+ The Voice of Experience Montana judge brings expertise to his first Canadian show
+ The Stars of Summer Two Summer Synergy competitors aim higher ISSUE 2 SEPT 2015
SUCCESS
M U LT I P LY I N G
A powerful genetic tool offers new possibilities for beef cattle reproduction
WORDS FROM THE
Welcome to the second issue of Top Stock. First of all, let me say Wow! Since launching the first-edition in mid-July, your response has been overwhelming. By email, phone, text, and in-person, you have made it known that there is a welcome place for this kind of publication within our industry. Described as ‘brilliant’, and ‘spectacular’ by our readers, we are honoured and humbled to help put the Canadian show industry ‘on the map with class and distinction.’ We know the success of this magazine is going to come from you who support it, and we appreciate all of your feedback. The issue in your hands (or on your screen) has become our unofficial junior edition. Inside these pages, we feature show coverage from almost all of the summer junior nationals and are introduced to two outstanding individuals we are proud to call products of our junior programs. They, and youth like them, are the reason so much value can be found inside our show rings. (Plus, I can’t recall a better place to spend the summer than in the wash-rack). We are also excited to include an interview from esteemed Montana breeder Brian Barragree as our judge’s profile – It will be a pleasure to watch him sort the cattle at one of the fastest-growing Junior shows in the country, the Young Ranchman’s in September. Lastly, we take a tour through new reproductive technologies as Dr. Stables introduces us to a practice that will change the shape of genetic progress. As with the last edition, we are most grateful to those who agreed to be interviewed, as this issue could not be accomplished without you! As we continue in our growth, we are constantly looking for ways we can expand our reach and give our advertisers more value for their investment. Our next edition, to be published on November 1, will be available for complimentary pick-up at Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair, Edmonton’s Farmfair and Regina’s Canadian Western Agribition, and like this one, will also be mailed to subscribers across the country. Those of you on our email newsletter list will have received our launch e-newsletter this past August and we encourage you to sign up for this on our website www.topstockmagazine.com or Facebook page for instant Top Stock news. Finally, we continue to extend our offer to advertisers – If you would like a complimentary issue sent to one of your Canadian customers, simply send us their address and we would be happy to get them a copy. We would like to thank you again for your support and hope you enjoy what we have in store for you in our fall issue. – Katie Songer
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FEATURES SEPTEMBER 2015 16
16
IN THIS
ISSUE
16 62
62
Junior Double Header Youth duo shows the value in Summer Synergy
The Voice of Experience Barragree heads north to judge Young Ranchman’s
Multiplying Success
A powerful genetic tool offers new possibilities for bovine reproduction.
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Top Stock Magazine is published four times per year. One year subscription cost $10.00 per year ($10.50 with GST) in Canada, $40.00 per year in the USA. Top Stock magazine, hereby expressly limits its liability resulting from any and all misprints, errors and/ or inaccuracies whatsoever in the advertisement and editorial content published by Top Stock and its said liability is here by limited to the refund of the customer for its payment for said advertisement, or the running of the corrected advertisement, or editorial notice. Notification by the customer of any error must be made within 30 days of the distribution of the magazine. Advertising copy received after the deadline may not be returned for proofing. Changes to advertising copy made after the deadline date will be allowed only if time permits, and will incur the appropriate charges according to time and materials involved in the changes. The opinions or views expressed in the editorials are those of the writer or persons interviewed and not Top Stock magazine. Top Stock does however reserve the right to edit or refuse all material which might be objectionable in content. No material or part thereof may be reproduced or used out of context, without prior specific approval of a proper credit to Top Stock. T o p S t o c k M a g a z i n e / Fa l l 2 0 1 5
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SEPTEMBER 2015
CROSS-CANADA COVERAGE
Cover photo taken by ShowChampions
Left Ryley Noble shows a Man Among Boys steer bred by Larrison Farms, IN, and owned by Ty Draves at the Vermillion Fair. © B.C. Photo
Below Scholarship qualifiers in the ring at the International Youth Livestock show at the Calgary Stampede. © ShowChampions
SHOW INDEX 36 37 38 42 44 45 46 48
DEPARTMENTS
Quebec Junior Beef Show ON Western Beef Invitational Summer Synergy UFA Junior Steer Classic Colonial Days Westerner Days Canadian JR Angus Showdown Canadian Charolais Youth Show
UPCOMING ISSUES Issue Late Fall Spring A.I.
Wildrose Classic MRPM Countryfest Prince Albert Exhibition Canadian JR Hereford Bonanza Manitoba Youth Round-up Canadian JR Shorthorn Show Canadian JR Limousin Show
06 WORDS FROM THE EDITOR 10 CONTRIBUTORS 12 JUNIOR NEWSMAKERS 12 FROM OUR READERS 36 SHOW RESULTS 70 UPCOMING EVENTS 72 ADVERTISERS INDEX
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T o p S t o c k M a g a z i n e / Fa l l 2 0 1 5
Shhh...
MOnday, SEpT 21 The secret is getting out where all pasture Bid Sale the winners are coming from!
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Offering more full sibs just as good as these Champions! Embryos also available!
champion Steer - 2014 tulsa State Fair Bought by Bryan McKay
51 Monopoly - Full Sib to the louisville Heifer
champion Maine Steer - 2015 iowa Beef expo, 5th overall Bought by Brad ewing
congratulations to pashulka’s from alberta, 53 Monopoly - Full Sib to tulsa State Fair canada on their many time 2015 winning heifer! champion Steer
VieW pHotoS/ViDeoS at: www.larsonclubcalves.com
Larson
Special inVitation: While you are in the area stop in at Sweet Grass - Heathers eatery/coffee shop in Wessington Springs on Main Street. lodging is now available on the second floor!
congratulations to Branscomb & page’s! 2014 Utah State Fair overall champion Heifer
club calves
38094 221st Street. • Wessington Springs, SD Brad: 605-680-0822 • Home: 605-539-0067 Heather: 605-730-0051 7 miles north from Wessington Springs
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M A G A Z I N E SEPTEMBER 2015
ISSUE 2 Editor-in-Chief
Letters to the Editor
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MEET THE TOP STOCK TEAM
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Piper Whelan is a writer and editor from Irricana, Alberta. Raised on her family’s MaineAnjou ranch, she competed in junior shows and 4-H. After graduating from the University of Alberta, she studied at the University of King’s College School of Journalism. Her work has
Katie Songer
Editor-in-chief Creative Direction
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Sarah Buchanan
Eastern Canada Ad Representative
Tracy Kimmel
Western Canada Ad Representative
Piper Whelan
Contributing Writer
T o p S t o c k M a g a z i n e / Fa l l 2 0 1 5
appeared in Atlantic Beef & Sheep and various breed publications.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
SSS RED ANGUS
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|
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Send your junior news or letters to the editor to info@topstockmagazine.com.
