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Sire:
Bred:
Sire: JACKPOT 51J Bred:
Sire:
Bred:
2025 CSA DNA/Ultrasound Program
Replacement Heifer and Yearling Bull Ultrasound DNA Program
CSA is offering a rebate on replacement heifers and yearling bulls born in 2024 (M) that are ultrasound scanned and 100K DNA tested by the same member.
Completed ultrasound and 100K DNA results must be submitted to the CSA office by July 31, 2025.
CSA will credit $27.50 per animal to active CSA member accounts by October 1, 2025.
For more information, contact the CSA office: (403) 250-7979 | cansim@simmental.com
CSA Rebates FOR 2024 DNA Program
DEADLINE | December 31, 2024
Total Herd Enrollment Heifer DNA Program
The CSA is offering a rebate for basic and genomically enhanced parentage panels on females born in 2022 (“K” 2 year old heifers) that are enrolled in the 2024 CSA Total Herd Enrollment [THE] program.
DNA test kits must be ordered by December 31, 2024 and submitted to the lab by February 1, 2025.
CSA will credit $10 per animal to active CSA member accounts by April 1, 2025.
DNA tests are sire verified at a minimum.
From The
By Bruce Holmquist General Manager, Canadian Simmental Association
Gatepost 2024 Year-End Review
As we near the end of the year, I thought we would take some time to remember and highlight some of the success for Simmental in Canada during 2024!
The year began with one of the most successful bull-sales seasons ever in the Simmental breed. Simmental bulls were once again in high demand with very solid prices being paid across Canada. While excellent cull bull prices assisted some of that demand, there is an overall acceptance and popularity that also drives the popularity. No other breed delivers a more balanced package with regards to both maternal and terminal traits, and that has made Simmental one of the mainstream breeds in Canada. Simmental adds value in many ways.
Later in July, Simmental breeders from across Canada and around the world traveled to Alberta to attend the World Simmental Fleckvieh Federation Congress and Young Canadian Simmental Association’s National Junior show. All events were well attended and included a World sale, farm tours and technical sessions with speakers from North America and Europe. One of the week’s highlights was a record setting Friends of Canadian Simmental Foundation sale. The entire Congress was an event to remember, and it will quite likely be the last Congress that Canada will host for many years. Thank you to all who contributed in any way, the excitement and enthusiasm that was created by those events are far reaching and create further interest from new producers entering the Simmental breed.
In mid-October the Canadian Simmental board of directors and Foundation directors met in Calgary for our fall board meetings. The CSA and FCSF Annual General meetings were also held then in an online format via Zoom. Leanna Mitchell and Kyle Lewis joined the CSA board of directors, and Scott Matthews and Ben Farrant are returning for another 3-year term. We thank retiring director Byron Johnson for his six-year commitment to the CSA board during the two terms he served. The two AGMs were held in Zoom format at the decision of the CSA board due to travel costs associated with attending the World Congress. Combining the AGM with the Fall board meetings was a great decision towards staying within budget with our travel costs.
The final run of events is the fall shows and sales which have begun and are riding the wave of Simmental enthusiasm both in numbers and in quality. By the time you read this the Canadian National Show will have been held in Edmonton at Farm Fair and it is certain to be a great event with substantially more entries in 2024.
The commercial cattle market is very strong, and the good Simmcross steers are once again topping many sales in dollars per head realized. In all ways, its dollars taken home per head that pay the bills.
2024 was an excellent year for the cattle business and the Simmental breed and I look forward to that continuing in 2025.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!
Primetime x LFE 28J (Dynasty)
8L
384J x LFE 2C (Red Mountain) Caliber x LFE 641C (Bounty)
Loyalty x LFE 643G (Beast Mode)
Stratton x IPU 117F (Red Deputy)
Stratton x IPU 117F (Red Deputy)
R Plus Mandate x LRPS 123H ( Sochi)
Game Night x LFE 608F (SAV Sensation)
SRH Hannibal x LFE 89J (Beast Mode)
Heavy Hitter x LFE 632F ( Riddler)
x Density
By Lee Hart
Being passionate is the key to success
Whether it’s the show ring or running a mountain trail, this Simmental producer puts her heart into everything
On a late September morning around 2 a.m., Jackie MacGregor arrived at her farm in the Ottawa Valley returning from a trip to France that involved competing in a gruelling 12-hour triathlon race through the mountains around Nice. And then before noon that day she was in the barn cleaning and grooming Simmental cattle.
In a couple more days after the weekend she would be back to her daytime job as a clinical manager in a neuromuscular dentistry office. And somewhere in there she is also putting in anywhere from 15 to 25 hours per week training to keep fit in preparation for the next international triathlon event. She’ll also be helping husband Nathan get cattle fitted for fall and winter livestock shows.
