CCT120910 by Farm Business Communications

At look at tomorrow’s vets • BVD virus wears many disguises • Pellets can contain ergot

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

September 2012 $3.00

Don’t ignore drug-resistant

parasites Dr. John Gilleard University of Calgary

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240

Look for your copy of the

CUSTOM FEEDLOT Guide inside this issue. Sponsored by:

September 2012

Volume 75, No. 9

Established 1938 ISSN 1196-8923 Cattlemen Editorial: Editor: Gren Winslow 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 (204) 944-5753 Fax (204) 944-5416 Email: gren@fbcpublishing.com Field Editor: Debbie Furber Box 1168, Tisdale, SK S0E 1T0 (306) 873-4360 Fax (306) 873-4360 Email: debbie.furber@fbcpublishing.com

FEATURES How much gain is left?......................................................7 Bvd virus wears many disguises...................................... 10 What does the future hold for veterinarians?. .......... 14 The evidence for vaccination at weaning and the feedlot. ........................................................ 18 Pellets can have ergot too. .......................................... 20 Managing wdgs to minimize e. coli. .............................. 24 Don’t ignore drug-resistant parasites.......................... 28 The power of a fecal sample. ......................................... 32 Preconditioning is good................................................. 35 Adding value still pays. .................................................. 40 Verified beef production................................................ 53 Departments

COMMENT............................................... 4 NEWSMAKERS......................................... 6 NUTRITION............................................ 34 HOLISTIC RANCHING.............................. 40 VET ADVICE.......................................... 44 STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP...................... 48 RESEARCH............................................ 50 PRIME CUTS......................................... 52 CCA REPORTS...................................... 54 NEWS ROUNDUP................................... 56 PURELY PUREBRED............................... 62 THE MARKETS...................................... 65 MARKET TALK....................................... 67 SALES & EVENTS.................................. 68

Advertising Sales: Deborah Wilson Box 19, Site 3, RR 1, High River, AB T1V 1N1 (403) 325-1695 Fax (204) 944-5562 Email: deb.wilson@fbcpublishing.com Head Office: 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 (204) 944-5765 Fax (204) 944-5562 Advertising Services Co-ordinator: Arlene Bomback (204) 944-5765 Fax (204) 944-5562 Email: ads@fbcpublishing.com Publisher: Bob Willcox Email: bob.willcox@fbcpublishing.com Associate Publisher/Editorial Director: John Morriss Email: john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com Production Director: Shawna Gibson Email: shawna@fbcpublishing.com Director of Sales and Circulation: Lynda Tityk Email: lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com Circulation Manager: Heather Anderson Email: heather@fbcpublishing.com Contents of C attlemen are copyrighted and may be reproduced only when written permission is obtained from the editor and proper credit is given to Cattlemen. Cattlemen and Canadian Cattlemen are Trade Marks of Farm Business Communications. Cattlemen is published monthly (with the exception of July and 2 issues in Februar y and October) by Farm Business Communications. Head of fice: Winnipeg, Manitoba. Printed by Transcontinental LGMC. Cattlemen is printed with linseed oil-based inks. Subscription rates in Canada — $34.65 for one year, $51.45 for 2 years (prices include GST). Manitoba residents add 7% PST. U.S. subscription rate — $35 (U.S. funds). Subscription rate outside Canada and U.S. — $55 per year. Single copies $3. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240. Canadian Postmaster: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses (covers only) to: Circulation Dept., PO Box 9800, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3K7. U.S. Postmaster: Send address changes and undeliverable addresses (covers only) to: Circulation Dept., PO Box 9800, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3K7.

“Congratulations to our

September sur vey winner, Kyle Hartin, Tamworth, Ont. This month’s sur vey is on page 60.”

Circulation inquiries: Call toll-free

1-800-665-1362

or email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com U.S. subscribers call 1-204-944-5766

Member

LIVESTOCK PUBLICATIONS COUNCIL

Our cover photo by Debbie Furber.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca Our commitment to your privacy

At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1. Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call 1-800-665-1362.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

PRINTED IN CANADA

The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Canadian Cattlemen and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists, C anadian C attlemen and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as C anadian C attlemen and Farm Business Communications assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

Cattlemen / september 2012 3

c o m m e n t

by Gren Winslow

Fuel versus food

Drought has brought the ethanol/ livestock squabble into the open

or people who notice this type of thing let me save you the trouble. Our 2012 custom feedlot list in this issue is smaller than last year’s — quite a bit smaller. We have a net 11 fewer lots on the list this year. Twelve were either sold, couldn’t be reached, or got out of custom feeding, and one new one was added. Together a combined capacity of 46,500 head is off the list. Some were sold to larger units, so there will be cattle in those pens again this fall. But in the case of one feedlot, one of the larger ones, there won’t be any custom cattle there again, certainly not this year. The times, as the song says, they are a changing. And I suspect our little survey is just the canary in the coal mine. These are tough times for the feedlot sector, so it’s not surprising that even some of the old-timers are throwing in the towel. Short supplies, stiff competition for calves and feed costs pushed up by a scorched U.S. Corn Belt make it difficult to see where it’s all going to turn around for this group. At least one operator knows whom we should blame for the current hole in his accounts. He believes we should be putting up signboards along the highways to tell the driving public, “you can thank ethanol for the loss of your livestock industry.” There can be little doubt that ethanol has changed the old feed grain/livestock paradigm, especially in a drought year such as the U.S. (and parts of Ontario) are experiencing. Perhaps that explains why I could not help but take a small measure of glee from a Wall Street Journal editorial last month entitled “How Ethanol Causes Joblessness.” It takes a poke at the ethanol industry lobbyist, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) for its much trumpeted claim, including in a letter to the editor in the WSJ, that ethanol lowered gas prices in the U.S. I should first explain that the U.S.-based RFA has spent much of this past year fighting off attacks by some determined farm-friendly senators and state governors who are seeking a waiver to the legislation that sets mandated ethanol levels in U.S. fuels. They are claiming they need to waive the mandate for at least a year to soften the impact the drought has had on the livestock industry and food prices. In the war of words that has ensured the RFA regularly trots out this claim that the ethanol mandate reduced the price of a gallon of fuel by

4 Cattlemen / September 2012

89 cents in 2010 and $1.09 in 2011. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack has used the same numbers in numerous speeches in support of the biofuels industry. The numbers come from the work of two farm state economists, Dermot Hayes and Xiaodong Du, who use monthly regional data to estimate the relationship between ethanol production and the profit margin for oil refiners, the so-called crack spread. The fun began in July when MIT economist Christopher Knittel and University of California Davis ag economist Aaron Smith published a paper that shows the Hayes/Du estimates are driven by “implausible assumptions and spurious statistical correlations.” “Because ethanol production increased smoothly during the sample period (because of the mandate) statistical analysis with this variable is fraught with danger. It is strongly correlated with any trending variable.” Using the same silly estimates Knittel and Smith “proved” that had the U.S. eliminated ethanol production in 2010 natural gas prices would have risen by 65 per cent and unemployment would have dropped by 60 per cent. As you can imagine, the reply from the RFA was rapid and brittle. In mid-August the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received official waiver requests from the governors of Arkansas, North Carolina, Georgia and New Mexico and more were expected. It now has 90 days to reply, so we can expect more warring words in the months to come. The problem, of course, is that this is the same old fight that has taken place in every small town for generations. It’s livestock producers on one side, crop producers on the other. The George Morris Centre outlined the struggle nicely in its 2008 paper, The Troubled Corn Economy of Ontario’s Livestock Sector. The numbers were simple enough. Ontario didn’t have enough corn to support its cattle and hog populations and ethanol. The alternatives put forward then were to grow more corn, raise fewer cattle and pigs, or get the Ontario government to reverse its policies on ethanol production. Since 2008 Ontario’s beef cow herd has declined by 54,000 head and total pig production has declined by 28 per cent to 2.8 million head. At the same time the mandated ethanol industry has continued to expand. I don’t know that a signboard would help. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Canadian Hereford Association 5160 Skyline Way NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6V1 1-888-836-7242 â&#x20AC;˘ herefords@hereford.ca

NEWSMAKERS and all the volunteers who stage this worthwhile event.

Christoph and Erika Weder

Christoph and Erika Weder of Spirit View Ranch were presented with the 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association last month in Calgary at the International Livestock Congress. Their Spirit View Ranch north of Rycroft, Alta. is comprised of 2,800 acres of deeded land, 4,200 acres of leased land and 640 acres of rented land that is home to 1,000 breeding females plus stockers along with 150 species of birds, 45 mammals, seven amphibian and one reptile species as a result of the family’s stewardship practices. Solar-powered waterers, rotational grazing and reliance on legumes provides sustainable forage production without the need for fertilizers. The Weders were certified by Food Alliance for their sustainable farming and land use practices. They also restored more than 100 wetlands in co-operation with Ducks Unlimited. The other nominees were: Rod and Nonie Hesketh of Silver Hills Ranch in B.C.; brothers Dale and Terry Adamson of the Diamond J Cattle Co. in Saskatchewan; JV Ranch, a division of HyLife Ltd., in Manitoba; and Jim Ginn of the Ginn Family Farm in Ontario The Cattlewomen for the Cure golf tournament enjoyed another successful event last month at the Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course in Medicine Hat, Alta. The annual event is put on by women involved in the beef industry to raise some money for a different charity each time, and do a little networking for themselves. The 2012 tournament raised $49,700 for the ALS Society of Canada plus $1,500 for local food banks. This surpasses the $49,000 they raised for Ronald McDonald House in 2011. Our congratulations go out to Lyndsay Smith 6 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2012

The Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) Program has finalized its list of mentors who will be providing guidance to 16 up-and-coming producers during 2012-13. The mentors are: Reynold Bergen, the science director of the Beef Cattle Research Council; ranchers and past presidents of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Travis Toews and David Andrews; rancher and market analyst, Anne Dunford; rancher and former MLA Arno Doerksen; chairman of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, David Chalack; president of Canada Beef Inc., Rob Meijer; cattle buyer, Rick Wright; Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association directors, Ryan Bierebach and Ryan Thompson; U of A ranch foreman Don Armitage; communications and marketing consultant, Toby OswaldFelker; B.C. rancher, Erika Fossen; director of corporate affairs at Cargill Ltd., Chantelle Donahue; and rancher and Natural Resources Conservation Board member Jim Turner. The CYL program was started by the CCA in 2010 to provide promising young producers with an opportunity to explore potential career choices or involvement with a provincial/national producer organization, while gaining some of the expertise and business acumen necessary to sustain the cattle industry into the future.

this region to grant full access to Canadian beef.” The UAE began accepting live Canadian cattle last December. Nearly 70 countries have now either fully or partially re-established access for Canadian beef since closing their borders in 2003. Canadian exports of beef from animals under 30 months of age (UTM) to the UAE was worth more than $1 million in 2011. Canada Beef has released the names of 10 bloggers who have agreed to act as Canada Beef Brand Ambassadors for beef in the blogosphere. They have varied backgrounds, communications workers, writers, accountants and stay-at-home single moms. All share an interest in a food and are willing to share their insights and tips on healthy living and cooking and the benefits of Canadian beef. Your ambassadors are: Stephanie Caruso, Alexa Clark, Tracy Courtney, Fellicia Dewar, Neil Faba, Julia Gabriel, Kathryne Grisim, Christine McNaughton, Lina Zussino and Shayna Murray. To learn more about them search out Canada Beef on Facebook.

The mid-year July 1 inventory numbers from Statistics Canada show the beef herd remained largely unchanged from last summer with a 3.5 per cent increase in replacement heifers being held on beef farms. Total cattle and calf inventories were off 0.1 per cent across the country. The number of farms reporting cattle, beef and dairy, slipped another 2.2 per cent to 84,040.

In mid-August a group of investors led by financier W. Brett Wilson took control of Viewtrak Technologies, the Edmonton software company founded in 1999 by veterinarian Jake Burlet and his wife Jennifer Wood to establish an Internet platform for recording and tracking cattle. Burlet has left the company but remains a shareholder, according to press reports. Marc de La Bruyère, the chairman and managing director of Maclab Enterprises is the new chairman of the board. Ted Power of Trace Applications Inc. is CEO and Hubert Lau, founder of Ekota Central Ltd., an Edmontonbased IT networking and software development company, is vice-president of technology.

In early August Canada regained full market access for beef to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the inclusion of beef from animals over 30 months of age. “The UAE is the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council region to resume full access to our high-quality beef and this is a significant milestone for Canadian beef producers, said Ag Minister Gerry Ritz. “We are hopeful that the UAE’s decision will encourage other countries in

Ontario has asked Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to assess the support under AgriRecovery available to livestock producers affected by this summer’s drought. Ag Minister Ted McMeekin is asking Ottawa to speed up tax relief for producers in affected regions. Ontario will cover any reduction in AgriStability coverage for farmers in prescribed drought regions that are forced to sell breeding stock due to lack of pasture or hay. C www.canadiancattlemen.ca

grazing

How Much Gain is Left? Don’t be fooled by how much grass is left

sure have nothing to complain about this year when it comes to the weather. As a Canadian and a farmer, that is frustrating because that is what we do. A Canadian talks about the weather and a farmer likes to complain. If it were not for the weather, most of us would not even know how to start a conversation. This spring there was lots of snow for run-off and we had plenty of April showers. May brought sunshine and more rain. June came in hot mixed in with a little rain. July has been a cooker with plenty of thundershowers to keep us soaking wet. My water sources are full. The lowlands are overflowing and the grass is over my head in places. I have more grass than I can handle and the cattle are lovin’ it! What could I possibly complain about? Well, maybe that the forage is a lower quality because of the heavy growth. Our area has seen its share of drought years but the grass during a drought is usually higher quality. There’s not much of it but it’s high in protein and energy. This year the quality will be lower around here. I have been speaking with other producers and they were telling me about how much grass they have and how they are taking off extra pastures as hay this year. That is fine. I am not here to tell you that one management practice is wrong and another is right because as I have said before, it all depends on the economics behind the production practice on your farm. But at the same time I look at the pastures that they are grazing and they are being overgrazed. Why? Even with a minimal rotation, some producers are leaving the animals on for too long of a graze period. But there is still grass out there, you might say. Maybe, but I have a better question for you to ask yourself. “How much gain is left out there?” On any pasture, especially on a year with good growth like this one, the bottom parts of the plants, the stems and lower leaves, are not as nutritious. So yes, there may still be lots of forage out there, but how much gain is left? Picture a fresh paddock we are about to turn cattle onto. Some nice fresh fescue, a bit of clover, some brome grass filled out nicely, maybe some alfalfa standing proud. Yummy. Tasty and nutritious. Now we turn in the herd. Normally the paddock lasts us three to four days. Well this year with all the growth, after four days there is still a lot of grass left. Let’s look at the forage again. The fescue is chewed off, the clover is mostly gone, the brome grass is knocked over and half eaten and the alfalfa stems are still standing but not quite so proud as they have very few leaves left. We still have forage in front of them and the animals will be fine for a few more days eating what’s left, but they will not be gaining. The protein and energy percentages are not near as high in what’s left as they were in the first few days. What are you after? More days or more gain? I almost always pick more gain. Gain as in pounds of beef on yearlings or gain as in weaning weights and body condition in the www.canadiancattlemen.ca

You won’t lose pulling them when they still have grass. fall on pairs. Let’s say we leave the animals in that paddock for two more days, we had four days of gain and two days without gain. That’s kind of like two steps forward and one step back. I would much prefer to see gain every day. So when you are looking at a paddock and deciding whether or not to move the animals, ask yourself, “how much gain is left?” And move the animals early. I have told every exchange student, intern and employee that has been on my ranch. You will never get in trouble for moving too early, but you might for moving too late. Now don’t get me wrong, you can’t be overstocked and move sooner because that might shorten your rest period too much. Graze Period and Rest Period have to work together. Make sure you are still maintaining an adequate rest period. As a bonus, by moving when you are out of gain, you also leave extra residue. And you can never leave too much residue. The extra will help reduce run-off and evaporation, feed your soil life, build organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the soil. That will make next year’s pasture even better. That is of course as long as you are managing it for the four grazing concepts (Graze Period, Rest Period, Stock Density and Animal Impact). Now if your forage gets quite mature then the quality drops quite a bit. No big deal. The plants went to seed and helped replenish the seed bank. That’s a good thing. You can still graze it later in the season, or in the winter, or next spring early. You may need to supplement some protein to help the rumen bugs make better use of it, but it is usually cheaper to supplement on pasture than it is to feed. So in a good year, when you have great weather and nothing to complain about… and the grass is way ahead of you, what are you going to do? Hay it, or increase your stocking rate to deal with the extra grass? I would not recommend either one. I would take the opportunity nature gave me and give back to feed the soil. Leave extra residue out on the pasture and help build your soil. If I help nature feed the soil in good years, the bad years won’t be all that bad. Oh, and I should have better gains on my animals. Best wishes. Maybe next month I will have something to complain about. C — Steve Kenyon Steve Kenyon runs Greener Pastures Ranching Ltd. in Busby, Alta., www.greenerpasturesranching.com, 780-307-6500, email skenyon@greenerpasturesranching.com. Cattlemen / September 2012 7

* Huang R.A., et al. (2009) J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 33, 227-237. Menge M., et al. (2011) J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. Nowakowski M.A., et al. Veterinary Therapeutics, vol. 5, no. 1, Spring 2004. TM

Trademark of Intervet International B.V. Used under license.

Merck Animal Health, operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright ÂŠ 2012 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

Zuprevo Can Cattleman Double Page.indd 1

Introducing The longest-lasting on-arrival antibiotic on the market today.* Talk to your veterinarian about using ZUPREVO on arrival.

