Today's Angus Advantage Spring 2019 by Today's Publishing Inc.

Today’s Angus Advantage 1

Today’s Angus Advantage 2

Thank you to all who attended, bid and bought at the HBH Angus Farms Cattleman’s Connection Bull & Female Sale

We are grateful for your support

104F

HBH Fahrenheit 104F

sired by HF Hot Lotto 54D was purchased by Doug Monson, Bottineau, ND

32F

HBH Factor 32F

sired by HF Hot Lotto 54D was purchased by Meridian Ag., Acadia Valley, AB

101F

HBH Firebrand 101F

sired by HF Hot Lotto 54D was purchased by Edgehill Farms Ltd., Shoal Lake, MB

Introducing New Genetics

JL Admire 8004

sired by McConnell Altitude 3114

8004

HBH Angus Farms Inc. Box 94, Oak River, MB, R0K 1T0

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

e e s o t r e m m u s Stop by this r u o d n a n o i t uc d o r p n i s e l a fem ic s s a l K e n o t s ey K e h t r o f p u line Neil Carson Ph: 204-773-6927 carson@inetlink.ca

Today’s Angus Advantage 3

Darcy Heapy Ph: 204-365-7755 dheapy@mymts.net

www.HBHAngusFarms.com

2019 Spring Issue

In This

12 It is the end of April and many areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta just got hit with a heavy snowfall yesterday. Most producers would rather have seen some warm rain, but few will complain about the precipitation, in any form. As we look to the future, the forecast for fall feeder prices helps to warm us up! The price insurance programs available are offering some strong guarantees; these programs are great risk management tools for all producers. They are especially beneficial to younger producers looking to expand, as they provide market security; something financial institutions love.

Be proud of what you do; as the world population continues to grow and we cover more ground with pavement and concrete, the farmer and rancher will become more and more respected. The Ag portfolio within government will become one of the most important positions. The world needs large supplies of quality, sustainably produced food and that is never going to change. We all know it is the best place to raise a family and live; I know some people are struggling with the idea of transitioning the operation to the next generation, in respect to wondering if it is a good idea. Absolutely it is; agriculture is one of the More and more we are told the consumer wants to most sustainable industries out there. Your children connect with how and where their food is produced. could move to the city and struggle with life and They also want a quality product; as a beef producer careers far worse than they may back home.They will in Canada using Angus genetics, you need to embrace have to learn to adapt, as things are always changing this trend. Beef cattle production having cattle born and the way Grandpa did things may not continue to and raised on grass in large open natural environments, work, but the family farm will continue. Corporate being fed grain and roughage is as wholesome and ranches have been tried and in most instances fail, natural as can be. As a producer, you need to support due to the amount of hands on work required; work all the organizations that help promote what you do that only a family is willing to do and time only they and how you do it. The second piece of the puzzle is are willing to sacrifice. Start your succession plans Angus genetics. Unfortunately, many consumers do early, as they take time and usually require some not know that Angus is a breed of cattle but what professional help. they do know is “Angus” symbolizes quality. That is Enjoy all the promises that spring brings, new life and why most of the major retailers, including the largest green grass! in the world, Wal-Mart and many of the largest restaurant chains, all offer “Angus” beef.

issue

CAA News - National Convention 2019

Black Ink - Really That Good

C.R.A.P.S. News

CAB - Education, Change: Beneficial Discomforts 44

National Convention 2019 Registration is now open! Register today and take advantage of early bird pricing!

The 2019 Canadian Angus Convention co-hosted by the Alberta Angus Association is taking place in Drumheller, AB June 6th to 9th, 2019.

CAA News

Black Ink - Staying On Track

CAA HIR Project 49

Please check back weekly for updated information on sessions and events for our National Convention 2019. https://cdnangus.ca/activities-and-services/national-convention/ Canadian Angus 2019 History Book The Canadian Angus 2019 History Book will officially launch at our President’s Reception on the evening of June 6, during our National Convention 2019. New Member Orientation New Member Orientation webinars are being held monthly through the Canadian Angus Association. Contact cdnangus@cdnangus.ca and sign up today. Anyone is welcome to attend. This will be an online interactive webinar that you can follow along and ask questions. We will review several topics such as: • The Canadian Angus Association • Who We Are • Programs and Services • The Fee Schedule • ACE Program • Registrations • Requirements for Registration • Parentage Verification Policy • Genetic Conditions Policy • How to Request a DNA Test • How to Take and Submit a DNA Sample • Transfers • AngusNOW • The Performance Program • EPD Basics • Genomics • Forms and Reports • Canadian Angus Tag Program • Marketing • The Foundation

Canadian Angus Association 292140 Wagon Wheel Blvd. • Rocky View County, AB T4A 0E2 Toll Free:1-888-571-3580 • Phone: 403-571-3580 Fax:403-571-3599 • Email:cdnangus@cdnangus.ca www.cdnangus.ca

as in every

issue

The Real World

Not Taken for Granted

A Breeder’s Veterinary Perspective

Vet’s Advice

Advertising & Subscription Rates

Schedule of Events

Really That Good By Miranda Reiman Young kids often have a misplaced sense of confidence. “Wook, how high I jump.” As a toddler, one of my girls used to love to show off that skill. She’d squat down, chubby thighs almost touching the ground and she’d give it her all. Her jump would maybe clear all of two inches. She was always thrilled.

Several years ago, word of mouth was the best data you had as a cow-calf producer who sells at weaning. If that farmerfeeder in Iowa bought your dad’s cattle and kept buying yours, they must be alright. If a packer-buyer said the cattle were good, you could go home assured you’d done your job well.

18 “I’m w-eally good at that, w-ight, Mom?”

At two, that sureness is endearing. A few decades older, not always. We get phone calls, emails and Facebook messages, people stop by after a speaking engagement. The venue, medium and producer may vary, but the tone is often the same: “I have good cattle. How can I get paid more for them?”

Of course running a long-standing ranch business is well beyond toddling, but consistently earning value-added premiums takes a lot of proof. I’m not one to dodge a question and my career is pretty much built on how to earn more with cattle. I believe market signals work—you know, the ones sent back through the beef supply chain from cattle buyers and their beef buyers. Once you take out seasonal factors and unpredictable swings, in the end and on average, the open market usually comes out so that better cattle bring better prices.

Today, it’s a different world.

The days of, “you can’t tell if they’re good until you take that hide off” have given way to new tools. Now we have DNA tests that give you a sneak peek. Now we have feeder calf programs that help assign a number to predict later performance and give you a benchmark to track from year to year. Once you’ve found out how your cattle stand up to the competition, then you’ll be able to weigh value-added marketing options. You can form relationships and communicate with buyers. You can use that data to help earn more. With the enthusiasm of an unbridled two-year-old you can say, “I have good cattle.” It’s a pretty satisfying statement when you have the data to prove it’s true. Next time in Black Ink®, Nicole Erceg will look at expansion. Questions? E-mail mreiman@certfiedangusbeef.com.

But when I detect the claim “I have good cattle” is more of an opinion than fact, I start off as a skeptic. Like any buyer would. How do you know they’re good?

Before I even ask the question, some go on to list possible evidence that they do indeed have good cattle. • “I buy expensive bulls.” • “They look good.”

• “It’s a completely closed herd.”

• “They always top the auction market.”

• “We’ve had repeat buyers year after year.”

Some of those indicators are more valid than others. Bulls bought on price alone, don’t tell the same story as what expected progeny differences (EPDs) you’ve focused on. We know buyers are keeping track of the cattle that hit it out of the park and conversely, those that strike out. If they want them back, the cattle probably did work to some degree. But there’s no way to tell if they were the best in the yard or just average. How can you be sure that your cattle are making money for the next person who buys them?

