Dave’s Desk
Angus is a breed with a tremendous amount of history I for one find the history of all breeds fascinating, but the Angus breed specifically is one that I enjoy most My collection has many Angus history books, information and pictures that have been gathered over the thirty plus years I have been involved with the breed This past fall a book has been published that is the mother lode of Angus history. ‘The History of Aberdeen-Angus in the U.S, U.K and Worldwide’ is a book recently released by authors who are a Who’s Who of Angus and cattle history. Dr. Bob Hough, Andy Frazier and Tom Burke have spent countless hours and a
tremendous amount of energy committing their knowledge and research to produce an all encompassing book on the subject. The Angus breed owes these gentlemen a tremendous amount of gratitude for committing to written material their insight into this tremendous breed. The book is 554 pages in 26 chapters with over 1,600 images and is a ‘ must have’ for anyone interested in Angus cattle and its story. I will be dedicating some pages in this and future issues highlighting this great publication.
In my travels I discovered a couple of topics that I found particularly interesting On the Progressive Cattle podcast (September 25 edition) there is a discussion with Dr Charley Martinez who has done some research on information that is important to producers when looking at a sale catalogue It is certainly worth the time to listen, it may effect how you lay out your next sale catalogue and the information you include There is an article on Pages 14 and 15 covering this topic
In talking to an old acquaintance I was made aware of work being done with Facial Recognition of cattle by 406 Bovine in regard to cattle identification. From a producer perspective this is a technology that does not require expensive equipment or infrastructure
to utilize All that is required is a smart phone with a camera There is always a lot of research being done, sometimes the value of it is questionable, this is something that I think is reasonably priced has some value and would actually make recording of information faster and simpler for producers. (article on Page 20)
The cattle industry is currently experiencing some tremendous times. The North American beef herd continues to shrink, I read the other day in Drovers that numbers are at 1951 levels and that sixty percent of Ag economists are saying they anticipate the trend to continue Although beef prices in the meat counter are high, at this point it is still selling well In spite of a few challenges on the horizon things are looking well for the industry
Enjoy the spring bull sale season!!
Until next time,
Dave Callaway
New Histor y Book Published
The Histor y of Aberdeen-Angus in the U.S., U.K and Canada
ree of the world's top livestock authors join forces to create a memorable history book that will not only bring enjoyment to thousands but will stand the test of time for the rest of the 21st century.
e book can be purchased online at: angushistorybook.com
Authors
Dr Bob Hough is a cattle historian who has held a number of posts in the US beef industry, as well as writing numerous books including the history of the Shorthorn, Red Angus, Simmental breeds as well as ‘Breeds of Cattle’ His appetite for detail knows no bounds as he methodically pieces history together to bring the reader an unforgettable experience. He has also shared many of the images from his vast collection
Andy Frazier has held many roles in the UK livestock industry from stockman through to his most recent as a podcaster (Toplines and Tales) and commentator. He has authored or collaborated on nearly 50 books but agrees this one is by far the most comprehensive Andy has had an association with the Aberdeen-Angus breed in UK for four decades.
Angus would eventually become the dominant breed in North America. As of 2024, the top three Angus breed registries in the world are located there: American Angus Association; Red Angus Association of America; and Canadian Angus Association. However, it all started for the breed in Canada.
Tom Burke needs no introduction, being labeled as Mr Angus himself, who has had a keen involvement with the breed, man and boy Running the world-famous American Angus Hall of Fame in Missouri and writing many books on the subject, his knowledge has been an invaluable contribution to this book. Tom also has the honor of being inducted into the prestigious Saddle and Sirloin club in 2017
Content
Polled black cattle have been in existence in Scotland for over 1000 years; in-fact nobody really knew where they came from With in-depth research, three experienced authors have slowly pieced together not only the origins of the Aberdeen-Angus but a deep history into early agriculture, travelling through industrial revolutions, wars, economic crisis and what can only be determined as fashions, all of which played a role in the formation of the breed It also includes the earliest importations of AberdeenAngus into all the world’s major beef producing countries What has emerged is a highly detailed history of a breed of cattle that went from very humble beginnings to the greatest breed on Earth
On the way, many stones have been overturned, bringing a tapestry of new information and stories together from hundreds of sources Whether it is the early settlers in USA, the heady days of the legendary Perth Bull Sales or the rich and famous and people who had associations with Angus, this book brings it to life in greatest splendor in a highly entertaining volume, littered with hundreds of pictures and images, many of them unseen before This coffee table style book not only sheds new light on the world's most successful breed, it also averages over 50 images per chapter making for a visually stunning tome
The book spans some 544 pages in 26 chapters, with over 1600 images
By Stephen Pearce
Credit: Scottish National Portrait Gallery, CCO
The Hudson Bay Company was very ably run by Scotsman Sir George Simpson from 1820 to 1860 Simpson was a tremendous outdoorsman, once having cut 20 days off the record traveling through the wilderness from the Hudson Bay headquarters in York Factory on the Hudson Bay, Manitoba to the Pacific Ocean, where he had business with the Russians over the fur trade Late in his career, Simpson became close friends with James Carnegie, 9th Earl of Southesk, who spent a year exploring the Canadian wilderness while mourning the loss of his wife.
James Carnegie, the nineth Earl of Southesk (18271905). Carnegie was 32 when he went to explore “British North America ”
Credit: Royal Alberta Museum
Upon arrival back in Forfarshire (now Angusshire), Scotland to his 7,000-acre estate and Kinnaird Castle which had been in his family for over 600 years Carnegie decided he wanted to gift Simpson two of his prize Aberdeen-Angus, (which they had been breeding since 1805) in the form of a bull and a heifer which traced back to Druid and Cup Bearer, Simpson tragically died before the animals had an impact.
