SPRING 20 20 NEW SLETTER
Ap ril 20 20 M essa ge f rom t he President : Covid -19 h as b rou g h t ch allen g es t o all sect ors of b u sin ess. Navig at in g ou r w ay t h rou g h sp rin g b u ll sales h as b een d iff icu lt an d t h e u n cert ain t y of m arket con d it ion s h ave seen a d eclin e b eef p rices an d p art icu larly b reed in g b u lls. Th an k you t o all t h e con sig n ors an d p u rch asers of Sp eck led Park cat t le t h is sp rin g . Th e in t erest in Sp eck led Park g en et ics con t in u es t o in crease even d u rin g t ryin g t im es. W it h all t h e h ead lin es ab ou t t h e p rocessin g p lan t s lat ely t h ere ap p ears t o b e even fu rt h er p ressu re on t h e b eef in d u st ry. If p rocessin g p lan t s w ere d eem ed an essen t ial service, t o p rovid e food , job s an d reven u e t o t h e b eef p rod u cer it w ou ld cert ain ly h elp t o st ab ilize b eef p ricin g . At a t im e w h en p eop le are u n cert ain ab ou t t h e viru s an d are h oard in g it em s su ch as t oilet p ap er, d isin fect an t , m eat , m ilk an d eg g s, t h e last t h in g w e n eed is for food p rocessin g p lan t s t o b e sh u t d ow n . For m an y b eef p rod u cers t h e m arket ou t look is u n cert ain b u t farm ers are resilien t an d w ill su rvive t h is p an d em ic as w ell. Th ere are m an y g overn m en t p rog ram s availab le t o h elp b u sin esses in clu d in g farm b u sin esses. Th ere are 10 % w ag e su b sid ies t o all, som e m ay q u alify for t h e 75% w ag e su b sid y, $4 0,0 0 0 in t erest f ree u n t il D ecem b er 20 22 b u sin ess loan s, d eferral of in com e t ax an d em p loyee rem it t an ces an d ot h ers. It is w ort h d iscu ssin g t h ese w it h you r b ook keep er an d accou n t an t . You can also look u p ?Can ad a?s Covid -19 Econ om ic Resp on se Plan ? u n d er w w w .can ad a.ca On a m ore p osit ive n ot e, Sp eck le Park reg ist rat ion s con t in u e t o in crease year over year. Th an k you t o all t h e b reed ers w h o h ave SNP t est ed you r m at u re an im als. To d at e over 170 0 h ave b een t est ed d u rin g ou r t ran sit ion t o SNP p rof ile. CSPA con t in u es t o p ay for m icro-sat ellit e p aren t ag e verif icat ion on 20 20 b orn calves if t h e p aren t s h ave n ot yet b een SNP t est ed . Th e associat ion w ill con t in u e t o p ay t h is fee u n t il D em em b er 31/20 so w e en cou rag e you t o g et you r cat t le t est ed . I am p leased t o rep ort t h at CSPA h as b een ab le t o u t ilize a g ood am ou n t of fu n d in g availab le t h rou g h CBBC t o assist in t h e re-b ran d in g of ou r associat ion an d b reed . W e w ill con t in u e t o look for w ays t o u t ilize fu n d in g t o p rom ot e ou r b reed . W e are all in t h is t og et h er an d w ill su rvive an ot h er crisis. St ay safe an d w ell,
Ken Friesen, CSPA President