M A G A Z I N E JUNIOR NEWS + NEWSMAKERS
FROM OUR READERS
Just Announced: The CJLA Limousin Youth Australia Exchange
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The Canadian Junior Limousin Association (CJLA) will be offering an annual trip to one CJLA member between 16-21 years of age to spend four weeks with a Limousin host family in Australia! The trip recipient will also receive $2,000 from the CJLA for travel expenses. The trip will include opportunities to work on cattle operations as well as attending and helping at one of Australia’s largest cattle shows! More details and application forms will be available soon on the Canadian Limousin Association website www.limousin.com
Manitoba Youth Roundup Raises Funds for STARS Manitoba Fifty five enthusiastic Manitoba and Saskatchewan Junior cattle producers attended the 8th annual Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup in Neepawa, Manitoba. Selling Junior art, rope halters and baking, the Juniors raised $1635 for Stars Manitoba, giving back to an organization that has been integral in helping agriculture families across the nation. 012
t is with welcome eyes and a shared passion for the Canadian show industry, I must say thank you for putting such a great magazine together. This is not a simple endeavor but countless hours of planning, budgeting, editing and reviewing to put out a magazine of this quality. My family has always shown livestock and over the years I have witnessed the transformation of the industry. We are no longer restricted to marketing within our breed or province – I feel if this is still your main goal, your opportunities will be limited. There is no other aspect of the livestock showing industry that has youth more excited than raising their own show calves. Ask a young member about the cattle they are breeding or showing – and watch their whole face light up! This not only applies to the show calf influenced genetics but also raising the best purebred cattle you can, too. Personally, I feel the industry is at a point where breeding show calves is no longer a niche market and utilizing semen from show calf-bred bulls is a common practice – whether that is five units or a hundred. I encourage parents to research the genetics available with your kids and ask a thousand questions: There are lots of different options out there for different types of cows, and throwing semen in a cow does not mean you will make a champion on your first try. Evaluate your animals, compare to others, ask yourself the hard breeding questions about your bull choices and don’t be afraid to ask your semen-seller those tough questions as well. The bloodlines, lineage, and history of these animals can and should be used to your advantage. I always hear the comment that the great ones are freaks. I tend to lean towards finding genetics that will throw me a consistently good-quality group of calves that will feed and show successfully for all experience levels. With a little extra work, you can make a good one into a great one. With minimal effort, you can turn a great one into an average one. I look forward to working with you more down the road as we market and grow opportunities across North America. – Kurtis Reid
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Congratulations Levi Martin and “Willy” Sire: Eye Candy 2nd in class, Lloydminster Open Show ♦ 2nd in class, Edmonton Open Show ♦ 3rd in class, Stettler 4-H ♦ 2nd in class, Division 2 Calgary Junior show
Congratulations Abbegayle Brady & “Skunk” Sire: Ruffneck (Eye Candy x Speckle Park) 1st in class, Chinook Junior Show ♦ 1st in Class, Bashaw Junior Show ♦ Grand Champion Steer, Hanna 4-H ♦ Class winner, Division 8 Calgary Junior Steer show
Congratulations Trinity Martin & “Panda” Sire: Salty Dog Grand Champion, Bashaw Junior Steer Show ♦ 2nd in class, Stettler 4-H Steer Show
Congratulations Chance Jackson & “Tara” Walks Alone x Star Bank Skyglow 795 (Purebred Speckle Park) Reserve Champion Heifer, Regina Prospect Show ♦ Reserve Champion, Heifer Oyen Jackpot ♦ Reserve Champion Heifer, Olds Open Jackpot show ♦ Reserve Champion Heifer, Regina Spring Steer & Heifer Show ♦ Grand Champion Female, Lord of the Rings
You taught us to hope. You taught us to believe. Now that you are gone, what does it mean? Does hope simply postpone pain? Is belief for the naive? What was the point of your last dramatic act? As you teetered on death, we prayed. You made prayer something we did every day, all day. At the sight of every magic number on the clock we prayed for you, for life.We saw every positive turn in your condition as a miracle. Indeed a miracle was present in each breath you took. You taught us to live all in, never give up and live each moment as possibly the last. Dear young friend, that was the point. We will deem your life too short. But what is time but something we aren’t promised? In just two weeks, you taught us to hope, to believe, to pray, to see the miracle in each moment and to live life all in. That is how we will remember you: The angel who came to earth to open our eyes, minds and hearts and remind us to live. -Written for Cody by Janelle Wohlberg
Donations can be made in Cody’s memory to: Stars Air Ambulance https://foundation.stars.ca/sktributegift#forcody by phone 1.855.516.4848 or by email at donations@stars.ca. or The Cody Sibbald Memorial Fund Contact lazyrcranch@gmail.com
Forever in our hearts
Remembering the life of
Cody Sibbald 2004 - 2015
Editor’s Note: Heartfelt condolences to the Sibbald family for your loss. Cody was an immeasurable part of our community and we are grateful to have known him. He will be missed.
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stars OF the
SUMMER WORDS BY PIPER WHELAN
Every year, Summer Synergy showcases the cream of the youth crop in Western Canada – and these two outstanding young cattle enthusiasts have stood out.
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ince 2010, junior exhibitors from across western Canada have descended on Olds, Alberta, in July for a week to remember. Summer Synergy attracts the brightest and most eager young livestock enthusiasts, ready to compete and show off their best, all while building industry and career-related skills and creating lasting friendships. In addition to the four species components, Synergy also encompasses the Alberta Provincial 4-H shows for beef females, dairy, sheep and equine. The Synergy beef female show is comprised of Black and Red Angus, Maine-Anjou, Charolais, Simmental, Hereford and All Other Breeds divisions. In its six years, 1,986 exhibitors between the ages of nine and 20 have exhibited 3,410 head of beef, dairy, sheep and equine projects, and the show has awarded 112 champion and 24 supreme champion honours.
Arguably the most enticing feature of this event is the coveted scholarship program, awarded to a certain number in each age division and presented on the Grandstand at the Calgary Stampede. To date, 335 youth have received $376,000 in scholarships. It’s opportunities like this that have participants saying the program has “opened many doors” for youth, where they have “gained friendships, confidence and developed life skills all while doing what they love and having fun.” Here, we meet two of Synergy’s success stories, one an up-and-coming junior at the beginning of her show cattle career, the other an accomplished exhibitor taking her skills into the professional world. These young ladies represent just some of what is possible by daring to aim high at top-level junior shows such as Synergy.
Summer Synergy scholarship qualifiers step on-stage in front of the grandstand at the Calgary Stampede. ©© ShowChampions
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Kyla Kelly — The Start of Something Amazing
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yla Kelly is already making a name for herself in both the show ring and the rodeo arena. Kelly, 12, lives at her parent’s feedlot outside of Innisfail, Alberta. Going into only her third year of 4-H, Kelly has been around the show cattle world since her parents got started, which is, in her words, “pretty much forever.” Kelly excels in and out of the ring, and has a number of reasons why showing cattle is important to her. “I like the relationship I can have with my animals, and it’s just fun to hang out with some of the friends that you don’t get to see unless you’re at the shows.” Her favourite show animal thus far is the heifer she showed last summer. “She’s a little roan. We’re kind of the same, both stubborn and sassy,” she says. “She won the commercial heifer at Summer Synergy (in 2014), and she did the best for me and we just got along.” In the two years Kelly has competed at Synergy, she’s done extremely well. She counts 2014 as her best year, winning with the aforementioned roan heifer. At the 2015 edition of Synergy, Kelly was the Junior Aggregate Champion in the Maine-Anjou show. She was the top beef competitor in the Junior division, coming in first in judging, third in marketing and on the first-place grooming team in her age category. Not only that, Kelly has been successful in taking
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“I like the relationship I can have with my animals, and its fun to hang out with some of the friends that you don’t get to see unless you’re at the shows.”
home some of the show’s most soughtafter awards. “I’ve been a scholarship winner the last couple times while I’ve been in Synergy,” she says proudly.
Far left and middle Kelly exhibits Prime Time’s Libby 515’13, a many times champion in 2013 and 2014.
For Kelly, the friendships and the opportunity to compete are what make showing at Synergy a memorable experience each year. When asked what advice she’d give a new exhibitor planning to compete at Synergy for the first time, her sound, simple advice echoes the effort she puts into all her competitions: “I would tell them that it’s an amazing show, and you should try your hardest.”
