Angus Life 2023

ANGUS LIFE

Canadian Angus Association’s Magazine 2023

Publication #40069807

Angus Life magazine is published by the Canadian Angus Association.

Angus Life

Editor-in-Chief: Myles Immerkar

Managing Editor: Tina Zakowsky

Creative Director: Christy Lavallee Design: Christy Lavallee Printer: Canadian Cattlemen magazine

Photography: Christy Lavallee, Tracy Lamb, Craig Lester

Contributing Writers: Kajal Devani, Doug Fee, Myles Immerkar, Dr. Brian Karisa, Lorne McClinton, Tess Mills, Avery Parkinson, Miranda Reiman, Matěj Šašek, Milan Šebelka, Rob Smith

Hannah Sweett, Brian Van Doormaal, Belinda Wagner, Nicki Westersund, Tina Zakowsky

Vision: The Canadian Angus Association exists to preserve and expand the Angus breed for Canadian cattle producers and beef consumers, providing the best opportunities for profitability today and for future generations.

Mission: To maintain breed registry, breed purity and provide services that enhance the growth and position of the Angus breed.

www.cdnangus.ca

Angus Life magazine is an annual publication. To place an ad or to subscribe, please contact the Canadian Angus Association at 1-888-571-3580 or cdnangus@cdnangus.ca.

Allflex – Merck Animal Health Intelligence

Alta Genetics

Anderson Cattle Co.

Bar-E-L Angus

Belvin Angus

Bova-Tech Ltd.

Bouchard Livestock International

Bow Valley Genetics

Canadian Angus Association

Canadian Cattle Identification Agency

Canadian Sires — a division of Bohrson Marketing Services

Chapman Cattle Co.

Christian Moulding

Cliffehanger Signs & Designs

Coul Angus

Crescent Creek Angus

CSI Angus

Cudlobe Angus

Cudlobe Angus West

Davis-Rairdan

DLMS/Cattle Vids

5B Farms

66 Ranch Ltd.

Anderson Cattle Company

Anne Marie Mackenzie & Family

Avery Parkinson

Bar-E-L Angus

Belinda Wagner

Bohrson Marketing Services

Canadian Angus Association

Castlerock Marketing Inc.

CD Land and Cattle

Clarke Family Farms Inc.

Coul Angus

Crescent Creek Angus

Cuddy Farms Limited 2008

Cudlobe Angus

Cudlobe Angus West

Earl Scott

Eastondale Angus

Ellsmere Farms Ltd.

Thank

Eastondale Angus

Erin Yewsiuk Photography

Everblack Angus

Garvie Mountain Angus

Geis Angus/KBJ Round Farms

Glacier FarmMedia

Golden Thread Photography

Graham & Karen McLean & Family

Hamilton Farms

Hollinger Land & Cattle

Home Grown Photography & Design

JEM Farms

Jordan Buba Livestock Photography

Lewis Farms

Lock Farms Ltd.

M & J Farms

Mac Angus Farms

Manitoba Angus Association

McEwan’s Fuels & Fertilizer

Melmac Farms

Merit Cattle Co.

Miller Wilson Angus

Family Ties Angus

Garvie Mountain Angus

Geis Angus

Glesbar Cattle Co.

Goad Family Angus

Harvest Angus

J Cross C Land & Cattle Co.

Kenray Ranch

Lidstone Cattle Company

Lorenz Angus Farms

Mac Angus Farm

Mar Mac Farms

Merit Cattle Co.

MWC Investments

Myles Immerkar

Nick Green

Nordal Angus

Owen Wilde

Peter Estabrooks

Pinegrove Angus

OBI Livestock Ltd.

Park Mazda

Peak Dot Ranch

Peak Veterinary Health

Premier Livestock, Hasson Livestock and Loval Farms

Proven Seed

Ranch Covey Hill

Saskatchewan Angus Association

Semex

Sheidaghan Anghus

Six Mile Ranch Ltd.

Southern Alberta Angus Club

SW Saskatchewan Angus Tour

Tambri Angus

Tina Zakowsky

Tyler Harris Photography

Western Litho Printers

Wheatley River Farm and MacKinnon Homestead

Wilbar Cattle Co. and Remitall Farms

Windy Ridge Ultrasound

Poplar Meadows Angus

Premier Livestock

Pugh Farms

Rainbow Red Angus

Ranch Covey Hill

Robertson Cattle Co.

Ryan Wagner

Sandy Bar Angus

Sheidaghan Anghus

Shiloh Cattle Company

Skyward Acres

Stonehedge Angus

Tambri Farm

Thistlewood Angus Tom Layton

Towaw Cattle Co.

Tullamore Angus

Valley Meadows of Model Farm Windy Willows Farm

The Building the Legacy Sale is a fundraising auction for the Canadian Angus Foundation.

Feeder Sales

Canadian Angus RFID Tag Program

BRITISH COLUMBIA

B.C. Livestock Producers Co-Op (Kamloops) 250-573-3939

Okanagon Falls Stockyards 250-497-5416

Vanderhoof Auction Market Ltd. 250-567-4333

VJV Dawson Creek Auction 250-782-3766

Williams Lake Stockyards 250-398-7174

ALBERTA

Balog Auction Services Inc. 403-320-1980

Bow Slope Shipping Association 403-362-5521

Calgary Stockyards Ltd. (Strathmore) 403-934-3344

DLMS DLMS.ca 780-991-3025

Dryland Cattle Trading Corp. (Veteran) 403-575-3772

Foothills Auctioneers Inc. (Stavely) 403-549-2120

Innisfail Auction Mart 403-227-3166

Medicine Hat Feeding Company 403-526-2707

North Central Livestock Exchange Inc. (Clyde) 780-348-5893 (Vermilion) 780-853-5372

Olds Auction Mart 403-556-3655

Perlich Bros. Auction Market Ltd. 403-329-3101

Provost Livestock Exchange 780-753-2218

Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange (Fort Macleod) 403-553-3315

Stettler Auction Mart (1990) Ltd. 403-742-2368

TEAM Electronic Sale 403-234-7429

Thorsby Stockyards Inc. 780-789-3915

Triple J VJV Westlock 780-349-3153

Viking Auction Market 780-336-2209

VJV Auctions | 780-336-2209 Beaverlodge 780-354-2423 Ponoka 403-783-5561 Rimbey 403-843-2439

Triple J VJV Auctions Westlock (780) 349-3153

SASKATCHEWAN

Alameda Auction Market 306-489-2221

Assiniboia Livestock Auction 306-642-5358 ala@assiniboiaauction.com

Cowtown Livestock Exchange Inc. (Maple Creek) 306-662-2648 cowtown.ls@sasktel.net

Heartland Livestock Services

Moose Jaw 306-692-2385 plister@hls.ca

Swift Current 306-773-3174 info@hls.ca Yorkton 306-783-9437 info@hls.ca

Kelvington Stock Yards 306-327-8325

Mankota Stockmen’s Weigh Co. 306-478-2229 mankotastockmens@sasktel.net

Northern Livestock Sales brent.mlsstockyards@sasktel.net Lloydminster 306-825-8831

Meadow Lake 306-236-3411

Prince Albert 306-763-8463

Saskatoon Livestock Sales Ltd. 306-382-8088 ptellier@nbine.com

Shaunavon Livestock Sales (88) Ltd 306-297-2457

Weyburn Livestock Exchange 306-842-4574 wle@weyburnlivestock.com

Whitewood Livestock Sales 306-735-2822 whitewoodlivestock@sasktel.net

Market your 2023 Angus tagged calves at these Angus feature sales at participating auction markets. These auction markets are recognized supporters and sellers of cattle identified as Angus through the Canadian Angus RFID tag (indicator).

MANITOBA

Gladstone Auction Mart 204-385-2537 auctmart@mts.net

Grunthal Livestock Auction 204-434-6519 grunthallivestock@gmail.com

Heartland Livestock Brandon 204-727-1431 info@hls.ca Virden 204-748-2809 info@hls.ca

Interlake Cattlemen’s Co-Op Assn Ltd. (Ashern) 204-768-2360 icca@mymts.net

Killarney Auction Mart Ltd. 204-523-8477 killarneyauctionmart@gmail.com

Ste. Rose Auction Mart Ltd. 204-447-2266

Taylor Auctions 204-522-3996 taylorauctions568@gmail.com

Winnipeg Livestock Sales 204-694-8328

ONTARIO

Brussels Livestock 519-887-6461

Ontario Stockyards Inc. (Cookstown) 705-458-4000

Ottawa Livestock Exchange (Greely) 613-821-2634

Kawartha Lakes Community Sale Barn Inc. 705-439-4444

Keady Livestock Market (Blue Water) 519-934-2339

Ontario Livestock Exchange Ltd. (Waterloo) 519-884-2082

QUEBEC

Contact the Feeder Calf Sales Agency 450-697-0540

NOVA SCOTIA

Atlantic Stockyards Ltd. 902-893-9603

2023 SALES

Jan 28 Flesch Angus Sale Shelby, MT

Jan 28 Lazy S Ranch 54th Annual Bull Power Sale Mayerthorpe, AB

Feb 3 Northway Cattle Co 4th Annual Bull & Female Sale Cleardale, AB

Feb 4 KT Ranches 2-year-old Bulls Moose Jaw, SK

Feb 6 Lock Farms Bull Sale Lloydminster, SK

Feb 10 Langco/Kueber Angus Bull Sale Viking, AB

Feb 11 MJT Cattle Co. Ltd. 29th Back to the Basics Bull Sale Edgerton, AB

Feb 11 Schaff Angus Valley 120th Production Sale St. Anthony, ND

Feb 16 Richmond Ranch 26th Annual Bull & Female Sale Rumsey, AB

Feb 16 Triple Threat 5th Annual Bull & Female Sale Falun, AB

Feb 18 Moose Creek 2-year-old Sale Kisbey, SK

Feb 18 P & H Ranching/Circle G Bull Sale Innisfail, AB

Feb 19 Mac Angus and Ranch Covey Hill Hillspride Bull Sale Havelock, QC

Feb 20 Ole Farms 18th Annual Graze Through the Snow Bull & Bred Heifer Sale Athabasca, AB

Feb 22 Brookside Angus Bull and Female Sale Neepawa, MB

Feb 23 Chapman Cattle Co. Bull Sale Stettler, AB

Feb 23 Heinz Cattle Co. 4th Annual Bull Sale Fort Macleod, AB

*All sales are subject to change and/or cancellation. Visit www.cdnangus.ca/events for up-to-date sale and event listings.

Feb 23 Nordal Limousin and Angus Bull Sale Saskatoon, SK

Feb 23 Robb/Hoegl/Greenwood 18th Annual Bull Sale Lloydminster, SK

Feb 25 Lewis Farms 38th Annual Bull Sale Spruce Grove, AB Mar 4 McMillen Ranching Ltd 29th Annual Bull Sale Carievale, SK

Mar 4 Ward’s Red Angus Annual Bull Sale Delisle, SK

Mar 6/7 Black Chrome Livestock Annual Bull Sale DLMS.ca

Mar 6 Lust Farms Red Angus Bull Sale Medicine Hat, AB

Mar 7 Belvin Angus 11th Annual Bull Sale Innisfail, AB

Mar 8 Easy Ray Angus 20th Annual Bull Sale Lethbridge, AB

Mar 8 Mar Mac Farms Bull Sale Brandon, MB

Mar 8 Minburn Angus Sale Minburn, AB

Mar 8 Pedersen Livestock Bull & Female Sale Edgerton, AB

Mar 9 Bar-E-L Bull & Select Female Sale Stettler, AB

Mar 9 Hamilton Farms 28th Annual Bull & Select Female Sale Cochrane, AB

Mar 10 Arda Farms/Freeway Angus 26th Annual Bull Sale Acme, AB

Mar 10 LCL Bull Sale Coronation, AB

Mar 10 Standard Hill Livestock Annual Bull Sale Maidstone, SK

2023 SALES

Mar 11 LLB Spring Spectacular Bull and Female Sale Erskine, AB

Mar 13 Blairswest Bull Sale Drake, SK

Mar 13 Remitall Farms Bull & Select Female Sale Olds, AB

Mar 14 Leeuwenburgh Angus 32nd Annual Sale Lethbridge, AB

Mar 14 Reid Angus Heat Seeker Bull Sale Brooks, AB

Mar 15 KT Ranches Yearling/Fall Bulls Cherryville, BC

Mar 15 Spruce View Angus Bull Sale Killam, AB

Mar 15 Tools of the Trade Bull Sale Dundurn, SK

Mar 16 Ter-Ron Farms Bull and Select Female Sale Forestburg, AB

Mar 18 Joint Venture 44th Annual Bull Sale Sangudo, AB

Mar 18 Select Genetics Bull Sale Herbert, SK

Mar 20 Brooking Angus Ranch 11th Annual Bull Sale Radville, SK

Mar 20 MWC Investments Inc Bull Sale Darwell, AB

Mar 20 Outlaw Coulee/Skull Creek Ranch’s 1st Annual 2-year-old Black Angus Bull Sale Eastend, SK

Mar 21 Pugh Farms Bull Sale Veteran, AB

Mar 21 U2 Connection Bull Sale Coaldale, AB

Mar 22 Allison Farms 5th Annual Bull Sale Delburne, AB

Mar 22 Cow Boys Angus Bull Sale Melita, MB

Mar 23 Rivercrest Angus 20th Annual Bull & Select Female Sale Alliance, Alberta

Mar 23 Wheatland Cattle Co19th Annual Bull Sale Bienfait, SK

Mar 24 Thistle Ridge Ranch 17th Annual Bull Sale Taber, AB

Mar 24 Wheelers Stock Farm 20th Annual Bull Sale Saskatoon, SK

Mar 25 Bar Double M Bull Sale Lethbridge, AB

Mar 25 Clarke Family Farms Inc. Bull and Heifer Sale Blenheim, ON

Mar 25 Heart of the Valley Farms The Buckskin Bull Sale Clinton, BC

Mar 25 Lambs Quarter’s Bull Sale Ponteix, SK

Mar 25 Shiloh Cattle Company Trendsetter Bull & Select Replacement Heifer Sale Craigmyle, AB

Mar 26 Schwan Angus Bull Sale Waldeck, SK

Mar 27 Cockburn/Merit Bull Sale Briercrest, SK

Mar 27 Riverstone Cattle Co. Bull Sale DLMS.ca

Mar 28 L83 47th Annual Production Sale Mandan, ND

Mar 28 Redrich Farms 5th Annual Bull & Female Sale Forestburg, AB

Mar 29 Count Ridge Red Angus 49th Annual Bull Sale Brooks, AB

Mar 31 Grasslands 9th Annual Angus Bull Sale Mankota, SK

2023 SALES

Mar 31 Riverfront Angus Ranch 6th Annual Bull Sale Medicine Hat, AB

Apr 1 Crescent Creek Angus 25th Annual Bull & Female Sale Goodeve, SK

Apr 1 Grasslands Bull Sale Mankota, SK

Apr 1 Triple L Angus Sudden Impact Bull Sale Viscount, SK

Apr 1 Six Mile Ranch Ltd. 48th Annual Bull Sale Fir Mountain, SK

Apr 1 Veetee Angus Better Blacks Bull Sale Lloydminster, SK

Apr 2 Ravenworth Cattle 3rd Annual Momentum Speckle Park & Angus Bull & Female Sale St. Denis, SK

Apr 3 Delorme Ranch Your Choice Bull Sale Robsart, SK

Apr 3 Eastondale Angus Annual Bull Sale Wawota, SK

Apr 4 Diamond T Cattle Co. Bull and Female Sale Olds, AB

Apr 4 Git’er Done Bull Sale Hodgeville, SK

Apr 4 JAS Red Angus/Camo Cattle Co. Buy the Beef 19th Annual Bull Sale Neepawa, MB

Apr 5 Howe Red Angus Bull Sale Moose Jaw, SK

Apr 5 Peak Dot Ranch Spring Sale Wood Mountain, SK

Apr 6 Kenray Ranch Red Angus Bull Sale Redvers, SK

Apr 6 Rainbow Hills Ranch 18th Annual Bull and Female Sale Delburne, AB

Apr 6 South View Ranch 23rd Annual Bull Sale Ceylon, SK

Apr 7 Cornerstone Bull Sale Wawota, SK

Apr 8 Blue Collar Bull Sale Yorkton, SK

Apr 8 Rebel Creek Angus Bull Sale Pollockville, AB

Apr 10 Moose Creek Yearling Sale Kisbey, SK

Apr 11 Rodgers Red Angus 50th Annual Performance Bull Sale Lethbridge, AB

Apr 11 Young Dale Angus 20th Annual Bull & Female Sale Carievale, SK

Apr 12 Flying K Ranch Bull Sale Swift Current, SK

Apr 12 W Sunrise Angus Bull & Commercial Female Sale Fort McLeod, AB

Apr 14 Lines Red Angus Bull Sale Cantaur, SK

Apr 15 Shortgrass Bull Sale Aneroid, SK

Apr 22 Wiwa Creek Angus Bull Sale Rush Lake, SK

Dec 6 Gemstone Cattle Co. 9th Annual Hereford & Angus Bull & Female Sale Brooks, AB

Dec 16 Black Meadows Angus Dispersal Sale Virden, MB

To view member sale catalogues, visit www.cdnangus.ca/buyers-sellers/sales-catalogues

*Sale package is provided FREE to members who provide sale results to the Canadian Angus Association within 24 hours of the sale. A template will be provided to assist with the reporting.

**Sale package is also included at no additional cost for those who purchased ads in Angus Life magazine.

INCLUDED

PACKAGE: • Upload of your sale catalogue to Canadian Angus Association website and promotion on at least one social media channel • Sale included on the online events calendar • Maximum three pictures of herd bulls uploaded to Animal Inquiry web page • Choice of three excerpts for sale catalogue • Access to Association program logos

IN THE

EVENTS National and Regional

January 17–19

Manitoba Ag Days Brandon, MB

January 20–21

Canadian Bull Congress Camrose, AB

January 24–26

Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference Saskatoon, SK

February 3–4

Feeder Association of Alberta Annual Convention Red Deer, AB

February 18–20

Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders (GOAL) Conference Toronto, ON

February 22–23

Alberta Beef Industry Conference Banff, AB

March 27–April 1

Royal Manitoba Winter Fair Brandon, MB

March 31–April 2

Saskatchewan Beef Expo Saskatoon, SK

June 8–10

Canadian Angus Association Annual Convention Saskatoon, SK

July 3–6

Beef Improvement Federation Symposium Calgary, AB

July 7–16

Calgary Stampede Calgary, AB

July 11–15

Summer Synergy Olds, AB

July 18–20 Ag in Motion Langham, SK

July 20–22

Canadian Junior Angus Showdown Swift Current, SK

August 1–2

AgSmart Olds, AB

August 9–10

Sk Angus Tour East Central Saskatchewan August 15–17

Canadian Beef Industry Conference Calgary, AB October 25–28

Manitoba Livestock Expo Brandon, MB

October 31–November 4

Lloydminster Stockade Round-up Lloydminster, SK

November 8–11

Farmfair International Edmonton, AB

November 4–12

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Toronto, ON

November 20–25

Canadian Western Agribition Regina, SK

Canadian Angus Association Board of Directors

Our Favourite Technology

Tom deWaal, President Elect

I believe that my greatest piece of technology I depend on every day has been my phone. I can’t imagine any more what life used to be without it. From basic communication to banking, I use it every day and can’t even imagine what I would do without it. Would my life change without it? Absolutely. I am not saying it is a good thing to use it as much as I do but as long as I have it and it is as convenient as it is, I am probably going to consistently depend on it.

Ronnie Ford, Maritimes

My favourite piece of technology is my cell phone. This pocket item gives me access to information whenever I need it. I am able to track weather forecasts for summer cropping and cutting forages for winter feeding. I can call for arms-length service for spring breeding cows. I am able to check Angus pedigrees, EPDs and data on a specific animals instead of saying we can check the information back at the house. If someone is looking at animals, I want to answer questions when I see them. I find it easier to have all the information needed in my hand instead of a binder of pedigree papers. My iPhone provides endless information anytime or anywhere!

Robbie Garner, Saskatchewan

One of my most important and favourite pieces of technology on the farm today could cover a wide range of items. The one thing that has the ability to link all of them together on our operation is the cell phone. What would our parents or grandparents who welcomed the simple telephone to their lives so many years ago in the rural areas think about today’s version of the party line phone system of the past? The information we can view and gather through the phone for our crops and livestock operation is increasing each day. Our rural access to information and monitoring the calving pens through viewing on the phone, animal health remote water systems, the list is endless with what we can link to. The Canadian Angus Association is continuing to develop and improve tools that will assist everyone in their operation through the phone of today.

Mona Howe, Alberta

My favourite piece of technology on the farm is simply my smartphone. This device is on my person whether I’m in the tractor, on horseback or chute side processing cattle. The first benefit that comes to mind is record keeping; it allows me to track birth data, treatments, breeding dates, weaning info, etc. all without having to keep track of a pen and paper. This information is then easily sent to my computer where I can register animals, sort by specific parameters and the like. Next, the smartphone is a huge asset when it comes to marketing. With the ability to take and share pictures and video in real time my customers get a first-hand look at the environment the cattle are raised in as well as management practices that are used in my operation. It also allows me to communicate with customers, fellow breeders and even those outside of our industry on several different platforms. In the future I’m sure we will see additional capabilities that facilitate scanning RFID tags and apps that allow all of the data collected to be kept in one convenient and integrated location.

Graham McLean, President

My cell phone, in conjunction with the computer are my favourite technologies. I can search EPDs very quickly. The cell phone allows you to search pedigrees and sales catalogues with ease. Looking back over 47 years, the phone allows quick assessment of sires across herds rather than looking up pedigrees in magazines and sale catalogues. The other component of the phone is the camera. It allows you to take candid or staged shots of animals but also allows photos of problems that can be diagnosed over the phone. The pictures are much crisper than the older versions that allow timely fixes. The computer allows larger spreadsheets to make management decisions that in the end improves farm profitability.

David Sample, Quebec

Cell phones have changed everything. Now there are lots of places that you can’t even park your vehicle if you don’t have a phone. The electronic meters that used to require coins and then changed to require a credit card aren’t even active anymore, now it’s an app on your phone. During COVID we even needed to use our phones to access menus if we were out somewhere. If we’re touring the pasture, I can use my phone to look up tattoos and other information. It’s been excellent for touring and marketing cattle because if you’re out somewhere you can pull up information on your phone right away.

BJ Scheirlinck, Alberta

I would definitely say the best technology for me would be my phone. My phone is a must for my job as a salesman for Taurus Premix. It also plays a big role in our dayto-day operations with our purebred record keeping. Another benefit to me is to be able to get our calving cameras live on our phones. I could do without some other technology but for sure could not survive long without my cell phone!

Blake Morton, Alberta

EPDs have to be one of my favourite technologies. I know this can be a controversial subject. Some have mastered the use of EPDs and can manipulate, with great results. Others think EPDs are just hot air. Let me tell you EPDs have changed the show industry and have enhanced bull and female sales. We would all be living with our heads in the sand if you don’t believe Electric Power Driers (EPDs) or blowers are here to stay. EPDs can be a useful tool. I’m sure we all have seen the big fancy EPDs like The Beast® but with no understanding of what the animal looks like they can make a real mess. I still believe the eye is the best judge. EPDs cannot replace hours of work and hands-on care. Blowers (EPDs) cannot change the true growth and performance we see with the naked eye. Structural correctness is also something EPDs cannot change. Some believe we have to change our industry and do away with EPDs and that is fine. EPDs can be a useful tool if use correctly in combination with the fundamental of phenotype, structure and general eye appeal.

Greg Pugh, Alberta

My favourite technology is modern cattle and our uses for them, specifically their ability to improve soil health on our farm. We graze corn and spread manure a lot in soil amendment as our soil is very sandy. We’ve been able to improve our soil quality quite a bit in a short amount of time. We are able to utilize a lot of non-arable and marginal land by utilizing the cattle to improve the soil quality. Our soil samples show the improvements that the cattle have made, allowing us to reduce the amount of fertilizer we use, increased moisture retention, and reducing the amount of land used to achieve the same production.

Dallas Johnston, Manitoba

My barn cameras are my favourite piece of technology. During calving season, it’s much easier to monitor and check progress without having to trek back and forth to the barn in the middle of the night. The cameras are also handy for checking outside pens.

Sheldon Kyle, Past President

My favourite piece of technology is my TruTest XR 5000, the scale for our weigh system. It records weights, automatically calculates average daily gains, tracks vaccinations—it just makes life so much easier. There’s no paper ever, so no paper can get lost. It stores all data and it’s easy to export that data into an Excel spreadsheet. It’s really simple to use and is user friendly.

Roger Reynolds, Saskatchewan

My favourite technology is GPS. GPS technology can be used in a variety of ways and has become a valuable resource for everyday life. Whether you use it in a farming operation to guide you in your seeding or harvesting equipment or you just use it in a recreational way to help you with your golf game, GPS has been developing into an amazing tool. GPS can be a tremendous time saving tool when navigating through a city you are not familiar with and can assist when delivering a bull to a remote rural location. The variety of uses is endless. It is also very valuable when finding your favourite fishing spot....