Ap ril 20 20 From t he CSPA Off ice: Sp rin g h as b rou g h t a u n iq u e sit u at ion t o all g lob ally w it h t h e ch allen g es faced f rom Covid -19. W e ap p lau d t h e effort s of ou r sp rin g sale con sig n ors m akin g socially resp on sib le ch oices m ovin g t o p red om in an t ly on lin e sale form at s an d t h an k all b u yers for t h eir con t in u ed su p p ort of Sp eck le Park Gen et ics. A f rien d ly rem in d er t h at all b u lls w h o sired 20 20 calves b ein g reg ist ered m u st b e t est ed for t h e 3 Gen om ic Trait s: Horn ed /Polled , Coat Colou r & M yost at in . A d ifferen t p ersp ect ive on t h e cu rren t sit u at ion is t h e focu s of rem ain in g ad ap t ab le t o m arket circu m st an ces. Th e b eef sect or h as b een faced w it h ch allen g es b efore su ch as t h e BSE ou t b reak in 20 0 0. Th e d ollar in vest m en t of h old in g an im als lon g er an d lim it ed in t ake of Ab b at oirs accross Can ad a w ill en cou rag e all st akeh old ers in t h e b eef su p p ly ch ain t o re-evalu t e cost s associat ed w it h t h eir p rog ram s. As a b reed , w e can focu s on t h e q u alit y t rait s valu ed in Sp eck le Park : M od erat e Fram e, Red u ced Feed con su m p t ion w it h g ood con version an d su p erior b eef t o t h e en d u ser. Th e im p ort an ce of t h ese m erit s cou ld b e vit al t o t h e lon g t erm su st ain ab ilit y of b eef p rog ram s. Th e Associat ion w an t s t o sh are st ories of w h y t h ese t rait s are im p ort an t t o ou r cu st om ers! If you kn ow p eop le u sin g Sp eck le Park in t h eir com m erical p rog ram s, in feed lot s, g rassfed op erat ion s, b u t ch er sh op s or rest au ran t s, w e w ou d like t o h ear f rom t h em t o sh are feat u re st ories on Social M ed ia. Please con t act t h e CSPA Off ice for m ore in form at ion .
St ay Healt h y an d St ay Safe. Best Reg ard s, W hitney D e D ecker, CSPA Business M a na ger 519-50 0 -8930 in fo@can ad ian sp eck lep ark .ca
New slet t er Cover Ph ot o cred it : W olf Lake Sp eck le Park
AGM ANNOUNCEM ENT D ear CSPA M em b ers, Th e Can ad ian Sep ck le Park Associat ion h as m ad e t h e d iff icu lt d ecision t o can cel t h is year's in p erson AGM d u e t o COVID 19 rest rict ion s. D et ails w ill b e released in M ay reg ard in g an on lin e W eb AGM t o b e h eld in Au g u st . New AGM Not ices w ill b e issu ed on ce d et ails are con f irm ed . W e valu e everyon e's h ealt h an d safet y an d w ill m ove forw ard w it h p lan n in g t h e on lin e AGM con feren ce t o p rovid e m em b ersh ip w it h an an n u al u p d at e an d vot in g . New AGM n ot ices w ill b e sen t via em ail an d h ard cop y t o t h ose m em b ers w h o d o n ot h ave elect ron ic com m u n icat ion . W e look forw ard t o seein g everyon e in 20 21, w h ich w ill b e h eld in t h is year's p lan n ed locat ion : Saskat oon , SK.
CSPA Ju n ior Prog ram s 4 -H Yout h Aw a rds Has you r ch ild 's ach eivem en t d ay b een can celled ? Th e Can ad ian Sp eck le Park Associat ion is st ill p resen t in g aw ard s t o 4 -H You t h w it h Sp eck le Park or Sp eck le Park In flu en ced Project s!
Crit eria: -
Have you r Clu b Lead er f ill ou t t h e p roject form ap p licat ion con f irm in g t h e Sp eck le Park p roject calf. Su b m it a p h ot o w it h you r ch ild in t h eir 4 H sh ow at t ire p resen t in g t h eir calf g room ed an d fu lly set u p .
4 -H Bursa ry Applica t ions CSPA is accep t in g ap p licat ion s for t h e 20 20 Bu rsary Prog ram . Tw o Bu rsaries of $50 0 w ill b e availab le t o ap p ly for an d b e u sed in 20 21. Ap p licat ion s w ill b e availab le in M ay.
New CSPA Yout h Em a il Address CSPA h as a n ew you t h em ail. Please con t act You t h Coord in at or Heat h er Bru n d ig e you t h @can ad ian sp eck lep ark .ca for all 4 H Aw ard an d You t h Prog ram in q u iries.