William Brown, Professor of Agriculture, Ontario Agricultural College and Superintendent of the Ontario Experimental Farm from 1875 to 1888. The next importation of Aberdeen-Angus seedstock occurred when Professor William Brown, a native of Scotland, imported an outstanding bull and heifer in 1876, two years prior to when the first registered Aberdeen-Angus seedstock would arrive in the U S When the heifer Brown had imported in 1876 calved in 1877, it became the first purebred Aberdeen-Angus born in North America. Brown would go on to make further importations of AberdeenAngus seedstock in 1881 and 1884 These two groups would include cattle that would impact all of North America’s Aberdeen-Angus genetics Arguably, the two best were the bull Strathglass and the cow Kyma Tom Burke called Strathglass “the most influential bull in all of Canada during the formative years of the Aberdeen-Angus breed,” and the Kyma cow-line would be the producer of national champions
Scotland. Image from the Polled Herd Book
One of the most famous bulls to come from the Ontario Agriculture College’s Aberdeen-Angus genetics was the Kyma’a Heir bred by Canadian Angus stalwart James Bowman. This was the get of an Ontario Ag College sire and the dam, Kyma 2nd, that resulted from breeding Strathglass to Kyma
Sir George Simpson, 1792–1860 Scottish explorer and colonial governor of the Hudson's Bay Company
Aberdeen-Angus bull Druid (225)
Credit: Alvin H Sanders
Aberdeen-Angus bull Cup-Bearer (60).
Credit: Alvin H Sanders
e Ontario Agriculutral College and Experiment Farm, Guelph, Canada Credit: Library and Archives Canada.
Strathglass born 1882 and bred by Lord Tweedmouth of Iverness-shire,
1891 Polled Aberdeen or Angus bull, Hard Fortune, Ontario
Safe Salvage: Making Sure Your Salvaged Feed is Right for Your Cows
by Emma Cross
In many parts of western Canada this year, rain came early and made for a solid grass year Unfortunately, the rest of the summer brought mostly extreme heat with little moisture other than a handful of storms that brought extreme wind and hail with them. This has left many grain farmers looking to salvage their damaged crops by repurposing them into livestock feed.
Cattle are the ideal up-cycler for products that aren ’ t suitable for human consumption, but there are a few factors to take into consideration to make sure that salvage is successful.
Chemical Withdrawal Times
When farmers are planning on using a crop to produce grain, whether for human or livestock consumption, they use different pesticides than they would if they planned for livestock to graze the crop standing Each product has a label that indicates restrictions, warnings, and guidance on using crops for livestock feed Reading and following the label will prevent any harm to livestock when salvaging these crops, and also prevent any chemical residues from ending up in carcasses
Every product is different in terms of its restrictions for livestock feed, but a couple examples of guidelines you might encounter are:
Safe to harvest times: Indicate a number of days (specific to a crop) after application that the crop can be harvested.
Do not graze warning: Indicates that a particular crop treated with the product is not safe for livestock consumption.
Pre-grazing intervals: Indicate a number of days (specific to a crop) after treatment that the crop can be grazed or cut for greenfeed.
For more tips on following chemical withdrawal times, check out our Salvaged Feed Fact Sheet:
Feed Testing
If a crop is up for salvage, it’s probably been damaged in some way, which also has impacts on the nutritional composition of the crop Feed testing is important to make sure that the nutrients (energy, protein, etc ) in the crop can be fit into a whole ration to get cattle what they need, but also to make sure there’s nothing potentially concerning in the feed
A common concern in salvaged feed during a drought is high levels of nitrates and sulphates While not necessarily toxic on their own, high nitrate or sulphate levels in feed can compound
higher levels in other feed ingredients or even water Feed testing lets you understand what you ’ re working with so that you can work in salvaged feed without causing unintended harm.
For more tips on alternative feed sources and testing feed, check out the Beef Cattle Research Council’s Alternative Feeds page: Setting a Price
For a mixed farm, it’s easy enough to take a salvaged crop from one enterprise and feed it to livestock in another. But what about grain farmers who might be looking for a neighbour with cattle that could use some feed?
It can be hard to figure out how to put a price on salvaged feed – after all, it’s not a typical avenue for marketing, hence the term salvage! Luckily, the Beef Cattle Research Council has a calculator to help put a value on salvaged crops:
Previously published on the Verified Beef blog Check out more blog articles at www verifiedbeef ca
Information Matters for Producers
By: Dr Charley Martinez
Bull selection is one of the most important decisions that producers make for a herd The impacts of the decision have short term and long term implications. A bad choice can be seen in various ways: lower than expected weaning weights, bad temper, dystocia, bad footed replacement daughters, and low performance based replacement daughters.
Do EPDs even matter?
In experiments conducted by the University of Tennessee and Auburn University in 2022, we put producers in markets as sellers and buyers of 18 bulls, and asked them to estimate the price of each bull Each bull was from previous seedstock production sales and consisted of 6-Charolais bulls, 6-Angus bulls, and 6-Sim-Genetic bulls. One half of the participants got EPDs and an 11-second video of a bull, while the other half of the participants only got the video. The participants were asked to estimate the sale price, and their guess was considered accurate if they were +/- $500 of the actual sale price. On average, accuracy by all participants was approximately 17% More interestingly for this article are the market interactions. For the markets that had no EPDs, seller guesses were much higher than buyers That is, there was optimism bias by sellers in these markets. When EPDs were provided to both buyers and sellers, there was no optimism bias by sellers, and markets cleared Thus, the bias
Eye Tracking Studies
Given the question above, the same group of researchers conducted experiments (in Tennessee, Alabama, and West Virginia) in 2023 to answer: 1) what EPDs help producers be more accurate, and 2) does the EPD profile layout matter The format was tweaked from the previous study, with every participant being a buyer in the market. The bulls that people saw were 6-Angus bulls, 6-Hereford bulls, and 6-Sim-Genetic bulls The bulls were from seedstock production sales in Tennessee, and each participant estimated the sale price of each bull Their guess was considered accurate if it was +/-$500 of the actual sale price. The most unique addition to this study was the inclusion of eye-tracking technology Specifically, an infrared bar was attached to the bottom of a computer screen, and the bar allows for tracking of one ’ s eyes on the computer screen Thus, while participants worked through the study, their eye movement, fixation, and patterns could be recorded.
Often producers make their decision on the next herdsire using various information. Information such as pedigree, EPDs, performance data, and visual inspection (videos and pictures). When marketing bulls, a catalog can have all the information previously listed along with other aspects such as a paragraph about the animal, percentile ranks of EPDs, and other various information sources Over time, has all the information that can be in catalogs, for bulls, become too dense? More specifically, could this information overload situation be alleviated with knowing what information is used by producers when in the market for bulls? That question has lead to research on what information is used by producers and layouts
disappeared and the market cleared when EPDs were provided to both parties.
