 306-342-7259 ryan.sommerfeld@xplornet.ca

Don Okell Box 627 Duchess, AB T0J 0Z0 Phone: 403-378-4898 Fax: 403-378-4894 jenty@eidnet.org

Eddie Marsman 25032 Twp. Rd. 274, Red Deer County, AB T0M 0V0 403-588-1400 eddie@ hillsdowncontractingltd.onmicrosoft.com

Cody Congdon Box 366, Bashaw, AB T0B 0H0 403-350-5791 rockytopgelbvieh@hotmail.com

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Don’t Miss Out!

Keep in touch by reading the official Gelbvieh Magazine.

The Gelbvieh Guide magazine is mailed FREE OF CHARGE for four years to purchasers of registered Gelbvieh cattle when the registration certificate is transferred into the purchaser's name. Ask the seller of the animal for a registration certificate when you purchase a Gelbvieh animal.

Note, according to the Animal Pedigree Act (Chapter 13, Section 64(j), no person shall sell a purebred animal without providing to the buyer, within six (6) months after the sale, the animal's duly transferred certificate of registration.

If you are not a CGA member and wish to continue to receive the GELBVIEH GUIDE or know of someone who should be on our mailing list, please clip out and send in this coupon and remit $26.25 Canadian and send to the Canadian Gelbvieh Association office.. For out of country subscribers, please fill out the Subscription Form, remit $50.00 Canadian, and send to the Canadian Gelbvieh Association office.

Name: Address: City:

Prov/State

Postal Code Mail to:

Country

Canadian Gelbvieh Association 5160 Skyline Way NE T2E 6V1 Ph: (403) 250-8640 Fax: (403) 291-5624

$26.25 Enclosed for Canadian subscription fee. $50.00 Enclosed for foreign subscription fee.

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 7

CGA PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Aaron Birch

W

e are coming into my favorite time of year, the fall show and sale season. And by the look of it everything will be back, in some form. As Gelbvieh breeders I think it is extremely important to get out and attend these events. Even if you are not exhibiting, selling or buying, the networking opportunities and the camaraderie with Gelbvieh breeders is so important.

Work on the 50th Anniversary History Book is well underway. There are a wide range of breeders that have submitted their stories ranging from the pioneers of the breed to those just starting their Gelbvieh herds. I know I’m not alone in being excited to see this book when it is complete. Other plans for the 50th Anniversary are in the works and I know that your thoughts and suggestions are wanted. Please contact the CGA office or a committee member with your ideas.

This will be my last President’s Report as I complete my term on the CGA board this fall. This rounds out a total of 15 years of Gelbvieh board involvement. First it was the Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Association board where, along with a group of young, driven Gelbvieh enthusiasts, we successfully put on a number of standalone summer shows. Interestingly, most of the young people I served on the board with are now active breeders as well. It is a testament to the value of the junior program.

Shortly after the junior board I served for six years on the Gelbvieh Association of Alberta & British Columbia. There I really learned how much work it takes to put on events such as Farmfair and the Wish List weekend. These events not only promote the breed but bring us together to network and source new genetics to improve our herds.

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After completing my terms with the GAAB/BC I started my six years on the Canadian Gelbvieh Association Board of Directors, being President the last year. We have been very fortunate to have a great board the last number of years who have guided the association through major obstacles such as hiring our CEO and contracts to ensure our herd book and data is being managed correctly.

Getting to know the ins and outs of what keeps a breed, office and registry system running has been an eye opening experience.

The last 15 years serving on Gelbvieh boards have been unbelievably rewarding. It has made me a better cattle breeder, CGA member and leader. The most gratifying however is the relationships I have formed with others who are as passionate about this great breed as I am. If I could give one piece of advice to other CGA members, please get involved in your provincial association or the CGA. It may seem intimidating at first but I promise you it is well worth the time you invest.

I look forward to continuing to be active in the Gelbvieh breed, however also looking forward to a break from boards for now. That being said I encourage anyone to visit with me about anything Gelbvieh. Any and all that I have learned I would be more than happy to pass on to others. I strongly believe that as Gelbvieh breeders the stronger we make each other, the stronger we make the breed.

CGA OFFICE MEMO

Sarah Van Schothorst

T

CEO

he 50th anniversary history book is well underway!

Thank you to the members who took the time to submit their stories. I have enjoyed reading about how the breed started in Canada and how the members got into raising Gelbvieh cattle. If you haven’t submitted yet there is still time, just let me know it is coming! The questionnaire that can help you get started writing is available at gelbvieh.ca.

Pictures are also welcome!

Fall show and sale season will soon be here. Make sure that you are planning ahead and getting your DNA done early. The turnaround time is 21 days. Samples can occasionally fail testing or parentage may not be what you expect. Make sure you leave enough time for a second round of testing, should it be required. All DNA samples must be submitted using hair cards, blood cards, or tissue sampling units (TSUs). You will need to contact the lab directly for hair cards or blood cards.

You can contact the CGA office for all your tissue sampling supplies. When making your DNA requests don’t forget the DNA for Gelbvieh Breeders video, posted on gelbvieh.ca and our Facebook page. It goes through the process from start to finish and will serve as a useful resource. In Digital Beef you must check off all tests that you want done and then combo pricing will automatically apply.

Remember when you are entering in your performance data like weaning weights to include all individuals in a contemporary group. This will ensure that your top end calves have index values reflective of their performance.

The CGA moved a couple of our trailer advertisements.

One from High River to Fort Saskatchewan on highway #37.

The other one moved from Davidson, SK to White City, SK on highway #1. If you are driving in these areas make sure to

check them out. Our other two are still located at Ponoka, AB and Tilley, AB. The CGA wants to congratulate Avary Hickman, the 2021 recipient of the Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Association scholarship. We wish her all the best at Oklahoma State University and in her future Gelbvieh projects!

Juniors! Don’t forget to send in your show points for the Junior High Point Program. The two individuals that have the most points will win $500 each toward the purchase of a female at the Wish List sale or Agribition sale. The deadline is October 15th and the forms can be found at gelbvieh.ca.

Keep taggin’ them Gelbvieh! The orange back Gelbvieh branded CCIA tags are now available in Z-tag and Allflex brands, and Allflex has offered them in packs of 100 for those members that find this more convenient.

As it stands the AGM will be November 23rd at 7PM at the Royal Executive Hotel, in Regina, SK. The meeting will also be virtual as well so if you are unable or uncomfortable attending in person the option will be available. We have also reserved 20 rooms at a rate of $109 / night for those in town for Agribition. If you have any questions feels free to contact the office.

The CGA is running the heifer performance project again.

It will be taking place at Neilson Cattle Development with Lance and Karyn Neilson, Stettler, AB. We look forward to working with them and collecting data to promote our breed!

This summer has been a challenge for many of us. I wish everyone all the best and I hope you have a safe and healthy fall!

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Association News

By Jessica Pearson, President

H

ey everyone! Hope harvest has gone well for you all.

The Gelbvieh Association of AB/BC has a busy fall planned.

Farmfair International is back and the Gelbvieh show is slated to take place Nov 11 at 2 pm. Our judges for the show are Lance and Sheri Leachman. We look forward to their experienced, educated appraisal. I'm sure most of you have heard that there will be $21,000 in prize money up for grabs at the show! Every division Champion will win $700 and Reserve will win $300 in both the purebred and Balancer/Percentage show. How long has it been since you've won cold hard cash at a cattle show? We hope to see a great turn out of Gelbvieh exhibitors!