©© ShowChampions
When she’s not competing in cattle shows, Kelly is bringing home accolades in high school rodeo. She got her start in rodeo at an early age, and currently competes
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in barrel racing, breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending and ribbon roping. “I was Rookie of the Year for this season and the overall year for high school rodeo,” she explains. “Then I went to Iowa for the National Finals in breakaway roping.” Being that she is the only one in her family actively on the rodeo trail, this activity is important to her because of the work she put in to learn and master her five events. “My mom and dad didn’t really rodeo, so I had to be with people and they would teach me how. We rope with people all the time who help me, and it’s just a fun experience.” Her two successful pursuits factor into Kelly’s future plans at the moment. “I’d like to show cattle more and go to the NFR,” she says of her dreams for after school. “I kind of want to be a veterinarian or work at our farm.” No matter where this rising
star chooses to set her sights in the future, she’s thankful for her parents’ help and encouragement. “They’ve taught me most of the stuff I know, and they’ve helped me through my whole career in showing cattle and doing rodeo. They’ve just helped me out so much — it’s awesome.”
Top Kelly also been very successful in the Rodeo arena – with her talents taking her to the national finals in Iowa. Here, she competes in Carstairs, AB. ©© Hartt Photos
Bottom Kelly exhibits Prime Time’s Libby 515’13 to another championship at the Olds Fall Classic in 2013 . ©© Grant Rolston Photography Ltd.
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Carling Matejka — On the Road to a Bright Career
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arling Matejka grew up on her family’s cattle operation, Matejka Farms, outside of Ponoka, AB. “We live on a 200-head seed stock operation, and raise purebred Angus and Hereford breeding stock,” the 21-year-old student explains. “We calve out about 200 cows and usually have about 70 bulls to sell and between 50-60 yearling heifers.” Matejka’s junior show career was long and fruitful, racking up many achievement over the years in both 4-H and junior competitions. Looking back, her favourite show animal was the cow she showed when she was 14 and 15. “Her name was Cherry, and she produced a great calf, who I also showed, who also went off to be a great mom and produce more calves,” she says. “She was probably my favourite one, and the one I had the most success with.” Matejka competed at Synergy for four years, starting in the show’s inaugural year. “I got to watch Synergy grow, which was fantastic. It really started out as a little program that I think people were hesitant about, and it really bloomed into something amazing,” she says. Not only did she love the competition, she enjoyed the networking opportunities and opportunity to meet new people. “The best part about it was being with people who have similar traits as you. I love being around people — I’m a social butterfly — so the social aspect of it was what made it worth it,” she explains. “Being able to make those friends and connections and the networking that I did was truly amazing, and those are the things that I’m going to carry with me for the rest of my life, and those are the friendships that I’m going to continue to have.”
Above Matejka grew up on a 200 head seedstock operation, instilling a love of animals from an early age. Right Matejka (second row, left) with her veterinary class at the University of Calgary.
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“Being able to make those friends and connections and the networking that I did was truly amazing and those are the things that I’m going to carry with me for the rest of my life.”
being in a rural environment, as well as still having cattle around, because that’s really where my passion is.”
Her best year at Synergy, she says, was her final year of competition. “I got a $2,000 scholarship, and I was also one of the four who got to go to Houston (on a trip to the Stock Show).” This was also the year her skills truly allowed her to rise to the top of the competition. “I found that being in my last year of showing cattle, I was really able to use everything that I’d learned in the past, and I knew that I learned so much,” she recalls. This was especially the case in the scholarship interview. “I looked back at my very first year when I interviewed, and I found I really struggled with it, but as I became more confident in myself and confident in my abilities, it was way easier to talk about and answer their questions in a proper manner.” The skills developed through showing cattle will serve Matejka well in her next endeavours. After studying agriculture for three years at the University of Alberta, she was accepted into the University of Calgary’s veterinary school. She’s starting her second year of vet school this fall. Matejka, who hopes to specialize in large animal medicine, has wanted to be a vet “for as long as I can remember,” she says, and is enjoying her studies. “It’s a lot harder than I expected it to be, but it’s
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She plans on raising cattle in the future, too. “Obviously it won’t be my primary occupation, but I really learned a lot from it, and I hope one day when I have a family, my kids can also learn a lot from it,” she says. “I think it really developed me as a person, and I have a lot of thanks from that, and I think it does good things and teaches kids a lot.”
definitely challenged me in different ways. I’ve learned to take things and figure it out and not stress as much as I used to, which is good. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but it’s definitely made me overcome some obstacles.”
Many of the things she learned from growing up around cattle and working towards her goals come from the influence of her biggest role model, her dad. “Moving off the farm, I never really realized how hard he does work, and I feel like there’s a lot of traits I used to struggle with when we lived in the same house because we are so similar, but now I find that those traits make me who I am and they help me,” she explains.
“If everything goes right, in 10 years I would like to work at either a strictly bovine practice or in a rural community doing mixed practice that is mostly beef cattle,” she explains. “I like being able to work on everything and I like the idea of
“He’s a very hard worker, and he knows how to explain things in a way that is easy for people to understand, as well as a way that makes people happy. He’s one of the people who have helped push me this far. He’s always there to encourage me.”
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Photo Matejka at her parents farm near Ponoka. ŠŠ Top Stock
Opposite Page, Top Row Matejka excelled throughout her Synergy career, both with her cattle and in the skills competitions. Opposite Page, Bottom Row Matejka as part of the demonstration crew at the Calgary Stampede.
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Tessa Nybo Cattle & Clinics Prospect Steer & Heifer Sale September 26th - 27th Morinville, AB Watch for full details online at
WWW.TESSANYBO.COM Calves out of Eye Candy Man Among Boys Comfort Zone monopoly money
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Plan to attend the free clinic & open house to kick off the sale on Saturday!
Lot 2 "Bandit" purchased by Heidi Tymko in the 2014 sale
Reserve Champion Open Steer Taber Junior Livestock Show Reserve Champion Open Steer UFA Country Classic, Josephburg
T o p S t o c k M a g a z i n e / Fa l l 2 0 1 5
Contact Tessa at 403.636.1066 to schedule a tour of the calves on pasture at Sundre, AB this summer
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The techniques and processes have been refined now to the point that, on average, there’s probably a five to 10-percent difference between conventional and IVF embryos for conception. It’s becoming very competitive.”
Photo Dr. Rob Stables’ Bow Valley Genetics will be one of the first clinics to offer IVF to clients in Western Canada. ©© Top Stock
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WORDS BY PIPER WHELAN
MULTIPLYING
SUCCESS A powerful genetic tool once used primarily in the dairy industry picks up steam, offering new possibilities for beef cattle reproduction.
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he latest innovation in bovine reproductive technology is exciting, ground-breaking and increasingly becoming a more feasible option for beef producers wanting to use embryo transplant with added benefits in their herd. It’s also not entirely new. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) was first introduced in cattle more than 15 years ago, and was poised to transform the beef industry. However, IVF embryo transfer originally had a number of problems associated with the resulting pregnancies, such as large calves and placental abnormalities. “In the intervening years, they refined the process and figured out what was causing a lot of the large calves and other issues,” says Dr. Rob Stables, veterinary at Bow Valley Genetics Ltd. in Bassano, Alberta. These issues, he explains, were most likely caused by the type of media used in the lab process. Stables first became interested in IVF when it was introduced in his early days as a vet. Despite the initial issues, he saw that “it had the potential to change the industry,” he says. “The excitement of a new technique and the advancement of the science was the initial draw to it, and now that they’ve figured out a lot of it, it made it a lot more practical. That’s when we decided to get into it, and it’s becoming more user-friendly and more practical in the real world.” Today, IVF is a more viable option for North American
beef producers, with companies specializing in dairy cattle IVF expanding their labs to bring in beef clients.