Some might call it a hectic schedule, “some people may even think I’m crazy,” says MacGregor with a hearty laugh. But that’s just the way she rolls. High energy, always on the go, and with a solid affirmation — “loving every minute of it.”
“I’ve been in love with cattle ever since I was a little girl,” she says. “And I have been in love with being a triathlon athlete for the past 14 years. I am passionate about both. In some respects they are two different things, but in other respects they are exactly the same thing. If you are passionate about something, if you love what you do whether it be raising cattle, growing crops or running races you love the challenge, and you strive to be the best you can be.”
In September, Jackie who owns and operates J Star Livestock along with husband Nathan Latchford at Beachburg, northwest of Ottawa was returning from the Women’s World Ironman Championship, held for the first time in Nice, France. Up until 2024 the event had always been held in Kona, Hawaii.
She was among about 1,400 other athletes from around the world competing in the event that involves a 3.4 km swim, a 180 km bike ride and a 42.2 km run, all which takes, depending on the event, about 12 hours to complete. In France she finished 101st overall and was sixth place among Canadian competitors.
“Much of the course covered the same mountainous terrain where they hold the Tour de France,” says Jackie. “It was hot and humid and a gruelling course.” Less than half of the usual 3,500 triathlon competitors competed in 2024, with many staying away because the course was so tough. She was pleased with her performance, but would she go back that challenging course in France when the women’s event returns in 2026? The answer without hesitation was a definite “yes”.
When she’s home attending to the farming business, she and husband Nathan operate J Star Livestock a purebred beef trifecta producing Simmental, Limousin and Black Angus cattle. “I love them all but Simmental are definitely my favourite,” says Jackie. “Every beef breed has their qualities, but Simmental to me just have the whole package. They have great performance so producers are going to see those weaning
weights, but they have great mothering ability as well.” Also still actively involved in the farm is Jackie’s father Jack, who takes the lead as creep feeder and tractor operator.
Jackie didn’t grow up on a farm. Born and raised at Beachburg, her family lived on a rural property owned by her uncle, but her dad was in the concrete business most of his life. She was always involved in sports and she loved animals, so at about age 12 when someone invited her to attend a 4-H Club meeting she figured it was worth checking out.
“I didn’t know anything about 4-H but at that meeting they were having a mock judging event and asked me if I would like to lead an animal in the show ring,” she says. “I had never done it before but I enjoyed working with that calf, so the next year I joined the club.”
Jackie approached a neighbour family, the Jamiesons who owned JA.AR Simmentals about doing chores around their farm “and that’s where I fell in love with Simmental cattle,” she says. As she worked for the Jamiesons for about six years they taught her about raising and showing cattle. She used their calves for her 4-H projects.
Meanwhile the family had moved to another property and a nearby neighbour there had Limousin cattle. Jack MacGregor still had other business interests but began to dabble in the purebred cattle and a bought a few head of Limousin cattle. Jackie was still involved with the Jamiesons, helping to tend to and showing Simmental cattle.
“I just knew that someday I wanted to own Simmental cattle,” she says. “I was just waiting for the right opportunity, waiting for that special animal to come along.” The opportunity did come along in 2014, when somehow Jackie convinced Gerald Donovan of Donvondale Farms to sell her a red baldie Simmental heifer named Carefree.
“He didn’t want to part with that animal, but I managed to get him to agree,” says Jackie. “That’s the thing about so many Simmental breeders — they are so supportive and helpful. They want to encourage young people to get involved and succeed.”
Jackie was able to buy a half interest in Carefree and take full possession of the heifer on the family farm. Carefree was the beginning of a small Simmental herd.
While working with the Jamiesons and showing cattle at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, Jackie met her future husband Nathan in 2002. He didn’t have a farm background either, but was helping the Indian River Cattle Company with their show animals at the Royal. Jackie and Nathan were married in 2009.
Jackie had already established the J-Star Livestock name on the family farm at Beachburg. Today the farm, located on about 700 acres, has 15 head of purebred Simmental females, as well as purebred Limousin and Black Angus cattle. Along with pasture and hayland they do some cash cropping as well.
“We are not a big operation, but we raise quality cattle,” says Jackie. “ Nathan and I weren’t raised on farms so we’ve had to learn about farming and raising cattle together. We have relied on asking neighbours for advice and finding mentors who have helped us greatly along the way. We still rely on their help today. Nathan and I are both competitive people and we love showing cattle.”
Along with their full time off farm careers and activities, Jackie and Nathan show cattle at a number of shows each year. They’ve travelled to events in four different provinces, as well as into the U.S. Major shows include Expo Boeuf in Victoriaville, Quebec, occasional trips to the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina and over the past two decades regularly attending the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.
“We have been very successful in showing female Simmental cattle in the show ring,” says Jackie.
While Jackie had always been interested in sports growing up, she hadn’t latched onto any particular activity until about 14 years ago.