12-08-07 10:21

health

disease

BVD Virus Wears Many Disguises It’s been estimated 80 per cent of North American cattle had been exposed to BVD virus and 70 to 90 per cent of those infections go undetected

ovine viral diarrhea virus (BVD) is sneaky in that it affects cattle in so many different ways. Dr. Amy Warren an assistant professor of anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of Calgary faculty of veterinary medicine has seen the many faces of BVD virus during her career. Now she thinks she’s found a new one in the hearts and lungs of cattle. “I am a pathologist by training, so I am not as up to date on treatments or current vaccinations; I primarily study BVD and how it affects the animal. BVD has so many different manifestations in cattle that you could almost blame any disease on BVD — and some people do. It’s one of the first things people think of, to rule out,” she says. BVD is a common cause of respiratory disease, and also has acute manifestations like mucosal disease and deaths within the herd. It seems to affect most body systems in some form. There are skin manifestations, especially in cattle that were infected before birth, bone malformations, GI tract infections — you name it. “One of the challenges we have in preventing it or vaccinating against BVD is that this virus changes. The current vaccine may or may not be

10 Cattlemen / September 2012

protective against the strain that’s affecting your cattle,” she says. “My interest, in my research, is lesions in the bovine respiratory disease complex. This can be a problem on many farms and ranches, and a significant problem in most feedlots in Alberta. It’s a significant cause of decreased production or even death of the animals. The respiratory dis-

“We have identified a subset of cattle that have lesions in the vessels of the heart and lungs causing inflammation of the vessels” ease complex can be caused by a number of different pathogens working together; some are bacteria and some are viruses. I am interested in BVD virus’s role in this,” she says. “People have thought for years that these respiratory problems are associated with BVD, but how it actually causes disease is still not known. We do know that BVD dampens down the animal’s immune

system, making them more vulnerable to many other diseases. Even cattle that are not persistently infected or exposed to BVD in utero have increased susceptibility to respiratory disease. If they come into contact with BVD it monkeys around with the body’s defence system. And in PI (persistently infected) cattle we don’t know whether it is directly knocking off the immune system itself, or changing the way the respiratory tract forms (in the fetus),” she says. “We have identified a subset of cattle that have lesions in the vessels of the heart and lungs, causing inflammation of the blood vessels in acutely infected animals. We think this may contribute to the animal’s susceptibility to respiratory disease. These BVD lesions have not been described before,” says Warren. “At this point we don’t have enough epidemiology data to confirm that this does contribute to respiratory disease susceptibility, but the coincidence of having these lesions in the heart and lungs makes us wonder if these could be factors — even if only in a minor way,” she says. “Another thing we see here in Alberta and we don’t know why it happens is calves that slough their feet when they enter the feedlot. We wonder if this is another blood vessel www.canadiancattlemen.ca

pathology caused by the virus. This is something else we are working on in our research,” she explains. BVD not only affects cattle, but also alpacas and other camelid species, and causes abortion in sheep. The fact that it can affect so many species indicates that this is a very versatile virus. This complicates the picture when trying to prevent BVD. Many dairies control BVD by keeping a closed herd, raising their own replacement heifers and breeding all females AI. This is not a feasible option for most of the beef industry. Even if you raise your own heifers you usually purchase bulls. And once you bring BVD into your herd, it can be difficult to get rid of. We don’t see as much GI tract involvement today as in the past, simply because many people vaccinate now. Diarrhea was a more common manifestation in naive herds that had no immunity. “This is when we saw the acute outbreaks,” says Warren. “There are also some weird things this virus does. There are certain strains that affect cattle in different ways. In Ontario we used to see bone marrow abnormalities, and the cattle had bleeding disorders. I haven’t seen much of this in Western Canada. BVD seems more associated with respiratory disease here. There are different strains of the virus that cause different diseases. This makes it tough to get a handle on what’s happening because it is causing different diseases,” she explains. Most other diseases of cattle are easier to diagnose because they tend to have characteristic signs. BVD, by contrast, can be the cause of any disease. If it hinders the immune system, it could be the reason your cattle are sick with other diseases. The way cattle are transported around the country today, a strain that might have been primarily in one geographic region can quickly show up in another part of the country. “Most cattle veterinarians consider BVD virus one of the biggest health problems for cattle. Many researchers are working on it, but this is a tough virus to understand. It doesn’t always translate into something you can identify on the production end of things, or know how best to protect the cattle,” says Warren. It’s difficult to create a foolproof vaccine because of the way this virus can change. Currently there are vaccines against two major strains. Researchers at the University of Calgary are working on other strains. Many viruses have the ability to mutate and change. This is part of the way that they replicate, and avoid attacks from the animal’s immune system. “We end up with a small group of the virus that can survive the immune system’s defences and then we get a new manifestation of disease from that virus. This is an inherent variability that’s useful for survival of the virus. The way it looks in one disease outbreak may be different from how it looks in another. It can be frustrating for stockmen, especially when they think they might have BVD under control and then it surfaces in a different form,” she says. All too often cattle producers think cattle can be vaccinated and then they are safe. It isn’t always that simple, especially with BVD. C — Heather Smith Thomas www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Cattlemen / September 2012 11

doing More. using less.

A series on being ready for the farming challenges ahead

Maximizing yields requires more than good genetics The basics of crop rotation and proper soil management need to be applied — including in North America

few years ago a University of Manitoba soil science professor delivered a presentation of how to grow 100 bushels of canola per acre. He looked at the yield claims of several products and pieces of equipment, added them up, and concluded that if you purchased every one, you could grow 100-bushel canola. His point, of course, was that this was impossible. Once you are already using good genetics and the right basic management practices, the law of diminishing returns starts to apply. The role of good genetics in achieving the yields we have today is well known, as is the need to improve them further. But in a world where higher yields are needed to feed a growing population, is too much pressure being placed on the plant breeders and not enough on the farmers? Are they following those basic management practices? North American farmers often assume that they lead the world in management, but is that the case? It’s hard to argue with U.S. dominance in corn yields, but wheat yields tell another story. The U.S. five-year average wheat yield from 2006-10 was 43 bushels per acre. That’s more than Canada at 40, but most of the U.S. production is winter wheat, with an inherent yield advantage over spring wheat, and grown in an area with a longer growing season and more precipitation. The U.S. average yield is the same as in Ukraine, still faced with the challenges of emerging from the Soviet era. Uzbekistan, in the same position, averaged 66 bushels, and France 102 bushels. Back to the basics Those statistics suggest that in the U.S., many farmers are not doing the basics — fertilization, good soil management and proper crop rotation. In that last regard, many Canadian farmers will admit they are not following recommended practice recently, particularly in following the one-in-four-year rule for seeding canola on the same field. That’s understandable given its high price relative to other crops, but it does mean fewer tonnes grown in total. As the world’s demand for food continues, total tonnes will become more important, meaning farmers may need to take a longer-term view of how to maximize their yields.

caseih.com

AVerAge WHeAT Yields (bu./acre) 2006-10 120 100

102

80 60 40

66 40

Ukraine

U.S.

20 0

Canada France

Uzbekistan

Source: FAO

That means making the most efficient use of all available resources, including fuel, fertilizer, chemicals and the most important resource of all — soil. Again, some of the basic agronomic principles for maintaining soil health and crop yields have still to be adopted in developed countries, but in the developing countries — where population growth is highest — there is even more work to be done. That will require more than good genetics, but the application of good old-fashioned extension. Farmers in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa have yet to have the same access to public and private extension services, or to farm publications like this one, to learn about the best ways to produce the most crop from a hectare of land. For many of the developing world’s farmers, one hectare is the size of their farm. That old-fashioned extension will need to include ways to adopt new-fashioned technology on a scale appropriate for farmers and their families.

On a farm, there’s no such thing as a few small chores. You need versatile equipment that works as hard as you do. That’s why we offer a family of tractors and hay tools designed with the power, efficiency and versatility to help you get things done. All built for a level of operator comfort that makes those long, hard days a little shorter and a lot more productive. And right now, you’ll find great offers on our full line of Farmall® tractors, balers, windrowers, and Puma® and Maxxum® tractors. To learn more, visit your local Case IH dealer or caseihdeals.com.

health

issues

What does the future hold for veterinarians?

everal well-documented trends have converged to change the face of the veterinary practice in Canada and very probably the way we will manage infectious diseases of cattle. Shrinking herd size, bigger carcass weights, fewer cattle farms, larger farms, older operators, and faster information flows have forced veterinarians to adapt, says Dr. Murray Jelinski, Alberta Beef Industry chair at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon who has surveyed the profession on how it is responding to these changes. Overall, the 706 clinics representing 1,872 veterinarians in Western Canada that responded to the survey spend about 13 per cent of their time on beef cattle, three per cent on dairy cattle, 10 per cent on horses and 72 per cent on small animals. None of the clinics worked with swine or poultry. Sixty per cent now deal exclusively with companion animals, while only four per cent work exclusively with food animals. The rural veterinary model is changing from the local vet who performs all the basic veterinary procedures to that of a veterinary consultant. Looking back beyond the 1970s, Jelinski says regulatory testing and drug and vaccine sales were the revenue generators and information was dispensed with the bottle. The 1980s saw more demand for calving and calf treatment services. Since then, practices have been transitioning to providing herd health services and, going forward, will focus even more on the herd rather than individual animals. Herd-level services can include advice on animal welfare, treatment and vaccination protocols, reproduction, nutrition, genetics, implants, carcass management, marketing or risk management as well as welfare and production-based audits. “Today, if you are still choosing your veterinarian based on drug prices alone, you will be losing out, says Jelinski. “Sadly, if you add up the price 14 Cattlemen / September 2012

Dr. Kent Fenton

Dr. Murray Jelinski

of your parasite control and antimicrobial products, it doesn’t really matter compared to what your veterinarian can do if he or she is knowledgeable about genetics, nutrition and the other consultative-types of service.” In Western Canada the return on investment in individual animal procedures such as correcting prolapses and dystocia ranges from 2:1 to 3:1. The return on procedures that impact a large number of animals can be much higher — 4:1 for pregnancy checking and 13:1 for breeding soundness evaluations on bulls. The bottom line is that to get the most from your veterinarian today, you need to start by asking yourself what you need.

and feedlots will manage infectious disease. For his presentation to the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine’s Beef Cattle Conference, he and his colleague, Dr. Calvin Booker, drew on their company’s database which processes 1.5 million head of feedlot cattle annually. Overall, they expect to see an increase in vertical integration and value chains. This trend may or may not reduce disease transmission, however, it will provide more opportunities to control disease before it gets to the feedlot versus today’s model of controlling it at the point of entry when the majority of the calves arrive from mixed sources and are commingled at the feedlot. “Today, systems are where it is at in the food animal industries, but consumers don’t like to hear the words ‘animal’ and ‘system’ in the same sentence,” says Fenton. For this reason,

Future of disease management Dr. Kent Fenton, a veterinary practitioner with Feedlot Health Management Services based at Okotoks, Alta., cites similar trends when he looks ahead 10 years to how veterinarians

Continued on page 16 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Continued from page 14

he expects to see the industry step up efforts to make the business more transparent and educate consumers about how beef is produced. Accompanying these efforts could be mandatory verification of animal welfare, and more regulation of antimicrobial use. Regulation leads to higher costs and coupled with rising input costs should reduce profitability even when cattle prices are steady or increasing. On the flip side, there will be opportunities for veterinarians to develop more precise disease prevention and control strategies for individual animals in feedlots, thereby reducing our reliance on antimicrobials. Integrated health management plans # 1106844 and diagwillJob emphasize vaccination client:but also bring Novartis nostics, biosecurity and biocontainment toT: 7x5 the //forefront on Specs: 4C farms and ranches across the country. Technology 1. Desktop:JhW is already offering 3. aD: opportunities for real-time disease4.sur2. Proof: cD: veillance and monitoring with the use of computerized individual animal data

collection systems. Digital imaging and on-farm diagnostics, either by veterinarians or trained staff with virtual oversight by veterinarians will add to the disease-fighting arsenal.

There will be opportunities for veterinarians to develop more precise disease prevention and control strategies In future, chute-side technology will direct the most cost-effective treataD #:nvcSB06126844 ment strategy for individual animals. Microbials will remain important in the treatment of disease, but alternative therapies will become more commonplace. 5. cW: Trained pen checkers and animal 6. Prod. Mgr: health personnel will continue to be the first line of disease detection, but

they have only gross symptoms and temperature to guide their decision. The dilemma in managing respiratory disease, the biggest killer of feedlot calves, is deciding whether to treat. About 70 per cent of calves that look sick and have a fever will recover if given water. But the higher the initial temperature, the more likely it is that the animal will die despite the best therapy. In the next 10 years Fenton says science will provide more effective vaccines as well as new compounds to stimulate immune function, and treat diseases. It will be a systems approach to disease control and management with tools to select for disease resistance and methods for improving the value of research over time. While veterinarians of tomorrow will be better armed, he says the challenges and opportunities will be the same as today — “to respond to industry and societal changes by developing, validating 7. aS: and adopting new ideas, technologies and systems to control infectious diseases of beef cattle.” C — Debbie Furber

A DVERTOR I AL

ScourS Prevention StartS With the coW Ensuring next year’s calves get off to a fast, healthy start begins long before calving season through careful management and vaccination of the dam.

Vaccinating pregnant cows with SCOUR BOS® 9 has the added benefit of reducing the number of disease-causing pathogens shed in manure, thus reducing the calf’s chances of exposure.

Calf scours, or neonatal diarrhea, continues to be a leading cause of mortality and sickness among calves. Viruses and bacteria that can cause calf scours are naturally present in every calf’s environment. So how do you ensure that your calves are equipped to deal with this challenge?

Of course, vaccination and good colostrum management are only part of an effective scours prevention strategy. To ensure the health of your calves it is essential to incorporate other management strategies, including:

The most vital factor in the control of calfhood diseases, particularly scours, is colostrum. Newborn calves depend on colostrum for immunity against diseases until they are old enough to generate their own protective immunity. Vaccinating your pregnant cows and heifers against the common scours pathogens with SCOUR BOS® 9 will increase the protection against scours through their colostrum. Two things need to happen in order for this method to be effective. First, the cow must have optimum antibody concentrations present in her blood before she starts to make colostrum. Since cows begin to make colostrum 4 to 6 weeks before calving1 vaccination should occur ahead of this, following label directions. Second, the calf needs to receive 4 – 6 liters of colostrum within the first 24 hours of its life. If you’re not sure whether a calf has received enough colostrum, provide additional colostrum from the calf’s mother or a high-quality supplement.

• Reducing manure contamination in the calving area by moving cows away from the calving area when possible. • Providing adequate shelter for your cow-calf pairs in the calving and nursery areas. • Keeping calving and nursery areas well-bedded and well-drained. • Refraining from bringing in new animals to your herd during mid-to-late pregnancy and calving to reduce the spread of disease. • Isolating scouring calves in a separate area, away from the herd. Calf scours is a complex and multi-factorial disease, but with the right tools and timing you can reduce the risk it poses to next year’s calf crop. Plan ahead and talk to your herd veterinarian about making SCOUR BOS® 9 a part of your fall management to provide the best preventative strategies for your herd.

Scour BoS

EARLIER

BETTER

LONgER

1 Radostits O, gay C, Hinchcliff K, Constable P (editors). Veterinary Medicine, 10th ed., 2007. Scour Bos is registered trademark of Novartis Ag; used under license.

16 Cattlemen / September 2012

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

From mining to agriculture, Super Duty is the truck of choice for those who do the toughest jobs across the toughest industries. With best-in-class power †, towing ‡, and even fuel efficiency*, we believe in a job well done as much as you do. See all the ownership numbers and tell us how you own work at ford.ca/WeOwnWork.

TRUCK OWNERSHIP (US) ±:

MINING

FORESTRY

SUPER DUTY

SILVERADO HD

24%

RAM HD

SILVERADO HD

24%

RAM HD

AGRICULTURE FARMING SUPER DUTY

29%

SILVERADO HD

RAM HD

B E S T - I N - C L A S S – T O W I N G ‡, P A Y L O A D ‡, H O R S E P O W E R † A N D F U E L E C O N O M Y * Vehicle may be shown with optional equipment. ‡Maximum conventional towing capability of 17,500 lbs. on F-350 and maximum 5th Wheel towing capability of 24,500 lbs. on F-450 when properly equipped. Maximum payload capability of 7,110 lbs. on F-350 when properly equipped. Class is Full-Size Pickups over 8,500 lbs. GVWR vs. comparable competitors. †Max. gas horsepower of 385 and diesel horsepower of 400 on F-250/F-350. Class is Full-Size Pickups over 8,500lbs. GVWR vs. 2011/2012 competitors. *Based on Ford drive-cycle tests of comparably equipped Ford and competitive models. Class is Full-Size Pickups over 8,500 lbs. GVWR. ±Percentage based on Polk U.S. heavy-duty pickup and class 2-5 Conventional Chassis Cab combined new registrations (CYTD June 2011 - YE 2010) within Emergency Vehicles, Mining/Quarrying, Construction, Petroleum, Metal Mining, Executive Legislative & General Govt, Petroleum Rening & Related Inds Mfrs, Electric Gas & Sanitary Services, Mining & Quarrying-Nonmetallic Minerals, Justice Public Order & Safety, Heavy Construction Except Building, Forestry/Lumber Products, Manufacturing, Agriculture/Farm, Sanitation/Refuse, Agricultural Production-Livestock, Utility Services, Road/Highway Maintenance, Specialized/Heavy Hauling, Oil & Gas Extraction and General Freight vocations.

health

vaccines

THE EVIDENCE FOR VACCINATION AT WEANING AND THE FEEDLOT It isn’t clearcut, but don’t stop doing it

here are more than 80 vaccines available for cattle in Canada, most are indicated as an “aid in the prevention of disease.” This label category means the product has been proven to effectively prevent the disease by a clinically significant amount, but not 100 per cent. Add to that the variability within the environment and among individual animals and it’s understandable why vaccination does not always necessarily equal immunization, says Dr. Claire Windeyer with the department of production animal health at the University of Calgary faculty of veterinary medicine (UCVM). Immunity is complicated. There is innate immunity like the mucus in the nose that is always active. Then there’s active immunity that is acquired over time by vaccination or natural exposure to pathogens, and passive immunity that involves the transfer of antibodies in the colostrum or blood from an immune animal. The immune response can be either humoral, with protection coming from antibodies in the blood or mucus, or cell mediated, with protection managed by immune cells. The basis for vaccinating as a matter of routine is to try to tip the teeter-totter in favour of healthy animals and improved performance. However, there isn’t a blanket vaccination program for all herds because the risk of disease varies from farm to farm. “It’s important to speak with your veterinarian to customize a vaccination program that works for your herd,” says Windeyer. “Remember, too, vaccination is not a bandage for poor management.” Nutrition, management, monitoring, early intervention, and good records to track disease are other important facets in a disease prevention strategy.

18 Cattlemen / September 2012

Dr. Claire Windeyer

Evidence confusing Windeyer recently searched the scientific journals looking for evidence that supports vaccinating calves against bovine respiratory disease (BRD) upon arrival at the feedlot and pre-weaning at the ranch. To be of value, a vaccine should have the three Es — efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency. Efficacy means a vaccine elicits an immune response, and it must be proven in controlled trials and challenge studies involving vaccinated and unvaccinated trials to gain a license for the product. They show the vaccine works but not necessarily under all conditions on all farms. Effectiveness looks at whether a vaccine works in the real world. Field studies assess the degree to which a vaccine reduces disease in a population.