How IVF Works The major differences between IVF and conventional embryo transfer are how the eggs (oocytes) are fertilized and when they are removed from the donor cow. “We’re going in before the cow has a heat and aspirating (removing) those eggs off of the ovary before they have a chance to ovulate,” says Stables. “Conventionally, the eggs are going to ovulate, get fertilized and be collected seven days later.” The collected oocytes are put into a maturation media, simulating ovulation overnight. In the morning, they’re ready to be fertilized. “At the lab they’ll process the semen, mix it with the oocytes for fertilization and then the next five to six days are spent growing the embryos to the stage of embryo that we’d normally be collecting out of a conventional flush, which is a seven-day embryo,” Stables explains. Bow Valley Genetics is a satellite collection facility for Boviteq, a bovine reproductive company with state-of-the-art labs in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, and Madison, Wisconsin, that focuses primarily on dairy cattle genetics. Central labs like Boviteq generally set the price for IVF embryo services, which will involve fixed costs for the collection, processing and lab
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fees. They’ll also coordinate the set-up of recipients with the satellite facilities. “(With) Holsteins, they’ll typically send them back fresh or implant them there,” says Stables. Beef embryos tend to be produced at the central lab, frozen and sent back to the satellite facility to be implanted. They can also be sent back fresh if recipients are available. Transferring IVF embryos is quite similar to the process for conventional embryos. “They’re frozen in essentially the same media,” he says. “You just have to be that much more careful with temperature, because IVF embryos and oocytes are very sensitive to temperature change, especially sudden changes.” Like conventional flushing, the set-up of IVF requires injections of folliclestimulating hormone, but at a lower dose. The set-up of donor and recipient cows also requires more planning and ongoing work. “It’s more intensive, procedurewise, because you’re doing something to the cows every week,” says Stables. With conventional flushing, you collect every 30-60 days, whereas with IVF, you can aspirate the follicles every 14 days. “Conventional flushing is much more periodic, whereas with IVF, once you start a cow, you want to keep going with it because you don’t want to start and stop. It seems to give you better results if you continue on week to week.”
The Bow Valley Genetics Program Stables grew up on a purebred Black Angus operation in Saskatchewan, where he first became interested in beef cattle genetics and reproductive technologies. “Once I got into university and vet school and became exposed to stuff, especially embryo transfer and advanced
Top Part of the Bow Valley Genetics Team. (Back L - R) Clint Morasch, Matt Kumlin, Taylor Isley, Laura Devlin, Rob Stables (Front L - R) Lauren Erickson, Kari Graham, Paige Swinston. Missing are Angela Morasch and Marianne Janzen. © Top Stock Bottom The facility at Bow Valley Genetics is stateof-art. © Angela Morasch 030
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$37.5 MILLION
2013 CANADA’S EMBRYO IMPORTS VS. EXPORTS TO THE USA
Exported to USA
$14.7 MILLION
Imported from USA
Image Dr. Matt Kumlin performs a conventional flush. ©Top Stock
reproductive techniques, it just tweaked my interest and I decided to follow it.” After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996, Stables began working at Davis-Rairdan Embryo Transplants at Crossfield, AB. “I’ve been doing embryo transfer for almost 20 years now,” he says. He worked at Davis-Rairdan for eight years, and then moved to Brooks, AB, with his wife, Candy. They purchased the Bow Valley Veterinary Clinic, a general practice, in 2004, and Stables ran his embryo transfer business on the side. In 2010, Stables partnered with Clint and Angela Morasch of Lazy MC Angus at Bassano, AB, to form Bow Valley Genetics Ltd., building a donor facility and lab. Stables takes care of the veterinary work, while the Morasch family provides the T o p S t o c k M a g a z i n e / Fa l l 2 0 1 5
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herdsman services. Bow Valley provides full embryo collection and transfer services, both on-farm or at their donor facility, and they are approved to produce embryos on and off-site for export. Bow Valley also offers owners-use semen collection. “That’s just been growing every year, almost doubling every year. This last year was our best year yet,” says Stables. In 2014, the company opened an export-qualified bull stud with a capacity for 40 bulls approved for export. With this bull stud, they are in a partnership with Semex to produce semen for many of their beef bulls. “We wanted to start providing the IVF services to our clients, since no one else is really providing them in Alberta and Saskatchewan,” he explains. There are facilities in eastern Canada and British Columbia that specialize in dairy cattle IVF, while IVF in beef cattle is still relatively new throughout Canada. “I’ve just implanted my first embryos this year, IVF embryos that came out of the States. It’s a much bigger market there, so it’s really taken off in the last couple of years.”
Making the Case for IVF One of the problems initially hindering IVF was the cost of setting up a lab. “Every person who collects the oocytes had to be associated with the lab in the same facility,” Stables recalls. “For the sake of efficiency they’ve come up with this concept now where there’s a central lab, and then there’s a variety of satellite facilities that do the IVF aspirations.” From there the oocytes are sent by courier overnight to the central lab. Bow Valley, a Canadian Embryo Transfer Associationcertified facility, is one of Boviteq’s satellites in the prairies. “It think the biggest thing that has been a detriment in the past and probably holding it back is achieving comparable pregnancy results to conventional flushing,” he explains. “But the techniques and processes have been refined now to the point that, on average, there’s
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“We wanted to start providing the IVF services to our clients, since no one else is really providing them in Alberta and Saskatchewan.” IN VIVO VS. IN VITRO EMBRYO COLLECTION 2014
Transferable In-Vivo Embryos Produced
Transferable In-Vitro Embryos Produced
In-Vivo Embryos Frozen
In-Vitro Embryos Frozen
*Data obtained from Canadian Embryo Transfer Association, www.ceta.ca
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Beef
TRANSFERABLE IVF EMBRYOS PRODUCED
probably a five to 10-percent difference between conventional and IVF embryos for conception. It’s becoming very competitive.” (Article continued on page 34)
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The Semen Side of the Equation
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iven that IVF is an intriguing technology, is becoming more practical, and the advantages that this form of collection has, what innovations does this technology bring considering semen? Here are some considerations and benefits of IVF when deciding on the semen you’ll use in the process:
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Dairy
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Beef
Due to the more intensive process of IVF, it’s important to have your breeding plans ready to go a couple of collections in advance. “You want to use a different bull on each collection, likely, so you might want to plan out your next three or four collections and organize your semen all at once, because the semen has to get to the lab and be there on time,” says Stables. IVF better facilitates the sharing of one expensive straw of semen between several cows, giving more options when breeders get together to buy a pricey straw from a coveted bull. “There was an example of an Angus bull — whose semen sells for upwards of $12,000 a straw now — and I know of situations where four people got together and shared the cost of the straw to produce the embryos,” he says. While using sexed semen is often ineffective in conventional flushing due to the low dose, it’s much better suited to IVF. “If you’re doing your fertilization in a little petri dish that’s a couple of centimetres across, you can make that work much better,” Stables explains. The lab can also create and use what is called reversesort semen in the fertilization process. “You can take a straw of regular frozen semen that’s not sexed and they’ll thaw it, run it through the semen sexing machine, and then you can just use either the male or the female semen to fertilize your eggs, if you have a preference for one or the other.”
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“Canada and the U.S. have a strong bilateral trading relationship in bovine genetics, with the U.S. ranking as Canada’s top export destination for bovine genetics exports, and Canada being the U.S.’s most important trading partner for their products.”