We want to thank Gaylene for her years of service as the show manager. Keri Labrenz has been hired for this role - so she will likely be contacting Gelbvieh breeders when putting the show together. Gaylene will continue to mentor Keri in this transition year.

Darren Dunford continues to be our breed representative so please contact him or myself if you have any questions regarding Farmfair.

We'd love to have you there to watch the show in person, but for

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those who cannot make it, the show will be broadcast online on DLMS. Plans for the 2021 edition of the Wish List weekend are well under way and we are extremely excited about this year's event. I know its cliche to say that our consignors "dug deep and are bringing their very best," but holy smokes, did they ever this year! I've had a couple people tell me, "Ah - its going to hurt to see this one go." This is how I know this offering is going to knock your socks off! The event will start off with the first round of the People's Choice Futurity judging and a banquet on Friday night. Please contact Lorna to reserve your tickets (403 378 4898). There will be a silent auction again and we would really appreciate donations.

Saturday morning will be GAA/BC board meeting. We are looking for at least two new members on the board. If you have any questions or are interested in putting your name forward, please contact me. I can only take one call at the time - so please be patient as I know there will be a TON of people interested. This will be followed by the second round of People's Choice futurity judging and the Wish List sale at 3 pm.

The bull futurity and bull information will be included in the Wish List catalogue. If you intend to enter a bull, please let Aaron know and have your Wish List catalog information in to Kim by October 15. All pictures must be in by November 1. This is an ABSOLUTE DEADLINE and there are no exceptions. Entries to the futurity will be accepted after this date, but they will not be included in the catalogue.

If you have not sent in your entries for the Junior Incentive sale credits yet, please do so! The draw will take place on Wednesday, December 1 at 7 pm on the Gelbvieh Association of AB/BC Facebook page. Two juniors are going to have some pretty big time sale credits to spend at the sale!

Interest in this program has been tremendous once again with sixteen juniors entered at this point! Its awesome to see these young people interested in the breed and getting involved!

We will once again be making a calendar fundraiser this year. The full page ads will be auctioned off at the beginning of the Wish List sale. This is such a tremendous, affordable way to advertise your program. There are also smaller ads available each month that can be purchased as well as dates on the calendar. Stay tuned for more details in the near future.

I'm sure everyone is sick of COVID and political talk at this point, but as a nurse I felt this might be a good opportunity to put a plug in. I work in a rural ER, and we are seeing so many COVID patients right now. Seek accurate information from a trusted medical professional to determine what is best for you. Do what you can to keep you and your family safe.

Association News

By Cynthia Wirgau

W

here has the summer gone? To many it will be one we want to soon forget, many faced dry, drought or disaster. I hope everyone has found enough feed and is not having to sell off too many from their herd.

As we prepare for the fall shows and sales, we are still dealing with ever changing Covid regulations. The National Show and Sale at Agribition will be online. Watch for more details mid November for updated Covid regulations. Please look through the Guide for information on the Sweetheart Gelbvieh Classic and the Man-Sask Donation Heifer. Thank you to RPS Gelbvieh (Ryan and Michelle Summerfeld) for donating the heifer this year. Your support is greatly appreciated.

For anyone interested in sponsoring a class at Agribition, or purchasing a Sweetheart Classic membership, please contact Cynthia Wirgau (204-886-7683) or Courtney Bentz (306-746-8034) as soon as possible. We need names and commitment but your cheques will not be cashed until closer to show date.

We appreciate the many pictures we received from 4-H members showcasing Gelbvieh influenced animals. Congratulations to all on their accomplishments. Pictures are posted on our Facebook page. Toques were mailed out for each member to all clubs. Stay tuned to Facebook for updates on Junior Gelbvieh events to be held during Agribition. For more information contact Cynthia Wirgau.

It is time to start thinking about nominations for the Purebred and Commercial Breeder of the Year Awards. Please submit your nominations to Brett Spray by OCTOBER 10.

I hope to see you down the road at a show or sale barn this fall.

Let's grab a coffee or cold beverage and discuss Gelbvieh!

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the

Kayla

HDG Essie 13E - Lot 10

HDG Avery 13D - Lot 16

the

HDG Lady Bequest 22B - Lot 24

HDG Lady Godiva 2J - Lot 25A

HDG Brooklyn 37D - Lot 53

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Bandi

cow family

HDG Lady Bling 9B - Lot 33

cow family

HDG Hillsdaown Candy Apple 6H Lot 50

the

HDG Sweet Pea 1J - Lot 10A

Lady Lisa

the

HDG Candy Girl 13C - Lot 49

cow family

HDG Gunssmoke 12G - Lot 67

Buttercup cow family

HDG Lottie 26J - Lot 54A

HDG Hillsdown Miss Charlotte 25H - Lot 55

HDG Hillsdown

Finnegan Sells as Lot 1

4F

Semen Rights & Inventory Sells as Lot 1A

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 13

November 23, 2021 at 7:00PM Emerald Room A, Executive Royal Hotel, Regina, SK Tuesday November 23, 2021 at 7:00PM. We have tentatively booked the Emerald Room A in the Executive Royal Hotel, Regina, SK. This will be dependent on COVID-19 and the restrictions that may or may not be in place at the time. The meeting will also be online for those that are unable to join in person. The office will be in touch with these details. We have also reserved 20 hotel rooms at a rate of $109 per night for CGA members. 10 of these are single queen and 10 are double queen rooms. Supper will not be provided this year but there will be coffee and a snack available. This is because of the catering limitations at the hotel due to COVID-19.

1

The CGA Constitution may be amended at any General meeting of the Association by affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present, but no amendment shall be valid until approved by the Minister of Agriculture of Canada and filed at the Department of Agriculture of Canada.

2

Notice of all proposed amendments shall be signed by two members in good standing and submitted to the Association at least forty five days in advance of a General Meeting and they shall be included in the Notice calling such meeting, otherwise the meeting shall have no power to deal with the same.

3

The Meeting has only power to deal with the Article and selection as stated in the Notice calling such Meeting.

Members wishing to submit amendments to the Constitution are requested to forward some to the Association in accordance with the above.

Please include addressed of mover and seconder.

All amendments to the Constitution must reach the Association office by Oct. 8, 2021 in order to be included in the Notice of Meeting.

Copies of the Constitution are available from the CGA office on request.

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T

he news has been full of reports of measles outbreaks in people throughout various cities in North America and Europe. Many of these outbreaks have occurred as vaccination rates of children have dropped off due to the anti-vaccination movements that have arisen in some segments of society. I’m glad we don’t have a major anti-vaccination movement in the beef industry. In fact, we now have some evidence that the opposite trend is occurring.

A recent study in the latest issue of the Canadian Veterinary Journal highlighted the current state of vaccine usage in cow-calf herds across Western Canada. Dr. Cheryl Waldner and other colleagues from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan authored the paper that surveyed herds enrolled in the Western Canadian Cow Calf Surveillance Study. This research network was funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association along with funding from Saskatchewan Agriculture. The network involved periodic surveys from a group of cowcalf herd managers across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta on a variety of management topics as well as tracking productivity and the levels of production limiting diseases.

The objective of the research study was to describe when and how vaccines are administered to cow-calf

herds in western Canada. 93 herd owners responded to the study (1 from just over the Alberta border in BC, 46 from Alberta, 29 from Saskatchewan and 17 from Manitoba). The average herd size was approximately 230 cows and 37% of the respondents had greater than 300 cows in their herd.