“I had a close friend who died in 2009 which really hit me hard and I found that getting involved in sporting activities helped me deal with the grief and process things,” says Jackie. “It was sometime later I saw a poster for a local triathlon. I had never tried it before but I loved biking, I loved swimming and I enjoyed running so I figured why not give it a try.”
She was 28-years-old when she competed in her first local triathlon event in 2012, and being a natural she has never looked back. “I began competing at the local level and won, then at the provincial level and I won, and then at the national level and I won, and now I am at the international level,” she says. “I am passionate about being a triathlete.”
Although Jackie knew nothing about training for a triathlon she asked other competitors, sought out mentors and eventually hired coaches. “I love the competition, I love the challenge and I am passionate about being a triathlete,” she says. “And when you are passionate about something you want to be the best you can be.” As she turns 40, Jackie figures she is just hitting her prime years as a triathlete competitor, with no plans of slowing down. “There are still women in their 70s who are competing,” she says. “I love taking on a challenge so I plan to keep racing as long as I can.”
To be eligible to compete in international events, Jackie needs to qualify at other sanctioned triathlon events. Earlier this year she competed in and placed 10th in an event in Texas, which qualified her to compete in the women’s world event in France.
Along with help from the triathlon community, Jackie says she has also had tremendous support and encouragement from her husband and family, great support from her co-workers, and great support from the Simmental community as well.
In particular she thanked Gracie Falconer of Hartney, MB for her help. She and Jackie connected and became friends during their years with the Young Canadian Simmental Association(YCSA) and now when Jackie is competing in triathlon events, Gracie travels to Beachburg to look after the cattle while she’s away.
Jackie says whether it is sports or the livestock business, she has received tremendous support from people along the way.
“We still rely on those mentors who have helped us so much in the purebred business,” says Jackie. “Over the coming years we plan to continue to grow our purebred herd and hopefully one day we will have a sale of our own. That’s the goal. And Nathan and I are so appreciative of the helped we received, so hopefully we can pass that along, be supportive and be mentors for other young producers looking to get involved with purebred cattle. We feel it is important to give back where we can.”
Breed IMPROVEMENT
By Sean McGrath Breed Improvement Coordinator for the Canadian Simmental Association
NEW MONEY AND GENETIC
In some respects, the only “new money” that is put into the beef production chain is from the end consumer. This represents a challenge for seedstock producers as we are far removed from the feedback point on our genetics. In other words, the money that comes into the beef production system, doesn’t come from our customer, or even our customers’ customer. The ultimate source of revenue and feedback on our product is several steps removed from our genetic decision making.
When we look at the structure of the industry, most of our Simmental genetics enter the beef industry in the form of bull sales to the commercial industry. These customers often represent our main points of contact and are directly impacted by traits such as calving ease and weaning weight. Due to the maternal ability of Simmental, they may also put a strong focus on maternal traits such as milk, stayability and cow families. This customer is also generally speaking an individual or family that represents a diverse and relatively large number of people operating in a variety of production systems.
Your customer’s customer is usually a feedlot or backgrounder and depending on the sale method there may or may not even be a direct point of communication between the two. It may seem self evident, but the feedlot is interested in growth rate, feed conversion and health/survival through the feeding period. Depending on how the feeder markets cattle they may or may not be concerned about carcass characteristics. Generally they all place importance on carcass weight and may place more emphasis on quality (Marbling/Yield) If they sell on a grid based marketing system. Another point that is important is that the number of operations involved is significantly smaller than the number of commercial customers.
SIGNALS
however they sell to a large and diverse customer group who consist largely of individuals or families with a broad range of cultural backgrounds and tastes (sound a bit familiar?).
This chain on makes direct feedback quite difficult as new investment in our industry from a consumer comes from several steps away in both custody of the animal and in time. When we sell a new bull to our neighbour, the consumer is not engaging the result of that until several steps, multiple owners and the span of roughly 2 to 2 ½ years from the date the bull leaves our yard.
So how do we get a handle on this from a genetic perspective?
Firstly, we need to have a bit of a rough understanding of what each layer of the industry is looking for. This is relatively straightforward for our commercial customers and even the feeding industry and Simmental do a good job of this for the most part. We are sometimes a bit removed from the feedlot health concerns, but work in ongoing on a lot of these concerns. Even the processor piece is relatively straightforward. We can get a pretty good idea that there is pressure on carcasses to marble and yield, particularly given the current high price of obtaining animals to harvest.
feedlot health concerns, but work in ongoing on a lot of these concerns. Even the processor piece is relatively straightforward. We can get a pretty good idea that there is pressure on carcasses to marble and yield, particularly given the current high price of obtaining animals to harvest.
The consumer side is a bit muddier, but generally speaking in terms of things that we can influence with genetics, they are interested in safe, tasty, highquality product. What is determined as high quality is somewhat dependent on culture and eating habits, but that is a short list.