While the optimum age and condition of a donor cow is similar to that required for conventional flushing, IVF can give you a jump-start in collecting embryos from your desired donor cow. A major advantage is that you can collect oocytes from heifers at 10 months of age, which Stables notes is particularly attractive for the dairy industry. Often, IVF is a good alternative for cows who haven’t successfully given good embryos through conventional flushing. As some cows don’t respond to either method, there’s no guarantee, but it is another option. The benefits don’t stop there: if you’d like embryos from a specific cow and her own calf on the ground that same year, IVF can facilitate that. “The follicles containing the oocytes are always developing on the ovaries, and even though the cow is pregnant, we’re not interfering with the uterus. We’re only touching the ovaries, so as long as you don’t bother the corpus luteum – the structure on the ovary that maintains the pregnancy – you can aspirate follicles and get oocytes just as if she was an open cow,” Stables explains. He finds this is the main attraction from beef producers who find it hard to breed back donor cows after being open for a year. “As long as you can reach the ovaries, you can continue to do IVF, and that generally last to about 90-120 days — maybe even up to 150 days — of pregnancy, depending on the cow.” Now that this technology is also becoming a more realistic option for Canada’s beef producers, it remains to be seen how exactly this innovation will impact the industry, and where reproductive technologies will go next. 034
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Photos: QC Junior Beef Show Committee
quebec junior beef ALL-BREEDS SHOW Location: Brome, QC Date: July 3 - 5, 2015 Judges: Kurtis Black, Haley Station, ON
Supreme Champion Female & Champion Angus Mark Sample
Reserve Supreme Female & Champion Simmental Female Dylan Mastine
Reserve Supreme Bull & Champion Simmental Bull Shelby Drew
Reserve Angus Female
Champion Commercial Female Krista Whalen
Champion Hereford Female Allison Mastine
Champion Angus Bull
Reserve Commercial Female Adrianna Whalen
Reserve Hereford Female
Mark Sample
Mark Sample 036
Supreme Champion Bull & Champion Hereford Colt Mastine
Jade Ouellet
Memphis Mastine
Reserve Hereford Bull
Champion Shorthorn Female Samuel Dempsey
Reserve Simmental Female Shelby Drew
Reserve Shorthorn Female Olivia Dempsey
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Photos: Western Ontario Beef Invitational
western
ontario beef
invitational JUNIOR SHOW
Date: July 4 - 5, 2015 Listowel, ON
Grand Champion Breeding Female Jessica Lasby
Reserve Breeding Female Laura Scott
Reserve Market Animal, Champion Market Steer Jarrett Scott
Grand Champion Market Animal Kelly Verstrate
Champion Heifer Calf
Champion Junior Yearling
Champion Cow/Calf
Reserve Market Steer
Reserve Simmental Bull
Reserve Heifer Calf
Reserve Junior Yearling
Reserve Market Heifer
Candace Colvin
Kelsey Smith
Bailey McConnell
Flynn Reinhart
Maurice Verstrate
Lexi Colvin
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Ashely McConnell
Rodney Podolinsky
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summer synergy
Photos: Grant Rolston Photography Ltd.
Supreme Champion Purebred Female, Champion Purebred Simmental Female  Dakota Townsend
Champion Purebred Angus
Champion Purebred Red Angus, Reserve Purebred 4-H Halley Adams
Champion Purebred Charolais
Reserve Purebred Angus
Reserve Purebred Red Angus, Champion Purebred 4-H Keely Adams
Reserve Purebred Charolais
Maguire Blair
Davis Schmidt
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Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Candace Fankhanel
Megan McLeod
Scholarship Recipients JUNIOR
INTERMEDIATE
SENIOR
SENIOR
Alexis Couch
Keely Adams
Halley Adams
Luke Marshall
Tianna Frenzel
Baxter Blair
Brooke Bablitz
Ward Marshall
Elle Groeneveld
Justin Couch
Maguire Blair
Megan McLeod
Kenzie Hickman
Bronwynn Frenzel
Danae Chostner
Cassidy Matthews
Kyla Kelly
Emma Gringras
Jared Couch
Shannon Mclaughlin
Brynne Yoder
Morgan Macintyre
Bailey Dietrich
Cole McMahon
Jacey Massey
Tyler Dietrich
Jill Mclerie
Cache McLerie
Cole Dodgson
Brennan Munro
Cara McNaughton
Kyle Dodgson
Cayley Peltzer
Bryanne Peltzer
Travis Dow
Mackenzie Rowley
Jenna Schmidt
Candace Fankhanel
Davis Schmidt
Julie Sharp
Jonas Haeni
Tony Schmidt
Madison Sibbald
Aiden Jamieson
Riley Sharp
Thomas Wildman
Kayla Jones
Jaymie Thompson
Sierra Wise
Delanie Knull
Dakota Townsend
Kaylie Krys
Wacey Townsend
Jade Marshall
Bailey Wauters
SUMMER
synergy
MULTI-BREED JUNIOR SHOW Date: July 6 - 12, 2015 Location: Olds/Calgary, AB
Grand Aggregates JUNIOR
INTERMEDIATE
SENIOR
Champion
Kyla Kelly
Jacey Massey
Candace Fankhanel
Reserve
Brynne Yoder
Justin Couch
Brennan Munro
Champion Purebred Hereford Morgan McIntyre
Champion Purebred Maine
Champion Purebred Simmental
Champion Purebred AOB
Reserve Purebred Maine
Reserve Purebred Simmental
Reserve Purebred AOB
Ashlynn Duffy
Clay Duffy
Dakota Townsend
Dakota Townsend
Cole Dodgson
Riley Sharp
Reserve Purebred Hereford Prairie McNeely (no photo)
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
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summer synergy
Photos: Grant Rolston Photography Ltd.
Supreme Champion Commercial Female, Champion Commercial Simmental, Champion Commercial 4-H Cole McMahon
Champion Commercial Angus
Champion Commercial Red Angus
Champion Commercial Charolais
Champion Commercial Simmental
Reserve Commercial Red Angus
Reserve Commercial Charolais
Keely Adams
Cole McMahon
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Cache McLerie
Jed Curtis
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Luke Marshall
Aidan Jamieson
SUMMER
synergy
JUNIOR SHOW Date: July 6 - 12, 2015
Reserve Commercial Angus Cassidy Wise (no photo)
Reserve Commercial Simmental Female
Champion Jackpot Yearling Classic
Reserve Jackpot Yearling Classic
Champion Mainetainer
Champion Commercial Hereford
Champion Commercial AOB
Reserve Mainetainer
Reserve Commercial Hereford
Reserve Commercial AOB
Champion All-Breeds Bull
Champion Mainetainer Bull, Reserve All-Breeds Bull Laurie Morasch
Reserve Mainetainer Bull
Dakota Townsend
Tony Schmidt
Laurie Morasch
Cole McMahon
Wacey Townsend (no photo)
Morgan Macintyre
Brendan Fraser
Kailey Wirsta
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Jamie Thompson
Lauren Blair
Riley Pashulka
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UFA JUNIOR
steer classic
JUNIOR STEER SHOW Location: Calgary, AB Date: July 12, 2015 Judge: Justin Morrison, Radville, SK
Class Winners Class 1
Riley Chalack
Class 2
Aidan Jamieson
Class 3
Daniel Barfett
Class 4
Sydney Dalrymple
Class 5
Shilo Schaake
Class 6
Cassidy Serhienko
Class 7
Maguire Blair
Class 8
Abigail Brady
Class 9
Katie Serhienko
Class 10
Dakota Townsend
Top Six Qualifier
Top Six Qualifier
Top Six Qualifier
Top Six Qualifier
Daniel Barfett
Lee Jensen 042
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Maguire Blair
Cassidy Serhienko
Photos: ShowChampions
Grand Champion Steer Katie Serhienko
Reserve Grand Champion Steer Shilo Schaake T o p S t o c k M a g a z i n e / Fa l l 2 0 1 5
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colonial days
Photos: Grant Rolston Photography Ltd.
STEER & HEIFER SHOW Location: Lloydminster, SK Date: July 8 - 11, 2015
Reserve Champion Steer
Katie Serhienko & Brandon Hertz
Grand Champion Steer Katie Wright
Reserve Champion Heifer Elldem Cattle Investments
Grand Champion Heifer Ryley & Toby Noble
Grand Champion Female, Champion European Female (Junior Show) Quinn Hoegl
JUNIOR SHOW Reserve Champion Female, Champion British Female Jaxon Payne
Grand Champion Bull, Junior Show Quinn Hoegl 044
Reserve British Female
2015
Paige Lehmann
Reserve Champion Bull Jett Lehmann Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Reserve European Female Leah Beeching
westerner days
Photos: Grant Rolston Photography Ltd.
