Issuu

HF ALCATRAZ 60F ALCATRAZ first made headlines in the 2019 spring bull sale season when he commanded what is thought to be a record price of $200,000 for 1/2 interest in a Canadian Angus bull. Since that time curiosity has stirred the interest from breeders around the world. He has been introduced to many programs. The results speak volumes about the breeding power of this impressive sire. We absolutely love the maternal look of his daughters! His impressive sons will headline our spring bull sale on March 11, 2021.

D A T A

E P D

Present WT off pasture

782

1504

2400

+6.0

+0.6

+53

+98

L E R BA Angus

WATCH FOR OUR CONSIGNMENT New Yearâ€™s Resolution

Offering 40

straws of ALCATRAZ semen!!!

Dave & Lynne Longshore Family

Stettler, AB H. 403.579.2394 C. 403.740.6788 Web: www.bar-e-l.com Email: barelangus@gmail.com

Next Bull & Female Sale March 11, 2021

Today’s Angus Advantage 1

Today’s Angus Advantage 2

Check Out Our

New Sale!

HBH Angus with Northern Light Simmentals Sale Tuesday, December 22, 2020 - Virden, MB

116G

Selling: 75 Black Angus & 40 Simmental

HBH ELINE 116G

Including: Cow/Heifer Calf Pairs, Bred Heifers, PLUS Elite Show Heifers

88G

157F

HBH ERICETTE 88G

HBH LUCY 157F

Sired by BROOKING TRENDSPOTTER 6166

24G

89G Sired by STARWEST POL BLUEPRINT

48H

HBH TRENDSPOTTER 48H

Sired by S A V RAINFALL 6846

Sired by HF Hot Lotto 54D

NAC ZOEY 89G

Sired by HF PERFECT STORM 198E

NAC GEORGIA 24G

Sired by Boundary Wyatt Earp 89D

HBH Angus Farms Inc.

Box 94, Oak River, MB R0K 1T0 Neil Carson Darcy Heapy Ph: 204-773-6927 Ph: 204-365-7755 neilcarson1973@gmail.com dheapy@mymts.net

155G

NAC FRANCHESCA 155G Sired by ACS ADVANTAGE 349A

Sale Managed By:

www.HBHAngusFarms.com

Like us on facebook HBH Angus Farm and on Instagram @hbhangus

Northern Light Simmentals Rossburn, MB Neil Carson Cody Carson Ph: 204-773-6927 Ph: 204-859-0658 neilcarson1973@gmail.com www.simmentalbreeders.ca

T Bar C Cattle Co. Ltd. Chris: 306-220-5006 Shane: 403-363-9973 Ben: 519-374-3335 Transcon Livestock Corp. Jay: 403-556-5563 Darren: 403-323-3985 Glenn: 780-542-0634 Cody: 403-559-8809

Stop by to see the offering before the sale!

View the catalogue online at

www.BuyAgro.com

Today’s Angus Advantage 3

2020 Late Fall Issue

In This

20 An old timer once told me, “Never say whoa when you’re in a hole, because your efforts will affect you and those around you.” We, in agriculture, are essential to the people of the world. I do not want to take away the accolades and thanks to the doctors, nurses, and caregivers in these times, but food is essential for healing. Throughout this turmoil our company has run full bore; from empty sale barn auctions during the spring season to summer pastures, getting ready for an exciting fall season. Our purpose has not changed… we need to feed the people! During my summer tours, I have seen fabulous crops and an abundance of forage, which will surely reduce input costs in the cow herd. An impending bumper crop will ease feed grain prices, although some Alberta areas have been pummeled with rain and hail. Lush pastures should put an extra measure of pounds at weaning which should add an extra premium into your Levi’s … providing you are using quality sires.

and most importantly how to prepare different cuts of beef for the family table and when you add the component of growing gardens again, families have found that they can get along quite well without drive-thrus. Yes, consumers are learning the values of beef for both nutritional and taste qualities. With the closure and now partial closure of restaurants, one would surmise that we have a glut of product, but there is no indication of that in the marketplace, which tells me that cow herd inventories are low. This scenario is not of one that happens over night as it takes years for inventories to grow. Thus, opportunities become readily available for those who choose to “Never say whoa.”

24 34 A year after Manitoba joined Confederation, David Dunn, grandfather of Bonnie (Dunn) Stewart, Brent’s mother, left Ireland in 1871 and worked his way westward settling in Manitoba in 1879 at a time of civil unrest by the Metis and natives prior the North West Rebellion. In 1920, William Pryde Stewart (Robert Main Stewart’s father), Brent’s grandfather, came to Canada from Bonnyrigg, Scotland and homesteaded in Endcliffe, Manitoba, which is a district of Russell, Manitoba. Robert Stewart known to all as Bob, was born in 1922. At the age of fourteen, he left home looking for work and landed a job with Watson and Florence Dunn who owned Primrose Hereford Farm at Russell, Manitoba. The Dunns raised and showed registered Horned Herefords and soon after, Bob Stewart became the head of the Hereford cattle and was entrusted with the show string. With the outbreak of World War II, Bob joined the Air Force and worked as a mechanic at bases in Moose Jaw and Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. In 1951, Bob Stewart married Bonnie Dunn and together had four children – Brad, Bruce, Brent, and Marilyn. In 1860, Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson Bay Company began the first imports of Angus to central Canada, by the turn of the century much activity in breeding cattle was centered in the province of Manitoba. The Canadian Angus Association incorporated on May 4, 1906, two months later the first annual

meeting was held in Winnipeg. Much of this momentum was due to the efforts of James Duncan McGregor, livestock breeder who owned Glencarnock Stock Farms and a shrewd businessman. Born in Amherstburg, Upper Canada, he moved to Brandon and set up shop outfitting the new settlers with horses and cattle. McGregor’s dream was to find a breed of cattle that would “produce quality beef economically.” McGregor viewed that expositions and fairs would set the standard for requirements of intelligent production and marketing and an advertising medium for producers in Canada. In 1907, he established the Brandon Winter Fair and Livestock Association later renamed the Manitoba Winter Fair and Fat Stock Association, fifteen years before the Toronto Royal Winter Fair was established. On December 2, 1912, his steer Glencarnock Victor was declared Grand Champion Steer at the Chicago International Livestock Show and he repeated that feat for the next two years. His efforts drew attention to the quality of Canadian cattle and the merits of the Angus breed. Manitoba is steeped in the history of breeding and producing quality seedstock and being competitive in the show ring. Primrose Herefords were leaders in the breed and competitive in show circles under the helm of Bob Stewart. A 1953 article printed in the Livestock Times, Saskatoon, reported that the Primrose Stock

Social Distancing

It just seemed too much of a coincidence that his wife tested positive right at the start of the pandemic, forcing him into staying at home with the kids for months. Funny enough, he nor his

Reflections

Black Ink - Anticioation

Reflections

Shorty had seen the news on TV, how could you have missed it? Every day he watched Trudeau stand in front of his house and hand money out like he was giving candy to kids at some parade. Trudeau tried to look like he was suitably concerned, but Shorty figured that he had lied about his reason for “self-isolating”.

CAB - Hindsight For The Future 44

Their heritage is that of Irish and Scottish decent, as the forefathers of this great country, they voyaged the Atlantic to what once was a dangerous and primitive land. Due to their toils, once prairie and bush, now are wheat fields, hay lands, lush pastures and the riches we all enjoy today.

This spring was like countless others for Shorty, cooler than some, but other than the weather similar to all the rest. As Shorty worked his way through the herd on horseback, it occurred to him that he might be the only one in the world that felt that way.