22 High Definition

It all started simply enough, it was an early summer evening and Shorty and Cathy were just finishing off the supper dishes, when the boss showed up at Shorty’s door. The boss had decided that he should change out the ranch’s satellite TV system from the out-dated system that was in place now, with a brand new, high definition satellite system.

“The satellite guys will be here on Tuesday, first thing in the morning. Cathy, are you going to be here?” Cathy was smiling from ear to ear. “Yeah, I will be here for that, thank you!”

“My pleasure, it is the least I can do for you guys!”

“No …” thought Shorty, “A nice bonus cheque would be the least you could do, I never have any time to watch TV.” “Thanks” is what he said.

After the boss left, Cathy walked into the living room and motioned towards the TV in the corner.

Cover Photography Grant Rolston

brother complained. So that is how we find Shorty, on the first Saturday after the Wednesday afternoon when the satellite guys finally showed up, sitting in his truck while Cathy shopped in a nearby craft store. He had been listening to the complaints about the Big Fella for the past four or five days and he knew he would have to do something, eventually. He was staring across the parking lot at a big box store that included the word Electronics in it’s name. There in the window was a great big, bright yellow sign with the word Sale in black letters. “What can it hurt?” Shorty climbed out of the truck and wandered across the lot towards the store. He entered the massive building and was immediately accosted by a tall, gangly young man with spiky green hair. “Can I help you Dude?” Greeny asked.

“Shorty, we have to get rid of that thing” She was pointing at the current television set. It was huge, big and deep and square, a massive silver plastic monstrosity with a tiny little screen. The last time Shorty had moved, his brother had named the TV the Big Fella.

“Nope, just looking.” Shorty never made eye contact and kept walking. He walked to the back corner of the building and there they were, hundreds of televisions, some big, some huge and all of them on. Some had a soccer game on, some had a cooking show and there were a couple of them hooked to some sort of game console with a group of snotty nosed kids doing whatever they do with the games.

“Shorty, this is the last time I move this big piece of crap! They make Smart Cars smaller than this!” His

Shorty just stood and stared. The picture was unbelievable. You could not only see the player’s

Today’s Angus Advantag e 4

ADDING

” E S N E S N O “COMM TO OUR PASTURES! ADDING CALVING EASE & MATERNAL STRENGTH!

0 3 se n e S n o m m o C C M y Red Laz

Thank you to everyone who supported our sale!

EXAR Epic 8023B

Add pounds with this heavy, big numbered Epic son!

BW: 1.6 WW: 86 YW: 158 Milk: 30 $W: 83 $F: 142 $B: 192 Top 1% $F, Top 1% $W, Top 1% WW, Top 1% YW, Top 2% $B, Top 2% CWT, Top 15% Milk, Top 15% REA, Top 25% Marb

Today’s Angus Advantag e 5

AAA EPDs as of 4/24/19

Today’s Angus Advantage 6

Introducing New Sires For 2019

PM EXECUTIVE DECISION 5’17

RED WILBAR ESCOBAR 251E

WILBAR ENFORCE 428E

2018 National Champion, owned with Nordal Angus

Owned with Classic Livestock

Upcoming Sires In 2020

RED WILBAR CRACKERJACK 73F

CONLEY TURNING POINT 8362

RED WILBAR LITHIUM 56F

2019 High Selling Bull, owned with Yarrow Creek Ranch

Owned with Poplar Meadows Angus & Conley Ranch

2018 Reserve National Champion, owned with Raymond Land & Cattle

Today’s Angus Advantage 7

Breeding lines include: RED HAMCO MISSION STATEMENT 38Y RED DIMLER HAWK 73X RED WRAZ JACK 708E RED BRYLOR MULBERRY 433C

Angusville MB

RED BRYLOR MULBERRY 433C

RED SILVER CREEK MULBERRY 67F RED HAMCO EUCLA 223Y

Still looking for a bull?

CHECK OUT OUR 2018 LINE UP OFFERED BY PRIVATE TREATY

S A V FINAL ANSWER 0035 S A V PRIORITY 7283 S A V BLACKCAP MAY 5530 RITO 707 OF IDEAL 3407 7075 S A V BLACKCAP MAY 1778 S A V MAY 2397

SITZ TRAVELER 8180 S A V EMULOUS 8145 B C C BUSHWACKER 41-93 S A V MAY 7238 R R RITO 707 IDEAL 3407 OF 1418 076 S A F 598 BANDO 5175 S A V MAY 7238

REGISTERED RED & BLACK ANGUS THE LUBA FAMILY BOX 84 ANGUS VILLE MB R0J 0A0

(204)773-3252

(204)859-0253

silvercreekfarms@live.ca find us on facebook www.facebook.com/Silver-Creek-Farms

• MARCH 1, 2013 • IMP 3223A S A V Blackcap May 3223 was purchased straight from Kelly Schaff in North Dakota. This cow is deep bodied and nice uddered with a large rib eye. Her 2017 heifer sold in Schaff’s production sale as Lot 555, with top honours as the #1 weaning and yearling heifer. Her 2018 bull calf sold as Lot 72 in the 2019 Schaff production sale. Her dam’s flush sister, S A V Blackcap May 1782, pictured here, is the dam of the $800,000.00 S A V Elation and her grand dam, S A V May 2397, is the elite pathfinder dam also of the world production record Blackcap May 4136.

Today’s Angus Advantag e 8

Thank you

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported and helped our program with the fall New Generation Female Sale and the Mar Mac Farms and Guests Bull Sale. We work 365 days of the year trying to produce bulls that work in the purebred and commercial industry and look forward to hear how are bulls are doing.

New Generation

Mar Mac Farms & Guests

BULL SALE Lance Austin *+Belle Plaine Colony *Brylor Ranch *William and Audrey Bird *Perry Bollman 4B Ranch *Landon Campbell *+Shawn Cory *+Randy Dayholos Denbie Ranch Dusty Ridge Ranch Erhart Farm *G+B Farms *Gordon Resources *Guild Farms +Grazing Corp. *Jameson Rolling Land Farm *Jamie Keen *Sarah Keen *Magnusville Farm

FEMALE SALE

D+S Moffatt *Bryce Penner Lew Plett *Barry Pogson *Blair Rankin *+Troy Reynolds *Ritzco Farms *Rosebank Farms *Schweitzer Farms *Scott Bros +Seward Farms Doug Sigurdson *+Jay Sprott Randy Smith *Marv Thiessen *Blaine Vandamme *Kevin Vigfusson *WCF Angus Randall Weibe *Russ Wolgemuth

*Blairs.Ag *BNH Cattle Co. Breezy Ridge Simmentals *Aaron Bujold Camo Cattle Co. *Deeg Simmentals Delichte Simmentals *Dersta Farms + Double Barrel Ag Ltd. Fairlight Farms First Line Angus *Gordon Resources *Hawkeye Ranching *Horner Cattle Co. Lake Bottom Farm Ryan Koetke Holly Madsen Madsen Angus Maple Falls Simmentals Maya Angus

*Dennis Mauthe *+Nicola McPherson *Dale McKay *McThree Farms *North Hill Simmentals * Alice Rooke * +D+P Rooke Farm *Southam Simmentals * + Jay Sprott Sunny Ridge Stock Farms *+Springhill Farms *Todd Simmentals *Williamson Farms * +Wraz Red Angus * Volume buyer* Ritzco Farms 12 heifers from all 3 divisions.

* means repeat + means multiple bulls.

12 July 2019

Your success is our success and we look forward to visiting with you in the future.