Board of Directors Committees

Tina Zakowsky, Canadian Angus Association

If you have been paying attention to highlights from board meetings, you may have noticed increasing references to “committees” over the last couple of years. Since the board adjusted its method of governance in 2020, committees have taken on an elevated role to help streamline discussion activities at the board level. Committees meet virtually in advance of each board meeting and when appropriate, bring recommendations to the board meeting. This structure and process has

resulted in significant time savings at board meetings, not only preventing unproductive discussions but also allowing the board to focus on setting future direction for the Association.

It’s easier to understand how the process works using a hypothetical example. For the sake of illustration, imagine that during the course of discussion at a board meeting, a suggestion is made to move the CAA office to another province. The president will allow a brief discussion to determine if there is will from a majority of the board to seriously consider the suggestion. After each director has been afforded the opportunity to share his or her initial thoughts and identify potential concerns, there is consensus that the idea should be assigned to a committee for further investigation. Based on the committee charters, the board determines that the investigation is best delegated to the audit and finance committee to determine the pros and cons of moving the office, including a thorough financial analysis that accounts for the cost of amending the

The CAA Board Committees

bylaws, mail forwarding, and all associated moving and relocation costs. At the next board meeting, the audit and finance committee will present a summary of their analysis and their recommendation to the board of directors, either in favour of or opposed to relocation, and all directors will have the opportunity ask questions before voting to accept or reject the committee’s recommendation.

This is a simple hypothetical example, but the process is basically the same for any item that comes before the board of directors that cannot easily be decided. Some items are easily resolved at the next board meeting, while others, such as the recent bylaw amendments, can take significantly more time to complete. The proposed bylaw amendments required significant amounts of time by the committee members and were also discussed thoroughly by the board before being presented to the membership for approval.

Five committees and their purpose are captured in the revised Canadian Angus Association bylaws that were approved by members in 2022. Each director sits on at least one committee and some directors sit on two. The CEO sits on all committees and the president is an ex officio member of all committees except for the executive committee.

The Audit and Finance Committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the Association’s financial health and sustainability. Its areas of focus include:

• ensuring that CAA is in compliance with laws, regulations and ethical conduct concerning its financial affairs

• current year financial forecast

• following year’s budget plan and schedule and the Association’s long-term financial outlook

2022–2023 committee members

Ronnie Ford, chair 902-394-0059 ronnie.ford@bellaliant.net Roger Reynolds 306-536-6112 erreynolds@accesscomm.ca Graham McLean 519-808-6511 grahamm@agris.coop Myles Immerkar 403-571-3581 mimmerkar@cdnangus.ca

The Breed Improvement Committee is the newest board committee that began its work in summer 2022. The committee’s role is to assist the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to continuous development of the Angus breed. Its areas of focus include:

• research updates, priorities and focus in both the short and long term

• Gold Show program and potential enhancements

• regularly review and when appropriate, recommend changes to breed trait and integrity policies

• provide input into the commercial engagement and marketing strategy

2022–2023 committee members:

Robbie Garner, chair 306-946-7946 nordallimousin@sasktel.net

Tom deWaal 250-960-0022 tom@harvestangus.com

Mona Howe 306-661-0049 mo.cattleco@gmail.com Blake Morton 403-820-4162 shilohcattle@netago.ca Myles Immerkar 403-571-3581 mimmerkar@cdnangus.ca

The Executive Committee works closely with the CEO on activity within the CAA office and organizational structure. Last year the committee took on a larger role monitoring organizational risk that was previously divided among the committees. The Executive Committee’s areas of focus include:

• on behalf of the board, managing the employment relationship with the CEO

• CEO’s performance assessment process including reviewing the CEO’s job description, goals and metrics

• document, evaluate, manage and mitigate organizational risk

2022–2023 committee members:

Graham McLean, president 519-808-6511 grahamm@agris.coop

Tom deWaal, president elect 250-960-0022 tom@harvestangus.com

Sheldon Kyle, past president 306-452-7545 sheldon@kenrayranch.com

Myles Immerkar, CEO 403-571-3581 mimmerkar@cdnangus.ca

Over the last few years, the Governance Committee has overseen the governance structure review and managed the bylaw review process. Its areas of focus include:

• governance structure

• strategic plan progress

• oversight of new director orientation process

• make recommendations for ongoing board education and training

• regular review of CAA bylaws, recommending updates when necessary

2022–2023 committee members:

Greg Pugh, chair 780-806-1319 gjpugh@hotmail.com

Blake Morton 403-820-4162 shilohcattle@netago.ca

Dallas Johnston 204-841-3880 djcattleco@hotmail.com

Sheldon Kyle 306-452-7545 sheldon@kenrayranch.com Myles Immerkar 403-571-3581 mimmerkar@cdnangus.ca

Until recently, the Pedigree Committee was the only committee captured in the CAA bylaws. The committee has the authority to authorize the change of ownership and registration of pedigrees where signatures or other information are for any reason unobtainable, provided the pedigree of breeding submitted complies in all particulars with the rules of eligibility for registration as outlined in the bylaws. The committee’s areas of focus include:

• impact of maintaining breed purity through our policy programs

• trends of the breed policies

• review of a variety of policies about pedigree and purity

• fee schedule review

2022–2023 committee members (chair not yet determined):

BJ Schierlink 403-929-2494 bjcc@xplornet.ca

Sheldon Kyle 306-452-7545 sheldon@kenrayranch.com David Sample 450-247-2696 macangusfarms@gmail.com

Dallas Johnston 204-841-3880 djcattleco@hotmail.com

Myles Immerkar 403-571-3581 mimmerkar@cdnangus.ca

Notice of Canadian Angus Association Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Canadian Angus Association Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon Hotel, 612 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, SK for the purpose of:

• Receiving and considering the annual report and financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the report of the auditors thereon

• Review and acceptance of the 2022 annual general meeting minutes

• Transacting such further and other business as may properly come before the meeting

Voting cards will be available for pick up at the registration table on site Saturday, June 10 from 8:00–9:00 a.m. only. Late entrance to the meeting is permitted but no voting cards will be handed out after 9:00 a.m.

Avis de convocation à l’assemblée générale annuelle de l’Association Canadian Angus Avis est par les présentes donné que l’assemblée générale annuelle de l’Association Canadian Angus aura lieu le samedi 10 juin 2023, à 9 h, au Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon Hotel, 612 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, SK, aux fins suivantes :

• Réception et examen du rapport annuel et des états financiers pour l’exercice clos le 31 décembre 2022, ainsi que du rapport des vérificateurs sur ces derniers.

• Examen et acceptation des procès-verbaux des assemblées générales annuelles de 2022

• Traiter toutes les autres questions qui peuvent être dûment soumises à l’assemblée.

Les bulletins de vote pourront être obtenus uniquement sur place, à la table d’inscription, le samedi 10 juin de 8h00 à 9h00. L’entrée tardive à la réunion est autorisée mais les bulletins de vote ne seront pas distribués après 9h00.

REGIONAL ASSOCIATION CONTACT INFO

BC www.cdnangus.ca/bc-angus-association

President Bob Miller (until September 2023) 250-819-0858 bobmiller@ownershipid.ca

Secretary Rocio Alejandre 250-308-9187 bcangusassociation@gmail.com

Alberta www.cdnangus.ca/alberta-angus-association Saskatchewan www.cdnangus.ca/saskatchewan-angus-association

President Kelsey Knott (until August 2023) 780-619-9239 kelsey_knott@hotmail.com

President Chad Hollinger 306-331-0302 hollingerlandandcattle@gmail.com

Secretary Susanne Fankhanel 403-556-9057 abangusoffice@gmail.com

General Manager

Belinda Wagner 306-537-1518 office@saskatchewanangus.com

President Devon Boistson 204-803-8676 dboitson.a.i.services@gmail.com

President (until March 2023) Don McNalty 705-446-4740 robroyangus@gmail.com

Manitoba www.cdnangus.ca/manitoba-angus-association Ontario www.cdnangus.ca/ontario-angus-association Quebec www.cdnangus.ca/quebec-angus-association

President Emmanuel Chenail 514-893-0232

Maritimes

www.cdnangus.ca/maritime-angus

President Amy Higgins 506-349-5395 maritimeangus@gmail.com

Secretary Mandi Fewings 1-888-622-6487 mandi.mbangus@gmail.com

Secretary Julie Townsend 519-787-2397 secretaryontarioangus@gmail.com

Secretary Cynthia Jackson 418-784-2311 quebecangus@live.ca

Secretary/Treasurer

Agri-Commodity Management Association aanderson@agricommodity.ca

Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society

redangus.ca

President Eric Falk 403-391-2259 efalk@xplornet.com

Administrative Contact Justine Gardner 403-969-3730 canadianredanguspromosociety@gmail.com

Ellingson Open Range was our $47,500 selection from Ellingson’s 2022 production sale, from the first calf crop of the young sire, Ellingson Rangeland. Open Range will improve overall maternal qualities, structural integrity, fertility, and calving ease with extra performance. He is a direct son of EA Bells Girl 2181, the iconic donor that was the ‘Pick of the Herd’ in 2020, selected by Ingram Angus. There are seven full sisters to Open Range retained in the Ellingson replacement pen. At the 2021 sale, a maternal sister produced the Lot 1 top selling Ellingson Badlands 0285, which sold for $80,000. Owned with Ellingson Angus.

in review

February 6th Lock Farms Bull Sale Lloydminster, Sk

February 22nd Brookside Angus Bull and Female Sale Neepawa, Mb February 23rd Heinz Cattle Co Bull Sale Fort Macleod Ab

February 24th

LK Ranch Bull Sale Alameda, Sk

March 2nd

Highline Angus Bull Sale Medicine Hat, Ab March 5th

Wards Red Angus Bull Sale Delisle, Sk

March 6th

Lust Farms Red Angus Bull Sale Medicine Hat, Ab

March 7th

Sandhill Red Angus Bull Sale Froid, Mt

March 7th Belvin Angus Innisfail, Ab

March 8th

Mar Mac Farms Bull Sale Brandon, Mb

March 8th Minburn Angus Bull Sale Minburn, Ab

March 10th Standard Hill and Guests Bull Sale Maidstone, Sk March 10th LCL Bull Sale Coronation, Ab

March 11th

LLB Spring Spectacular Bull and Female Sale Erskine, Ab

March 14th Leeuwenburgh Farms Bull Sale Lethbridge, Ab

March 15th Spruce View Angus Killam, Ab March 15th Tools of the Trade Bull Sale Dundurn, Sk

March 16th All Black Bull Sale Meadow Lake, Sk

March 18th

Select Genetics Bull Sale Herbert, Sk

March 20th

Outlaw Coulee / Skull Creek Ranches Bull Sale Eastend, Sk March 22nd

Cow Boys Angus Bull Sale Melita, Mb March 25th Bar Double M Bull Sale Lethbridge, Ab March 25th Lambs Quarter’s Bull Sale Ponteix, Sk March 26th

Schwan Angus Bull Sale Waldeck, Sk March 27th Cockburn / Merit Bull Sale Briercrest, Sk March 29th Hamilton Farms Bull and Female Sale Cochrane, Ab

April 1st Grasslands Bull Sale Mankota, Sk

April 2nd

Sudden Impact Bull Sale Viscount, Sk

April 3rd Eastondale Angus On the Farm Bull Sale Wawota, Sk

April 4th Git’er Done Bull Sale Hodgeville, Sk April 5th

Howe Red Angus Bull Sale Moose Jaw, Sk

April 6th Kenray Ranch Red Angus Bull Sale Redvers, Sk

April 7th Cornerstone Bull Sale Wawota, Sk

April 8th Blue Collar Bull Sale Yorkton, Sk

April 12th

Flying K Ranch Red Angus Bull Sale Swift Current, Sk

April 14th Lines Red Angus Bull Sale Cantuar, Sk

April 15th Shortgrass Bull Sale Aneroid, Sk

April 22nd Wiwa Creek Angus Bull Sale Rush Lake, Sk

By Doug Fee

Brian Good was hired and given a difficult job: to reach out to commercial cattlemen and auctions to promote purebred Angus cattle. He managed to accomplish everything we assigned him and went far beyond with his own ideas of what the commercial field man should do. Brian was born into an Angus family and the day I hired him his first comment was that his dad would have been very proud.

At the time he started, we had brought the registry in house and were rapidly growing. He drove thousands of miles visiting and promoting the breed. In fact, he literally drove the wheels off a new truck every two or three years. You could never tell how many miles he had on a truck because he maintained them so carefully. Truck maintenance and cleaning became a significant item on his expense reports.

Brian introduced some excellent ideas into our commercial promotion plans. He started with honouring an auction market of the year, selecting one that promoted Angus feeder sales. He became very involved with the Livestock Markets Association of Canada (LMAC) and fought for promotional dollars to support their programs. We did have a bit of a debate over his invitation to other breeds

to join him in this promotion, but at the end of the day Brian and our Angus group was still recognized as leading the promotion.

Another idea of his that worked very well was a commercial cattlemen’s supper held the night before the Angus sale at the annual Calgary Bull Sale. He arranged a speaker each year and we always had a lively discussion. It became so popular people asked to be invited.

Brian had his own ideas of what he thought should be done and often went ahead and did them. His job description included nothing to do with purebred shows or activities, but Angus was in his veins and he had to go to every show possible. He was very sensitive to expectations and went out of his way to accommodate everyone. I became concerned about Brian and all the stress his travel was causing, so we decided to hire a few regional field men. Rather than relieve his travel and workload, he accepted these people as good travelling companions and kept up the same hectic pace.

Budgets were often an issue with Brian and me. The first year we set up a field service line item in the budget he was very pleased, even commenting that now he had his own budget. We discussed all he planned to do the following year and included it. To Brian, this seems to have been either a suggestion or a starting point. He blew through the year’s

budget in six months and then asked if we expected him to sit at home for the rest of the year.

Working remotely and being on the road so much made it difficult for him to keep involved with what was going on in the office. We scheduled our staff meetings around Brian’s travels to keep him informed. He considered the storage area for promotional materials his private supply. When challenged by one of the staff when he was carting off a box of things, his reply was that it wasn’t doing anybody any good sitting on a shelf.

Brian undertook a difficult job because within the breed people had different expectations of the position. He went above and beyond trying to meet them all. When he was hired, our objective was to reach out to commercial breeders and auction markets. During my tenure he accomplished both admirably and exceeded expectations.

Brian and his wife Lynanne at the 2009 CAA AGM in Harrison Hot Springs, BC

Doug and Brian at Agribition 2003

By Rob Smith

hen I learned of Brian’s passing, I was shocked. While he’d faced major illness before, the very idea of a world without Brian seemed surreal to me. Very few had a negative word to say about Brian Good. Most thought of him as the quintessential “good” guy, a trusted advisor, a great storyteller. You could laugh with Brian and smile with his anecdotes and sayings, based in his real-life experiences.

He sought me out just hours after the announcement was made that I would be joining the Canadian Angus Association as his colleague in March 2011. We set up a lunch meeting for the next week. While I knew he was trying to suss out my vision and thoughts, what I didn’t know was that I was forming an alliance with the strongest partner and friend I would have for almost my entire seven and a half years with CAA.

We travelled a lot together in his CAA truck and talked of everything imaginable. I learned so much about him, his family, his beliefs, his history. That he loved Glen Campbell and would like to see Bruno Mars in concert. He was very forthright with me about who he liked travelling the most with, which were NOT the folks who never ‘ponied up’ to pay their way. Brian was very conscientious about the Canadian Angus finances and did not appreciate those who wanted a ‘free ride’.

He hated “politics” but was masterful at it. When at meetings, conferences and conventions, I listened to the speakers while Brian held the back of the room or hallway, listening and participating in informal discussions he would later share with me. Brian was very loyal and struggled listening to comments critical of those he cared about.

While it was not really his way to force a confrontation, I was very aware of situations where someone was ‘talking down’ about someone Brian liked, how uncomfortable it obviously made him, and how quickly he would gracefully exit the discussion. On the flip side, however, I will always admire, and be jealous of, his ability to remove himself from conversations that he felt had ‘run its course’ for him. He would bring someone—often me—into it, then silently and discretely slip away.

He was appreciated by almost all the CAA staff. When he stopped by the office (virtually every week), he visited with Keltey, she hanging on his every word, then he’d go to Karla, who adored him and kept a book of ‘Brian-isms’, drop some receipts off with Alan, grab a coffee, ‘kibbitz’ with Joanelle, head down the Registry hallway and chat with everyone there, stop by Tina’s office and ask about her kids, and end up in my office.

The younger members said, “When Brian is at my sale, I feel honoured, like ‘I’ve made it’.” That’s how most everyone felt about our Brian.

Sometimes he would be two hours before he got to me but no matter: he and I talked almost every day. Once he and I connected, it was strategy and planning; I’ll never enjoy doing so with anyone as much again.

We shared a love for young cattlefolk; Showdown and other youth events were annual highlights. You could not put a timeframe on Brian when he judged our Angus youth on their marketing or sales talk; he would carry on the conversation long after each competitor had completed their ‘pitch’. From west to east, large to

small, guy or girl, red or black, Brian wanted to know our juniors, to learn about their operations, family and commitment to our Angus business.

Brian took work very seriously and I requested his input on everything. I trusted his judgement and welcomed his opinion. I absolutely loved working with Brian because I respected and liked him completely.

In the summer of 2012, I hosted a ‘think tank’ of eight Canadian Angus members. We spent two days with me ‘picking their brains’ on various industry topics. I asked questions, they talked, and I wrote and wrote and wrote. There were two members each in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. I selected members I respected and was excited to receive their input.

When we were talking about marketing and the role of outreach, one of the members launched into a tirade about Brian and how ‘old school’ he was, with no current value. When he finished, there was silence. Then one of the members in their 50s said, “I don’t know. I kind of like it when Brian comes to my sale. It makes me feel like I’m legitimate.” This comment was followed by every other person in the room praising the work Brian had done for over a decade. “I know when Brian is at my sale I can focus

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, 2005

Hero Certified Burgers Canadian Angus beef launch event, 2009 Quebec, 2009 Williams Lake 2008

Rob and Brian at the 2012 T Bar Invitational Golf Tournament

on certain potential buyers. He’ll visit with those I won’t have time to,” said the other member in his 50s. The younger members said, “When Brian is at my sale, I feel honoured, like ‘I’ve made it’.” That’s how most everyone felt about our Brian.

He was part of the ‘old boys club’ but he was also a spark plug for new members and young producers. He often connected the ‘old and experienced’ with the ‘young and fresh’. He was as dynamic and open to new ideas as anyone I’ve ever met. He was confident in sharing his opinion and did so without filter. I couldn’t always follow what he proclaimed because I served the board of directors, but Brian always told me when he thought it was wrong. I listened and knew that when he spoke, he was doing so based on what he knew of our membership. I don’t think he was ever wrong... not once.

We talked often of his family. He loved working, but he also looked forward to retirement. The fact that he got to enjoy it for only a year-and-a-half will always feel like an unjust cheat to me.

Now we have our memories. And anyone who knew Brian Good, which means a LOT of people, will have memories. And because of Brian’s character and nature, these memories are bound to be GOOD.

By Myles Immerkar

On July 19, 2022, the Canadian Angus Association and the Angus community lost one of our strongest advocates for our brand who spent his life around Angus cattle.

My time span that I worked with Brian was the shortest of the leaders that he worked for at CAA and was also interrupted by outside factors. Nonetheless, I was able recognize his contribution to the Angus breed and the Angus team immediately and during our time together.

Prior to joining CAA, I knew Brian as an acquaintance. I didn’t know him well but would see him at the occasional bull sale and event and he was always available for a quick chat when our paths crossed.

One of the days that I fondly remember Brian was December 3, 2018. This was the day that the CAA board and I had agreed that an announcement would be made about me joining the CAA. I remember that the announcement went out late on Friday afternoon via social media and a number of texts and emails began to flow in. But what I remember most about that day was about 30 minutes after the press release went out, the first phone call I received was from an unknown Alberta number. It was Brian calling to congratulate me and welcome me to the team. I remember that first conversation vividly as I expressed the need to leverage Brian’s experience and understand the past and incorporate that understanding into changes that we would undergo. This was definitely a side of Brian that I saw early on where he was quick to reach out to all team members about any personal news that they received to offer congratulations, sympathy or a lending ear depending on what was needed.

As I settled into my role at the CAA, I had many conversations with Brian and always appreciated the history and the stories he was able to share that helped shape the decisions we were looking to make. Brian wasn’t necessarily fond of change and on many initiatives proposed he would mention “we tried that 10 years ago and it didn’t work”. I am always of the belief that just because something was tried and didn’t work didn’t mean it was the wrong decision, but that we need to learn from those mistakes and not make the same mistakes when tackled again. Brian was integral in helping understand the previous hurdles and was usually back on board once he had the opportunity to express his viewpoint and knew it was considered.

The role of field service probably changed as much as any role with the CAA over the years. For years Brian was very much like a carrier pigeon as our industry relied on him to carry information from one place to another, to share the industry vibe and spread good will among the membership. Over the past decade this has changed drastically as new communication platforms have emerged that have increased the speed of information travel or where members came to receive their industry information.

It became more of a challenge to bring new and timely information to events. Brian was certainly active on these new platforms and learned to communicate his message to our membership via these new social media platforms and created quite a following. Some of the viewpoints crossed into grey areas of what was a personal view versus a corporate view. For Brian, due to his passion for the Angus breed and the role he performed, to him it was all the same.

As I balanced change, technology, tradition and history in the development of programs and products, Brian played a large role in helping me understand our traditions and to ensure that they were not lost in the evolution of our breed. His presence within the walls of CAA will be felt long into the future. He will always be known as Mr. Angus to the team at Angus Central.

Brian received the Livestock Markets Association of Canada Industry Champion Award in 2019. He is the third individual to receive this honour.

Brian will be remembered for always making time to chat

The Rise of Angus in the Global Market

Myles Immerkar, Canadian Angus Association

Red and Black Angus genetics have seen rapid demand and growth globally for the past three decades, accounting for approximately 90 percent of the North American beef export market in 2021 and with nearly 7 million doses of beef exports annually.

Since 1992, Black and Red Angus have ranked either first or second in North American beef breed exports. From 1992 to 2001, Red Angus led the way as the preferred type of cattle from international markets while Black Angus has led the growth since 2001.

There are a number of factors that have led to this growth and Angus-based genetics being the preferred source for global commercial breeding programs.

• the demand for quality beef

• the proven and reliable genetic evaluation system

• the ability of Angus to thrive in all conditions

• the demand for Angus branded beef programs

The desire and demand for quality beef has been a major factor in this growth globally as many developing markets look to utilize the proven carcass genetics that Angus provides to select genetics that will work on their native populations. The ability to select and source genetics that fit individual program needs has given Angus genetics a strong advantage.

Breeders in North America place a varying degree of trust and reliability in the data sets that aid in the evaluation of Angus cattle. The Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) genetic evaluation system that Canadian Angus has participated in plays an important factor in the growth of Angus genetics globally. In many programs around the globe, EPDs are a major risk management tool for programs to provide some predictability and increase their chances of reaching their desired breeding goals. The AGI data set is the largest, strongest and most reliable in the beef industry and one that Canadian Angus cattle are fortunate to be included in. While we continue to work on improving the evaluation of all traits in the data set, it will be a major contributing factor in the demand for use of Angus genetics globally.

Whatever your desired breed of cattle, Angus can most likely provide your needs which has made Angus genetics the breed of choice in a number of developing markets around the world. Whether you desire low maintenance, carcass, maternal, performance, adaptability, calving ease or place your priorities on other traits, the Angus breed has a genetic line that most likely will suit your breeding targets. It is for this reason that newly developed markets in the past decade such as China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Mexico and many others have relied on Angus genetics in the development of their breeding programs.

The demand for Angus based beef programs continues to increase. With more than 50 individual branded Angus beef programs in the USA and more than 25 in Canada, the demand for Angus beef and Angus branded beef programs has continued to increase and branded Angus programs can be found in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan, China and a number of other global markets. These brands have developed out of demand— demand for quality beef and a reliable quality eating experience.

In North America, the growth of Angus genetics has been on a similar rise over the past three decades. In 2021, the overall growth of beef genetics grew by approximately 1.3 million doses over the year prior and 1.2 million of these doses came from the Angus breed with more than 1 million doses of the growth being attributed to the growing beef on dairy segment in North America. More than 95 percent of beef genetics used in beef on dairy programs have been Angus based genetics. The reliability of the genetic evaluation system in Angus, the ability to focus on individual breeding targets and the desire to fit into branded Angus beef programs have made Angus the breed of choice.

As we look to the future, we see the potential for Angus genetics to play an increasingly important role in both the domestic and international landscapes. We see increasing challenges across North America due to drought and a reduction in beef cattle numbers expected across a number of regions. Historically when similar challenges occurred in previous cattle cycles, the influence of Angus market share only increased during these challenging times as producers select cattle based on maintenance, production and market demand. As we expect a decreasing commercial cattle herd in 2022, Angus genetics are expected to continue to play a dominant role in the outlook of beef cattle populations both domestically and globally.