Breed D evelop m en t La kela nd College Bull Test Progra m M em b ers of t h e Can ad ian Sp eck le Park Associat ion (CSPA) h ad t h e op p ort u n it y t o p art icip at e in a Lakelan d Colleg e Bu ll Test St at ion in Verm illion , Alb ert a t h is p ast w in t er. Th e p rog ram w as in it iat ed b y CSPA m em b ers an d Lakelan d Colleg e in ord er t o collect d at a t h at can b e u sed for im p rovin g a p rod u cer's h erd an d t h e Sp eck le Park b reed . Th e focu s of t h e t est w as t o m easu re Resid u al feed in t ake (RFI) of select yearlin g Sp eck le Park Bu lls. 5 p rod u cers p art icip at ed w it h a t ot al of 59 p u reb red sp eck le p ark b u lls an d t h e p rog ram ran f rom Novem b er 18, 20 19 t o Feb ru ary 19, 20 20.
Resid u al feed in t ake (RFI) is t h e feed -eff icien cy m easu re an d is in d ep en d en t of an im al size an d p rod u ct ion level. St u d ies h ave sh ow n t h at feed -eff icien t an im als at t ract h ig h er feed -cost savin g s an d less m et h an e p rod u ct ion . Th is im p lies t h at feed eff icien cy im p rovem en t s at t h e h erd level p rom ot es favou rab le econ om ic an d en viron m en t al im p act s in t h e eff icien t st ock . Assessin g b u lls for RFI p resen t s an op p ort u n it y t o im p rove t h e feed eff icien cy of offsp rin g b ecau se t h e t rait is m od erat ely h erit ab le. Evalu at in g yearlin g b u lls for feed eff icien cy h elp s m ake fast er g en et ic p rog ress for cow -calf p rod u cers. Th e p rog ram assessed t h e RFI of 59 Sp eck le Park yearlin g b u lls an d u t ilized t h e t ech n olog y of au t om at ic feed an d w at erin g syst em s. An im al Use Prot ocol for t h e t est w as ap p roved b y Lakelan d Colleg e's An im al Care Com m it t ee. Th e p roject also in t eg rat ed t h e u se of In f ra-red t ech n olog y (IRT) via t h e n on -st ead y m et h od t o su p p ort valid at ion of IRT as an assessm en t t ool for RFI. To m easu re t h e RFI of each an im al feed in t ake, b od y w eig h t an d b od y com p osit ion (u lt rasou n d b od y fat ) w as d et erm in ed for each an im al d u rin g t h e t est .
Breed D evelop m en t Th e 59 b u lls u n d erw en t a 70 -d ay RFI t est . Th e b u lls w ere received at Lakelan d Colleg e an d w ere acclim at ized t o t h e au t om at ic feed in g eq u ip m en t an d t est d iet for 21 d ays p rior t o t h e act u al feed in t ake t est (t ot al = 91 d ays). Th e t est rat ion com p rised b arley g rain , corn silag e an d soyb ean m eal, on d ry m at t er (D M ) b asis. Con secu t ive b od y w eig h t s w ere collect ed at t h e st art an d en d of t h e t est . In ad d it ion , t h e b od yw eig h t s w ere also collect ed every 2w ks t o t rack averag e d aily g ain (AD G). Ult rasou n d m easu res of rib fat t h ickn ess, ru m p fat t h ickn ess an d in t ram u scu lar fat w ere collect ed t ow ard s t h e en d of t h e t est . Th e RFI valu es ran g ed b et w een -7.56 t o +5.11 lb /d ay. An im als w it h n eg at ive RFI reflect t h ose t h at con su m ed less feed t h an exp ect ed an d are con sid ered feed -eff icien t w h ile t h ose w it h p osit ive RFI valu es are t h ose w h ose act u al feed in t ake exceed ed t h e exp ect ed in t ake levels (b ased on b od y size an d p rod u ct ion ). At t h e con clu sion of t h e t est , each p art icip an t h ad t h e ch oice t o sh are t h e d at a collect ed on t h eir an im als or t o keep it p rivat e. M an y fact ors g o in t o d ecid in g w h at b u ll t o u se on a h erd an d RFI is an im p ort an t t ool t h at can b e u sed in t h e d ecision -m akin g p rocess. It is an t icip at ed t h e t rial an d resu lt s w ill b e p resen t ed at t h e u p com in g 20 20 CSPA An n u al M eet in g . If you w ou ld like m ore in form at ion or w ou ld like t o p art icip at e in n ext year's t est t rial p lease con t act Su sie Jack at st evean d su sie@m csn et .ca. Th an k you t o Lakelan d Colleg e an d t o all Sp eck le Park p rod u cers w h o p art icip at ed in t h is p rog ram . A su m m ary of t h e t est resu lt s is as follow s: Category
