Beef Horizons Fall 2017 by CRI Canada

FALL 2017

VOLUME 22 / NUMBER 1

BEEF HORIZONS

Genex

CRI Canada

Cooperative, Inc. A Subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International

SERVING YOU

FIRST

First in the industryः • PregCheck™ Fertility Rankings • Chute-side Service • Large Herd Solutions

BEEF HORIZONS FALL 2017 VOL. 22/NO. 1

Published annually for beef producers in Canada. PULICATION NUMBER 40022882

Return undeliverable mail to: CRI Canada 291 Woodlawn Rd W U4C Guelph, Ontario N1H 7L6 TEL: 888.354.4622 EMAIL: cricanada@crinet.com WEBSITE: www.crinet.ca

BEEF HORIZONS STAFF Lindsay Johnson, Editor Andy Graf, Graphic Designer

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

As beef producers we know you wear many hats – accountants, veterinarians, market analysts, nutritionists, range scientists, and more! With chute-side service, CRI will take care of the details so you don’t have to. We start with your goals and design a breeding program to maximize the profitability of your herd. We are experts in creating pregnancies and providing genetic herd improvement. GIVE US A CALL; WE’D LIKE TO DISCUSS HOW

Patty Lasby Market Development Manager plasby@crinet.com 519.766.4622

WE CAN HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS.

MISSION STATEMENT

Cooperative Resources International, their member cooperatives, agents or employees, cannot and do not guarantee the conception rate, quality or productivity to be obtained in connection with the use of their products or recommended techniques. THEY MAKE NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCTS AND HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. In the unlikely event that any of the products shall be proven to be defective, damages resulting from their use shall be limited to their purchase price. Material may not be reproduced in any fashion without Cooperative Resources International’s permission.

contents

CRI is the global leader delivering excellence, innovation and value to members and customers as a strong cooperative.

4 |

In the News

6 |

The Cost of Days Open

8 |

Fall Beef Special

10 |

Using A.I. on Your Ranch

11 |

Cunningham Retires After 15 Years of Service

12 |

Feature Sires

IN THE NEWS

Heikes Named CRI CEO The Cooperative Resources International (CRI) board of directors announced Keith Heikes as the agricultural holding cooperative’s new CEO. Heikes succeeds Doug Wilson, who retired in August after 39 years with CRI. Keith, who previously served as the GENEX chief operating officer, will now lead CRI, an organization with more than $189 million in annual revenue and 1,350 employees across the globe. CRI consists of brands that strive to meet the needs of individuals linked to the land through plant and animal production. Brands that are part of CRI include GENEX, AgSource, MOFA GLOBAL, CENTRAL LIVESTOCK and FARM SYSTEMS.

Convenient, Accurate and Reliable

1 Mounting

Prior to this new appointment, Keith spent 36 years in the cattle genetics and artificial insemination industry. He served as the chief operating officer for GENEX predecessor NOBA, Inc. and then led the development of CRI’s global marketing program. In 2014, he was named GENEX chief operating officer and led the cooperative through exceptional market share growth.  3-5 Mounting

CRI Canada to Partner with Cattle Care Cattle Care has joined CRI Canada as a distributor, providing products and semen to customers in western Canada. Cattle Care is a large animal solutions provider for producers in western Canada. Their team consists of veterinarians, nutritionists, account managers and registered vet techs, all bringing different skills to the table. Their collaborative approach allows them to provide solid, knowledgeable solutions to dairy, beef, feedlot and swine producers across western Canada. In addition, they offer herd health consultation and emergency services to their clients in the Swift Current and Saskatoon regions. Their partnership with Standard Nutrition and Associates brings nutritionists in both monogastric and ruminant nutrition.

5-20 Mounting

A.I.TAGS™ estrus detectors are selfadhesive patches featuring a rub-off surface to alert producers the cow is in heat. When mounted, the black surface is removed and the underlying color indicator will show. The black surface can only be rubbed off by mounting. It does not scratch off, which helps eliminate false positives. Excessive mountings will turn the tag white which indicates a heat cycle warning, meaning the heat cycle has probably passed.

Excessive Mounting

This strategic partnership will be a great resource for the producers of western Canada. 