Efficiency evaluates whether using a vaccine makes economic sense. It’s often difficult to account for all factors in a cost-benefit analysis, so there are few published studies on vaccine efficiency. Taken one by one, the studies Windeyer found on vaccinating calves at arrival in the feedlot present a confusing picture, offering evidence both for and against vaccinating with single and combination vaccines. A 1997 literature review of field efficacy studies found positive trials and a few negative ones, but most fell into the neutral zone. Windeyer says the authors, Perino and Hunsaker, touched on the potential for publication bias. Neutral or negative findings were almost three times more likely when Continued on page 19 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Continued from page 18

none of the study authors were affiliated with the test vaccines. Doctors R.L. Larson from Kansas State University and D.L. Step from Oklahoma State University recently undertook a meta-analysis of all of the field trials on this subject published in English scientific literature. They looked at the quality of the research and analysed the overall weighted results. Their paper, “Evidence-based Effectiveness of Vaccination against Mannheimia haemolytica (MH), Pasteurella multocida (PM) and Histophilus somni (HS) in Feedlot Cattle for Mitigating the Incidence and Effect of Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex,” was published in March 2012, in the journal, V eterinary C linics of N orth A merica : F ood A nimal Practice. MH and MH/PM vaccines provided a slight, but significant reduction in BRD in 18 studies, but nine studies showed no effect on mortality. One study looking at MH/HS vaccines showed a reduction in the risk of having to treat animals for BRD and there were no mortalities among either vaccinated or unvaccinated calves. Only three field studies of HS vaccines were available and they showed no difference in the incidence of BRD. The evidence for vaccinating calves on the ranch before weaning is also mixed. Windeyer says this practice isn’t as widely accepted by producers as vaccination on entry to a feedlot largely because of the economics and the old dogma that passive maternal antibodies interfere with the ability of a vaccine to generate antibodies in young calves. In the early 1990s Alberta veterinarian Joyce Van Donkersgoed found the incidence of BRD was reduced in some groups of calves vaccinated before weaning, but not in calves vaccinated at weaning. In another of her studies, calves that received various combination vaccines against BVD, IBR, PI3 and/or BRSV had higher antibody levels than unvaccinated calves, however, calves with maternal antibodies were less likely to have an increase in antibodies. The responses varied by vaccination protocol. In a third study an HS/MH vaccine given at one and two months of age in the www.canadiancattlemen.ca

face of maternal antibodies showed an increase in calf antibody levels until six months of age. In 2001, Dr. John Ellis at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon found minimal disease in calves with no maternal antibodies vaccinated at 10 to 14 days of age when challenged with BVD at 4.5 months of age. Calves with maternal antibodies when vaccinated became sick when challenged. Antibody levels before the challenge weren’t necessarily predictive of whether the calves did or didn’t get sick. Windeyer says the Ellis study suggested high levels of maternal antibodies can interfere with the humoral response to vaccination and prevent clinical protection, successful immunity can be achieved through vaccination at an early age if maternal antibodies are not present and high levels of specific antibodies are not essential for clinical protection as it seems that other immune mechanisms may be involved.

“The risk and cost of a disease outbreak, along with sufficient evidence of efficacy are good incentives to maintain a wellvaccinated herd” Several studies have shown that calves with maternal antibodies vaccinated at less than three months of age may have cell-mediated responses and improved antibody response to a booster vaccination even if they don’t show an antibody response to the initial vaccination. One U.S. study indicates calves vaccinated against BVD at two to five weeks had fewer clinical signs and higher antibody levels when challenged with BVD at seven to nine months of age. In other work intranasally vaccinating calves without maternal antibodies at two, six or nine weeks of age with a BRSV or a BRSV-combination vaccine reduced the risk or the severity of disease when they were challenged with BRSV. When calves

Vaccine label claims

•P revention of infection: prevents all colonization or replication of the organism in vaccinated animals •P revention of disease: at least 80 per cent effective in preventing clinical disease •A id in the prevention of disease: prevents disease by a clinically significant amount •A id in disease control: alleviates disease severity, reduces disease duration, or delays disease onset •O ther claims: effects other than direct disease control, such as the control of infectiousness through the reduction of pathogen shedding, if there is a clinically significant effect

with maternal antibodies were given a BVD/IBR/PI3/BRSV modified-live vaccine intranasally within the first week of life they showed an increase in antibodies in nasal secretions, but not in the blood. “Clearly, there is evidence that young calves are capable of mounting responses to immune challenges, whether that be through vaccination or exposure to pathogens in their environments, depending on several variables including age and amount of maternal antibodies,” says Windeyer. “It’s just that a young calf’s response to a vaccine in the face of maternal antibodies may be different from and more difficult to measure than the response of an older animal.” Many questions remain: At what level do maternal antibodies interfere with vaccination? When is the best time to vaccinate? What is the best route for vaccinating? What are the most important pathogens to target? What happens when calves are given a 5-way modified-live virus vaccine, plus a 3-way bacterial pneumonia vaccine and an 8-way clostridial vaccine at the same time? “While answers to these questions are being debated by veterinarians and researchers, it doesn’t mean producers should throw out their current vaccine strategies,” says Windeyer. “The risk and cost of a disease outbreak, along with sufficient evidence of efficacy are good incentives to maintain a wellvaccinated herd.” C — Debbie Furber Cattlemen / September 2012 19

health

disease

Pellets can have ergot too Wayne Brost learned that lesson the hard way

rgot is an infection of grasses and cereal crops caused by the fungus, Claviceps purpurea. The oversized purplish-black ergot bodies that develop in the place of seeds or kernels can be easily identified in standing crops and uncleaned grain, but it’s a different story once the grain has been processed and one with which Wayne Brost of Medicine Hat, Alta., is all too familiar. Though Brost doesn’t grow grain, he knows ergot when he sees it. He clearly remembers his dad checking the crops for ergot, especially rye because it is highly susceptible, but he never imagined that commercial feed could be contaminated with ergot — one would expect it would be tested to ensure it’s free from toxins. As he found out, that’s not the case. Ergot bodies contain several types of claviceps alkaloids which are toxic to people and animals when consumed as they cause blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow, which can lead to gangrene, abortions and nervous symptoms. Processing contaminated grain doesn’t destroy the alkaloids but it does make ergot bodies impossible to detect with the naked eye. At weaning last November, Brost received a fresh load of grain screening pellets, just as he has for the past eight years. The first time he fed the pellets, a few of the calves ran over to the trough and the others wandered in behind, just as he expected

they would. That’s where the similarities end. “They licked around, but they weren’t keen on it,” Brost says. This odd reaction to the pellets continued day after day and he really began to wonder what could be wrong because other years the calves would always have the pellets cleaned up by the end of the day. Not knowing what the problem was, he sent a sample of the pellets to an Alberta lab for a routine feed test. Nothing unusual turned up. About a month later, he noticed a few calves limping and thought it could be foot rot, but in the back of his mind he still suspected that something wasn’t right with the pellets because the calves still weren’t going after them. When part of an ear fell off a calf as it pulled its head out of the headgate, that was it. Brost called his veterinarian who suspected he was dealing with ergot poisoning. After examining two of the calves and consulting with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in Saskatoon, Brost’s veterinarian was confident his initial diagnosis was correct. By this time, a couple of months had passed and he had about a dozen calves limping around. He contacted the feed company, which delivered a fresh load of pellets, and the calves took to them just like any other year. At this point, Brost sent a sample of the original load to another Alberta lab with a specific request to test for ergot. It

A Canadian test for claviceps alkaloids Testing for the presence of claviceps alkaloids is about to become a whole lot easier for Canadian producers and feed companies. Dr. Barry Blakley, the supervisory veterinary toxicologist with Prairie Diagnostic Services (PDS) housed at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine received word in July that they have been approved to submit a grant application to buy the necessary equipment. It will likely be late fall before the grants are announced, and another couple of months to get the equipment in place. PDS recently expanded its animal health and pathology services to include tests for heavy metals, vitamins and minerals in blood, tissue and feed. The new equipment will test for organic compounds such as claviceps alkaloids and other mycotoxins plus herbicide, insecticide and rodenticide residues in feed.

20 Cattlemen / September 2012

It shows up in lost feet and ears. came back negative. However, a sample the feed company sent for testing did detect ergot, but not the concentration. Again, Brost’s veterinarian sought advice from the WCVM and learned that they needed to request a test for claviceps alkaloids, not ergot bodies. Only a couple of labs in North America currently test for all types of claviceps alkaloids. Subsequently, a sample was sent to a lab in Missouri. “I was blown away when the test came back showing that the claviceps alkaloid level was 220 times over the acceptable U.S. limit,” Brost recalls. “When I found out, well to say the least, I was sick to think that I had fed Continued on page 22

Blakley used to field a couple of calls a year about ergot. Now, with the wet weather conditions of the past few years, he averages that many every week. High levels of ergot poisoning affect the production of prolactin, a hormone involved in mammary gland and milk development during pregnancy. Fortunately it is not a chronic condition and the next lactation will be normal. Higher ergot levels may cause hallucinations but the animals generally recover after a day or two off the contaminated feed. There is no recover y from the severe gangrene that results in the loss of body par ts. Up until the PDS is ready to test for mycotoxins, Blakley is available to help producers find a U.S. lab to test for claviceps alkaloids and interpret the test results according to Canadian recommendations. He can be reached at 306-966-7350, or email barry.blakley@usask.ca.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

ADD SAFE-GUARD ADD POUNDS

Safe-Guard TM (fenbendazole ) is a different class of dewormer than pour-ons and injectables. It works fast to stop internal parasites and the hidden damage they cause. These parasites suppress feed intake, reduce average daily gain, hurt nutrient absorption and immune function, reducing the health and performance of your cattle.1,2 Use Safe-Guard as part of your parasite control program for more pounds of high quality beef in the feedlot.3,4 Visit www.AddSafe-Guard.com for more information or contact your veterinarian. 1 Endoparasite control, L.R. Ballweber, Veterinary Clinics Food Animal, 2006, 22:451-461. 2Economic analysis of pharmaceutical technologies in modern beef production, J.D. Lawrence and M.A. Ibarburu, Iowa State University, 2007. 3Pasture deworming and (or) subsequent feedlot deworming with fenbendazole I. Effects of grazing performance, feedlot performance and carcass traits of yearling steers, R. Smith, et al., The Bovine Practitioner, 2000, 34:104-114. 4A fenbendazole oral drench in addition to an ivermectin pour-on reduces parasite burden and improves feedlot and carcass performance of finishing heifers compared with endectocides alone, C.D. Reinhardt, J.P. Hutcheson and W.T. Nichols, Journal of Animal Science, 2006, 84:2243-2250.

TM Safe-Guard is a trademark of Intervet International B.V. Used under license. Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the US and Canada), operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK and MSD are trademarks of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright ÂŠ 2012 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

SG Bovine Canadian Cattlemen.indd 1

12-08-07 15:32

Continued from page 20

this to the calves.” The acceptable limit in the U.S. is 100 to 200 parts per billion. The sample tested 44,000. Altogether 15 calves lost all or parts of ears, tails and hooves. Three had to be euthanized and the feed company purchased the remainder of the calves with obvious defects. Not only that, but before the contamination was detected he was advised by a company representative to feed some of the original pellets to his cows. They had no unusual reaction to the pellets, but he did lose a couple

22 Cattlemen / September 2012

of bred heifers that were in the same group when they calved prematurely. The episode still haunts Brost because the calves that received the poisoned pellets were his replacement heifers. Now he is short 15 replacements and worried about the long-term health of his remaining heifers. Brost called Canadian Cattlemen with his story so that other producers could be made aware that ergot poisoning isn’t limited to homegrown feed. If your animals are rejecting feed, his advice is to pay attention and get it tested. C — Debbie Furber

Recommended tolerance level The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for the Feeds Act Regulations. As such it has the capability to test for ergot in livestock feed, but only accepts samples submitted by CFIA inspectors. Currently, alfatoxin is the only mycotoxin regulated in Canada, however, recommended tolerance levels have been published for several others. The recommended maximum for ergot alkaloids in feed for cattle, sheep and horses is two to three milligrams per kilogram. CFIA does monitor for mycotoxins including ergot alkaloids under the National Feed Inspection Program. Spokesperson Lisa Gauthier says they also follow up on complaints of suspected feed contamination by contacting the feed manufacturer or farm where contaminated samples are collected. The facility or farm then needs to investigate the source of the contamination and take appropriate corrective actions. The Canadian Grain Commission allows 0.1 per cent ergot bodies by weight for most classes of No. 1 wheat and durum delivered to elevators, and up to 0.10 per cent for feed wheat. The maximum for No. 1 and No. 2 generalpurpose barley is 0.025 and 0.10, respectively, while malting varieties range from zero in the top grade, to 0.025 for select and no limit for standard select. The maximum for rye is 0.05 per cent. For triticale it is four kernel-sized pieces in a 500-gram sample. According to the Saskatchewan Ministr y of Agriculture, the recommended maximum level for ergot bodies in cattle feed is 0.10 per cent (by weight) of the animal’s daily dr y matter intake. Open-pollinated plants including r ye, triticale and some grasses (wheat grass, quack grass and smooth brome) are most susceptible. Wheat and barley can be affected, but ergot is seldom seen in oats. Young and pregnant animals are highly susceptible to ergot poisoning. The severity and extent of damage to their body depends on the concentration of the alkaloids in the feed as well as the length of time the contaminated feed is fed. It may take two or three weeks for symptoms to become noticeable. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

KNOCKOUT

BRD ONE WITH

DOSE

Talk to your veterinarian about the one dose TREATMENT against BRD.

XCB JAD01 0812 A E

health

nutrition

Managing WDGS to Minimize E. Coli U.S. meat scientists are looking for ways to reduce E. coli 0157:H7 prevalence in cattle populations

s the price for corn has escalated in the last several years, the use of more cost-efficient feedstuffs — namely ethanol co-products — has found favour with cattle feeders. One such example is wet distillers grains with solubles or WDGS. While WDGS has proven to be an effective energy source in cattle finishing rations, recent research indicates it comes with a caveat. It is that cattle fed finishing diets with WDGS have been shown to harbour increased E. coli 0157:H7 populations in the feces and on the hides. Elaine Berry, a scientist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., has some ideas on why this correlation between WDGS and the higher prevalence of the E. coli pathogen may exist. She says that the ethanol production process removes starch from the corn. With less starch, the manure produced by the animals fed WDGS has less acidity (and therefore a more neutral pH), so it is more hospitable to the E. coli pathogen. Whereas, cattle fed high corn diets excrete more starch — resulting in lower pH — in their manure, and that acidity helps inactivate E. coli pathogens. Berry says the increased persistence of E. coli 0157:H7 in the manure in the feedlot environment may be responsible in part for the observed increase in E. coli 0157:H7 in the feces and on the hides of cattler that are fed high levels of WDGS. As such, Berry reports research that E. coli appears to persist longer in the manure of animals fed a high-WDGS (40 per cent) diet.

Initial research Specifically, in a study of 605 steers, cattle were acclimated to the feedlot and fed a growing diet for 77 days. They were then fed a finishing diet with corn plus zero WDGS or corn plus 40 per cent WDGS on a dry matter basis for 140 to 168 days. Prevalence and the percentage of samples with E. coli 0157:H7 were not significantly different in the pens for either feces or hides at the beginning of the study. However, Berry reports that significantly different levels of E. coli 0157:H7 prevalence and the percentage of animals with enumerable high levels in feces and on hides were detected among the cattle fed the 40 per cent WDGS ration at the end of the finishing trial. Berry says this indicates that feeding levels of WDGS at high levels in the diet appears to increase the persistence of E. coli 0157:H7 and total E. coli in feces and manure over time — but with research and management she believes this risk can be managed. Berry says, “We don’t consider eliminating WDGS is a good idea.” Instead, she says researchers are asking different questions and refocusing research efforts. Among the questions being studied: • Can WDGS diets be altered to reduce E. coli 0157:H7? • Are effects similar when WDGS is fed at different levels? 24 Cattlemen / september 2012

• Can WDGS be removed from the diet before slaughter to reduce E. coli 0157:H7?

Removing WDGS before slaughter Berry’s colleague Jim Wells at USMARC conducted a study to address such questions. Specifically, can WDGS be fed at a lower level at the end of the feeding period to reduce E. coli 0157:H7 prevalence at slaughter? For the two-year study, 608 heifers were sorted into one of five treatments and fed on a dry matter basis: • A corn grain-based diet continuously (positive control); • 40 per cent WDGS continuously (negative control); • 40 per cent WDGS for the first 56 days and switched to zero WDGS for the last 56 days; • 40 per cent WDGS for the first 56 days and switched to 15 per cent WDGS for the last 56 days; • 70 per cent WDGS for the first 56 days and switched to 15 per cent WDGS for the last 56 days. Wells and Berry report that at the start of the finishing phase, the prevalence for E. coli 0157:H7 in the cattle’s feces was similar for animals fed 40 and 70 per cent WDGS, and both were higher than animals fed zero WDGS. After WDGS in the ration was reduced for the later part of the finishing phase, the cumulative prevalence for E. coli 0157:H7 in fecal samples was: • Highest for animals maintained on 40 per cent WDGS (about 70 per cent prevalence); • Lowest for animals maintained on zero WDGS, (about 10 per cent prevalence), and; • Intermediate for animals shifted to lower WDGS (about 31-35 per cent prevalence). Similar relationships between the treatments were observed for hide samples. Wells, Berry and their USMARC colleagues concluded Continued on page 26 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

DELIVERS THE

KNOCKOUT

PUNCH!

Talk to your veterinarian about EXCEDE 200.

速 Registered trademark of Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, used under licence by Pfizer Canada Inc. XCB JAD01 0812 B E

Continued from page 24

that reducing the percentage of WDGS fed in the diet to zero or 15 per cent during the last 56 days of the finishing phase did help reduce the prevalence of E. coli 0157:H7 in feces and on hides. However, they emphasize that time is an important component for this management strategy to be effective. She notes that reductions for E. coli 0157:H7 on hides took 28 days after the shift to the lower amount of WDGS in the diet, whereas the reduction in feces took 56 days after the shift in the diet. The bottom line, according to the study, is the fact that managing WDGS in finishing diets and feeding no more than 15 per cent WDGS for 56 days prior to harvest may be an effective solution to help combat E. coli 0157:H7 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; without having to eliminate WDGS altogether. C â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Kindra Gordon

Of interest The prevalence of shedding of E. coli O157:H7 is seasonal, and typically highest in the warmer months of summer and early fall. U.S. Meat Animal Research Center scientists are continuing their work on E. coli O157:H7 management and control measures including studies on soil solarization, hidewashing techniques and genomic approaches.

26 Cattlemen / september 2012

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

IT GETS LONELY AT THE TOP. Super M Series Balers

Reduces Bale Chamber by

50%

Meet the only baler with a dual-stage belt tightening system. This patented design simplifies the bale-starting process to give you faster starts and smooth performance in a wide variety of crops and conditions. That’s why you have better-looking bales and fewer hassles in the end … another reason we call it “Super.”

AIRDRIE Airdrie Tractorland AssInIboIA Young’s Equipment Inc

403-948-7400 306-642-5991

lEDuC Key AgVentures Inc. lInDsAy ACallaghan Farm Supply

403-343-6342

powAssAn J & J Equipment Repair Inc

705-724-6565

705-324-8686

RADvIllE E. Bourassa & Sons

306-869-2277

RED DEER County Key AgVentures Inc.

403-343-6342

REgInA Young’s Equipment Inc

306-565-2405

RussEll Therkelsen & Sons LTD

613-445-2818

AthEns Feenstra’s Equipment Ltd.

613-924-2805

MEAfoRD Earth Power Tractor & Equipment 519-538-1660

bRAnDon Hepson Equipment Inc

204-727-1050

MoosE JAw Young’s Equipment Inc

306-694-1800

CAlgARy Calgary Tractorland ltd

403-240-1977

olIvER Gerard’s Equipment Ltd.

250-498-2524

stAynER Earth Power Tractor & Equipment 705-428-3132

519-363-3510

owEn Earth Power Tractors

519-376-5880

250-567-2938

403-504-1111

pAngMAn E. Bourassa & Sons

vAnDERhoof HCM Farm Services Ltd.