During the study, we also asked participants (164 participants) about information usage when they are buying/selling bulls. When asked what is used: 71 5% use EPDs, 43% use Genomically-Enhanced (GE) EPDs, 92 5% use physical characteristics, and 56.5% use EPD percentile rank Producers (buyers and sellers) that use GE-EPDs and EPD percentile ranks showed statistically significant increased accuracy compared to producers who do not. Thus, GE-EPDs and percentile ranks are useful information pieces and can allow a producer to make a more efficient decision when in the bull marketplace But, simply stating “using EPDs help” still left a question of, “what EPDs help make the decision?”
In addition to the eye tracking usage, we altered layout of EPD profiles. Since the development of the first EPDs, there has been a plethora of more EPDs added, in addition to indexes. The amount of EPDs varies breed to breed, but there are common production oriented and terminal based EPDs and indexes. One common theme of EPDs for every breed, and for most catalogs, is the layout with production EPDs (CE, BW, WW) on the left hand side, followed by maternal EPDs, Management EPDs, terminal EPDs, and then lastly, indexes ($) Figure 1 shows an example of Angus EPD profile
While indexes have been developed to aid in decision making, they are commonly the last EPDs in a profile, or not mentioned at all. Thus we wanted to test if we inverse the EPD profile, could participants increase their accuracy That is, if we make the indexes the first EPDs in the profile, would people have increased accuracy compared to the normal layout One last aspect of this round of experiments was the inclusion (or exclusion) of EPD percentile ranks. This was done to test if rankings aided in increased accuracy,
Figure 1 Normal EPD profile for a given animal (source: American Angus Association)
given that participants from the 2022 experiments showed increased accuracy when using percentile ranks when evaluating bulls Thus a participant was assigned to one of four groups:
1) Traditional EPD layout-with percentile rankings,
2) Traditional EPD layout-without percentile rankings
3) Inverted EPD layout-with percentile rankings,
4) Inverted EPD layout-without percentile rankings
Average accuracy for each group, and all bulls was:
1) Traditional EPD layout-with percentile rankings: 20.57%
2) Traditional EPD layout-without percentile rankings: 21 23%
3) Inverted EPD layout-with percentile rankings: 23.19%
4) Inverted EPD layout-without percentile rankings: 21 14%
Thus, accuracy for the whole study (168 participants) increased compared to the previous year, but the group that had the highest accuracy was the inverted EPD profile-with percentile rankings group. When participants were asked about what they use when evaluating bulls: 80 36% use EPDs, 50% use GE-EPDs, 90 84% use physical characteristics, and 62.5% use EPD percentile rank Similar to the previous studies, producers that indicated that they use GE-EPDs when evaluating bulls, were statistically more accurate than producers who don’t Thus information matters, but where do those people look? Figure 2 displays heatmaps of an inaccurate guess from a producer who doesn’t use GE-EPDs (left) and an accurate guess of a producer who does use GE-EPDs (right). Common patterns were attention (red) to production EPDs (BW, CED, WW), and physical characteristics Additionally, common amongst all heat maps was very little attention to the “middle” EPDs (management, terminal EPDs) But, the GE-EPD using producer also used the indexes to make their guess. Thus, given the layout
differences and heat maps, we find that on average, using all information and layout design increased accuracy
Figure 2. Heatmaps of a participants. Left side is an example of a participant that does not use GE-EPDs when evaluating cattle. Right side is an example of a participant that does use GE-EPDs when evaluating cattle.
Takeaways
Over the last two years, we have conducted studies to better understand bull buying and selling behavior We find that producers that use more information (EPDs, GE-EPDs, physical characteristics, and percentile ranks) are better at appraisal estimation in the real world. But, specifically, the eye tracking studies indicate that only certain EPDs are commonly used. Thus, from a marketing standpoint, this indicates that a reduction in EPD volume (reduction in information overload) and focusing only on including common production EPDs, and indexes in catalogs could help potential buyers with decision making. Additionally, EPD layout matters, which could help with deciding what information to include in catalogs. From a marketing standpoint, this also could lead to reduced catalog printing costs due to less information needed to be printed.
Dr Charley Martinez is an Assistant Professor and Extension Economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee He alsoserves as the Director of the UT Center of Farm Management His research and Extension programming involves the fields of farm and financial management, experimental economics, livestock and meat market economics, and policy. Charley received his BS in Agricultural Business-Ranch Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and his PhD in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University
Facial Recognition - 406 Bovine
The development of facial recognition technology has primarily been focused on humans for use in places like banks, airport security checkpoints and other venues This technology is coming to the cattle industry through the work of 406 Bovine Working with software developers to make it possible to individually identify your cattle by taking an image with your smartphone, the system will tie exact animals to any record database you keep
Bryam Elliott CEO and Founder of 406 Bovine
Beginning in 2020 CEO and founder of 406 Bovine Bryan Elliott began building the system By November of 2023 the technology was ready launch after thousands of head of cattle were scanned and many tweaks, improvements and a great amount of testing ere achie ed
Leveraging advancements in smartphone and robotics a state of the art face identification system using a fusion of cameras and depth sensors on smartphones creates a 3D reconstruction of an animals head This is then saved in a secure database for retrieval while re-identifying cattle The system can recognize cattle from a distance up up 50 feet away By simply taking a picture of an animals head information can be pulled up with regard to wellness, movement and treatment data This process only requires owning a smartphone and logging each cow ’ s features by taking a 3 to 5 second video of the animals head at the chute or by using a live feed camera for automating the process.
Bryan Elliott, CEO of 406 Bovine said “Facial recognition is the newest form of electronic identification. Anything we can do with RFID tags we can do with facial recognition – but the difference is, we can do it all from a cell phone that’s already in your pocket. It is an identification that can ’ t be lost, tampered with, or stolen. It is very convenient to use [and] all of your cattle management records can be accessed on a device that’s in your pocket ”
“We eliminate the distance restriction at the chute that we see with low-frequency RFID tag, which is 2 inches ”
Since the system only needs a smart device to use the app, thhe techcnology is tethered to a specific area on the farm Cattle can recognized with a smartphone from foot, horseback in a pickup or on an ATV In a lot of cases facial recognition is more efficient than
electronic identification.