The good news of this study was that the vast majority of herds (97%) were vaccinating their cows with at least one type of vaccine. The most common diseases that cow-calf managers vaccinated their cows against were Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBR) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). 91% of the herd managers reported that they vaccinated their cows with a combination vaccine that contained antigens against these two diseases. Both of these viruses are important causes of abortion in cattle and they are both relatively common in our cattle populations. It is extremely encouraging to see vaccination rates at a much higher level than was reported in previous studies. In 2002, a similar survey also authored by Dr. Waldner, examined vaccine use in 200 cow-calf herds in Western Canada and only about 45% of producers reported using these vaccines in cows at that time. Both studies recruited herds through veterinarians and so the results are at least somewhat comparable and so it appears that our vaccination rates in cows are trending upwards.

This good news is probably somewhat attributable to the realization of the importance of these diseases on reproductive success. Another recent scientific paper summarized the results of a number of clinical trials and suggested that vacci-

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nating for BVD would reduce abortions by 45% and increase pregnancy rates on average by 5%. Vaccinating for IBR would cause on average a 60% decrease in abortion rates.

The economic benefits of these vaccines are fairly obvious and practicing veterinarians have been promoting their use with clients for many years.

The timing of the use of BVD vaccines in cows was also examined in the survey. 57% of herd owners reported using BVD vaccines before breeding, 22% used them at pregnancy testing and 15% reported using them before calving. The timing of these vaccines is highly important as they are primarily designed to protect the fetus from abortion, however, timing of vaccination is also dependent on other herd management factors and the type of vaccine being used. It is highly recommended that you speak to your veterinarian before you decide on a vaccine protocol for your herd.

Scours vaccines for calf diarrhea were also utilized by about half of the herds surveyed. Scours vaccines are administered to the pregnant cow prior to calving to ensure that the dam’s colostrum contains antibodies to some of the bacteria and viruses that can cause diarrhea in young calves.

While these vaccines are an important method of control of calf scours, there may be herds that largely limit this disease through environmental management of the calving area and other forms of biosecurity. However, there are probably more herds that could achieve an economic benefit from including these vaccines with their herd management protocol.

This again would be an important discussion to have with your local veterinarian.

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One of the major gaps in our vaccine protocols that was identified in this survey was the vaccination of bulls. While over 90% of the producers reported vaccinating cows for IBR and BVDV, only 55% of producers reported using these vaccines in their bulls. Bulls can become infected with these viruses and there is some evidence that with BVD virus in particular, that the bull can harbor longer term viral infections within testicular tissue which might then spread to cows during the breeding season. It would seem to be a simple, yet prudent recommendation to make sure our bulls are also vaccinated when we vaccinate the cow herd.

It looks like we’ve made some major strides in our vaccination coverage in cow-calf herds, however, there are still some gaps. There are still almost 10% of herds not vaccinating cows regularly for IBR and BVD which are two very important causes of reproductive loss. All of the herds in these studies were herds that worked regularly with veterinarians.

The rate of unvaccinated herds is probably higher if we surveyed herds that perhaps didn’t have as close a relationship with their local veterinarian. In addition, it would appear that many bulls aren’t adequately vaccinated on a regular basis against diseases such as IBR and BVD. I would highly encourage you to work closely with your local veterinarian to develop a vaccination protocol that will provide the most cost-effective protection for your herd and that will fit with your management practices.

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CANADIAN CATTLE IDENTIFICATION AGENCY - CCIA

UHF – Progress Report

REPORT

UHF (Ultra High Frequency) has evolved from its introduction to livestock over 15 years ago. A lack of standards for the livestock sector have prevented the widespread introduction and adoption of UHF transponders as identifiers for livestock. There is a growing interest in UHF technology-based tags and equipment as a management tool for livestock producers. Recent work by industry has uncovered opportunities and challenges for implementing the technology in Canada.

CCIA has participated in a number of research projects looking at UHF technology and the costs and benefits of a technology shift to a different platform.

A detailed report regarding UHF technology was recently commissioned which involved a comprehensive search and screening of peer reviewed scientific literature. Current standards and processes for radio frequency identification (RFID) animal indicator approval and revocation were assessed for compatibility with currently available UHF RFID systems. The goal of this project was to perform a scientific literature driven technology readiness assessment of UHF

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RFID systems for use in Canadian livestock identification program.

CCIA has also put together a basic Fact Sheet to offer a side-by-side comparison of the difference between UHF RFID tags and traditional Low Frequency RFID tags, which covers cost, size, read range and other technical features.

What resources do we have?

• CLTS Resource Centre CCIA has improved its online CLTS Resource Centre (CRC). The CRC is your “how to” destination for everything Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database.

At support.canadaid.ca you’ll find comprehensive guides for how to submit events, frequently asked questions and more.

Each guide features simple instructions and screenshots to guide you through each process step-by-step to easily navigate your way through the CLTS. Knowledge of the CLTS and how to submit events are critical in light of proposed traceability regulations and for contributing to a world-class traceability system.

• Chat Feature Try out our new online chat feature, available during business hours. Just head to www.canadaid.ca or support.canadaid.ca and you’ll see the chat box pop-up.

• MOBO APP There’s an app for everything these days…and that includes traceability. Meet the CLTS MOBO APP! The CLTS MOBO APP is essentially the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database at your fingertips.

We’ve taken the entirety of a national traceability system and made it available on your Android and iPhone devices.

You may not be familiar with the CLTS and its functionality, but utilizing the CLTS and the CLTS MOBO APP offers a user-friendly tool to help you report data, including; transportation information, premises identification obligations and movement reporting.

• Webstore It doesn’t matter where you are in Canada – the CCIA Webstore was established to provide producers with the same opportunity to purchase tags and tag related products, regardless of your location.

The Webstore offers a variety of products, competitive prices and all Gelbvieh branded tags in one place. The Web-

store features all things tag related, including visual management tags and accessories and applicators.

The Webstore can be accessed 24/7. We know driving to town to purchase tags isn’t always the first priority when there is livestock that needs to be tended to. The Webstore offers a convenient way to shop, without ever leaving your home. Tags and accessories are delivered by mail quickly and securely.

We’re Moving!

As of September 13th, 2021, CCIA will now be located in our new home in SE Calgary. After careful consideration and lots of viewings, we decided it was time to purchase our own building with office and warehouse space to better prepare for increased needs and a growing staff in anticipation of upcoming regulations.

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Lance & Shari Leachman own and operate Big Gully Farm, located north of Maidstone, SK. The farm includes Hereford, Polled Hereford and Angus cows with their annual commercial bull sale held the second Thursday of each December. They typically exhibit at Canadian Western Agribition and local commercial bull pen shows.

Shari also operates Ultrabeef Ultrasound Services-assessing beef cattle carcass merit.

Shari attended Lakeland College to study Agribusiness. Lance attended Kansas State University and Virginia Tech, studying Animal Breeding & Genetics.

Canadian Western Agribition November 24 & 25, 2021 The Sweetheart Gelbvieh Classic is open to Gelbvieh females of any age who are at least 50% Gelbvieh and who are entered in the Canadian Western Agribition Gelbvieh show. Females under two years of age must be 100% available to the draw winner. Owners of females two years of age and over may choose to offer flush opportunities or ownership. Entries must be made to Courtney Bentz or Cynthia Wirgau by noon on Sunday, November 21, 2021. Entry fee is $100 per animal- must be a Sweetheart member to enter.