306-442-2033

wEybuRn E. Bourassa & Sons

306-842-6626

306-634-9444

pIERson Lee’s Service Centre

204-634-2293

wInDthoRst Young’s Equipment Inc

306-224-2110

ChEslEy J & H Sales & Service CypREss County Ag-Plus Mechanical Ltd EstEvAn E. Bourassa & Sons

health

parasites

DON’T IGNORE DRUG-RESISTANT PARASITES

r. John Gilleard, the associate dean of research and professor of parasitology at the University of Calgary faculty of veterinary medicine says most of the studies about drug-resistant worms in cattle were done in the U.S. and Europe but the story they tell is applicable to Western Canada. “What has happened in the past 10 years has been a recognition that the macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin and moxidectin — the endectocide pourons) are less effective now than they used to be,” he says. When you treated animals with an ivermectin pour-on 15 years ago you would expect zero egg counts after treatment. “If you treat cattle today, likely the egg counts will still be moderately high afterward,” he says. The reasons for drug resistance are complex, but there are two main elements. One is that there are several species of worms and they have different levels of innate drug resistance. The worm we have traditionally been most concerned about is the brown stomach worm, Ostertagia. This one is quite sensitive to ivermectin. Another group of parasites, the most important being Cooperia (in the small intestine), is intrinsically less susceptible to this drug. So what’s happened in the U.S. is a change in species balance and prevalence. There are less Ostertagia and a lot more Cooperia now. “By treating intensively with the ivermectins for many years, we have selected for species that are less affected by this drug,” he explains. The other element is drug resistance within a species. “We’ve selected for mutations within that species that make them more resistant. Both of these things are happening, and this is why we are now getting poor responses to ivermectin.” Will the resistance problem happen here? “There is no reason to believe it wouldn’t,” says Gilleard. In

28 Cattlemen / September 2012

a recent study looking at egg counts after treatment in young cattle going into Alberta feedlots the findings were similar to what has been seen in the U.S. (see page 30). An older class of drugs which includes fenbendazole known as the white dewormers have not been used as much in recent years, predominantly because they only kill worms in the GI tract and are not active against migrating grubs or external parasites like lice. Ivermectin and moxidectin have been considered much more useful because they could do all these jobs at the same time and were easy to use as a pour-on. “In recent years the white drenches have been used less, and there hasn’t been much resistance issue in cattle. So we do have this class of drugs to fall back on, even though they are more difficult to apply. They may be more effective now than ivermectin or moxidectin against the GI tract roundworms,” he says. Gilleard says roundworms are the major parasites of cattle and there are many different species. Some producers are now combining different classes of drugs to get around the resistance. This is already happening in sheep. Deworming drugs have been used more intensively in sheep and the resistance problem is much further along than in cattle. Single drugs don’t work at all anymore. In Australia and New Zealand, most sheep producers now use combinations of three different drug classes. “This is the only recourse they have, and even that is beginning to fail,” says Gilleard. “This is a warning for cattle producers. We may end up in the same dilemma. We need to become more intelligent about the way we use these drugs. Also, we need to monitor — to know whether or not the drugs are actually working,” he explains.

Dr. John Gilleard

Continued on page 30 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Feed for top performance

DuPont Pioneer has a full line of forage products that can deliver top feed value and performance for your beef operation. Pioneer速 brand corn silage hybrids offer high tonnage and top quality. Our high performing alfalfa varieties offer superior winterhardiness. And crop-specific Sila-Bac速 brand forage inoculants, like our revolutionary new 11GFT for cereal and grass silage, help you get more feed value from your silage. Backed by a network of agronomic and nutritional experts, your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales rep is ready to help with a forage recommendation for your operation. Give them a call today.

www.pioneer.com The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont. 速, TM, SM Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. 息 2012 PHL.

Continued from page 28

Most producers just treat their cattle and assume it works. But Gilleard says a followup fecal sample after deworming would provide a clue as to the degree of resistance in your pastures or feedlots. “The problem right now is that we’ve been taking (these drugs) for granted and splashing them around,” he says. “It’s important to continue to do strategic deworming, targeting the animals that need it, and when.” Don’t think Canada’s cold climate will break the cycle for you. The larvae can survive freezing on pasture, and significant numbers of worms survive inside the animals. If cattle are not dewormed properly, worms begin

Feedlot parasite treatments compared A combination of ivermectin pour-on and fenbendazole drench provided better intestinal parasite control than ivermectin alone in a large field study conducted by veterinarians Craig Dorin, Michael Jelinski, Nathan Erickson, and Cody Creelman of Veterinary Agri-Health Services at Airdrie, Alta. Fecal samples were collected from 40 yearling steers on each of 10 pastures located across Alberta and Saskatchewan upon arrival at Highway 21 Feeders in Alberta in the fall of 2011. All 2,285 yearlings from the 10 pastures were inducted as per the feedlot’s usual protocol and randomly sorted with equal numbers of yearlings from each pasture going into 18 pens to provide nine replications for each of the two treatments: ivermectin pour-on only and ivermectin pour-on along with the fenbendazole (Safe-Guard) drench supplied by Merck Animal Health. Fecal samples were collected from 20 animals at random in each pen 14 days after treatment, and again one month prior to slaughter. Performance and carcass numbers were also analysed. Prairie Diagnostic Services in Saskatoon processed some 1,150 samples. The results are stated as eggs per five grams (EP5G). The established standards for a parasite burden in yearling cattle are: low for less than 50 EP5G; moderate for 50 to 150 EP5G and high, for more than 150. In calves the burden is “high” when it gets over 250 EP5G. The effectiveness of a treatment is 30 Cattlemen / September 2012

laying eggs again the next spring and reinfect the pasture. The major limiting climatic factor is dryness, since eggs and larvae don’t survive on dry pastures. Again, that is little help since the moisture in this part of the world is more than sufficient during grazing season to allow buildup of pasture contamination with infective larvae. “Moisture levels are actually higher here than in many parts of the U.S. where parasites are known to have significant production impacts,” says Gilleard. There are ways you can break the parasite’s life cycle, however, such as rotating different classes of livestock since worms are species specific and won’t continue their life cycle in a different host. measured by the fecal egg count reduction (FECR) which measures the drop in egg numbers before and after treatment. Any product that delivers an FECR of 90 per cent or better is considered effective. Trichostrongyle eggs were by far the most predominant, with burdens as high as 162 EP5G. Moniezia was second at 70 EP5G. Ver y low levels of trichuris and nematodirus eggs were evident in most samples. Some samples were positive for eimeria and cr yptosporidum eggs. Interestingly, two to four animals in every pen had the maximum 250 EP5C counts for cryptosporidium even though it wasn’t found in all of the samples. Tapeworm eggs were surprisingly low and the coccidiosis egg count was low at entry and disappeared altogether when the cattle went on Rumensin. The ivermectin-only treatment reduced the trichostrongyle egg count by 59 to 88 per cent across the 18 pens, averaging 76 per cent. It didn’t touch the nematodirus eggs, but eliminated all but two of the trichuris eggs and reduced the monezia eggs count to three. The ivermectin-fenbendazole treatment resulted in a 100 per cent FECR of all four parasites. Only one nematodirus egg was found pre-slaughter. In one pen with an 88 per cent FECR after treatment with invermectin only eggs persisted at low levels in all samples and two samples still had moderate counts. Pre-slaughter 17 animals had low egg counts, one was moderate and two maxed out at 250 EP5G. Dorin says it may have been a case of intestinal parasite resistance to ivermectin, or it could have been a dosing problem.

“Also we need to realize that cattle grazing pastures from the previous year will have some worm burdens, and we need to make sure these animals don’t become a source of pasture contamination for the following year. Some people advise cattlemen to treat in the fall, at the end of grazing season. Transmission does not occur in winter so if you treat in late fall this will minimize pasture contamination the next year.” The second time to treat is after those animals have been grazing in spring for about six weeks. By then they have picked up worm eggs from the pasture but the worms have not matured enough in the GI tract to begin shedding many eggs yet. C — Heather Smith Thomas

Dr. Craig Dorin Safe-Guard alone isn’t the total answer because it doesn’t control lice and other external parasites. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the lack of a significant difference between the two treatments in the performance, mortality or morbidity in the calves. “Although, when the data were sorted from a different angle, the five pens with the heaviest infections did have the lowest average daily gains,” says Dorin. There seems to be a trend to positive performance response to the combo treatment for animals with high EPG counts.” Likewise, the carcass data was very similar for animals from both treatment groups, though the combination treatment group had slightly better marbling. Thirty-eight per cent of them graded Canada AAA, versus 32 per cent for the ivermectin-only group. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

FOR WHATEVER ROAD YOU TRAVEL.

• BEST-IN-CLASS 4X4 V8 FUEL EFFICIENCY1 • UP TO 10,700 LBS. OF TOWING WITH SWAY CONTROL2 • BEST-IN-CLASS POWERTRAIN WARRANTY3

O D A R SILVE

T EVROLE 2012 CH

CHEVROLET.CA

MOBILE ENABLED

9.1L/100 km highway and 13.7 L/100 km city ratings. 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, equipped with available VortecTM 5.3L V8 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, fuel consumption ratings based on GM testing in accordance with approved Transport Canada test methods. Competitive fuel consumption ratings based on WardsAuto.com 2011 Large Pickup segment and Natural Resources Canada’s 2011 Fuel Consumption Guide. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. Excludes hybrids and other GM models. 2Maximum trailer weight ratings are calculated assuming a base vehicle, except for any option(s) necessary to achieve the rating, plus driver. The weight of other optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow. See your Chevrolet dealer for additional details. 3Based on WardsAuto.com 2012 Large Pickup segment. Excludes other GM models.

WORKDAYS TO GETAWAYS

health

parasites

The Power of a Fecal sample

ver the years we as veterinarians have done fewer and fewer fecals as the products to deworm were available and became more reliable. In Canada a product for both internal and external parasites is often given. The pour-on endectocides (macrocyclic lactones) were pretty much given each year and other than when lungworms would crop up in the summer we really didn’t give much credence to other internal parasites. In the last few years (since about 2003) there has been a lot of credible U.S. evidence about resistance building in internal worms to the macrocyclic lactones (avermectins). Your veterinarian is in the best position to offer the advice on deworming based on results of fecal sampling of your herd. One fecal flotation on a large herd may not provide adequate evidence but several will. They say 20 fresh individual samples on even the largest herd give a very representative sample and will catch any high egg shedders. The samples are easy to collect even on pasture but they must be collected fresh and analysed quickly or shipped with ice packs to maintain refrigeration temperatures. They can be random. If you know the animal’s identification number write it down. Some parasite eggs such as nematodirus, trichuris, tapeworms, round worms and coccidian are easily recognized. The small strongyle worms such, as haemonchus, ostertagia, cooperia etc. are more difficult to tell apart so generally are lumped together on the form. Most of us over the years have performed simple fecal floats using a very subjective description of 1+ to 4+. The same sample could result in different values depending on who was reading the results. Ideally what’s needed is a more quantitative test that results in the number of eggs per one, three or five grams of sample. That would give us numbers that could be compared and should be more repeatable regardless of the technician involved. There are two main quantitative methods of fecal analysis on the market today. One is the McMaster, which dilutes a finite amount of manure and counts the eggs in a counting chamber. One egg seen is the equivalent of 25epg (eggs

32 Cattlemen / September 2012

per gram). The other is the Modified Wisconsin method, where you measure a finite amount of fecal material, put it through a low-speed centrifuge and count every egg. According to a leading U.S. parasitologist Dr. Donald Bliss both tests produce quantitative measurements, but the McMaster test probably underestimates animals with low fecal numbers and overestimates animals with higher fecal counts.

Twenty fresh samples should give a representative sample in even the largest herds In Canada lice are still a major problem and lice show no resistance to the avermectins. Stacking classes of dewormers probably make sense especially if fecal results support this. The benzimidazoles have been around a long time. Fenbendazole (Safe-Guard or Panacur) are very effective on worms including the difficult and significant nematodirus and lungworms. It comes in various forms from a drench (with applicator hook) to a concentrated feed additive to a pelleted form. In trials using both Safe-Guard and an avermectin class product con-

trol of internal worms was 99.9 per cent effective. Fenbendazole is not effective against the inhibited L3 larval stages of some parasitic forms. It is really a contact dewormer so it wipes out all the other stages including the adults. In the case of heavy worm burdens then the L3s become adults and we see eggs being shed again. In cases of very heavy worm burdens deworming two times a month apart will take the worm count down to close to zero. Rarely is this necessary but again it stresses the need for fecal monitoring to provide the most benefit to an individual herd. In cases where cattle are not easily accessible Canadian veterinarians can write a prescription to add fenbendazole to salt and minerals consumed up to a week or in feed that is eaten over a few days. For drenching a handy hook applicator makes administration only seconds longer than putting on an endectocide. Bison, camelids, sheep, elk or the equine species take it very readily. Again, with species not on the label a veterinary prescription will be necessary. With the price of endectocides having come down considerably they are still a great and easy choice for lice. Combining endectocides with SafeGuard provides complete control. C — Dr. Roy Lewis DVM Dr. Lewis is a private practitioner from Westlock, Alta., who works part time as a technical veterinarian for Merck Animal Health. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Nothing but blue skies and blue fields ahead. These are exciting times at New Holland! First we asked dealers and customers what they wanted most from their equipment. Now we’re applying that blue-sky thinking to fields across North America. Take a new look at New Holland and you’ll find exceptional technologies, products and resources. Now like never before, we’ve got exactly what you need to get the job done right.

The “Summer of Savings” clearance event is here! Visit your New Holland Dealer today for great deals. www.NewHolland.com/NA

N u t r i t i o n

by John McKinnon John.mckinnon@usask.ca

Collective wisdom — if only we could bottle and sell it! John McKinnon is a beef cattle nutritionist at the University of Saskatchewan

s I write this, we have just finished hosting the 16th annual Western Canadian Feedlot Management School. As an organizer, one of the aspects of the school that I look forward to is the presentations by industry nutritionists. Over the years we have had the “Who’s Who” of beef cattle nutritionists present at the school including “Doc” McLaren now retired but formerly with FeedRite, Dr. Darryl Gibb with Hi-Pro Feeds, Dr. Barry Robinson of Great Northern Livestock Consulting, Dr. Aaron Grant from Nutrition Service Associates and Ms. Sharon Klinger of Co-op Feeds, just to name a few. While the topics they present vary, inevitably what I take away from their presentations is the depth of their experience and the sound practical advice they offer for managing feeding programs. This year was no different with excellent presentations by Dr. Mark Cameron from Cargill Animal Nutrition and Mr. Bruce Creighton of BearsPaw Nutrition Consulting out of Edmonton. When I reflect back on these presentations and ensuing discussions with these cattle-feeding experts, I always think that it would make great reading to get their collective experiences down on paper. While that might be a project for another day, one theme that comes through their presentations loud and clear, is the importance of a sound bunk management program. What I would like to do with this column is pass on some of their “collective wisdom” as we enter into another fall feeding season. In most commercial situations the goal is to have feeder cattle on full feed, which typically means they are fed as much as they will eat (i.e. ad libitum) or close to it, on a daily basis. Furthermore, these cattle are fed finishing rations formulated to contain 80 to 90 per cent grain. Herein lies the challenge — how do you keep steers averaging 1,000 pounds that are eating up to 20 pounds of barley or corn a day on feed for another 100 days? The issue of course, is avoidance of acidosis which is a digestive disturbance that in its mildest form can throw cattle off feed for a day or two, or in more severe cases reduce performance due to lameness, liver abscesses and in some cases even death. Now, acidosis has a multitude of causes, but the disease basically comes down to the situation where cattle that have not been adapted to grain or to a specific grain level, are fed the wrong ration or one that they were not properly adapted to, or the feeding management is such that cattle start to eat erratically from one day to the next (excess fines in bunk, poor grain processing, irreg-

34 Cattlemen / September 2012

ular feeding intervals, mouldy feed, etc.). Acidosis, as the name implies, results from a buildup of acid in the rumen from bacteria fermentation of cereal grain starch. Too great or too rapid a buildup (as occurs in unadapted cattle or those that have sudden diet change), results in disruptions in rumen pH and depending on the extent and degree of the insult, can lead to cattle going off feed or in worstcase scenarios, death. Chronic acidosis is basically the result of poor feeding management with the result cattle start to exhibit cycle intakes where they eat everything in sight one day and leave half the next day. Over time, this cycle results in an increased incidence of lameness and liver abscesses and overall poor performance. The answer to acidosis is a sound bunk management program. While the approach taken by each of these nutritionists differs, the guiding principles are remarkably similar. The vast majority incorporates step-up feeding programs where new cattle are initially adapted to the starter ration and then moved through a series of steps to the final ration. All provide minimum recommendations for length of time during each step in order to adapt the rumen to a given grain level. All emphasize the importance of feeding cattle at regular times, whether you feed once, twice or three times a day. Most recommend a “slick” bunk feeding program where the bunks are empty or nearly empty in the morning, cautioning against programs that result in overly aggressive cattle at the bunk. Guidelines are given as to how much and how fast you can increase the amount fed when bunks are empty and cattle are hungry. Careful attention is paid to grain processing, ensuring proper processing whether the grain is dry or temper rolled or in the case of corn, steam rolled/flaked. Some nutritionists will measure the amount of fines in processed grain by sieving with a one-millimetre screen, looking to ensure it contains no more than three per cent fines, while others target a processing index (bushel weight of processed relative to unprocessed grain) of 78 to 82 per cent. Feed mixing is monitored through mixer efficiency testing and a precise order for the addition of ingredients to the mixer. Proper use of feed additives such as an ionophore is encouraged. All this and more, just to avoid acidosis and to keep cattle on feed and gaining at their genetic potential! Sounds complicated, but that is why hiring an experienced nutritionist is one of the best investments you can make this fall! www.canadiancattlemen.ca

CANADA’S CUSTOM

Feedlot Guide SEPTEMBER 2012

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

THE MOST COMPLETE SINGLE-SHOT RESPIRATORY VACCINE

IS BACK

Vista Once SQ is back – which means you can provide cattle with the broadest coverage TM

available against the most common and costly respiratory diseases in a single shot.

ONCE vaccinated, twice covered. Only VistaTM Once SQ combines an avirulent-live Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida culture with a single-dose, five-way, modifiedlive virus vaccine (IBR, BVD type 1 and type 2, PI3, BRSV). All you need is VistaTM Once SQ.... Once and for all.

To find out more, contact your veterinarian.

Trademark of Intervet, Inc. Used under license.