The consumer side is a bit muddier, but generally speaking in terms of things that we can influence with genetics, they are interested in safe, tasty, high- quality product. What is determined as high quality is somewhat dependent on culture and eating habits, but that is a short list.
The third (or fourth) customer down the line is the processor, which is a very concentrated customer (there are very few processors) and they are concerned with carcass characteristics and weight. The goal is to turn a steer or heifer into saleable product that fits into an end market and a box. The important thing to note may just be that this goal is VASTLY different than our original customer for Simmental genetics.
If we are to get to work to get this new money to flow all the way back to the genetic end of the chain, then we need to measure and work on all aspects of genetics that impact that chain. Luckily, Simmental breeders already have many of the tools needed and are working on more through various collaborations by the Association. A short list of things that we can measure and select for is below. It is worthwhile to spend a bit of time thinking about new money and what we can do to ensure our participation in that process.
If we are to get to work to get this new money to flow all the way back to the genetic end of the chain, then we need to measure and work on all aspects of genetics that impact that chain. Luckily, Simmental breeders already have many of the tools needed and are working on more through various collaborations by the Association. A short list of things that we can measure and select for is below. It is worthwhile to spend a bit of time thinking about new money and what we can do to ensure our participation in that process.
In another article, we will talk about ways to shorten that chain and how we can assist our customers’ customers’ customer to add value to beef.
In another article, we will talk about ways to shorten that chain and how we can assist our customers’ customers’ customer to add value to beef.
Further to this is the wholesaler, and retailer who may further process the product from the packer. In Canada this customer is also heavily concentrated,
By Bruce Holmquistt Directeur général - Association Simmental du Canada
Faits saillants de 2024
Tandis que nous approchons de la fin de l’année, j’ai pensé qu’il serait intéressant de se rappeler et de souligner certains des succès de la race Simmental au Canada en 2024 !
L’année a commencé par l’une des saisons de vente de taureaux les plus réussies de l’histoire de la race Simmental. Les taureaux Simmental ont une fois de plus été très en demande et des prix très solides ont été payés partout au Canada. Bien que les prix élevés des taureaux de réforme aient contribué à une partie de la forte demande, il y a une acceptation et un attrait globales pour la race qui ont également favorisé cette popularité. Aucune autre race n’offre un ensemble plus équilibré en ce qui concerne les caractères maternels et terminaux, ce qui fait de la race Simmental l’une des races dominantes au Canada. La Simmental ajoute de la valeur de plusieurs façons. Plus tard en juillet, des éleveurs de Simmental de partout au Canada et du monde entier se sont rendus en Alberta pour assister au congrès de la Fédération mondiale Simmental Fleckvieh et au concours national junior de l’Association Simmental du Canada. Toutes les activités ont été bien fréquentées et comprenaient une vente mondiale, des visites de fermes et des réunions techniques avec des conférenciers d’Amérique du Nord et d’Europe. L’un des faits saillants de la semaine a été une vente record pour la Fondation des amis du Simmental canadien (FCSF). Le congrès tout entier a été un événement mémorable, et ce sera probablement le dernier congrès que le Canada accueillera de nouveau avant de nombreuses années. Merci à tous ceux qui ont contribué de quelque façon que ce soit; l’excitation et l’enthousiasme créés par ces événements sont très importants et suscitent un intérêt accru chez les nouveaux producteurs qui débutent dans la race Simmental.
À la mi-octobre, le conseil d’administration de l’Association Simmental du Canada et les directeurs de la Fondation se sont réunis à Calgary pour leurs réunions d’automne. Les assemblées générales annuelles de l’ASC et de la FCSF ont également eu lieu en ligne par l’intermédiaire de Zoom. Leanna Mitchell et Kyle Lewis ont rejoint le conseil d’administration de l’ASC, et Scott Matthews et Ben Farrant reviennent pour un autre mandat de trois ans. Nous remercions l’administrateur sortant, Byron Johnson, pour son engagement de six ans au conseil d’administration de l’ASC durant les deux mandats qu’il a exercés. Les deux AGA se sont tenues en format Zoom, à la décision du conseil d’administration de l’ASC, en raison des frais de déplacement associés à la participation au Congrès mondial. Combiner l’AGA avec les réunions du conseil d’automne était une excellente décision pour respecter le budget de nos frais de déplacement.
La dernière étape des événements de l’année est les expositions agricoles et les ventes d’automne qui ont bien commencé et qui témoignent de tout l’enthousiasme en nombre et en qualité pour la race Simmental. Au moment où vous lirez ces lignes, le Concours national du Canada aura eu lieu à l’Exposition “Farm Fair” d’Edmonton et il est certain que ce sera un événement d’importance avec beaucoup plus de participations en 2024.