Facial recognition can be much more cost efficient too and less hardware is involved to operate the software For premises that rely on electronic tags facial recognition can be used as a back-up if tags are lost It can be much more cost efficient too and less hardware is involved to operate the software
Ease of use remains the key benefit, however, with farm managers able to input and read cattle data on the fly through the app on their smartphone
Information that can be stored within the database can include treatment records including vaccine and antibiotics; pen and pasture movements, birth dates, bloodlines, weight, average daily gain, genetic merits information, and more. For producers that are already using cattle management software, they will be able to utilize facial recognition once we are fully integrated with existing management platforms.
Storage of data does not take up a lot of room on your phone as the data is stored in the cloud
The main focus at this point is facial recognition for cattle however looking to the future 406 Bovine is planning expanding facial recognition to applications for swine, sheep and goats as well as companion animals
To learn more, visit 406bovine com
Making Comparisons Across Breeds
By Devon Jacobs, Per for mance Programs Specialist, Amerian Angus Association
Can EPDs on different breeds of animals be directly compared? e answer is: it depends.
Have you ever picked up a sale or semen book and looked at expected progeny differences (EPDs) between breeds? Can those EPDs be compared apples to apples, or not? The answer is, no, at least not without using appropriate adjustment factors
For several decades EPDs have been powerful genetic selection tools that have assisted cattle breeders in making genetic change in their herds
The National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) uses data submitted by members through the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®) to calculate EPDs, which predict the average performance differences in the future progeny of other animals. Seedstock and commercial breeders alike have taken advantage of EPDs to make informed selection decisions for their herds.
While EPDs are the best genetic selection tool, they can only be directly compared to those calculated from the same genetic evaluation
This presents a challenge for producers who want to compare EPDs on animals of different breeds, because each breed uses different evaluations and performance data, which means EPDs are not directly comparable across breeds
For commercial customers considering bulls from more than one breed, they must be able to compare EPDs from different breeds to find the best fit for their herd’s breeding objectives
For this reason, the U S Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) began publishing across-breed adjustment factors in 1993.
Across-breed adjustment factors
Since the 1970s, researchers at USMARC have been studying differences between beef breeds most commonly used in the United States through the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) program. This program ’ s overall objective is to characterize a wide variety of breeds for economic traits, such as growth, efficiency and carcass quality.
The GPE program utilizes a herd of commercial females with known pedigrees who are bred to
prominent, high-accuracy sires from the most widely used breeds in the industry The resulting calves are raised within the same environment and their performance carefully recorded throughout their lifetime
By raising calves sired by multiple breeds in the same environment, the performance of the calves can be estimated and the differences in performance adjusted for the EPDs of the sires that were used. This results in adjustment factors that can be used to adjust EPDs from those respective breeds and allows for comparisons of EPDs across breeds.
The across-breed adjustment factors are calculated and published annually. Since not all breeds publish the same EPDs, adjustment factors are calculated for growth and carcass traits, which are common to most breeds The most recent release included adjustment factors for 18 different breeds for eight traits (Table 1) These adjustment factors themselves should only be applied to EPDs of the respective breed to make comparisons, and should never be directly compared to each other in an attempt to select a potential breed for a breeding program
Table. 1: 2024 adjustment factors to add to EPD values of respective breeds to estimate across-breed EPDs.
Using the across-breed adjustment factors
The across-breed adjustment factors use simple math to adjust EPDs to a common base You will notice Angus is the common base, so any adjustments applied to EPDs of other breeds will adjust them to an Angus base.
For example, a commercial producer considering three different bulls as the next herd sire for their herd wants to leverage EPDs in their selection The bulls are
Table 1
from three different breeds (Angus, Hereford and Simmental) and appear to have identical EPDs for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and yearling weight (YW) based on their respective breed association EPDs (Table 2). However, an unbiased comparison of EPDs cannot be made until the adjustment factors for each breed are applied to the EPDs.
To apply the adjustments, take the animal’s within-breed EPD and add the breed appropriate across-breed EPD adjustment factor. The result is an adjusted across-breed EPD that can be compared to other adjusted EPDs. In this example, even though the bulls appeared to have identical EPDs when looking at their respective within breed EPDs, once the adjustments were applied, they were determined to have differing genetic merits for each of the traits
After the adjustments were applied, the Angus bull had the lowest BW EPD, and highest WW and YW EPDs
A tool for commercial producers
The across-breed EPD adjustment factors are a valuable tool to commercial customers who want to understand how sires from different breeds may fit into their operation
Whether casually browsing sale books or actively searching for the next herd sire, commercial producers can leverage this tool to make a true apples-to-apples comparison between individuals Without considering these adjustments, comparing EPDs from multiple breeds will not allow commercial customers to make properly informed decisions.
For more information and the detailed report for across breed EPD adjustments or visit www.angus.org/tools-resources.
Canadian Junior Angus
Hello to all our Juniors and Angus breeders! I hope calving season is going well and the weather has been kind enough to keep both the cattle and you comfortable.
2024 was a great year with many fantastic events and sales. Once again, we held our CJA Donation Heifer Fundraiser at the All Star Angus Sale at Canadian Western Agribition. We would like to
Morgan MacIntyre ~ President, Canadian Junior Angus
thank JJL Livestock for donating this year ’ s heifer! This fundraiser is very successful each year and we greatly appreciate the support we receive Congratulations to Justamere Farms on winning the heifer
2025 is a milestone year for the Canadian Junior Angus, being the 25th year of this program The CJA has grown exponentially over the years with many events, juniors, and opportunities. We are very excited to celebrate this anniversary and are looking forward to the next 25 years!
This year is starting off with our annual GOAL Conference being held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan February 15-17th. We have many excellent speakers and activities lined up for this event, with record-breaking attendance in juniors from across the country! GOAL is a fantastic weekend to meet junior members, catch up with old friends, and learn so much about our industry and develop many skills The Foundation Legacy Scholarships are also awarded at this event This
Canadian Angus Foundation Message
Shawn Bir mingham, Canadian Angus Foundation Chair
What a time to be in the cattle industry. With cattle prices continuing to climb it will be interesting to see how this will affect bull sales this spring and whether or not we will see any growth in cow numbers. I think the next few years will be outstanding and it’s finally time for the cattlemen to get ahead
Preparations have started for our biggest fundraiser of the year, The 13Th Building the Legacy This sale is always a highlight of the year and I want to acknowledge all of the past donors and buyers If you are interested in donating to the sale, please reach out to us we would love to talk to you. Future 15 is also one of our fundraising options. This is when a member gives 15% of either their sale average or a specific lot. In return the Foundation will advertise the sale for the member through our email and social media.