Black Ink - Keeping Up

CAB - Rebound 37

Although this editorial is designed for our commercial sector, I must touch on the purebred component of the industry. In less than five months, purebred producers will be having bull sales. As most of you know, in prime season there are sales every day and, on some days, there are as Early reports of strong markets for grassers and many as ten and market share is tight.With the cancelation stockers indicate that our markets require more cattle. of the fall show season, breeders must find alternative Packing plants are back to running near full capacity ways to promote their product and their program. No without any talk of overage boxed product and I have doubt most would like to use the electronic highway but yet to see any supermarkets using beef as a “lost remember that social media is momentary, therefore paper leader”; as we are in prime barbeque season with advertising is still the best avenue to attract the masses, limited cuts on the shelves. There is no doubt that Mr. purebred and commercial… it has worked through many or Mrs. Consumer is getting tired of pork and chicken generations of cattlemen. But it is not a once in a year and so is the household they cook for. phenomenon… you need to start now; because if you Although Covid has limited some sectors of business, are reading this don’t you think that your customers are butchers and abattoirs are swamped with backlogs of reading it also? Think of the old-timer and what he would up to and over a six-month wait time to slaughter an do! animal. Farm gate sales of beef has become common place Thanks to all the dedicated producers that contribute to and families are back to purchasing quarters and halves, make our industry great. We are essential to every mouth which had become limited in the past decade by the new in the world, except for our mouths in the national capital. generation. Covid has taught both Mom and Pop to cook Plan to have a good harvest and a great fall… we are!

It was springtime on the ranch, the purebred herd had pretty much finished calving and the pressure was off Shorty. The commercial cows had started calving a week or so ago and Shorty was charged with matching newborns with their mothers, treating and tagging them and recording the results of his labour in a notebook.

issue

kids developed symptoms of the most contagious disease the world has seen in nearly one hundred years.

Shorty finally figured out why Justin had abandoned a career in education, a career that allowed him to shape the minds of Canada’s next... well actors. He went into politics because he was no damn good as an actor. He did his level best to feign concern about the health of the country, when really, he was doing his best to get re-elected.

CAB - Brand Specifications Evolve 49

as in every

issue

The Real World

Vet’s Advice

Not Taken For Granted

Advertising & Subscription Rates

Schedule Of Events

So... Trudeau and his health advisors decided to shut the country down, scare the population and then throw money at the problem... not the disease problem, the problem that he and the public health advisors had created by stopping the economy. It seemed strange to Shorty that the very people that Trudeau was listening to, the doctors and researchers, depended on the Government of Canada for funding. Talk about a make work project, create panic, feed that panic for as long as you possibly can, then ask for money to solve the problem. Shorty shook his head and sighed out loud.

Anticipation By Miranda Reiman

It’s watching the rain clouds roll in across a drought-stricken plain. It’s pacing the delivery room, waiting to meet your first born. It’s bringing home the tournament win after a decade of falling short.

How did those calves turn out? An easy delivery and a wobbly but healthy newborn gives a clue. What’s the final product look like? Loading calves on the truck or bringing them into corrals may give the first real answer.

In the positive sense, anticipation is pent-up excitement. Oftentimes the intensity of that is directly proportional to the length of the wait and the magnitude of what’s at stake.

You finally get to see the results of your labor. It’s no wonder you look forward to it.

48 The emotion is often felt in cattle country, though talked about with less frequency. During a typical interview, I’ll casually ask, “What’s your favorite time of year on the ranch?”

That’s not the kind of question many producers have spent much time thinking about, yet the answers usually come quickly. I can almost guarantee that mixed in with replies about tradition and weather and family, I’ll hear one of two things: calving or weaning. Those predictable responses name what are undoubtedly some of the busiest times in the bovine lifecycle. They are the hallmark of sleepless nights and added workload. Yet those days are the reward for a whole lot of anticipation.

When you’ve thought about, studied, asked questions, put the money down and then said a prayer or two, you’re invested. You’ve matched cow herd needs with consumer demands and set goals. You’re all in, and all of your hopes for improvement are tied up in that next calf crop. Yet, months and months go by before you know if it was worth it.

Cover Photography Grant Rolston

I’ll grant that a past wreck or uncertainty over this fall’s prices could give you more anxiety than confidence. You can’t control rotten weather, sudden price dips or unexpected health challenges, but that still leaves a lot of the equation in your mind and hands. You have the power to plan and choose wisely. You have readily available information and more tools than your ancestors ever dreamed about. You have the ability to control what you can, and you can control more than ever. As weaning time comes around for many spring-calving herds and fall calving for many others, it’s sure to be a highlight that leads to still more anticipation. The fall calves will grow to their own weaning date. Maybe you’ll background and feed them, or develop and breed replacements to carry future anticipation with their genetics and your management. But for now, in those golden moments of frolicking baby calves or a full pen of the best calves you’ve ever weaned, I hope you find every good thing you anticipated and more. Next time in Black Ink®, I’ll talk about keeping up with change. Questions? E-mail nerceg@certifiedangusbeef.com.

Today’s Angus Advantag e 4

Today’s Angus Advantage 5

Today’s Angus Advantag e 6

Lot 1

Lot 45

Lot 117

Lot 96

Lot 87

Lot 657

Lot 614A

Lot 590A

Lot 171 Today’s Angus Advantag e 7

Lot 487

R ED ANGU S - B LAC K AN G US - SI M M EN TAL

select genetics you can trust

BEHIND EVERY STRONG HERDSIRE IS A PROVEN PRODUCTIVE

! w o C a m Mom

MISSION STATEMENT GRAND DAUGHTER

S A V RESOURCE BLACK/RED CARRIER DAM

INNOVATION FEMALE

FINLEY SON

RIPZONE SON

NAVIGATOR SON

These boys sell at the farm, 15 minutes from Brandon, MB in the

MA R M AC FA R M S BULL SALE » M AR CH 10, 2021

-investments today lead to rewards in the futurebull sale online with

MAR MAC FARMS

Blair & Lois McRae & Family H: 204-728-3058 B: 204-729-5439 L: 204-573-5192

www.marmacfarms.net Today’s Angus Advantag e 8

Like Us On

She sells!

Son, daughters and embryos sell!

Exciting semen opportunities on these sires!

Todayâ€™s Angus Advantageâ€ƒ 9

She sells!

Lot 1

Lot 11A

Lot 14A

Lot 34A

Lot 13A

Lot 25A

Lot 55A

Lot 17A

W i n t e r i n g ava i l a b l e o n b u l l ca lv e s . T e r m s o n a p p r ov e d c r e d i t.

T Bar C Cattle Co. Ltd. Warman, SK S0K 4S0 O: 306.933.4200 F: 306.934.0744 info@tbarc.com www.tbarc.com

Brent & Dale Stewart Kelsey & Tyler Thompson Box 908, Russell, MB R0J 1W0 Cell: 204-773-6392 stewartcows@wificountry.ca www.stewartcattle.com

V iew t he cat alogue online www.BuyA g r o.com Today’s Angus Advantage 10

The

Brand you Believe in...

SAV President 6847

- Built on reputation and trust from commercial cowmen

SAV Rainfall 6846 ®

Kelly & Martie Jo Schaff 6110 Co. Road 81 • St. Anthony, ND 58566 • 701-445-7465 www.schaffangusvalley.com • kelly@schaffangusvalley.com

th Production Sale 118 February 13, 2021

Saturday •

SAV Raindance 6848

• 10 am at the ranch

SELLING 500 REGISTERED ANGUS BULLS & 250 FEMALES

Pounds on the scale Muscle dimension Thickness Natural fleshing-ability Body capacity Structural integrity Feet quality Disposition Maternal emphasis Udder quality Fertility • Longevity • Femininity & masculinity • Calf vigor & calving-ease • True carcass quality Sires represented include America, Emblem, Downpour, Ajax, Elation, Territory, Quarterback, President, Rainfall, Raindance, Resource, Renown, Renovation, Circuit Breaker, Abundance, Cut Above, Scale Crusher, 316 and more.