Merck Animal Health, operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright © 2011 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

Vista Once ad CanCattle Feedlot Guide.indd 1

12-08-14 10:02

British Columbia Andrews A1 Feeders Gary Andrews 167 Dure Meadow Road Lumby, B.C. V0E 2G7 Ph/Fax: (250) 547-2219 Lot capacity: 650 9 2 8 Halltray Farms Ltd. Philip Long or Brian Beal 9105 Sturgeon Point Road Vanderhoof, B.C. V0J 3A2 Ph: (250) 567-3031 Fax: 567-4081/ Cell: 567-8434 email:brbeal@uniserve.com Lot capacity: 2,500 9 2 Southern Plus Feedlots Bill Freding R.R. 1, Site 48, Comp 7 Oliver, B.C. V0H 1T0 Ph: (250) 498-3077 Fax: 498-3977 email: freding@telus.net Lot capacity: 6,000 1 5 9 2 8

Alberta Antelope Butte ranch ltd. Jim Lynch-Staunton Box 10 Lundbreck, Alta. T0K 1H0 Ph: (403) 628-2020 Cell: (403) 627-6770 email: jim@jrtwave.com Lot capacity: 1,200 9 2 BALLCO FEEDERS inc. Jeff Ball Box 127 Brant, Alta. T0L 0L0 Ph: (403) 684-3540 Fax: 684-3345 email: jeff@ballco.ca Lot capacity: 15,000 1 9 2 8 4

Barnett Farms Bill Barnett Box 1, Site 14, R.R. 1 Strathmore, Alta. T1P 1J6 Ph: (403) 934-4260 Fax: 934-4920 email: barnettfeeders@aol.com Lot capacity: 3,000 1 9 2 4 bear trap feeders Bob or Don Lowe Box 1499 Nanton, Alta. T0L 1R0 Ph: (403) 646-5550 Fax: 646-5697 Lot capacity: 4,000 1 5 2 9 1custom order buying and selling

Blue Ridge colony Eli Wurz Box 121 Mountain View, Alta. T0K 1N0 Ph: (403) 626-2388 Fax: 626-2394 Cell: 359-3287 Lot capacity: 350 9

Cleardale Colony Mike S. Stahl Box 159 Cleardale, Alta. T0H 3Y0 Ph: (780) 685-2800 Fax: 685-2704/ Cell: 834-7165 Lot capacity: 600 9 2 8

CAIRNS FEEDYARDS LTD Larry Cairns Box 8, Madden, Alta T0M 1L0 Ph/Fax: (403) 946-5897 Cell: 333-2400 Lot capacity: 5,000 1 5 9 2 8 4

Codesa Colony Box 300 Eaglesham, Alta. T0H 1H0 Ph: (780) 359-3022 Fax: 359-3004/ Cell: 837-4342 Lot capacity: 2,500 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

calhoun cattle co. ltd. Rod, Carol or Jason Calhoun Box 72 Swalwell, Alta. T0M 1Y0 Ph: (403) 546-2655 Fax: 546-3831 Cell: 333-5440/333-5438 1 5 9 2 8 4

Cor Van Raay Farms Ltd. Box 64 Iron Springs, Alta. T0K 1G0 Ph: (403) 738-4528 Fax: 738-4435 2 4 5 8 7

Carmangay Colony Feeders Ben Wurz, Johnny Wurz Box 40 Carmangay, Alta. T0L 0N0 Ph: (403) 643-2456 Fax: 643-2410 Cell: 795-9806/795-9805 Lot capacity: 5,000 9 2 8 Cattleland feedyards ltd. Greg Appleyard Box 58, Site 20, R.R. 2 Strathmore, Alta. T1P 1K2 Ph: (403) 934-4030 Fax: 934-4594 Cell: 888-0795 email: cflgreg@telus.net Website:cattlelandfeedyards.com Lot capacity: 25,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7 Central h Feeders ltd. Mark Hengstmengel Box 122 Iron Springs, Alta. T0K 1G0 Ph: (403) 738-4805 Fax: 738-4806/ Cell: 308-6632 Lot capacity: 2,700 2 9 chinook feeders Box 343 Nanton, Alta. T0L 1R0 Ph: (403) 646-2087 Fax: 646-2978 Lot capacity: 17,000 1 9 2 8 Claresholm Beef producers ltd. T.J. Larson Box 1043 Claresholm, Alta. T0L 0T0 Ph: (403) 625-2911 Fax: 625-2151 email: claresholmbeef@gmail.com Lot capacity: 13,000 9 2 8 5 market analysis

de wilde feeders Box 142 Monarch, Alta. T0L 1M0 Ph/Fax: (403) 824-3635 Cell: (403) 634-3352/ 634-4026 email: adriandw@shockware.com Lot capacity: 5,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7 Diamond 8 Cattle co. Cam VanEe Box 100 Pincher Creek, Alta. T0K 1W0 Ph: (403) 627-1525 Fax: 627-1524 Cell: 894-2178 email: barjw@hotmail.com Lot capacity: 7,500 1 5 9 2 8 4 7 Diamond H farms Ltd. Gabriel Hebert Box 123 St. Vincent, Alta. T0A 3B0 Phone/Fax: (780) 635-2699 Cell: 645-8695 Lot capacity: 2,200 FootHill Farms Henk Vanden Berg Box 793 Fort Macleod, Alta. T0L 0Z0 Ph: (403) 553-4290 Fax: 553-4291/ Cell: 315-3969 Lot capacity: 5,000 1 9 2 4 grandview cattle feeders Ltd. Greg Van Vaerenbergh Box 336 Picture Butte, Alta. T0K 1V0 Ph: (403) 328-9775 Fax: 381-0250/ Cell: 317-9550 email: grandvu@la.shockware.com Lot capacity: 43,000 5 2 4

9 backgrounding

2 health program

hagel feeders Ltd. Dan Hagel/Jason Hagel R.R. 1 Swalwell, Alta. T0M 1Y0 Ph: (403) 546-2187/ 546-3874 Cell: 312-7153/ 312-7154 Fax: 546-3949 Lot capacity: 4,800 1 9 2 8 hairy hill colony Darius R. Hofer Box 35 Hairy Hill, Alta. T0B 1S0 Ph: (780) 768-3770 Fax: 768-2178 Lot capacity: 1,200 5 9 2 8 highland feeders Bern & Mike Kotelko Box 400 Vegreville, Alta. T9C 1R4 Ph: (780) 768-2466 Fax: 768-3888 Cell: 632-1031 email: bkotelko@highlandbeef.com Website: www.highlandbeef.com Lot capacity: 36,000 1 5 2 8 7 High River colony Martin & Ed Box 5610 High River, Alta. T1V 1M7 Ph/Fax: (403) 395-2107 Cell: 652-8758 Lot capacity: 2,500 9 highway 21 feeders ltd. Ed Miller/ Lyle Miller Box 60 Acme, Alta. T0M 0A0 Ph: (403) 546-2278 Fax: 546-3709 Cell: 888-2539 (Ed) 888-3973 (Lyle) email: hwy21@wildroseinternet.ca Lot capacity: 20,000 1 5 2 8 4 7 hWY 52 beef producers ltd. Dwight Morhart/ Ryan Kasko Box 1250 Raymond, Alta. T0K 2S0 Ph: (403) 752-2333 Fax: 756-3434 Cell: 795-7394 email: hwy52@shockware.com Website: www.kaskocattle.com Lot capacity: 15,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7 hiltona holdings Ltd. Barry Hilton Box 26, Site 23, R.R. 2 Strathmore, Alta. T1P 1K5 Ph: (403) 934-3609 Fax: 934-4764 Cell: 888-5445 email: hiltona@efirehose.net 1 2 8

8 pen sharing

4 trucking

7hedging

J.G. Larson Livestock James Larson Box 1982 Enchant, Alta. T0K 0V0 Ph: (403) 654-2819 Fax: 654-2089/ Cell: 634-1322 email: jlarson@cciwireless.ca Lot capacity: 4,500 1 9 2 8 Jonust Farms Ltd. Bradley Raugust Walter Raugust R.R. 1, Ponoka, Alta. T4J 1R1 Ph: (403) 783-2726/ 783-2202 Fax: 704-2339 Cell: 350-5265/ 350-8023 email: blackelk@telusplanet.net Lot capacity: 1,000 9 2 8 jubilee feedlot Wayne Forbes Box 5510 Westlock, Alta. T7P 2P5 Ph: (780) 349-2476 Fax: 349-5414/ Cell: 349-0127 email: wayne@jubileefarms.ca Lot capacity: 6,500 1 9 2 8 4 Kasko Cattle Co. Ltd. Ryan Kasko Box 1266 Coaldale, Alta. T1M 1N1 Ph: (403) 345-4301 Fax: 345-3778/ Cell: 795-2246 email: ryan@kaskocattle.com Lot capacity: 25,000 1 5 2 8 4 7 K-Belt farms Bruce Konynenbelt Box 90 Nobleford, Alta. T0L 1S0 Ph: (403) 824-3431 Fax: 824-3258/ Cell: 634-4744 email: kbeltfam@shockware.com Lot capacity: 4,000+ 9 2 Kenwynn Farms Ltd. Brian McKinnon Box 129 Carseland, Alta. T0J 0M0 Ph: (403) 934-4114 Fax: 934-2122 Lot capacity: 7,500 1 5 9 2 8 KeHo lake colony Martin-Min Wurtz Box 125 Barons, Alta. T0L 0G0 Ph: (403) 757-2330 Fax: 757-2337 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 8 4 Klassen Agriventures Ltd. Myron Klassen Box 488 Linden, Alta. T0M 1J0 1custom order buying and selling

Ph: (403) 312-3577 Fax: 546-2445 email: Myron@klassenagriventures.ca Lot capacity: 5,000 1 2 4 5 8 9 Larson custom Feeders ltd. T.J. Larson Box 1227 Fort Macleod, Alta. T0L 0Z0 Ph: (403) 553-3110 Fax: 553-2828/ Cell: 394-6496 email: larsonfeeders@gmail.com Lot capacity: 6,000 1 5 9 2 8 7 marnies Feeders Allan Johnson Box 151 Hughenden, Alta. T0B 2E0 Ph: (780) 856-2241 Fax: 856-2399 Cell: 842-0232 email: marniesfeeders@xplornet.ca Lot capacity: 8,500 5 9 2 8 4

5 market analysis

Molenaar Farms Custom Feedlot John or Trevor Molenaar Box 268 Nobleford, Alta. T0L 1S0 Ph: (403) 824-3691/ 824-3590 Fax: 824-3691 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 9 2 8 4 J.F. Murray farms Shawn Murray Box 86 Picture Butte, Alta. T0K 1V0 Ph: (403) 732-4631 Fax: 732-4187/ Cell: 308-0618 email: jfmurray5sn@gmail.com Lot capacity: 9,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7 Park road farms ltd. Allan Slomp P.O. Box 419 Nobleford, Alta. T0L 1S0 Ph: (403) 824-3676 Fax: 824-3677 email: prf@xplornet.com Lot capacity: 4,500 9 2

9 backgrounding

2 health program

penridge feeders Office Box 4 Swalwell, Alta. T0M 1Y0 Ph: (403) 546-0015 Lot capacity: 4,000 1 5 9 2 8 7 Poplar Lodge Ranch Ltd. Will Porter Box 12 Czar, Alta. T0B 0Z0 Ph: (780) 857-2056 Fax: 857-2057 email: willporter64@gmail.com Lot capacity: 3,500 1 9 2 8 poplar haven (2000) Garnet Smith Box 638 Wimborne, Alta. T0M 2G0 Ph: (403) 227-6606 Cell: 358-2936 Lot capacity: 2,000 1 9 2 8

8 pen sharing

4 trucking

7hedging

+ 5.2% to 11.5%1 ily

+ 14 lb to 20 lb1

s rca

+ 3%1

s er

Liv

+ 24 lb to 30 lb1

ra Av e

v t on c en c d e r Fe e gp n i ss Dre

+ 1.5 percentage point1

EFFICIENCY. PERFORMANCE. VALUE. When it comes to getting more muscle out of your feed, ZilmaxTM may turn out to be one of the best business investments you could make, in terms of return on resources.

Consult your veterinarian.

Cattle fed Zilmax premix for 20 days at the end of the finishing phase predictably yield more beef per carcass.1 TM

Results that are a cut above. A potential 2:1 rate of return on your investment.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got everything to gain... with ZilmaxTM.

Right cattle. Right time. Right market.

1. Data on file. TM Trademark of Intervet, Inc. Used under license. Merck Animal Health, operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright ÂŠ 2011 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

Zilmax ad CanCattle Feedlot Guide.indd 1

12-08-14 10:10

RJ Feeders Ralph or Josie Kientz R.R. 1, Olds, Alta. T4H 1P2 Ph/Fax: (403) 631-2373 Cell: 994-0581 Lot capacity: 1,700 1 9 2 8 4

Schwartzkopf farms Ltd. Bert or Brian Schwartzkopf Box 743 Coalhurst, Alta. T0L 0V0 Ph: (403) 381-4219 Fax: 394-2143/ Cell: 360-2973 Lot capacity: 4,000 9

John Slingerland Box 1425 Coaldale, Alta. T1M 1N2 Ph: 403-345-2210 Fax: 345-6844/ Cell: 382-9518 Lot capacity: 9,000 9 8 2 5

Rocky ridge land & cattle Darcy Stewart/ Loren Stewart Box 65, Site 19, R.R. 2 Strathmore, Alta. T1P 1K5 Ph: (403) 934-4426 Fax: 934-9998 Cell 888-5083 Lot capacity: 3,000 9

Shelter Valley land & cattle Sam McQuaid Box 131 Czar, Alta. T0B 0Z0 Ph: (780) 857-2720 Fax: 857-2827/ Cell: 209-2373 Manager, Calvin Sayer (780) 209-2387 email: svlc@telus.net Lot capacity: 12,000 1 9 4 2 7

South Cara Farms Ltd. Rick Cromarty Box 157 Provost, Alta. T0B 3S0 Ph: (780) 753-4767 Fax: 753-8455/ Cell: 209-4414 email: socara@telus.net 1 9 2 8 5

Roulston Farms Rob Roulston Box 152 Bruce, Alta. T0B 0R0 Ph/Fax: (780) 688-2284 Lot capacity: 1,000 9 2 8 Schooten & Sons Custom Feedyard Ltd. John Schooten Shane Schooten Cody Schooten Justin Schooten Box 148 Diamond City, Alta. T0K 0T0 Ph: (403) 381-3883 Fax: 381-8809 Cell: 634-1459 (John) 634-1535 (Shane) 634-4116 (Cody) 634-5679 (Justin) email: schootenandsons@yahoo.ca Lot capacity: 10,000 1 2 4 5 7 9 8 1custom order buying and selling

Shelter Valley Custom Feeding Sam McQuaid Cell: 780-209-2373 Lethbridge, Alta. Manager: Corey Conan Cell: (403) 894-1020 Lot capacity: 10,000 1 9 2 4 7 Signal Ridge Farms Russell Klassen Box 1287 Stettler, Alta. T0C 2L0 Ph: (403) 742-9762 Fax: 742-1828 email: info@signalridgefarms.com Lot capacity 2,000 1 5 9 2 8 4

5 market analysis

south island farms ltd. Scott MacLean Box 249 Bow Island, Alta. T0K 0G0 Ph: (403) 545-2422 Fax: 545-2442/ Cell: 952-1405 Lot capacity: 6,500 1 5 9 2 8 4 7 stafford feeders ltd. Ken & Chris Box 2243 Athabasca, Alta. T9S 2B7 Ph: (780) 675-9207 Fax: 675-5095 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 9 2 8 4 7 stankievech ranches Glen & Clare Stankievech Box 389 Trochu, Alta. T0M 2C0 Ph: (403) 442-2242 Fax: 442-3169/ Cell: 588-6325

9 backgrounding

2 health program

â&#x20AC;˘ Wintering cows Lot capacity: 2,000 5 9 2 8 stauffer farm feedlot Murray Stauffer Jack Puddifant R.R. 3, Eckville, Alta. T0M 0X0 Ph: (403) 746-5737 Fax: 746-5739 email: stauff1@xplornet.com 1 5 9 2 8 stronks Feedlot Ed Stronks Box 870 Picture Butte, Alta. T0K 1V0 Ph: (403) 738-4106 Fax: 738-2193/ Cell: 308-9997 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 5 2 8 4 7 sundial livestock feeders ltd. Chris Tetreault Box 359 Bassano, Alta. T0J 0B0 Ph: (403) 641-3500 Fax: 641-3018/ Cell: 633-0890 Lot capacity: 10,000 1 9 2 8 sunnybend Feedlot John B. Walter R.R. 1, Westlock, Alta. T7P 2N9 Ph: (780) 349-3542 Fax: 954-2636 Cell: 349-1740 Lot capacity: 2,000 9

8 pen sharing

4 trucking

7hedging

G. Thompson Livestock Box 142 Iron Springs, Alta. T0K 1G0 Ph: (403) 738-4351 Fax: 738-4762 email: tlcbeef@telus.net Lot capacity: 18,000 1 5 9 2 8 4

thompson colony feeders Marvin Tschetter Box 160 Fort Macleod, Alta. T0L 0Z0 Cell: (403) 635-0340 Fax: 553-2958 Lot capacity: 2,000 9 Tongue creek feeders ltd./ Roseburn ranches ltd. Peter Morrison Box 5910 High River, Alta. T1V 1P6 Ph: (403) 652-7410 Fax: 652-2936/ Cell: 312-7909 email: cattle@roseburn.net Lot capacity: 16,000/12,000 1 5 4 9 2 8 tf farm industries ltd. James 6311-56th Ave., Taber, Alta. T1G 1X9 Ph: (403) 223-9090 Fax: (403) 223-9061 Lot capacity: 25,000 V.G. Feedlot Pete Stahl Veteran Colony Veteran, Alta. T0C 2S0 Ph: (403) 575-2169 Fax: 575-2190 Lot capacity: 1,000 1 9 2 4 1custom order buying and selling

H & R Vandenberg Farms Harold Vandenberg Box 454 Coaldale, Alta. T1M 1M5 Ph/Fax: (403) 345-3991 Cell: 382-7986 email: vanfarm@yahoo.com Lot capacity: 5,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 Vandenberg cattle co. ltd. John or Geert Box 531 Picture Butte, Alta. T0K 1V0 Ph: (403) 381-3302/ 381-6569 Fax: 381-3364/ Cell: 380-0300 Lot capacity: 4,300 5 2 4 Vee tee feeders ltd. Richard Davies Box 2220 Lloydminster, Alta. T9V 1R6 Ph: (780) 875-6231 Fax: 875-6232 Cell: 871-1779 email: veetee@hmsinet.ca Lot capacity: 6,000 1 9 2 8 7 Western feedlots ltd. Travis Hickey Box 5279 High River, Alta. T1V 1M4 Ph: (403) 652-3933 Fax: 601-8670 Website: westernfeedlots.com 1 5 9 2 8 7

5 market analysis

West Ridge farms Jim Hurt Box 321 Crossfield, Alta. T0M 0S0 Ph: (403) 946-4198 Lot capacity: 1,300 9 2

birch island land & cattle co. Shayne Yewsuk / Mark Herman Box 236 Rhein, Sask. S0A 3K0 Ph: (306) 273-4600 Fax: 273-4601 email: birchisland@imagewireless.ca Lot capacity: 8,500 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

white haven farms Maggie Dulaney R.R. 4, Site 6, Box 1 Innisfail, Alta. T4G 1T9 Ph: (403) 227-2276 9 willow butte cattle co. ltd. Kent & Janine Olson R.R. 3 Red Deer, Alta. T4N 5E3 Ph: (403) 886-4200 Fax: 886-4100/ Cell: 340-9009 email: kent@willowbutte.com Lot capacity: 6,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

Saskatchewan bezan land & Livestock Ltd. Layton Bezan Box 1726 Regina, Sask. S4P 3C6 Ph: (306) 775-0412 Fax: 775-0444/ Cell: 537-8898 Lot capacity: 1,200 1 5 9 2 4 7