NEW THIS YEAR, SWEETHEART ENTRIES CAN BE MADE ONLINE THROUGH THE CWA SHOW ENTRY SYSTEM. Membership to the jackpot is $300 which entitles the member to one voting ballot, catalog of entered females, entry into draw down prizes and a commemorative jacket. Membership must be paid in full prior to voting. No proxy judging. The last name drawn on Thursday at 12:30 during the Parade of Females will win the right to choose any female entered in the Sweetheart Classic following the terms of the exhibitor.

If the draw winner is also exhibiting a female, they may not pick their own entry.

Ballots will be distributed from the Gelbvieh booth beginning Wednesday at noon. Judging of the Sweetheart Classic will begin Wednesday, November 24 during the Agribition Gelbvieh Show and ballots must be turned in by 12:30 Thursday, November 25 during the Parade of Females in the John Deere sale ring.

The champion will be named immediately following presentations of Commercial and Purebred Breeder of the Year.

The member exhibiting the female chosen by the membership through votes will receive 10% of the futurity pot. The female chosen by the draw winner will receive 80% of the futurity pot with the remaining 10% going to Man/SK Gelbvieh Association. Minimum payout to the chosen female is $6000.

Online voting will be available through the Man/SK Gelbvieh Facebook page where females will be profiled. Votes for the top 4 can be sent to mansaskgelbvieh@gmail.com by 10:00 am November 25.

For more info or to purchase membership contact Courtney 306-746-8034 or Cynthia 204-886-7683.

Register for membership by Oct 1, 2021 to ensure proper jacket sizing.

Membership/Nomination Form I (name)

_______________________________

Would like to be a part of The Sweetheart Gelbvieh Classic.

Address ________________________________

______________________________________ Phone: ___________________Jacket Size:______ Enclosed is my $300.00 membership fee As a member would like to nominate the following females at $100.00 per animal. Membership MUST be paid prior to Agribition.

As a member would like to nominate the following females at $100 per animal.

1. _________________________________ 2. _________________________________ Please send to : Man/Sask Gelbvieh Assoc.

PO Box 25, Narcisse MB, R0C 2H0 Etransfer also accepted to mansaskgelbvieh@gmail.com

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DECEMBER 3 & 4, 2021 STETTLER AG SOCIETY, STETTLER, AB TO BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GELBVIEH WISH LIST SALE

$400 MEMBERSHIP Provides the member with one voting card, the chance to win the Futurity Champion Bull and draw down prizes.

Draw down prizes will include but will not be limited to cash value vouchers to purchase animals from any Bull Futurity Member either privately or from a sale.

$200 PER BULL ENTRY FEE Only Futurity Members are eligible to enter bulls.

RULES

· Eligible bulls must be born after January 1st of the previous year (2020). · Bulls will only be allowed to enter the Futurity once. · Members entering bulls must be the registered owner of their futurity entries by August 1, 2021. · All bulls must be CGA or AGA registered PC88, Purebred or Fullblood. · All bulls must have complete parent verification on file with the CGA or AGA by Monday November 29th, 2021 to compete. The Bull Futurity will guarantee results for all proper DNA samples submitted to CGA or AGA prior to October 1, 2021. All samples received after October 1st will not have guaranteed results. · All bulls will be tattoo checked and weighed at the event. · All bulls will be videod and made available on-line. · The Bull Futurity will supply a program with applicable information and stall cards that must be displayed. All additional promotional information will be the responsibility and left to the discretion of each member. · Exhibitor of the Futurity Champion will not be eligible to win their own bull. · Members receive 1 voting card per membership. · On-line voting will be available for members who are unable to attend the event, there will be no proxy voting. · Futurity Champion will receive up to $15,000 payout. · All breeders entering bulls will be required to sign futurity contracts stating that the bulls are virgin bulls (never bred cows or been collected). In the event their bull wins they must be willing to give up ownership, full possession and semen interest. · The Futurity Winner has the option to collect in herd use only semen from the Futurity Champion. They may not sell this semen or use to breed cows that they do not own. · Ownership of the Bull Futurity Champion is assumed by the Draw Winner and the prize money paid to the Futurity Winner when the Bull passes a breeding soundness evaluation or if the Draw Winner chooses to take Ownership before that. Until Ownership is assumed the care of the Futurity Bull is the responsibility of the Futurity Winner. The Futurity Winner cannot use the Bull for natural breeding without the permission of the Draw Winner. All further guarantees on the Futurity Champion are the responsibility and at the discretion of the Futurity. · The Draw Winner has the option to sell the Futurity Champion in the Gelbvieh Wish List Sale. The Draw Winner has the option to sell the Futurity Champion at any time after they assume ownership of the Futurity Champion. · Purchase of insurance on the Futurity Champion is up to the discretion and/or responsibility of either the Futurity Winner or Draw Winner. · The Draw Winner has the option to sell the Futurity Champion in the Gelbvieh Wish List Sale. The Draw Winner has the option to sell the Futurity Champion at any time after they assume ownership of the Futurity Champion.

For further information contact:

Page 28 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

Aaron Birch - Ph: 403-485-5518 • aaron@tbfarms.ca

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 29

I

t would be very difficult to argue that the GelbviehCross cow is not a valued part of the cowherd. Besides the tremendous benefits of hybrid vigour, the Gelbvieh influence brings a wealth of quality maternal traits to the mix as well as some added performance to a calf crop.

While maternal influence on calf performance is relatively obvious, it is often difficult to objectively measure the contribution of that female. This becomes very important through this fall season, as weaning records represent the “result” of how each cow did her job. The CGA operates a Herd Assessment program that places the focus on female performance/productivity in order to address this, but it is vital that as a member each cow is reported on every year.

The first step in a cow’s maternal ability is the ability to conceive. Fertility is a key component of profitability and the first step is getting a cow bred (rebred). Reporting on pregnancy test results is an objective way to start to identify

Page 30 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

genetics that are fertile within a given contemporary group.

Once a cow is bred, we move to the next step.

At calving, other traits are important. As a CGA member you have the ability to report on various “convenience traits”. In essence these represent some of the cow’s ability to save you time and effort. This includes traits such as calving ease, and udder score. It is also possible to report on weight/body condition and frame at this time. Pre-calving scour shots are a good time to collect this weight data.

As the cow progresses through the production year, her ability is expressed through her calf. This certainly includes growth rate on the calf, but it also goes a little deeper.

Weaning records on all females, including those that may have lost a calf is key to determining which females and what genetics have successfully or unsuccessfully produced a calf. At weaning, there is also an opportunity to provide weight, condition score and frame size (hip height) information on those females as well. This data can put the pro-

duction of the cow in context of her mature size and if also collected at calving this data can help to show how cows respond to raising a calf and managing their own body condition. Weaning day is a busy affair and cow weights do not have to be collected on the day of weaning, however for optimal evaluation, it is best if cow weights can be collected within a week or two of that weaning date.

It takes a long time to “prove a cow” and with that in mind, it may be worth considering investing in high density DNA testing on replacement heifers. This information, combined with performance and pedigree data can greatly enhance the accuracy of selection at an early age. For example, the value of determining with reasonable accuracy the likelihood of offspring remaining in the cowherd when a female is young, may mean that we keep more daughters from cows with genetics for longevity, rather than waiting until she is much older (proven). A female has genetics for longevity at birth, but without DNA technology, we can’t really measure this until she has expressed her longevity.

DNA testing gives us a huge jump on assessing this maternal ability.