Description
High
Low
Average
Age
Age of bull
337
234
270
DMI
Dry matter
28.26
14.44
21.52
RumpFat
Ultrasound
0.43
0.07
0.18
RibFat
Ultrasound
0.24
0.07
0.14
REA
Ultrasound
14.1
8.5
11.52
IMF
Ultrasound
5.14
1.57
3.12
SOTWT
Start of test
914.01
565.49
743.29
ADG
Average daily
3.68
1.5
2.5
MWT
Mid test
217.82
153.49
188.43
EndWt
End of test
1104.54
697.31
918.84
FCE
Feed
0.19
0.06
0.12
FCR
Feed
16.64
5.37
8.81
RFI
Residual feed
5.11
-7.56
-1.77
EFI
Expected feed
24.18
19.42
21.69
Breed D evelop m en t Gen om ic Test in g in Can ad ian Sp eck le Park Herd s Go t o an y Can ad ian livest ock sh ow an d in b ot h t h e b arn s an d w in n in g in t h e sh ow rin g you w ill see b lack cat t le w it h w h it e p at t ern s kn ow n as t h e Sp eck le Park b reed . Th e Sp eck le Park (SP) b reed is u n iq u e in m an y asp ect s; t h e n ot iceab le colou r p at t ern of t h e an im als, t h e q u alit y of t h e carcass an d t h e fact t h at it is on ly t h e secon d Can ad ian b eef b reed t o b e g iven d ist in ct b reed st at u s. Th is b reed h as b een exp erien cin g in creases in h erd size locally as w ell as g lob al aw aren ess. Th e g row t h of t h e b reed is at t rib u t ed t o t h e b reed ?s st ron g m at ern al ch aract erist ics, con sist en t carcass q u alit y, p olled an im als w it h calm d isp osit ion s, h yb rid vig ou r, an d t h eir feed eff icien cy. W it h SP cat t le b ein g t h e com b in at ion of d ifferen t b reed s, t h e g en et ic m an ag em en t of t h ese an im als is essen t ial t o b reed p reservat ion an d im p rovem en t . So h ow can w e u se D NA t est in g t o m an ag e t h e b reed h erit ag e as w ell as g en et ic im p rovem en t ? Prod u cers can u se p aren t ag e verif icat ion t est in g t o id en t ify w h o t h e sire is of each calf for b ot h m an ag em en t an d reg ist rat ion ; m akin g su re on ly t h e p rod u ct ive, p rof it ab le sires con t in u e t o b e u sed . Test in g for d esired t rait s w h et h er it b e p olled cat t le, coat colou r, or ot h er g en et ic con d it ion s, can h elp in ach ievin g sp ecif ic g oals. Screen in g for g en et ic con d it ion s an d ab n orm alit ies is im p ort an t in en su rin g t h e lon g evit y an d h ealt h of you r h erd an d t h e an im als t h at you are sellin g . Com m ercial p rod u cers can u se g en om ic p rof iles as a t ool in t h eir h eifer select ion p rocess t o en su re an y ch allen g es or sh ort com in g s in t h eir h erd can b e ad d ressed an d evolved . Gen om ic t est in g is a very valu ab le t ool t h at sh ow s t h e g en et ic m erit of each an im al t o h elp m ake b et t er an d in form ed b reed in g d ecision s t h at h ave a p osit ive econ om ic im p act . A key q u est ion t o ask is w h y are you g en om ic t est in g ? Is it t o g et an an im al reg ist rat ion n u m b er? Is it t o m arket h erd sires w it h m ore accu rat e EPD?s? Or is it b ecau se you h ave id en t if ied som e areas of im p rovem en t in you r h erd ? Herd s evolve as sp ecif ic h erit ab le t rait s are p assed d ow n over t h e g en erat ion s an d t h e m ore you kn ow ab ou t w h at h erit ab le t rait s you are b reed in g sh ow s you w h at you can