9 backgrounding

2 health program

Border line feeders inc. Kevin Antworth Box 128 Ceylon, Sask. S0C 0T0 Ph: (306) 454-2250 Fax: 454-2216/ Cell: 442-7401 email: ryan.blfi@sasktel.net Lot capacity: 12,000 15 9 2 8 4 Christopherson Farms Ltd. Lorne Christopherson Box 280 Weldon, Sask. S0J 3S0 Ph: (306) 887-2103 Fax: 887-2073/ Cell: 961-5890 email: chfarms@skvelocity.ca Lot capacity: 3,500 1 9 2 8 dietrich farms ltd. Jim Dietrich Box 68 Mendham, Sask. S0N 1P0 Ph: (306) 628-4249 Cell: 628-7170 email: jdietrich@sasktel.net Lot capacity: 2,200 1 5 9 2 8 4

8 pen sharing

4 trucking

7hedging

Excellerator Genetics Ron Dietrich Box 116 Moosomin, Sask. S0G 3N0 Ph: (306) 435-9381 email: excellerator@sasktel.net Website: www.excelleratorgenetics.com Lot capacity: 4,000 1 9 2 4 7 hagerty livestock ltd. Larry Hagerty General Delivery, Box 11 Stony Beach, Sask. S0G 4S0 Ph: (306) 345-2523 Fax: 345-2085 Lot capacity: 3,000 1 9 2 8 4 L & D feeders Dave & Lynne Baumann Box 39 Tompkins, Sask. S0N 2S0 Ph/Fax: (306) 622-4605 Lot capacity: 2,200 1 9 2 8 M & T Feedlot Greg Thompson Box 336 Moose Jaw, Sask. S6H 4N9 Ph: (306) 694-5314 Fax: 693-8822/ Cell: 631-7413 Lot capacity: 3,500 1 5 9 2 8 4 7 McQueen Feedyards Bill & Dave McQueen Box 35 Tessier, Sask. S0L 3G0 Ph: (306) 656-4465 1custom order buying and selling

Fax: (306) 656-2042 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 5 2 8 4 Nine Mile Ranch Ltd. Myles Heppner Box 70 Spiritwood, Sask. S0J 2M0 Ph: (306) 984-2149 Fax: 984-2450/ Cell: 883-7476 Lot capacity: 3,500 9 2

Red Coat Cattle Feeders Inc. Barry Boghean Box 86 Hazenmore, Sask. S0N 1C0 Ph: (306) 264-3844 Fax: 264-3206/ Cell: 625-7355 email: rccf@yourlink.ca Lot capacity: 18,500 9 2 8 15

perrault feedlot Perrault brothers Box 182 Ponteix, Sask. S0N 1Z0 Ph: (306) 625-3750 Fax: 625-3978/ Cell: 625-7804 Lot capacity: 1,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

Ross L-Seven Ranch Chad Ross/Brian Ross Box 1087 Estevan, Sask. S4A 2H7 Ph: (306) 634-7301 Fax: 634-7762/ Cell: 421-6346 • Custom grazing • Heifer A.I. • Cow/bull wintering Lot capacity: 2,500 9 2

plains livestock Inc. Bruce Edwards Box 160 Porcupine Plain, Sask. S0E 1H0 Ph: (306) 889-4500 email: plainslivestock1@xplornet.ca web: www.plainslivestock.net Lot capacity: 10,000 1 5 9 2 8 4

shur Transport exporting & trucking Norm Shurygalo Box 308 Beinfait, Sask. S0C 0M0 Ph: (306) 388-2329 Fax: 388-2321/ Cell: 421-3482 email: shurtruck@hotmail.com Lot capacity: 800 1 5 9 2 8 4

Pound-makeragventures ltd. Brad Wildeman Box 519 Lanigan, Sask. S0K 2M0 Ph: (306) 365-4281 Fax: 365-4283 email: pma@pound-maker.ca Website: www.pound-maker.ca Lot capacity: 28,500 1 5 2 8 4 7

Sunny slope Cattle Ltd. Don Bowyer Box 1744 Maple Creek, Sask. S0N 1N0 Ph: (306) 662-2901 Fax: 662-4450 Lot capacity: 1,500 9 2

5 market analysis

9 backgrounding

2 health program

Tyner Valley Stock farms Dave Taciuk Box 774 Wakaw, Sask. S0K 4P0 Ph: (306) 233-5959 email: d.taciuk@sasktel.net Td3L Hull Ranch Terry & Debbie Hull Box 160 Willowbrook, Sask. S0A 4P0 Ph/Fax: (306) 782-7295 email: tdhull@yourlink.ca Lot capacity: 1,100 9 2 8 Vaughan Feedlot Lyle Vaughan Box 22 Canwood, Sask. S0J 0K0 Ph/Fax: (306) 468-2677 Lot capacity: 1,000 9 2 8 Watteyne Cattle feeders LTD. Wes Watteyne Box 262 Lafleche, Sask. S0H 2K0 Ph/Fax: (306) 472-3775 Cell: 472-7642 email: ws.watteyne@xplornet.com Lot capacity: 2,200 1 9 2 8 westwood Land & Cattle Company Kevin Woods Box 6 Moosomin, Sask. S0G 3N0 Ph: (306) 435-2102 Fax: 435-4833/ Cell: 435-7313 Lot capacity: 10,000 1 5 9 2 4 7

8 pen sharing

4 trucking

7hedging

wes Wiebe Wes Wiebe Box 1651 Swift Current, Sask. S7H 4G6 Ph: (306) 773-2171 Cell: 741-1220 • Winter cows Lot capacity: 600 9 8

Baseline Cattle Company Darren Grasby Alvin Smelski Box 639 Gilbert Plains, Man. R0L 0X0 Ph: (204) 629-9000 Fax: 548-2381 Lot capacity: 3,000 1 5 9 2 8 4

willow park ranch Ben Wurz Box 70 Tessier, Sask. S0L 3G0 Ph: (306) 237-9510 Fax: 237-9511/ Cell: 220-0400 Lot capacity: 800 1 5 9

Dana Johns Box 188 Kenton, Man. R0M 0Z0 Ph/Fax: (204) 838-2003 Cell: 365-7149 email: johnsdm@goinet.ca Lot capacity: 1,000 1 9 2 8 4

willow valley farm lot Robert/ Elvira Allen Box 243 White Fox, Sask. S0J 3B0 Ph: (306) 276-2402 Lot capacity: 50–200 1 5 9

Manitoba Bar M Stock Farms Ltd. Brad McDonald P.O. Box 1345 Portage la Prairie, Man. R1N 3L5 email: cattlemen@hotmail.ca Ph/Fax: (204) 239-5928 Cell: 856-6293 Lot capacity: 1,800 9 2 1custom order buying and selling

Braun Farms Dwight Braun Box 209 Plumas, Man. R0J 1P0 Ph: (204) 386-2280 Cell: 476-6094 email: dwbraun@mts.net Lot capacity: 2,500 1 9 2 8 4 Double d livestock Danny & Debbie Vanbeselaere Box 255 Waskada, Man. R0M 2E0 Ph: (204) 522-3697 Cell: 522-6013 Lot capacity: 2,000 1 9 2 Foxwillow Christopher & Sarah Walwin Box 69 Hamiota, Man. R0M 0T0 5 market analysis

Ph: (204) 562-3633 email: cswalwin@mts.net • Specialize in pedigree cattle Lot capacity: 600

Hamiota feedlot ltd. Larry Schweitzer Box 610 Hamiota, Man. R0M 0T0 Ph: (204) 764-2449 Fax: (204) 764-2264 email: feedlot@goinet.ca Website: www.hamiotafeedlot.com Lot capacity: 13,000 1 9 2 8 G.C. Klassen and sons Garry or Cindy Box 1152 Altona, Man. R0G 0B0 Ph: (204) 829-7706 Fax: 829-3676/ Cell: 324-7405 Lot capacity: 500 1 9 2 4 Mayes meadow farm Box 141 Pierson, Man. R0M 1S0 Ph/Fax: (204) 634-2489 Lot capacity: 1,000 1 5 9 2 8 7 PEnner feedlot Phillip Penner Donavon Penner Box 66 Kelwood, Man. R0J 0Y0 Ph/Fax: (204) 967-2009 Cell: 212-0221 Lot capacity: 650 9 2 8

9 backgrounding

2 health program

Rocking U feeders Box 779 MacGregor, Man. R0H 0R0 Ph: (204) 685-2264 Fax: 685-2135 email: rockinguf@hotmail.com Lot capacity: 10,000 1 9 2 Rolling Acres Daniel Hofer Box 95, Eden, Man. R0J 0M0 (204) 916-3525 ext. 216 Lot capacity: 250 9 T.J. Livestock Thor Jonsson General Delivery Oakview, Man. R0C 2K0 Ph: (204) 768-2422 Fax: 768-3393/ Cell: 739-3230 email: tjonsson@mts.net Lot capacity: 2,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7 Wild Rose cattle ranch Mark or Nicholas Symbol Box 18, Group 6, R.R. 1 Anola, Man. R0E 0A0 Ph: (204) 866-2683 Lot capacity: 240 9 2 8

8 pen sharing

4 trucking

7hedging

Ontario Edenview Acres Ltd. Pete Sereda R.R. 1 Centralia, Ont. N0M 1K0 Ph: (519) 229-6383 email: edenview@quadro.net Lot capacity: 600 Carl Frook R.R. 1 Elmwood, Ont. N0G 1S0 Ph: (519) 881-2061 Fax: 881-2887/ Cell: 881-6752 email: mfrook@bmts.com Lot capacity: 1,850-2,000 9 2 Daniel Jeffrey R.R. 2 Stratford, Ont. N5A 6S3 Ph: (519) 273-7843 Cell: (519) 272-9001 Fax: 271-9382 Lot capacity: 900 9 2 8 4 7 wayne martin R.R. 2 7468 Wellington Road 8 Alma, Ont. N0B 1A0 Ph: (519) 638-3871 Fax: 638-3825/ Cell: 589-5181 email: wsmartin@golden.net Lot capacity: 450 9 2 8 Amsey Martin R.R. 2 Drayton, Ont. N0G 1P0 Ph: (519) 638-3767 Lot capacity: 350 milldale farms ltd. R.R. 1 Norwich, Ont. N0J 1P0 Ph: (519) 468-2325 Fax: 468-2326/ Cell: 532-8748 email: vanker@execulink.com Lot capacity: 550 5 9 2 4 7 John Noltie R.R. 2 Chatham, Ont. N7M 5J2 Ph: (519) 683-2462 Lot capacity: 125 9 richard trimble 323 Belleriver Road Woodslee, Ont. N0R 1V0 Ph: (519) 839-5521 Fax: 839-6524 Lot capacity: 60 1 9 2

Bovinor farme Sébastien Tremblay 4200 Chemain des Ruisseaux St-Honoré de Chicoutimi, Que. G0V 1L0 Ph/Fax: (418) 673-4776 Cell: 812-1035 email: sebastien.tremblay@ videotron.ca Lot capacity: 270 2 9 R.M. lang Farms Ralph Lang/ Elwyn Lang R.R. 1, C. 45 Shawville, Que. J0X 2Y0 Ph: (819) 647-3607 Fax: 647-1943 Lot capacity: 200 9 2 8 4 Trans Claude Lussier Claude Lussier 4 North Hill Rd.

1custom order buying and selling

Gould, Que. J0B 2Z0 Ph: (819) 877-5461 Fax: (450) 372-1185 Cell: (450) 522-1876 4

Quebec

5 market analysis

R.A. Farm Robert Acton 550 Cookville Road Cookville, N.B. E4L 2A7 Ph: (506) 536-2564 Fax: 536-4700/ Cell: 364-7263 email: rafarm@nbnet.nb.ca Lot capacity: 1,200 1 9 2 8 4

Nova Scotia Van Oostrum Farms Andrew Van Oostrum R.R. 2 Berwick, N.S. B0P 1E0 Ph: (902) 538-7716 Fax: 538-1411 Lot capacity: 400 1 5 9 2 8 4

New Brunswick Davanna Holdings Dean & David Acton 308 Cookville Loop Rd. Cookville, N.B. E4L 2A4 Ph: (506) 536-2508 Fax: (506) 536-2826 Cell: 379-0024

9 backgrounding

2 health program

email: davanna@xplornet.ca Lot capacity: 1,000 1 9 2

Prince Edward Island beech hill Farms 127 Beech Hill Road Alberry Plains, P.E.I. C0A 2E0 Ph: (902) 651-2883 Fax: 651-2578 1 9 4

8 pen sharing

4 trucking

7hedging

BOVINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE, SHIPPING FEVER, PNEUMONIA…

NO MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT, BRD MOVES FAST. RESFLOR MOVES FASTER! ™

Resflor™ dual-action treatment combines: • The fast-acting broad spectrum antibiotic in Nuflor® • The Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) in Banamine® • Visible recovery within 6 hrs Resflor is a trademark of MSD International Holdings Gmbh Used under license. ® Registered trademark of Intervet Canada Corp. Merck rck Animal Health, operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright © 2011 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved. RES001-11E-AD

Resflor ad CanCattle Feedlot Guide.indd 1

12-08-14 10:54

Introducing ZUPREVO

, the longest-lasting on-arrival antibiotic on the market today.*

Talk to your veterinarian about using ZUPREVO on arrival.

* Huang R.A., et al. (2009) J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 33, 227-237. Menge M., et al. (2011) J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. Nowakowski M.A., et al. Veterinary Therapeutics, vol. 5, no. 1, Spring 2004.

Trademark of Intervet International B.V. Used under license.

Merck Animal Health, operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp.,Â a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright ÂŠ 2012 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

Zuprevo Ad CanCattle Feedlot Guide.indd 1

12-08-14 09:57

health

opinion

Photo: OMAFRA

PRECONDITIONING IS GOOD

Home weaning is just one of the requirements of a preconditioning program.

lot of Alberta producers will remember the preconditioning program introduced by the provincial Agriculture Department in the mid-1980s. To be certified as preconditioned calves had to be dehorned and castrated correctly, pre-immunized and weaned for a set period before they were sold. Veterinarians certified the procedures to ensure that everything was done correctly. The calves could be classified as pre-immunized or preconditioned if they were weaned correctly, and special coloured tags were used to distinguish the two categories. The necessary paperwork accompanied the calves to the market and that along with the tags added visible credibility to the program. The science made complete sense, but the program never did take off. Why? Well, there were several reasons. For starters the cow-calf producer needed a premium to cover the extra work and risk of weaning the calves at home. Feedlots didn’t necessarily pay a premium because they often could not purchase the critical number they needed to maintain a full pen. Then everyone started having nonsanctioned “preconditioned sales,” claiming their calves were preconditioned because it was the buzzword of the day. At the time I can remember questioning farmers when they wrote

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

on the manifest that their calves were preconditioned only to find out they had only been given a blackleg vaccine. The industry has changed since then and I believe that this is the time for cow-calf producers to start preconditioning their calves once again. It will benefit the entire industry but if it is to work, the cow-calf producer has to share in the huge added value their effort creates. Widespread preconditioning should reduce morbidity and mortality levels as well as treatment costs while improving weight gains and making the whole beef chain more efficient. It simply is good for the health and welfare of the calf to maximize its protection to respiratory disease and minimize stress. Preconditioning also supports the responsible use of antibiotics since it should result in fewer calves needing treatment and fewer considered as high risk and requiring metaphylactic antimicrobials. Lowering the stress on these calves also helps them maintain a healthy immune system. Preconditioning at home gives producers the option of using low-stress fenceline weaning or nose flaps that remove initially the calves’ ability to suck. This helps motivate them to find feed and watering areas while free of other stressors of commingling, transportation, and occasional bad weather

that faces calves when they are pulled and shipped to the market. Castration is more commonly done on younger calves and polled bulls are eliminating the need for dehorning. A good percentage of calves with horns are pasted or dehorned by other means long before weaning is contemplated. If a higher premium is paid for these procedures that are done in advance cowcalf producers will generally oblige. I was not surprised during a recent visit to a large U.S. feedlot to learn that they sent back all the bulls they receive. The risks involved in castrating these older males and the associated losses in performance were simply too great to justify doing it at the feedlot. A great number of producers already pre-immunize their calves but avoid weaning at the farm because they often receive a better price for fresh calves right off the cow. Feedlots have been able to counteract the effects of weaning and commingling with long-acting macrolide antibiotics at arrival. The proper way though is to provide maximum protection with vaccines and minimal stress at weaning. If weaned long enough (45 days plus) sudden compensatory gains occur and producers end up selling heavier calves. We need to build consistency in these calves both in terms of the diseases we vaccinate for and the length of time of weaning. Pharmaceutical companies have been one of the drivers of this trend, although they promote their trade name or specific products. It is OK to meld different vaccines from different companies as long as the efficacy of the products is comparable. In Western Canada at least we commonly vaccinate for the common viral pathogens for pneumonia, IBR, BVD (Types 1 and 2), BRSV, PI3 as well as the common bacterial pathogens Histophilus, Pasteurella, Mannheimia and of course a 7- to 9-way blackleg vaccine. If the right combinations are selected these can be administered in no more than two shots. More and more top producers are already giving the priming shots at turnout so only a booster is required at weaning. Deworming and lice control are two other important preconditioning procedures. More and more worms are being Continued on page 36 Cattlemen / September 2012 35

Continued from page 35

detected at pasture or on entry to the feedlot that are resistant to the avermectin-type products. In the future deworming with a product like fenbendazole (Safeguard) and still using the avermectin products for lice should be included in any good preconditioning program. Most producers almost always precondition their replacement heifers so this simply involves applying the same principals to all the calves. Heifers could be sold guaranteed open, whether they are pregnancy checked or the bulls are pulled early. Bred heifers are an economic hardship to the feedlot and calving heifers in

36 Cattlemen / September 2012

the feedlot greatly increases the risk of death loss, sickness and a lower dressing percentage. With retained ownership all these procedures are a no-brainer. But when the calves are sold in the fall the key question becomes to what degree should the cow-calf producer be compensated when selling these certified calves. Direct sales to the feedlot will maximize the gain both parties receive and a fair price can be set. Implanting and identification may be the only thing left to do as these cattle enter the feedlot. Home-raised cattle could even be started on the feedlotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s implant program before they are shipped. It has been noted that many more

calves have lung adhesions at slaughter than were actually treated. This indicates many calves deal with a lowgrade pneumonia. Since adhesions are caused by respiratory disease anything that prevents that is a good thing as far as cattle production is concerned. Fewer sick cattle means less death loss or fewer chronics, which looks good from an animal welfare perspective and improves the bottom line. If preconditioning can gain some new momentum production will increase with less reliance on the metaphylactic administration of antibiotics. We then can produce more beef for the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing population. C â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Roy Lewis DVM

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Our most advanced windrower yet is built to do just one thing. Deliver on its promises.