MANITOBA ANGUS SUMMER TOUR hosted by Mar Mac Farms and McRae Land and Livestock Featuring Black and Red Angus Cattle Grazing Systems | Water Development | Corn Grazing Trials

Blair, Lois & Melissa McRae 204-728-3058 | Brandon, Manitoba Blair: 204-729-5439 | Lois: 204-573-5192 WATCH FOR UPDATES ONLINE AT

www.marmacfarms,net

McRae Land & Livestock | Brett McRae | 204-729-1018 Today’s Angus Advantag e 9

Selling 15 yearling and two year old bulls plus 30 heifer calves by Private Treaty

SIRED BY Walking Sires: Red Double C “Brando” Red Double C “Dino”

CPRA 503B

Red Double C “Brando”

A.I. Sires: Red Benchmark Transition 10’14 Red DKF Razor 55C Red Brylor Kodiak 3A

Check out our 2019 lineup,

this year the bulls are all about business Visit kccattleco.com for more information Dr. Colin Palmer DVM, Kim Palmer & Family RR 5 Site 502 Box 39, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J8 (20 minutes from Saskatoon) Phone: 306.492.2134 Cell: 306.290.8431 Today’s Angus Advantage 10

Mike & Ron Jr. Nolan Mike: 519-803-0555 Ron Jr : 416-993-3218

Ron Nolan Sr. 905-330-5299

Greg Nolan 416-616-8834

Mitchell Whitton 647-297-1517

ronrwn@artisanbeef.ca

gregn@artisanbeef.ca

afladmin@artisanbeef.ca

6 6 3 6 7 7 0 7 E u r p h r a s i a - H o l l a n d To w n l i n e RR3, Markdale, ON N0C 1H0

WE ARE A FAMILY OF ANGUS BREEDERS SPECIALIZING IN VERIFIED GREEN TAG CANADIAN BLACK ANGUS. TO PURCHASE OUR PREMIUM ANGUS GENETICS OR TO SELL US YOUR FATS, STOP BY OUR FARM OR CALL US TODAY!

WE WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE UPCOMING SALES: Ontario Autumn Angus Classic August 31, 2019

Gilchrist Farms & Friends October 12, 2019

Bluewater Angus Sale

Connecting Farm to Market Need to sell your finished Angus cattle? Looking for supply chain support? Call our wholesale office today to partner up!

We support the green tag for Angus verification initiative! Today’s Angus Advantag e 11

Office: 905-670-3450 info@artisanfarms.ca 6400 Shawson Dr Mississauga, ON L5T 1L8 Artisanfarms.ca Bar5.com

It is the end of April and many areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta just got hit with a heavy snowfall yesterday. Most producers would rather have seen some warm rain, but few will complain about the precipitation, in any form. As we look to the future, the forecast for fall feeder prices helps to warm us up! The price insurance programs available are offering some strong guarantees; these programs are great risk management tools for all producers. They are especially beneﬁcial to younger producers looking to expand, as they provide market security; something ﬁnancial institutions love.

More and more we are told the consumer wants to connect with how and where their food is produced. They also want a quality product; as a beef producer in Canada using Angus genetics, you need to embrace this trend. Beef cattle production having cattle born and raised on grass in large, open, natural environments, being fed grain and roughage is as wholesome and natural as can be. As a producer, you need to support all the organizations that help promote what you do and how you do it.The second piece of the puzzle is Angus genetics. Unfortunately, many consumers do not know that Angus is a breed of cattle but what they do know is “Angus” symbolizes Enjoy all the promises that spring brings, new life and quality. That is why most of the major retailers, green grass! including the largest in the world,Wal-Mart and many of the largest restaurant chains, all offer “Angus” beef. Today’s Angus Advantag e 12

Today’s Angus Advantage 13

Today’s Angus Advantag e 14

Today’s Angus Advantage 15

National Convention 2019 Registration is now open! Register today and take advantage of early bird pricing! The 2019 Canadian Angus Convention co-hosted by the Alberta Angus Association is taking place in Drumheller, AB June 6 to 9, 2019. Please check back weekly for updated information on sessions and events for our National Convention 2019. https://cdnangus.ca/activities-and-services/national-convention/ Canadian Angus 2019 History Book The Canadian Angus 2019 History Book will oﬃcially launch at our President’s Reception on the evening of June 6, during our National Convention 2019. New Member Orientation New Member Orientation webinars are being held monthly through the Canadian Angus Association. Contact cdnangus@cdnangus.ca and sign up today. Anyone is welcome to attend. This will be an online interactive webinar that you can follow along and ask questions. We will review several topics such as: • The Canadian Angus Association • Who We Are • Programs and Services • The Fee Schedule • ACE Program • Registrations • Requirements for Registration • Parentage Veriﬁcation Policy • Genetic Conditions Policy • How to Request a DNA Test • How to Take and Submit a DNA Sample • Transfers • AngusNOW • The Performance Program • EPD Basics • Genomics • Forms and Reports • Canadian Angus Tag Program • Marketing • The Foundation Canadian Angus Association 292140 Wagon Wheel Blvd. • Rocky View County, AB T4A 0E2 Toll Free:1-888-571-3580 • Phone: 403-571-3580 Fax:403-571-3599 • Email:cdnangus@cdnangus.ca www.cdnangus.ca

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hank you

After a long, cold winter, we would like to take the time to thank our customers for their conﬁdence in our services.

FALL DATES ARE FILLING FAST! Call us to discuss what we can do for YOU!

CHRIS POLEY 306-220-5006

SHANE MICHELSON 403-363-9973

BEN WRIGHT 519-374-3335 Today’s Angus Advantag e 19

Box 2330 Warman, SK S0K 4S0 P: (306) 933-4200 | F: (306) 934-0744 info@tbarc.com | www.tbarc.com

Mar Mac Farms awarded the 2018 Canadian Red Angus Purebred Breeder of the Year Award Press Release Mar Mac Farms of Brandon, Manitoba were recently awarded the Canadian Red Angus Purebred Breeder of the Year in Olds, Alberta for 2018. This award is presented annually at the Canadian Red Roundup in Olds, Alberta. Breeders are nominated by other members of the Association and then the selection is made by the board of directors. Growing up in the purebred cattle industry, Blair and Lois McRae along with their family Brett McRae and Melissa McRae operate a fourth generation mixed family farm south of Brandon with 280 breeding females. The McRae family had been involved in the Angus breed since 1955 and in 2015 received the 50 year award from the Canadian Angus Association. 33 years ago, Blair and Lois ventured into the Red Angus cattle after researching the benefits of Red Angus breed with strong maternal traits, calving ease, Lois and Blair McRae of Mar Mac Farms, Brandon, Manitoba receiving the award from Promotion Society do-ability, disposition and the ability to cross well with other breeds. After President Brent Troyer in Olds, Alberta. encouragement from Lois’ dad, Bob Gordon, who had toured many Red Angus programs and saw the marketability of the breed, it was time to expand out the breeding program of Simmental and Angus with Red Angus genetics. Three foundation females were purchased from Wayne Heape, which turned out to be a profitable investment as one of the females bred to Rambo 502 produced Red McRae’s Blazer 336C. Blazer was leased to Alta Genetics and produced many herd building females. Blair and Lois’ first venture into the Red Angus marketing was testing bulls at the Red Power Bull Test. In talking to the commercial producers, their main reason for purchasing Red Angus was for calving ease. Since day one, Mar Mac has tried to produce Red Angus cattle with length, natural thickness and adequate birth weights. “We feel you still want a calf that comes out easy but weighs up in the fall to put dollars in the producer’s pockets.” Mar Mac culls heavy each year on fertility, feet, and structure. “Our cows have to work for us. We do not creep feed so we can see the job each female is doing on their calves. Our cattle are corn or bale grazed and have lots of exercise. We use our visual selection along with tools available to manage our cowherd.” “Embryo transplant and A.I. has been used extensively in our program. This has allowed us to expand our Red Angus program using proven trusted genetics from our own females like Frado, Reba, Lady Trooper, Ruby and more.” Mar Mac has many noted cow families that have been very important in building the program. Mar Mac has exported cattle to the United States and with the help of Davis Rairdan ET they have marketed embryos around the world. In 2004, they were offered the opportunity to expand their Red Angus program and purchased the Buck Valley Red Angus herd. Their outcross genetics have been a strong addition to the Mar Mac cowherd. McRaes feel it is very important to be involved in the breed associations. From 2008-2014, Lois served as Manitoba director on the Canadian Angus board. One of the highlights was being on the board when the Angus Central building was built for the Angus membership. Blair was the Canadian Angus field man in Manitoba for 2011-2013. Breed promotion is very important to their program and some highlights are: • 2001 Mar Mac was one of the hosts of the Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society Tour • 2005 Mar Mac hosted the Canadian Junior Angus Showdown cook-off barbecue and herd displays at the farm. This was the 100th Anniversary of Angus cattle in Canada and they hosted the Canadian Angus Annual Meetings along with Showdown all in one location. A unique event. Today’s Angus Advantag e 20