SAV Territory 7225

✓ Volume selection ✓ Free delivery ✓ Affordable to the cowman

...Bulls you Believe in

SAV Circuit Breaker 7136

SAV America 8018

SAV Checkmate 8158

SAV Ajax 8885

140 PROGENY SELL! As great as his name, SAV America 8018 is the $1.51 million world-record-selling bull in Angus breed history and record performance bull. He presents a massive performance design with cowmaker phenotype, high fertility, docility and all the elements that make great cattle. His dam is the maternal matriarch serving the SAV program for nearly 18 years. The much anticipated first calfcrop by America has exceeded all expectations and 140 progeny will be featured as a highlight of the entire 2021 sale season. Follow us on Instagram

Today’s Angus Advantage 11

SAV Emblem 8074

Today’s Angus Advantage 12

CHD 723H

Conley Express 7211 x Saugahatchee 3000C

SIES 919G

Sky High 1535 x Slow Ride 266A Bred FF Black Gold JF C19

CHD 667H

Stevenson Turning Point x Heavy Metal

SIES 958G

HF Lute 281D x Stimulant Y40 Bred Conley South Point 8362

CHD 619G

Seedstock x Insight Bred to Chestnut Turning Heads 29

SIES 906G

Density x Upward Bred HF Alcatraz 60F

Today’s Angus Advantage 13

CHD 634G

Heavy Metal x Crossfire 63A Bred to Chestnut Turning Heads 29

SIES 915G

Density x One-Iron Bred HF Alcatraz 60F

Bench Angus

s u g n

T h i r d A n n u al

Bla c k A n g us L on g Ye a r ling Bull & Purebre d Bred He if e r Prod uc tion Sale

h c n Be

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

At the Farm - Shaunavon, SK P r o g e n y & S e r v i c e s o f. . . Bench R ange Boss 6 005 D ( Bar S R ange Boss 4002) Merit Mentor 6 109 D ( Merit Big D awg 304 9A) Bench Bl ack Jack 6 001 D ( K R Bl ack Jack 4 278) Bench R ange Boss 6 003 D ( Bar S R ange Boss 4002) Crescent C reek 1136 R ito 6 1B ( MC C umber 8 R 101 R ito 1136) C reekview Insight 28Z ( Merit 14 6 X)

Lot 33

Lot 78

Lot 15

Lot 3

Lot 7

Lot 79

Bench Angus Bench Farming Co. Ltd. Joseph Waldner Shaunavon, SK S0N 2M0 Ph: 306-297-1331 ext. 301 or 726 bhbangus@gmail.com View the catalogue online at BuyAgro.com

Sale managed by:

Call to discuss our wintering program, sight unseen purchasing and free delivery options!

Todayâ€™s Angus Advantageâ€ƒ 14

Chris Poley 306-220-5006 Shane Michelson 403-363-9973 Ben Wright 519-374-3335

Pride

Prairies 5th AnnuAl FAll FemAle SAle

2020

december 12

K E n R ay R a n c h p h O t O & D E S i g n © E l l a w R i g h t. c O m

SLS - Saskatoon

Our Philosophy

W e b e l i e v e i n t h e s t r e n g t h o f o u r c oW h e r d • matERnal cOwS that tRanSmit, EaSy flEShing anD plEaSant tO hanDlE • mOthER cOwS that will wORK in any pROgRam OR EnviROnmEnt • cOwS that wE pROuDly StanD bEhinD • SatiSfactiOn in SEEing thE cattlE that wE SEll gO On tO bE pROfitablE fOR thEiR nEw OwnERS K e n r a y r a n c h - “g En E t i c S yO u c a n bu i l D O n” JOin uS DEc 12 at SlS in SaSKatOOn

Kenray & Wraz - Pride of the Pr airies 5th annual fall female sale - you can also watch and bid online at DLMS.ca

Mark your calendars for our Annual ONLINE Bull Sale - April 7th & 8th, 2021

Kenray K Quality Red Angus for over 30 Years

The Kyles - REDvERS, SK • Visitors Always Welcome Sheldon, Ella & Oliver: 306.452.7545 • Ray & Donelda: 306.452.7447

[e] sheldon@ kenrayranch.com • visit our website: www.kenrayranch.com facebook.com/KenrayRanch

Today’s Angus Advantag e 15

twitter@ kenrayranch

kenrayranch

On Offer:

Cows - 7 years & younger 35 bred heifers 22 first calvers 2 herd bulls 70 head - AI Service to FF Black Gold JF C19 and HF Roper 27F

Sale Managed By:

Mantei Farms Angus

Chris Poley 306-220-5006 Shane Michelson 403-363-9973 Ben Wright 519-374-3335

Cecil & Brenda Mantei & Family Cecil: 306.461.5501 manteifarms@hotmail.com www.blackharvest.ca

View the catalogue online at

www.buyagro.com

Todayâ€™s Angus Advantag e â€ƒ 16

He Sells

BJ’S HIGH ROLLER 017

BJ’S HIGH ELEVATION 012 Sire: PAINTROCK TRAPPER BW: 3.4

BW: 82 lbs

WW: 63

YW: 113

205 wt: 894 lbs

Sire: DL DUALLY BW: 2.5

adj

M: 30

BW: 80 lbs 205 wt: 896 lbs WW: 79 YW: 136 M: 20

adj

Horned Here for s d gu n A

SALE

s gu An

ereford d H Bla lle o ck P

BULL

ereford - B d H lac lle k Po

The British Connection orned Her - H efo rd

Saturday december 5, 2020 1:00pm

He Sells

J-BAR-B 7D HARVEY 8H Sire: J-BAR-B A152 DOUBLE TIME 7D BW: 92 lbs BW: 2.3 WW: 52.8 YW: 91.2 M: 16.2

205 wt: 796 lbs TM: 42.6

adj

balog auction l ethbridge , a lberta

Featuring Bulls from: BJ Cattle Co. BJ & Jody Scheirlinck (403) 758-3339 (403) 929-2494 bjcc@xplornet.ca www.bjcattlecompany.com

J Bar B Polled Herefords John & Brenda Lutz (403) 642-2363 (403) 715-1347 bj.lutz76@gmail.com

He Sells

JEN 202A KAP 39G Sire: FE 63W STANDARD DOM 202A BW: 100 lbs 205 wt: 779 lbs adj 365 wt: 1250 lbs adj BW: 6.9 WW: 67.4 YW: 108.3 M: 23.2 TM: 56.9

Newton Herefords Jim & Terry Newton (403) 758-6220 (403) 308-4123 jtnewton@xplornet.ca

McKenzie Herefords/ Wild Bear Herefords Jon & Gillian McKenzie (403) 642-7256

Jim Wildeman

(403) 861-0719 mckenziecattle@gmail.com www.mckenzieherefords.com

View the catalogue online at: www.bjcattlecompany.com www.mckenzieherefords.com

He Sells

ILK GALAXY 54G Sire: T-BAR-K DAKOTA 7E BW: 95 lbs 205 wt: 664 lbs adj 365 wt:1085 lbs BW: 5.6 WW: 63.3 YW: 105.6 M: 29.6 TM: 61.3

Today’s Angus Advantage 17

adj

12th Annual Production Sale

December 9, 2020

Sale at 1pm at the ranch south of Chinook, Montana (406) 357-2492

Shipwheel Cattle Company

www.shipwheelcattle.com 100 - Coming 2 year old bulls 100 - Bred heifers 75 - Coming 3 year old cows (Jorgensen Herd dispersion) 30 - Coming 10 year old cows (Jorgensen Herd dispersion)

Todayâ€™s Angus Advantag e â€ƒ 18

T Bar C Cattle Co. Ltd. Box 2330 Warman, SK S0K 4S0 Ph: 306-933-9315 Fax: 306-934-0744 info@tbar.com