select for or ag ain st . On e valu ab le asp ect of g en om ic t est in g t h at g ives in sig h t in t o you r b u lls p erform an ce is p aren t ag e t est in g . In seed st ock or com m ercial p rod u ct ion w h o u se m u lt i sire p ast u res it is im p ort an t t o kn ow w h ich b u lls are p erform in g an d d eliverin g resu lt s. Feed in g , vaccin at in g , d ew orm in g , t ran sp ort in g , reg ist erin g , et c. of a b u ll is a larg e in vest m en t . Paren t ag e t est in g you r calves for you r b u lls p erform an ce can p rove if t h ey are w ort h t h at in vest m en t . For com m ercial p rod u cers it is h ig h ly valu ab le t o kn ow w h ich b u lls are p rod u cin g t h e h ig h est w eig h t w ean ed calves or t h e b est rep lacem en t h eifers. In ad d it ion t o p aren t ag e, g en om ic t est in g can g ive in sig h t on m an y d ifferen t t rait s. W h en a calf in h erit s it s D NA f rom it s p aren t s it in h erit s d ifferen t g en es. Th ese g en es can exp ress d ifferen t visib le t rait s. Th ese can in clu d e w h et h er t h e an im al is p olled or h orn ed , w h at colou r t h e coat is, an d w h et h er t h e an im al is d ou b le m u scled .
Breed D evelop m en t Seed st ock an d com m ercial SP p rod u cers are alw ays lookin g t o m axim ize t h e g en et ic g ain w it h in t h eir h erd , h ow ever p art of t h at is en su rin g t h at you are n ot b reed in g g en et ic d isord ers or con d it ion s in t o you r h erd . In SP cat t le a g en et ic d isord er t h at n eed s t o b e screen ed is M yost at in n t 821 (M 1), a st rain of d ou b le m u sclin g . M 1 is a m u t at ion in t h e D NA t h at resu lt s in t h e an im al ap p earin g very h eavily m u scled w it h a larg e rou n d ed ru m p w it h lit t le fat cover an d t h e b on es of t h e an im al w ill b e t h in . Th is varian t of M yost at in can also lead t o calvin g issu es. Th is con d it ion is m ost easily m an ag ed w it h g en om ic t est in g . Gen om ic t est in g w ill verify w h ich SP an im als are carriers t o h elp m ake m ore in form ed d ecision s t o m an ag e t h is d isord er an d can also g ive t h e p rod u cer p eace of m in d an d cred ib ilit y t o focu s on t h eir h erd p rod u ct ivit y g oals. To focus on specific goals, many Canadian beef breed associations use a genetic evaluation based on a 50K density SNP panel test (Bovine GGP-50K) that uses the genetic information to predict the performance and genetic merit of economically important traits. Although there is no breedspecific genetic evaluation for SP breeders today, until this tool exists, SP producers can useNeogen?s Igenity® Beef Profile. The Igenity® Beef Profile draws off the database from International Genetic Solutions (IGS), the company that provides the majority of genetic evaluations for Canadian beef breed associations. Using a common database for genetic evaluations ensures consistency and relevance for SP breeders and commercial beef producers alike. Using the Igenity® Beef Profile breeders can use the results much like an EPD chart. The Igenity® Beef Profile evaluates 16 traits and provides a score of 1-10 on each trait. These traits include maternal, performance and carcass traits. A producer can use these traits to help make selections to achieve their herd goals. For example, if a producer has identified that their weaning weights are not consistent across the herd or they are declining in recent years, using the Igenity® Beef Profile they can select replacement heifers who have high milk and weaning weight scores to transition the herd. Another profile that the commercial producer can use in addition