Find Out First on Facebook! Be the first to know about sires, products and more. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CRICanada for up-to-date information. Also, follow us on Twitter @CRICanadaBeef! 

F A L L 2 017

BEEF HORIZONS

Heat Cycle Warning

Contact your local CRI Canada representative for more information.

IN THE NEWS

Fielder Appointed Vice President of Production Kristi Fiedler has been named the vice president of Production for U.S.-based cattle genetics cooperative GENEX, which supplies dairy and beef cattle genetics to CRI. In this role, Fiedler will provide leadership in the areas of bovine semen collection and processing, livestock management, and crop production. “I am excited to serve the cooperative in this new role,” states Fiedler. “This gives me the opportunity to help build on the cooperative’s reputation for high quality and fertile dairy and beef cattle semen.” Previously, Fiedler served as the GENEX Associate Vice President of Technical Services managing a dedicated team of dairy account consultants who served producers across the U.S. and developed value-added programs. She began her new role July 1. The former Vice President of Production, Glen Gilbert, will serve in a mentorship role until his retirement. 

Trust the experts in collecting high quality semen Domestic and export services High quality facilities Custom storage and shipping

GENEX Production Center 3800 Duck Creek Road // Billings, Montana 406.656.9034 www.crinet.com

Introducing Jeff Nauman, GENEX Production Center Manager

THE COST OF DAYS OPEN By: Sarah Thorson, Beef Marketing and Education Manager

I am often asked how much it costs to use artificial insemination (A.I.), specifically compared to natural service. It is easy to put a pencil to paper and figure out exactly how much an A.I. pregnancy will cost compared to a natural service pregnancy. However, we should be looking at the reproductive equation from another angle. What about the lost opportunity and cost associated with each additional day a cow or heifer spends open?

F A L L 2 017

BEEF HORIZONS

ÂŠ2017 CRI

Ask any rancher what single trait is most important to profitability on their ranch, and they will likely say cow fertility. In a time of ever-tightening margins, a cow’s ability to have a calf, rebreed and have another calf all within a 365-day period can be the difference between profit and loss for any operation. Why is this such an important benchmark? Cows that do not maintain a yearly calving interval bring smaller, less uniform calves to the scale at weaning. Those cows tend to fall further behind, eventually ending up open and in the cull pen. This leads to a need for more replacement females, which increases heifer development costs.

One of the easiest ways to achieve a 365-day calving interval is to have more calves born earlier in the calving season. • Calves born earlier are heavier and more uniform at weaning. • More post-partum time for the cow to recover and rebreed compared to her latercalving counterparts.

Have you ever wanted to compare your operation to others? Several benchmarking programs are available for measurable production traits that directly affect profitability. One such program, Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software (CHAPS), offered through North Dakota State University Extension Service, published their most recent set of benchmarks in September 2016 (Table 1). These benchmarks are calculated from five-year rolling benchmark values for average herd performance. Table 1. Current CHAPS Production Benchmarks % Calves at 21 days

62.7%

% Calves at 42 days

87.3%

% Calves at 63 days

96.1%

Average Daily Gain

2.45 lbs.

Having nearly 63% of your cow herd calve within the first 21 days of calving can be a daunting task, one that is dependent on many factors.

One advantage of timed A.I. is the ability to have 60% of your cow herd pregnant on the first day of breeding, which, of course, leads to more calves born earlier. At the University of Missouri Thompson Farm, calf crop distribution was analyzed for the first 46 days over 11 calving seasons. There were three years of natural service breeding that included 526 calvings, three years of fixed-time A.I. with 585 calvings, and five years of estrus detection and A.I. with 1,040 calvings. On day 16 of the calving season, 38% of the natural service cows had calved, 54% of the estrus detection and A.I. cows had calved, and 62% of the fixed-time A.I. cows had calved. By day 21 of the calving season those numbers were 51%, 59% and 66% respectively.1 What is the true value of fewer days open? Using the data in Table 1, calves gain, on average, 2.45 pounds per day. This means at weaning a calf born on the first day of calving season weighs 50 lbs. more than a calf born on day 21 and 100 lbs. more than a calf born on day 42. If calves are worth $1.40 per pound, that’s $70 and $140 more just for calves born earlier. An additional advantage is your calf crop will be more uniform, making them more attractive to buyers. Fewer days open and more calves born earlier in the calving season is a sure way to boost your bottom line. If you have any questions about implementing a successful timed A.I. program on your operation, please contact your local CRI Canada representative.  (1) Patterson, D. J. et al. “Control Of Estrus Ovulation In Beef Cows”. 2016. Presentation.