Chris Poley 306-220-5006

Today’s Angus Advantage 19

Ben Wright 519-374-3335

Shane Michelson 403-363-9973

Today is November 9th and some of us are in the office… only three out of a dozen plus staff, our company controller, editor, and me. It took several hours to get here, after a weekend blizzard that closed roads, shut down schools and many businesses, and it is also election day. The forty centimeters of snow we received is very welcomed by the agricultural community, but for the urban population it sucks! This much snow, so early, will make for a long winter, but cowboys are a hardy bunch and are like bronc riders, they move onward to the next rodeo. There are fifty or so days until year-end… a year that some will want to forget, yet agriculture and the importance of food sources has proved more dominant than ever, which speaks boldly for the coming years. In the purebred sector, the fall sale season has been extremely healthy with superior quality females fetching premiums… this bodes well, as the beef industry looks forward to improving breeding stock that needs to be available for years to follow. The next fifty days are especially important for your herd assessment and breeding intentions. Now is the time to evaluate your herd bull battery by assessing your pens of weaned calves and making strong decisions of daughters that will make replacement females next spring… then analyze their sires. Old, crippled, bad tempered bulls are an easy decision, but the trait that will give you premium dollars in your jeans is uniformity, especially when selling steer calves. It’s time for old “Betsy” to go… yes, she was a good old cow in her day, as well as that cow that gives you the “mother-in-law look!” While you are sorting or calving them out, you need to remember that the borderline and non-producers eat as much or more

than the cows that are keeping you in the business. Do this culling when you are having a bad day, so that you can put their daughters on the same load. The inventory of our national beef herd in Canada is at its lowest in two decades, we need to restock it with fresh, young genetics that have credentials showing carcass and high maternal values. The fall sale season is packed full of opportunities to restock or add to your program. The interest rate at Canadian banks is miniscule… it has never been offered at these levels. Those who purchase bred females at this time of year will get a return on investment in a matter of months, with little interest owing, but if your tardy, just wait until it gets higher. It reminds me of the guy who wanted $10.00 a bushel for his canola and at $9.90 said he would wait, then sold later for $6.80. 2020 might go down as one of the greatest years of opportunity… you decide! We are 50 days from year-end tax season. Now, I know how badly many of you want to send a cheque to the glorified drama teacher who is running our nation… isn’t it bad enough that he gets our carbon tax? Cowboys and gals, the remedy is quite simple… buy your breeding stock before New Year’s Eve and you will not suffer from tax hangover. Shopping for your 2021 herd bull battery and females is legal and economically intelligent. Feel free to peruse this issue and view the programs of progressive breeders who have high quality breeding stock for sale or are gearing up for their annual event in the spring… this issue and the bull issue in February will allow opportunities to improve your bottom line. See you down the road.

Today’s Angus Advantag e 20

♦ 16th

Annual ♦

Rock Solid Bred Heifer Sale

♦ MONDAY DECEMBER 14th, 2020 | 2:00 PM CST ♦

Bircham Ranch of Piapot, SK 8 miles south

All heifers are on an Express Verified Vaccination Program

530 Top Cut, Home Raised, British Based

bred heifers from Southwest Saskatchewan

♦ Black Simm X Black Angus ♦ Black Baldie

♦ Red Baldie ♦ Black Angus ♦ Red Angus

♦ Red Angus Sim ♦ Tans

DELIVERY AVAILABLE

*videos of sale lots available a week prior to sale on DLMS*

One Heifer to sell with proceeds going to:

Consignors & Contact Information

Bircham Ranch Ltd. (Wayne) - 306.662.7940 Burgess Ranch (Joe) - 306.558.4705 Topham Ranches (Gary) - 306.295.4093 Diamond K Cattle Co. (Bryce) - 306.662.8733 Kelly Topham - 306.295.7900 Lee Crowley - 306.773.3174 Donnie Peacock - 306.662.8288

www.rocksolidbredheifer.com for breeder & cattle profiles Today’s Angus Advantage 21

Keeping Up By Miranda Reiman

Some people dream of a cook or a maid, or perhaps a nanny or staff carpenter. I’d trade all of those for a technology manager for my family—our own personal IT guy who could make sure I had all my photos backed up, parental controls set correctly and all the necessary updates installed.

If you’ve made big changes that have worked for the better, then you see it, too. Maybe you’ve invested in genomic testing or made renovations to your processing facility. You’ve seen the results in the calf crop or the time saved and better herd health after working cattle.

I’m probably a bad Millennial for saying that. It’s not that I dislike tech, but some days I feel I have enough to worry about without complicating my life further by introducing yet another change.

Those situations remind us, much good can come from change. We all inherently know we can’t just stand still and expect to thrive.

Then as I type those words, I wonder: Am I becoming my mother?

This summer a cattleman discussed his adoption of technology with me. He said he wasn’t going to be first to try the novel idea, but when there was some evidence of success, he’d be right behind those that were.

When I hear about a new time-management app, a handy way to organize my grocery list or track my finances, two thoughts come up together. “That sounds cool.” “How could this possibly save more time than it takes?” Do you ever feel that way? A buddy starts rattling off the newest, best, greatest [insert thing here], and you feel a little bit behind. An expert talks about a new genetic tool, animal handling system or grazing strategy, and you wonder if you have the time to apply any of it. Sometimes it all seems just a little too overwhelming to me, too. I want to throw up my hands and dig my heels in. I’ll stick to what I know, thank you. But then there are those times I’ve been forced to change (see: cell phone that went for a swim). Other times, I’m as motivated by the advantage as I am paralyzed by the unknown, so I just take the leap.

So how do you balance it all?

Maybe you need to hear that, too: you don’t have to be first. You don’t have to try every new thing, lest you be left in the dust. Find the ones that are most applicable and stand to do the most good. It’s all about keeping the forward momentum going. Next time in Black Ink®, I’ll talk about appreciating growth.

Today’s Angus Advantage 22

The o t e tim g n i n n a l p t star next your . . . s i e u g o l cata !

NOW

e b l l i w n o s a e s e l Bull sa ! t i w o n k u o y e r o here bef

e u g o l a t a c r u o Book y with us today! Bryan Kostiuk bryan@tbarc.com Today’s Angus Advantage 23

306-933-4200 todayspublishing.ca

Reflections

A year after Manitoba joined Confederation, David Dunn, grandfather of Bonnie (Dunn) Stewart, Brent’s mother, left Ireland in 1871 and worked his way westward settling in Manitoba in 1879 at a time of civil unrest by the Metis and natives prior the North West Rebellion. In 1920, William Pryde Stewart (Robert Main Stewart’s father), Brent’s grandfather, came to Canada from Bonnyrigg, Scotland and homesteaded in Endcliffe, Manitoba, which is a district of Russell, Manitoba. Robert Stewart known to all as Bob, was born in 1922. At the age of fourteen, he left home looking for work and landed a job with Watson and Florence Dunn who owned Primrose Hereford Farm at Russell, Manitoba. The Dunns raised and showed registered Horned Herefords and soon after, Bob Stewart became the head of the Hereford cattle and was entrusted with the show string. With the outbreak of World War II, Bob joined the Air Force and worked as a mechanic at bases in Moose Jaw and Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. In 1951, Bob Stewart married Bonnie Dunn and together had four children – Brad, Bruce, Brent, and Marilyn.

4, 1906, two months later the first annual meeting was held in Winnipeg. Much of this momentum was due to the efforts of James Duncan McGregor, livestock breeder who owned Glencarnock Stock Farms and a shrewd businessman. Born in Amherstburg, Upper Canada, he moved to Brandon and set up shop outfitting the new settlers with horses and cattle. McGregor’s dream was to find a breed of cattle that would “produce quality beef economically.” McGregor viewed that expositions and fairs would set the standard for requirements of intelligent production and marketing and an advertising medium for producers in Canada. In 1907, he established the Brandon Winter Fair and Livestock Association later renamed the Manitoba Winter Fair and Fat Stock Association, fifteen years before the Toronto Royal Winter Fair was established. On December 2, 1912, his steer Glencarnock Victor was declared Grand Champion Steer at the Chicago International Livestock Show and he repeated that feat for the next two years. His efforts drew attention to the quality of Canadian cattle and the merits of the Angus breed. Manitoba is steeped in the history of breeding and producing quality seedstock and being competitive in the show ring. Primrose Herefords were leaders in the breed and competitive in show circles under the helm of Bob Stewart. A 1953 article printed in the Livestock Times, Saskatoon, reported that the Primrose Stock

In 1860, Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson Bay Company began the first imports of Angus to central Canada, by the turn of the century much activity in breeding cattle was centered in the province of Manitoba. The Canadian Angus Association incorporated on May Today’s Angus Advantag e 24

Farm Sale was attended by 750 bidders and visitors. “The women serving lunch worked the hardest!” The bulls averaged $696.00 and the females averaged $514.00 which was phenomenally successful. The year prior at the 1952 Toronto Royal, Primrose Hereford Farm won the Premier Exhibitor banner, along with Junior and Reserve Junior Champion Bulls, the Get of Sire and the Pair of Bulls. In another Bradley article from 1957, Primrose Farm was judged Supreme Champion of the Winter Fair in Brandon winning over Powell’s Shorthorn and McRae’s Angus. It is interesting to note that the bulls were evaluated by a panel of five judges, like a system used fifty years later at the RBC Supreme.