BEEF SHOW Location: Red Deer, AB Date: July 15 - 19, 2015
Champion Shorthorn Female
Reserve Shorthorn Female
Champion Shorthorn Bull
Reserve Shorthorn Female
Champion Maine Female
Reserve Maine Female
Champion Maine Bull
Reserve Maine Bull
Champion Mainetainer Female
Reserve Mainetainer Female
Champion Mainetainer Bull
Reserve Mainetainer Bull
Kathryn Dolliver
Kathryn Dolliver
Chase Dolliver
Kenadee Primm
Supreme Champion Female  Kathryn Dolliver
Cole Shuckburgh
Supreme Champion Bull  Jason Muhlbach
Michelle Duncan
Kelsey Zimmer
Ava Greiner
Open Show Champions Champ Maine Female
Reserve Maine Female
Champ Maine Bull
Reserve Maine Bull
Champ Mainetainer Female
Reserve Mainetainer Female
Champ Mainetainer Bull
Reserve Mainetainer Bull
Champ Shorthorn Female
Reserve Shorthorn Female
Champ Shorthorn Bull
Reserve Shorthorn Bull
AOB Champ Female
AOB Reserve Female
AOB Champ Bull
AOB Reserve Bull
Kelsey Zimmer
Michelle Duncan
Kevin Shuckburgh Kevin Shuckburgh Chase Dolliver Riley Sharp
Kathryn Dolliver Jason Muhlbach
Kevin Shuckburgh Christie Greiner Kelsey Zimmer
Faith Shuckburgh
Kathryn Dolliver
Corbyn Stoneman Whitney Boscvich Chase Dolliver
Kathryn Dolliver Kathryn Dolliver
Faith Shuckburgh
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Corybn Stoneman
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Photos: Grant Rolston Photography Ltd.
canadian junior angus showdown NATIONAL SHOW
Grand Champion Owned Female, Senior Champion Halley Adams
Reserve Champion Owned Female, Reserve Senior Champion Maguire Blair
Grand Champion Open Female, Senior Champion Garrett Liebreich
Reserve Champion Open Female, Reserve Senior Champion Nicole Booth
Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Female, Junior Champion Kodie Doetzel 046
Grand Champion Bred & Owned Female, Senior Champion Wacey Townsend
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
canadian junior angus showdown NATIONAL SHOW Date: July 16 - 18, 2015 Judge: Michael Wheeler, Saskatoon, SK Location: Olds, AB
Grand Champion Bull, Bull Calf Champion Katie Wright
Reserve Champion Bull, Junior Champion Kailey Brandl
Grand Champion Steer Katie Wright
Reserve Champion Steer
Maguire Blair
Grand Champion Commercial Female, Senior Champion Cade Rutten
Reserve Commercial Female Lilly Howell
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
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Photos: Helge By (Charolais Banner)
canadian charolais youth association NATIONAL CONFERENCE & SHOW Date: July 22 - 25, 2015 Location: Yorkton, SK Judge: Trent Leibreich
Grand Champion Female, Senior Champion Female Justin Cay
Bull Calf Champion Justin Cay
Reserve Bull Calf Champion Shae-lynn Evans
Champion Heifer Calf Calina Evans
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Reserve Champion Female, Champion Senior Yearling Shae-lynn Evans
Reserve Heifer Calf Jorja Beck
Champion Junior Yearling Wacey McCaw
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Reserve Junior Yearling Emma Sparrow
Reserve Senior Yearling Shelby Evans
Champion Mature Female Cassidi Elder
Champion Steer
Champion Commercial
Reserve Champion Steer
Reserve Commercial
Dylan Grieve
Pheonix Preston-Winder
DIVISION WINNERS 2015
Reserve Two–Year Old Female Mason Beck
Kaden Beck
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Rachael Verwey
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wild rose classic
Photos: Christine Boake Photography
ALBERTA JUNIOR SIMMENTAL SHOW Location: Lacombe, Alberta Date: July 23-26, 2015 Judge: Shannon Eaton
Grand Champion Purebred Female Sara Van Sickle
Grand Champion Purebred Bull Kyle Dodgson
Grand Champion Commercial Female Cole McMahon
Grand Champion Commercial Bull Cole McMahon
Reserve Purebred Female
Reserve Commercial Female
Cole Dodgson
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Reserve Purebred Bull Sara Van Sickle
Cathryn Thompson
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Reserve Commercial Bull Haylea Jones
mrpm countryfest
Photos: MRPM Countryfest
BELT BUCKLE BONANZA 4-H STOCK SHOW Date: July 25 - 26, 2015 Location: Maple Ridge, BC Judge: Clint Morasch, Bassano, AB
Reserve Champion Steer Paige Thompson
Grand Champion Steer Emalee Higgins
Reserve Supreme Female, Reserve Champion Heifer Heather LeBlanc
Supreme Champion Female & Champion Heifer Mackenzie Schuurman
Champion Cow/Calf Christina Jones
SKILLS WINNERS 2015
Junior Showmanship
Senior Showmanship
Res Junior Showmanship
Res Senior Showmanship
Ken Paul
Emalee Higgins
Jayme Thompson
Mackenzie Schuurman
Reserve Cow/Calf Paige Thompson
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
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prince albert
Photos: Claude & Adele Wasden
EXHIBITION SHOW Location: Prince Albert, SK Date: July 28 - Aug 1
Champion Angus Female Baxter Blair
Champion Angus Bull
Bar-H Land & Cattle Co
Supreme Champion Female Randy & Susan Cay, Cay’s Cattle Champion Simmental Female McIntosh Livestock
Champion Simmental Bull
Champion Commercial Female Arch Holdings
Champion Commercial Bull
Princess Classic Jackpot Champion Arch Holdings
Lord of the Ringst Jackpot Sunny Valley
Little Lady Jackpot Champion Toby Noble
Junior Show Futurity Champion Megan Wasden
Sunny Valley Simmentals
McCormack Family Ranch
Simmentals
Reserve Female, Blairs.Ag Jr Show Baxter Blair 052
Supreme Champion Bull Kurtis Reid, The Cliffs Farm
Grand Champion Female, Blairs.Ag Junior Show Mcquire Blair
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Farmfair International is an amazing opportunity to market your operation to thousands of potential buyers. From livestock genetics to the latest equipment, this is where the world’s agricultural community comes together to be seen and make businesses grow. Definitely worth the trip.
ENTRIES OPEN SEPTEMBER 1 farmfairinternational.com | #FARMFAIR | Edmonton EXPO Centre
Grand Champion Market Steer Maguire Blair
Grand Champion Prospect Steer Arch’s Cattle
PRINCE ALBERT
steer show Reserve Market Steer Hall’s Cattle Co
Reserve Prospect Steer Franc Farm Show Calves Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
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Photos: Grant Rolston Photography Ltd.