BEEF HORIZONS

F A L L 2017

FALL BEEF SPECIAL

Reg# 15109865

1AN01131 BISMARCK

$ 25

Reg# 16455862

1AN01202 LONG DISTANCE

Reg# 17016597

1AN01238 RESOURCE

$ 35

Reg# 17418539

1AN01299 FORTITUDE

Reg# 17633839

1AN01365 RENOWN

F A L L 2 017

BEEF HORIZONS

$ 40

$ 20

$ 25

Reg# 18248293

1AN01393 TORQUE

$ 30

Utilize with the John Deere Financial beef deferral program. Contact your CRI Canada representative to learn more.

SPECIAL ENDS DECEMBER 31, 2017

Reg# 1441805

1AR00946 REDEMPTION

$ 25

Reg# 3494198

Reg# 42800895

1HP00829 VICTOR 719T

$ 22

Reg# 43275470

$ 20

1HP00845 MANNING

Reg# M780188

1CH00969 BRIDGER

$ 20

1AR00963 DECLARATION

Reg# 2638036

$ 25

1SM00139 ALLEGIANCE

BEEF HORIZONS

F A L L 2017

USING A.I. ON YOUR RANCH By: Justin Hergenreder, Large Herd Development Manager

95 cents compared to $2.28 per gallon – that’s the difference 30 years have made in the price of a gallon of gas. Just as gas prices have changed drastically, so have the wants and demands of cattle producers. Producers considering artificial insemination (A.I.) have many of the same concerns and wants for their program. I’m here to lay those concerns to rest and show how A.I. and chute-side service will make you money and propel you into the future. So slap some bacon on a biscuit and let’s go! We’re burning daylight.

Cost

Cost is always the first question. First of all, you need to sit down with your CRI Canada representative and determine the best plan for your operation. Costs will vary depending on herd size, location and labor needs. In most cases A.I. is cheaper than buying, maintaining and utilizing a bull for two to five years. Remember these costs will vary • Eazi-Breed™ CIDR® – $16 • GnRH – $5 ($2.5x2) • PG – $3 • ESTROTECT™ – $1.60 • Semen – $20 • Breeding Service Fee – $10

What is it costing you by not utilizing synchronization and A.I.?

•

More uniform calf crop

•

Calves born earlier in the breeding season

•

Fewer days open

F A L L 2 017

BEEF HORIZONS

The process

Working with your CRI Canada representative, you will make a detailed plan for your A.I. project, including choosing a synchronization protocol that fits your operation. In order for synchronization to be successful on your ranch, you must commit to learning the protocol and executing it exactly, this means making sure the right cows, get the right shots, on the right days. On breeding day, you get the cattle to the alley way and let CRI Canada take care of the rest.

Sires

Ask the professionals: CRI Canada strives to bring you the best of the best for bull power. Visit with your local representative to determine the sires best suited for your goals.

Calving season

Just because you bred your cows in a 4-hour period does not mean they will calve in a 4-hour period! After a successful A.I. program, expect females to calve in a 10- to 14-day period. University studies have shown no more than 20% of your herd will calve on any one day.

How many clean-up bulls will I need after A.I.?

This question is highly variable. The answer has a lot to do with the age of your bulls, size of pastures, environment and number of females. and environment. CRI Canada staff can provide the correct recommendation to ensure you turn out enough bull power to cover the non-A.I. females. A.I. is one of the most beneficial and easiest ways to make your cow herd more profitable. With beef prices where they are, every pregnancy counts and every early calf means more pounds. More pounds = more DOLLARS! Utilizing A.I. will tighten your calving interval, add performance to your calf crop and allow you to actively control the type of cattle you raise. When you are ready to set up an A.I. program, contact your representative; they are available to help add dollars to your program. 