Their two primary shows were the Manitoba Winter Fair and the Toronto Royal. Although Brandon was a short haul, going to the Royal was a great ordeal and every young man’s dream. In those days, cattle were transported by train. The trip would usually take five to six days from Brandon to Toronto. The rail car would be decked with feed and tack on top and the cattle were bedded below. The crew slept with the cattle. The wives would bake and cook supplies for the men, but other supplies were purchased at train stops. Dirt and smoke covered near everything… cattle, feed, water and men. Cards were the entertainment of the day, mostly games of chance, it has been rumored that sometimes cattle changed ownership

before they returned home. For those who showed cattle at the Royal and arrived by train, it was a vacation and if those rail cars had ears… what tales they could tell. Brent Stewart made his first trip to the Toronto Royal Winter Fair at the age of nine years. Although he was extremely excited about the train ride, his mother said he would miss too much school, so he went by air. Since that day, he has made twenty-three trips with cattle and later a few judging. Bob and Brent have exhibited many steers over their history… carloads which comprised of ten head, or pens of five and single bred steers. Brent recalls, “The carloads were the most work and the most enjoyable to win, we were lucky to win it a few times.” He goes on to say, “I remember all the steers had to go through a culling committee. It was done after chores and there were no tie-outs in those days. My dad and several other guys were in the feed alley. (I did not know what they were doing at that time!) It was then my Dad told me I should meet this guy. He said he was one of the best steer jocks I would ever meet, his name was George Earley… we have had a lifelong friendship!” Stewart Cattle Co. is a direct descendant of Primrose Hereford Farm. The leadership and guidance of Brent’s father, Bob, and grandfather, Watson Dunn, established the backbone of how Stewart Cattle Co. was developed. Brent owned his own breeding stock at the age of nine years and had a

Today’s Angus Advantag e 25

very keen interest in showing and following his father’s love of showing registered cattle. He travelled with his father to many shows starting at a young age. In 1978, Brent registered his cattle as Stewart Cattle Co., the beginning of registering cattle with the “SCC” prefix. Brent met a young lady from Carberry, Manitoba, Dale Triggs whose family bred and raised registered Charolais cattle. Dale helped Brent with work around showing steers, show cattle and many tasks around the farm. In 1983, Brent and Dale were married and the couple raised a daughter, Kelsey; together the three of them worked to build Stewart Cattle Co. In 2016, Kelsey married Tyler Thompson and they now reside in Fort Assiniboine, Alberta. Brent, Dale and Kelsey have won Champion Steer banners on numerous occasions at the Calgary Stampede. Kelsey made nineteen trips to the Stampede before she was twenty-one years of age… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Brent recalls, “We have made and

cultivated so many great family friends from the show world. Some of the highlights of the cattle business is the great people in the show cattle world and the strong competitors which we have been fortunate to compete with. Talking with a buddy one night before the show, he said ‘tonight we are friends… and tomorrow we do battle!’”

The Stewarts run a purebred cow/calf operation and have bred and owned registered Horned Herefords, Salers, Black Angus and Black Simmental. They have also run commercial cows and calved upwards of two hundred over the years. Each year they implanted thirty to forty embryos and have sold bulls and females off the farm, while over the past decade they have hosted a spring bull sale. “We are proud of our record of repeat customers who have also become friends.” Stewart Cattle Co. has exhibited at every major show in Canada, Billings, Montana and the National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colorado. Brent, Dale and Kelsey all won shows as 4-H members. To list the winning accomplishments would take

Today’s Angus Advantag e 26

pages but banners line the walls at SCC. A feat desired by many… accomplished by few. Brent judged his first show when he was sixteen years old at a summer fair in Manitoba, but since has judged from Vancouver to Prince Edward Island and all points in between, along with a prospect steer show in Nebraska.

Brent says, “I have been in the cattle business all my life, showed my first one fifty-eight years ago… a cow calf pair with my dad. I have seen people (not me) clip cattle with sheep shears; brush cattle with a rice root brush (I have done that). I knew Ted Serhienko before he was a sale manager and ring man… I always thought his hair was too long to be a fitter! I also knew Steve Dorran before he was an auctioneer… he clipped cattle and sold semen!” “Lots of late nights, early mornings and long drives… it has been quite a ride!” Brent Stewart On December 20, 2020 at JP Cattle/JaLyn Farms Sale Facility, McAuley, Manitoba, the entire program sells in a complete dispersal of the herd which will include the tack boxes!

Today’s Angus Advantag e 27

Rancher

Endorsed

Setting the Bar for Quality Some of the world’s finest Angus cattle are raised right here in Canada, under ideal conditions. The Canadian landscape, water and fresh air are a big part of what make them so great. It also takes a select group of hard working Canadian ranchers to bring those elements together. The result is Angus beef that is as delicious as it is nutritious.

Our ranchers are true stewards of their land. They raise cattle in a humane fashion not only because they know it’s best for the animals and their customers, but also because they know it’s best for future generations. Their beef is processed in federally or provincially inspected facilities. These businesses are subject to regular audits that ensure a high standard of food safety. Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed is a certification program that offers quality assurances and endorsements for Canadian Angus genetics. With the support of the Canadian Angus Association, Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed offers confidence that the beef will exceed expectations. Beef partners can qualify for the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed program by meeting the following requirements: • Apply through the Canadian Angus Association • Animals must have a minimum of 50% Angus genetics; at least one of the parents must be registered as Angus • Cattle must use the Canadian Angus RFID indicator • An audit process will be finalized in consultation with participants to ensure program integrity Today’s Angus Advantage 28

We’ve got a

historic fall in the making... November 20 Winsnes Farms Relocation Sale Innisfail, AB 23 Right Cross Ranch Commercial Bred Heifer & Long Yearling Bull Sale Kisbey, SK 25 Bench Angus Long Yearling Bull & Purebred Bred Heifer Production Sale Shaunavon, SK 27 Six Mile Ranch “Genetic Focus” 2020 Sale Fir Mountain, SK 28 Superstar Charolais Sale Saskatoon, SK

December 3 Queens Of The Heartland Production Sale McAuley, MB 4 Manitoba Herefords Good As Gold Sale Brandon, MB 5 Manitoba Angus Keystone Klassic Brandon, MB 7 - 8 Johnson Livestock Complete Female Dispersal Peebles, SK 9 Double Bar D “Sharing The Herd” Genetics Sale Grenfell, SK 12 Alberta Charolais Select Sale Red Deer, AB 13 Bonchuk Farms Female Production Sale Virden, MB 14 Mantei Farms Cow Herd Dispersal Sale Alameda, SK 15 D&N Livestock Commercial Angus Bred Heifer Sale Peebles, SK 16 The Female Focus Production Sale Neudorf, SK 17 Strongbow Farms Purebred Female Production Sale Hartney, MB 18 Miss Prairie Cove Charolais Female Sale Bashaw, AB 19 The Big Chill Speckle Park Sale presented by INC Cattle Company & Friends Saskatoon, SK 20 Stewart Cattle Co. Complete Dispersal McAuley, MB 21 Blairs.Ag Cattle Co. Opportunity Knocks Sale Lanigan, SK 22 HBH Angus & Northern Light Simmentals Production Sale Virden, MB 30 Premier & Guests Falls View Production Sale Niagara Falls, ON