While an individual cow may not provide as much contribution to the herd as a sire (1 calf / cow / year vs. multiple calves / bull / year) we need to remember that each cow provides ½ of the calf ’s genetics, all of the in-utero environment and much of the pre-weaning environment. For these reasons alone it is worth considering doing some extra

measures on heifers before they enter the cowherd. One key measurement that may be missing on heifers is a yearling weight. This data helps to identify growth, but also provides an indication of relative age at puberty. Carcass ultrasound on yearling heifers may also be worthwhile as it provides a female with a lifetime carcass record which will be expressed in her progeny.

Collecting repeated records on a cow herd over time can objectively identify fertility and longevity. These are 2 key pieces to profitability in the commercial cow herd. Stayability is a measure of the probability that daughters will remain in the cow herd until at least 6 years of age, and it is calculated from complete cow herd records. It is as important to know which daughters make the cut and which ones do not. It is vital to report culling/disposal codes on each cow on the herd assessment. This helps to determine if the cow was removed from the herd for a potentially genetic reason or another reason, such as selling her as a bred female.

Gelbvieh is a highly maternal breed that brings a lot to the Canadian beef industry. Consider making some additional investments in your females this fall and over the coming years through data collection and submission. The key takeaway is that if you choose to report on a trait, it is essential that it be reported on every producing female possible. Documenting and providing information for the maternal ability of the Gelbvieh female can add a lot of value to Gelbvieh genetics in the commercial industry.

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 31

Maternal Excellence

2021 Dam of Merit & Dam of Distinction Awards The Canadian Gelbvieh Association is proud to announce the Dams of Distinction and the The Canadian Gelbvieh Dams of Merit Award winners for 2021. These cows represent the very elite of the breed. The Canadian Gelbvieh Association applauds the owners and breeders of these outstanding females.

The Canadian Gelbvieh Association Honors E Superior Productive Cows

ach year the Canadian Gelbvieh Association recognizes those Gelbvieh females that have proven to have longevity and productivity.

Maternal efficiency is a key economical trait for profitability in the beef industry and cows that calve as two-year-olds and have a healthy calf every year for ten to twelve years, have a greater lifetime efficiency than cows that must be culled at a younger age for various reasons. Longevity is essential. Cows that get their job done, year after year, with no problems, simply make more money.

The Dam of Merit recognizes cows that meet strict selection criteria including early puberty and conception, regular calving intervals, and above-average weaning weights on at least three calves. A Dam of Distinction honour recognizes cows that meet the same high standards for superior, long-term productivity with at least eight calves.

In order for a cow to be recognized as a Dam of Merit she must: • All data must be submitted to the CGA office by August 31, 2021 • A Dam of Merit must have produced at least three (3) calves and a Dam of Distinction must have produced a minimum of eight (8) calves.

• Age at first calving must not exceed 25 months • Produced a calf that was born between January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021 • Possess a minimum average weaning weight ratio of 101 for all calves

Page 32 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

• Maintained a regular calving interval. Average calving interval must not exceed the value calculated using the following formula: (# of calving intervals x 365 days) + 30 days)/# of calving intervals - OR the female had her third calf before her fourth birthday and maintained a 365 day calving interval thereafter.

The Canadian Gelbvieh Association recognizes the following members who rank in the top 20 for Owners of Gelbvieh Dams of Merit and Gelbvieh Dams of Distinction for 2021.

Name DAVIDSON GELBVIEH DUANE & LINDA NELSON ALEXANDER & KAYLIN SCHULTZ LONESOME DOVE RANCH BRITTAIN FARMS FLATLAND RANCH HILLSDOWN GELBVIEH TWIN VIEW LIVESTOCK FOURSQUARE FARMS BARRY & ROBIN MADER GOODVIEW GELBVIEH JACE CATTLE COMPANY KERINESS CATTLE COMPANY LTD. WINDER'S GOLDEN GELBVIEH JEN-TY GELBVIEH KOZIAK LAND & CATTLE RPS GELBVIEH JENSEN RANCH ROCKY TOP GELBVIEH GREEN ACRES CATTLE COMPANY KISKATINAW GELBVIEH

Dams of Merit

PONTEIX, SK GLENWOOD, AB HAY LAKES, AB PONTEIX, SK FALUN, AB HANNA, AB RED DEER COUNTY, AB PARKBEG, SK CARSTAIRS, AB PRITCHARD, BC PUNNICHY, SK BOTHA, AB ROCKY VIEW COUNTY, AB CAMROSE, AB DUCHESS, AB STAR, AB MEDSTEAD, SK POWERS LAKE, ND BASHAW, AB LAMONT, AB DAWSON CREEK, BC

3 4 2 3 1 0 3 3 3 1 0 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 1 1 0

Dams of Distinction

36 21 17 15 15 16 12 9 8 9 9 9 6 0 5 5 4 4 2 2 3

Total

39 25 19 18 16 16 15 12 11 10 9 9 7 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 3

The Canadian Gelbvieh Association recognizes the following members who rank in the top 20 as Breeders of Gelbvieh Dams of Merit and Gelbvieh Dams of Distinction in 2021.

Name DAVIDSON GELBVIEH WINDER'S GOLDEN GELBVIEH DUANE & LINDA NELSON BRITTAIN FARMS FLATLAND RANCH LONESOME DOVE RANCH HILLSDOWN GELBVIEH BARRY & ROBIN MADER FOURSQUARE FARMS JACE CATTLE COMPANY TWIN VIEW LIVESTOCK MILNE'S GELBVIEH ABEL FARM KERINESS CATTLE COMPANY LTD. GOODVIEW GELBVIEH TWIN BRIDGE FARMS LTD. ROYAL WESTERN GELBVIEH MCCOY CATTLE COMPANY LTD. EYOT VALLEY RANCH JEN-TY GELBVIEH

Dams of Merit

PONTEIX, SK CAMROSE, AB GLENWOOD, AB FALUN, AB HANNA, AB PONTEIX, SK RED DEER COUNTY, AB PRITCHARD, BC CARSTAIRS, AB BOTHA, AB PARKBEG, SK FAIRVIEW, AB LACOMBE, AB ROCKY VIEW COUNTY, AB PUNNICHY, SK GOODSOIL, SK RED DEER COUNTY, AB MILESTONE, SK MILLET, AB DUCHESS, AB

4 9 4 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0

Dams of Distinction

35 20 23 16 16 14 11 8 9 8 6 7 5 5 6 5 3 4 2 3

Total

39 29 27 17 16 15 14 9 9 8 7 7 6 6 6 5 4 4 3 3

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 33

W

inter feed will be a scarce and costly resource in much of Western Canada this year. Use it carefully, because the management decisions you make now will impact reproductive and economic performance for at least two years.

Research conducted 25 years ago by P.L. Houghton and co-workers at Perdue University demonstrated how energy intake by pregnant and lactating cows impacted their reproductive and calf performance. At the start of the last trimester (early January for cows calving in April), cows were fed in two groups. One group received a maintenance diet (ME) meeting recommended energy intake. The other was fed a low energy diet (LE) providing 70% of recommended energy intake. After calving, each group was split again, with cows receiving either the low energy diet or a high energy diet (HE; 130% of recommended energy intake). Skimping on nutrition in late pregnancy and after calving impacted both reproductive and calf performance.

Page 34 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

Compared to cows on the other three diets, LE-LE cows took up to 20 days longer to start cycling, had 40% fewer cows cycling within 60 days of calving, and weaned calves that were up to 73 lbs lighter.

The diets produced a range of body condition scores (BCS), which were also related to reproductive performance. Cows calving in optimal (BCS 3 out of 5) or higher BCS started cycling at least a month sooner than cows with a BCS of 2. Pregnancy rates were up to 30% higher among

cows that maintained a BCS of 3 (or calved in thin condition and improved their BCS after calving) compared to cows that calved in moderate or thin BCS and then lost condition.