Le marché des bovins commerciaux est très fort et les bons bouvillons croisés Simmental obtiennent encore une fois les meilleurs revenus en dollars par tête. Après tout, ce sont les dollars par tête qu’on ramène à la maison qui paient les factures. 2024 a été une excellente année pour l’élevage et la race Simmental, et j’ai hâte que cela se poursuive en 2025.
Je vous souhaite à tous un Joyeux Noël et une fantastique nouvelle année!
Adonis 96Z x Guerrero
Polled Fullblood
BRED: Kuntz North Star
IPU Black Cinch x Stimulus
Black Baldy Purebred
BRED: KWA Slider
MT. View x Bentley
Red Homo Polled Purebred
BRED: WLB Top Tier
Elevation x Solstice
Fullblood
BRED: Kuntz North Star
IPU Black Cinch x Heavy Hitter
Black Homo - Homo Purebred BRED: Robb Warrior
Our 45th Annual Bull Sale Friday, February 28th, 2025 Moose Jaw, SK EMAIL labatte.simm@sasktel.net To be put on our mailing list!
Adonis 96Z x Rosemead on Demand Polled Fullblood
BRED: Kuntz North Star
RWR Chisel x Bentley
Black Baldy Purebred BRED: CMS Sochi 307A
Mt. View x Betts
Red Homo Polled Purebred
BRED: WLB Top Tier
LaBatte Simmentals & Guest East Poplar Simmentals
45th Annual Bull & Female Sale Friday, February 28th, 2025
d’amélioration de la race, Association Simmental du Canada
SIGNAUX GÉNÉTIQUES ET NOUVEL ARGENT.
À certains égards, le seul « nouvel argent » qui est versé dans la chaîne de production du bœuf provient ultimement du consommateur. Cela représente un défi pour les éleveurs de race pure, car ils sont loin du point de rétroaction sur leur génétique. Autrement dit, l’argent neuf qui entre dans le système de production du boeuf ne vient pas de notre client ou même du client de celuici. La source ultime de revenus et de rétroaction sur notre produit se trouve à plusieurs étapes de notre processus décisionnel génétique.
Quand on regarde la structure de l’industrie bovine, la plupart de la génétique de race Simmental entre dans le secteur du boeuf sous forme de ventes de taureaux aux producteurs commerciaux. Ces clients représentent souvent nos principaux points de contact et sont directement préoccupés par des caractères tels que la facilité de vêlage et le poids au sevrage. En raison des qualités maternelles de la race Simmental, ils peuvent également mettre une emphase sur les caractères maternels tels que l’aptitude laitière, la longévité et les familles de vaches. Ce client est aussi généralement un individu ou une famille qui représente un nombre diversifié et relativement grand de personnes opérant selon divers systèmes de production.
Le client de votre client est habituellement un parc d’engraissement ou une ferme de semi-finition et, selon la méthode de vente, il peut ou non y avoir un point de communication direct entre les deux. Cela peut sembler évident, mais le parc d’engraissement s’intéresse davantage au taux de croissance, à la conversion alimentaire et à la santé/survie durant la période d’engraissement. Selon la façon dont l’engraisseur commercialise ses bovins, il peut ou non être préoccupé par les caractéristiques de la carcasse. En général, ils accordent tous une importance au poids de la carcasse et peuvent accorder plus d’importance à la qualité (persillage/rendement) s’ils vendent dans un système de mise en marché basé sur une grille de paiement. Un autre point important est que le nombre d’entreprises concernées est nettement inférieur au nombre de producteurs commerciaux.
Le troisième (ou quatrième) client en aval dans la chaîne de production est le transformateur, représenté par quelques compagnies (il y a très peu de transformateurs) et qui se préoccupe des caractéristiques de la carcasse et de son poids. Son but est de transformer un bouvillon ou une femelle en viande commercialisable qui est acheminée au marché final dans des boîtes. Il est important de noter que cet objectif est TRÈS différent de celui de notre client original recherchant la génétique Simmental.
Plus loin dans la chaîne, on retrouve le grossiste et le détaillant qui peuvent transformer davantage le produit reçu de l’abattoir. Au Canada, ces intervenants sont peu nombreux, mais ils vendent à un groupe de consommateurs nombreux et diversifiés qui se compose principalement d’individus ou de familles ayant une vaste gamme de cultures et de goûts (est-ce que cela vous semble familier ?).
Cette chaîne de production rend la rétroaction directe assez difficile, car les nouveaux investissements dans notre industrie de la part d’un consommateur proviennent de plusieurs étapes plus loin dans le temps en termes de propriété de l’animal. Lorsque nous vendons un nouveau taureau à notre voisin, le consommateur ne verra pas le résultat de cela avant plusieurs étapes, plusieurs propriétaires et une période d’environ 2 à 2 1⁄2 ans à compter de la date à laquelle le taureau quitte notre ferme.