The growth of the Foundation over the past number of years has been outstanding. The board is continually looking for new fundraising opportunities to continue to achieve our goals In my time I have seen how the funds the Foundation has raised have been put to use The number of great junior members we have in our association is unbelievable I have seen first-hand how impactful the support we give can be Whether it’s through scholarship and bursaries for junior members or
scholarship program has various aspects that lead to not only the possibility of winning but also gaining experience through the application process More information about this scholarship and all the other opportunities we have available can be found on our website, or feel free to reach out to any of our directors
This summer, Showdown 2025 is coming to Stettler, Alberta from July 24-26th Showdown is a great chance to participate in many competitions, get more involved with the Angus breed, and learn so much along the way Please reach out to any board member for more information on Showdown and how we can help you get to Stettler this summer.
I hope 2025 is a great year for all, see you down the line at GOAL, Showdown, and other sales and events.
archive and research initiatives the foundation is playing an important role in the future of Angus. I would like to remind the members to check the Foundation’s website to see the full list of scholarships, bursaries and awards we offer. There are opportunities for everyone so please take some time and see what you can take advantage of If you are interested in donating to the Foundation, please check the website or give a board member a call Together we can continue to build the legacy of the Angus breed Wishing everyone a great calving season and outstanding bull sale
Canadian Junior Angus Ambassador
Hello everyone, happy 2025! Looking back to when you last heard from me, lots has happened in the last few months My time was split between my studies, travelling home to Glenella, MB to help with the cows, and packing in as many Angus-related events as I was able At the end of August, I took part in a field course and spent 5 days with Dr Angela Bedard-Haughn and Dr Eric Lamb of the University of Saskatchewan. Our group travelled to grasslands, mostly mixed-grass and some aspen parkland, across the province where we investigated the soil types and plant species that were present. The areas we visited were predominantly land managed as beef cattle pastures. Through this, I learned much about rangeland health and management, cattle grazing preferences, and the effect of grazing on different plant species. During this week my respect for the importance of having beef cattle as part of our prairie landscape was reinforced It is easy to conclude that beef cattle can make use of areas with soils that lack productivity, such as certain unstable sandy landscapes or sodium/salt-affected soils, but diving into the details of why the success of beef cattle on what may be identified as “problem soils” in other types of agriculture is a reminder of the significant role
Lainie Muir ~ Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador
our business plays across Canadian landforms. My next big event was Farmfair at the start of November. Here I took in our National Black & Red Angus shows. The Edmonton Expo Centre got to house a very strong set of Angus cattle and I had a great time visiting with the exhibitors and helping move the animals around the ring. On the Saturday of Farmfair, I participated in the collegiate judging competition as part of the University of Saskatchewan Judging Team and watched my first Alberta Supreme Show of Champions My attendance at Farmfair checked off a bucket list item for myself and it was exciting that it also happened to be the 50th anniversary!
Later in the month, I travelled to Agribition Agribition is the place myself, and many of us get our annual catch up with friends and fellow producers from across the country - my highlight is always the conversation and the people My busiest days were Thursday and Friday helping out in the Black Angus show ring and the John Deere Sale Arena for our Canadian Junior Angus donation heifer auction. I’ve seen the incredible support for our association’s juniors demonstrated through the success of the donation heifer for several years now, and it will never cease to amaze me. This year we brought in over $35,000 for our scholarships and bursaries. Credits to the Loveridge’s of JJL Livestock for the production and donation of 2024’s Red Angus heifer calf, JJL Miss Deal 417M, and thank you to everyone who purchased tickets to support
On December 10th I flew from Saskatoon to Cleveland to attend the Certified Angus Beef Youth Beef Leaders Seminar (YBLS) in Wooster, Ohio This trip was a quick one but wow was it incredible Truly a once in a lifetime event Morgan MacIntyre of Ontario and I were the Canadian attendees and were accompanied by 23 students from the United States My time in Wooster is one I could spend much time reflecting on so I will
keep my remarks short and sweet but do note that a trip to the CAB Culinary Centre/Warehouse/Office (perhaps for Beef Leaders Institute) would serve tremendous benefit to anyone passionate about Angus cattle. Through speakers, tours, and meat labs we covered history of the CAB brand, the 10 specifications that are met by Certified Angus Beef, ranch-to-brand-to-table connections, beef carcass value, and consumer trends The food, the people, and the facilities were all world-class There is a wonderful and overwhelming amount of information and experience I gained at YBLS, but I think the takeaway that stands out the most to me is how lucky we are to be a part of the Angus breed We have so many ambitious, extraordinary people working for our cattle at all levels of the chain These people are passionate about Angus beef as a nutritious and highly demanded product that delivers an incredible eating experience, consistently. The reach Angus beef has is a remarkable one. If anyone is interested in knowing more about my trip/what I learned about the CAB brand please don’t hesitate to shoot me a message and keep an eye out for a detailed report on the event in the next issue of the Canadian Junior Angus Connections publication.
Upcoming events for me is our very own GOAL Conference in Saskatoon on February 15-17, as well as various upcoming webinars including those offered by Alberta Agrisystems Living Lab Last but not least, over the next few months I will be preparing for and greatly anticipating my trip to Australia for the Zoetis World Angus Youth Competition at the end of April and into May! I wish everyone the best of luck through calving and bull sale season and as always feel free to reach out with any Junior Angus-related questions or just to chat
British Columbia Angus Association
BC Angus Directors extend best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2025 to all their cattle and agriculture friends
Once again, our motto heading into another bull buying season is BUY BC.
BC Angus members appreciate the continued support provided by the commercial cattle producers and ranchers when purchasing their next herd bull or bulls. BC bulls are bred and born into the BC landscape and environment. They are ready to work for you.