Regardless of feed prices, it is more economical to regain body weight and BCS before winter sets in. It takes 20 to 30% less feed to improve BCS by half a point (5 point scale)

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 35

when the weather is warm and the fetal calf is small and growing slowly than in winter when temperatures are colder and pregnancy is more advanced. Cows in optimum BCS are better insulated and need less feed to keep warm in winter. A cow with a BCS of 2 (5 point scale) will require 1200 lbs more hay to maintain her BCS than a cow in a BCS of 3. At 15₵/lb for hay, it will cost an extra $180 just to maintain (let alone improve) the BCS on each of those thin cows for the winter.

Maintaining optimum BCS is important to manage winter feed costs this year, optimize reproductive performance next year, and maintain weaning weights in the year after that. Here are a few suggestions to improve BCS now if your cows are thin and feed is already short.

Creep feeding reduces the calf ’s reliance on the dam’s milk supply and poor quality pasture.

Early weaning can also help stretch the feed supply. The cow’s forage intake drops by 15 to 40% after weaning, depending on how much milk she was producing. This would save 285 to 765 lbs of feed (t 15₵/lb) per cow. Also, once the cow has weaned her calf, all the nutrients she consumes can go towards fetal growth and regaining BCS, putting her in a better position to cycle soon after calving, successfully rebreed within 80 days of caving, and maintain a 365 day calving interval. Between 2005 and 2014, a 450 lb steer calf sold between mid- August and mid-September brought around $100 less than a 550 lb calf sold between mid-Oc-

Page 36 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

tober and mid-November (ranged from $8 to $270 per head). This potential loss will be partly offset by the feed savings on the cows. Early-weaned calves can be fed to increase their weight before marketing, if feed is available and affordable.

Pregnancy checking and marketing open or late-calving cows and heifers early is even more economical this year.

Live prices for D1/D2 cows generally drop by 3 cents per pound between now and early November, or around $40 per head. Each open cow marketed early also means two months’ (roughly $230) worth of pasture or feed that can be saved (or not purchased) for another cow that stays at home. Take a moment to assess the BCS of your cows as they come through the chute so that thin cows can be grouped and supplemented separately.

Testing your feed and working with a reputable nutritionist to design an appropriate winter feeding and supplementation program will help ensure that your mature cows, bred heifers, and replacements will come through the winter in good shape, continue to produce and stay in the herd for years to come.

Written by Dr. Reynold Bergen, BCRC Science Director, originally appeared in the August 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen magazine and is reprinted on the BCRC Blog with permission of the publisher.

Call 855.324.9774 to order, or visit NEOGEN.com

The Do’s and Don’ts of TSU Sampling The Do’s • Sample calves as soon as possible for the earliest results • Wipe off any excess dirt with water and towel • Position cutter approximately 1 inch from the edge of the ear, avoiding veins • Squeeze handles together in one swift, fluid, motion with enough force to pierce the ear • Check to ensure sample is present and submerged in buffer and that excess hair isn’t protruding from the top • Remove cutter by pulling handles apart • Store samples in dark, temperature controlled room for up to 12 months • For long term storage (over 12 months), place samples in deep freezer without auto-defrost capability

The Don’ts • Sample “wet” calves – the placenta and fluid could cause a failed sample • Use chemicals to clean off the ear – bleach degrades DNA • Position cutter over any tattoo ink • Squeeze handles together with excess force (shouldn’t take as much as ear tagging) that would damage the TSU • Place TSU in box without ensuring sample is present • Use pliers to remove cutter • Place samples in direct sunlight or heat • Store samples in auto-defrost freezers – such as the one in your kitchen

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 37 NEOGEN.com

2

W

hen feed is short, ranchers often choose to reduce herd numbers rather than buy expensive hay, but there are ways to cull wisely. Sometimes there are several options and strategies that might help you get through the drought with the least negative impact on your herd genetics. Each ranch situation is unique, however, and what works for one operation may be less feasible for another.

Travis Olson, at Ole Farms Athabasca, Alberta, says the general rule of thumb is to try to cull hardest or reduce numbers in the classes of cattle that won’t hurt you in the long term. “In our operation we take a lot of cattle to finish.

In a drought situation, the first group to be gone is the yearling steers. Then we look at the cow herd. How you cull the cows may depend on when your breeding season is. If you are calving in March, and facing a drought that summer, you could ultrasound those cows 60 days into the breeding season (or when you pull bulls), identify your open cows and sell them early,” he says.

“Sometimes you might decide to get them into a feedlot and put some gain on them before you sell them. We’ve been doing that for several years. It depends on the time of year.

If you are moving cows out in October-November, that’s usually when the market is lowest. Typically a good marketing time for cull cows is April through August. If it’s just a regional drought, you can market between May and August and still get pretty good value for them. The next year if you have more grass you can repopulate—either buy more cows or keep more heifers,” he says.

“Most commercial producers don’t have production records (what each individual cow is doing) to aid them in culling decisions. Some things are obvious, such as a cow that is temperamental or has a bad udder or bad feet. This is

Page 38 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

a good opportunity to get rid of those, and if you have production records you can cull even harder, getting rid of poor producers,” says Olson.

“If you have to make culling decisions and don’t have production records to guide you, many people cull an older cow and keep the younger ones with more life ahead of them,” he says.

“Another thing a person can do, to find the ones that might be slow breeders or poor producers is to run all the cows through the chute (perhaps at the same time you are doing spring vaccinations) and put heat-detection patches on them. Let’s say you are calving in May-June and realize you are entering a massive drought and need to sell some cows early. The bulls won’t be turned out with the cows until late July, but if it’s getting close to the end of June put a heat patch on the cows. Then you can tell which ones have started to cycle. You can keep those—and eliminate the ones that haven’t cycled yet.”

This enables you to keep the fertile, healthy ones that will breed early, and these also tend to be the most productive cows. “A heat patch is only about $1 (at your local supply store or ordered from your AI tech) and can be a cheap way to identify the best cows. If 30% of them are not cycling yet, pick the culls you need to get rid of from that 30%. You can pick the older cows, the ones with bad disposition, poor udders, etc. from that group,” he explains.

If a cow is cycling 30 days before the bull is turned in, she will likely breed early. “The other thing you’ll notice when you use those patches is that the cows that aren’t cycling yet are the late calvers. At our place, cows with calves born the end of June are more likely to not be showing signs of estrus yet. Those cows with small young calves might be some you’d sell as pairs to someone who has more grass,” he says.

“If you are forced to sell something, there are ways to prioritize culling. There’s no magic solution, but there are several things a person can look at to decide which cows to eliminate. You can be hard on your heifers, too, but heifers are eating only about 60% what the cows are. You can keep more heifers for the same amount of feed,” he says.

“That might be one of the easy decisions; keep more heifers and cull harder on the older cows and the ones that aren’t cycling yet,” he says.

The cows that are slow to cycle are usually not your best cows. “When we go to AI breed, the ones that don’t have their patches rubbed yet have lower conception rate, and their calves aren’t nearly as good either, the following year.

If they don’t have enough fat to cycle, they don’t have enough fat the following year to produce very well. By selecting the cows that calve early, you have better calves.

Some people make a big deal about how much better their AI calves are than the non-AI calves. Even if you adjust for age, often the cow that cycled earlier has a better calf just because she has the building blocks and the ability to get bred early and milk heavier.