Comment donc gérer tout cela d’un point de vue génétique ?
Premièrement, nous devons avoir une bonne compréhension de ce que chaque maillon de l’industrie recherche. Pour nos clients commerciaux, c’est relativement simple et même l’industrie de l’engraissement et la race Simmental font un bon travail dans la plupart des cas. Nous sommes parfois un peu éloignés des préoccupations relatives à la santé des bovins dans les parcs d’engraissement, mais du travail est fait en permanence pour régler bon nombre de ces problématiques. La situation avec le transformateur est relativement simple. C’est assez clair que ceux-ci mettent de la pression sur les carcasses pour viser plus de persillage et de rendement, particulièrement compte tenu du prix élevé actuel à payer pour les bovins prêts à l’abattage.
L’aspect du consommateur est un peu plus flou, mais en général, en ce qui concerne les choses que nous pouvons influencer avec la génétique, ils sont intéressés par des produits salubres, savoureux et de haute qualité. Ce qui est déterminé comme étant de haute qualité dépend en quelque sorte de la culture et des habitudes alimentaires, mais la liste est plutôt courte.
Si nous voulons que cet argent neuf soit perçu jusqu’à la fin de la chaîne génétique, il faut mesurer et travailler sur tous les aspects de la génétique qui ont un impact sur toute la chaîne. Heureusement, les éleveurs de Simmental ont déjà beaucoup d’outils disponibles et ils travaillent à en obtenir davantage grâce aux diverses collaborations réalisées par l’association. Une courte liste de choses que nous pouvons mesurer et sélectionner est présentée ci-après. Il est utile de prendre le temps de réfléchir aux sources d’argent neuf et aux mesures que nous pouvons prendre pour assurer notre participation à ce processus.
Dans un autre article, nous parlerons des façons de raccourcir cette chaîne et de la façon dont nous pouvons aider les clients de nos clients à ajouter de la valeur au bœuf.
Carcasse Données par ultrasons sur les carcasses Parc d’engraissement, Transformateur, Grossiste, Détaillant, Consommateur
Vets ADVICE
By Roy Lewis, DVM
+BLOAT IN TODAY’S CATTLE PRODUCTION
Bloat, which is the distension of the rumen, is probably seen much less frequently in cattle production with producers using total mixed rations but they still occur and we must be ready to treat. Frothy bloat can quickly turn from serious to death and yet timely treatment is generally very effective with no lingering consequences. Two incidences of bloat (one frothy & one free gas) on expensive purebred animals at a cattle show prompted this article. We never know when they will happen so always need to be vigilant. I can almost guarantee that anyone long enough in the cattle business has had cattle die of bloat.
All cattle producers can experience bloat on really any class of cattle at any stage in their production cycle. The lush second cut alfalfa hay is always a risk but sometimes it may be the inability to eructate off the gas that leads to bloat. From tied show cattle to cattle getting high centered on a hill all can contribute to a case of bloat. As cattle producers one must always be prepared to treat it if you see it. From here it is important to differentiate from free gas and frothy bloat. Once treated appropriately one must determine if this is the tip of the iceberg as there may be others to treat in the same time frame or is there something in management or access to feed that can be changed to avoid future problems.
One must always consider your good fortune to recognize and be able to treat a frothy bloat in time. These bloats are recognizable by the large distension of the rumen on the left side. Pain and a reluctance to walk are very bad signs and one must act quickly. To see how much time one has try and grab loose skin over the distended area. If you can get it to fold up you have some time but if drawstring tight act as quick as you can. If cattle go down you have very little time left.
I think every farm should equip them with a good stomach tube, a speculum and a supply of bloat medication. Keep enough on hand to treat a few head. A stomache pump would be nice but for the smaller operation a funnel can work to get the medication in. The speculum you put in the mouth first and run the tube through the inside of it. This is so cattle don’t chew on the tube collapsing it and worst-case scenario chew it off and swallow it. There have been multiple cases over the years of cattle chewing off and swallowing a length of hose. This may necessitate surgery to get the hose out so use a speculum please. These two things can be acquired from your veterinary clinic or some farm supply stores and is not an expensive piece of equipment to keep around.