• 2007 Mar Mac was honored to be Manitoba Angus Purebred Breeder of the Year. • 2009 Mar Mac exhibited Red McRae’s Vision 50T, a Mulberry son who was second in class at the World Angus Forum at Spruce Meadows. • 2010 One of their proudest memories was when Red McRae’s Reba Lee 121W was selected as Reserve Grand Champion Red Angus Female at Agribition. Their family has participated at Agribition every year since it began in 1971. Blair and Lois have had the honor of judging a number of breed shows at Agribition and Farm Fair. • 2014 Red Mar Mac Lady Trooper 114Z was awarded the Canadian Red Angus Show Female of the year. A very proud moment for them and she is a very strong productive female in their program. Their annual Mar Mac Bull Sale is held the second Wednesday of March where they market Red Angus bulls since the 1990’s along with the Simmental and Black Angus bulls. Their females are marketed at Keystone Klassic, Manitoba Magic and Red Roundup. In 2014 at Red Roundup, Mar Mac was pleased to exhibit the high selling bred heifer and in 2015 one of her daughters was one of the high selling bred heifers at Red Roundup. Today Blair and Lois run 100 Red Angus breeding females along with 100 Simmental and Black Angus females with son Brett and daughter Melissa. Brett runs 80 Red and Black Angus females under McRae Land and Livestock. Melissa operates a graphic design, video and cattle photography business, Prairie Pistol Designs along with her Simmental cattle. The Red Angus fellowship, strong traits of the Red Cattle and the marketability creates lots of enthusiasm for this great breed of cattle and they are very proud to be part of this organization. Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society www.redangus.com redoﬃce@sasktel.net P: 403-755-6304 36308 RR 13 Red Deer County, AB T4G 0M9

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Today’s Angus Advantag e 21

 It all started simply enough; it was an early summer evening and Shorty and Cathy were just finishing off the supper dishes, when the boss showed up at Shorty’s door. The boss had decided that he should change out the ranch’s satellite TV system from the out-dated system that was in place now, with a brand new, high definition satellite system. “The satellite guys will be here on Tuesday, first thing in the morning. Cathy are you going to be here?” Cathy was smiling from ear to ear. “Yeah, I will be here for that, thank you!” “My pleasure, it is the least I can do for you guys!” “No …” thought Shorty, “A nice bonus cheque would be the least you could do, I never have any time to watch TV.” “Thanks,” is what he said. After the boss left, Cathy walked into the living room and motioned towards the TV in the corner. “Shorty, we have to get rid of that thing.” She was pointing at the current television set. It was huge, big and deep and square, a massive silver plastic monstrosity with a tiny little screen. The last time Shorty had moved, his brother had named the TV the Big Fella. “Shorty, this is the last time I move this big piece of crap! They make Smart Cars smaller than this!” His brother complained.

So that is how we find Shorty, on the first Saturday after the Wednesday afternoon when the satellite guys finally showed up, sitting in his truck while Cathy shopped in a nearby craft store. He had been listening to the complaints about the Big Fella for the past four or five days and he knew he would have to do something, eventually. He was staring across the parking lot at a big box store that included the word Electronics in its name. There in the window was a great big, bright yellow sign with the word Sale in black letters. “What can it hurt?” Shorty climbed out of the truck and wandered across the lot towards the store. He entered the massive building and was immediately accosted by a tall, gangly, young man with spiky green hair. “Can I help you, Dude?” Greeny asked. “Nope, just looking.” Shorty never made eye contact and kept walking. He walked to the back corner of the building and there they were; hundreds of televisions, some big, some huge and all of them on. Some had a soccer game on, some had a cooking show and there were a couple of them hooked to some sort of game console, with a group of snotty nosed kids doing whatever they do with the games. Shorty just stood and stared. The picture was unbelievable. You could not only see the player’s uniforms but read the numbers. The rather large lady

Today’s Angus Advantag e 22

doing the cooking was so clear you could see every hair on her face. Shorty had seen enough. The prices ranged from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. It was all a bit overwhelming; he figured Cathy might have to do the research on this purchase. He turned to leave and found himself face to face with a ‘Sales Associate’. The kid was looking at Shorty with a little grin on his face. “Can I help you, sir?” The kid had a name tag on his blue shirt. “My name is Byron, I am here to help.” Shorty was caught off guard. “Hi, Byron” was the best he could do. “You looking for a new TV?” “Yeah.”

“Yes, sir.” “If it takes me and the wife more than an hour to hook the frickin’ thing up, I am going to be back here tomorrow; you are going to bend over and I am going to return it. Do we understand each other?” “Yes, sir” “I will be at that door in five minutes and we are going to load my new TV, understand?” “Yes Sir” Shorty paid for the new TV, while Greeny and Byron loaded the box into the truck. He returned to the parking spot across the lot and waited for Cathy to return. He hadn’t seen her that happy for years. She was so happy, she decided that she had shopped enough and they headed for home.

“What size?” “Not sure, I just got to get rid of the one I got.” “What do you do with your TV?” Byron was looking at Shorty intently, like Shorty was going to have some brilliant answer. “I watch it; what the hell am I supposed to do with it?” “Well, sir, there are lots of different options on the televisions of today. There are Smart TV options that can act as a computer, answer the phone, download movies and stuff. The options are endless.” Byron was on a roll, Shorty had enough. “Hey look Byron, there are three in my house; me, the wife and the dog. Right now, I am in third place in the smart category and I will be damned if I am going to slip into fourth place ‘cause of the TV. If you want to sell me a TV… get me the cheapest, biggest, most dumb assed television in this store that will fit in the cab of my pick up and Byron...”

It took Shorty and the Farm Boss to move the Big Fella out to the truck and then off to the dump. After roughly two hours of fumbling with the Operator’s Manual that was printed in 17 languages and apparently English was an afterthought, Shorty got mad and called the twelve-year-old son of his employer for some help. The kid had it hooked up and working in fifteen minutes, complete with surround sound. His wife went to channel surfing and settled for a cooking show, while she prepared supper. Shorty couldn’t help but notice how happy she was and that the lady on the cooking show could use a shave.

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.”