North American Beef Semen Exports 2021 (top 3 export countries represented by Brazil, China and Russia)

Breed 2021 % Market Share

Black Angus 6,601,967 85.8%

Red Angus 301,518 3.9% Simmental 206,306 2.7% Brangus 174,882 2.3% Charolais 97,966 1.3% Polled Hereford 85,537 1.1% Gyr 54,282 0.7% Brahman 37,066 0.5% Limousin 36,278 0.5% Wagyu 35,096 0.5% Red Brahman 30,567 0.4% Senepol 17,968 0.2% Red Brangus 12,433 0.2% Total 7,691,866

Source: North American Animal Breeders (NAAB) Semen Sales report 2021 The National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) members report annual units for the categories of domestic sales, export sales, custom collection and imported units for dairy and beef breeds. With 95% of the US AI industry represented by NAAB members, these annual statistics provide an accurate insight of the sales of North American bovine semen.

Source: NAAB Semen Exports

The ability to select and source genetics that fit individual program needs has given Angus genetics a strong advantage.

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Loading up in 2023

embryos

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COLEMAN DONNA 720 KCH ANNIE K 13H ANCHORAGE MS INSTINCT 9292

presented by Bohrson Marketing

KEY OUTCOME 1:

Store, protect and record CAA data and information through leading-edge platforms

Strategy Update

The CAA along with 11 other breed associations and the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) have begun work on a made-in-Canada database system through the funded support of Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR). The project that began at the beginning of 2022 continues to make great strides with plans to begin test phases in early 2023 and potential roll-out to CAA members sometime in 2023. Watch for updates.

LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE ANGUS BREED IN CANADA THROUGH THE CREATION OF MEMBER VALUE AND INDUSTRY VALUE

KEY OUTCOME 2:

Oversee the process of updating the Canadian Angus Association Bylaws and policies to ensure the CAA long-term future is protected and the information to members is transparent, understandable and accessible Strategy Update

In the spring of 2022, the CAA reached out to CAA membership about a number of changes to the current CAA Bylaws. These changes result from collaboration with parliamentarians who identified improvements and updates to the bylaws. The CAA Governance Committees have spent enormous hours over the past three years reviewing the proposed changes. The CAA membership through mail-in and online voting strongly supported the proposed changes as all 51 proposed bylaw changes passed with a high of 99 percent and a low of 92 percent approval. The bylaws have been submitted to the Animal Pedigree Act Officer for final approval that is expected in late 2022/2023.

BO J E CTIVE2

KEY OUTCOME 1:

KEY OUTCOME 3:

Ensure the long-term financial stability of the organization Strategy Update

Long-term health of the CAA continues to be a priority. After 3 very successful financial years, the CAA currently sits in a healthy financial position. The goal of completing the CAA Reserve Fund is scheduled to be achieved at the end of 2023.

Bohrson marketing

LEVERAGE THE ANGUS ADVANTAGE TO ADVANCE THE ANGUS BREED AND BEEF INDUSTRY

KEY OUTCOME 2:

Develop a continuous long-term research strategy supporting key industry concerns and challenges while remaining focused on the value of genetic improvement for the industry Strategy Update

The CAA continues to invest, partner and collaborate with industry organizations, ensuring that CAA continues to lead the beef industry through research and innovation. With the support of the Canadian Angus Foundation, many of these projects are now nearing completion. Current ongoing projects include High Immune Response (HIRTM), longevity, feet & legs evaluation, teat & udder evaluation, BETSY cameras, heart health and best management practices.

Develop, implement and support policies and programs supporting breed purity that have been identified as of critical importance to membership Strategy Update

CAA takes pride in our breed purity as it has been identified as the upmost importance by CAA members through past surveys. The CAA policies around parent verification are leading the industry and the results continue to showcase the success of these policies as the accuracy of the herdbook and the incidence of failure continues to decrease as more generations of Angus genetics are identified.

KEY OUTCOME

COMMUNICATE, COLLABORATE AND EDUCATE

1:

Continue to develop grassroots programs and platforms to ensure we grow and strengthen strong regional support sharing the CAA mission and vision

Strategy Update

In 2022, the CAA completed the process of becoming administrator of all regional association websites creating efficiencies and increasing connectivity. The launch of regional Angus Ambassadors in 2022 has also increased the grassroots presence of the CAA brand in more regions across Canada.

KEY OUTCOME 2:

Develop and implement an annual communication strategy to reach all CAA members across various platforms to ensure all members and commercial members are aware of all Angus activities and initiatives

Strategy Update

This fourth edition of Angus Life continues to be a key communication platform for all CAA activities to both the membership and commercial sector. In 2022, the CAA contracted the services of a communication specialist to review all CAA platforms and suggest opportunities to improve how and where we communicate. Out of these discussions, new platforms have been developed such as the launch of the revamped CAA newsletter this fall.

KEY OUTCOME 3:

Expand the reach of Canadian genetics to global markets through global marketing strategies and the development of key international industry relations

Strategy Update

The CAA continues to build strong relations with our global Angus partners as we explore opportunities for collaboration on research, programs, market trade and business ventures. These partnerships were only strengthened in 2022 as a number of our global partners were able to make visits to CAA office to discuss a number of collaborative opportunities.

KEY OUTCOME 1:

Develop stronger business relationships with key industry partners in the availability of their products and services to CAA members Strategy

Update

The CAA continues to focus efforts on building relationships with branded Angus partners from a variety of sectors. With that came the development of a new CAA entity with a strong focus on creating Angus value, Genuine Angus Incorporated. This new entity will focus on the development of creating value in Angus genetics through a variety of programs such as Angus Verified and the opportunities developed from the identification of Angus Verified cattle.

KEY OUTCOME

2:

Support key industry collaboration with valued partners to play our role in moving the entire industry forward and removing barriers of inefficiency Strategy Update

The CAA continues to play a leading role in a number of industry organizations to explore the areas of opportunity to support the beef industry through collaboration and creating efficiencies and opportunities for all beef producers through this sharing.

EXPLORE THE REALMS OF OPPORTUNITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT CURRENT REVENUE STREAMS FOR THE CANADIAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION

The Canadian Angus Association arranged for three additional genetic evaluation runs through the 2021–2022 bull sale season, and member feedback was extremely positive. Members and sale managers appreciated the faster two-week turnaround for updated GEPDs from genomic and performance information. To help members get their yearling weights, ultrasound scan information, and Angus GS genomic information incorporated into their GEPDs in time for sale catalogues, we have arranged for three additional genetic evaluation runs through the 2022–2023 bull sale season. Below is the genetic evaluation schedule and deadlines for data to be included in the evaluations. Please contact the office if you have any questions.

Tuesday, November 15, 2022 Friday, December 2, 2022

Monday, December 5, 2022 Friday, December 16, 2022 Thursday, December 15, 2022 Friday, January 6, 2023

Monday January 9, 2022 Friday, January 20, 2023

Sunday, January 15, 2023 Friday, February 3, 2023

Monday February 6, 2023 Friday, February 17, 2023 Monday, February 20, 2023 Friday, March 3, 2023

Canadian Angus Association Staff

Member Service Team

Julia Engel jengel@cdnangus.ca 403-537-5607

Avery Parkinson aparkinson@cdnangus.ca 403-537-5605

Mandi Tilleman atilleman@cdnangus.ca 403-537-5603 Canadian

Account information, memberships, registrations, transfers, trait entry, AngusNOW, Angus Cow Enrollment (ACE), export packages, pedigree extract requests, age verification DNA tests and processing, management tag and TSU orders

Branded

Myles Immerkar CEO

Tina Zakowsky Administration Team Leader

Czechia Hosts World Angus Technical Meeting 30 Years After Angus Breed Established from Canadian Seedstock

Matěj Šašek and Milan Šebelka Czech Aberdeen Angus Association Member of Czech Beef Cattle Association

As early as 400 BCE, the Celts would graze red cattle in what is now the Czech region, but only a few decades ago Czechia started to breed beef cattle. Historically, red cattle were used for milk, beef and work. From the 17th century onwards, local farmers began crossing their cattle to other European dual-purpose breeds. Fleckvieh became and remained the dominant breed until the late 20th century. After the end of World War II, the newly established communist regime confiscated all privately owned land and turned most pastures into crop land. They pushed cattle into sheds, wrongly expecting better economic outcomes. When they realized their mistake, the authorities decided to set up beef cattle grazing in mountainous areas. They launched their plan with the import of more than one thousand Hereford heifers from Canada in 1974, yet the absence of crucial know-how inevitably led to limited success.

The main boom of beef cattle finally came after the fall of the communist regime in 1989. Once again, Canada played a key role, with one man, Miloš Menhart, at the forefront. Born in communist Czechoslovakia, Miloš fled to Canada as a young vet. Over time, he went into the international trade with cattle genetics. In 1991, his company M.I.L.O.S. Inc. brought the first Angus heifers to Czechoslovakia on a cargo flight from Canada. Within the next five years, they delivered 1,800 head, half of them Angus. And in 1996, the company imported the first Red Angus. In the meantime, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two countries, Czechia and Slovakia. Miloš successfully convinced Czech authorities of the benefits of beef cattle for Czech agriculture at a time it was undergoing dramatic changes. Importantly, Miloš’ contributions go well beyond the transfer of cattle and equipment. His most indispensable gift is the transfer of knowledge to the inexperienced breeders. The Czech Angus breed has enjoyed increasing popularity, with 5,000 pedigree calves from 150 individual herds registered just last year and ten

times as many reared as commercial cattle. Angus competes with Charolais for number one among local beef breeds. A successful local market has developed for the breeding bulls, while pedigree heifers have been sold mainly to emerging markets in southern and eastern Europe, and in central Asia. Many Angus farms run their own off-farm meat sales.

This year, Canadian breeders have a unique opportunity to come and see what emerged from their seedstock after 30 years of local breeding. The World Angus Secretariat Technical meeting comes to the Czech Republic September 8–15, 2023. After four long years of absence, we would like to invite you to join us for a series of excellent presentations by international speakers, and for meetings with old and new friends. Please visit www.worldangus2023.com for a detailed program.

The shows and the congress will kick off in the historic city of České Budějovice, south of Prague. As part of the meeting, you can look forward to a four-day trip filled with exciting stops including farms, wine cellars at a monastery, a Prague boat tour, and beer and delicious food on the way, among other attractions.

We look forward to showcasing our cattle and hospitality.

Arrival of Canadian Angus, including the first red animals, to their new Czech home in 1996

Members of Czech Aberdeen Angus Association at a recent show

Canadian Angus Green Tags

The Tag with Benefits

Angus-branded beef programs across Canada need and want to verify that what they are selling as Angus beef is indeed Angus. One way to prove that is by procuring cattle that are tagged with Canadian Angus Green Tags.

Tagging your animals with Canadian Angus tags has its benefits:

• Sell direct or through one of the 169 Canadian Angus Feeder Sales across Canada.

• Canadian Angus green RFID tags visually and electronically identify Angus and Angus cross cattle. It’s our guarantee that the animal bearing the tag has a minimum of 50% Angus genetics.

• CCIA compliant indicator—no other RFID indicator is required for national identification.

• There are a number of branded beef programs in Canada that are unable to find enough verified Angus cattle to satisfy their program demands. The only way to verify? With our Canadian Angus tag!

• Many Angus branded programs require Angus verification for qualification into their programs. Maximize your marketing opportunities by using Canadian Angus tags.

“ “

As more and more global markets demand the Angus brand, sourcing cattle to meet our brand specifications becomes of increasing importance and value. The assurance that the Canadian Angus Green Tag provides knowing purchased cattle will qualify for our Angus brands takes the guesswork out of the equation and adds value into the cattle we acquire.

Nicolas Ednie Bouvry Exports Canada

Ordering your Canadian Angus Green Tags (RFID indicators) has never been so easy: Please order directly from CCIA online at www.canadaid.ca or call 1-877-909-2333

CCIA carries both the Datamars brand Temple Tag ComfortEar Canadian Angus RFID indicator as well as the Allflex brand Canadian Angus RFID indicator.

Weren’t able to tag your calves green?

The Canadian Angus Asssociation can verify calves for your branded program through the Genuine Angus Verified program. Contact CAA for more details.

Financial Incentives for Producers

Tess Mills, Canadian Angus Association

Adoption of new technologies can come at a big cost but provide financial gain, enhanced sustainability or minimize negative environmental impacts. Producers may not be aware of financial incentives available to encourage and enable them to adopt new technologies and practices.

Financial incentives vary by region, with federal, provincial and private corporation programs available. Currently, Cargill and Farm Credit Canada (FCC) offer programs for producers to encourage sustainability practices on farm.

Cargill Sustainable Beef Initiative

Cargill offers a financial credit to producers that qualify as raising sustainable beef. The credit amount varies each quarter, but it is estimated at $18–$20 per head. To qualify:

1. Get trained and audited by VBP+ (Verified Beef Production Plus) OR Where Food Comes From

2. Register for TrustBIX, ensure contact information is up to date, and authorize a chosen auditor

3. Provide the cattle movement information, including age verification and move-in reporting, necessary to determine your qualification and enable credit payments

Cattle also must be processed at Cargill High River or Guelph locations.

FCC Sustainability Incentive Program

This program is offered to those using financial support from FCC. The incentive payments are calculated as a portion of your lending up to a maximum of $2,000 per year. However, you can reapply each year for the life of the program. There are currently two requirements for eligibility:

1. FCC customer with a balance owing on eligible, existing FCC lending

2. Be Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) Certified through one of the following verification bodies: VBP+, Ontario Corn Fed Beef Quality Assurance Program, or Where Food Comes From

There is a large push globally to reduce the negative impact of animal agriculture on climate change. The Canadian government has allocated $200 million to help farmers tackle climate change.

On-farm Climate Action Fund

The objective of the fund is to support producers in the adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases, specifically in three areas:

1. Nitrogen management

2. Cover cropping

3. Rotational grazing practices

Province Program Title

Alberta On-Farm Climate Action Fund

Twelve recipient organizations will redistribute the funds through individual applications to help farmers implement and adopt immediate on-farm BMPs in these three areas. The recipient organizations are based on region.

Below is a snapshot of some programs that are currently available based on region. For more information, search online using the program title and province.

Accessed through

Results Driven Agriculture Research program delivery partner in Alberta for Government of Canada)

Email: ofcaf.bmp@rdar.ca

Must be in one of three categories (nitrogen management, cover crop, rotational grazing)

Canadian Agricultural Partnership: - Farm Technology Program - Water Program

Government of Alberta with the Canadian Agricultural Partnership Email: cap.farmtech@gov.ab.ca

Must be a primary producer with a valid Alberta Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)

British Columbia Livestock Tag Reader Rebate BC Traceability

Email: ca_bctraceability@pwc.com

Applicants must be registered in the BC Premises Identification Program (BCPID) Traceability Adoption Program BC Traceability

Varies based on program

Manitoba Keep Grazing/Species at Risk program

Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation or Manitoba Beef Producers

Email: info@mhhc.mb.ca

Specific location requirements

New Brunswick Environmentally sustainable agriculture Government of New Brunswick Email: DAAF-MAAP@gnb.ca

Must be an agriculture producer or association

Nova Scotia Cattle and Sheep Industry Development Program Government of Nova Scotia Email: prm@novascotia.ca

Must be enrolled in a herd health program and have completed a recognized humane handling course

Cattle Herd Heath Assistance Program Government of Nova Scotia Email: AnimalHealthLab@novascotia.ca

Cattle owners who are registered under The Farm Registration Act, with a herd of 15 or more mature cows

Ontario Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program Government of Ontario Email: cltip@ontario.ca

The area needs to be identified by the ministry as one of the eligible land types

Producer – traceability equipment Government of Ontario with the Canadian Agricultural Partnership

Prince Edward Island Technology and Science Adoption Sub-Program Government of Prince Edward Island Email: ARIP@gov.pe.ca

Must be an agriculture producer or association

Quebec Improving animal health in Quebec (ASAQ) Government of Quebec

Saskatchewan Canadian Agricultural Partnership: -Farm stewardship program

-Farm Ranch and Water Infrastructure -Beef Cattle Assurance program—producer program

Email: asaq@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca

Government of Saskatchewan with the Canadian Agricultural Partnership

Agriculture Knowledge Centre phone: 1-866-457-2377

Must be a Saskatchewan agriculture producer

Angus Cow Enrollment

What is ACE?

ACE is a voluntary program that gives members access to a full range of CAA services. Members pay $65 per active cow to use services within the next two calendar years.

What is NOT included?

• Registration fees for Embryo Transplant (ET) calves will be assessed as per the CAA fee schedule

• Genetic condition, coat colour, freemartin, and BVD testing

• Foreign DNA markers

• RUSH fees

What are the ACE requirements?

• You must enroll in ACE by December 1 for the following year (i.e. enroll by December 1, 2023 for the 2024 ACE program)

• Completed Female Exposure worksheets must be received by December 1 to ensure you are not charged for cows that are no longer active in your herd

What are the benefits?

• Juniors receive FREE ACE enrollment for their first five animals with no minimum animal enrollment requirement

• If you typically register animals over 7 months of age, you will save money even if you do not use any other CAA services

• Similarly, the member-to-member transfer fee is $100 after 90 days so late transfers will result in significant cost savings

• We offer flexible payment options: choose annual payment (charged in January) or tri-annual payments (charged equal amounts in January, April and July for spring herds or April, July and October for fall herds)

Is ACE right for you?

If you take advantage of multiple CAA services such as registrations, transfers and DNA testing, you may save money by joining ACE. CAA staff will provide a price analysis upon request to see if ACE will benefit your operation.

What is included?

CAA Membership Fees $25–$133.33

Natural Calf Registration $20–$100/animal Calf Transfer $10–$100/animal

you enroll 50 cows in 2024 you have until December 31, 2025 to use 50 parent verification tests and can order 50 RFID tags and 50 TSUs at no cost.

Commercial Consumers Value & of Transfers to Purebred

Tess Mills, Canadian Angus Association

Six months. That is the time frame allotted by the Animal Pedigree Act to transfer ownership of a registered animal and provide the buyer with the registration certificate. A registration certificate is the only way to authenticate Angus genetics, so it is important that the transfer of ownership is made and the certificate is presented to the buyer. There is significant value in the transfer for both the buyer and the seller.

Transferring ownership to your customers is more than just good business. Providing extra value for your buyer can improve your customer retention. It shows your commitment to superior seedstock and helpful service even after the sale. Transfer of ownership includes:

• Authenticated pedigree, performance data and EPDs

• Official ownership history from breeder to current owner

• Access to Canadian Angus commercial producer programs

• Access to branded Angus beef programs

These benefits and commitments can help form long-term relationships between you and your buyer. Customer retention and satisfaction are some of the best advertising for your genetics and for the Angus breed. Transfers also benefit the Canadian Angus Association by allowing us to share information about programs for commercial producers, invitations to Canadian Angus and beef industry events, and offering the support of Canada’s largest purebred beef breed association.

CAA uses revenue generated from transfers to market the breed, provide members with efficient data processing services, offer an industry-leading performance program, conduct research, offer effective member communication services, provide producer information seminars, and support other programs such as the junior program. More importantly, transfers represent dedication and commitment to service from breeders to buyers of Angus seedstock.

The buyer’s experience with Angus does not end at the sale. Your investment as a buyer in quality Angus genetics gets passed on to your calf crop, and those calves become eligible for Canadian Angus programs that add value to your purchase.

Feeder Calf Performance Endorsement Certificate

One program that buyers may already be familiar with is the Feeder Calf Performance Endorsement Certificate. This certificate is designed to showcase the genetic potential of feeder calves based on the producer’s bull battery average. Commercial producers can use the certificates to help differentiate their cattle at sale and highlight the high-quality genetics used in their program.

To obtain certificates for your Angus-influenced animals:

• Purchase Angus bulls from a CAA member AND have those bulls transferred to you

• Verify Angus genetics (can use Angus green tags)

• Request Performance Endorsement Certificates for your feeder sale

Angus Tags

The green-backed Angus RFID tags are only for cattle with a minimum 50 percent Angus genetics, providing a guarantee for buyers that they are purchasing Angusinfluenced genetics. Canadian Angus tags qualify cattle for branded Angus programs across Canada, providing additional markets for your cattle.

Genuine Angus Verified

We are launching a new program, Genuine Angus Verified, that verifies your Angus genetics without using the Angus green tag. Genuine Angus Verified tracks Angus animals from breeder to slaughter, providing assurance to any buyer at any stage of the animal’s life that they are purchasing high-quality Angus genetics.

Genuine Angus Verified cattle qualify for Angus branded beef programs across the country.

There are three main steps involved in Genuine Angus Verified:

• Complete the information requested on the verification template on our website, www.cdnangus.ca

• Submit the template

• Download the new Genuine Angus Verified App to access your verified calves and/or create a profile to gain access to a new exclusive Canadian Angus marketplace to advertise and sell your animals. Both coming soon.

Watch our social media channels and your inbox for more information about Genuine Angus Verified in 2023.

TRANSFERRING ANGUS SEEDSTOCK

The Canadian Angus Association has worked diligently to make it easier for members to transfer ownership, especially after a bull or production sale. With 24-hour, 365-day access, AngusNOW allows you to transfer registrations at your convenience.

Transferring via AngusNOW

• The database is pre-populated with your previous buyers and new buyers can easily be found using the search function.

• Once the buyer has been located, input the sale date (in the Buyer Details tab under Animal transfers), select the animal(s) for that buyer (in the Animals tab), and select Complete Transfer.

• Pay your assessed fees (under the Transaction tab—pending transactions, select “Pay Now” to pay the assessed fees and complete the transaction. Since AngusNOW is a live system, once you finish entering the relevant information the transfer is complete—there is no need to review the transaction and confirm your request.

• If you have difficulty, call 1-888-571-3580 during office hours or email registry@cdnangus.ca for assistance. For more detailed information on using AngusNOW, you can find step-by-step instructions on our website and instructional videos in the AngusNOW playlist on our YouTube channel, Angus Broadcasting Canada.

Other Transfer Options

You can also request animal transfers by completing the online transfer form on our website; completing the form on the back of the registration certificate; or by sending an email to registry@cdnangus.ca with the animal tattoo or registration number, the buyer’s name and contact information, and the date of sale.

11.

12.

2206303 Breeder & Owner: Bryan & Tracey Willms

RUST FORGED OF FIRE 0412 REG# 2274669 Breeder: Rust Mountain View Ranch Owner: KT Ranches 4. PF TJL HENDRIX RLP 8H REG# 2139610 Breeder & Owner: Rae-Lee & Devon Erickson 5. BUCHANAN’S BRUNO C656 REG# 2254340

Breeder: Kelsi Lawson

Owner: Andrea Schweighardt & Shane Reid, Billy & Juanita Elmhirst 5. MERIT BOBCAT 76H REG# 2149113

Breeder: Trent & Janelle Liebreich

Owner: Jason R Frey, Trent & Janelle Liebreich 7.

8.

RED REDRICH KUJO 270K REG# 2274842

Breeder & Owner: Bill & Tracy Dietrich

GREENWOOD HIGH CLASS JJP 87H REG# 2173768

Breeder: Jayden and Jaxon Payne

Owner: Robbie J. Garner, Jayden and Jaxon Payne 9. WILBAR TORRENT 138K REG# 2265026

Breeder & Owner: Owen Willms

10.

HLC CSI PRIVATE STOCK 879J REG# 2230408

Breeder: Chad Hollinger

Owner: Worth-Mor Cattle, Chad Hollinger, Tanya Belsham

13.

THE MAC CROWN ROYAL 56J REG# 2248472

Breeder & Owner: Dave Sample

DAJS POWER TRIP 322 REG# 2252424

Breeder: Doug Satree Angus

Owner: Rhys Huber, Wendy & Howard Schneider, Doug Satree Angus

CEDARVIEW KEROSENE 8K REG# 2251092

Breeder & Owner: Tyler Fulton

14. COVEY HILL CAPTAIN 12H REG# 2138399

Breeder: U-2 Ranch

Owner: Emmanuel Chenail, Dave Sample

15.

15.

17.

17.

19.

JUSTAMERE 9213 EXPRESSION 511K REG# 2276795

Breeder & Owner: Justamere Farms Ltd.

THE MAC BRAVEHEART 3K REG# 2274788

Breeder & Owner: Dave Sample

RED SHILOH HOLLYWOOD 129H REG# 2144157

Breeder & Owner: Shiloh Cattle Company

RED WILBAR HENNESSY 3K REG# 2268829

Breeder & Owner: Bryan & Tracey Willms

RED REDRICH KRIMSON 128K REG# 2281156

Breeder & Owner: Bill & Tracy Dietrich

20. JAYMARANDY THE LION 125J REG# 2203352

20.