Cunningham Retires After 15 Years of Service

It takes team work to make a breeding project successful. Independent contractors, Albert Harrison, Terry Cunningham and Craig Thoms, worked with the Becker family of Rocanville, Sask. to breed 1000 heifers in spring 2012.

Terry Cunningham was born and raised in Calgary, and “until he met a girl from a farm, he didn’t know which end to walk up to.” While learning more about cattle and the industry, his father-in-law was very patient. Terry read books and attended seminars to learn everything he could about the industry. In 1981, Terry attended an artificial insemination which jumpstarted his career. During his time in the industry, Terry was mentored by the late Albert Harrison, and his business reflected everything Albert taught him. Every year Terry enjoyed talking with customers at the Agribition booth. However, the highlight of his entire career was helping Albert Harrison breed hundreds of cattle in southern Saskatchewan. That year Albert was named the No. 2 beef salesman in North America, all while making the job fun! Since joining Genex Canada, now called CRI Canada, in November 2002, he’s found the bulls and the people have impacted his career success. “The company made it easy to succeed, especially with an awesome lineup of high customer satisfaction bulls and a professional support staff from Patty Lasby and Linda Roque. Danny Marshall also played a large role in my success by doing his best to get the products

where they needed to be,” states Terry. Terry also credits some of his success to his wife, Naideen, who has been a very capable bookkeeper, homemaker and cattleperson. With his many years of experience, Terry has some great advice for those who are new to the industry: “Know your product line, be a resource for your customers, and try not to use words like can’t, won’t or never. Also keep in mind this isn’t a cattle business; it is a people business. The people just happen to own cattle, which is great because we have lots of ways to help owners become more profitable.” Terry recently transitioned his business to Mike Franc and is committed to helping Mike achieve his highest protentional. As for retirement plans, Terry will be a professional grandpa but still take the time to raise cattle. “Sometimes we take ourselves and situations too seriously,” comments Terry. “Albert and I would both say if you aren’t having fun, you’re not doing it right. “ CRI Canada would like to thank Terry for his 15 years of service and wish him a happy retirement. 

CRI Canada has a new website • • • • • •

Purchase semen & products View bull information Stay up-to-date on industry news Find out about current events Learn about programs and services Find the nearest sales representative

Visit us at www.crinet.ca for a full sire lineup and products.