With bloats the products that are out there called things like anti-gas, bloat lax, or bloat ez and usually contain “dioctol” have a bit of spearmint or other taste are very good at reducing a frothy bloat. It allows the bubbles to form free gas to be burped out. Mineral oil can also be used but I like to flavor it with something like anti-gas first. The bloat treatments are made to be able to drench a calf say and the individual doses come with a long necked container to be able to make it happen. I prefer to mix it with water use the tube to get whatever gas you can off and then pump it in. If pretty pressured you maybe can get some gas off before pumping product in and then try and bleed more gas off
If really pressured up and life threatening we may on occasion need to place a trocar in. I really like to use the medical approach if we can but if you keep a 14 gauge 2”
needle with you there may be an occasion where placing just the needle into the top area of distension that by holding it you will get enough gas out so the condition isn’t life threatening. Once treated with the antigas if truly a frothy bloat improvement should come within fifteen minutes so the animal has to be watched closely in case trocarization is necessary. If it doesn’t come down you may have a free gas bloat in which case with tubing you often will hit the pocket and it will come down like a balloon. If needing to use a trocar you may have to do a nick in the skin with a blade and then place the trocar through the muscles and into the rumen. This is placed at the high point of distension on the animals left side.
Free gas bloats may just be where an animal may not be able to eructate the gas and generally they don’t get as tight but I have seen some where they still go down and it becomes life threatening so treat all bloats very seriously.
There was a product called afla-sure that used to be able to be put in the water sources for those cattle pasturing heavy stands of alfalfa. It was essentially 100 percent effective but unfortunately the product is no longer on the market. There was research going on towards getting an alfalfa species that had low bloat potential but I think at the same time production was lessened considerably. There are also Rumensisn CRC boluses that help reduce the incidence of bloat. Poor doing animals where the rumen protozoa are killed by bloat we usually find some other clinical entity with them. I do believe some cattle reach a certain size where for a time it seems hard to eructate gas and then the pressure gets to high resulting in the bloat. With reoccurring free gas bloat a rumen transplant (rumen contents from another animal) can be pumped in. There are rumen stimulant products to try and if those fail then surgery a rumen fistula is performed. This surgery creates about a loonie size hole where air can escape directly from the rumen to the outside air. The surgery tacks the rumen down to the outside skin creating the opening.
Changing rations too quickly can lead to bloat. A saying that has been around for a long time is we kill them with kindness so lets always watch how quickly we change rations; watch the level of alfalfa and other legumes in the diet.
If putting cattle onto a worrisome pasture put them out full and preferably when the crop is courser and not in the morning if dew on the leaves.
As producers always keep on hand equipment and product to treat bloat. If treatment doesn’t work if may be something else and work with your veterinarian on prevention if bloat incidence starts to rise. It distended on both sides other problems may be the cause such as a torsion, intestinal blockage from a hairball or severe peritonitis. Bloat treatment should work if a frothy bloat very quickly 15-30 minutes. Often it is the most expensive growthy animal that bloats so always be ready because this is one case where you can save a life just by being ready.
Bloat medicine is very cheap insurance to have around and sometimes it is purely a show calf stealing from a neighbour, anything is possible in the cattle production world when it comes down to bloat. When they are treated successfully it gives one a gratified feeling for sure. Keep the equipment and bloat medicine accessible by everyone.
How to Tattoo an Animal
Tattoo letters are a unique combination of three (3) or four (4) letters allotted to a person by the National Breed Association for that person’s exclusive use in identifying, tattooing, and registering animals with their association.
All animals must be identified with an ear tattoo in order to be eligible for registration in the Canadian Simmental Association books as follows:
• All calves born in Canada must be identified by an ear tattoo before the animal is six (6) Months of age
• All imported animals must be identified by an ear tattoo using the Canadian owners tattoo letters or such other letters as may be required by the association.
• An ear tattoo is a unique combination of tattoo letters, followed by a number of up to 4 digits to identify the animal, followed by a year letter. The first number in a letter cannot be a zero (0).
• No two (2) animals, regardless of sex, may have the same ear tattoo within a 22-year cycle of the year letters.
• The letters I, O, Q, and V are not used.
Hints on a successful tattooing
• As proper identification of animals is the basis for the purebred industry, this is the most important factor a breeder should consider. Animals can be turned away from shows, sales, and for export purposes because of improper, indistinct, or just plain erroneous tattoos. Placing a tattoo on an animal should be a simple matter, but it seems it causes many breeders problems mainly because not enough care is taken at the time the tattoo is applied. Read these tips over, inspect your cattle tattoos when you have a moment, evaluate your present technique, and see if you can improve on your own tattooing method.
• Tools of the trade: tattoo pliers, small brush (a toothbrush works well) for rubbing paste into the tattoo letters, rag for cleaning ears, alcohol as solvent to wet rag to remove wax, tube of paste ink. Don’t store the tattoo letters in a pile at the bottom of a container, the points will become bent or dull. Clean, sharp, straight needles make for good tattoos.
• Applying the tattoo: select a spot between the ribs, well into the ear and well away from the hairy edges of the ear. Press firmly and release, pressing the ear away from the pliers if necessary to avoid tearing the skin. Note that if the punctures made are indistinct or ripped, leave it to heal for a week and try again. Avoid hitting a rib, as this causes excess bleeding and will result in one side of the puncture being too shallow and the other side too deep, making a poor tattoo. N.B. Extremely important to thoroughly clean the dirt and wax from the ear.