T H E W R S E R I E S from Hesston®. It’s an entirely new class of windrower that’s cutting-edge, header to tail. All for the purpose of producing our exclusive brand of double-crimped hay that forms the highestquality, highest-nutrient, highest-value bales possible. See your dealer soon or visit masseyferguson.us

health

opinion

Adding value still pays And biosecurity adds value

n the cattle business, fall markets have slowly moved away from weaning calves one day and hauling them to a sale yard the next. The upper echelon of cow-calf producers have moved away from being more than just price-takers. They adopt practices that make their calves worth more by giving buyers an opportunity to reduce risk. In doing so, innovators move the so-called value-added cattle from “average” into what now represents the top third of fall sales. The shift in how calves get sold and the value that markets now pay for come with a number of labels: advantage programs, low-stress weaning, preconditioning, source and age verification, and quality assurance. Add to the list a tag like “Natural” and things seem to get complicated. However, when all is said and done it’s all about managing risk and applying a series of simple things that help both sellers and buyers manage animal health. The poultry industry has recognized for years that variation in on-farm risk management practices vary between the best and poorest performers by at least 40 per cent. The difference highlights the human side of biosecurity and the diligence with which producers approach biosecurity and disease control in their operations. Although marketing poultry and cattle is worlds apart, the basic principles of biosecurity are not; the primary difference being the number of steps and the number of hands involved along the chain. For the cow-calf producer, disease prevention from birth to when a calf is sold is one side of the equation, the other is the benefit generated for the backgrounder, feedlot and processor. Vaccinating for respiratory disease, for instance, starts with the young calf, continues at weaning and is reinforced again at the feedlot. The overall effect: disease is reduced, cost of production falls, quality of product increases. Topping the list of benefits — consumer expectations are more fully met because 38 Cattlemen / September 2012

industry is seen to be doing a better job of managing health risk. Things like the prudent use of antimicrobials and improved standards of animal welfare are more easily defended. The market now recognizes the value they add and is slowly starting to pay for it. The link between health, production, food safety and food quality is inescapable. For a nation so dependent on exports, it becomes the language of international trade. From a financial perspective, when an industry loses equity, cattle buyers and banks also look for every opportunity to manage risk. Managing animal health in a similarly structured and audited way makes sense. Many people in the industry voluntarily implement procedures to reduce the risk of disease. Others are not so diligent. The question is often asked, “Are those who work diligently wasting their time until all producers and sector suppliers meet minimum standards? The truth is, every little bit helps. Sound disease control is never a waste of time. Many producers already manage cattle in ways that qualify for valueadded programs. Yet many still don’t take the final step to market those advantages. For instance, unless you can verify vaccinations are administered to your calves, it has no value to buyers. Those who can verify age, source, vaccinations and other routine animal health practices to control diseases like bovine virus diarrhea and Johne’s disease, capture value and generate premiums. The same rules apply for the purebred industry supplying bulls and replacement heifers for commercial producers. The advent of insurance programs for the beef industry will in time add to the pressure for verified animal health management programs. Private-sector insurers will require assessments of risk exposure and adherence to preventive standards by producers. Government organizations, reinsurers, insurers and commodity groups will require independent, certified proof of biosecurity

programs presently being developed by all livestock sectors. It’s all fairly simple. Better biosecurity means less risk of disease. Attention to biosecurity protects Canadian businesses and consumers and enhances the value of products they produce. Canada has actively pursued on-farm food safety programs for more than two decades. Most commodity groups have come to realize that animal health is a part of producing food and have added formal biosecurity elements to their on-farm food safety programs. Participation in many quality-assurance programs starts as voluntary and morphs into mandatory as everyone in the production chain, including processors and retailers, recognize that management practices influence product quality and safety. Producer participation in these programs has varied but that is also changing. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, for example, has adopted the following guiding principles for quality assurance: • To produce food, not cattle. • P roduct safety and quality are a shared responsibility from pasture to plate. • Improvement in management practices influence product quality and safety. What many forget about biosecurity is that small things count when it comes to controlling the spread of disease. Remember: 1. Biosecurity is a set of practices that prevent the spread of disease. 2. Mistakes cause disease; you buy, carry or let it on to farms. 3. Biosecurity is everybody’s business. 4. Investing in biosecurity is good business. 5. Biosecurity doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. 6. Every little bit helps — little things matter. 7. Implementing biosecurity starts with understanding it. 8. Biosecurity practices add value. C — Dr. Ron Clarke DVM www.canadiancattlemen.ca

PFIZER LOYALTY PROGRAM

Fall 2012 Promotions

August 1 to December 31, 2012

Premium Products > Premium Rewards

Earn even more points on your purchases of:

Cattle Vaccines*

Draxxin®

Excede 200 ‡

*Cattle Vaccines

X7.5

This promotion applies on the 250 mL and 500 mL formats

Alverin™

Bovi-Shield® GOLD 5 Bovi-Shield® GOLD FP 5 Bovi-Shield® GOLD FP 5 + L5 Bovi-Shield® GOLD FP 5 + VL5

Bovi-Shield® IBR/PI3 Inforce™ 3 One Shot® Resvac® 4 / Somubac®

Lutalyse

‡

X7.5 Scourguard™ 4KC Ultrabac® 7 / Somubac® UltraChoice® 7 UltraChoice® 8

For more details, consult our website at www.plp-cattle.ca

> Focusing on your world www.plp-cattle.ca ® Registered trademark of Pfizer Products Inc.; Pfizer Canada Inc., licensee. ™ Trademark of Pfizer Products Inc.; Pfizer Canada Inc., licensee. ‡ Registered trademark of Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, used under licence by Pfizer Canada Inc. CORP C JADP06A 0712 E

HOLISTIC RANCHING

Leadership/management

eadership and management 9. Have I provided for my retirement? What does my are both essential to running retirement look like? a successful profitable busiThis list is not meant to cover all the possible issues. ness. According to the author It is meant to get you thinking about some of the Stephen Covey, management is about important things in life. Personally, H M has helped how to achieve success and defining me develop answers to these kinds of questions. I had what it looks like. Management is a heart attack about nine years ago. I clearly rememabout how you climb the ladder of ber lying in the hospital surrounded by my family. I success. Leadership is about which desperately wanted to go home and to continue to wall you place your ladder against. contribute to my family. Knowing that my family In our complex society it is very easy to be busy and could carry on without me and do just fine was a great not be very successful. True success comes from knowconsolation. Fortunately nine years later I am still here ing what you desire and then developing the skills and and contributing. I am confident our family and our knowledge to achieve what you desire. business are more stable and sustainable today than Fortunately H M covers both leadership and manageever. Equally important I am confident we will conment and gives us the tools to achieve lasting success. tinue to improve. Let’s look at leadership. Here are some questions you Now let’s look at the management side. Here are might consider. I encourage you to think about them. some questions you might consider. Having clear answers to these 1. Is my business profitable? Am types of questions will help you I satisfied with my profit? be truly successful. 2. Do I plan for a profit? 1. Do I have a clear written 3. Do I have a financial plan? Management is about goal that is based on my val4. Is my land improving? how you climb the ladder ues and principles? Why do I 5. Do I have the knowledge and do what I do? skills to manage so that my of success. Leadership is 2. Did my spouse and family land will improve over time? help develop my goal? Does about which wall you place 6. Do I feel my business is suseveryone buy in and have tainable? your ladder against commitment? 7. What skills or knowledge do 3. At this time how well have I need to be more sustainI achieved my goal? Rate able? yourself on a scale of 1 to 10. Once again this list is designed to help you evaluate 4. What is the most important thing I could do to where you are and how you might improve. H M gives improve my rating? us the tools to help create a profitable, sustainable busi5. Do I have a current up-to-date will? Does my family ness. It can help you. I invite you to learn more about know what’s in my will? H M. Have a great fall. 6. Do I have an estate plan? Happy trails. 7. Will one or more of my children take over my busi— Don Campbell ness? How will I deal with my non-farm children? Does my family know what my estate plans are? Don Campbell ranches with his family at Meadow Lake, 8. How will I transfer ownership and management of Sask., and teaches Holistic Management courses. He can be my business to the next generation? reached at 306-236-6088 or doncampbell@sasktel.net.

AGReader Mobile for your iPhone, BlackBerry and Android · Download yours free at agreader.ca today!

On the range, in the know. With AGReader Mobile apps, you’ve got Instant AG info – anytime, anywhere. } Set your local weather } Set news subjects relevant to your farm or ranch } Set notices on the futures contract prices of your choice } Cattlemen version is FREE to Download } Visit agreader.ca/cc today to download the app or text “cc” to 393939 to be sent the link. Standard text messaging rates apply.

40 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2012

Part of the

network

Canadian Cattlemen Mobile is sponsored by

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in it for life.

Ag for Life delivers educational programming that will serve to improve rural and farm safety and build a genuine understanding and appreciation of the impact agriculture has on lives.

Founding members: Agrium Inc. ATB Financial

ATCO Group Penn West Exploration

Rocky Mountain Equipment TransCanada Corporation

Contributing members: AdFarm Glacier Media Group Government of Alberta 07/2012-18514_01c

Mosaic Studios

UFA Co-operative Ltd.

BoviNe respiratory Disease, shippiNG fever, pNeumoNia…

ResflorTM is a trademark of MSD International Holdings Gmbh Used under license. Nuflor® and Banamine® are registered trademarks of Intervet Canada Corp. Merck Animal Health, operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright © 2011 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved. RES001-11E-AD

Resflor Can Cattleman Double Page.indd 1

…

No matter what you call it, BrD D moves fast. resflor moves faster! ™

12-08-22 10:01 AM

VET ADVICE

Change begets change

segment of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association’s account of its history between 1991 and 2010 was a question to members about what they thought were the three most important things that changed veterinary practice during those two decades. The responses provided insight into how dramatically veterinary practice and the livestock industry has changed during that period. The Canadian beef and dairy industry watched with rapt interest the development of a new and strange neurologic disease in the U.K. through the 1980s. The industry was startled when what had been labelled BSE touched down in Red Deer in 1993 in a U.K. import. For 10 years the Canadian beef and dairy industry lived in a vacuum of complacency that government-imposed control programs and an indigent rendering industry had established adequate firewalls. In 2003 the industry was enslaved and paralyzed by the worst economic disaster ever to strike the red meat industry. In May of 2003 BSE became a homegrown issue. It catapulted “mad cow” into the realm of paranoia and illogical responses by trading partners around the globe. Between 2003 and 2010 many segments of the beef industry stood still in the aftermath of losses that exceeded many billions. The industry changed. Veterinary practice changed. During the span of time between 1990 and 2010, two previously unidentified viruses (porcine reproductive and respiratory virus or PRRS and porcine circovirus ravaged the swine industry in Canada. The potpourri of disease syndromes induced by these two viruses had more than a small part to play in the economic woes of an industry and its subsequent contraction. By 2008, Canadian hog numbers showed the sharpest inventory decline in three decades. The number of hog farms in Canada fell almost 20 per cent in the one-year period ending April 1, 2008. Many swine veterinarians lost one-third to one-half of their client base, which dramatically altered the face of rural practice. Amidst the concern of foreign animal diseases like foot and mouth disease that devastated the sheep, hog and cattle industry in the U.K. in 2001, and the everpresent risk of other emerging diseases lingering at our borders was the reality that the number of veterinarians ready and willing to locate in rural areas steadily decreased. The risk of disease incursion increases in proportion to the lack of professional eyes and ears with a finger on the pulse of animal health, including the compound effect the lack of access to large-animal diagnostic support has for many areas. Complicating the mix of fewer veterinarians servicing the livestock industry is the parallel need for more sophisticated veterinary service required by fewer, but larger livestock enterprises. Twenty years ago, few people accurately predicted the impact digital technology would have on veterinary practice and the industry they served. In the early 1990s fewer than 15 per cent of veterinary practices owned a computer. Today it is hard to imagine how any business could function without one. On the veterinary side, animal health management software expanded the capabilities to manage

44 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2012

large populations of animals. Computers enhanced the ability to track, predict and manage disease at a herd level. The computer completely changed the way humans communicate. Computers extended the range of services veterinarians provide clients. Things like the Internet, email, smartphones and social networks wholly altered what information could be transmitted and the speed with which it moved. Veterinarians and livestock producers had immediate access to a library of animal health information once considered incomprehensible. Some estimates suggest the volume of codified information appearing on the Internet doubles every 24 hours — the implication being information overload, or what you know when you wake every morning is only one-half of what you thought you knew the night before. Advances in digital technology opened the door for a range of new tools for the veterinarian ranging from ultrasound, digital x-rays and laparoscopes to chute-side diagnostics. Portability and ruggedness created by digital technology helped move equipment from clinic to field applications. A major shift in demographics between 1991 and 2010 was one of the biggest changes noted by veterinarians. Through the 1990s approximately 20 per cent of the profession was female. By 2010, females represented 80 per cent of classes graduating from veterinary schools. The traditional population of rural, male, food animal practitioners markedly declined. The void was partially replaced by female practitioners seeking career alternatives that included job sharing, childcare and maternity leave; all an important part of the mix. While the beef and pork industries wavered mightily between 2003 and 2010, many rural practitioners decided to expand the companion animal side of rural practice. What they found was a welcome reprieve from the sore shoulders and bad backs of midnight calving in cold hay sheds. Many would not return. Sustaining the transition from traditional rural practice was the support of animal health technologists as their role grew in importance. The pharmaceutical armament available to veterinarians and the livestock industry included new antimicrobials and more effective vaccines. New drugs and vaccines created important alternatives to managing disease. New anesthetics and pain control products eased the physical challenges and danger associated with large animal veterinary practice. Over the past 20 years the groundswell of attention to animal welfare and improved codes of practice altered many traditional livestock rearing methods. Sophisticated consumers demanded greater accountability of the food supply chain. Corporate North America for the most part drove major change in how animals were to be handled in the production of food, how they were to be reared onfarm, or transported and managed enroute to processing. Dr. Ron Clarke prepares this column on behalf of the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners. Suggestions for future articles can be sent to CANADIAN CATTLEMEN (gren@fbcpublishing.com) or WCABP (info@wcabp.com).

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

www.farm-king.com

Cut it, Ted it, Rake it, Move it.

Sickle Bar Mower

Disc Mower

Tedder

Easy Rake

Easy Rake Superstar

Bat Rake

Round Bale Carrier Model 1450

Round Bale Carrier Model 2450

Square Bale Carrier Model 4480

Getting your hay from the field to the yard has never been easier. Farm King offers a full line of hay tools designed to increase productivity of your operation and maintain the nutrient value of your crops. From first cut to the last move, Farm King meets your haying needs.

Visit www.farm-king.com to find a dealer near you.

ÂŠ2012 Buhler Trading Inc. | 888.524.1004 | info@buhler.com | www.farm-king.com

Amaglen Limousin :: Darlingford MB Ian & Bonnie Hamilton 204.246.2312 / amaglen@inetlink.ca www.amaglenlimousin.ca

Eden Meadow Farms :: Zehner SK Terry & Lynette Hepper and family 306.781.4628 thepper@yourlink.ca

Murphy Ranch :: Altario AB Frank & Donna Murphy 403.552.2191 / 780.753.1959 murphyranch.ca

B T 3 r3

Campbell Limousin :: Minto MB Bill & Lauren Campbell 204.776.2322 / 204.724.6218 cam.limousin@xplornet.com

Gutek Limousin :: Hendon SK The Gutekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 306.338.2112

Richmond Ranch :: Rumsey AB Jim & Stephanie Richmond 403.368.2103 / bulls@richmondranch.com www.richmondranch.com

C M 2 w

Cochrane Stock Farms :: Alexander MB The Cochrane families 204.573.6529 / 204.724.0892 www.cochranestockfarms.com

Ivy Livestock :: Duchess AB Rick & Mary Hertz and family 403.378.4190 / rhertz@eidnet.org www.ivylivestock.com

Windy Gables Limousin :: Warkworth ON Bryce and Nathan Allen 705.924.2583 brycea@alleninsurance.com

D N 4 d

cla_regSize_aug12.indd 1

Bar 3R Limousin :: Marengo SK The Rea family 306.463.7950 / 306.968.2923 r3bar@hotmail.com Cherway Limousin :: Sanford MB McPherson family 204.736.2878 / info@cherwaylimousin.ca www.cherwaylimousin.ca Diamond C Ranch :: Ponoka AB Neil & Sherry Christiansen 403.783.2799 diamondcranchlimousin.com

Excel Ranches :: Westlock AB Ron & Barb Miller 780.349.2135 / excelranches@hotmail.com www.excelranches.com

Pinnacle View Limousin :: Quesnel BC Swann and Kishkan families 250.747.2618 / kishkan@quesnelbc.com www.pvlimousin.com

Hi-Way Limousin :: Bethune SK The Fuchs families 306.638.4422 / 306.789.8863 306.638.4800 / d.fuchs@sasktel.net

Top Meadow Farms :: Clarksburg ON Mike Geddes, manager 519.599.6776 / topmeadow@bmts.com www.topmeadowfarms.com

Hollee Limousin :: Janetville ON Brian & Hollee Lee 705.340.5944 / hmacsand@hotmail.com Lazy S Limousin :: Rimbey AB Stan and Ty Skeels 403.704.0288 Best West Limo Classic Bull Sale

Y2K Limousin :: Caledon East ON Robert Nimmo 905.584.4477 / 416.580.5714 farm@robertnimmo.com

09/08/12 9:20 PM

STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP

Wrapped in red tape

discussion of food security often leads to the evaluation of agricultural output in different countries. As we look at the world today, the potential for increased agricultural performance is evident in places like Canada and Australia. In Eastern Europe the country that everyone is talking about is Ukraine where the land base accounts for 30 per cent of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best soil. It has great potential for improved crop and livestock production. From the outside, it looks like a nice package and everyone wants in especially China and the Middle East. Today Ukraine hosts a multitude of infrastructure investments from many countries. As an example Cargill has spent US$150 million on sunflower processing since 1991. China started the party several years ago with trade agreements and they have been successful. A moratorium on foreign land investment in 2001 changed the landscape but export activity is still strong with Russia, Turkey and China. The moratorium on agricultural land ownership was to expire on January 1, 2012 but has repeatedly been delayed by the opposition and some ministers who fear that local people will not be able to invest in their own country. This is rather an interesting position considering that credit is almost unattainable and the average monthly income is $319. Loans for farming purposes are at very high interest rates with 200-300 per cent collateral required and the land cannot be used. Foreign ownership of urban property is allowed. The beef industry is very small in Ukraine and there has been consolidation with foreign engagement but that has not spurred growth. With only 40,000 beef cows in the nation several large foreign-owned beef operations with up to 4,000 head are feeding a high percentage of dairy cattle of which there are 2.6 million head. Ukraine exports beef to the lucrative market in Russia and seldom imports stock because of the ribbon of red tape for each transaction. Countries in which the people have been impoverished often count on cattle as currency. Ukrainians still think of cattle in this way and more than 70 per cent of beef production is backyard beef. A focus on better breeding has led to some crossbreeding programs that are successful but the lack of wealth domestically dictates that beef is not affordable and therefore any new development is for export. The meat of choice is pork. As the beef and grain industry are complimentary, one could assume that an increase in grain production would be accompanied by more beef production. It seems easy enough but a lack of privatization and the eternal heel dragging by government may dampen growth in both sectors. From a human resource perspective, the remnants of the Soviet era are evident in the need to hire extensive security to guard absolutely everything. This is not a fault of the people but a result of government

48 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2012

policy that has not developed the social security of a middle class. The lack of land ownership is not an issue limited to Ukraine. It is the No. 1 concern worldwide in the agricultural industry. Individuals feel vulnerable when they do not have land security and are unlikely to make investments. This huge disconnect between potential and capital is also fuelled by memories of land that was taken away. Farmers remain suspect and are not motivated because of the fear of losing what they own and there is no generational gap to think outside of that memory. The Ukraine government owns five million hectares of agricultural land and agro companies within the Ukraine look very attractive because the land is so deeply undervalued to its potential. Large tracks of lovely fertile land, 33 million cultivated hectares, sit drenched in sun and rooted in four feet of topsoil. One politician said it would take US$30 billion to buy the productive agricultural land but the potential was $400 billion. Investors know $30 billion is a sweet deal. From the perspective of the beef industry, it will be difficult to build a business case until there is infrastructure and liberalization of trade. Infrastructure is fundamental to grow regional and national economies. Although there are 16 seaports in Ukraine, they are small from a global perspective. The ports handle fuel, chemical, metal, machinery and food products. The question remains â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what is best for Ukraine and her trading partners? Intense foreign competition for land will drive prices up and local farmers will not be in the game. They simply have not had time post-communism to implement technology, access information, lobby for infrastructure or build credit. The patchwork of land ownership makes it challenging to enable legislation. In addition, Ukraine is being depopulated as people leave or choose not to have children. With an eroding tax base it makes for a complicated situation. Ukraine is much like Canada in that it has a relatively small population and a large number of cultivated acres. In the future, Ukraine will continue to be an export nation. As I continue my research from Kiev through to Odessa in Ukraine this October, it will be interesting to be woven into the fabric of this land and to talk to her farmers, policy-makers and trade experts. I will let my feet sink in the soil in which many Canadian ancestors once trod and find a jewel of opportunity in this land of contrasts, neatly wrapped in red tape and waiting to be opened by enabling agricultural policy and trade liberation. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Brenda Schoepp Brenda Schoepp is a market analyst and the owner and author of BEEFLINK, a national beef cattle market newsletter. A professional speaker and industry market and research consultant, she ranches near Rimbey, Alta. Contact her at brenda. schoepp@cciwireless.ca or visit www.brendaschoepp.com. All rights reserved 2012.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

BRD PROTECTION… IT’S NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

Different cattle have different BRD challenges and require different levels of protection. Most are not in the extreme high risk category – a category that includes lightweight commingled feedlot calves for instance – so why pay more for extreme

Now available in a new economical 500 mL format

protection? Treat your calves on arrival with a product that gets to work right away and remains active in the lungs1. Now available in a new plastic bottle with an innovative, ergonomic, durable and convenient design.