Breeder & Owner: Mark Angus

RED DOUBLE B RED WATCH 129 REG# 2235559

Breeder & Owner: Baxter Blair

20. WALDNER NET WORTH 205K REG# 2253429

Breeder & Owner: Jesse Waldner

MB Ag Ex, Brandon, MB

Champion

MERIT BOBCAT 76H REG# 2149113

Breeder: Trent & Janelle Liebreich

Owner: Jason R Frey, Trent & Janelle Liebreich

MB Harding Fair, Harding, MB

Champion

RAMROD RIP 110J REG# 2194210

Breeder: Lacey Dekeyser

Owner(s): Tony M Dekeyser, B.J. Scheirlinck

NB Beef Expo, Sussex, NB

Champion

JEM GRAND ISLAND 12K REG# 2252412

Breeder & Owner: Ernest Mutch

NS Heritage Beef Classic, Windsor, NS

Champion

BORDERTOWN KEEP EM COMING 4K REG# 2243981

Breeder: Ben Bacon | Owner: Crystal & Ron Manning

ON Brampton Preview Show, Brampton, ON

Champion

BUCHANAN’S BRUNO C656 REG# 2254340

Breeder: Kelsi Lawson

Owner: Andrea Schweighardt & Shane Reid Billy & Juanita Elmhirst

ON Royal Winter Fair, Toronto, ON

Champion

BUCHANAN’S BRUNO C656 REG# 2254340

Breeder: Kelsi Lawson

Owner: Andrea Schweighardt & Shane Reid Billy & Juanita Elmhirst

PEI Old Home Week, Charlottetown, PEI

Champion

MJJ COLOSSAL 6K REG# 2271290

Breeder & Owner: Julie Mutch

QC Expo Boeuf, Victoriaville, QC

Champion

COVEY HILL CAPTAIN 12H REG# 2138399

Breeder: U-2 Ranch

Owner: Emmanuel Chenail, Dave Sample

QC Expo Brome, Brome, QC

Champion

THE MAC JUST CHILLING 12J REG# 2219612

Breeder & Owner: Dave Sample

Champion

MERIT BOBCAT 76H REG# 2149113

Breeder: Trent & Janelle Liebreich

Owner: Jason R Frey, Trent & Janelle Liebreich

RED DMM RUMBLE 74J REG# 2227974

Breeder: Vern & Brenda Goad, Cole & Jolene Goad

Owner: Lee & Dawn Wilson (Miller Wilson Angus)

Shiloh Cattle Company, Terry & Tanya Stigings

SK Stockade Round-up — BLACK, Lloydminster, SK

Champion

WILBAR JUNCTURE 45J REG# 2206303

Breeder & Owner: Bryan & Tracey Willms

SK Stockade Round-up — RED, Lloydminster, SK

Champion

RED DMM RUMBLE 74J REG# 2227974

Breeder: Vern & Brenda Goad, Cole & Jolene Goad

Owner: Lee & Dawn Wilson (Miller Wilson Angus)

Shiloh Cattle Company, Terry & Tanya Stigings

Reserve Champion

HLC GRIT 705H REG# 2162467

Breeder: Chad Hollinger

Owner: Tom & Alanna Madsen, Chad Hollinger, Holly Madsen

Reserve Champion

JAYMARANDY THE LION 125J REG# 2203352

Breeder & Owner: Mark Angus

Reserve Champion

MJJ COLOSSAL 6K REG# 2271290

Breeder & Owner: Julie Mutch

Reserve Champion

MKHF KICKSTART 207K REG# 2268280

Breeder & Owner: John, Sandra, Susan MacKinnon & Patrick Holland

Reserve Champion

CEDARVIEW KEROSENE 8K REG# 2251092

Breeder & Owner: Tyler Fulton

Reserve Champion

HLC CSI PRIVATE STOCK 879J REG# 2230408

Breeder: Chad Hollinger

Owner: Worth-Mor Cattle, Chad Hollinger, Tanya Belsham

Reserve Champion

JEM GRAND ISLAND 12K REG# 2252412

Breeder & Owner: Ernest Mutch

Reserve Champion

THE MAC BRAVEHEART 3K REG# 2274788

Breeder & Owner: Dave Sample

Reserve Champion

THE MAC BRAVEHEART 3K REG# 2274788

Breeder & Owner: Dave Sample

Reserve Champion

HF SHOW BIZ 226J REG# 2208042

Breeder: Hamilton Farms

Owner: Daron Priest, Jesse MacDonald, Roy MacDonald, Kirk MacDonald

Reserve Champion

RED DOUBLE B RED WATCH 129 REG# 2235559

Breeder & Owner: Baxter Blair

Reserve Champion

GREENWOOD HIGH CLASS JJP 87H REG# 2173768

Breeder: Jayden and Jaxon Payne

Owner: Robbie J. Garner, Jayden and Jaxon Payne

Reserve Champion

RED REDRICH KUJO 270K REG# 2274842

Breeder & Owner: Bill & Tracy Dietrich

TZ ROSEBUD 209J REG# 2246546 Breeder: Clinton Blair Morasch Owner: JT Livestock Ltd.

MERIT SOCIALITE 1028J REG# 2229499

Breeder & Owner: Trent & Janelle Liebreich 6.

HAWTHORNE LILLY REG# 2230205

Breeder & Owner: Hawthorne Farm 6.

RED ALLISON LASSIE 103J REG# 2219427

Breeder: Brent & Lorri Allison

Owner: Kasey Adams 8.

BROOKING BEAUTY 1266 REG# 2230637

Breeder & Owner: Brooking Angus Ranch 8. NLF CRUEL GIRL 108J REG# 2209006

Breeder: David Schneider

Owner: Rhys Huber

10. FCC VALLEY 16J REG# 2248116

Breeder: Taylor Fitchett

Owner: Taylor & Hanna Fitchett

10. JEM BLUEBELL 2F REG# 2024332

Breeder & Owner: Ernest Mutch

12. RED REDRICH FIREFLY 52K REG# 2276890

Breeder & Owner: Bill & Tracy Dietrich

13. GREENWOOD BEAUTY 8K REG# 2274833

Breeder: Jayden and Jaxon Payne

Owner: Vee Tee Angus & Jayden and Jaxon Payne

13. IRVINESIDE JAMBOREE 1J REG# 2202719

Breeder: Jayden and Jaxon Payne

Owner: Adam & Tayler Black

15. BLAIRSWEST ERICA 77J REG # 2235029

Breeder: Maguire Blair

Owner: Rainbow Red Angus & Triangle K Simmental

15. JEM ERICA 24K REG# 2252409

Breeder & Owner: Ernest Mutch

15. KCH ROSE 204K REG# 2252129

Breeder & Owner: Kerri & Ken Hinsburg

15.

RED SIX MILE MS EXTRA 373H REG# 2169309

Breeder & Owner: Clayton & Corinne Gibson

19. DMM GEORGINA 7H REG# 2139781

Breeder & Owner: Lee & Dawn Wilson (Miller Wilson Angus)

20. GGA CONANGA 2E REG# 1975827

Breeder: Paradise Farms Caledon Incorporated

Owner: Luke Haggart & David & Lynne Longshore

MB Ag Ex, Brandon, MB

Champion

MERIT SOCIALITE 1028J REG# 2229499

Breeder & Owner: Trent & Janelle Liebreich

MB Harding Fair, Harding, MB

Champion

MERIT FLORA 14H REG# 2161650

Breeder & Owner: Trent & Janelle Liebreich

NB Beef Expo, Sussex, NB

Champion

JEM FLORA 68J REG# 2200656

Breeder: Ernest Mutch

Owner: Andy Carter & Susan Collins

NS Heritage Beef Classic, Windsor, NS

Champion

HARPREY MISS ESSENCE 26G REG# 2097361

Breeder: Don or Allan Hargrave

Owner: John, Sandra, Susan MacKinnon & Patrick Holland

ON Brampton Preview Show, Brampton, ON

Champion

HCCC LEXI 3H REG# 2169570

Breeder & Owner: Jim & Wendy Hasson

ON Royal Winter Fair, Toronto, ON

Champion

EF PRIMROSE 925 REG# 2118557

Breeder: Dameron Angus Farm, Jack Dameron & Anne Dameron

Owner: Sean Enright and Barry Enright

PEI Old Home Week, Charlottetown, PEI

Champion

JEM ERICA 24K REG# 2252409

Breeder & Owner: Ernest Mutch

QC Expo Boeuf, Victoriaville, QC

Champion

EF PRIMROSE 925 REG# 2118557

Breeder: Dameron Angus Farm, Jack Dameron & Anne Dameron Owner: Sean Enright and Barry Enright

QC Expo Brome, Brome, QC

Champion

MINNOW BROOKE FORTWORTH ROSE6F REG# 2118394

Breeder & Owner: Ray Fowler

Reserve Champion

MERIT FLORA 14H REG# 2161650

Breeder & Owner: Trent & Janelle Liebreich

Reserve Champion

BAR-H ELBAR 101H REG# 2176767

Breeder: Robin T Hogberg

Owner: Darren & Shannon Carvey & Justin Carvey

Reserve Champion

JEM ERICA 24K REG# 2252409

Breeder & Owner: Ernest Mutch

Reserve Champion

FOUR MAC ECHO 704E REG# 1988611

Breeder: Four Mac Farm

Owner: JT Livestock Ltd.

Reserve Champion

HCCC PRINCESS 8J REG# 2205814

Breeder & Owner: Jim & Wendy Hasson

Reserve Champion

HAWTHORNE LILLY REG# 2230205

Breeder & Owner: Hawthorne Farm

Reserve Champion

MKHF 45E BONNIE 114J REG# 2247964

Breeder & Owner: John, Sandra, Susan MacKinnon & Patrick Holland

Reserve Champion

HAWTHORNE LILLY REG# 2230205

Breeder & Owner Hawthorne Farm

SK Canadian Western Agribition — BLACK, Regina, SK

Champion

EF PRIMROSE 925 REG# 2118557

Breeder: Dameron Angus Farm, Jack Dameron & Anne Dameron

Owner: Sean Enright and Barry Enright

Reserve Champion

TZ ROSEBUD 209J REG# 2246546

Breeder: Clinton Blair Morasch

Owner: JT Livestock Ltd.

SK Canadian Western Agribition — RED, Regina, SK

Champion

RED WHEEL GINGER BARBIE 1E REG# 1980746

Breeder: Michael, Rhea, Harvey & Frances Wheeler

Owner: Ty Wheeler

Reserve Champion

RED TER-RON LAURYN 63H REG# 2141345

Breeder: Terry Adams

Owner: Leelynn Fornwald

Champion

BLAIR’S FOREVER LADY 646H REG# 2158582

Breeder: Kevin & Darren Blair | Owner: Kasey Adams

SK Stockade Round-up — RED, Lloydminster, SK

SK Stockade Round-up — BLACK, Lloydminster, SK Champion

RED ALLISON LASSIE 103J REG# 2219427

Breeder: Brent & Lorri Allison | Owner: Kasey Adams

Reserve Champion

BROOKING BEAUTY 1266 REG# 2230637

Breeder & Owner: Brooking Angus Ranch

Reserve Champion

RED DOUBLE B LARKABA 9010 REG# 2090711

Breeder & Owner: Baxter Blair

Ranch Covey Hill Earns Canadian Commitment to Excellence Award

By Miranda Reiman, freelancer for Certified Angus Beef

“To have cattle on a hill.” That was Emmanuel Chenail’s dream. In 2015, after a career as president of the family’s construction business, the Havelock, Quebec, dreamer sold his company and Ranch Covey Hill was born.

“My wife Brigette and I were out on a drive when the name came to us, just like that,” he says. “It’s perfect for this hillside.”

That’s where a winding driveway leads through front pastures and up to the wellappointed ranch headquarters. Bits of history mix with modern buildings and their completely remodelled home. Off to the west, the maple forest or “sugar bush” flourishes with more than 20,000 taps ready to produce syrup come late winter. Near the sugar shack sits the carefully planned sale barn.

The family saw potential in what was a rundown country estate.

“When we first bought this place, I don’t think anybody would believe it looked that way, compared to now,” says eldest daughter Sabrina. “We couldn’t get through the main driveway, couldn’t even tell there was a pasture there—no fences, rock chains

everywhere, no barns—the house was not habitable.”

The family, which includes daughter Camille and son Raphael, checked projects off the list one by one, dedicated employees providing steady support.

That continual pursuit of the best and finding the right people to get there caught the attention of the world’s premium beef brand. Their eagerness to support the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB) brand mission earned Ranch Covey Hill the 2022 CAB Canadian Commitment to Excellence award.

Their first 10 Angus females came from neighbour, mentor and friend David Sample, Mac Angus Farm.

“One thing I’ve learned about Angus breeders is they’re always willing to share what they know,” Emmanuel says. “That’s a huge advantage that I really appreciate.”

Quickly growing the herd to 75 cows, the family hosted their first annual Hillspride Sale in February, along with Mac Angus Farm and PJ Ranch from nearby

Hemmingford. The three operations have separate programs but similar philosophies.

“The ideal cow is moderately sized, good-tempered, not too demanding and maternal—easy to look at,” Emmanuel says. “You can’t overlook how important the cow is in terms of herd continuity, easy keeping and ultimately marbling.”

“Customers want quality. That’s not negotiable: you need to get it right the first time. It’s a priority,” Emmanuel says. “Customers come to us to buy a good breeding bull and maybe to produce cows for their operation. They’re looking for sound legs, calving ease, healthy teats, and meat for Angus steers is known for its marbling.

“At the end of the day, we do it to put food on people’s tables,” he says. That enthusiasm led the family to CAB in search of educational resources.

“They don’t want to keep the secret of quality to themselves as something only they can be good at,” says Kara Lee, CAB director of producer engagement. “They want to help their customers understand how they can continue to excel at the ranch, and from the perspective of consumer eating satisfaction.”

This spring’s salebook included materials from the brand, and Ranch Covey Hill invited CAB staff to participate in their fall customer event.

Sabrina started doing the registrations as the conduit between the English-speaking Canadian Angus Association staff and her French-speaking father. She got hooked.

“Sabrina looks after the genetics and calving. She likes to find which bull will provide the best genetic mix,” Emmanuel says. “Camille is responsible for sales and marketing. She works with cuts of meat to imagine

very creative dishes. Brigette takes care of everybody and makes sure we’re all happy.”

Raphael is away at school right now but comes back as he’s able.

“I like working with my family because we’re all kind of the same, and we’re intense

people,” Camille says. Each has a unique skill they bring to the table. “So when we work together, we balance things up and make things work out.”

A little at a time, Emmanuel’s dream is coming true. “It’s like I imagined,” he says, “but I didn’t think it would be this beautiful.”

Brand the Barn

Two Canadian Families Honoured in 2022

Cudlobe Angus and Cudlobe Angus West, owned by brothers Dyce and David Bolduc, respectively, were bestowed the honour of having their barns painted with the Certified Angus Beef logo as part of the company’s Brand the Barn program.

John Stika, President of Certified Angus Beef, says the Bolduc families were the perfect fit for this program. “It’s recognition for the things they’ve done to champion the quality beef movement in Canada from the seedstock and production basis,” he says.

John adds it means a great deal for them to have their logo on barns in Canada. Until now, the brand was only on barns in the United States.

For David Bolduc, the honour confirms that when it comes to beef production, quality matters. “We’ve always focused on the quality of the animals we produce, thinking it would help drive demand.

Certified Angus Beef has certainly shown that quality beef drives beef demand.”

Dyce Bolduc says it brings a sense of pride. “It’s pretty humbling, to be honest… to be the first recipient of the Commitment to Excellence Award outside of the United States, and be the first barns painted in Canada, it’s a real honour.”

Photos by Craig Lester

Upcoming feeder calf sale?

The Feeder Calf Performance Endorsement Certificate is an initiative by the Canadian Angus Association to provide an opportunity for members and commercial producers to showcase the genetic potential of their feeder calves based on the commercial producer’s bull battery average.

The certificates feature the Angus Feeder Calf Index, which is strictly a terminal index combining groups of traits relevant to the feedlot’s performance and quality grade, focusing on a balance of marbling, weaning to yearling performance, rib eye size, yield, and carcass weight.

Members can use these certificates to help support their commercial customers’ feeder calf sales. Commercial producers can use the certificates to help differentiate their cattle and as a testament to the high-quality genetics that they use in their program.

In 2019, Canfax completed a price comparison of feeder calves being marketed with the Canadian Angus Association Feeder Calf Performance Endorsement Certificates and Feeder Calf Index to all other sales held that week. Canfax reported a $6/CWT premium for feeder calves being marketed with the Canadian Angus Association Feeder Calf Performance Endorsement Certificates and Feeder Calf Index compared to other sales for similar weight calves in that same period.

To access the certificates:

• Purchase Angus bulls from any CAA member and have the bulls transferred into your name

• Use Canadian Angus RFID indicators and have calves that carry the Angus green tag

• Request your Performance Endorsement Certificates for your feeder calf sale

The CAA will provide a certificate showcasing the genetic merit of your calves with known data through the sire lineage.

You invested in high quality Canadian Angus genetics—take an endorsement of that to market! Contact your Canadian Angus Association at kdevani@cdnangus.ca or 1-888-571-3580 for more information.

You invested in high quality Canadian Angus genetics—take an endorsement of that to market! Contact your Canadian Angus Association at tmills@cdnangus.ca or 1-888-571-3580 for more information.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF GENETIC EVALUATIONS FOR COW LONGEVITY

Herds with higher proportions of mature cows are, in general, more feed efficient.

Your Canadian Angus Association has a long history of staff longevity. Belinda Wagner has been contracted by the CAA for 23 years; the late Mr. Angus, Brian Good, dedicated nearly 21 years of service to the Association and its members; Tina Zakowsky has served members and the board for more than 16 years; and Alan Yuen, Joanelle Fuellbrandt and I all have more than 12 years of service. Staff retention is valuable to a business. There is lost revenue in finding, onboarding, and training new staff. The same applies to cows.

Cow longevity is a trait of significant economic impact to beef producers. Culling cows requires higher proportions of replacement heifers which can impact an operation as maternal output from heifers is typically much lower. Mature cows can maintain better body condition through the breeding season and have higher conception rates. In addition, mature cows have increased odds of having unassisted births, increased calf viability rates and better performing calves. Further, changes in dietary requirements for a cow herd can significantly impact the financial and environmental load for the operation.

Cow longevity measures a female’s ability to remain in the cow herd, reflecting her ability to reproduce, wean calves, remain sound and resist disease. In the past, cow longevity has been defined in various ways. The Red Angus Association of America defines cow longevity as stayability. The STAYABILITY EPD describes the probability a female will remain in a herd for six years or more. Six years benchmarks the time it takes for a female to become profitable or pay for herself so to speak. However, the reason a female might not make it to six years in the production herd can vary immensely.

At the Canadian Angus Association, anytime a female is culled from a performance recording herd the reason why she is culled is also recorded. Canadian Angus members have been submitting this information for decades. This information, the basis of whole herd reporting, is incredibly valuable. In partnership with Angus Genetics Inc (AGI), the University of Guelph, and Purdue University, different models were created based on this information (the work is published in peerreviewed journals available online). Cow longevity was defined as 1) Traditional (the time a cow is in the herd after first calving); 2) Functional (the time a cow is in herd and recording a calf). The group tested

the predictive nature of genetic evaluations for these two different definitions of cow longevity. Using functional longevity increases the probability that a cow will not only be alive in the herd but also producing a calf each year, which works to ensure an economic return for beef cattle producers. Reporting the outcome for each and every female, whether she has a calf or is culled from the herd for any given reason, is imperative for a genetic evaluation like this to be predictive. It allows for the models to predict which sire lines have a higher probability to leave productive daughters in the herd. It is extremely helpful that CAA members have been reporting complete herd inventory information for so long.

As with genetic evaluations for new traits, we will make the research project EPDs from this evaluation available online. The new Cow Longevity EPD will predict number of cumulative calves, so the unit for the EPD will be number of calves. The genetic evaluation for cow longevity is not yet part of our routine monthly genetic evaluations so these EPDs will not be updated regularly, however, members will have the opportunity to look at this trait and decide where in their selection criterion it will fit. To commercial producers looking for bulls whose daughters stay in the herd, the cow longevity evaluation will be of incredible value.

Kajal Devani, Canadian Angus Association

Selection Plays an Important Role when Addressing Sustainability Issues

Kajal Devani, Canadian Angus Association

Verified Beef Production Plus or VBP+, a program which grew from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Quality Starts Here program, facilitates on-farm recording and auditing of animal care, biosecurity and environmental stewardship practices for programs such as the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef’s CRSB Certified program. Basically, VBP+ validates responsible production practices. It requires a small time commitment, successful completion of easy and convenient training, up-to-date records and opening up to oversight through a third-party audit. Going the extra step to get their operation VBP+ certified is a common sense way producers can demonstrate they are proud of their product, the care they provide their beef animals, and their commitment to land management and conservation.

As the program grows, program administrators explore new and impactful tools for VBP+ certified producers to address sustainability, animal health, and animal welfare. One obvious tool is genetic selection. The benefits of genetic selection are cumulative per generation (you increase gains each generation building on top of the gains from the previous generation). To explore this subject, Amy Higgins from the Maritime Beef Council invited Sean McGrath and me to talk about the potential benefits of including genetic selection in the beef industry’s quest to address consumer

expectations and resource limitations and become more sustainable. Here is a summary of the discussion which can be accessed in full through the VBP+ website (verifiedbeef.ca).

First, if you record information, you should use it. If you submit information to a breed association, they can help standardize it and transform your raw performance information into easyto-use in-herd and across-herd genetic selection tools. Breed associations are a centralized place for producers to record performance and pedigree information— and that information from all herds across the nation can be collated and used to provide in-herd selection tools like ranks and ratios, and across-herd genetic selection tools like GEPDs and Selection Indexes. VBP+ has worked with producers enrolled in the program to encourage data recording, and that is an important step, but the value in having the information recorded only comes from actually using it to make selection decisions.

Second, we discussed using performance information on traits beyond birth weight and weaning weight. There are so many more aspects to profitability, sustainability, animal health, and animal welfare than growth. Some of these include feed efficiency, docility, calving ease, foot structure, teat and udder structure, carcass quality, immune response and fertility. What’s more, there is a genetic component to all these traits. A

portion of each of these traits is driven by genetics. Therefore, genetic selection can be used to make improvements in each of these traits. Canadian beef breed associations record producer-collected data on these traits and provide GEPDs for these traits.

Lastly, we discussed the importance of having a breeding goal. We admit, it’s difficult to do but raising beef without a breeding goal is like running a business without a business plan. You might be limiting yourself from growth and sustainability. Most breed associations make having a selection goal easy by providing Selection Indexes (these combine GEPDs for many traits into one easy-to-use number). You can also consult a breed association geneticist like me or Sean. One way to develop a breeding plan is to sit down and write a list of traits you want to improve and a list of traits you want to maintain in your cow herd. Then, keep those traits in mind when buying and culling genetics. Canadian beef producers invest a lot of time and effort into measuring performance and recording it at home or at centralized places like breed associations. The industry invests a lot to transform this data into genetic selection tools. We have the opportunity to use these genetic selection tools to drive improvements in sustainability, animal health, and animal welfare.

Insemination Trends: The Rise in Sexed and Beef Sire Semen

By Hannah Sweett and Brian Van Doormaal, Lactanet Reprinted with permission

The Canadian dairy industry has seen a shift in management decisions over the years as new technologies and advancements come to light. Two herd breeding decisions we are seeing a significant change in as of late is the increased use of sexed semen and beef sire semen. What is the current status of these semen trends in Canada?

Sexed Semen Trends

Sexed semen has been available since 2005 and despite the initial low adoption rate, it is now being increasingly utilized across the dairy industry for herd management decisions.

Figure 1 shows the trend in estimated usage of sexed semen for Holstein, Jersey and Ayrshire. For all three breeds, a steady incline in the use of sexed semen has been observed over the past five years. Between 2016 and 2021, the use of sexed semen in the Jersey breed has increased the most from 8 percent to 28 percent. For Holsteins, a slightly smaller increase from 4 percent to 13 percent was noted between 2016 and 2021 while a similar increase was observed in the Ayrshire breed, now at 9 percent usage of sexed semen.

Figure 1: Estimated Usage of Sexed Semen by Breed

Beef Semen Trends

Another noticeable semen trend in the dairy industry is the increased use of beef sire semen to breed dairy animals, known as ‘Beef on Dairy’. With more than 1.7 million new insemination records being added to the Lactanet database each year, we can gather information on the service sire breed to visualize this trend.

Figure 2 shows an updated trend in beef service sires for insemination of Holstein, Jersey and Ayrshire females.

Figure 2: Trend in Usage of Beef on Dairy Inseminations

Holstein on Holstein breedings have steadily declined from roughly 95 percent between 2005 and 2011 to just below 90 percent in 2017. Since then, we have seen a more rapid decline between 2017 and 2021, dropping from 90 percent to 76 percent. With the use of other dairy breed sires consistently remaining low at less than 1 percent, the decrease in Holstein sire semen corresponds to an equivalent increase in the use of beef sire semen. As such, between 2005 and 2011 the use of beef sire semen remained low at roughly 4 percent, which increased to 9 percent in 2017. Since 2017, the rise of Beef on Dairy in Holsteins has increased to almost 23 percent in 2021.

A similar trend is observed in the Jersey and Ayrshire breeds. Jersey on Jersey breeding remained above 90 percent until 2013 and has since slowly declined to 77 percent in 2021. This decline corresponded with an increase in the use of beef sire semen from below 5 percent to 20 percent between 2013 and 2021. For Ayrshires, the use of Ayrshire sire semen remained around 90 percent and beef sire semen below 6 percent until 2012. Now, the use of Beef on Dairy in Ayrshires is 35 percent.