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• • • • • • •

Competition Categories Include... Marketing Grooming Farm Sign Art Photography Conformation Judging

• • • • • •

Scrapbook Graphic Design Public Speaking Showmanship Literature Angus Cook-Off

T h e C an ad i an An g u s F o u n da t i o n w i l l b e p ro v i d i n g t rav el an d t ru ck i n g b u r s a r i e s t o at t en d S h o wd o wn as wel l a s s i g n i f i c a n t cas h p ri zes an d s ch o l ars h i p s f o r A g g r e g a t e Wi n n ers . T h ere wi l l al s o b e t h r e e d r a w s m a d e fo r v o u ch ers t o p u rch as e An g u s f e m a l e s .

1 AT $3000 A N D 2 AT $2000 Al l ex h i b i t o rs wi l l au t o m a t i c a l l y b e en t ered t o wi n!

and Lots of Fun!

Visit the Canadian Angus Foundation website at

W W W. C A N A N G U S F O U N D AT I O N . C A F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A N D T O A P P LY F O R T H E B U R S A R I E S .

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Building the

Legacy

CANADIAN ANGUS FOUNDATION SALE 8

jo i n us at t h e ca na dia n a ngu s a ssoci at i o n An n ual Nationa l Conve ntion S at ur day, June 8, 2019 • Dru mhe lle r, Ab Auctioning off rare & valuable genetics including:

Semen, Embryos & Live Picks

Along with a wide variety of other great lots

Auction will take place following the Convention Banquet hosted by AB Angus

Working For The Future...Now For more information or to bid contact: Chris Poley | Auctioneer Sale Day Phone: 306-220-5006

Belinda Wagner | Executive Director

306-537-1518 | bwagner@cdnangus.ca VIEW THE CATALOGUE ONLINE AT WWW.BUYAGRO.COM Today’s Angus Advantage 27

Thank you to all of the bidders and buyers who supported our

Clarke & Denise Ward G.S. 707 RR #7 Box 39 Saskatoon, SK S7K 1N2 P: 306.931-3824 C: 306.220.6372

www.wardsredangus.com

Canadian Angus Association and Boehringer Ingelheim are pleased to announce a joint promotion of the Canadian Angus RFID Indicator Program and the Express Verified vaccination program.

What This Means:

• Contact your veterinarian, and purchase an eligible Express FP product for use in your breeding herd. • Ask your veterinarian for an Express® Purchase Certificate. This purchase certificate will contain a certificate number, certificate activation date and an expiry date. • Vaccinate your cows and heifers according to label directions. • Purchase your Canadian Angus RFID indicators. • Staff at Canadian Angus Association will age-verify your calves and enter the certificate number into the CCIA age verification database at no extra cost. • Tell your auction market, order buyer or feedlot that your calves are indicated Angus and therefore guaranteed to be at least 50% Angus genetics, as well as Express Verified, and therefore are covered under the Express Guarantee.

Ordering your Canadian Angus indicators has never been so easy: • Call 1-888-571-3580 • Visit www.cdnangus.ca • Email: angustags@cdnangus.ca • Text: 587-439-3440 • Indicators can be pre-ordered for future delivery

For more information on Express Verified visit www.expressverified.ca or contact Chad Vandermeer at chad.vandermeer@boehringer-ingelheim.com

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Wilbar C

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, SK .............. L Ward’s R .. anigan, S ................ ed Angus K ................ .. .. .. .. .. ......... Sas ................ U of S Li katoon, S ................ vestock & ................ K Forage C ....... Vans entre of coy, SK Excellenc e .............. Clavet, S K rms..........

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................

Biography: Dr. Colin Palmer is an Associate Professor of Theriogenology (Animal Reproduction) at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Originally from Nova Scotia, Dr. Palmer worked in mixed practices in Ontario and British Columbia and has owned/operated a practice in Saskatchewan. Dr. Palmer along with his wife Kim and children Lauren, Emily and Carter run a herd of purebred Red Angus cattle under the KC Cattle Co. name.

Key Points for Breeding Bull Management

Bulls are an integral part of every cow-calf operation requiring your best when it comes to their management. The work never ends around most outfits hence the tendency to find a place to park the bulls for the winter; essentially, forgetting about them until it is time to pull ‘em out, dust ‘em off and turn ‘em out to pasture. Protecting your investment and restoring him to his pre-breeding condition should be included on your management check list. Bull breeding soundness evaluations are common place in beef cattle country. Most producers realize the importance of these exams and won’t buy a bull unless he has been “semen checked”. Sperm quality is important, but really only part of the picture. Physical soundness roughly translates into the ability to breed. Feet and legs need to be in good shape, bulls need two good eyes and they need to have adequate body condition to sustain themselves throughout the breeding season. Research has shown that scrotal circumference is likely the most important indicator of fertility in the breeding soundness evaluation. Because all bull testicles are essentially the same shape, scrotal circumference can be used to calculate testicle weight. In turn, testicle weight is very highly correlated with sperm producing ability with each gram of testicular tissue accounting for the production of approximately 17 million sperm daily. Each additional centimeter (cm) of scrotal circumference is equivalent to 50 grams (g) of testicular tissue, therefore, a bull with a 30 cm scrotal circumference has 200 g of testicle, whereas a bull with 38 cm has 600 g. In other words, three times as much sperm producing ability. Which bull would you rather turn out with a bunch of cycling cows? Scrotal circumference is also related to age of puberty of daughters and lifetime fertility of those daughters. Bulls with larger scrotal circumferences have daughters that reach puberty at a younger age and those daughters are more fertile over their lifetimes. These are the cows that get bred every year and generally during the first estrous cycle of the breeding season. Bulls with smaller than the minimum acceptable scrotal circumference can still have viable sperm, but they produce less of it and are more likely to have poor quality sperm. The combination of all of these negatives can cost your herd thousands in lost opportunity for years to come. Scrotal circumference may also be influenced by the amount of scrotal fat that is present. Fat is deposited in many areas in the body including the scrotum. At one time it was believed that any and all scrotal fat would be found in the neck of the scrotum above the testicles, but feeding and testicular development studies have shown that fat can be found in the tissues encasing the testicles. The tendency to deposit fat in the scrotum increases after a year of age and can lead to, or be related, to erroneously high scrotal circumference measurements, poor semen quality and a lack of libido. Every spring I see bulls that have “melted”, including a loss of scrotal circumference, after they have been switched to pasture or a foragebased diet. Bulls that have become fat from the feeding of high energy rations are also more likely to develop feet and leg problems later in life. Satisfactory sperm quality indicated by greater than 70% normal sperm is in most cases the most important result from the microscopic assessment of sperm. Volume of semen, concentration, sperm motility and percent live sperm can all be influenced by the collection technique; however, in most cases when there is a real problem with sperm production or quality it will be evident in the sperm morphology assessment. A well done semen assessment should include all of these parameters and more often than not one or more will support the sperm morphology findings.