Shane Michelson Ben Wright 403-363-9973 519-374-3335 Box 2330 Warman, SK S0K 4S0 P: (306) 933-4200 F: (306) 934-0744 E: info@tbarc.com

Chris Poley 306-220-5006

w ww.tbarc. c om Today’s Angus Advantag e 29

ohne’s disease pronounced “YONEES” causes a nonresponsive diarrhea with severe weight loss in cattle as well as bison, small ruminants (sheep and goats) and camelids. It may last for months and is invariably fatal. A paratuberculosis organism similar to tuberculosis causes it. The organism is Mycobacterium Avium subspecies Paratuberculosis abbreviated “MAP.” It has a very long incubation period of at least two years. Young calves under three months of age are the most susceptible to first contracting the disease. Heifer offspring from affected cows should be culled, as they will most likely show clinical signs later in life. With this disease cattle maintain a voracious appetite but a thickening of the small intestine does not allow nutrients to be absorbed so weight loss is dramatic. In winter a huge manure ball will often be frozen to the tail. If you suspect this disease it is imperative to have the animal examined and verified. By clinical exam and/or testing your veterinarian can confirm its presence. This article will outline some very practical methods of minimizing its incidence on your beef farm. Johne’s Disease has basically a worldwide distribution. The two biggest concerns are the economic losses associated with cows having decreased production having to be culled and the potential spread to others in the herd. Also this is especially critical for purebred and commercial herds that sell breeding stock. If we ever identify Johne’s in our herds we must work on a control and elimination strategy to avoid passing it on to other herds.

should be spread on grain land not on pasture or hay land if at all possible. Don’t use the same front-end loader for loading manure and then feed without proper disinfection in-between and best to have interchangeable buckets. Any calving area such as the maternity pen should be disinfected with a phenolic – based disinfectant whenever cleaned. Keep feed bunks and watering bowls clean of manure to help break the fecal-oral cycle. Always buy herd bulls and replacement cattle from known sources where herd health status is known. Renting bulls and in some cases pasturing in community type pastures always has the possibility of increasing your cattle’s exposure. We are fortunate in Western Canada to spread out our cattle for most of the year on pastures minimizing the type of exposure confinement brings. Screen embryo transplant recipients for Johne’s. Culling known cases immediately reduces their shedding and if done early before severe weight loss occurs they pass slaughter and the meat is edible. Cattle with severe weight loss (body condition under two) would still qualify under the BSE testing program and should be disposed of that way. As mentioned already, review the records and cull recent heifer calves as they are highly likely to contract Johne’s from their positive mothers. They talk about the “ICEBERG” theory with Johne’s whereby for every clinical case in your herd there is probably at least 10 more incubating the disease. The worst-case scenario I have encountered was years ago a small 20 to 30 head commercial herd which was experiencing one to two clinical cases a year and depopulation, thorough cleaning and disinfection were the only way to eliminate it on this premise. The herd was then repopulated successfully.

In a recent cow calf surveillance project of Saskatchewan herd levels in a large number of herds averaged 1.6% of cows tested positive and this equated to 5.4% of herds. This may seem low but we need to continue to identify and cull positive cows and keep at making this number go down even further. In 1998, the Alberta Government in co-operation with private practitioners sampled Alberta herds and found 4.4% of herds had at least one I have found in herds we deal with by isolating and then positive animal on fecal culture so we are very similar to what we eliminating clinical cases as quickly as possible, removing their were twenty years ago. heifer offspring and proper manure management we can go a very long way to keeping disease presence at an absolute minimum. Spread of Johne’s is primarily the fecal-oral route with exposure This is what we call a notifiable disease in Alberta which means to lots of the organisms over time necessary for transmission. your veterinarian or the lab must report it. We can then help you Transmission through the milk or transplacentally (through the develop a herd strategy to decrease its presence. It is a disease we uterus) has also been demonstrated. The organism has also been don’t want to bury our head in the sand. This is absolutely critical isolated from bull semen. Control centers around good manure in herds both commercial but especially purebred where lots of management, culling appropriate animals as soon as possible breeding females or breeding bulls are sold. Any case especially and herd testing where necessary. of weight loss diarrhea and yet still a good appetite have checked out by your veterinarian. The earlier we find it the earlier we can The organism can survive in moist manure packs for up to one year eliminate it from the herd and minimize transmission. It is one and is resistant to freezing. Survival in soil or water is greater than of the production limiting diseases we should always be on the one year. Desiccation is effective in killing Johne’s so harrowing lookout for. pastures is one effective means to minimize its presence. Manure Today’s Angus Advantag e 30

Making a website doesn’t need to be frightful. Especially when we do it all for you! Contact us today! 306-933-4200 • info@tbarc.com Today’s Angus Advantage 31

December 13, 2020

Production Sale

at the farm, Carnduff, SK

Selling 30 Bred Heifers Many heifers safe to Musgrave Stunner or Musgrave Colossal

LWP 26G

LWP 56G

WIWA CREEK MONARCH 53’08 X S A V KING OF MOUNTAIN 8200

Glennie Prime Cut 4A X Young Dale Elway 56R

J. Wes Glennie PO Box 425, Carnduff, SK S0C 0S0 H: 306-482-3813 | C: 306-339-7578 jwesglennie@gmail.com Today’s Angus Advantag e 32

Selling 30 Long Yearling Bulls Developed without creep feed as calves developed on grass from may 1, 2020 as yearlings

Glennie Prime Cut 4A 13 Sons & 13 Daughters sell

Catalogue will be posted online at DV Auctions & Buyagro.com

LWP 54G GLENNIE PRIME CUT 4A X rONAN tex 10x

If you would like a catalogue mailed, please phone or email your address

LWP 50G GLENNIE PRIME CUT 4A X CONNealy ARSENAL 2174 Today’s Angus Advantag e 33

The New Guy Shorty was partial to working alone, and this day was no exception. It was mid-morning and he was trailing a hundred or so pairs to summer pasture. Things were going along pretty well until Shorty heard a horse approaching him from behind. Shorty turned in the saddle and saw a bay coloured horse approaching at a brisk trot. The rider reined his bay in and walked up beside Shorty. He was a tall, grey haired man, dressed in what looked to be brand new western clothes, from his shiny boots to his brand-new cowboy hat. Shorty suddenly felt under dressed. “Howdy!” The greeting was way too enthusiastic for Shorty. “Mornin,’” Shorty’s responded with as little enthusiasm as he could muster. “Jack,” the man held his right hand out towards Shorty, “My name’s Jack, I bought the Thompson place last fall.” “Shorty.” Shorty ignored the hand that was offered. “Good to meet you Shorty! I figured it must be you. Do you mind if I tag along for a while?”