Benefits of Using Sexed or Beef Sire Semen

So why are more and more dairy producers using sexed semen and beef sire semen? All major North American AI organizations are selling sexed semen for many of their progeny proven and genomic young bulls making it widely available. By shifting the sex ratio of calves from 50:50 with conventional semen to nearly 95 percent females with sexed semen, sexed semen has an obvious benefit for dairy cattle producers. It not only eases the calving ability but also can guarantee the required number of replacement heifers born in the herd, thereby reducing the number of purchased animals required and the risk of infectious diseases entering the herd.

When utilized in tandem with genomic testing, dairy producers can identify their genetically superior cows and heifers to use sexed semen on. This helps accelerate genetic gains by ensuring top genetics in your replacement heifers.

Also, thanks to sexed semen and advances in heifer rearing practices, many herds can produce more replacements than necessary. When there is no need or interest in producing a replacement heifer from a given dam, an alternative breeding strategy can be used. With a premium sale price in many markets for young calves that are Beef on Dairy crossbreds, the use of beef sire semen allows you to maximize profits. It is thus clear that dairy farmers need to start thinking about producing two product lines, both dairy and meat, given the significant contribution that the dairy industry now contributes to the cattle growing and finishing sector.

By providing an opportunity to expand your herd, make a profit by selling extra calves or heifers, and increase the genetic gain of your herd it is clear why the dairy industry is seeing a rise in the combined use of sexed semen and beef sire semen.

The National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) members report annual units for the categories of domestic sales, export sales, custom collection and imported units for dairy and beef breeds. With 95 percent of the US AI industry represented by NAAB members, these annual statistics provide an accurate insight of the sales of US bovine semen.

In 2021, the increase in domestic beef units exceeded the decline in dairy domestic units confirming the increased sales of beef semen in both beef and dairy breeding programs.

The domestic dairy units reported for the US declined by 6 percent or 1.1 million units with a market size of 18.4 million dairy units. This decline is in addition to a 2.3-million-unit decline in 2019. However, domestic beef units sold in the US increased by 1.4 million units representing an increase of 24 percent.

Changes in management and reproductive practices have resulted in changes to the product mix used in dairy and beef operations around the world.

The largest recipient in the change of management practice and growth of market has been the Angus breed. While the domestic dairy market in 2021 saw a decline of 1.1 million doses, overall beef breeds saw an increase of 20 percent and 1.3 million doses of increased use in the domestic market. The Angus breed was the only breed to show a major increase during this same period with a usage growth of 25 percent accounting for 1.2 million doses of increase in 2021 over 2020.

Source: North American Animal Breeders (NAAB)

Shoot! I Washed my Calving Book!

Kajal Devani, Canadian Angus Association

You might get a chuckle from the title of this article, but when it happens (and it happens frequently) it is a Canadian Angus member’s nightmare. What’s more—that pocket on the front of your shirt is now typically reserved for cell phones and may not fit a phone, calving book and pen at the same time. We have a solution for these challenges: we are so excited to introduce Canadian Angus Association members to the new Canadian Angus Calving App! Your trusty calving book is now available as an app on your smart phone. The Canadian Angus calving app is designed to have a simple, clean, easy-to-use interface with the same fields as the paper calving book. It is our objective to provide members with an easy electronic option to record your calves on the go, as they come. Members will be able to extract their calving information from the calving app and submit it to the Association for registration at any time. We have included some basic instructions below. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact your Canadian Angus Association member service team (registry@cdnangus.ca).

The new Canadian Angus calving app is available as a free download through your smart device (phone or tablet) app store. Once downloaded, you will be able to register for an account using your Canadian Angus Association membership number and password of your choice. Once you are logged in under your account, you will be able to create

multiple calving books based on your operation needs; perhaps one calving book per year for example. We believe members will appreciate being able to access historic calving books as the years go by.

Members will be able to create calf records individually or working from their preloaded female inventory. The beautiful thing about app technology is that multiple people accessing the same account information can add to and access the same calving information. So, if your night shift person creates five calves, your day shift person will be able to access this information on their own device. Members will also be able to export the information from their new Canadian Angus Association calving app to their computer for easy access. The app only includes the basic fields that are on your calving book. However, calf information from the app is formatted in a way that members can quickly complete additional fields required and submit for registration to the Association.

This calving season we hope that the new Canadian Angus Association calving app brings you a little extra joy because it is so easy to use. Please contact the Association office if you need any assistance with the app.

InstructIons Step-by -Step

How to Use the New Canadian Angus Association Digital Calving Book App

Download the Canadian Angus Calving Book from the Apple Store for your Apple device (other platforms will be developed later based on demand). This technology has been developed to bring added value to Canadian Angus members, therefore there is no cost to download the app, however a CAA membership is required to use the app.

STEP STEP

2 3 4 5

Create your account log in using your Canadian Angus Association primary member ID.

Create a Calving Book by clicking on the + button to add a book title, change your book colours, and add any notes that you would like to have.

STEP STEP

In this same section, you can upload your female inventory to this book. This will allow you to auto fill the dam tattoo as you create calf records. To upload your inventory, select the year of female inventory to prepopulate this specific calving book with.

Once your calving book is created, tap on the book to open it.

To create a new calf record, click on the + sign and enter the calf information including date of birth, calf tattoo, dam tattoo, sire tattoo, birth weight, birth weight management group, coat colour, calf sex, calving ease code, teat and udder score for the dam, CCIA RFID number and any notes you would like to record for the calf. The next page will summarize the information, allow you to check your records and confirm the calf record.

All calf records will be listed in your calving book.

If

You can filter the list you see using the All Calves filter button.

You can have multiple calving books stored in the new Canadian Angus Digital Calving Book App, perhaps one for each year.

Multiple users logging in to the Canadian Angus Digital Calving Book App with the same log in information, can access the calving book. So, if your night shift person recorded five new calves overnight, your day shift person will be able to access these records in the morning, using the same log in information in the Canadian Angus Digital Calving Book App.

about the new Canadian Angus Digital Calving Book App please contact your Canadian Angus office. 6 7 8 9

You can access your calving book on your computer using our calving portal. Here you can enter any missing information required for registration purposes and submit your application for registrations electronically.

InstructIons

How

Select Portal on your device or go to portal.cdnangus.ca on a tablet or computer to access the CAA calving app registration portal.

Click on Books to access your calving books.

Calf information can be edited in two ways:

i. Select the pen to the right of each animal to see an edit screen for that animal

ii. Turn on the edit toggle at the top of the screen to edit all calves in the table

Once all fields are complete you can select animals by placing a check mark in the box on the left and submit those records to the CAA for recording and registration.

From here you can sort your list of cows to verify which cows have a recorded calf and which do not.

For cows that had a calf, you can select Calves and select Plus to add a calf record and record the calf.

To avoid duplicate records, you can only to submit a calf record to the CAA once.

For more detailed instructions on using the new Canadian Angus calving app and calving app registration portal visit www.cdnangus.ca/calving-book

Log in to the portal using the same primary member ID and password that you set up for your calving app or you will not be able to access your calving app records.

Select a specific calving book to access calf records created within your calving app.

Check the accuracy of information recorded and complete the missing fields in the Calf Info 1, Calf Info 2 and Calf Info 3 tabs.

Select Missing Info Cows to access cows that have not yet had a calf recorded.

If a cow was disposed of or did not calve, use the drop-down menu to add a disposal code or cow status code and date. Select these cows and press submit to send the disposal codes and cow status records to the CAA.

Ahead of the curve in the development of genetic selection tools towards resilience and disease resistance

Kajal Devani, Canadian Angus Association

In the beef industry, Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is one of many diseases that cause production loss, impact both producer and animal health and welfare, and increase the use of antibiotics. Yet, despite significant advancements in medicine and management practices, the incidence of BRD remains seemingly unchanged.

Recently there have been numerous articles about new research projects developed to address disease resistance in cattle. In 2022, Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) funded a multidisciplinary initiative to apply genomics to reduce the incidence of BRD and antimicrobial use in Western Canada. The team will work in commercial feedlots to collect evidence and find tools to enable genetic selection for BRD resilient cattle (more information available at livestockgentec.ualberta.ca/ newsletter). One of the advantages of being a Canadian Angus Association member or a commercial customer is the investment that the Association puts into research and development of new tools.

More than four years ago, the Canadian Angus Association partnered with the American Angus Association, Semex Alliance, and the University of Guelph to adapt the High Immune Response (HIR™) test that was developed at the University of Guelph for Angus cattle. Currently, High Immune Response (HIR™) testing is used in both the dairy and swine industries. The Canadian Angus Association, American Angus Association and Semex Alliance saw an opportunity to address the impact of BRD and other diseases from a genetic selection standpoint. Genome Canada also recognized the potential value of this tool to the Canadian beef industry and funded the project.

There are incredible advantages to working with the University of Guelph team, one of which is the robustness of this test. The HIR™ testing protocol assesses both arms of the immune system—the antibody-mediated immune response and the cell-mediated

immune response. The antibody-mediated immune response combats disease pathogens using neutralizing antibodies. These are typically extracellular pathogens like bacteria, fungi and parasites. The cell-mediated immune response depends on a network of ‘killer’ cells. They typically target intracellular pathogens like viruses and some bacteria. The HIR™ technology is advantageous because it allows us to identify animals that will have a robust immune system to a broad variety of diseases including bacteria, viruses and parasites.

Assessing both arms of the immune systems is an extensive three-day protocol that allowed us to measure both antibody response and cellmediated response for each animal. Despite the extensive testing protocol, Canadian Angus members responded quickly to enroll their animals in the testing. More than 4,000 purebred Angus from across Canada and the U.S.A. were tested for high immune response during the project. We tested animals across different age ranges and environments to capture a truly representative sample of the population. In Canada, we tested Angus herds from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. We are now in the process of analyzing the collected data. From the preliminary analysis, the estimates of heritability for High Immune Response (HIR™) are moderate (between 0.22 and 0.27). This means you can select for High Immune Response.

The primary objective of the project is to develop a genomic test and genomic evaluation for robust immune response or resilience to disease. Both the Canadian and American Angus Associations leverage genomic information to increase the accuracy of the genetic selection tools that they

provide. Adding genomics to the project will enable us to deliver genetic selection tools for High Immune Response (HIR™) for animals that are not physically tested using the extensive HIR™ protocol based on genetic relationships between the animals that are tested and the animals that are not tested. Genomic technology has enabled us to identify breeding stock with better genetics for many expensive or difficult to measure traits like feed efficiency, tenderness, and soon hopefully, High Immune Response.

Integration of the HIR™ technology and selective breeding for enhanced immune response in the North American Angus population is expected to decrease the impact of diseases such as BRD in beef cattle over multiple generations. Application of the technology could result in significant (20–50 percent) reduction in calf mortality and morbidity and might help the industry reduce antibiotic use which could be a game changer for the Canadian beef industry. Recent studies have demonstrated that genetic selection for High Immune Response results in lower incidence of disease, and lower severity in the disease that does occur resulting in higher producer and animal health and welfare, decreased use of antibiotics, increased consumer confidence, and increased sustainability for the entire industry. Animals raised to have a lower risk of developing disease address the four pillars of the Canadian National Beef Strategy to increase beef demand, productivity, competitiveness and connectivity.

Genetic selection is an excellent way to address production challenges in livestock, because the gain you make in each generation is cumulative and the gains are permanent. The next steps for our project involve extensive data analysis, development of a genetic evaluation for the trait, and publication for genetic selection tools for producers to adopt. We hope to report at length once our analysis is complete—please watch for our next research update.

Freedom over Fear

The Value of Genomics to the Commercial Producer

Nicki Westersund, Neogen Canada

As technology available to the Canadian beef industry evolves, commercial beef producers are using genomic testing to help make decisions in not only their bull selections, but also their replacement heifers and performance evaluations. The use of genomic technology can help lead to increased profits, data management, and herd goal progression for the commercial cattle producer.

There is a lot of information to be gained by taking the opportunity to learn more about the genetics in your own herd. It is important to remember that these genetics are what gets passed down to each season’s calves. Angus breeders using the proprietary Angus GS genomic test can help influence the commercial producers’ use of genomics. When a breeder sells a bull to a commercial producer, Angus GS testing gives both the breeder and buyer freedom from fear of not getting the intended product. For commercial producers, genomic testing equals freedom from fear of selecting the wrong animal for their herd goals. Buying a bull that is Angus GS tested provides more accurate and reliable genomically enhanced expected progeny differences (GEPDs), and therefore more confidence in the purchase. If a producer is looking to purchase a heifer

bull or a bull that will pass strong growth and performance traits into their calves, they can make that purchase confidently. For the Angus breeder selling Angus GS tested bulls, the genomic information equals freedom from fear of having a dissatisfied buyer. Genomic testing can help protect your reputation and increase customer satisfaction.

There are two main genomic tools that can help commercial producers manage their herd. The first of these tools is sire verification or parent verification testing. Determining the sire of calves from multi-sire pastures ensures you know which bulls are getting the job done for you, and producing the best (or the worst) of your calves. If a bull is purchased for his potential of passing strong growth traits to his calves, then verifying which calves are progeny of that bull will help the commercial producer market their calves with superior traits and genetics. The same reasoning applies if a bull is purchased based on maternal traits to be passed to his progeny; knowing which heifers he has sired allows for optimum replacement heifer or breeding stock selections. As the parentage verification tool is used more and more by commercial producers, the expectation is that their purchased Angus bull’s reference DNA markers are on file. When an animal has been Angus GS tested, the animal’s

reference genotype is available making it easier for the commercial producer to run the sire verification or parentage tests on their calves.

The other genomic tool that commercial producers can use is the Igenity® Beef Profile. This genomic test provides producers genomic scores for several economically relevant traits. This information helps commercial producers make informed decisions on replacement heifers.

As a seedstock producer, using Angus GS and having the most accurate GEPDs on your cattle allows the commercial producer to select which Angus animals will be their best investment based on their own commercial herd profiles. The marketability of producing Angus cattle that are Angus GS tested is not lost on the commercial producer or to other breeders. Genomic testing allows beef producers to increase their rate of genetic improvement by ensuring that they are able to identify animals with superior breeding value more accurately. Genomic technology is freedom from fear for an Angus breeder to know more about the product they are selling earlier in the animal’s life. The Angus GS test is a tool to decrease the risk and increase the reward for all cattle producers.

THE POWERFUL GENOMIC SELECTION TOOL

Brought to you by the Canadian Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc.

Angus GSTM sets the standard in genetic testing for Angus cattle.

Angus GS testing is an investment that some Canadian Angus breeders make to enhance the information available to their customers. Genomic technology, specifically the Angus GS genomic test which was created for and by Angus specifically, contributes to: 1. More accurate EPDs, particularly on younger, unproven animals, and 2. EPDs for traits that are difficult or expensive to measure like tenderness, marbling, docility, foot angle, claw set, and feed efficiency.

POLICY UPDATES 2023

Due to price increases for DNA services from Neogen, the following fee adjustments took place on June 1, 2022:

• Cost of parentage verification tests increased from $18 to $20

• Cost of genetic testing increased from $22 to $23

• Cost of freemartin test increased from $65 to $70

Retroactive to January 1, 2022, animals classified as open, recipient or donor will not be charged the $65 ACE fee for the calendar year in which they are designated such. However, if the cow remains in inventory and later has a calf, the $65 ACE fee will be assessed. No reinstatement fee will be assessed for that calf.

International Policies That May Impact You

The American Angus Association has changed their regulations to recognize electronic identification as permanent identification instead of tattoos. At present there is no plan to change the Canadian Angus Association regulations. Members who import animals from the American Angus Association will need to be aware that they may need to tattoo their animals upon import prior to registration to comply with the Canadian Angus Association requirement of tattooing as the only acceptable form of permanent identification.

The Red Angus Association of America has begun registering gene edited animals. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency does not permit gene editing of animals and members need to be aware that gene edited animals are not eligible for registration in Canada.

Gene Editing Policy Adopted June 7, 2022

See page 131

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Tyson, Callie, Sloane, Fowler and Rustin Hertz Box 8, Fir Mountain, SK S0H 1P0

Clayton: 306-642-8013 | Corinne: 306-640-7970

Tyson: 403-376-7284 | Callie: 306-640-9275 sixmile@sasktel.net www.sixmileredangus.com

Male Fertility in

Kajal Devani, Canadian Angus Association

Fertility is the primary driver of profitability in livestock production. In beef production, our objective is to maximize the number of calves weaned per cow exposed. Livestock species that have neglected fertility in their genetic selection programs serve as a clear warning of the consequences of doing so. Canadian and American Angus producers have access to the Heifer Pregnancy (HPG) EPD. The HPG EPD describes the probability of a heifer conceiving within her first breeding season. It is a valuable tool to ensure female fertility within the herd. Another genetic selection tool for female fertility is the Scrotal Circumference (SC) EPD. Some producers use this trait as an indicator of age at puberty for a bull’s daughters. However, female fertility is only half the equation. Currently, Canadian and American Angus producers do not have access to a genetic selection tool that describes the genetics of male fertility.

Male fertility is a complex trait, impacted by management, nutrition, weather and genetics. From previous studies, we know that the genetic correlation between male fertility and female fertility is low. Thus,

Study

Canadian and American Angus

selecting for female fertility will not improve male fertility. There are three determinants of male fertility:

1. Serving capacity or libido, a behavioural trait that is impacted by a bull’s biology but also by the environment; it can be measured through parent verification of calves from multi-sire exposures

2. Physical soundness, which veterinarians will assess during breeding soundness examinations; and

3. Semen quality characteristics including semen motility, semen volume, and semen abnormalities. Previous studies show that these semen quality characteristics are in fact low to moderately heritable in dairy and beef cattle. A study looking at more than 44,000 semen test records on Angus bulls reported estimates of heritability for these semen quality characteristics that ranged from 0.03 to 0.18. The same study reported little to no (0.0 to 0.15) correlation between semen quality characteristics and scrotal circumference (SC) EPDs.

This information indicates that, given a robust genetic selection tool for male fertility, Canadian and American Angus producers can decrease the number of bulls that fail their breeding soundness examination

(semen tests) annually. Currently, the failure rate is estimated at 33 percent. It is estimated that losses due to male infertility cost the beef industry upward of $87 million. Thus, the object of this project is to use semen quality information on registered Angus bulls in Canada and in the United States that is recorded during breeding soundness examinations (semen tests) to estimate heritability for semen quality traits and develop a genetic evaluation for semen quality traits.

To date, approximately 5,600 producer breeding soundness records have been submitted for this large-scale project that will combine producer collected data with information from semen studs to help answer our questions about the genetics that drive male fertility. The project includes other activities towards understanding male fertility, including using beef on dairy conception rates and investigating the impact of weather and age on male fertility. To contribute breeding soundness (semen test) records collected on your bull, please email a copy of your vet reports to your Canadian Angus Association research team (kdevani@cdnangus.ca).

Multi-disciplinary Experts from Kansas State University and the University of Wisconsin

Our focus on raising

to better the beef industry is at the heart of every decision we make. We raise Red Angus & Hereford seedstock that we feel is most suitable for our unforgiving and unpredictable environment here in the Northern Plains. This focus is specifically built around the commercial cattleman and what they need most. We have built a strong and functional cow herd that are implanted with hand selected genetics from across North America to provide cutting edge genetics to our fellow ranchers. As we look forward to an exciting upward shift for the beef business, we feel like the genetics we stand behind are going to keep our customers profitable and at the forefront. We are thankful for the

Designed to Lighten the Data Collection Burden on Canadian Angus Cutting-EdgeProducersTechnology

For members that may not have heard, the Canadian Angus Association, with the support of the Canadian Angus Foundation, partnered with a highly innovative technology company called OneCup AI to help them develop a system that uses camera vision and artificial intelligence to support our members. The system, called BETSY (Bovine Expert Tracking and Surveillance), essentially uses cameras (can use existing on-farm calving cameras) to watch your cattle for you. BETSY is very good at individual animal identification. ‘She’ uses facial recognition technology on the animal’s entire body to recognize individual animals. She can also read management tag information, and she will associate the tag information with animal facial recognition to marry the two. BETSY can help you identify an animal if its tag falls out. But her ability to support members does not stop there.

The Canadian Angus Association is working with OneCup AI to help train BETSY to score and record phenotypic trait information on cattle. Our goal is to train BETSY to score teat and udder structure, foot angle, claw set and body condition scores so that members do not have to. Since our last update,

OneCup AI has worked extensively to advance BETSY on several fronts, including increased accuracy, increased Wi-Fi area coverage using StarLink technology, adding a herd management portal to track animal information, and using camera systems deployed with early adopter producers, Olds College and Lakeland College to access more than 29,000 hours of video for training material. This on-farm video allows OneCup AI to train BETSY. In addition to the on-farm training videos, OneCup AI, working with Canadian Angus Association staff, developed highly accurate 3-D models of different phenotypes for structural traits like teats, udders, and feet. OneCup AI uses these models to train BETSY to see and score structural traits.

With this objective in mind, the Association has invested in 10 camera systems (complete with Wi-Fi connectivity and BETSY). These camera systems will be available to install at member operations to give members the opportunity to experience what BETSY can do first-hand and give BETSY more animal images and environments to learn with. Our goal is to have the camera systems installed during times when cattle are being processed or close to home. Members will be able to

experience a BETSY system for several weeks before it is moved to the next operation. If you are interested in experiencing a BETSY camera system and contributing to BETSY’s training, please contact your Canadian Angus Association office (Tess Mills, tmills@cdnangus.ca or 403-537-5608).

Kajal Devani, Canadian Angus Association

Angus Association Verified Branded Beef Programs That Grow and Protect the Breed

Does Angus need a global standard of verification for branded beef programs? We found that question interesting to mull over. It is also pertinent as the Canadian Angus Association prepares to launch our own verification program.

The Canadian Angus Association is mandated by our mission to maintain breed registry, breed purity, and provide services that enhance the growth and position of the Angus breed. Globally, all Angus Associations would have a similar mandate—to protect and grow the breed. One of the most significant factors contributing to Angus success globally has been Angus branded beef programs. Some of these branded Angus beef programs are association driven and some programs are driven by other stakeholders in the beef production chain. The success of some of these programs has been incredible. Worldwide, Angus is a recognized brand name. Angus is renowned for a high quality, satisfying beef eating experience. Branded beef programs have helped grow consumer recognition of the brand, create a market for Angus genetics, and grow the breed.

It is undeniable that branded Angus beef programs have significantly helped to accomplish the mission to grow the breed. What about the ‘protect the breed’ mission? The more renowned the word Angus has become, the more ‘others’ want to use the term. At the same time, food label integrity is

a growing consumer concern. Consumers want assurance that the quality Angus beef that they are purchasing is actually, verifiably, quality Angus beef. Hide colour is no longer an accurate indicator of breed composition in beef cattle, however widespread use of RFID tags and DNA technology has enabled Angus breed associations globally to provide more rigorous verification of the genetics feeding into branded beef programs.

Recently, Angus Australia launched two verification endorsements designed to provide assurance of label integrity for Australian Angus branded beef programs. Their Verified Black Angus Beef program provides assurance that included cattle are a minimum of 75 percent Black Angus breed composition using phenotype, audited breeding records, and DNA verification to validate their endorsement. Their Verified Angus Beef program is similar, verifying that cattle meet a minimum 75 percent Angus (Black or Red Angus) breed composition. These verification programs provide independent third-party verification for Australian Angus branded beef programs.

The Angus Australia verified programs are easy to access. After purchasing a membership to the program (AU$110), producers are able to download a free app where they can

upload feeder calf records complete with RFID tag numbers, date of birth (exact or range), and registered Angus sire ID(s) for verification. Behind the scenes the app verifies that the producer owns the registered Angus sire(s) and that they were at the producer’s premise ID at time of service (verified by scanning the RFID tag with a GPS-equipped RFID reader). The fee for third-party verification service through the program is AU$1 per head. Liz Pearson, the Commercial Supply Chain Manager from Angus Australia visited the Canadian Angus office this summer and we discussed the opportunities that DNA testing for breed composition offers. Currently, this tool is used for auditing purposes to ensure the integrity of the program. The Australian Angus Association reports that their rigorous third-party verification offers their Verified (Black) Angus Beef Program clients some prestige in the market, premiums, demand over non-verified Angus programs, and reduces the risk of ‘imposter’ Angus brands gaining market share. For us, the programs are designed towards that initial mandate of promoting and protecting the breed.

The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) also recognizes the opportunity to verify Red Angus genetics and beef products. They do so under various programs, using a distinctive yellow Feeder Calf Certification Program tag (US$0.99 per tag). Under the RAAA Feeder Calf Certification Program, producers register their electronic identification (EID) tag numbers with calving season information and the RAAA generates a United States Department of

Kajal Devani and Myles Immerkar, Canadian Angus Association

Agriculture (USDA) approved certificate of compliance verifying age, source, and Red Angus breed composition for their cattle. This third-party verification can be leveraged to market feeder calves. Further, producers enrolled in the RAAA Feeder Calf Certification Program can use the same EID to also enroll in IMI Global, another thirdparty verification program that corroborates attributes such as verified natural, grass fed, and raised without hormones. Buyers of cattle verified through the RAAA Feeder Calf Certification Program are able to capture premiums for their investment through two markets or grid programs established exclusively for RAAA yellow tagged cattle: the Tyson Choice Plus Grid which offers premiums on prime to choice grades and also a 15 percent allowance for less profitable carcasses (yield grade 4 and 5 for example), and G.O. Red from the Greater Omaha Packing Facility which offers premiums for RAAA yellow tagged cattle that are also yield grade 1 and 2.