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Every attempt should be made to examine the penis; especially, to see if it protrudes properly. Breeding bulls are prone to injury and young bulls may have warts, hair rings or congenital issues that can ruin their breeding potential. Sex drive and mating ability is often overlooked as it is impossible to assess during a routine breeding soundness evaluation. I encourage all bull owners to check bulls frequently during the breeding season to ensure that mounting and completion of the breeding process are occurring normally. If observations are made routinely and cows are cycling properly there should be no reason to discover a large number of open cows at pregnancy checking or calving. Your bulls should be evaluated annually! Prior to the breeding season is ideal, but with enough time to find a replacement bull if one is needed. Remember, it can be really hard to find a bull in late June. Another issue I see is that some believe that the presale breeding soundness evaluation means that the bull will always remain highly fertile. Heat, stress, nutrition, toxins and genetics can influence sperm production with very serious insults to sperm production requiring months to recover from or in extreme cases causing permanent sterility. Hard working bulls normally lose some condition throughout the breeding season, but excessive weight loss should be avoided. It is common for bulls, especially those with a body condition score in excess of 7 to 7.5 (9-point scale), or 4.0 (5-point scale) to lose up to 2 cm of scrotal circumference between the beginning and end of breeding season. Breeding seasons of not more than two or three months are not only important for calving management, but also provide several months to restore condition for the next breeding season. Encouraging weighing and body condition scoring of bulls is a sound practice on any operation. Breeding bulls should have a body condition score of 6 to 7 (9-point scale), or 3.5 (5-point scale) at the onset of the breeding season. In my opinion, Charolais, Angus and Hereford bulls with an average frame size and aged between 2 and 4 years, should weigh in the range of 1800 to 2100 pounds (820 to 950 kg) at the time of turnout and sport the look of a well-muscled athlete. Too heavy and they are more prone to feet and leg injury; too light and they will not have enough condition to sustain themselves throughout the breeding season. Bulls will usually consume 30 to 50 percent more feed than cows; therefore, the risk of bloat is compounded, especially, if feed quality or quantity are inconsistent. Depending on a combination of breed, individual characteristics and ranch management, overfeeding can be as much of a problem as underfeeding. Selection for “easy fleshing” animals has undoubtedly resulted in mature animals that will gain weight with surprisingly limited resources; especially if they are sedentary. Minerals and vitamins are essential to proper nutrition. Deficiencies of zinc, and vitamins A and E have been shown to have a direct, negative effect on testicular function. Other deficiencies may have an indirect effect via disturbances in hormone production that are integral to the regulation of sperm production. In cold climates, consideration must be given to increasing feed quantity and quality during winter months as maintenance requirements dictate. All bulls, but especially those younger than 2 ½ to 3 years and therefore still growing, will often benefit from a pelleted supplement fed as part of a balanced ration. Providing easy access to fresh water at all times will help maintain bulls in adequate condition. Limiting water will also limit feed intake and having to walk a considerable distance to water will use additional energy. Adequate bedding and shelter from the wind are crucial for preventing scrotal frost bite. Don’t forget about vaccination and parasite control. Bulls should receive the same vaccinations as the cow herd and the same treatments for internal and external parasites.

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Mike & Brenda Wheeler 4694 Blackwater Rd. Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A1 Tel: 250-567-4020

Email: north.40@live.ca

Bulls Sell At The Vanderhoof Bull Sale on April 2019

’t Don e bl m a g with r you ! sale Contact us to be added to the upcoming events list on www.BuyAgro.com info@buyagro.com 306-933-4200

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◊ Angus Cattle ◊ ◊ Ranch & Performance Horses ◊

Put your program where are! the buyers out how!

Leon & Melissa Lee Oyen, Alberta Leon Cell ◊ 403-664-0370 Melissa Cell ◊ 403-664-9177 E-Mail ◊ diamondlranching@gmail.com Box 441 ◊ Oyen, Alberta ◊ T0J 2J0

info@buyagro.com 306-933-4200

www.BuyAgro.com

performance

We Stand Behind Our Bulls and Beside Our Customers

RED & BLACK angus

Bob Hahn bhahn@hahnco.com

RR 2, Olds, AB T4H 1P3 | 403.994.0552 Brody, Justine, Calynn & Hiller Gardner Gary, Donna & Rob Smith: 403.556.2290 info@diamondtcattle.ca | www.diamondtcattle.ca

cell. 780.991.1355 home. 780.464.0296 fax. 780.423.4836 www.hahnangus.com

22525 Twp Rd 514 Sherwood Park, Alberta, T8C 1H5

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Lee & Laura Brown

Box 217, Erskine, AB T0C 1G0 403-742-4226 Lee cell 403-740-9429 llbangus@telus.net www.llbangus.com

Annual Bull and Female Sale second Saturday in March

Pedersen Livestock

Kurt & Becky Pedersen

(780) 755-3160 (780) 209-9999 Kurt Cell www.pedersenlivestock.com

Box 3528 Vermilion, AB T9X 2B5 (780)853‐9673 sean@roundrockranching.com www.roundrockranching.com

The Best Beef in a Better World

Sean McGrath

Samtia Angus

REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS CATTLE Box 3528 Vermilion, AB T9X 2B5 Lee & Layne Gleim & Family (780)853‐9673 Box 4467, Taber,sean@roundrockranching.com AB Home: (403) 223-8442 www.roundrockranching.com Cell: (403) 795-0004 or (403) 634-8226 The Best Beef in a Better World “Our Vision is Based on Quality Not Quantity” layneg@cciwireless.ca

Mick & Debbie Trefiak

RR 1 Edgerton, Alberta T0B 1K0 14 miles east of P :: 780-755-2224 Wainright and 11 miles F :: 780-755-2223 north on C :: 780-842-8835 range road 4-3 mick@mjt.ca www.mjt.ca

Box 3528 Vermilion, AB T9X 2B5 (780)853‐9673 sean@roundrockranching.com www.roundrockranching.com

The Best Beef in a Better World

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Sean McGrath

The Best Beef in a Better World

The Best Beef in

sean@rou www.rou

The Best Beef in

Sean McGrath

Box 3528 Vermilion, AB T9X 2B5 (780)853‐9673 sean@roundrockranching.com www.roundrockranching.com

sean@rou www.rou

The Best Beef in

sean@rou www.rou

The Best Beef in

Put your operation on their radar... Book your card ad today! 306-933-4200

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Guess which one in le a s ir e th d e s ti r e adv

Advertise where the buyers are!

Summer Early Sales and Prospects Issue Deadline July 5 Bryan Kostiuk

P.O. Box 2330 Warman, Saskatchewan S0K 4S0 P: 306-933-4200 F: 306-934-0744 info@todaysangus.com

WWW.TODAYSANGUS.COM Today’s Angus Advantage 39

Ranching

Purebred Angus BoB McTavish Lorraine GiLchrisT

Asquith, SK • ranchers2@hotmail.com

Ph: 306-329-2463

Clint, Suzanne, Eric, Luc & Alexi Smith Box 284, Mankota, SK H: 306.478.2470 C: 306.478-7470 F: 306.478.2480 breedcreekranch@sasktel.net

20/20 Angus

Owen • Bernadette • Chantz Legaarden Box 93 • Paynton, SK • S0M 2J0 306-903-7070 • 2020angus@yourlink.ca

Are you on the list?