“It’s a public road.” Shorty glanced over at Jack and the bay. He assumed the bay was new to Jack, mostly because everything else was brand new, new saddle, new rope, new bridle and new guy. “Thanks Shorty. I thought I might ride along and help out a bit. I’ve meant to get up to your place and meet you, just been kinda busy. I have been pretty busy wrapping up my law practice in the city and moving up to the ranch. The wife has settled in now and has the house all ripped up making it hers. I had to get out of the house while she is doing all that, been through two wives before her and I know better than to hang around. Just write the cheques...” Jack looked over at Shorty to see if there was any reaction. Shorty didn’t appear to be very impressed and was staring off to his right. “Mike! Bring her back!” Shorty waved his right arm off towards the bush on his right. Jack hadn’t even noticed the dog that raced off the road and disappeared into the trees. “Should I go help out, Shorty?” “Nope.” Shorty watched the herd move along until he

Today’s Angus Advantag e 34

saw some cows emerge from the trees on his right. “Mike!” The dog turned and ran back to Shorty’s side. “Wow... he’s pretty good Shorty!” Jack had moved his horse past Shorty in an effort to move the cows along a little faster. The cows, rather than speeding up, were looking to escape the pressure by getting off the road. “Slow down Jack! Mike!” Shorty was waving his left arm and Mike headed off to the left. “I can get ‘em Shorty!” Jack started to rein his mount to the left. “No... you stay put. You need to slow down, Mike is going to get fed up with you pretty quick, you are making extra work, slow down! Slower is faster.” Shorty glanced over at Jack, he looked a little shocked. “Oh, I just figured you would want to get these to where they are going while I was here to help.” “Is that what you think you are doing? You ain’t helping Jack. You are a make work project for me and Mike.” Jack looked over at Shorty. Shorty was staring at him. “You want some advice Jack?” “I guess so...” Jack didn’t sound all that convincing to Shorty. “You aren’t a big city lawyer out here; you are the new guy. We judge new guys by watching what they do and how they do it, we don’t care how fancy your truck is, we care about how you treat us and how you act.” Jack just sat there. His face was red, and he looked like he wanted to tell Shorty just what Shorty needed to know. Shorty didn’t give him the chance. “Mike!” The strays had entered the road again and Mike turned back towards Shorty. “I am

gonna tell you one more thing, Jack. You are going to learn a lot more listening then you will talkin.’” Jack’s face was now bright red. He looked as though he really wanted to provide a rebuttal to this smart-ass cowboy, but he had never actually prepared many rebuttals in his law career. He had paralegals to write those, he just read them in court. He was a little hurt by the harsh criticism, and he waited for a few seconds for the apology he thought was coming... but there was nothing. So... he just turned his horse towards home and rode away. Shorty glanced down at Mike, and the dog looked up at Shorty. It sure looked like Mike was laughing. Shorty never had Jack’s help driving cattle again. After the house was renovated, wife number three bought a brand-new Mercedes. The house and yard were always well kept, the ranch part not so much. Jack stayed pretty much out of sight. He cut his hay too late and baled it too early, and his calves were small, at least those that survived. Later that year Shorty heard that wife number three had taken her Mercedes and a sizeable amount of gas money and moved back to the city. Shorty noticed that Jack was holding try outs for wife four throughout the next summer but hadn’t offered a contract to any of the contenders. Jack had let the yard go that summer, but in the early fall Shorty noticed a new truck parked next to Jack’s. The yard was soon looking pretty good and the rumours were that Jack had married number four. The next spring Shorty was in the barn, taking the saddle off the day’s mount after his day’s work when that new truck pulled up to the barn. A young, blonde lady jumped out and walked into the barn. It was number four.

Today’s Angus Advantag e 35

“Shorty?” It was more of a question than a greeting and the young lady smiled at Shorty and held out her hand. “Yes ma’am.” Shorty wiped the horse sweat on his chaps and shook number four’s hand. “I’m Kristal... with a K.” She seemed to think Shorty would have to spell it. “Kristal. What can I do for you?” “Well Shorty, Jack is over his head on this whole ranch thing. He doesn’t seem to be doing anything very well. He needs help and needs it bad.” Number four stopped and looked at Shorty. There was no expression of any kind on the cowboy’s face, neither sympathy nor surprise. “So...” she continued, “We... Jack is offering you a job. We really need someone like you to make this place viable, Shorty.” “No thanks.” Shorty’s answer was way too fast for her liking. “We are prepared to offer you twice the wages you are making now, as many good horses as you need and whatever new tack you want.” “Well Kristal, I ain’t worth what I am getting paid here, I have got all the horses I need, and my tack is just fine thank you.” Kristal was undeterred. “Well I will leave you with it Shorty, just think about it and we can talk next week.”

“No need, I thought about it and I am not about to change. My Dad worked this place when he was a kid, I have been here a long time and the boss treats me good. This ranch is owned by a third-generation rancher and he has been loyal to me, so he deserves my loyalty.” “Ok Shorty, but the offer is out there if you change your mind.” Number four offered her hand and Shorty shook it and she started towards the truck. “Hey Kristal!” Number four stopped and turned towards Shorty. “What is it Shorty? You change your mind?” “Nope. Just wondering... are you a paralegal by chance?” “How did you know that?” Number four was laughing albeit a little nervously. “Just a shot! Thanks for the offer, Kristal... with a K.” Shorty watched the truck head down the road towards its home. The home part would be relatively short lived, a “For Sale” sign went up on the ranch a couple months later and eventually the place sold to another new guy. Jack and Kristal didn’t stop to say good-bye.

Grant Rolston was born and raised in ranching country near Penticton, British Columbia. After graduating school, he worked on a purebred Hereford ranch, then assumed a position at Western Breeders Artificial Insemination Unit. In 1980, he left the livestock scene and joined the Edmonton Police Department, where he received his formal training in photography, working for the IDENT unit (crime scene investigation). After a decade, he returned to the industry, purchasing a herd of purebred Angus cattle but both Grant and his wife, Lauralee, worked off the ranch to make a living. He chose livestock photography and is now Canada’s premier livestock photographer of beef cattle. Grant and Lauralee travel throughout nine provinces in Canada for on farm photography, in addition to all major livestock shows, including the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, the Canadian Western Agribition and all major National Junior shows in the summer months. Grant and Lauralee Rolston reside in Vulcan, Alberta. With four decades of experience, Grant shares things that are “Not Taken for Granted.” Today’s Angus Advantag e 36

Rebound

Beef Comes Back From A Series Of Unfortunate Events

By Morgan Marley Leaving the Gate Open What comes next? When so many decisions in 2020 were reactions to repeated rib punches, it’s hard to catch your breath long enough to make plans.

Shocks to the beef industry were all part of 2020’s “unprecedented” theme, but how the market responded was less surprising. There was nothing for it but to make new plans and keep going said a RaboResearch analyst. Dustin Aherin, Animal Protein Vice President and Analyst for Rabo AgriFinance, a RaboBank subsidiary, addressed those ideas at the virtual 2020 Feeding Quality Forum. “Cattle, labor, physical capital and technology make up the beef production equation,” he said. “When any of those fall out of balance, it’s communicated through prices.” The 2019 Tyson packing plant fire and COVID-19 both threw the equation off, but with different effects. Where the Holcomb, Kansas, fire caused some destruction at one plant, the coronavirus pandemic brought changes in human health, plant adaptions and new technology across the entire supply chain. “Looking at what happened here in 2020 with an extreme increase in fed cattle supplies and given the backlog,” Aherin said, “the collapse in prices really wasn’t unexpected.” The What and Why The escalating disasters highlighted the tightening capacity at packing plants, especially in the last five years. When there aren’t enough resources to turn cattle into beef, “it’s tough to put a high value on those animals,” Aherin said. That’s what happened, but why requires a deeper understanding of the financial environment. The pandemic created a “risk-off environment,” he said, causing investors to pull cash out of the market and put it into assets perceived as safer. “In such a high-risk environment,” Aherin said, “it’s really difficult to motivate buying in the live cattle futures side of the market.” Studies show small changes in beef tonnage result in large price changes, he said. The temporary plant shutdowns, labor challenges and the rapid shift from food service to retail caused major changes in beef availability. “As painful as it was for cattle producers,” Aherin said the prices and magnitude of changes were in line with research models.