Advancements in technology are enabling brand and label verification globally. It is worth noting that the Canadian Angus Association was the first association in the Angus breed to leverage tag technology. In 1999 we launched the Canadian Angus Certification program which utilized new bar code technology for animal identification. We restricted the sale of our branded tags

to those who could prove a minimum of 50 percent Angus genetics to add a genetic verification component. In 2005, we made the switch to RFID technology ahead of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA), taking another leadership position in animal identification and verification. Until the development of the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed program in 2009, there was no program that identified whether the genetic content of the beef product was actually Angus. Our Association has been a pioneer in Angus verification. The tag program is now known as the Canadian Angus Tag Program but the program objective has always been to identify Angus influenced cattle and provide label verification to branded beef programs. The Canadian Angus Tag Program is recognized as the largest branded tag program in the world and saw tremendous growth during its early years.

The Canadian Angus tag remains critical for identifying Angus influenced cattle and Angus labelled beef products, however, advancements in technology are allowing the Association to evolve and grow this program. New technology platforms now allow us to follow tagged Angus influenced cattle through the beef value chain. In addition to the green tag visual identification, the Canadian Angus Association continues to develop technology that can help identify

Angus influenced cattle for entry into a variety of Angus branded programs regardless of what tag they carry.

Having Angus influenced cattle pre-verified through the Canadian Angus Tag Program is the ideal path. The program is also reliant on having RFID tag numbers registered at the Canadian Angus Association. We recognize that multiple factors including supply chain issues, local accessibility, pre-ordering in time for calf processing (branding) can all result in Angus influenced cattle being tagged with generic tags. The Association recognizes that we need to build a program where the Canadian Angus tag is not a limiting factor. Our goal is to build a program that supports the identification and enrollment of all Angus influenced cattle, regardless of the type of tag they wear.

Worldwide, Angus is a recognized brand name. Angus is renowned for a high quality, satisfying beef eating experience. Branded beef programs have helped grow consumer recognition of the brand, create a market for Angus genetics, and grow the breed.

Why do we need to make verification simpler?

Market signals for Angus cattle and verified Angus beef products are stronger than ever.

The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) currently certifies 18 branded beef programs, 13 of which are Angus branded programs. The other five programs are based on carcass quality and grade, and therefore indirectly require Angus influenced cattle to meet their targets. The above summary does not include the vast array of Angus brands in the marketplace that are not currently being certified by a third party

penetration represents a very small percentage of the available duty-free access quota for Canadian beef products to the EU under the CETA. If our goal is to maximize this opportunity (and others like it) then it is imperative to understand the market demands. The EU market is one of the most demanding in terms of label verification requirements. The European Food Safety Authority requires a robust third-party verification process that supports any label claim being applied to imported beef products. Basically, if you brand or label beef products

Angus App Genuine Verified

Association

Angus is widely recognized for its premium quality by consumers. Having the ability to verify animals as Angus through genetics can add market value to those cattle. This is where the Genuine Angus Verified program comes in. Producers are able to enroll their calves in the program, and providing they have at least 50 percent Angus genetics, the calves will be Angus Verified. Therefore, it is important that transfer of ownership occurs after a sale to allow buyers to enroll in the program and have their calves’ genetics verified through the registered sire or dam used.

By enrolling your cattle in the Genuine Angus Verified program, you can verify the genetics of your cattle as Angus, regardless of the type of RFID tag used. To enroll in the program, contact the Canadian Angus Association (CAA) and complete a template for the calves that require verification. Once you are enrolled and your calves have been verified, you will receive a welcome email and information about new marketing programs coming soon for members.

The app makes it easy to verify your calves’ genetics wherever you are. The calves’ verification is tied to their RFID tag and can be confirmed through the app. Verification provides more opportunities to monetize your investment

The new app is simple, easy to use, and available after successful enrollment in the Genuine Angus Verified program. Animal verification and information can be searched on the app by individual animals or groups/lots on the main page (search tab).

If the app is open and connected to an RFID wand, an animal’s tag can be scanned which will pull up individual information and verification, allowing sellers, buyers, feedlots and packers utilizing the app to confirm if the animal is Angus Verified.

When searching for specific lots of animals, several filters can be used including location, age, weight, and vaccination status.

Users can also edit, add and remove owned animals in their individual My Angus tab.

Tess Mills, Canadian Angus

Trademark: name and logo 2022

As the beef industry evolves, the Canadian Angus Association will also look to evolve with the industry and in many cases lead the way the market signals direct to ensure we are prepared for what is coming and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Over the past few years, an increasing number of questions have begun to develop from consumers, export markets and trade partners around how product is verified as Angus.

The Canadian Angus Association tag program was originally designed to do just that, provide verification that animals carrying the CAA green tag meet the CAA requirements to be marketed as Angus.

With growing demands around this sector and requirements to evolve with the use of new technologies and new services, it was felt that the development of targeted strategies towards this program were required to ensure we can continue to play a leading and active role in this marketplace and support all industry partners in the Angus product sales.

To support this initiative, Genuine Angus Beef was developed. The name Genuine Angus Beef was chosen based on definition.

Definition of Genuine:

a) Actually having the reputed apparent qualities or character

b) Actually produced by or proceeding from the alleged source

c) Sincerely and honestly felt or experienced a deep and genuine love

d) Actual, true, a genuine improvement

The mission of Genuine Angus Beef is to provide services that enhance the growth and position of the Angus breed.

Focus and target market of the entity will focus on everything outside of core services to CAA membership that is designed to enhance Angus value.

Core functions:

The Canadian Angus Tag (Indicator) Program (green tag)

The CAA has 25 years of history with the green tag (indicator) program which continues to serve as a visual identifiable way to recognize animals that are verified as Angus.

Angus Verified programs

The CAA is developing platforms to provide verification for all Angus animals, some of which cannot be identified with the CAA green tag. As the tagging industry evolves, so will the CAA.

Angus Verified marketing strategies and platforms

The CAA is in the progress of developing strategies to identify cattle that are Angus Verified and providing support for these cattle to fit into the right branded programs that see the value in cattle identified with these attributes.

Angus Verified management tag program

The CAA is currently working with a number of programs around the Angus Verified attributes and providing supporting management tagging programs that are more easily identifiable.

Branded beef endorsement and marketing support

The CAA has seen a strong increase in the need for product verification after it has gone in the box, most notably to the European Food Safety Authority where the CAA acts as a thirdparty Angus verification program to these industry partners in supporting their marketing efforts into these growing regions.

New functions of the Genuine Angus Beef brand will continue to evolve as the market and new opportunities develop.

Food Fraud

Lorne McClinton

What’s wrong with the spaghetti and meatballs in tomato sauce with parmesan cheese in this picture? Maybe nothing, but if any of its ingredients aren’t what you paid for, you’re a victim of food fraud!

“The label said beef, but is it pork or horse?” asks John Spink, Director of Michigan State University’s Food Fraud Initiative in Lansing, Michigan. “Is the pasta sauce made from the right grade tomato paste?”

Food fraud occurs whenever food products, ingredients and packaging is intentionally adulterated to increase profits. It’s an umbrella term that includes altering, substituting or tampering with ingredients, counterfeiting or mislabelling and product theft. It’s a problem for consumers, supermarkets, food services and farmers. It’s one of the drivers behind the push for more transparency and traceability from seed to plate.

“Everyone has been a victim of food fraud, even you and me,” says Sylvain Charlebois, Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “We’ve probably all bought something that was deliberately mislabelled. It could be as much as a USD$50 to USD$60 billion problem worldwide. But the bigger worry is unlabelled ingredients in food products endangers the lives of those with severe food allergies.”

Food fraud burst into public consciousness in 2008 when melamine was discovered in Chinese-made pet food and infant formula. The nitrogen-based compound, used to make plastic cutlery, dupes testing equipment to show a food product contains higher levels of protein than it actually has. It sickened tens of thousands of children globally and killed thousands of pet dogs and cats. This disaster spurred the international community to include food fraud as a major component

of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) launched in 2014.

Shocks keep coming. In 2019, a PricewaterhouseCoopers’s audit found that 50 percent of all Australian Beef sold in China wasn’t Australian, and a substantial portion wasn’t beef at all. The same year a Chinese inspector discovered a shipment of Canadian pork contained a feed additive, ractopamine, that’s restricted in Canada. China briefly suspended imports of all Canadian pork. An investigation showed cause for concern.

“It discovered someone had altered documents to make it look as if the product was Canadian,” says Gary Stordy with Canada Pork in Ottawa. “Fortunately, Canada has really good traceability systems in place so we could prove it didn’t come from here. Subsequently, the Canadian government enhanced security and oversight to reduce the chances of it happening again.”

“Food fraud cases increased 30 percent in Europe since the start of the pandemic due to the immense pressures it put on the food system,” Charlebois says. “The Food Standards Agency in the UK warned Brits in January not to just go on Facebook and buy meat from just anyone.”

The most commonly adulterated foods are olive oil, honey, Parmesan cheese, milk, saffron, seafood, fruit juices, spices, tea, coffee, hard cheeses, balsamic vinegar, wine, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Random testing and analysis by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) found that 22 percent of honey being imported into Canada in 2018 had been adulterated with other sugars.

Preventing fraud isn’t easy. Most counterfeiters and offending organizations come from within the food network, Spink says. They know a lot about how products are received, shipped and tested.

It can start creeping into the food system before a crop is planted. Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) to farmers buying inputs from unusual sources. Those bags of premium seed you bought in a sketchy deal off the internet might not contain what you paid for. The same goes for fertilizers and pesticides you’ve purchased outside normal channels. Scams like these are common in some countries.

“I won’t say this happens a lot (in Canada and the US), but it’s not infrequent either, especially in the organic sector where certified organic seed, fertilizer, pesticides cost more,” Spink says. “Criminals will try to cut corners and take generic products, change labels or refill used drums with something else.”

Often food fraud impacts farms trying to produce premium branded products. The Canadian Angus Association has gone to great lengths to sell the Angus beef name to consumers. Many restaurants advertise it on their menu. Yet a good portion that’s sold as Angus beef wouldn’t pass an audit.

“It likely came from Angus cattle but it can’t be verified by the system,” says Myles Immerkar, CEO of the Canadian Angus Association in Calgary, Alberta. “Some of the larger players shipping cattle to Europe require signed affidavits on every shipment that are backed by our traceable Canadian Angus Green Tag program monitored by the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency. Likely more will require it in the future.”

“Angus beef is a really good example and shows why documentation is such a big deal,” Spink says. The vast majority of food fraud isn’t a public health threat. In this case it’s substituting one brand of beef for another. Whether your steak comes from an Angus or a Charolais, it’s still a great steak. But if you are expecting to buy Angus beef and you’re not buying it, that’s illegal; mislabelling is fraud.”

The CFIA in Canada and the USDA in the United States are the government agencies tasked with safeguarding the public from food fraud. They, along with food companies, commodity associations, industry groups and researchers, like those at Michigan State University’s Food Fraud Initiative, are constantly scouring supply chains for weak spots where fraud can occur and put policies and procedures in place to eliminate them.

“The bottom line is that farmers and the food industry need to turn to their associations to find out how vulnerable they are to fraud and put plans in place to provide protection, Spink says. “The USDA website shares very clear training materials that were assembled to train their inspectors how to look for, understand and prevent food. It also provides straightforward ways to look for weakness and put plans in place to fix them. The goal is not to catch bad guys. The goal is to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. Our website, www.foodfraudprevention.com, has free videos and primer documents to get you started.”

*This article originally appeared in the summer 2021 edition of The Furrow, a John Deere publication

“We’ve probably all bought something that was deliberately mislabelled. It could be as much as a USD$50 to USD$60 billion problem worldwide.”

Dr.

The Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab, Cultivating a New Approach to On-Farm Research and Innovation

Brian Karisa,

Alberta Beef Producers led Living Lab

The Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab (AALL) program was launched in August 2022 and quickly set itself out on a path to implement the new innovative living lab approach to on-farm research, innovation and practice change among beef, crop and forage producers in Alberta.

The Alberta agriculture industry is facing complex challenges in balancing sustainability with profitability and global competitiveness. These complex challenges— feeding a growing population, providing a livelihood for farmers, and protecting the environment—must be tackled at the same time if we are to make sustainable progress in any of them. But making progress on this ‘triple challenge’ is difficult, as initiatives responding to one challenge can have unintended consequences in another.

There is obviously a need to enhance current best practices, adopt new approaches and monitor the impacts of on-farm practices on

the profitability and sustainability of packing operations.

The Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is leading the Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab, a userdriven innovative approach that will benefit Alberta’s beef, forage and cropping sectors through collaboration, innovation and research.

Background

In July 2022, The Honourable MarieClaude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced the expansion of Agricultural Climate Solutions—Living Labs program, including an initiative led by ABP.

The Living Labs program was developed as part of the Government of Canada’s work to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The goal of Living Labs is to “accelerate the development and adoption of sustainable practices and technologies by Canadian farmers,” based on three core principles: focusing on producer needs, broad and diverse partnerships, and testing in the real-life context under real agricultural production conditions.

Our Innovation Model

The Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab relies on a user-driven collaborative approach in codeveloping innovative approaches to practice change and implementing these practices in real on-farm settings. We are privileged to partner with more than 16 organizations including agriculture commissions, Indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations, research institutions and private industry.

That collaboration will continue as individual projects develop on farms and ranches participating in the program.

Program Outcomes

The goal of AALL is to co-develop beneficial management practices (BMPs) that work onfarm, offering real value to the environment and to producers. That means working directly with research and industry experts to determine what BMPs a producer might be interested in implementing on their operation and determining how best to undertake that implementation for each individual operation. Preferably, these will be

practices that improve profitability or productivity, while also demonstrating environmental benefits, such as improving carbon sequestration or reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

BMPs will focus on the following broad categories:

• Crop rotations and cropping systems

• Land use changes

• Grazing management

• Livestock feeding

• Nutrient management

• Increasing carbon storage on the whole farm

“Ideally we’d like to see some of these practices spread beyond our core participants and out into the wider community across agricultural producers in Alberta,” says Karin Schmid, ABP’s Beef Production and Extension Lead. “Part of the socioeconomic analysis is looking at those adoption levels and how they change and may be impacted by the Living Labs program. If we see peer-to-peer networking and learning experiences having an impact, I think it might even revolutionize some of the models and some of the ways we think about doing extension and adoption work within agriculture.”

Current State of the Program

Since receiving approval, the ABP-led initiative has hired staff, including:

• Brian Karisa as the Director,

• Adrienne Herron as Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) and Engagement Lead,

• Kristine Dahl as Producer Liaison, and

• Jodi Flaig as Producer Liaison

The Producer Liaisons will be the contact points for producers participating in the project across the north, central and south regions of Alberta. The initiative is also now branded, with its name, a logo, and a website at www.agrisystemsll.ca. All extension and producer inquiries can be submitted to llextension@albertabeef.org and all science and research inquiries can be submitted to lldirector@albertabeef.org.

The program has completed three producer engagement sessions and is actively recruiting producers to participate in the project. If you are a beef, crop and/or forage producer interested in participating in this project, you can reach out to llextension@albertabeef.org.

Next Steps

An essential component of the project is the co-development and cocreation of innovative practices with other stakeholders. The first year Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab co-development sessions were held in fall 2022 where producers had an opportunity to interact with researchers to support the decision making process and to fine tune the implementation planning for the beneficial management practices of their choice.

“There’s lots of opportunity for producers if they’ve been thinking about trying something but are not sure where to start,” says Schmid. “That’s where our researchers and their expertise can really fine-tune that and set them up for success right out of the gate.”

If you’re interested in participating in the project, or have further questions, visit www.agrisystemsll.ca to sign up, or contact llextension@albertabeef.org.

*Parts of this article originally appeared in the October issue of ABP magazine and was written by Debra Murphy and Karin Schmid. Reprinted in this publication with permission.

19 2023 19

Ranch Covey Hill Sale Barn | Havelock, QC Sale Managed by

What is Gene Editing, and What are Some Pros and Cons Associated with the Technology

Kajal Devani, Canadian Angus Association

Genetic selection has been practiced in agronomy for centuries. Robert Bakewell is credited for observing that selective breeding in livestock improves the next generation. He founded the first breed associations to record pedigree and performance information. The objective was a centralized repository of data with which selection and breeding decisions could be made. That objective remains in place today.

In crop breeding, genetic selection has had tremendous results. My favourite illustration of the power of genetic selection is the fact that modern cultivars of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, and kohlrabi all originate from the same Brassica oleracea plant species. Each modern cultivar was selected based on crown size (broccoli and cauliflower), leafiness (kale, collard greens) or enlarged heads of tightly rolled leaves (cabbage, Brussels sprouts). This is the power of genetic selection; provided you have a goal and some staying power—because it takes more than one generation to ‘get there’.

GENETIC MODIFICATION

One way to ‘get there’ sooner is to use genomic technology. In livestock, the rate of genetic improvement can be maximized by using genomically enhanced EPDs (GEPDs). A different application is to modify the genetic material of organisms to generate GMOs. Two techniques are used to achieve these new genetically modified variants, both of which insert genetic material into an organism using a gene particle gun or a bacterial host.

The new genetic material can be from the ‘original’ species (changing a naturally existing gene), it can be a gene from the same or similar species (such as AquaBounty Atlantic salmon which was created by inserting genetic material from Pacific salmon), or from a different organism altogether (such as genetic material from the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) used to create a papaya variant that is resistant to PRSV). Genetic modification technology has been used since the 1990s to develop varieties of tomatoes, squash,

soybeans, cotton, corn, papayas, potatoes, canola, beets, alfalfa, apples, grapes—the list goes on. This technology has been used to create variants (primarily in crops) that are disease resistant, drought resistant and environmentally, economically and ethically more sustainable. The possible advantages of genetic improvement using genomic modification technology is incredible.

One of the limitations of the technology is its precision. Peppering cells using a gene gun or using bacteria carrying the novel DNA as a kind of trojan horse doesn’t allow you to dictate where new genetic material (and sometimes what genetic material) gets inserted. Scientists have been working on a more precise technology for decades.

GENE EDITING

In 2020, Drs. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna were awarded a Nobel prize for pioneering a revolutionary technology that improves the precision with which genetic edits can be made. Although new genetic material can be added to organisms using this technology, its true advantage comes from being able to ‘fix’ (change) existing genes. The technology, called CRISPR, has been used to create therapies for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV, muscular dystrophy, and inherited blindness.

In crops, CRISPR is being used to develop variations of crops such as naturally decaffeinated coffee, grape varieties that can

To date, gene edited cattle have not been approved in Canada by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Canadian Angus producers need to be aware of this when buying genetics from the United States.

grow in drought conditions, and tomatoes that are less acidic and therefore easier to digest. In livestock, gene editing CRISPR technology has been used to address animal health and welfare issues: Holstein cattle, genetically selected to produce high volumes of milk, are naturally horned. Horns pose a safety and welfare challenge to humans and animals in their proximity. Dehorning animals is labour intensive, stressful and painful. The polled (hornless) genetic variant occurs naturally in other bovine populations such as Angus. Holstein bulls genetically edited to be polled by Acceligen and their progeny were tested extensively at the University of California, Davis. They offered dairy industries globally a way to improve animal health and welfare without having to crossbreed with a naturally polled

animal. Crossbreeding may offer significant advantages for horns and other traits such as fertility, body condition, foot structure and carcass quality but it would also reduce milk production. Addressing animal health, two disease-resistant variants, one in pigs that targets susceptibility to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus and one in cattle that targets susceptibility to bovine tuberculosis have been developed. Both diseases have significant financial and welfare impacts.

CLOSER TO HOME

Closer to home for Canadian Angus producers, and also impacting animal welfare, several variants addressing tolerance to tropical and subtropical heat in cattle have been developed. One approach has been to

change coat colour, moving from black to red. This red gene variant is dominant to the natural Black Angus coat colour gene, so these edited Black Angus animals will have red progeny, and this red coat colour will persist. Another approach has been to genetically engineer the slick coat gene in animals. Seedstock animals with the modified slick gene have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are commercially available in the United States. To date, gene edited cattle have not been approved in Canada by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Canadian Angus producers need to be aware of this when buying genetics from the United States. The Red Angus Association of America denotes gene edited cattle as Gene Edited Founder (GEF) and Gene Edited Descendant (GED).

Essentially, gene editing is excellent technology, used by bacteria to shred invading viral DNA as a defence mechanism. It is opening the door for medicine and agriculture to make precise, targeted edits in the genome for genetic solutions to serious global challenges, but it is expensive and currently highly regulated. Another significant factor in this whole food production equation is the consumer. Consumers want science and technology in their medicine, their cars, their computers and in the smart phones that they use to communicate. Not all consumers want science and technology in their food. Now, scientists like myself are going to convince them of the benefits and safety of genetic technology but this process will take time.

POLICY UPDATES 2023

Due to price increases for DNA services from Neogen, the following fee adjustments took place on June 1, 2022:

• Cost of parentage verification tests increased from $18 to $20

• Cost of genetic testing increased from $22 to $23

• Cost of freemartin test increased from $65 to $70

Retroactive to January 1, 2022, animals classified as open, recipient or donor will not be charged the $65 ACE fee for the calendar year in which they are designated such. However, if the cow remains in inventory and later has a calf, the $65 ACE fee will be assessed. No reinstatement fee will be assessed for that calf.

Gene Editing Policy

Adopted June 7, 2022

RAAA Animal Inquiry Gene Edited Animal Indication

Registration applications submitted to the Canadian Angus Association that possess an intentional genomic alteration (IGA) produced by genome editing will be subject to the following policy. To be eligible for registration, the IGA and/ or animals possessing it must be submitted to the agency or agencies responsible for overseeing livestock genome editing or the approval of such a practice in Canada according to Canadian law. (At the time of writing, the practise of livestock genome editing is not approved in Canada by the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency (CFIA)). Secondly, IGA registration applications will be subject to review and approval by the Canadian Angus Association Board of Directors, who will consider factors including the impact of introducing the IGA into the purebred Angus population. This approval process may also include direction from the scientific community, CAA membership input and related industry perspective at the time of or prior to the application review. Lastly, in the sole discretion of the Canadian Angus Association Board of Directors, the Association reserves the right to deny importation and/or registration to any genome edited animal or descendant that fails to provide sufficient benefit or advancement of the Angus breed.

International Policies That May Impact You

The American Angus Association has changed their regulations to recognize electronic identification as permanent identification instead of tattoos. At present there is no plan to change the Canadian Angus Association regulations. Members who import animals from the American Angus Association will need to be aware that they may need to

66 Ranch Ltd., Duchess, AB

Allison Farms, Delburne, AB

Anchor 1 Angus, Mayerthorpe, AB

Anderson Cattle Co., Swan River, MB

Arda Farms & Freeway Angus, Acme, AB

Atlasta Angus, Sylvan Lake, AB

Bandura Ranches, Brooks, AB

Bar Double M Angus, Lethbridge, AB

Benchmark Angus, Lethbridge, AB

Black Ridge Angus, Dysart, SK

Blue Collar Bull Sale

Northern View Angus, Duff, SK and Parkwood Angus, Yorkton, SK

Brooking Angus Ranch, Radville, SK

Brookside Angus, Brookdale, MB

Bullseye Bull Sale, C & L Beasley Cattle Ltd., Patricia, AB

Burnett Angus, Swift Current, SK

Count Ridge Red Angus, Bassano, AB

Crescent Creek Angus, Goodeve, SK

Cudlobe Angus, Stavely, AB

Cudlobe Angus West, Claresholm, AB

Eastondale Angus, Wawota, SK

Female Focus Sale

Hollinger Land & Cattle, Neudorf, SK and

J Square S Angus, Grayson, SK

Fleming Stock Farms and RJ Livestock, Granum, AB

Fleury Cattle Co., Aberdeen, SK

Flying K Ranch, Swift Current, SK

F-R Ranch, Hussar, AB

Freyburn Angus Farms, Oxbow, SK

Geis Angus, Barrhead, AB

Glasman Farms, Russell, MB

Glendar Angus, Mankota, SK Hamilton Farms, Cochrane, AB

Harvest Angus, Prince George, BC

HBH Angus Farms Inc., Oak River, MB

Howe Red Angus, Moose Jaw, SK

Ivanhoe Angus, Belle Plaine, SK

Joint Venture Bull Sale

Towaw Cattle Co., Sangudo, AB and Rainbow Red Angus, Cherhill, AB

JPD Angus, Oro-Medonte, ON JPM Farms, Gravelbourg, SK

Kary Family Farm, Montmartre, SK

KBJ Round Farms, Clyde, AB

Kenray Ranch, Redvers, SK

Lamb’s Quarters Angus, Cadillac, SK

LLB Angus, Erskine, AB

Macnab Angus, Mervin, SK

Miller Wilson Angus, Bashaw, AB

Nordal Limousin & Angus, Simpson, SK

Ole Farms Ltd., Athabasca, AB

On Target Bull Sale

Cinder Angus, Barrhead, AB and Dwajo Angus, Camp Creek, AB

Peak Dot Ranch, Wood Mountain, SK

Pedersen Livestock, Edgerton, AB

Perrot Cattle Co., Alameda, SK

Rainbow Hills Ranch, Delburne, AB

Redrich Farms, Forestburg, AB

Remitall Farms, Olds, AB

Scott Stock Farm, Crossfield, AB

Shiloh Cattle Co., Hand Hills Lake, AB

South View Ranch, Ceylon, SK

SweetPro Canada Premium Supplements Ter-Ron Farms, Forestburg, AB

Triple A Bull Sale, Moose Jaw, SK Bell Angus; Cottonwood Angus; Glen Gabel Angus; Hi Low Angus; Nu-Horizon Angus; Triple H Angus and Willowview Angus Ward’s Red Angus, Saskatoon, SK

Wilbar Cattle Co., Dundurn, SK

Windy Willows Farms, Hodgeville, SK Y Coulee Land & Cattle, Paradise Hill, SK

If you are interested in giving back or learning more about this initiative, please contact Belinda Wagner, Canadian Angus Foundation Executive Director at 306-537-1518 or email bwagner@cdnangus.ca.