Alberta Angus Association
On behalf of the Alberta Angus Association I would like to reach out to let you all know what our Board of Directors are doing, planning or have done in 2024-2025. We have been busy with the last fall show season where we held 2 Gold Shows. The first is the Olds Fall Classic (approximately 125 Angus Animals), the Second is in Edmonton at Farm Fair International (approximately 330 Angus Animals represented) Both of these were well attended in 2024 by AAA Directors, volunteers, and people looking at what the Angus breed can do for their operations These are great environments to show the next “ up and coming” breeding or bring the “tried, tested and true ” to the ring for evaluation
by Bob Miller ~ President, British Columbia Angus Association
Let’s Buy Some Bulls
For the seed stock bull and female producer;
● Customer service is a cornerstone of success in the seedstock industry
● Building and maintaining relations with bull buyers is key to creating long term customers
● Customer service should not end when the sale is over. In fact, that is when establishing that relationship really begins
● Regular check-ins with your seedstock customers throughout the year is important and not just at sale time
● Excellent customer service begins with proactive communication. Communication develops into relationships Relationships develop into loyalty and trust
● This and more can make a difference in helping keep your product in the minds of existing and prospective customers
For the prospective customer;
As a bull buyer one of the first steps should be identifying the foundation of your operation What are the expectations of your cattle and what traits define success in your operation
● Do I sell my calves at time of weaning?
● Do I retain a number of replacement heifers each year?
● Can my operation currently maintain profitability?
● Taking time to clarify goals and make strategic selections ensures long-term growth and sustainability
● Choosing your next herd bull involves more than just placing a bid – it’s all about shaping the future of your operation
● A great amount of time can and should be spent on selecting the right bull or bulls
● Bull buying time is an exciting time of the year It’s a chance to study data, and a chance to evaluate good quality Angus bulls
● As the bull buying process begins, remember there are tools and resources available through your provincial and national breed associations
● There is no doubt that this year ’ s bull offerings are positioned to be the best yet
● Based on feeder calf prices last fall expect to pay a little more for your selected bull or bulls in 2025
Here’s to another successful year of bull buying and bull selling season of good quality Black and Red Angus bulls from good quality reputable people within the industry
by Carey Kopp ~ President, Alberta Angus Association
We also attended events at the Medicine Hat Pen show, Heartland Bull Congress in Stettler, and the Oyen Pen Show. These events give the commercial cattleman a chance to see what the Angus breed has to offer in a different setting. Not to mention the numerous junior shows we sponsor with funding or in kind help. Our board is very active, in getting out to junior shows, Open stock shows, sale barns or events that promote our Breed to the commercial industry. I want to say thank you to our Board of Directors.
Youth is the future, teaching youth is the legacy, thus we are huge supporters of Junior Angus Show in Bashaw, and many other breed shows in both regions of our province The 4H Alberta program of giving Breed awards is always huge, and members showing Angus influenced cattle are rewarded Over the last 3 years, we have given out approximately 3000 awards If you have a club that has not applied please send an email to albertaangus@cdnangus ca
Our Annual General Meetings have been rotated the last few years between the north and the south. They are held in conjunction with the Angus Field days. The Southern Alberta Angus Club, along With Shiloh Cattle Company, Piro Red Angus and Arda/Freeway Farms hosted Field day tours of their herds and then the AGM Meeting was held.
2025 will be hosted by the Northern Alberta Angus Club It will include the Avelyn Angus operation, Pohl Land and Cattle and HR Hahn Cattle on August 23/2025. The AGM will be included at the same time. More details will be published as the planning ramps up. Follow us on Facebook for immediate updates, “Alberta Angus Association”.
This note may catch you nearing the end of calving for some, and for others, just getting supplies ready. With the markets as strong as the past 2 seasons have been I hope everyone is taking time to be thankful for everything you have, and have built As well as taken time to recharge your batteries from time to time Every year, everyone in this Industry face so many different challenges and hardships, as well as triumphs However a friend, conducted a Social experiment on this very topic Given, some places, have had some very difficult weather again this year, he sent out a message stating such and that he was a little run down physically The amount of people that reached out was incredible My message would be you should never feel like you are alone. Your spouse, your neighbor, your friends are a call away. Everyone has a time, a time to help and a time to be helped. I always say, for every question that is asked by someone, there are asked 9 other people with the same question, but too afraid to ask.
Saskatchewan Angus Association
The fall of 2024 will definitely be one to remember. Outstanding beef prices, exceptional production and female sales and an overwhelming number of entries and attendance at all the shows and sales across Saskatchewan and Canada.
The 50th Annual Masterpiece sale was held at Gold Bar Livestock in conjunction with our annual general meeting The sale facility was packed with consigners and buyers It was truly gratifying to see a great turn out and a very good set of cattle on offer The new format of hosting the AGM and Masterpiece together has been very well received and attended as well Thank you to Sarah and Paul for hosting us At the AGM we
by Jordan Seis ~ President, Saskatchewan Angus Association
welcomed Nikki Weiss of Maple Creek as a new director. She brings a strong set of skills and knowledge to our table and we are looking forward to working with her Re-elected for another term we also have Troy Frick, Wade Olynyk, Brennan Schachtel and Jimmy Wright Thank you to our retiring director Michelle Potapinski for her time on the board Her dedication and contributions to the Saskatchewan Angus Association are greatly appreciated As the newly elected president, I am surrounded by a great team of people that are willing to contribute I strongly encourage the membership to reach out to myself or any of the other board members if you have any questions, concerns or ideas.
Canadian Western Agribition was another great success. The Black and Red Angus shows were very deep in quality and well attended. The Commercial Cattle show and sale as well as the Bull Pen Alley show were also very successful and there was a lot of positive feedback from the exhibitors and spectators regarding the Black and Red bulls having their own divisions in the pen show Hopefully this will continue into the future Thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors that made the show a great success Also, a big thank you to Randy Tetzlaff for stepping in as the Barn Boss on very short notice, he did a great job
Manitoba Angus Association
Happy New Year to all of you and wishing you all the best in 2025. What an amazing time to be in the beef industry. As prices continue to stay strong for an extended period, producers are finally getting rewarded for all their years of hard work after decades of extremely grueling times. It makes me happy to talk to multiple livestock stores and hear how many beef producers were able to make upgrades in equipment and supplies at the end of the year as producers were making the most dollars on their calves than they have seen in their lifetime
The All Star Angus Sale was held again on Friday night during Agribition. A great set of cattle traded. Another highlight that evening was the Canadian Junior Angus heifer donated by JJL Livestock Thank you to the Loveridge family for their generous donation as well to all that participated to generate a substantial amount of money for our Junior programs
Our next board meeting is scheduled for April 27, 2025 in Swift Current In conjunction with the meeting, we are planning another breeder session Over past years these breeder sessions have been very well received If you haven’t attended one this would be a great opportunity to do so You don’t have to be an Angus breeder to attend, they are open to everyone. Watch our Facebook page for the details coming soon.