junior hereford
bonanza NATIONAL JUNIOR HEREFORD SHOW Date: July 28 - Aug 1, 2015 Location: Fredricton, NB Judges: Stephen & Jennie Mutch, Kingston, PEI (Conformation); Kurt Duncan, Cornwall, PEI (Bred & Owned, Semen Donation, Commercial Classes
Grand Champion Female, Senior Champion Female Gabrielle Cheremshynski
Reserve Champion Female, Senior Yearling Champion Female Kylee Dixon
Reserve Champion Bull, Junior Champion Bull Wyatt Oulton
Champion Heifer Calf Rebecca Hess
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Grand Champion Bull, Bull Calf Champion Caitlyn Brake
Reserve Heifer Calf Will Raymond
Champion Junior Yearling Wyatt Oulton
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Reserve Junior Yearling Allison Mastine
junior hereford
bonanza
Res Bred & Owned Female Justin McLaughlin
Supreme Champion Bred & Owned, Champion Bred & Owned Female, Champion Semen Donation Wyatt Oulton
Champion Bred & Owned Bull Ethan Stone
Champion Steer Nicholas Cheremshynski
Champion Commercial Hayley Kemp
Reserve Champion Steer
Reserve Champion Commercial
Christopher Bell
Reserve Senior Yearling Ethan Stone
Dallas Hunter
Reserve Senior Champion Mitch Best
Reserve Bred & Owned Bull, Reserve Semen Donation Wyatt Oulton
Reserve Bull Calf Champion Mitch Best
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Reserve Junior Champion Bull Memphis Mastine
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manitoba youth beef round-up 8TH ANNUAL SHOW
Photos: Melissa McRae
Date: July 31 - Aug 2, 2015
Champion AOB Female (Limousin) Kaitlyn Davey
Champion Shorthorn Female
Grand Champion Steer
Wyatt Inglis
Justin Carvey
Champion Angus Female Haley Brownell
Reserve Angus Female Raina Syrnyk
Grand Agregates
Champion Commercial Female Kolton McIntosh
Reserve Commercial Female Haley Brownell
Naomi Best (Intermediate), Carson Baker (Peewee), Taylor Carlson (Junior) and Raina Syrnyk (Senior) by John Deer Enns Bros Tractor. 056
Champion Simmental Female Kolton McIntosh
Reserve Simmental Female James Reid
Reserve Champion Steer Brooklyn Hedley
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Reserve AOB Female (Limousin) Kaitlyn Davey
Reserve Shorthorn Female
Justin Kristjansson
junior shorthorn
Photos: Show Champions
NATIONAL SHOW Date: July 31 - Aug 2, 2015 Judge: Callyn Hahn Location: Brome, QC
Grand Champion Bull Melanie Ross Grand Champion Female & Heifer Calf Champion Olivia Dempsey
Champion Bred & Owned Patrick Brown Andison
Reserve Champion Female & Junior Champion Samuel Dempsey
Reserve Senior Champion Female Riley Sutherland (no photo)
Reserve Heifer Calf Champion Nicholas Dempsey
Reserve Champion Bull Blair Allnut (no photo)
Reserve Junior Champion, Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Brigitte Herrema
Champion ShorthornPlus Kristen Dempsey
Senior Champion Female Rianne Dempsey
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Reserve Champion ShorthornPlus William McNiven
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limousin impact ‘15
Photos: Barn Girls Photography (Jeannine Hamilton, Mel Curtis)
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
Purebred Heifer Calf Champion Melissa MacIntyre
Purebred Reserve Heifer Calf Champion Braeden Weppler
Supreme Champion & Champion Purebred Female  Nicole Bielecki
Purebred Reserve Junior Champion Brad MacIntyre
Purebred Reserve Senior Champion Melissa MacIntyre
Reserve Champion Bull Melissa MacIntyre
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Grand Champion Bull Brad MacIntyre
Grand Champion Open Female & Heifer Calf Champion Paige Grant
Reserve Champion Open Female & Junior Champion Brittany Hirschfeld
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Reserve Champion Commercial Female & Calf Champion Haleigh Weppler
limousin impact ‘15 NATIONAL SHOW Date: Aug 6 - 8, 2015 Judge: Chester Tupling, Honeywood, ON Location: Stratford, ON
Open Reserve Heifer Calf Champion Brad MacIntyre
Reserve Supreme Champion & Champion 4-H Female Connor Wiley
Open Reserve Junior Champion Rachelle Ormiston
Grand Champion Female, Commercial Division Rachelle Ormiston
Reserve Champion Junior Steer Nolan McLarty
Commercial Reserve Junior Champion
Grand Champion Market Steer Abbey Gibson
Reserve Champion Purebred Female Melissa MacIntyre
Top Stock Magazine / Show Results
Michaela Rodger
Reserve Champion 4-H Female Colton Rodger
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VOICE EXPERIENCE The
WORDS BY PIPER WHELAN
Montana cattleman and judge Brian Barragree looks to the north this September for his first Canadian show
W
hen Brian Barragree crosses the Canada-United States border this September, he’ll be on his way to judge his first-ever Canadian cattle show. The Absarokee, Montana, cattleman is no stranger to Canadian shows, however. “I used to come up there a lot and go to shows and work, or take cattle to the shows,” he explains. “I think it will be really interesting.” Barragree will be judging conformation at the third-annual Young Ranchman’s Show on Sept. 25 - 27 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. This will consist of the junior female show, as well as the open Southwest Prospect Classic Steer Show. Respected in American livestock judging circles, Barragree has years of experience in evaluating cattle, and has done so at some of the most prestigious stock shows in the United States. Like the stockmen of old, Barragree got his education in livestock judging through practical experience. He judged his first show in the early 1990s. “I judged a show in Reno, Nevada — the Western Angus
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Futurity,” he recalls. Since that first experience, he believes his approach to judging cattle as stayed relatively similar throughout the years. “You still need cattle that are functional as far as being sound on their feet and legs, and cattle that have some ability to flesh. I don’t think it’s really changed all that much.” Barragree has been in the cattle business for 35 years, growing up in the industry and then working for a number of operations, including the Beartooth Angus Ranch, before establishing his own ranch with his family in the picturesque Beartooth Mountain region. Barragree Cattle Company is primarily a seed stock operation. “We run about 400 head of cows, and we have an annual bull sale in March. We run pretty much all Angus cows,” he says. “Both my kids are somewhat involved. My son is there all the time and my daughter’s in college, so she’s up there in the summers. We’ve been at the present location about 10 years.” He counts starting their own ranch as the prime achievement of his career. “Just
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An accomplished cattlemen, Barragree has judged at some of North America’s premiere events, including the National Western Stock show. ©© ShowChampions.
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“You still need cattle that are functional as far as being sound on their feet and legs, and cattle that have some ability to flesh. I don’t think it’s really changed all that much.” establishing our own operation was probably one of the bigger things, I think, we’ve ever done. I worked for several places for years, and going out on our own is probably our biggest accomplishment, I’d say.” Another noteworthy highlight on Barragree’s list of accomplishments is definitely the biggest show he has ever judged. In 2010, he judged the Angus show at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. “It was a good experience,” he says. “It’s the breed I’m already in, so there was probably a little more pressure than any other show
Above Zane Barragree claiming the Reserve Grand Champion Female at the 2009 National Western Stock Show. Previously named Junior Champion, H C A Estella 782 was a daughter of Plainview Lutton E102.
I’ve ever done. Then I helped judge the Herefords last year, and that was maybe a little bit more enjoyable because it wasn’t quite as stressful.” When asked what he considers the best way to keep youth in agriculture, he brings up the importance of encouraging youth in our families and getting started at home, if you can. “It’s difficult,” he says of establishing yourself in the industry and making a living out of it. “Support from our families is certainly the number-one thing, I think. It’s an expensive project to establish an operation. The cost of just
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Right Barragree’s Supreme Bull athe 2014 NILE, Billings, MT. BCC Windy 66A was previously named the Champion Angus Bull. ©© ShowChampions
©© ShowChampions
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As the associate judge of Troy Thomas of Harold, South Dakota, Barragree sorted the Herefords at the 2015 National Western Stock show. ©© ShowChampions.
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FAVORITE SHOW JUDGED
ALL TIME FAVORITE COW/BULL
To this point, probably the National Western Stock Show. Since I was a kid and first started going, it’s always been my favourite stock show, and it probably meant the most to me to judge what I consider to be my favourite stock show.