You can also visit the Canadian Angus Foundation website at www.cdnangus.ca/foundation.

BUILDING LEGACY

The Canadian Angus Foundation functions to preserve and expand the Angus breed for future generations through education, youth development, scientific and market research, and historical preservation and restoration. The Canadian Angus Foundation was incorporated in 1993 and is the charitable arm of the Canadian Angus Association.

The vision of Building the Legacy is to allow the Foundation to build monetary resources.

The Foundation uses its funds to provide opportunities for our youth, young breeders and membership to grow in the areas of leadership, marketing, networking, animal husbandry, genetic improvement and to learn about developing tools to enhance Angus production. The vision also includes the importance of preserving Angus history. By fostering these areas we can ensure our Angus history is not lost and will keep Angus as the breed of choice for the commercial beef sector and end users for years to come.

Because of generous donors, we can support initiatives, scholarships, travel bursaries and learning opportunities. Through benevolent donations of livestock, semen, embryos, items and experiences, as well as the purchasing of the auction offerings, the Foundation is able to put together a great suite of opportunities for our Angus membership. Please join us!

If you are interested in making a donation to the Building the Legacy sale, the Canadian Angus Foundation, or would like more information please contact:

Belinda Wagner

Canadian Angus Foundation Executive Director bwagner@cdnangus.ca • (306) 537-1518

Canadian Angus Foundation’s Building the Legacy Sale 11 Saturday June 10, 2023 – 8pm CST

Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Why Do You DONATE ? to the

By Belinda

its donors.

James Arnott, Coul Angus, Scotland

“We have to remember the youth of today are the stockmen of tomorrow. They might not be able to breed a champion at the moment, but due to the Foundation and the junior programs they can recognize a good beast and will be able to feed, dress, clip and bring it out to a very high standard. As herds both commercial and purebred get bigger and the number of herds get less, our farmers and ranchers are getting older so we have to encourage the younger generation to step up to the farm.”

James has been a supporter of the Canadian Angus Foundation for years, both as a donor and purchaser in our Legacy sales. He also donated the beautiful Angela Davidson print The Red Angus that hangs in the entry way at Angus Central.

Kelsey & Malissa Campbell and family, 66 Ranch, Duchess, AB

“We believe in supporting our Foundation for various reasons, and because we can. The Foundation motto ‘Preserving our Past and Ensuring our Future’ really says it all. We need to remember where we have been to build our future, and supporting the Foundation and its initiatives for youth as well as education, research and archives helps to do that.”

The Campbells donate annually to our Future 15 program (formally 15 for 50) and have purchased items in our Legacy sales over the years.

Wagner, Canadian Angus Foundation Incorporated in 1993, the Canadian Angus Foundation (CAF) is run by a volunteer board of directors and is the charitable arm of the Canadian Angus Association. Like any charitable organization, the Foundation relies on the generosity of

“When you see the push in all of agriculture to inspire young people to pursue a career in farming, ranching or ag service, and to be proud of their profession while doing it… it is very heartwarming to witness. Agriculture in general has so many good stories to tell… and in this day and age, when it isn’t uncommon for agriculture to take a bad rap… that is when we need the best people, the most advanced research and the latest technology to communicate our stories to the masses and move us forward so that we can keep feeding the world.

“The Canadian Angus Foundation is the best tool our Association has to help preserve our great history, educate and develop our youth, and assist our producers with the latest technology. The Canadian Angus Foundation is one of those entities that is so easy to get behind. Supporting the Canadian Angus Foundation helps secure our future raising Angus cattle. By supporting the Canadian Angus Foundation, we are helping create funds to enable our Association to be strong and vibrant. The biggest advancement that we have seen in recent years is the development of our youth programs and education. Hamilton Farms has supported the Foundation from the very beginning and we feel that our donations are the best way for us to give back to the breed which has given us so much. We will continue to support this great cause, and we encourage others to support the ‘heart’ of the Association.”

The Hamiltons have donated in 8 of 10 Building the Legacy sales and have purchased as well. They also donate annually to our Future 15 program.

There are various ways you too can contribute:

Donating or Loaning Archive Items.

Angus Central has a large display of Canadian Angus artifacts and memorabilia and we welcome items to add to the collection. Items can be donated or loaned for a specified period of time.

The Gift of Time.

We are always looking for people to help with our programs. Whether you are interested in joining the board of directors, available to help with the annual Building the Legacy fundraiser auction, have time to contribute to a history project, or want to assist with judging scholarship applications, please contact us to let us know how and when you can help.

Planned Giving.

The Foundation gratefully accepts monetary donations to support specific initiatives and programs as well as unrestricted donations to be used where the greatest need exists. Donations can be made on a one-time basis, on an annual basis as part of your charitable giving plan, or as a planned initiative through a will, living trust or insurance policy. All donations of $20 or more receive a tax receipt and are recognized in the annual report and online. Donating to the Building the Legacy Sale or our Future 15 initiative also comes with promotion of your operation. Purchasing a spot on the Angus Roots Tree, a Wall of Honour plaque or Breeders’ Choice Silhouette at Angus Central provides opportunity for recognition of a loved one, your farm/business or stand-out animal. More details on all of these programs can be found on the CAF website at www.cdnangus.ca/foundation.

The Canadian Angus Foundation functions to preserve and expand the Angus breed for future generations through education, youth development, scientific and market research, and historical preservation and restoration.

Rob & Gail Hamilton and family, Hamilton Farms, Cochrane, AB

We thank all our donors and supporters for their generosity!

Show themwhere it all began.

The Breed, the Legends, the History: Canadian Angus History Book, 2019 Edition

Contact Canadian Angus Foundation Executive Director Belinda Wagner at bwagner@cdnangus.ca or (306) 537-1518 to order.

The Canadian Angus Foundation has a variety

Canadian Angus History Book

As a special thank you to all purchase an Angus Roots Leaf the Foundation before the new will receive a free ‘I Love Angus’

Looking

The Canadian

Contact Canadian Angus Foundation Executive for more information: 306-757-6133 or

Canadian Angus Roots Tree

This program was funded by the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation

How you can the

support

The Canadian Angus Foundation, incorporated in 1993, is the charitable arm of the Canadian Angus Association. The main functions of the Foundation are to preserve and expand the Angus breed for future generations through education, youth development, scientific and market research and historical preservation and restoration.

The Canadian Angus Foundation fulfills its mission statement through supporting Canadian Angus research initiatives, developing educational programming, and continuing efforts on the living history project to bring our archives to life in addition to ongoing support of scholarships and awards for young breeders and junior members.

Help Support the Canadian Angus Foundation

The Foundation relies on volunteers and fundraising to carry out its mandate. Thanks to the help and support of these volunteers and generous donors, the Foundation can offer programs to Canadian Angus Association members across Canada. You can support the Canadian Angus Foundation by donating and purchasing items in the Building the Legacy fundraiser; participating in the 15 for 50 initiative; purchasing CAF merchandise; supporting the Wall of Honour; Breeder’s Choice and Angus Roots programs; making a general donation; donating to a specific program; adding a charitable bequest to a will; living trust or insurance policy; and by donating your Angus memorabilia to the Canadian Angus Foundation archives; or by giving the gift of your time.

Canadian Angus Foundation functions to preserve and expand the Angus breed for future generations through education, youth development, scientific and market research, and historical preservation and restoration.

Canadian Angus Foundation was incorporated in 1993 and is the charitable arm of the Canadian Angus Association.

At Convention 2023, the Canadian Angus Association will recognize the first inductee into our brandnew Canadian Angus Hall of Fame. Designed to recognize members who have made significant contributions to the Angus breed in Canada, we are excited to be able to offer a new type of recognition to individuals who have invested time, energy and resources promoting the Angus breed in Canada; who have served as a role model and encouraged youth to participate in Angus activities; who have invested in genetics and/or research to improve the breed; who have in any way improved the position of the Angus breed in Canada and left a legacy.

Nominations will be accepted until March 31 and one nominee will be inducted at the annual national convention. Any individual, family or business that has impacted the growth of the Angus breed in a variety of ways will be considered. Former CAA staff may also be considered provided the individual is not a current employee at the time of nomination. To be considered for induction, the nominee must have demonstrated leadership and made significant contributions to the Angus breed across Canada. These contributions may take the form of promotion, marketing, breed improvement, youth development, historical restoration and preservation.

Nomination Process

A complete nomination package that includes the following items must be submitted by March 31:

The name and contact information of the person coordinating the nomination and who can provide additional information if required

o Contact information:

CAA membership number Mailing address Email address Phone number(s)

Information about the nominee including:

o Individual name

o Farm/herd name

o CAA membership number (if known)

o Year of birth (if known)

o Year of death if applicable

o Town/city and province

o Educational information if relevant

Selection Process and Notification

A written summary of no more than 1,000 words outlining the individual’s contributions to the Angus breed. The summary should cover the following topics:

o Career including volunteer and service contributions

o Achievements

o Awards and honours received

o How the nominee demonstrated leadership (with examples)

o How the nominee’s initiative and leadership impacted the Angus breed in Canada and benefit to CAA members and/or the commercial industry (as relevant)

o The nominee’s unique contributions and legacy Nominators are encouraged to submit letters of support from CAA members, commercial producers and beef industry colleagues.

A selection committee will review all nominations received by the Canadian Angus Association by March 31.

Induction Ceremony

The induction ceremony will be included in the Canadian Angus Annual National Convention Banquet program and the inductee will have the opportunity to make a speech of up to five minutes in length. In the case of a posthumous honour, a member of the inductee’s family will be invited to speak.

Hall of Fame Inductees

The Canadian Angus Association will pay travel costs and provide one night of accommodation for the inductee to attend the ceremony at the National Convention Banquet. The inductee will receive a commemorative bronze and certificate and have their name and photo added to a display in the CAA office.

In 1998, the Canadian Angus Association introduced the long-term recognition award program to recognize those individuals and families that have demonstrated a long-time commitment to the Angus breed in Canada by maintaining a continuous membership in the Association for at least 50 years. The program was expanded in 2011 to also recognize families with 75 and 100 years of continuous membership. As of 2022, 213 families have been honoured for 50 years of continuous membership; 25 families have been honoured for 75 years and four families have been honoured for 100 years of continuous membership. As part of their commitment to preserving history, the Canadian Angus Foundation has decided to invest in increased recognition for 75 and 100 year award recipients to acknowledge their tremendous dedication to the Angus breed. The enhanced recognition will take place in 2023. Watch the Canadian Angus Association newsletters and social media platforms for details.

75 Year Award Recipients

100 Year Award Recipients

MABEL HAMILTON honouring

How Cowboy Politics Led to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame

Tina Zakowsky, Canadian Angus Association

Mabel Hamilton was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2022. If you’re involved in the Angus breed, chances are you have encountered or heard of Mabel and Belvin Angus, but you may not be aware of her extensive industry involvements and achievements.

Mabel has been involved in what she calls “cowboy politics” for well over 40 years. A former teacher, she chose to enter beef industry politics after the birth of her second child. Mabel says that she was seeking a venture that would give her an additional

challenge to running a purebred cattle operation with her husband while raising two children.

One of her first initiatives was to become involved with the Alberta Cattle Commission, a forerunner of the Alberta Beef Producers, where she drew upon her teaching experience to help design a classroom agriculture program for grade 4 students, even writing the curriculum. The foundations of the program are so solid that the program is still in use.

When she first became involved in the agriculture industry, many times Mabel was the first or second woman elected to a board and the first or second woman to serve as chair. While this could be an intimidating position for many women or they may choose to make that achievement their legacy, Mabel never saw the lack of female peers as a barrier to making effective contributions. In fact, she didn’t even acknowledge that she was a

woman in a male-dominated industry and a male-biased culture; she simply did the best job she could.

Mabel was the second woman to serve as President of the Canadian Angus Association. She was a director during a challenging time on the board when the Association was not only struggling financially, attracting and retaining members and interest in breeding Angus cattle was also a challenge. She helped provide guidance and leadership during a time of unprecedented growth when CAA went from the fourth-largest beef breed in Canada to the largest, which brought a new set of challenges for the Association.

Mabel’s most significant contribution to and lasting impact in Canadian agriculture may be her efforts on livestock traceability. When she first supported the concept of animal identification and attended public meetings and auction marts to promote the idea, she met enormous resistance, often facing verbal attacks when she attempted to speak about the need for traceability. She was not deterred and continued to speak at every opportunity. Mabel helped found and also served as chair of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA), playing a large role in establishing a national program, working very hard to gain producer support for the new national identification and traceability system. This system was critically important to the Canadian beef industry’s reputation and aided in re-opening export markets after the discovery of BSE in 2003.

Mabel accepting a gift from South Africa at the 1999 World Angus Secretariat meeting in Calgary

Mabel with past presidents at the official opening of Angus Central in 2013

There was additional benefit to Canadian Angus through Mabel’s position with CCIA. She believes that it is important that Angus board members also be industry influencers. When CCIA was formed, all identifiers (tags) were to be white. Mabel’s position on the CCIA board made it possible for Angus to have the distinct green colour identifiers.

Mabel was a dedicated volunteer during the Canadian Angus Foundation’s early days when the charitable organization struggled to attract interest and support. When the Foundation began to experience success, she served on the board of directors and helped to develop scholarship and award programs to both attract and help develop

Mabel gives generously of her time and talents and has been described as a driving force for the community. In addition to all of her national agricultural industry work, Mabel has been a 4-H leader, judge and supporter; chair of the community minor hockey association; director of the annual Bowden United Church dinner theatre fundraiser and coach of her daughter’s basketball team. She also regularly provides the Belvin Angus sale barn for community events and has hosted anniversary and birthday parties and wedding and bridal showers in

Notable Achievements

1986 Mabel and her husband Gavin received the inaugural Ed Boake Memorial for the Breeder of the Year from Alberta Angus Association

1997 Mabel and Gavin were recognized as the Canadian Cattlemen of the Year (Mabel is the first woman to share the award)

1997 Canadian Livestock Man of the Year presented at the National Western Stock Show in Denver (this was the first year that the award was presented to a couple)

2000 As CAA President, Mabel presented an Angus heifer to the Queen Mother for her 100th birthday

2007 Rosemary Davis Award from Farm Credit Canada (FCC)

2010 Woman of the Year in Agriculture from Alberta Beef Magazine

the barn. She has served as president of the

a

says

the organization has only been able to continue because of Mabel’s persistence. In her community of Bowden, Mabel served as president when an initiative was underway to build a desperately needed new community hall. Under Mabel’s leadership, $2.5 million was raised in three years. Mabel served on every committee, attended every meeting over the four years of development, and was instrumental in helping design the facility.

The Canadian Angus Association was proud to nominate Mabel for the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. Congratulations Mabel for this well-deserved recognition.

2012 Mabel was inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame, the first woman to be inducted since 1991

2016 Canadian Angus Association Honourary President Award

2017 Farm Family of the Year Award, sponsored by the Innisfail and District Chamber of Commerce

2019 Certified Angus Beef brand Canadian Commitment to Excellence Award

2012 Diamond Jubilee Medal, nominated by Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

2021 Honorary President, Western Stock Growers’ Association

Belvin Angus has received 17 Calgary Bull Sale banners for Grand Champion or Reserve Champion, more than any other ranch in the history of the program.

young cattle breeders, including expanding the Foundation’s reach beyond the purebred Angus community.

ladies auxiliary and

fellow volunteer

that

Photo by Tracy Lamb

Photo by Tracy Lamb

meet James Worth Outstanding Young Angus Breeder

By Tina Zakowsky, Canadian Angus Association

James Worth grew up in the Angus business, but his experience was a little different than many who grew up on family farms. James’ father worked for long-time Angus breeders Temple and Gail Stewart. The Worth family lived in a separate house on the Stewart farm. For as long as James can remember, he always wandered across the yard to the farm with his father which is how he became interested in cattle.

When he was nine years old, James started showing Temple’s cattle in Angus and 4-H shows. At age 14, James began working for Temple and a mentorship began. In 2016 as Temple began the process of retiring, James had the opportunity to buy 10 cows which formed the start of James’ Loyalist View Angus herd. Three years later, Temple was ready to “retire more” and James was happy to take advantage of the opportunity to buy some of the home farm—both houses, the cattle barn and some of the land. Temple still lives on a corner of the property and he comes over every day to continue mentoring James. James has grown the operation from 18 cows in 2019 to calving 40 cows in 2022. He has also changed the calving schedule from January to September.

James’ father took over Temple Stewart’s carpentry business and James works with his father part-time. James also began driving school bus last year so that he could spend more time at home with cattle. In addition to farming, carpentry and driving school bus, James works as a dealer for Gallagher fencing supplies and CattleMaster handling equipment.

James also finds time to be involved in Maritime Angus events. After serving as vicepresident of PEI’s Easter Beef Steer Show and Sale organizing committee starting in 2018, he became president in 2021. He is the vice president of the PEI Angus Association and is both a consignor and a buyer at the long-standing Angus in Action fall production sale (now branded Atlantic Alliance Sale).

In October 2021, James married Charlotte, a young woman from Stratford, PEI who was not from a farming family. She has enjoyed learning about and helping with the cattle. The couple do not yet have children but are busy building a future at Loyalist View Angus.

Questions and Answers with James Worth

Why did you join the Canadian Junior Angus program?

I was following in the footsteps of Temple’s children. They all went through the Junior program and when I started showing cattle for Temple I joined. I was nine years old and Showdown was in the Maritimes.

How was Canadian Junior Angus beneficial to you?

It helped me meet a lot of my friends. It taught me responsibility and work ethic. Everyone tells me that I’m good at public speaking and I credit the Junior Angus program and 4-H for that. Canadian Junior Angus also gave me the opportunity to learn more about the industry and goals to strive for with cattle like breeding and EPDs. I attended the GOAL conference once, Showdown a couple of times, I showed cattle at the Royal and attended Agribition one year for a judging competition. Between Angus and 4-H, they gave me lots of opportunities to go many places and I appreciate everything they do.

When did you first know you wanted to stay involved with cattle ranching?

I knew at a young age that I wanted to do something in agriculture. I like being around animals and driving tractors. The way I look at it, it’s not a job it’s a lifestyle. I’d work 10 to 12 hours straight at 14 and felt like I hadn’t worked an hour that day, I enjoy it that much.

What has been one of your highlights or favourite memories of raising Angus cattle?

One of my highlights is when I was 13 years old and it was my first year competing in the 4-H Royal selection class. I went in the ring competing with 15 or 16 other animals to be one of the 10 selected to go to the Royal for the first time, and I was the first one picked with an Angus yearling heifer that Temple had bought in New Brunswick. At pretty much every show throughout the Maritimes that year we were junior champion or reserve champion.

In 2015, my sister won grand champion of all breeds in a local steer show with my Angus animal.

Tell us a bit about Loyalist View Angus. We have about 30 purebred Angus cows right now and 10 commercial crossbred with Angus that we AI for local steer shows. We have a market for yearling bulls throughout the Maritimes and have sold one in every province except Newfoundland and Labrador. We’re just getting into the heifer market. I’ve been keeping most of my heifers to expand my herd but this year I’ve sold quite a few heifers. I always take part in the Atlantic Alliance Sale, putting my best heifer calf in. We AI our January calves and our September calves are bred by bulls. We grow all our own silage and hay. I don’t have equipment for land work yet; it’s more feasible for me to buy straw and grain.

Having cattle has also helped my other business. People will come to look at the

cattle and see the Gallagher fencing products on display so they usually leave with fencing products as well. It also works the other way; I’ll be out fencing somewhere and they’ll hear that I have cattle and I get my name out to sell bulls and heifers.

What are your short-term goals as a breeder? And long-term goals?

I’d like to get to 50 cows but I need more land. I want to continue to help my father out when he needs an extra set of hands or when he retires. I also want to sell more bulls and heifers on the market. I’m currently selling 5 to 10 yearling bulls depending on my calf crop.

Long term, I want to keep breeding good quality Angus cattle. I don’t have kids yet but I hope to have something that I can pass on to them one day.

Any advice for young breeders just starting in the Angus business?

Work hard at it and don’t take anything for granted. You will have good years and bad years but there will be a lot more good years than bad ones. You’ll meet a whole new family of friends and people that you consider family through the Angus breed. The more people you meet, the more you’ll enjoy it and you won’t think of it as work. Take part in as many opportunities as you can get to, especially Showdown or the GOAL conference which are good

learning experiences. The Canadian Angus Foundation offers lots of bursaries if you’re going to college so apply for all of them. If it wasn’t for the Canadian Angus Foundation, none of this would be possible. The more you do, the more you’ll enjoy the industry.

What does winning the Outstanding Young Angus Breeder Award mean to you?

Winning means the world to me. It’s the first time someone from PEI has won. Winning shows me that all my hard work is starting to pay off, that I have something going for myself. But I’m not going to stop here. I’m going to try to expand and strive to be better. The award shows that I’m doing something right, that the genetics I’m using are working for me.

I want to thank the Stewarts for their mentorship over the years. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be in the Angus industry. I also thank my parents for carting me around all those years to junior shows and 4-H shows so I could show cattle. I am grateful to the Canadian Angus Association and Canadian Angus Foundation for all they do for juniors who are the next generation that will keep the breed alive.

I enjoy every day looking out my kitchen window and seeing black cattle in the pasture fields. I’ve gained lots of life skills so far and I learn every day. The more people I talk to, the more I learn.

The Outstanding Young Angus Breeder award was developed to recognize an Angus breeder between the ages of 22 and 30 who has demonstrated a desire to stay involved in the Angus business for years to come based on their involvement within the breed up to this point in his or her career.

The winner will receive promotion and publicity of their Angus cattle operation through the Canadian Angus Association, plus financial reward. Nominations are due by April 15.

For more information, please visit the Canadian Angus Foundation website at: www.cdnangus.ca/foundation/scholarships-bursaries-and-awards

meet Connor Douglas 2022

Junior Stockman

By Tina Zakowsky, Canadian Angus Association

Connor Douglas began farming when he was old enough to pretend farm with his toy tractors and trucks. His parents recall that he built his own silage pits when they were silaging and worked on his toy tractors and trucks when they needed repairs. Connor does not remember a time when he didn’t enjoy farming; his earliest memories are of having fun helping his dad.

When Connor was five years old, he received a crossbred Angus heifer. He joined 4-H at age 9 and in grade 5, he took a calf to school when the students were asked to bring something that described who they were and what they were interested in. Connor started in 4-H with steer projects and gradually added heifers which gave him exposure to the purebred industry. He bought his first purebred heifer when he was 10 and took an AI course at age 14. Connor received a diploma in agricommerce from Olds College where he gained knowledge of different aspects of farming as a business. He has taken an ultrasound course and is interested in taking an embryo transfer course to learn how to flush and implant his own cows.

Connors’ parents say that he has been making the majority of the cattle and bull purchasing decisions on his family farm since he was in high school. Connor has sold bulls off the farm for about four years, and continues to sell heifers in the Northern Select Sale. He works off the farm as an equipment operator but remains very involved in the family operation and hopes to return to fulltime farming in the next few years. He has about 20 purebred Angus females, a couple of mature bulls and some commercial cattle of his own, and is working on a gradual succession plan to take over the farm from his parents. In the future when Connor’s parents have retired, he would like to shift the cattle herd to an even split between purebred and commercial cattle, using the commercial cattle as recipient dams.

Connor constantly watches videos and speaks with fellow producers, continually trying to better his herd. He has an eye for cattle, he realizes why traits such as feet, udders, milk production and EPDs are important but he also wants to evaluate how the animals walk, what their disposition is like, and other physical traits.

Questions and Answers with Connor Douglas

Why did you join the Canadian Junior Angus program?

We had friends that raised Angus and that’s how we started in the Angus business. I attended a CJA show and I learned about the Association, Angus cattle and the type of people in the Angus business. We stuck with Angus because it felt right. The experience that we had and the knowledge we gained from so many other people fit with what I wanted to do with the cattle. I had a really good time and learned a lot.

How was Canadian Junior Angus beneficial to you?

