VOLUME 24 ISSUE 1
JANUARY 2024
what’s inside
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MANITOBA’S COMMERCIAL SIMMENTAL PRODUCERS FOR 2023
FROM THE GATEPOST 2024 BULL SALE SEASON DE PORTE LA SAISON DES VENTES DE TAUREAUX DE 2024
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BREED IMPROVEMENT SIMPLE TRAITS IN A COMPLEX WORLD
DE PORTE DES CARACTERES SIMPLES DANS UN MONDE COMPLEXE
VET’S ADVICE SCROTAL MEASUREMENTS & OTHER SEMEN TESTING TIPS
WHAT’S HAPPENING
MANITOBA’S COMMERCIAL SIMMENTAL PRODUCERS FOR 2023 After about 30 years of working with Simmental cattle in their commercial cow-calf operation, Lyndon and Laurelly Beswitherick say the breed, used in a cross breeding program, continues to produce the quality steers and heifers their customers are looking for. The Beswithericks who own and operate the B2 Cattle Company near Austin, about half way between Brandon and Winnipeg, Manitoba say earlier in their farming career they were involved with other breeds, but soon transitioned to produce Simmental/Angus-cross cattle, which continues to serve them well. Their involvement with the Simmental breed and commitment to producing quality cattle earned them recognition as Manitoba Simmental Association Commercial Breeder of the Year for 2023. “Simmental cattle just seem to have the whole package,” says Lyndon who along with Laurelly and their daughter Shaelyn and her husband Mitchell Toews today run a herd of about 350 head of Simmental/Angus-cross cows under the B2 Cattle Company farm name. “The Simmental have good mothering ability, good milk production and overall good performance.,” he adds. “The breed has done an excellent job over the years of producing the size of cattle that perform well under Western Canada growing conditions.” “And I’m not exactly sure what we did to earn this recognition,” says Laurelly, who for many years served as secretary-treasurer for the Manitoba Simmental Association. “During our farming career we have had the opportunity to meet with and buy cattle from many Simmental breeders in Manitoba. Those relationships have all contributed to the success of our farming operation.” Lyndon Beswitherick is the fourth generation on the family farm which has been involved in different livestock enterprises over the years. His grandfather raised purebred Hereford cattle at one time. And when Lyndon was growing up the farm was actually a dairy operation started by his father. There were also some commercial beef cattle around as well. When Lyndon and Laurelly married and joined the farming operation in 1996 they continued with the dairy operation for several more years. Then along came 2003 and a year of change.
Publication Mail Agreement # 40012794
The faces behind B2 Cattle Company Return Undeliverable: Canadian Simmental Association #13-4101 19th St. NE, Calgary, Alberta Canada, T2E 7C4
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