to the Igenity® Beef Profile is Envigor? . Envigor? is the first and only testmeasuring the level of heterosis in crossbred cattle. Reported on a scale of 1 to 10, the results can be used as an indication of hybrid vigor. A higher score indicates increased heterosis.The benefits of hybrid vigor are increased fertility, lower cull rates, and more lbs. weaned per cow exposed.Making Igenity® Beef Profile+Envigor? a powerful replacement heifer selection tool to select females that will not only excel because of increased heterosis and genetic potential, but also pass that same genetic potential on to their progeny for many generations. Genomic testing can help each SP producer whether seedstock or commercial reach their goals in their herds faster. Through genomic testing SP producers can identify the polled, Myostatin free cattle that have the desired coat colour who will contribute genetic improvement to their herd and breed. Commercial producers can contact Neogen Canada directly to use the Igenity® Beef Profile and Envigor? in their herds. Then the producer can take the 1-10 scores on the 16 traits plus the measure of heterosis to make more informed breeding decisions to get them to their goals.
M ar k et in g 20 20 Ag rib it ion Ju dge: Scot t Sch aak e, M an h at t an KS Dr. Scott Schaake was raised on a cow-calf ranch/row crop operation near Lawrence, Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1984 with a B.S. in Animal Sciences and Industry. He earned his M.S. at Clemson University and Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky, specializing in Meat Science. He served as the coach of the Kansas State Livestock Judging Team from 1992 to 2013, leading his teams to five consecutive national championships during his tenure. Dr. Schaake has judged livestock shows in 40 states, Canada, Mexico and South America. He and his wife, Kandi, live in Westmoreland, Kansas, where they manage more than 80 head of registered Simmental cattle. Their program utilizes an extensive AI and ET program designed around successful, proven cow families. They take pride in building their herd around cattle that are sound, functional and display genetic excellence not only in the show ring, but most importantly when put in production. Sons Shane, his wife, Melissa, and Shilo remain actively involved in the growth of Schaake Farms, and assist with the marketing of their genetics.
20 20 Royal & Farm Fair Ju d g e Select ion CSPA d id n ot receive an y n om in at ion s for 20 20 Farm fair an d is op en in g ju d g e n om in at ion s for t h e Royal Ag ricu lt u ral W in t er Fair & Farm fair t o all p aid CSPA M em b ers. Please con f irm you r n om in at ion is w illin g t o let t h eir n am e st an d p rior t o su b m ission . Nom in at ion s m ay b e sen t t o: in fo@can ad ian sp eck lep ark .ca b y M ay 15t h .
Sh are Sp eck le Park Cu st om er Resu l t s! Th e Associat ion is lookin g for su ccess st ories f rom Com m ercial Prod u cers, Feed lot s, Bu t ch ers & Rest au ran t s on w h y t h ey u se Sp eck le Park t o ru n feat u re st ories. If you h ave cu st om ers t h at are w illin g t o sh are t h eir st ory p lease con t act t h e CSPA Off ice.
Com m ercial Sp eck le Park Feed lot Trial in On t ario
Th e Sp eck le Park Feed lot t rials con t in u e at D ib b h u rst Farm s. In t ial w eig h in rep ort s f rom On t ario sh ow slig h t ly less rat e of g ain b u t n ot iceab ly less feed con su m p t ion com p ared t o ot h er p en s of Tan , Ch arolais cross an im als. Th e feed lot is h ap p y w it h p erform an ce t h u s far an d w ill h ave an u p d at ed rep ort w it h d at a in t h e com in g m on t h s.