NEW ACQUISITIONS

$ 35 1AN01412 PVF INAUGURATION 6174

INAUGURATION

$ 35 1AN01402 K BAR D NATIVE JOE 32D

Reg. No. 18606539

Dameron First Class x P V F New Horizon 001

NATIVE JOE

K Bar D Joe Canada 18Y x Vermilion Pony X Press

$ 4 5 1AN01397 STEVENSON TURNING POINT

TURNING POINT

Plattemere Weigh Up K360 x S A V Bismarck 5682

F A L L 2 017

BEEF HORIZONS

Reg. No. 18574670

$ 50 1AN01407 S A V REIGN 6845

Reg. No. 18434747

REIGN

Reg. No. 18578962

Coleman Charlo 0256 x S A V 8180 Traveler 004

$ 4 0 1AN01393 BRUIN TORQUE 5261

TORQUE

$ 35 1AN01392 RB GLOBAL 3300

Reg. No. 18248293

S A V 004 Density 4336 x Connealy Dateline

GLOBAL

Reg. No. 17876495

Connealy Confidence 0100 x LCC New Standard

$ 35 1AN01379 SCHIEFELBEIN iBULL 3415

IBULL

S A V Renown 3439 x Sitz Upward 307R

$ 35 1AN01416 MUSGRAVE 316 STUNNER

Reg. No. 18270192

STUNNER

Reg. No. 18467508

LD Capitalist 316 x MCATL Pure Product 903-55

BEEF HORIZONS

F A L L 2017

NEW ACQUISITIONS

$ 35 1AR00963 HXC DECLARATION 5504C

DECLARATION

$ 30 1AR00970 LELAND MARKSMAN 6629

Reg. No. 3494198

Leachman Pledge A282Z x Beckton Nebula P P707

MARKSMAN

WFL Merlin 018A x Glacier Chateau 744

$ 30 1AR00969 BROWN BLW INTREPID C5963

INTREPID

F A L L 2 017

BEEF HORIZONS

$ 30 1CH00970 HARMS LUNCH MONEY 5530

Reg. No. 3527627

Brown Final Answer Z7235 x Beckton Nebula P P707

Reg. No. 3543019

LUNCH MONEY

Reg. No. M883161

VPI Free Lunch 708T x Oakdale Duke 9003P

$ 35 1HH00113 LJS MARK DOMINO 1321

MARK DOMINO 1321

$ 4 0 1HP00848 CRR 109 CATAPULT 322

Reg. No. 43394744

LJS Mark Domino 0945 x LJS Yankee 0904

CATAPULT 322

Reg. No. 43384585

CRR 719 Catapult 109 x CRR 63J Kodiak 713

$ 35 1HP00850 TH 41B 17Y LOMBARDI 20D

LOMBARDI

TH 22R 16S Lambeau 17Y x Boyd Masterpiece 0220

$ 35 1HP00851 TH 505U 14Z PLAYBOOK 48D

Reg. No. 43695076

PLAYBOOK

Reg. No. 43694419

TH 512X 719T Playmaker 14Z x NJW FHF 9710 Tank 45P

BEEF HORIZONS

F A L L 2017

CRI Canada 291 Woodlawn Rd W Unit 4C Guelph, Onatrio N1H 7L6

PUBLICATION NUMBER 40022882 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

H E R E T O S E R V E Y O U CRI Canada Representatives CITY

PHONE

ALBERTA Colt Arnold Jenn Chestnut Reed Crapo Millenium Genetics Neil Hazel Lyle Link Riley Merrill Neil Richardson John Wall

Mannville Rockyford Gem Southern Alberta Olds Bentley Lethbridge Cremona Tofield

780.581.8328 403.901.9657 403.641.2253 403.330.9622 403.994.0629 403.302.1914 403.701.1558 403.805.0171 780.232.1072

BRITISH COLUMBIA Nick Coman Dianne Gyllich

New Westminster Quesnel

778.773.2897 250.992.5269

MANITOBA Allan Malenko Blair & Lois McRae Dale Studer Pat & Tracey Wilcox

Winnipeg Brandon Virden Treherne

204.981.3536 204.729.5439 204.748.1251 204.536.7060

NEW BRUNSWICK Gary Graham

Anagance

506.756.0169

NOVA SCOTIA John Best

Middleton

Guelph, ON (CAN) 888.354.4622 www.crinet.ca cricanada@crinet.com

902.825.6420

ONTARIO Hans Brus Randy Burns Tom Coulter JJ Deslippe Peter Frijters Anton Heinzle Eric Rincker Doug Wingrove Ian Vandenberg

CITY

PHONE

Tilsonburg Arthur Cobourg St. Marys Milverton Glen Robertson Sunderland Cambridge Port Perry

519.983.4493 519.835.2368 905.375.0210 519.275.1739 519.276.9314 613.678.7169 705.934.3087 519.827.5470 705.341.2822

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Kurt Duncan Cornwall

902.393.3032

QUEBEC Mario Cantin Dany Fontaine Chuck Fowler Patrick Isabel Jean Phillipe Martineau Myriam Falcon Matthew Krol

Berthier-Sur-Mer Ormstown Stanstead St-Romain Bastican St. Ignace De Stanbridge Williamstown

418.241.6695 438.887.3371 819.574.6685 418.215.0230 819.383.5981 450.272.4684 613.362.2698

SASKATCHEWAN Cattle Care Vet Consultants Cattle Care Vet Consultants Mike Franc Kelvin Hawreliuk Cam Morgan Robert Raymond Ashley Shannon Leroy Steinhubl Craig Thoms

Saskatoon Swift Current Prince Albert Sheho Saltcoats Aneroid Mortiach Balgonie Saskatoon

306.343.5773 306.773.5773 306.930.8684 306.269.7323 306.744.7411 306.625.7479 306.631.4019 306.781.2842 306.221.8694

Genex

Cooperative, Inc. CRI Canada A Subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International

Product of the USA.

B-16226-17

Please Recycle