Probably my last favourite cow was a heifer that was Reserve Grand Champion in Denver three or four years ago — H C A Estella 782, a heifer that my son had while he was showing in the junior shows. We were kind of a dark horse, and she just blossomed with a week at National Western, it seemed. As far as bulls, I’ve had several really nice ones, and probably the last one that I think about is from my last year before Beartooth Angus Ranch sold out. We had a bull called BT Crossover 758N, and he was popular with several different sides of the business. It turns out he was a carrier for one of these genetic defects, but we didn’t know that at the time. But he was a pretty popular champion that we had in Denver in the show ring.
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doing business is high, and I do think being involved in a family operation is the best thing that can happen for them.”
Top Left Young participants enjoy arts & crafts at the 2013 Young Ranchman’s ©© Mary-Kate Robertson
Middle Left Cody Lafrentz, SK, shows the Grand Champion Steer at the 2013 event. ©© Meghan Kimmel Hoffman
Bottom Left Darby McCormick in the wash rack. The Young Ranchman’s show encourages hands-on participation and learning. ©© Sandra Kimmel
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Encouraging youth in agriculture is at the heart of the show Barragree will judge in late September. The Young Ranchman’s Show was created “to provide a competitive platform for the talented youth in this part of the province to showcase their skills, and further their development as young stockmen and women,” says Jamie-Rae Pittman, who is part of the show’s organizing committee. “The support has been tremendous; in our first year we drew participants from Alberta and all over Saskatchewan, and the numbers have been steadily increasing.” This three-day event includes a conformation show and a number of skills competitions, including showmanship, show team judging, team grooming, public speaking, art and photography. This is a qualifying show for the National Young Cattleman of the Year competition T o p S t o c k M a g a z i n e / Fa l l 2 0 1 5
and the Western Canadian Show Team Judging Finals. “Last year we also developed a workshop series, and we are thrilled to be presenting two new workshops this year: Livestock Photography, and Agvocacy and Social Media,” Pittman continues. “Also new this year, we are excited to be able to provide some scholarship opportunities to our participants.” Another facet of the show is the Little Rancher’s day, a special line-up of agriculture-related games and crafts for participants eight years old and under. Barragree is looking forward to seeing the Canadian cattle that will be exhibited at the Young Ranchman’s Show. “I’ve seen a few of the cattle that have come down to the National Western,” he says. “There’s some interesting cattle up there, and I think they’re a little different pedigree, and now that we’ve kind of moved past our border issues, I think they’ll be a little more trade between the two countries from a seed stock
JUDGE INTERVIEW (CONTINUED) ROLE MODELS GROWING UP & HOW THEY AFFECTED YOU Some of my role models were older people who I respected when I was a kid because they were people who were successful in the seedstock business. I guess some of them weren’t that much older than me, but they were successful. There’d be people like Eldon Krebs (of Krebs Ranch in Nebraska) and Bill Couch (of C-Bar Ranch in Indiana) — those guys who had been successful at showing cattle, which, when I first started in the business, was still a huge part of promotion. We didn’t have as nearly as many EPDs, and those guys knew how to show cattle and how to sell them to people, and those kind of people were the people I looked up to.
FAVORITE SHOW DAY TIP I would caution them all to spend a bit of time ahead of time with (their show animals) and know their animals’ strengths and weaknesses. Keep in mind the more natural you can make one look, the better they look to the judge from his viewing distance. I think if you do a little more natural job of fitting them, you can catch the judge’s eye just as well that way as you can over-fitting them. standpoint, so I’m kind of anxious to see what’s there. I think I’ll see some good ones.” Barragree’s long-term goals for the future of his family’s cattle operation are focused on expansion and meeting the growing demand they’re facing. “We’d like to take our cow numbers up. As we’ve had this bull sale for several years, our demand has increased, and along with raising our cow numbers, we’d like to increase our land, too — our base for our operation.” At the moment, Barragree is pleased with what he sees going on in the cattle industry, particularly dealing with demand and profit. “Right now, on both sides of the border it’s really been good; it’s been a profit margin. There’s high demand right now, and it’s made the seed stock cattle worth considerable more, too, with the market being up,” he says. “I think we’re in an expansion mode, but I don’t think it’s going to be like any other in history. I think it’s going to be more controlled, and as we do control it we can control what we’re getting for our product to some degree, and I think it will stay in the profit margin for a few years.” Above Center Sadie Anwender and Garrett Leibreich in Show Team judging at the Young Ranchman’s show. ©© Meghan Kimmel Hoffman
WORDS OF ADVICE FOR JUNIORS I would ask the people that are successful, whether they’re your neighbour down the road or somebody from the next province or state. Most people, if somebody has some genuine interest, will give them the time, and I think people are pretty good in agriculture about helping if somebody has some interest.
YOUNG RANCHMAN’S SHOW DAY CRITERIA I like a female that’s feminine, and yet we want her to have some width when you view her from behind. I like straight lines. I like heifers that have a feminine front end on them and look like they’re going to make good cows. I like cattle that have some spring of rib and depth of rib, and cattle that are good-footed and good-legged. That’s a big part of it — cows are harvesters of grass, so they have to walk to survive. On the steer side of things, you sure want a steer that’s adequate in terms of being sound — maybe not quite as critical on that at that point. I like cattle that have some top in them, cattle that have some rear quarter to them and are reasonably level in their underline. As we view the market, I think those steers that are finished need to be in that upper 1,200 to almost 1,400 (pound range). That’s where the buyers are giving the premiums at this point.
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SEPTEMBER SEPT
5+6 SEPT
21
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26
SEPT
26+27 SEPT
26+27
Miller Show Cattle Steer & Heifer Sale Cremona, AB
Larson Club Calves Pasture-Bid-off Sale
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NOVEMBER NOV
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“November Gold” Club Calf + Prospect Sale
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T Bar C “Champions by Design” Club Calf Genetics Sale
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Saskatoon, SK
Regina, SK
Dun-rite Stock and Stables “Brothers from different mothers” Bentley, AB
Tessa Nybo Cattle & Clinics Prospect Steer + Heifer Sale Morinville, AB
Townsend Show Cattle/Rock Star Cattle “Backdrop Bound” Sylvan Lake, AB
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070
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Hill Haven “Selections” Shorthorn Sale Duntroon, ON
Ockerman Prospect Calves Online Sale
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Deer Ridge Ranch Maine/Mainetainer Female Sale Dewberry, AB
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Diamond T Cattle “Diamond Mine” Online Sale Olds, AB
Rusylvia Cattle Co Prospect Heifer & Steer Online Sale Derwent, AB
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Manitoba Ag Ex
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11 - 15 NOV
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Farmfair International
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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Arch Holdings Club Cattle Blairs.Ag Blenview Farms Bow Valley Genetics The Cliffs Farm Diamond T Cattle
072
72 3 68 -15 4,5
Hiller Hay Farms
13
RK Animal Supplies
35
Horner Cattle Company
24
Royal Winter Fair Fitting Competition
15
JT Livestock Ltd.
73
Rusylvia Cattle Co
27
Larson Club Calves
9
Six Mile Ranch
Lazy MC Angus
11
Spady Farms
10 60
Lucky Springs Farms
69
South East Show Calf Pursuit
3
Dun-Rite Stock & Stables
61
Ockerman Prospect Calves
26
SSS Red Angus
11
E5 Livestock
27
Rasmuson Cattle
74
Tessa Nybo Cattle & Clinics
27
Farmfair International
53
Rawluk Livestock
24
Townsend Show Cattle
Golden Thread Livestock Images
34
River Point Cattle Co
25
UFA Junior Steer Classic
Hill Haven Shorthorns
68
RK Cattle Co
49
Vandy Cattle
T o p S t o c k M a g a z i n e / Fa l l 2 0 1 5
IFC BC IBC
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Steer & Heifer SALE
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Our top end steers and heifers sell ! More details available this summer
Watch our Facebook and website for updates
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•
vandycattle@hotmail.com
october
10
open house Bidding closes
OCTOBER 12