Make your sale standout! Contact us to be added to the upcoming events list info@buyagro.com 306-933-4200

Today’s Angus Advantag e 40

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

Dwayne & Karen Fettes 306-969-4506

dkfredangus@sasktel.net

Scott, Tina Brandy & Eric 306-815-7023

dkfredangus@gmail.com

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Glenn & Mel Sisson

(306) 873-4890 Cell: (306) 852-9047 RR 1, Ridgedale, SK S0E 1L0 “The Final Legacy of the Black Pearl” Sale ~ December 16, 2017 Saskatoon, SK

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SHA D

US NG

REEK A YC

KENT HARRIGAN & CHERYL PERKINS MAPLE CREEK, SK

306-662-7339

PUREBRED BLACK ANGUS

WWW.SHADYCREEKANGUS.COM

Sunderland Ranch Ltd. Registered Black Angus Cattle

Terry & Rachelle Sunderland www.sunderlandranch.net Box 2139 Maple Creek, SK S0N 1N0 terrysunderland@sasktel.net 306-662-3021

Home of SAV Ten Trillion 3112A Son of AAR Ten X 7008 5A X SAV Blackcap May 5530

Tom & Vicki Flanagan

Box 176 Dundurn, SK S0K 1K0 306.492.2161 wilbarcattle@gmail.com b r ya n a n d t r a c e y w i l l m s w w w . w i l b a r c at t l e . co m

Willowview Angus Farm

Maple Creek, SK P: 306.662.2272 C: 306.662.8120 tomvic@sasktel.net sheidaghananghus.com

Ken & Sandy Harle

Box 512, Regina, SK S4P 3A3 306-359-6100 306-539-8185

harleks@imagewireless.ca

Purebred Registered Red Angus

The Kereluiks

Box 278, Sheho, SK S0A 3T0 twin.heritage@sasktel.net www.twinheritage.com Mitch Allan and Ann Michael 306.272.7501 306.849.4638 306.220.1976 “Add a Touch of Heritage to Your Herd

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Change is the new constant. A cowman’s response to the ebb and flow of the industry is entirely up to the individual – but a choice is imminent. That’s why Dusty Abney, cow-calf and stocker nutritionist for Cargill Animal Nutrition, called out a few of the areas where producers have had to adapt through the years: volatile markets and regulations for starters. That was just before he presented a plan to tackle the looming beast. At Cargill, he explained, the philosophy driving success is “change before you’re forced to. Don’t be that guy who changes just for the sake of it, just because it sounds fun.” And don’t be the last person to get on the wagon, either. “Change when the time is right” because it can be hard to stick the landing, he told a Cattlemen’s College crowd at this winter’s Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans. “To know when to change, and to know what to change, you’ve got to do what may be the most difficult thing for any of you in the room to do, ever, and that’s ask for help.” Stillness came from the seats. “Do you do your own taxes?” Abney prodded. “Most of us don’t anymore, because it’s complicated. Hopefully you don’t do your own doctoring on yourselves. I know some of y’all do and you need to quit it.” Then came the laughter; the point resonating with it. The same thing applies to the genetics you select for your cow herd, the management practices each one puts in place, he said. The bottom line is profitability, Abney said. If you’re not paying attention to the metrics that affect it, you don’t know if you are, in fact, accomplishing it. Here are some traditions to break that Abney said can get in the way of that bottom line: • “When spending money on your program, don’t think of it as a necessary evil, rather what’s needed for your cattle to perform – an investment in future accomplishments.”

• “Don’t assume everything’s fine. If you’re happy with the status quo, you’re in the wrong session. Okay don’t get it done. Okay doesn’t make your heifers the ones people will pay top dollar for. Okay doesn’t produce the most pounds of beef per acre for the least amount of money. That’s what we should be trying to do.” In the quest for profitability, it should be no surprise that a cow’s production takes top billing. Nutrition and health play a vital role in the process. “Plain and simple, every 12 months we need a new calf hitting the ground. If she doesn’t do that, she needs to go to town,” Abney said. “If you love her, take her to McDonald’s and get her a Happy Meal, but don’t bring her home. Don’t make excuses about that.” Seriously, the key to ensuring she’s not an after-school snack, Abney said, is to keep her nutrition up, particularly right after calving so her hormones can align, her uterus can shrink down and she begins to cycle. “All you have to do is miss one breeding opportunity, and you’ve chewed up most of the margin in that cow,” – about $50 - $60 lost for each cycle delayed – and if she’s open, “we just kept her all year for fun.” It’s hugely important that she’s bred when she’s supposed to be bred, the nutritionist said. “The best tradition to start right now is to get better.” Specifically, that takes in what kind of beef will end up on someone’s table. “Your name will literally be attached to what you make, soon,” he warned. “Get started producing quality now.” Lastly, Abney urged cattlemen to keep records and actually use them to make decisions. “If you’re not doing anything with the records you take on your cow herd, you might as well fix fence or go fishing.”

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Boehringer Ingelheim Partnership Canadian Angus Association and Boehringer Ingelheim are pleased to announce a joint promotion of the Canadian Angus RFID Indicator Program and the Express Verified vaccination program. What This Means: • Contact your veterinarian, and purchase an eligible Express® FP product for use in your breeding herd. • Ask your veterinarian for an Express® FP Purchase Certificate. This purchase certificate will contain: o A certificate number, certificate activation date and an expiry date. • Vaccinate your cows and heifers according to label directions. • Purchase your Canadian Angus RFID indicators. • Staff at Canadian Angus Association will age-verify your calves and enter the certificate number into the CCIA age verification database at no extra cost. • Tell your auction market, order buyer or feedlot that your calves are tagged Angus and therefore guaranteed to be at least 50% Angus genetics, as well as Express Verified and therefore are covered under the Express Guarantee. For more information on Express Verified visit www.expressverified.ca or contact Chad Vandermeer at chad.vandermeer@boehringeringelheim.com Ordering your Canadian Angus RFID indicators has never been easier: • Call 1-888-571-3580 • Visit www.cdnangus.ca • Email:angustags@cdnangus.ca • Text: 587-439-3440 • Or order through the CCIA at www.canadaid.ca or call 1-877-909-2333

Introducing AngusConnect The Canadian Angus indicator program is evolving. The Canadian Angus Association is pleased to introduce AngusConnect. AngusConnect will connect Angus buyers with sellers through the Canadian Angus indicator program. This new program is voluntary and free for producers. How it works: • Producer must qualify for and use the Canadian Angus RFID indicator • Producer will submit sire(s) information to the Canadian Angus Association • Each producer will receive a group score that he/she can use to market their cattle The Canadian Angus Association will proactively send a list of participants to feedlots and buyers weekly for their purchasing programs. AngusConnect helps take the guess work out of cattle buying. Buyers will be connected to the sellers they want and sellers will be connected to the buyers they need. More details will be released as the program develops further. Don’t wait.Purchase your Canadian Angus RFID indicators today and ask about joining AngusConnect. Canadian Angus Association 292140 Wagon Wheel Blvd. • Rocky View County, AB T4A 0E2 Toll Free:1-888-571-3580 • Phone: 403-571-3580 Fax:403-571-3599 • Email:cdnangus@cdnangus.ca www.cdnangus.ca

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Bruce, Ione & Breanna Austen & Katie Comp2 RR2 Swan River, Mb R0L 1Z0 204 734 2073 andersoncattle@inethome.ca

www.andersoncattle.ca

Bruce, Ione & Breanna Austen & Katie Comp2 RR2 Swan River, Mb R0L 1Z0 204 734 2073 andersoncattle@inethome.ca

www.andersoncattle.ca

Bruce, Ione & Breanna Austen & Katie Comp2 RR2 Swan River, Mb R0L 1Z0 204 734 2073 andersoncattle@inethome.ca

www.andersoncattle.ca

Put your operation Bruce,on Ione &their Breanna Austen & Katie radar... Comp2 RR2 Swan River, Mb R0L 1Z0 www.andersoncattle.ca 204 734 2073 andersoncattle@inethome.ca

Book your card ad today! 306-933-4200

Bruce, Ione & Breanna Austen & Katie Comp2 RR2 Swan River, Mb R0L 1Z0 204 734 2073 andersoncattle@inethome.ca

John & Gloria Turner BoxBruce, 234,Ione Souris, MB & Breanna R0KAusten 2C0& Katie Email giturner@xplornet.ca Comp2 RR2 Swan River, Mb R0L 1Z0