“I don’t think most people realize the impact on calf weights due to the difference between the cows that cycle early and the ones that don’t. If they are not cycling, they are not in optimum health. If they are not healthy they are not going to raise the best calf. Thus the cows that are not cycling early are the number one thing I’d look for when making culling decisions, aside from the obvious bad udders, etc.” says Olson.

Putting a patch on every cow and waiting 20 days to see which ones have cycled is a low cost tool. You can run 100 cows through and put a patch on them within an hour, or do it when branding and vaccinating.

Bruce Viney, Risk Management Specialist, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry says the best culling decisions vary from year to year because cattle prices are not predictable. “Even though prices tend to go up in the summer, they don’t always.

Knowing your cost of production is crucial. Even though you might have lots of feed, this doesn’t mean you should put it into old cows. You might be better off to keep it for calves,” he says.

“If you have older cull cows that will bring the lower end of the price range, you might not want to spend much on

feed to try to get them heavier. Sometimes you are better off to just sell them. On the other hand, if the open cows are good young heifers that lost calves, they are worth more and you can afford to spend a little more to get them ready to sell and put together a load. Sometimes there’s a good market for heiferettes if they have the potential to grade better.”

Everyone wants to hit the peak market, but that’s hard to do. “There is a seasonal tendency for higher prices in summer, but it costs feed and overhead to hold cull cows over winter and get those cows into that market. If you have cheap feed and the facilities to do it, you can make money, but there is always some risk in holding cows.”

He has had cattle himself, andculled cows on many things besides whether or not they are open. “If they have bad feet, bad udders, bad attitudes, we got rid of them,” says Viney.

You want cattle that are functionally sound, user-friendly, that won’t put you or your family at risk, or make more work for you.

“We are lucky that we have markets nearby and don’t need a full load to justify the transportation cost. If a cow gave us a problem we got rid of her,” says Viney. There are many reasons to cull and you don’t want to regret not sending one to market that you should have.

“Every producer has a notebook or record-keeping system.

When a cow calves, note if she has a bad udder or was wild/aggressive and needs to be on the cull list. Come fall, however, when she has a big calf and she’s quieted down or her udder doesn’t look so bad, and she’s bred again, it is easy to lose our resolve about selling her—and decide to keep her one more year, rather than acting on our earlier decision,” he says.

“You are tired in the spring, and frustrated, working long hours during calving, and have a nice cull list. Then you soften in the fall. You don’t stop to consider the extra costs of production involved with those animals—the fact that this wild cow might break out and you’ll have to fix fence, or she might hurt someone, or you might have more labor involved if she has a bad udder,” Viney says.

“Keeping a bunch of cull cows longer to put more weight on them is not just the feed you put into them. The feed has a value. You could sell it or use it for something else,” he says. All factors need to be weighed when making these decisions.

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 39

NEWS & NOTES Congdon Wedding - September 4th, 2021 We really couldn't have asked for a better day to celebrate our marriage with our family and friends. It was everything country with a vintage boho vibe. From coming in on a horse drawn carriage, which was a dream come true, to doing a branding unity ceremony - that entailed our new brand which incooperates parts of both our families brands into our own. And of course, we made sure to include our cows in our wedding photos as they are an important part of our lives. It really was a perfect day and went without a hitch! We are excited to start this journey as Mr & Mrs. Cody & Melissa Congdon

Jaime Davidson and her 4H heifer DRT Lonesome Cass 88H. At the Mankota 4H Beef Show on June 6, 2021, she won Grand Champion Female and Grand Champion Purebred Heifer.

At the Swift Current Frontier Days Regional 4H Show on July 2, 2021, Jaime won Champion Gelbvieh Heifer and Reserve Grand Champion Heifer Overall Breeds.

Jaime along with her brothers, Ash and Cameron are all part of the Mankota 4H Beef Club.

In the spirit of sibling dynamics, the boys had nice home-raised Gelbvieh steers too.

Page 40 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Magazines

British Columbia This could be your spot!

Call the CGA today to book your Business Card Listing!

Services

Alberta

Kelly & Coleen Brittain, Gary & Nicole 780-387-6446 britt4@xplornet.com RR #1, Falun, AB T0C 1H0

Purebred & Percentage GELBVIEH CATTLE

This could be your spot!

Call the CGA today to book your Business Card Listing!

Auctioneers / Sales Management Darrell & Leila Hickman RR 1, Sundre, AB T0M 1X0 Ph: 780-581-4510 darrell.ddhickman@gmail.com

This could be your spot!

Call the CGA today to book your Business Card Listing!

United States Breeders

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 41

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Alberta

LC RANCH Purebred Gelbvieh Ray & Anne Davisson Box 764, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0

403.741.4488 • 403.323.0233 www.lcranchbulls.com

lcranch@xplornet.com rdavisson@cervusequipment.com

NELSON GELBVIEH Duane & Linda Nelson

Box 1144, Glenwood, Alberta T0K 2R0

(403) 626-3279 “Raising Gelbvieh Cattle Since 1972!”

This could be your spot!

Call the CGA today to book your Business Card Listing!

Don & Lorna Okell Box 627 Duchess, AB T0J 0Z0 403-378-4898 403-793-4549 jenty@eidnet.org

www.milneranch.com HAROLD - 780.835.3065 BEV - 780.834.7704

GELBVIEH CATTLE SINCE 1972 QUARTER HORSES SINCE 1985

www.jentygelbviehs.com

This could be your spot!

Call the CGA today to book your Business Card Listing!

Page 42 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Alberta

GR

Bar GR Cattle

Larry, Lynne, Kate & Sarah FECHO

PUREBRED GELBVIEH FEMALES

RON & GAIL ANDERSON Phone (780) 523-2116 Fax: (780) 523-3920 gailanderson@hotmail.com

RR #2 Millet, AB T0C 1Z0 Phone: (780) 986-9705 Cell: (780) 718-5477 www.evgelbvieh.com

Box 1342 High Prairie, Alberta Canada , T0G 1E0

Chuck & Jennifer Williams

403-854-6270 403-854-0190 Hanna, AB flatlandranching@gmail.com www.flatlandranch.com

Saskatchewan This could be your spot!

Call the CGA today to book your Business Card Listing!

FG K

c/o James Knudson Ph: 306-322-7158

Manitoba

FG

“Breeding for Quality Polled Gelbvieh With the Commercial Man in Mind”

K

Knudson Farms Gelbvieh

Box 386, Archerwill, SK S0E 0B0

Ontario The Wirgau’s

Box 25, Narcisse, MB R0C 2H0 Neal & Christine Lee & Cynthia (204) 981-5996 (204) 278-3255 World Class Cattle - First Class Service

This could be your spot!

Call the CGA today to book your Business Card Listing!