Another event to put into your calendar for the summer of 2025 is the Saskatchewan Angus Tour. Hollinger Land and Cattle, JJL Livestock, Northern View Angus and ourselves (J Square S Angus) will be hosting this popular event in the Melville area. It is scheduled to take place on July 29th and 30th We are still in the early planning stages so more information will come in the spring Best of luck with calving and bull sales Stay warm!
by Devin Boitson ~ President, Manitoba Angus Association
As we look ahead, with cow inventories continuing to stay low we stay optimistic that cattle prices will stay strong for the foreseeable future.
As we also head into bull sale season, and commercial producers are considering what genetics to add to their bull battery. I ask that all you cattleman really do your homework as you tour through bull pens this year. The bulls we select for our cow herds I believe has the most significant impact on our programs and calf crop as one bull can make an impact to as a few as 15-20 calves (depending how many cows you breed one bull to) each year for potentially multiple years With so many factors playing into how well a bull will work in your herd, I want to stress how important it is to not make impulse purchases and to really consider all the variables (pedigree, phenotype, environment, etc) before making a purchase I understand that bull sales are a pretty difficult place to avoid making an impulse decision as you have to make a split decision to make another bid or else someone else could steal that bull from you. But, I just ask that you have a game plan, and a criteria with an ample amount of time to tour the bull pen before you make a decision on which bull(s) you decide to take home as it will impact
your herd for not just that one bulls calf crop, but for many of you retaining replacement heifers, it will impact your herd for decades.
In MB, we have had an interesting winter to say the least. As I write this, we currently are seeing temps of -4, where one week ago to the day we were at -45 with the wind chill causing schools to close for the day. I feel for producers that are currently calving in these fluctuating temperatures as it makes management more difficult and can be rather tough on the calves. But fortunately, the province has all seen some strong shots of snow which is always a great way to roll into spring with some existing moisture to work with
In regard to the MB Angus Association, we reflect on 2024 and look ahead with lots to look forward to going into this year The most exciting news going into 2025 is the Canadian Angus Convention is being held this year in Winnipeg from June 11-13 at the Fort Garry Hotel, we are very excited to be this year ’ s host and we hope that all of you can attend as we have an exciting few days planned for everyone that attends and it is a fantastic opportunity to network with people from all across the angus and beef industry.
Happy calving everyone
Ontario Angus Association
As we embrace the winter season here in Ontario, it's unmistakably clear that we are in the midst of snowy landscapes and colder temperatures. However, with the abundant moisture this past year, the majority of our cattle producers are in a favourable position regarding the volume of feed to weather the winter months The exceptional fall weather allowed our cattle to enjoy extended periods outdoors, minimizing time spent in the yards and helped get field work done in great conditions
As we look ahead to 2025, we are witnessing a robust cattle market, with stocker prices reaching record highs and fat prices gradually climbing, all while commodity prices remain
by Brad Gilchrist ~ President, Ontario Angus Association
suppressed This is indeed a promising time to be involved in the cattle business and to have inventory regardless of the beef sector you are involved in.
This past year, we had the pleasure of hosting an extremely successful Canadian Angus Convention, drawing members from across the nation to enjoy hospitality, engaging farm tours, and the exciting second annual Verified Angus BBQ Competition. A significant milestone in 2024 was that we also published our new member directory, which highlights the exceptional breeders and registered cattle within our province This directory is published every three years and we encourage you to refer to this directory when visiting Ontario and looking for breeders to visit with
Also in 2024 we elected a new Ontario representative for the Canadian Angus Association board Congratulations to Paula Cornish from Whiskey Lane Livestock, who will now represent Ontario at the national level Her dedication to the breed and her longstanding commitment to the Ontario board will undoubtedly serve her well as she fulfills this important role.
Looking to the future, we are excited to report on the growth of our Junior Association, which has flourished with a record number of
applicants eager to take on leadership positions Their passion and energy ensure that the future of our breed is in great hands. Congratulations to all participating juniors across the province in various shows and activities, gaining invaluable experience at a young age.
We want to remind all producers about our upcoming Annual General Meeting, scheduled for March 1 from 2 to 4 PM at Stonebridge Inn in London, Ontario This will be an excellent opportunity for members to reconnect, exchange insights, and stay informed about the activities of both the Ontario and Canadian Angus Associations
As we enter bull sale season, now is the perfect time to consider your breeding needs for the upcoming year With the new directory at your fingertips and numerous opportunities to connect with fellow Angus breeders, ensure you're obtaining the right genetics to enhance your program
We wish everyone a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2025 and if you're in Ontario, don't hesitate to reach out for a tour or a visit with any of the breeders from across the province.