Quality Purebred Red & Black Angus Genetics Annual Bull Sale - 3rd Saturday In March

www.andersoncattle.ca

204 734 2073 andersoncattle@inethome.ca (204)483-3234 John (Cell) (204) 483-0764 Gloria (Cell) (204)-741-0648

www.andersoncattle.ca

Bruce, Ione & Breanna Austen & Katie Comp2 RR2 Swan River, Mb R0L 1Z0 204 734 2073 andersoncattle@inethome.ca

www.andersoncattle.ca

Bruce, Ione & Breanna Austen & Katie Comp2 RR2 Swan River, Mb R0L 1Z0 204 734 2073 andersoncattle@inethome.ca

www.andersoncattle.ca

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Albert, Glen, Larissa, Ian Dr. David & Shelly Hamilton Hamilton (204) 872-2358 (204) 822-3054 (204) 526-0705 (204) 325-3635 larissa_hamilton@hotmail.com • www.hamcocattleco.com

stomers Connect with new cut to coast from coas

Book your card ad now! 306-933-4200

Doug & Jason McLaren

Box 373, Neepawa, Manitoba R0J 1H0 Doug: 204-476-6248 jmdfarms@mts.net Jason: 204-476-6723 mclarenj@hotmail.com

www.jasredangus.com

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Staying On Track By Nicole Lane Erceg for Certiﬁed Angus Beef

Why do we call substantial disasters “perfect” storms? It feels like an oxymoron. The title perfect storm seems a more ﬁtting descriptor for the rain that comes just in time to break a drought, or the swirling clouds that bring rain but never materialize into a devastating cyclone. The drama still unfolds, but disaster doesn’t follow. I’ve seen many use the phrase to describe the recent bomb cyclone and subsequent heavy snows, but the impact these have had on those in cattle country is the exact opposite of perfect. When I sat down to write this month’s column, my earlier chosen topic of “expansion” seemed perfectly untimely. How could I discuss expanding herds and businesses when so many across the Midwest are simply trying to survive? But in my line of work, I get to sit across the dining room table from many seasoned and successful ranchers. My favorite stories they tell are always rooted in the times they weathered the worst in their businesses. It’s the family that was able to keep the farm despite the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, the rancher who purchased range land others said was impossible to graze and those who quite literally bet the farm to make it to the next year.

He sets his business up for success by preparing his herd to perform in all conditions. He builds added value into progeny carcass merit to ensure each individual is as profitable as possible, so even in the years where numbers are few, the value and quality remain competitive. It doesn’t make a setback painless. No matter what we do, no amount of hedging bets will guarantee success. Mother Nature will show her strength, the market will inevitably take a turn for the worse and life will continue to offer new challenges. We will never be able to control the weather but we can prepare ourselves to weather the storms. Around the cattleman’s farm sign in a perfect circle sit pieces of old steel track from a Caterpillar well past its prime. While some may think it’s as an old, heavy piece of mislaid machinery, he says it’s a visual reminder to stay on track through the ups and downs of this business. It’s a subtle nudge to maintain focus on the perfect storm of ranch performance, carcass merit and enough grit to just keep going. Next time in Black Ink®, Miranda Reiman will look at planned rush seasons. Questions? E-mail nerceg@certifiedangusbeef.com.

When they speak about the challenging times, a voice might crack remembering the pain, a head will bow as they relive their worst nightmares, but all look back with pride at where they’ve come since those trying times. In fact, many describe them as pivotal moments. It’s taught me never to underestimate the grit of a cattleman. “I know tough times,” one rancher told me recently. “I remember when a Pepsi cost 35 cents and I didn’t have the money to buy a Pepsi.” More than half a century later, he runs a successful business with the second generation at his side. If there is a method for weathering the storms that inevitably will come, this cowboy shared, it’s a focus on consistent progress and serving the end customer despite setbacks. That and breeding cattle that carry the same values in their genes. Today’s Angus Advantag e 48

Canadian Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc. are co-recipients of over $500,000 in funding from the Genomic Applications Partnership Program, in collaboration with the Semex Alliance and the University of Guelph, for the project: Translating High Immune Response (HIR™) Genomics to Improve Beef Cattle Health and Welfare Rocky View County, AB — On February 4, 2019 the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Canada’s Minister of Science and Sport, announced $56 million in funding to support 37 research projects funded by Genome Canada. The Canadian Angus Association (CAA) and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) are co-recipients of such funding, in collaboration with the Semex Alliance and the University of Guelph. The project: Translating High Immune Response (HIR™) Genomics to Improve Beef Cattle Health and Welfare received over $500,000 in funding from the Genomic Applications Partnership Program. The project seeks to decrease the severity and incidence of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) in feedlots in Angus and Angus-influenced cattle by improving broad-based disease resistance. This will be accomplished by the development of a genomic test for immune response and a GE-EPD identifying high immune response. The availability of an HIR genomic test will, for the first time, allow Angus breeders to select for naturally healthier seed stock animals, whose calves will have increased genetic ability to respond to disease challenge, while decreasing the necessity of antibiotic treatments. It is expected that herds which choose to emphasize HIR genetics will experience fewer BRD outbreaks, thereby reducing the costs for both producers and feedlot operators. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has identified BRD as the most common and costly disease affecting the North American Beef industry (http://www.beefresearch.ca/research-topic.cfm/beef-quality-audits-40#NBQA). Despite significant advancements in medicine and management practices in Canadian beef production, BRD disease rates remain seemingly unchanged. Implementing the HIR technology for beef cattle adds another tool towards battling BRD and other important disease challenges. Since the Canadian Angus Association registers half of Canada’s purebred cattle and 64 percent of the crossbred cattle population has Angus genetics, the HIR genomic test will have wide implications in both Canadian and American cattle herds. “We’ve already done this for dairy cattle with our partner Semex,” says Dr. Mallard, the Principle Investigator for the project. “It will provide three major benefits. The first is to the animal, because healthier animals are better off all the way around. The second is to the producer. They save time and money because they don’t have to spend time treating sick animals with antibiotics or other therapeutics as much as they would under normal circumstances. And the third benefit is to the consumer, of course, so the consumer can enjoy their steak with confidence knowing that it came from a naturally healthy animal that was raised in a healthy and sustainable environment.” Says Dr. Michael Lohuis, Semex Vice President of Research & Innovation: “Semex is proud to partner with Dr. Mallard from the University of Guelph, AGI, and the CAA, to develop an HIR test for Angus cattle. BRD is a costly disease, and we think we could reduce those costs by up to 50%! Our goal is to develop a more sustainable beef product for both our clients and the consumer. At Semex we believe that if we’re going to meet tomorrow’s challenges, we can’t do it using yesterday’s tools and these sorts of innovations will get us there. Semex is taking the Immunity+® technology…to the beef industry.” CAA CEO Myles Immerkar adds, “This partnership is an innovative addition to our current research projects and industry collaborations. Besides the HIR genomic test, we will develop a GE-EPD (Genomically Enhanced Expected Progeny Differences) for the trait. The EPD will be available to Canadian Angus producers through AngusONE, our collaborative genetic evaluation with the American Angus Association.” The Canadian Angus Association is Canada’s largest purebred beef breed organization. The Association represents more than 2,000 members across Canada for the purposes of registering and recording the pedigrees of purebred Angus cattle in the closed Herd Book and promoting the breed across Canada. The member-approved mandate is to maintain breed registry, breed purity and provide services that enhance the growth and position of the Angus breed. Canadian Angus Association 292140 Wagon Wheel Blvd. • Rocky View County, AB T4A 0E2 Toll Free:1-888-571-3580 • Phone: 403-571-3580 Fax:403-571-3599 • Email:cdnangus@cdnangus.ca www.cdnangus.ca

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