• Apply the ink to the ear. There are many types of ink, but paste is recommended. Colors vary, but green works best.
• Don’t put the paste directly on the tattoo needles, work the paste into the punctures with the brush. If any blood appears, apply more paste, and rub it in until the bleeding stops. If the tattoo is a good one, the excess ink may be removed immediately, but usually it is left on to help minimize bleeding.
• Don’t place tattoos in the hairy edges. Remember when doing calves, place the tattoo well into the ear. As the calf grows, the hairy edge works into the ear.
• A good tattoo, well into the ear, away from the hairy outer edges and plainly visible is the desired result. Place the breeder letters in the top, running between the first and second ribs.
• The use of a flashlight speeds up the reading of tattoos, but well placed, distinct tattoos should require no aid to read them. Don’t confuse 6s and 9s. Once you’ve placed the tattoos in the pliers, check on a piece of cardboard before placing in the ear.
• Anchor D Simmentals, AB
• Derek Fell, ON
• Ferme Coureurs Des Bois Simmentals/ Ferme Martinhel, QC
Simmental Country is the official publication of the Canadian Simmental Association. We endeavor to bring you up-to-date information and articles that are of interest to both the purebred and commercial cattlemen.
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SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION the of British Columbia
SEEKING NEW MEMBERS!
Are you a BC resident and passionate about Simmental influenced cattle? Join the Simmental Association of BC to help promote and establish a more prominent Simmental presence in our province.
Check out our facebook page for events and news happening around our province!
To become a member please email: SIMMENTALBC@GMAIL.COM for a membership form!
CHET JANS
President
250.219.8200
LEANNA MITCHELL
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
December 4, 2024 - 7:00 PM via Zoom Commercial or seed stock we want all BC Simmental enthusiasts! Please join us for our AGM! A zoom link will be emailed to current members directly. The link will also be posted onto our Facebook page. Please contact us with any questions, concerns, bylaw amendment requests or additional agenda items. Email simmentalbc@gmail.com and we will send you a link to the meeting!
REGIONAL REPRESENTATION
The newly formed Simmental Association of BC provides regional representation for Simmental breeders and commercial cattlemen alike, with special promotion and attention to marketing Simmental influenced cattle in British Columbia. Our association scope stretches beyond the seed stock industry, and we want to have commercial cattlemen participate in this exciting future.
WAIVED FEES
The 2024 membership fees will once again be waived, and we look forward to working with you!
JAMIE JANS
Sweepstake$
:: Farm Nominations only $250!
~ Nominations open to any CSA members!
~ Contact the SSA Office or any of the SSA Directors to nominate your farm!
Memberships can be purchased in advance
office ph/text: 306-697-7855
email: sasksimmental@yourlink.ca
:: Silver memberships only $100!
For a chance to win...
~ $10,000 Sale Credit(s) to purchase an animal from any of the nominated farms!
~ Secondary prizes drawn throughout the night!
~ Silver memberships can be purchased in advance!
Fall Show & Sales
Edam Fall Fair
October 26
contact John Grant 306-441-7984
Yorkton Harvest Showdown Oct. 31 - Nov. 2
Lloydminster Stockade Roundup Oct. 30 - Nov. 1
Canadian Western Agribition
November 27
9 AM Simmental Show
6 PM Breeder’s Sweepstakes
November 29
10 PM Commercial Show
November 30
8 AM Bull Pen Alley
10 AM Commercial Sale
TO ALL THE AG EX EXHIBITORS
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 AG
571 Creations
Rocky Meadow Ranch
Bar 2S Ranch
B2 Cattle Co
83 South Simmental Bull Sale
Purebred Classes:
Rainbow River Simmentals
Bert’s NR Simmentals
Southam Simmentals
McIntosh Ranch
Pure Country Simmentals
Nolan Stock Farms
Downhill Simmentals
Pembina Triangle Simmental Association
Prairie Partners Bull Sale
WLB Livestock
Horner Cattle Company
Delight Simmentals
Ag-Land Farms Ltd
Northern Light Simmentals
JP Cattle Company
Keystone Simmental Association
Perkin Land & Cattle Co
In memory of Ernie & Betty Wilcox
A huge thank you to Gordon Delichte for helping the YCSA raise a total of $1,020 in a head shaving fundraiser! And thank you to all the donors, for your commitment to the Simmental youth!
Twin Meadow Livestock
Rafter Valley Engraving Co
Rich Mc Simmental
We would also like to
McIntosh Lady 50K - Horner Cattle Company
Double Bar D Linchpin 431K - Double Bar D Farms
thank Judge: Dave Durie, Announcer: Richard Bramley, Barn Bosses: Pat & Tracey Wilcox, the volunteers, the spectators, and anyone else that made it a great day!