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 43

COMING EVENTS A Complimentary Service Provided by the Canadian Gelbvieh Association Oct. 1 - Deadline for guaranteed results for DNA to be submitted for People's Choice Bull Futurity Oct. 8 - Deadline for Amendments to the Constitution for AGM being held in Regina, SK

Nov. 24 - 2 pm National Gelbvieh Show Nov. 25 - 12:30 pm National Gelbvieh Sale & Sweetheart Classic Dec. 1 - CGA Photo Contest Entry Deadline

Oct. 15 - Function & Fitness 3.0, Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg, SK

Dec. 3-4 - GAA/BC Wish List Weekend, Stettler, AB

Oct. 26-30 - Manitoba Ag Exhibition, Brandon, MB

Dec. 3-4 - People's Choice Bull Futurity, Stettler, AB

Oct. 23 - Hillsdown Gelbvieh Complete Dispersal Sale, Olds, AB

Dec. 5 - The Gathering Sale, Olds Cow Palace, Olds, AB

Oct. 27 - Pre-sort Gelbvieh Cross calf sale, Medicine Hat Feeding Company, Medicine Hat, AB

2022 Jan. 1 - Deadline for the Spring issue of the Gelbvieh Guide

Oct. 28 - Pre-sort Gelbvieh Cross calf satellite sale, Heartland Livestock, Swift Current, SK

Feb. 12 - Severtson Land & Cattle Bull Sale, Red Deer County, AB

Nov. 10-14 - Farmfair International, Edmonton, AB Mar. 7 - Prairie Hills Bull Sale, south Dakota Nov. 11 - Gelbvieh Show Farmfair 2:00 pm Nov. 22-27 - Canadian Western Agribition, Regina, SK

Mar. 4 - Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch 33rd Annual Bull Sale, Ponteix, SK

Nov. 23 - 7 pm CGA Annual Meeting, Executive Royal Hotel, Regina, SK

Win a Free Ad! First Prize in Each Category 1/4 page advertisement in Summer 2022 Gelbvieh Guide

Categories

W E ! !

N Y R O G E T CA

1. Cow/Calf 2. Scenic or Artistic 5. Animals with a Gelbvieh Branded CCIA Tag

3. Bull(s) 4. Herd

1. Send or email unmarked colored print (3 1/2” X 5” or 4” X 6”) or digital file of each photograph entered.

2. All entries must be postmarked or emailed on or before Dec. 1/2021.

Judging will take place before Jan. 15/2022.

3. Prizes must be accepted as awarded.

4. Winners will be notified and assistance given in setting up ads.

Please send only your best shots!

Contest and prizes sponsored by the Canadian Gelbvieh Association

The Canadian Gelbvieh Association reserves the right to use all photos entered in the contest

5160 Skyline Way NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6V1 or gelbvieh@gelbvieh.ca

Page 44 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

Please send your photos to: Canadian Gelbvieh Association

ADVERTISERS INDEX BNH Livestock 41 Bar GR 43 Brittain Farms 41 Davidson Gelbvieh OBC Dayspring Cattle 42 Diamond Z Livestock 26 Eyot Valley Ranch 43 Fir River Livestock IBC First Class Marketing 29 Fladeland Livestock 43 Flatland Ranch 43 Foursquare Gelbvieh 41 Gathering Sale 15 Gelbvieh World 41 Goodview Gelbvieh 23, 43 HS Knilll Company 40, 41 .

Hillsdown Ranch 12,13,41

Hilltop Gelbvieh 41 JSJ Livestock 23 Jen-Ty Gelbvieh 4, 42 Jonus Cattle 21 Keriness Cattle Co. 21, 42 Knudson Farms 43 Koziak Land & Cattle 42 LC Ranch 42 Last Mountain Livestock 23 Ledgerwood Gelbvieh 25 Lonesome Dove Ranch 33, OBC Maple Grove Gelbvieh 43 Milne’s Gelbvieh 31, 42 Nelson Gelbvieh 42 Neogen Canada 37 Overby Stock Farm 19 People’s Choice Futurity 28

Advertising Content The Gelbvieh Guide assumes no responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of submitted advertising copy, and has the right to refuse any ad copy or photos. Advertisers shall indemnify and hold harmless the Guide containing pedigrees or statements regarding performance must conform to records kept by the Canadian Gelbvieh Association. Copy deviating from official records may be changed as necessary without advertiser consent.

Editorial Policy Opinions expressed are the writer’s and not necessarily those of Gelbvieh Guide or the Canadian Gelbvieh Association. Photographs are welcome, but no responsibility is assumed during transit or while in the office.

Publisher’s Statement: All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claim as its own, and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Printed by: Western Litho Printers Regina, SK, Canada Mailed under permit number 40012883 Canadian Publication Agreement Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Canadian Gelbvieh Association 5160 Skyline Way NE, Calgary AB T2E 6V1

Prairie Gelbvieh Alliance 35 Prairie Hills Gelbvieh 41 RPS Gelbvieh 24, 43 Rocky Top Gelbvieh 42 Royal Western Gelbvieh 42 Silver Line Cattle Company 42 Severtson Land & Cattle IFC Smithers Land & Livestock 42 Stone Gate Farm 41 T Bar C Cattle Co 41 Triple S Cattle Co. 26, 43 Twin View Livestock 3, 43 Twisted T Gelbvieh 43 WestGen 41 Winders Golden Gelbvieh 42 Wish List Sale 7

Member Advertising Rates Please send ads and make cheques payable to :

The Canadian Gelbvieh Association Full Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$850.00

Editor/Sales/Field Rep.

Half Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$500.00

Gaylene Groeneveld

Quarter Page . . . . . . . . . . . .$300.00

Phone: (403) 333-4911 Email: g5cattle@telus.net (Gaylene)

Electronic Composition

Business Card . . . . . . . . . . . .$60.00 Classified (25 words) . . . . . . .$20.00 Contact the CGA to book advertising space or for rates on overruns, inserts, catalogues & mailing lists.

Kim Matthews Box 19, Site 5 RR#2, Olds, Alberta T4H 1P3

(403) 556-8836 (403) 556-8077 prime.cut@telusplanet.net (Kim)

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 45

Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Association Scholarship All eligible juniors are encouraged to apply for the $500 Scholarship. Please complete the Scholarship Application Form and include a one page essay describing your involvement in the Gelbvieh breed.

Please submit your application form and essay to the CGA office by email (gelbvieh@gelbvieh.ca), fax (403-291-5624), or mail (5160 Skyline Way NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 6V1). The deadline to apply is July 15, 2022.

To be eligible you must be a current or previous member of the Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Association between the ages fifteen (15) and twenty five (25) as of January 1st of the current calendar year. Juniors are eligible to receive the award more than once.

Scholarship recipients will be presented with a cheque upon proof of enrollment. Send an official class enrollment form or receipt of tuition payment to the Canadian Gelbvieh Association office no later than October 1, 2021. In the event that a circumstance arises that prevents the recipient from enrolling in the school of choice by the above deadline, the scholarship will be forfeited. To retain scholarship, the recipient must complete at least one semester of full enrollment. If the semester is not completed, money awarded must be refunded to the Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Association.

Full Name:___________________________________________________________________________ Full Address:__________________________________________________________________________ Birth Date: _______________________________Place of Birth:__________________________________ Sex

Male

Female

Social Insurance Number:_____________________________________

Parent or Guardian Name(s):___________________________________________________________ Parent or Guardian Address:_______________________________________________________ High School Name:____________________________________________________________ High School Address:________________________________________________________ Graduation Date: _____________ Grade Point Average: ___________(example 3.5/4.0) Estimated Percentage of Tuition Paid by Scholarships or grants during you last semester of post secondary education or for the upcoming semester?______________________ List any scholarships you have bee awarded:_________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Career Goal:__________________________________________________________ If you are currently attending a Post Secondary Education facility, please complete the following: Name of Post Secondary Education Facility you have previously or are currently attending: ____________________________________________________________________

Major:_______________________________ Grade Point Average:_______________ If you are a graduating high school senior, please complete the following: Post Secondary education Facility you plan to attend: ____________________________________________________________________ Anticipated Major______________________________________________________ ________________________________ Signature of Applicant Date Page 46 • Fall 2021 • Gelbvieh guide

________________________________ Signature of Parent/ Guardian Date

Gelbvieh guide • Fall 2021 • Page 47