I learned about advancements in technology that we have today with frozen semen, genetics and embryo transfer and ways to grow your herd using these technologies. I learned a lot through school and also by going to events and visiting different Angus breeders’ programs to see what others are able to do with their embryo transfers and how they have advanced their herds. That has

been a big advantage, being able to see in person how others have made things easier and more efficient.

When did you first know you wanted to stay involved with cattle ranching?

It was always something fun to do. It never felt like work, it was something I liked to do from a young age.

What has been one of your highlights or favourite memories of raising Angus cattle?

When I was 14, my dad and I went to Olds College and took their weekend AI course. That spring, I was able to breed a couple of heifers using what we learned. That’s been one of my greatest achievements: going through the program, being able to breed a heifer and watch her calve. It worked really well and we’ve done it every year since then.

How has your experience with the Canadian Junior Angus program been for you so far?

The knowledge is what really stands out for me. There are so many different people that you meet and there is so much to learn from them. When I go through the Canadian Angus website I can get so much information about my cow herd and other people’s cow herds. Through Canadian Junior Angus I get to talk to so many people and get different opinions and learn about experiences that I never thought about and hear about different perspectives.

What is the best thing about being in the Canadian Junior Angus program?

There are so many people and so many different ways of raising cattle and doing different things with genetics. I like to learn about what works for others that I maybe

haven’t thought about that might work for me too. I like the different points of view and being able to grow my herd off something that worked for someone else.

Why would you recommend the Canadian Junior Angus program to others?

When I went through the program it was the easiest experience to get into and feel comfortable in. I remember going to lots of junior shows. It can be intimidating for lots of people the first time if you don’t know many people, but so many people are able to give help and want to give help. There’s also a fun aspect, learning through playing games. It is probably the easiest thing to get into and feel welcome and be able to gain knowledge through different people without feeling like an outsider.

Do you have any advice for Juniors just starting in the Angus business?

If I could give some advice it would be to go to as many Angus functions as you possibly can. If you’re starting young there may be some things that you don’t understand that are complicated, but you will. The more events that you go to when you’re starting will make it easier down the road so you can understand and comprehend and you’ll meet different people and see how they do things so you can advance your program.

Want to learn more about the Junior Angus Stockman of the Year award?

The Junior Angus Stockman of the Year award was developed to recognize those outstanding young cattlemen who are constantly growing their ‘stockmanship’ capability by actively working with their Angus cattle; with actual farm involvement in day-today care of their livestock; learning the pedigrees and being actively involved in some breeding decisions within their operation; promoting their operation and cattle to the public through various and diversified means; growing their knowledge of nutrition, genetics and breeding; producing, selling and supporting demonstrable, reputable, notable, superior quality cattle; and understanding the relationship between our purebred Angus business and the commercial cattle and beef industry from the cow/calf producer through to the retail consumer experience. Five finalists are selected from the nominations. The winner receives a financial reward and a custom trophy buckle. Nominations are due by April 15. For more information, please visit the Canadian Angus Foundation website at: www.cdnangus. ca/foundation/scholarships-bursariesand-awards

“Through Canadian Junior Angus I get to talk to so many people and get different opinions and learn about experiences that I never thought about and hear about different perspectives.”

GOAL 2023

February 18–20, 2023 Toronto, Ontario

The Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders (GOAL) Conference promotes leadership skills within the Angus breed. Junior members from all over the nation attend this three-day event that is held in a different location each year. During GOAL the Juniors hear from motivational and educational speakers, participate in workshops, get involved in teamwork activities and develop beef and industry knowledge. Juniors are also given the opportunity to network and socialize with fellow Junior Angus members.

Tina Zakowsky, Canadian Angus Association

Where Now? are They Then: Creating a Junior Association

(Pascoe) Cornish,

was also involved with the junior association almost from the beginning.

To get some ideas about how to run a national show, CAA sent the steering committee to the national junior heifer show in Bashaw, Alberta. “It was extremely impactful,” says Paula. “We met so many new people and attended a top-notch event. We wanted to kind of mirror that event for the junior Angus association.” Through that process, the steering committee and newly formed junior board of directors created the association’s signature event, Showdown, held for the first time in 2000.

Paula recently had the opportunity to tour some Angus farms in western Canada. She went to Wilbar Cattle Company and visited with Bryan and Tracey Willms. Bryan was also on the steering committee and founding junior board. The three of them got talking about old times when they were on the board together. “I have friends all across the country thanks to the junior association. I can’t say enough about how important it is for kids and youth to get involved. It can ultimately shape who you are, who you want to become, and where you want to go,” Paula says.

In 1999, Paula (Pascoe) Cornish became the first president of the newly formed Canadian Junior Angus Association (now Canadian Junior Angus). She was heavily involved with Angus cattle, purchasing her first purebred animal in 1992 and starting to show cattle at age 13. This involvement made her a natural choice for the Ontario Angus Association when the Canadian Angus Association asked regional associations to select youths to sit on a steering committee to explore the creation of a national association for juniors.

The steering committee met at the same time and in the same location as the CAA board as the committee worked to determine what they wanted the junior association to look like, to develop a mission statement, and to decide what events they would like to have. At the time, Tracey (Edge) Willms was working for CAA and was asked to help organize the youth representatives. Canadian Junior Angus Coordinator Belinda Wagner

Paula was honoured when the board voted her to be first president of the junior association. She says it was a perfect fit as she loves working with and helping other people. “Sometimes I love my cows more than I love my family, they don’t ever talk back. I have huge passion for Angus cattle. For me, it was such a great way to meet people.” Even though she was soon too old for the junior program, she stayed on to help with the first few Showdowns.

Lasting Impact

Paula says that the junior association has helped shape who she is from a standpoint of being able to communicate with people, learning how to speak in public and how to conduct yourself at different functions. One of her fond memories is travelling with Doug Fee and Brian Good to the Maritimes to promote the junior Angus association at the Maritime Angus Field Day. “Learning how to interact has been so helpful and impactful throughout my whole life. The friendships that you make are lasting,” she says.

“There were so many great tours, events and people I met through promoting the junior Angus association—I don’t know where else you go to make those kind of connections. I’m still very thankful for the people I met, the experiences I had and the places I got to see that I wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity for,” she adds.

Paula and Scott’s son works for a feed company and their daughter loves to show cattle

Paula

Founding Canadian Junior Angus President

Now?

For the last 22 years, Paula has been an agriculture account manager with TD Canada Trust. She says that all of her CJA experiences have helped her with her job today.

At home, Paula, her husband Scott and their two children, ages 12 and 14, operate Whiskey Lane Livestock on 300 acres of land near Indian River, Ontario with 40 Angus cows and 40 Hereford cows. She remains heavily involved in Angus provincially, sitting on the board of her local club, on the Ontario Angus Association Board of Directors as past president, and she volunteers on the show committee of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and chaired the Angus show committee for the 100th anniversary show in 2022. “I have no plans to not be involved in Angus,” says Paula. “I very much enjoy meeting new people and helping new breeders experience the same types of things that I was fortunate enough to experience.”

She adds, “I was also involved with 4-H when I was growing up. It’s interesting to see how many people who have been involved in some form of a junior association are still involved in the breed now. I find it truly amazing.” She also finds it “heartwarming” that most of the youths who were on the steering committee are still involved with Angus in some form today. “I think it shows how powerful junior associations really are and how important it is to get involved with them. It’s not only the life skills and lessons that you’re going to learn, it’s also the people you meet and the friendships you form that will never go away.”

It’s All About the People

“We always had really good people behind us to promote us and encourage us to keep going,” Paula recalls. “I have to give a shout out to Belinda because she is probably one of the most organized, lovely, polite, common-sense ladies I’ve ever had the chance to work with. I truly believe that if she wasn’t behind the association, it wouldn’t be as good as it is. She’s phenomenal and I look up to her.”

Paula showing at the 100th anniversary Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

Paula and Scott judged the National Junior Beef Heifer show at the Royal in 2019

WLL 37E is a cow Whiskey Lane Livestock bred and sold to Golden Oak Livestock in Alberta

“I have friends all across the country thanks to the junior association. I can’t say enough about how important it is for kids and youth to get involved. It can ultimately shape who you are, who you want to become, and where you want to go.”

Now: “I have no plans to not be involved in Angus”

Where Now? are They

Tina Zakowsky, Canadian Angus Association

Catherine Colodey,

Then: Finding Her Way as the First Junior Ambassador

Competition was designed to recognize an outstanding junior Angus member who can ably demonstrate an ability to promote the Angus breed on a national and international level. The program was named for Canadian Angus Association Past President (1998) Robert (Bob) C. McHaffie.

Catherine Colodey grew up near Clyde River, Prince Edward Island. Bannockburn Valley Farm is a family farm established in 1832 that began raising purebred Angus in 1954. As a child, Catherine participated in music lessons, field hockey and band, but dedicated the majority of her extra-curricular time to 4-H, where she completed many livestock projects and learned to enjoy public speaking.

“I remember tagging along to monthly meetings before I was even old enough to join our local club,” recalls Catherine. “Watching the older club members with their project animals piqued my interest—I could hardly wait to enter the show ring myself. The first show that I could participate in was as a peewee at the Maritime Angus Field Day. The combination of excitement and nervousness, with the pride I had for my little black heifer calf (on a rope halter!) was surely what ignited my passion.”

The first junior ambassador contest was held as part of the Canadian Angus Association centennial celebration and annual general meeting in Brandon, Manitoba in 2005. The Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador

“Because of my positive experiences as a 4-H, Canadian and Maritime Junior Angus Association member, when the (junior ambassador) program was inaugurated in 2005 I was excited to apply, hoping that I might be chosen to be a finalist,” Catherine says. She took part in what she describes as a “rigorous” competition. Interested juniors submitted an essay application and five finalists were selected. “We represented a variety of provinces and agricultural backgrounds, but all shared our passion for the Angus breed. Throughout the weekend we were quizzed, interviewed and each one of us presented a speech to a crowd of some of the most highly honoured members of the Angus fraternity. We mixed and mingled, learned and shared, and at the banquet dinner it was announced that I would be honoured with the position of the inaugural Canadian Angus Ambassador!”

Catherine credits former Canadian Angus Foundation chair Elizabeth Peto, former General Manager Maureen Armitage and former CEO Doug Fee for developing the program and shepherding her through it. She attended a number of shows during her term, including Farmfair, Agribition, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Maritime Fall Fair, Nova Scotia and PEI provincial exhibitions, New Brunswick Beef Expo, the Royal Show in England and the Royal Highland Show in Scotland in addition to sales and junior

shows. “Although the show-ring competition could be fierce,” says Catherine, “the postshow socialization within the Angus fraternity and the wider beef community was always interesting, enlightening and the source of some enduring friendships. The Ambassador role provides a platform to promote the Angus breed and Angus breeders locally, nationally and internationally.”

First Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador

Catherine with ambassadors Jarret Perarowski, 2008 and Ricki Fleming, 2007

Past ambassadors at the 2014 CAA AGM

Now: Medical Director Living across the Country

When asked what stands out the most about her experience as the first Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador, Catherine says “The people all around this world who share their love of Angus is a connection that cannot easily be found elsewhere. Hearing about this shared passion that I found from coast to coast in Canada and also abroad in the UK during my international trip will always be my stand-out experience as Ambassador.”

Her experience as the first junior ambassador helped contribute to where she is today. “There is a great deal of confidence that can be gained from an experience like being Ambassador,” says Catherine. “I grew to love interacting with, learning from and sharing my own experience with others. This supported me in my acceptance into veterinary school and through the development of my now 12-year-long career. I now interact and share with people many times a day.”

In 2010, Catherine received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Prince Edward Island. She moved to Weyburn, Saskatchewan where she worked with her husband Cory Davis as mixed animal veterinarians at Prairie Animal Health Centre. In 2019 they moved to southern Alberta. Catherine currently acts as medical director at Green Acres Animal

Hospital

When Catherine completed her term, she said “I would encourage all juniors to consider applying for this ambassadorship. The competition alone will strengthen your commitment to and knowledge of, our breed and its breeders, and if you are successful you will gain a wealth of experience that will stand you in good stead whatever direction your life takes you.” She maintains this attitude and stance today, saying “As juniors, you have your future at your fingertips! I encourage anyone who wants to apply for a program like this to stop thinking about it and just do it. Whether you want to be your 4-H club secretary, a junior Angus representative on the board of directors, the president of your class or the Angus ambassador—you’ll never get to experience it if you don’t try.”

Robert C. McHaffie

Robert (Bob) C. McHaffie was born in Scotland and immigrated to Canada with his wife Margaret after serving in the Korean War. A shipbuilder by trade, he helped design and build many of the ferries used in British Columbia. Bob and his family also owned and operated White Lake Ranch in Central British Columbia.

Bob served two separate terms on the Canadian Angus Association Board of Directors. During his first term in the late 1980s he pushed hard for the Association to take advantage of Canadian tax law and establish a Foundation which could fund a junior program and develop enthusiasm among young people for agriculture and the Angus breed. The Foundation was approved and became operational in 1992.

As part of her tenure, Catherine posed for a poster that encouraged Angus enthusiasts to show their pride in Angus. She was such a good sport about her role as a literal poster figure that she posed for a photo wearing the same Angus vest in her wedding dress.

Business and family commitments did not allow Bob to seek re-election but he did run again and was elected in 1995. Once again, Bob pushed for a better junior program. He made it his priority when assuming the presidency of the Association in 1998 that a national Junior program be established and a staff member designated to oversee it. When the Foundation established the ambassador program, it was unanimously agreed that it should be designated as the Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador to recognize the person who was instrumental in starting both the Foundation and the Canadian Junior Angus Association.

in Lethbridge and Cory is part owner of Taber Cattle Clinic.

“The people all around this world who share their love of Angus is a connection that cannot easily be found elsewhere.”

Canadian Junior Angus and Young Breeder

ITIES N TU R O P P O

Scholarships

Foundation Legacy Scholarship | Deadline: January 5

Three awards totalling $10,000 will be presented to Canadian Junior Angus members recognizing overall academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and industry knowledge. Awards in the amounts of $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000 will be presented.

Dick Turner Memorial Award | Deadline: May 15

The Dick Turner Memorial Award was established after the passing of legendary Angus icon Dick Turner. During his lifetime, Dick committed 55 years of his career to livestock publishing and successfully promoted and advertised the Angus breed specifically through the Canadian Aberdeen Angus News magazine. One $1,000 scholarship is presented annually.

Canadian Junior Angus Scholarships | Deadline: June 15

A total of three scholarships will be awarded in the amounts of $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000.

Awards

Junior Angus Stockman of the Year | Nominations due April 15

The Junior Angus Stockman of the Year award recognizes outstanding young cattlemen who are constantly growing their capacity by actively working with their Angus cattle, promoting their operation and cattle to the public, growing their knowledge of nutrition, genetics and breeding, and producing/selling quality Angus cattle. Five finalists will be selected from the nominations and will each receive $250. The winner will receive a $5,000 bursary to be used for genetics, cattle supplies/equipment, and/or training, along with travel assistance to attend Showdown.

Outstanding Young Angus Breeder | Nominations due April 15

The Outstanding Young Angus Breeder award was developed to recognize an Angus breeder between the ages of 22 and 30 who has demonstrated a desire to stay involved in the Angus business based on their involvement within the breed up to this point in his/her career. The winner will receive $5,000.

CAF Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador | Applications due April 30

The Junior Ambassador acts as a role model for youth and represents members of the Canadian Angus Association. It is an opportunity to network with leaders in the agriculture industry and learn from them. Five finalists are selected from the applications and they each receive a $1,000 scholarship and a finalist buckle as well as assistance to attend Convention where they will compete for the Ambassador title. Ambassadors have the opportunity to attend at least one international event and various major agricultural events in Canada.

Bursaries

GOAL Travel Bursaries | Deadline: January 1

Bursaries of up to $750 will be awarded to12 deserving CJA members from anywhere in Canada. Bursaries must be used within the same year awarded to help offset travel and registration costs for attending the GOAL Conference.

Showdown Travel & Trucking Bursaries | Deadline: May 25 & June 1

Bursaries of up to $750 will be awarded to six deserving CJA members from anywhere in Canada. Bursaries must be used within the same year awarded to help offset travel costs for attending Showdown. Trucking assistance is also available for those who travel over 1,000 km one way.

U.S. Exchange Program | Deadline: May 31

Canadian Junior Angus members have the opportunity to attend the Junior Red Angus Association Round-Up and the National Junior Angus LEAD Conference each summer, and in return members of the JRA and NJAA attend Showdown or GOAL.

Connecting Food and Farm Bursary

The Connecting Food and Farm Travel Bursary was developed to encourage urban or non-livestock youth to attend one of our events with a current member to learn about the industry. Examples of events may include but are not limited to GOAL Conference, the Canadian Angus National Convention or livestock shows.

Self-Directed National or International Travel Bursaries

The Self-Directed National or International Travel Bursaries were developed to assist young Angus breeders with financial travel assistance for conferences or events related to the beef cattle industry. For members aged 18–30.

For more information contact Belinda Wagner at (306) 537-1518 or at bwagner@cdnangus.ca www.cdnangus.ca/foundation www.cdnangus.ca/canadian-junior-angus

Internship Opportunity Application

Deadline: March 3, 2023

The Canadian Angus Association and Canadian Angus Foundation are collaborating on a summer internship that will provide a hardworking youth with exposure to many elements of the day-to-day operations at the Canadian Angus Association. The successful applicant will gain a full understanding of CAA activities.

Responsibilities will cover the entire spectrum of CAA programs and that will include supporting:

- Canadian Junior Angus program

- Canadian Angus Foundation

- Marketing and communications initiatives

- Historical preservation and restoration

- Archiving

- Commercial engagement

- Supporting new technology development

- Research support

Additional tasks will depend upon CAA needs and the intern’s skills and interests. See www.cdnangus.ca/about-caa/team for the full job posting and submit your application to ayuen@cdnangus.ca.

Junior Exchange Experience: Isaac Berg

Tina Zakowsky, Canadian Angus Association

Isaac Berg was born and raised in Pipestone, Minnesota. He grew up with pigs, cattle and sheep. Isaac is the youngest of four children, so he was helping care for animals on the farm from a young age. “For show purposes,” he explains, “we share everything and we share the workload and act as a family.” Isaac’s dad signed him up for Junior Red Angus (JRA) when he was around 5 years old.

Like many young people who grew up in the agriculture industry, he says that he met a lot of really good close friends through JRA. When he was 11 years old, he attended his first JRA Roundup. He still remembers the 12-hour drive to Montana to attend the summer event that combines cattle tours, educational programs, the JRA board elections, and opportunities to compete in contests designed to build leadership and stockman skills. He has only missed one Roundup since.

Through Roundup, he met Canadians who were attending through the junior exchange program. “I enjoyed their different perspectives on how they operate and do

things differently, which is a huge reason to participate in Roundup: to gain a different perspective about how other people overcome adversities and make the best of their circumstances,” says Isaac. “Ever since I learned that kids from Canada came to join our event, I wanted to go up to Canada and experience what they had to offer.” Isaac had that opportunity in May 2022 when he was able to travel to Saskatoon for GOAL (Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders) 2.0.

Isaac arrived late, and Canadian Junior Angus director Robert Geis picked him up from the airport. “He welcomed me like a friend that he already knew,” says Isaac. It was the start of a great experience. Over the next few days on the tours and presentations, Isaac really enjoyed what others had to say and found it interesting to learn how much different Canada is than Minnesota where he grew up and South Dakota where he is currently attending school.

What stands out most for Isaac from GOAL isn’t related to cattle. “Something I didn’t realize is that for swine production Canadians use barley meal and we use soy bean meal. I never thought of using anything else besides soy bean meal as a source of protein for swine

production. I see the resemblance in protein matter. It makes sense for us to use soybean meal in our climate whereas it wouldn’t have as high a yield as barley would in Canada.”

He adds, “I really enjoyed that the Canadian Angus head of genetics (Kajal Devani, Director of Science and Technology) came and talked and hung out for the weekend. It really piqued my interest when she talked about genetics as I’m trying to learn more and possibly pursue a career in genetics. I was able to pick her brain a little bit when she gave me a ride to the airport after the conference. I really enjoyed what she had to say.”

Isaac has also met other Canadian Junior Angus members through school in the United States, including 2022 Junior Angus Stockman Kodie Doetzel and 2021 Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Riley Leeson. When he came to GOAL in Canada, he met mutual friends of Kodie and Riley that helped him feel comfortable and welcome.

Isaac says that he thoroughly enjoyed his experience in Canada. “I appreciated being there to see a different perspective and share my thoughts as well.”

Junior Exchange Experience: Naomi Best

Tina Zakowsky, Canadian Angus Association

Naomi Best of Harding, Manitoba was a Canadian Junior Angus (CJA) member for 13 years. She served on the board and credits CJA for helping her become who she is today. “Being able to attend various events, whether it was cattle shows, seminars or conferences, really allowed me to expand my connections with likeminded Angus enthusiasts or with those who are outside our industry,” she says.

In 2019, Naomi and Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Lexi Hicks attended the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) Conference, hosted by the National Junior Angus Association in Nashville, Tennessee. LEAD is similar to the CJA annual Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders (GOAL) Conference. Through their attendance at LEAD, the following January they both had the opportunity to attend the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Young Beef Leaders Seminar in Wooster, Ohio.

Naomi says that she and Lexi immediately felt welcome. “We were greeted by the National Junior Angus Association board and instantly made connections with them. The hospitality was exceptional and the

itineraries were jam packed with wonderful guest speakers, small road trips and the whole event ran smoothly. At the time

I didn’t realize that I would be building friendships that would last a lifetime. It was neat to see the similarities and differences in our junior programs, and beyond that, how Angus genetics are marketed in each country.

I still find myself reflecting on the knowledge or stories shared and am beyond thankful for the experiences I’ve had.”

Through the junior exchange program, Naomi has made lasting friendships. “At GOAL each year, we have members of the National Junior Angus Association and Junior Red Angus come up to Canada to take in our conference. The American

Junior Exchange Program

board members that attended GOAL 2018 in Winnipeg happened to be at the LEAD Conference in Nashville in 2019 and the CAB Seminar in Ohio in 2020. I continue to stay in touch with those individuals, and it’s neat to see where our life paths have taken us after our junior careers came to an end.”

Naomi encourages other juniors to apply for the program. “It was interesting to learn about the similarities and differences within our associations and bring back some ideas to our own board that could better serve our junior membership,” says Naomi. “I highly recommend all juniors take advantage of the opportunities offered to them while they’re eligible, as the experiences are everlasting.”

If you are interested in representing Canadian Junior Angus in the United States, visit www.cdnangus.ca/canadian-junior-angus and go to the Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries tab to access the application form.

Requirements for application and consideration for selection as one of the CJA representatives are:

a. Must be a current CJA member

b. Must be at least 18 years old or travel with a parent c. Must be able to attend the whole event d. Must include a photo (to be used in publications) A short essay is also required.

- Jesse, Sarah, Ila & Holden -

The kids and I would like to extend our deepest thanks for all of the support we have been shown after the tragic loss of Nanna. Thank you to all who organized, donated, delivered bulls, fed cows, or just called to check in and share a good story. We are forever grateful.

Moving our sale date is something that has been in our conversations for a few years. With high school sports and a busy calving season; this change is just a step to simplify our lives so we can continue to do what we love.

ARDA Farms

Black

BMB

Brooking

Canadian

Chapman Cattle Company 27

Clarke Family Farms Inc. 73

Count Ridge Red Angus 146

Crescent Creek Angus

Cudlobe Angus 69

Delorme Ranch 125

Diamond T Cattle Co.

Easy Ray Angus 106

Ellsmere Farms Ltd. 172

Flesch Angus 173

Flying K Ranch 151

Garvie Mountain Angus 161

Gemstone Cattle Company 136

Glennie Bros. Angus 66

Hamco Cattle Co. 150

Hamilton Farms 8–9

Hazel Bluff Angus 19

Heart of the Valley Farms 45

Heart Valley Angus 18

Heinz Cattle Co 170

JAS Red Angus 35

JPM Farms Ltd 37

KT Ranches 168

L&S Livestock 172

L83 Ranch 114

Lazy S Ranch 23

Leeuwenburgh Angus 3 Lewis Farms 165 Mac Angus Farms 129

Mar Mac Farms 75

MJT Cattle Co. Ltd. Inside Front

Moose Creek Red Angus 74

MWC Investments Inc. 165

Nesset Lake Angus 164

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Nordal Limousin and Angus 72

Ole Farms 62

Outlaw Coulee Ranch 58

Pedersen Livestock 108

Poplar Meadows Angus 61

Pugh Farms 60

Rainbow Hills Ranch 93

Ranch Covey Hill 129

Ravenworth Cattle 6

Rebel Creek Angus 78

Reid Angus 59

Remitall Farms 128

Rivercrest Angus 17

Rodgers Red Angus 19

Schaff Angus Valley 55

Scott Stock Farm 111

Semex 147

Shiloh Cattle Company 110

Six Mile Ranch Ltd. 107

Skull Creek Ranches 58

Spruce View Angus 28

Standard Hill Livestock 172

Thistle Ridge Ranch 98

Triple L Angus 91

Ward’s Red Angus 124

Wheatley River Farm 172

Wheeler’s Stock Farm 94

Yarrow Creek 113

Young Dale Angus 67

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