But agriculture often deals with heavy blows. Aherin recalled the global financial crisis of 2008 took seven quarters for food service recovery. After a COVID-19 vaccine helps tame the pandemic next year, “we’re expecting closer to eight to 10 quarters,” he said, “and the trend of change will continue” in food service. “We need to be proactive and willing to adapt,” he said. “Consumer preferences, supply chain practices, food safety, quality and convenience are going to be even more important than ever.” Opportunities are wide open for the beef industry, but it’s going to take buy-in and support from cattlemen to create a resilient, diverse and flexible supply chain. “How do we let technology disrupt established procedures to increase efficiencies, particularly at existing packing plants?” Aherin asked. “The big talk is to have more robotic fabrication and cutting,” he said. “But there’s more near-term potential in data collection and monitoring.” Improvements in those areas across all production sectors will help identify the best genetics and practices, he said. Traceability is another benefit. Disease outbreaks not only threaten people but as African Swine Fever has illustrated, also pose high risks to livestock and the food supply. “We have to be able to track, trace and control any sort of disease outbreak before it becomes a major inhibitor to the marketplace,” Aherin said. As consumers grow more curious about food production, source and environmental impact, it may pay to enhance documentation. Throughout the pandemic, branded beef led sales. That’s still rooted in quality but more management attributes are emerging. Producers may not have to change much, just add verification to meet consumer demand and gain market access. Aherin foresees a future where “a product doesn’t have access to food companies, distributors, restaurants and retailers if they don’t meet the standards that those businesses have set for their supply chains.” “We have to be really focused on the consumer and ready to innovate and be creative,” Aherin said. Because when history is making jumps and bounds, “we don’t want to be caught flatfooted.”

Today’s Angus Advantag e 37

DK “a quality brand”

Donn & Karen Kraynick & Family Box 1657 Canora, Sask. S0A 0L0 cell (306) 562-7776 email kraynick@xplornet.ca

Red & Black Angus Box 23 Gladmar, SK S0C 1A0 www.dkfredangus.com

Dwayne & Karen Fettes 306-969-4506

dkfredangus@sasktel.net

Today’s Angus Advantag e 38

Scott, Tina Brandy & Eric 306-815-7023

dkfredangus@gmail.com

Put your ideas in

good hands.

We’ll light up your next project! Contact us for more information Bryan Kostiuk Office: 306-933-4200 bryan@tbarc.com www.todayspublishing.ca

Unlock your full sales potential! Contact us to find out how info@buyagro.com 306-933-4200

Today’s Angus Advantag e 39

LARRY & CHERYL MACNAB & FAMILY Box 125, Mervin, SK S0M 1Y0

Larry’s Cell: (306) 845.7661 Brad’s Cell: (780) 870.6697 Carmen Gervais’s Cell: (780) 522.5989 www.macnabangus.com

le season

Take this sa

by storm

Bryan Kostiuk

Office: 306-933-4200 bryan@tbarc.com

www.TodaysPublishing.ca

REEK A YC

US NG

SHA D

macnabangus@live.ca

KENT HARRIGAN & CHERYL PERKINS MAPLE CREEK, SK

306-662-7339

PUREBRED BLACK ANGUS

WWW.SHADYCREEKANGUS.COM

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Canadian Angus Tags

The Tag with Benefits Angus-branded programs across Canada need and want to verify that what they are selling as Angus is indeed Angus. One way to prove that is by procuring cattle that are tagged Canadian Angus. Tagging your animals with Canadian Angus tags has its benefits: • Sell direct or through one of the 169 Canadian Angus Feeder Sales across Canada. • Canadian Angus tags visually and electronically identify Angus and Angus cross cattle. It’s our guarantee that the animal bearing the tag has a minimum of 50% Angus genetics. • CCIA compliant indicator—no other RFID indicator is required for national identification. • There are a number of branded beef programs in Canada that are unable to find enough verified Angus cattle to satisfy their program demands. The only way to verify? With our Canadian Angus tag! • Many Angus branded programs require Angus verification for qualification into their programs. Maximize your marketing opportunities by using Canadian Angus tags. Ordering your Canadian Angus RFID indicators has never been so easy: Please order directly from CCIA online at www.canadaid.ca or call 1-877-909-2333 CCIA carries both the Datamars brand Temple Tag ComfortEar Canadian Angus RFID indicator as well as the Allflex brand Canadian Angus RFID indicator.

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Canadian Angus tagged animals are in high demand by Canadian Angus beef programs. Order your Canadian Angus management tags directly through the Canadian Angus Association. Order online https://www.cdnangus.ca/adding-value/ordering-caa-management-tags/ or call 1-888-571-3580.

I have used the Canadian Angus tags with good success for years and I recommend all my clients use the tag. The tag is recognizable, stands out, and indicates the animal is of genetics of the greatest beef breed worldwide. The longevity and visibility of the tag is of great economic value. Victor Fischer, FISCHER ANGUS QUARTER HORSES

We’ve been using the Canadian Angus branded tags for at least 10 years. We have a purebred herd, so it was a no-brainer to switch to all “green” Angus indicators and management tags to promote with. We have to stick a tag in them regardless - so it may as well be a branded tag. Bob Higgins

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Hindsight For The Future Randy Blach’s Positive Outlook For The Industry

By Abbie Burnett The blessing and curse of perspective is not having it until a moment passes. Looking back on the last 40 years shows us more than we can see here and now. “I think we really have to have an appreciation for where we’ve come from,” said Randy Blach, CattleFax CEO, at this year’s virtual Feeding Quality Forum. “It’s not been a straight line.” Cattle inventory topped 132 million head in 1975, but it wasn’t until 2000 that the fed-cattle harvest reached its record 30.2 million, and that with a long decline to 10 million fewer beef cows.

The retail sector provides a case study, Blach said. From 1980 to 1998, beef demand was cut by more than half, but since then it’s risen by 14 points to 61 on 1980’s baseline of 100. There’s room for more, but much value has already been added. “That growth from the demand low has been worth anywhere from $225 to about $280 a head,” he said. Demand is well established for today’s higher quality beef, but without an increase in the bottleneck of harvest capacity, Blach sees herd numbers flattening. With the current balance in supply and demand, “We increase harvest capacity or we decrease the number of animals that are moving through the system,” he said. “This will be a situation that ebbs and flows and will start to balance back over the course of the next several years.”

In the 1980s, 12% of U.S. farmers and ranchers went out of business, and the “war on fat” in the ’90s nearly eradicated a poorly informed cattle industry, Blach said. Between 1998 and 2000, almost 40% of carcasses graded Select. “If you go back to the quality audits at that time period, one out of four steaks was a disappointment,” he said. “No wonder consumers were walking away from our product. They didn’t like it.” While a new focus on quality emerged in the early 2000s, genetics, growing drought and mistakes of the past kept up pressure to liquidate. From 2000 to 2015, annual fed harvest numbers declined by 7 million head to close some packing plants and limit harvest capacity going forward. The seeds of that early move to boost quality finally sprouted after the drought, blooming with record-high Choice and Prime grades.

On the global stage, the U.S. is the top beef and poultry producer, and third in pork, dominating meat trade overall. The reason? “Because the lion’s share is a high-quality fed-beef product so we have more yield per animal,” he shared. In 1990, beef exports were a very small percentage of U.S. production, whereas today it’s 19 billion pounds or 18% of total meat exports. Blach sees that growing to as much as 150 billion pounds of beef exported by 2040, or 50 billion more than this year. That sunny projection comes with challenging considerations. “Are we prepared to continue to make the strides, some of the same hard decisions we made 15 to 20 years ago, focused on quality? Are we going to be willing to do that as we move forward where we can increase our global market share and presence? To have a traceable product? Be sourceverified?” he asked.

“We’ve just taken out the long-term downtrend in numbers,” Blach said. “I believe the reason we’ve done that is because we’re an industry that is now focused on doing the right thing, producing the highest quality product that we can, and meeting the changing demands of our consumers.” As the U.S. herd decreased, productivity per head greatly increased and finally added premium quality. The market analyst looks for some liquidation due to drought in the near term but overall numbers should only ebb and flow instead of crash and rise. Stabilization has come to the industry.

Instead of $350 per head, Blach said beef exports could be worth close to $500 per head by 2030. “We’ve seen these premiums stay strong all the way through here because more and more consumers, once they taste the good stuff, they want to stay with it, don’t they? So this has been a quality movement,” he said. “Now the opportunity is to layer some of those other attributes onto this to move the value equation forward as we move forward into this next decade.” Real-time perspective isn’t really a thing, but the progress in the latter half of the last 40 years says a lot about where the beef business is headed.

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