Events Calendar
March 1
Ward’s RedAngus Bull Sale, Saskatoon, SK
Mar 2
Southland Bull Sale, Swift Current, SK
March 3
Wright Cattle Co Bull Sale, online DLMS
March 4
Belvin Angus Bull Sale, Innisfail, AB
March 5
Mar Mac Farms Bull Sale, Brandon, MB
March 6
Bar-H Bull & Female Sale, Langenburg, SK
March 6
Highline Angus Bull Sale, Medicine Hat, AB
March 6
Murray Ranches Bull Sale, Provost, AB
March 7
Rack Red Angus Bull Sale, Paynton, SK
March 7
Standard Hill Bull Sale, Maidstone, SK
March 8
LLB Angus Bull & Female Sale, Erskine, AB
March 8
Freyburn Bull & Female Sale, Oxbow, SK
March 8
Brandl Cattle Co Bull Sale, Jarvie, AB
March 9
Early Sunset Ranch Production Sale, Edam, SK
March 10
Sunrise Ranching Co. Bull Sale, Brooks, AB
March 11
Leeuwenburgh Angus Bull Sale, Lethbridge, AB
March 11
Hollinger Bull & Female Sale, Neudorf, SK
March 11
On Target Bull Sale, Barrhead, AB
March 12
Wilbar Bull & Female Sale, Dundurn, SK
March 12
Spruceview Angus Bull Sale, Killam, AB
March 12
KT Ranches Bull Sale, Cherryville, BC
March 13
Blairswest Bull Sale, Drake, SK
March 13
Dersta Farms Bull Sale, Innisfail, AB
March 13
Ter-Ron Bull & Female Sale, Forestburg, AB
March 14
Arda/Freeway Bull Sale, Acme, AB
March 14
LCL Bull Sale, Coronation, AB
March 15
Select Genetics Sale, Herbert, SK
March 17
F Bar R Ranch Bull Sale, Brooks, AB
March 17
Geis Angus Bull Sale, Barrhead, AB
March 17
Brooking Angus Ranch Bull Sale, Radville, SK
March 17
Outlaw Coulee/Skull Creek Bull Sale, Eastend, SK
March 18
Abound/Gold-Bar/BullSale,MooseJaw,SK
March 18
Working Stiffs Bull Sale, Wawota, SK
March 19
Cow Boys Angus Bull Sale, Melita, MB
March 20
JPM Farms Bull Sale, Parkbeg, SK
March 20
Rivercrest Bull & Female Sale, Alliance, AB
March 20
Golden Sunset Bull Sale, Vermilion, AB
March 21
Forbes/Bear Creek Bull Sale, Maple Creek, SK
March 21
Wheeler’s Bull & Female Sale, Saskatoon, SK
March 21
Pieschel/Piro Bull Sale, Stettler, AB
March 22
Double F Cattle Bull Sale, Prince Albert, SK
March 22
Perrot Cattle Co Bull Sale, Alameda, SK
March 22
Shiloh Bull & Female Sale, Hand Hills, AB
March 22
Bar Double M Bull Sale Lethbridge, AB
March 24
Everblack Angus Bull Sale, Vermilion, AB
March 25
Double C Red Angus Bull Sale, Foam Lake, SK
March 25
Rodger’s Bull Sale, Lethbridge, AB
March 25
CMT Farms Bull Sale, Cochin, SK
March 25
Top Cut Angus Bull Sale, Mankota, SK
March 26
Topham Red Angus Bull Sale, Eastend, SK
March 26
Hamilton Bull & Female Sale, Cochrane, AB
March 26
Count Ridge Bull Sale, Brooks, AB
March 27
Hawkeye Ranching Bull Sale, Tompkins, SK
March 28
Jensen Red Angus Bull Sale, Leader, SK
March 29
Grasslands Angus Bull Sale, Mankota, SK
March 31
Cockburn/Merit Bull Sale, Briercrest, SK
April 1
Delorme Angus Bull Sale, Maple Creek, SK
April 1
Lorenz Angus Bull Sale, Markerville, AB
April 1
Right Cross Ranch Bull Sale, Kisbey, SK
April 1
Windy Willows Bull Sale, Hodgeville, SK
April 2
Howe Red Angus Bull Sale, Moose Jaw, SK
April 2
Peak Dot Ranch Bull Sale, Wood Mountain, SK
April 3
Kenray Ranch Online Bull Sale, Redvers, SK
April 3
Nielson Land & Cattle Bull Sale, Craik, SK
April 3
South View Ranch Bull Sale, Ceylon, SK
April 4
Fleming /RJ Bull Sale, Stavely, AB
April 4
Northern Progress Bull Sale, Battleford, SK
April 5
Lauron Red Angus Bull Sale, Didsbury, AB
April 5
Crescent Creek Bull & Female Sale, Goodeve, SK
April 5
Vee Tee Bull Sale, Lloydminster, SK
April 5
Sudden Impact Bull Sale, Viscount, SK
April 5
Six Mile Ranch Bull Sale, Fir Mountain, SK
April 5
Burnett Angus Bull Sale, Swift Current, SK
April 6
Momentum Bull Sale, St. Denis, SK
April 7
Eastondale Angus Bull Sale, Wawota, SK
April 7
Justamere Farms Bull Sale, Lloydminster, SK
April 7
Spirit of the North Bull Sale, Spiritwood, SK
April 8
Riverside Angus Bull Sale, Innisfail, AB
April 8
Young Dale Angus Bull Sale, Alameda, SK
April 9
66 Ranch Pair Sale, Brooks, AB
April 9
Flying K Ranch Bull Sale, Swift Current, SK
April 9
Fleury Cattle Co. Bull Sale, Aberdeen, SK
April 12
Triple A Bull Sale, Moose Jaw, SK
April 12
Running JR Red Bull Sale, Wymark, SK
April 12
Blue Collar Bull Sale, Yorkton, SK
April14
Moose Creek Red Angus Bull Sale, Kisbey, SK
April 14
Triple J Farms Bull Sale, Whitewood, SK
April 16
66 Ranch Bull Sale, Brooks, AB
April 19
Shortgrass Bull & Female Sale, Aneroid, SK
April 26
Wiwa Creek Angus Bull Sale, Rush Lake, SK
April 27
Saskatchewan Angus Breeder Information Session, Swift Current, SK
May 9
66 Ranch Pair Sale, Brooks, AB
May 17
Cody Sibbald Legacy Classic, Beechy, SK
July 29-30
Saskatchewan Angus Summer Tour, Melville, SK
August 29-30
Northern Alberta Club Field Day Wetaskiwin, Sherwood Park & Leduc County
October 28-31
Stockade Roundup, Lloydminster, SK
Saskatchewan Angus Gold & Junior Show
November 24-29
Canadian Western Agribition, Regina, SK, Saskatchewan Angus Gold Show
December 10
66 Ranch Fall Bull & Female Sale, Brooks, AB
Junior Angus Dates
April 15
CAF Outstanding Young Angus Breeder Nomination Deadline
April 15
CAF Junior Angus Stockman Nomination Deadline
April 30
CAF Junior Ambassador Application Deadline
May 15
CAF Dick Turner Scholarship Application Deadline
June 1
Deadline for Entries
Showdown 2025
June 15
CJA Scholarship Application Deadline
June 20
Deadline for Showdown 2025
Late Entries
July 24-26
Showdown 2025
Stettler Agricultural Society, Stettler, AB