Ask your veterinarian about ZACTRAN common sense BRD protection ZACTRAN® is a registered trademark of Merial Limited. © 2012 Merial Canada Inc. All rights reserved. ZACT-12-7562-BJA 1. Huang RA, Letendre LT, Banav N, Fischer J & Somerville, BA. Pharmacokinetics of gamithromycin in cattle with comparison of plasma and lung tissue concentrations and plasma antibacterial activity. J. Vet. Pharmacol. Therap. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2885.2009.01125.x.

2388 Zactran Beef Ad-EN-CC.indd 1

12-08-02 4:32 PM

RESEARCH

Technology transfer in the beef industry

esearch and innovation are very popular topics these days, but they mean different things, and both need to happen before Canada’s beef industry will benefit. Solid research is necessary, but it’s only a start. Research reports and scientific papers aren’t generally well understood except by other researchers. These reports and publications need to be translated into terms that producers can understand, and developed into new tools or strategies that producers can use. That’s the innovation step. Extension and technology transfer turns research into practical innovation. Industry has proven that it will quickly adopt a new technology when there is a clear benefit from doing so. Implants to improve weaning weights, legumes to increase forage yields and quality, crossbreeding to improve fertility and longevity, extended grazing to reduce winter feeding costs, and a wide range of feedlot health, nutrition, growth promotants and other technologies to improve feeding performance have all been quickly adopted and retained by the industry. Governments and universities used to employ many extension specialists and supported field days, seminars and other technology transfer initiatives, but these activities have declined greatly in the past 20 years. This makes it more difficult for researchers to get their message to producers, and harder for producers to know where they can get reliable information. It also means that new researchers don’t have as many opportunities to interact with beef producers and understand the beef industry. Add the fact that more and more new researchers come from non-agricultural backgrounds or other countries, and it’s easy to suspect that the gulf between cattle producers and many researchers is getting wider. The BCRC is taking some initial steps to address this problem. Through the Beef Science Cluster, the BCRC has developed a long-term strategy to improve technology transfer and knowledge dissemination to help the Canadian beef cattle industry identify, evaluate and adopt promising new technology. Tracy Sakatch joined the BCRC as our new beef extension co-ordinator in January 2012. Her skills will help us to expand our extension efforts beyond the regular fact sheets, industry presentations and articles you’re used to seeing from us. She wrote big sections of this column, in fact. Tracy’s first big initiative is the www.beefresearch. ca website launched in August. This website will be a cornerstone of the extension initiative, and provide a central resource for Canadian beef research news and information. Visitors can use it to stay informed of the

50 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2012

latest innovations and find the research information they’re looking for. The website features information on the industry’s research priorities and objectives, background information on research topics, and technical fact sheets on project results. Canada’s beef industry is fortunate to still have many high-calibre, experienced researchers who work closely with our industry and have an active interest in technology transfer and extension. They’ve helped us develop much of the background information on the new website. The site also includes the BCRC Blog, where readers will find the latest research findings, learn how research connects to current events, and get production tips during the appropriate season. Readers can subscribe to the blog for email updates and post comments on blog articles. The website also has a mobile version, so it is easy to navigate and read on your smartphone. We plan to develop other new resources, like video series, so producers can learn more about research findings across the country at their convenience, and hear from other producers who have successfully adopted research-support techniques and tools on to their farms. Webinars are also a great tool we plan to use; producers can log on to their computers for about an hour to listen in on a presentation and ask questions to researchers or other industry experts. In addition to communicating about research findings from projects that were funded by the BCRC, the new extension initiative will better allow us to support technology transfer of valuable beef research from other industry and government funders. We will also enhance our support of other extension groups and share applicable materials across groups and provinces. Our intention is not to duplicate existing extension efforts, but to enhance or accelerate them, and fill in gaps where needed. I encourage you to visit www.beefresearch.ca. Let us know what you think, and let us know what else you’d like to see. We need your feedback to help us deliver the types of information you want, in the format you want it in, to provide the science-based knowledge to do what’s best for your operation. The Beef Research Cluster is funded by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to advance research and technology transfer supporting the Canadian beef industry’s vision to be recognized as a preferred supplier of healthy, high-quality beef, cattle and genetics. — Reynold Bergen Reynold Bergen is the science director for the Beef Cattle Research Council. A portion of the national checkoff is directed to the BCRC to fund research and development activities to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Canada’s beef industry.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Longevity, efficiency, ProfitabiLity. Simmental cattle are bred for their unmatched maternal traits and Simmental breeders are aggressively selecting for increased performance and efficiency while still maintaining longevity. Make Simmental a part of your breeding program and ensure your success for generations to come.

CSA Regular.indd 1

8/22/2012 2:31:26 PM

P r i m e

c u t s

by Steve Kay

Drought forces up beef prices A North American view of the meat industry. Steve Kay is publisher and editor of Cattle Buyers Weekly

.S. cattle producers face the most wideanother four or five per cent in 2013. These spread drought in their lifetimes, and it forecasts might be conservative. is producing more serious consequences The drought appears likely to force U.S. catevery month. USDA on August 10 protle herd numbers lower by at least one million duced its first corn crop forecasts based on actual head by January 1 next year. This would put surveys that were lower than expected. It forecast the U.S. cattle total below 90 million head. The a yield of 123.4 bushels per acre and a crop of industry will also see a sharp decline in Mexican 10.77 billion bushels. This is easily the largestfeeder cattle entering the U.S. in 2013. Extreme ever decline from USDA’s first estimate of a corn drought forced more cattle north than normal in crop. This would be the lowest yield since 1995 2011 and is doing the same this year. Mexican and the smallest crop since 2006. USDA forecast imports for the year to August 4 totalled nearly an average US$8.20 per bushel, versus an average one million head, up 28 per cent on the same $6.25 for the 2011 crop. period last year. Total imports this year might That’s tough news for cattle feeders, who reach 1.5 million head, which guarantees a huge in July and August lost more than US$200 per decline next year. head on unhedged cattle. Breakevens for the The declining cattle numbers means that fall/early winter improved sharply because of domestic beef production will likely decline by a huge decline in feeder cattle and calf prices four per cent or one billion pounds this year as a result of droughtfrom 2011, accordrelated movement off ing to USDA. It will pastures into feedlots. by another 2.4 The declining cattle numbers decline But record-high corn per cent or 0.6 bilprices might quickly lion pounds in 2013. means domestic U.S. beef erode any hope of Unless beef exports production will likely decline positive feeding marcontinue to decline gins in the months volume terms and by four per cent or one billion in ahead. imports continue to The widespread increase, per capita pounds this year from 2011 nature of the drought beef supplies will means cow-calf proalso decline further in ducers have fewer drought-management options 2013. USDA forecasts 2012 supplies at 56.1 than in prior years. The historic Texas-Oklapounds per person (versus 57.3 pounds in 2011) homa drought meant cow-calf producers were and at 54.5 pounds in 2013. forced to sell calves early and send cows to Consumers will thus be forced to pay more slaughter. But many held the core of their herds for beef at retail and food service because less together by sending cows to other states. That’s will be available. This would not be such an not an option this summer, as only 21 per cent issue if the U.S. economy was stronger and of the continental U.S. has no drought condishowed signs of real growth. That’s not the case, tions and 70 per cent of the U.S. beef herd is however, and cautious consumers are likely to under drought. Two-thirds of the hay acreage is keep buying cheaper pork and chicken to fulfill under drought conditions and hay prices have their protein needs. The U.S. beef industry will skyrocketed. need to keep improving beef’s quality if it wants It will be a huge challenge for producers to Americans to pay even more for beef the next keep their herds intact and focus on improvfew years. ing their quality at the same time. Yet the latter is what they need to do because the drought’s Cattle Buyers Weekly covers the North American meat impact on herd rebuilding means consumers and livestock industry. For subscription information, will have to pay more for beef for the next three contact Steve Kay at P.O. Box 2533, Petaluma, Calif. 94953, or at 707-765-1725, or go to www. years. USDA forecasts that retail beef prices cattlebuyersweekly.com. will increase 3.5 to 4.5 per cent this year and

52 Cattlemen / September 2012

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

BUILDING TRUST IN CANADIAN BEEF

Broken needles happen Do the right thing for yourself and your industry There’s an old saying that it’s not what life deals out, but how you respond that matters. That’s certainly the way with broken needles and other foreign matter that finds its way into the beef chain. They can occur. What’s important is how we respond as individual producers and as an industry. Scientists say there are 540-plus

“Since most incidences are only repor ted back to the packer, the average producer thinks they don’t occur. But they do — often enough that we must be proactive and do what we can to avoid an incidence.” — beef packer

consumers for steaks and roasts in a single beef carcass. That’s a lot of consumer confidence riding on our decisions. The Verified Beef Production (VBP) program provides specific advice on how to prevent broken needles and how to manage when one occurs. It’s important information.

Follow these steps There are some basic, accepted steps to preventing broken needles on the farm or ranch. Securely restrain the animal. Use only sharp needles, never dull or burred, and never straighten a needle for re-use. That could result in breaking a needle and leaving a fragment in the animal. Keep syringes in good working order. That helps those doing the job and makes it less likely equipment will fail. Visually inspect needles after use. Simple way to ensure they are intact on the syringe and not bent. Use appropriate needle size and length. This will depend on the product viscosity and route of injection. Discard used needles into a sharps container. Don’t have a risk to other cattle, animals or people. Use proper injection technique. Give injectable products in the neck and use under the skin (sub-Q or SC) method when identified on the label. Use detectable needles. Ask for them!

Change needles. Try to change the needle every 10 animals if vaccinating mature animals, or use a new needle each time for sick animals. Use neck extenders on the chute. They’ll help hold the animal’s neck in place if working properly.

If something goes wrong If a broken needle is suspected, specific steps must be followed. Identify the animal and record the incident on the permanent record. If an animal is being sold, the next owner must be notified of the broken needle in that specific animal. Alternatively, the animal may be slaughtered for a producer’s own use. Most will choose a smaller plant to manage that process more easily.

Buckshot warning Canadian meat companies have identified an issue of buckshot in beef carcasses which can lead to losses in meat processing, and potential food safety issues. The beef industry is encouraging wildlife organizations to let their members know about this issue, particularly during goose and bird hunting seasons. For beef producers it is something they can advise hunters about who are hunting on their land. And producers may want to avoid grazing cattle in pastures behind any blinds or feeding areas for game birds.

DEVELOPED BY PRODUCERS. DEVELOPED FOR CONSUMERS

The mosT compleTe single-shot respiraTory vaccine

is back

To find out more, contact your veterinarian. TM Trademark of Intervet, Inc. Used under license. Merck Animal Health, operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright © 2011 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

VISTA Once Canadian Cattlemen QSH.indd 1

12-08-10 1:51 PM

C C A

Martin Unrau is president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

r e p o r t s

rought conditions in Ontario and to a larger extent in the U.S. are creating issues with feed supplies for Canada’s beef cattle producers. The shortage of hay and feed grains has sent prices skyward; hay prices have doubled since spring and feed grain prices have risen higher still with prices in Ontario under more intense pressure. Throw in the impact from ethanol use in North America and the pressure on feed grain prices is clear. These conditions require producers to take an exceptionally hard look at ration costs measured against the fluctuating price of cattle as they make their management decisions. As the price of feed grains becomes untenable for some, the result will inevitably affect beef quality. The reputation of high-quality Canadian beef is based on the Canadian Beef Advantage. Producing that well-marbled superior beef requires feed grains like the barley used in the West and corn in the East; inputs that are as essential as our abundant land base and ample clean water supply. Part of the ongoing battle to maintain our share of the protein market with the consumer is in the eating experience of high-quality Canadian beef. We don’t want to produce beef that offers anything less than the top-notch eating experience that consumers everywhere have come to associate with Canadian beef. Finding solutions to these problems that work for producers is at the core of the work we do at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). At the 2012 CCA Semi-Annual Meeting in August, the CCA continued to expend significant effort into formulating intelligent policy positions on a number of areas of importance to producers. The CCA semi-annual is a busy week and it takes our directors away from their businesses at home. But a tremendous amount of effort is required to ensure the work we do as an organization is right for the long-term competitiveness of the industry. It is important for the CCA board of directors to work together to reach agreements and have clear directives to move forward and lobby government on important policy matters. Disasters like drought in Ontario and, in recent years, flooding in Manitoba underscore the need for good disaster programs that work for producers in a timely manner. Disaster programs are ad hoc programs and are not part of the Business Risk Management suite of programs. Within Growing Forward 2 our work continues to ensure key Business Risk Management programs remain effective in an environment of federal government budget cutbacks. Cattle price insurance is another file we continue to work on as we see value in a national program. Research and of course trade are very important to the Canadian cattle industry. The Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) effort to thin the border between Canada and the U.S. will require

54 Cattlemen / September 2012

by Martin Unrau

a concerted effort to see it through to the type of conclusion we envision. In August, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and provided strong public support for a CanadaEuropean Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). CETA is an important agreement for beef. The CCA has invested a lot of time in CETA negotiations. I recently met with chief negotiators of CETA to ensure they understood clearly our position on beef, that we seek full access and zero tariffs as well as resolution on the technical issues barring trade to the EU. All of these files are about ensuring the longterm competitiveness and sustainability of the industry, not only for current producers but also to encourage the young people coming into the industry to stick it out despite the sometimes seemingly daunting challenges that they may face in terms of financing and weather-related disaster, etc. Events like the International Livestock Congress (ILC) conference, held in conjunction with CCA semi-annual in Calgary, help to remind us all that there is no shortage of bright and eager young people in agriculture who are looking to stay. It is heartening to see the ILC bursary students and the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) participants so involved with the industry through events like the ILC and by attending committee meetings at the CCA Semi-Annual Meeting. The speakers who delivered the global economic and market outlook information at the ILC made tremendous points. The information delivered there, be it good or bad for the industry, is what we need to consider also as we move forward and formulate effective policy discussion. Innovation also plays a role in sustainability that will carry this industry forward. During the ILC, the CCA announced Christoph and Erika Weder of Spirit View Ranch as the recipient of the CCA’s 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award. These producers, from Rycroft, Alta., exemplify conservation practices and their innovative approach has enabled them to succeed. Our congratulations go out to all the 2012 TESA nominees: Rod and Nonie Hesketh of Silver Hills Ranch in B.C.; brothers Dale and Terry Adamson of the Diamond J Cattle Co. in Saskatchewan; JV Ranch, a division of HyLife Ltd., in Manitoba; and Jim Ginn of the Ginn Family Farm in Ontario. The importance of conservation and sustainability in the Canadian cattle industry cannot be understated. We are working toward doing a better job of educating consumers about the beneficial relationship that exists between cattle production and the environment. The TESA program has a new logo and revamped program thanks to the sponsorship of MNP LLP, a proud supporter of the program who this year became a Platinum partner. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Figured out how to maximize my yield - online.

Your business depends on the internet.

You can depend on Xplornet. These days, a fast, reliable Internet connection is a must for most every business. Xplornet offers wireless business Internet connectivity across Canada, including many places where wireline service is unavailable. And we offer peace of mind, through our reliable network, which leverages the latest technologies, like 4G. With Xplornet’s Business Internet Solutions, your business is connected. • Choose from a range of business-grade paCkages, with speeds up to 5mbps.1 • 24/7/365 toll-free Canadian Customer serviCe, and priority teChniCal support if you ever need help at your loCation. • 30-day money baCk guarantee.2 • 4g business plans starting from just $74.99 / month.3

HigH-Speed internet

For All oF Canada 1 Actual speed online may vary with your technical configuration, Internet traffic, server and other factors. All packages are subject to traffic management. For complete details visit xplornet.com. 2For complete details of Xplornet’s 30-day money-back guarantee, visit xplornet.com. 3Xplornet’s network uses 3G technology in some areas and 4G technology in other areas. Plans and pricing vary by region. Call or visit xplornet.com for details.

NEWS ROUNDUP DRUGS NEW BRD ANTIBIOTIC ROLLED OUT Merck Animal Health began marketing its new antibiotic Zuprevo through veterinarians late last month. Zuprevo is labelled for treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni and the reduction in morbidity associated with BRD caused by these three pathogens during the first 14 days in the feedlot, when administered at the time of arrival. The active ingredient tildipirosin is a macrolide with a 16-membered ring, tribasic molecular structure. Macrolides are a class of antibiotic with limited use in human medicine but several useful traits in bovines. They are also less affected by the mechanisms that develop bacterial resistance.

GREENER PASTURES

RANCHING LTD. Presents:

*Year-Round Grazing Systems* A Business Management School Topics include:

• Human Resources • Economics and Finance • Pasture Calculations • Grazing Management • Pasture Rejuvenation • Weed Control • Cell Designs/Water Systems • Swath Grazing/Bale Grazing

The molecule targets the ribosome in the bacteria’s cells, inhibiting the protein synthesis necessary for life. Tildipirosin is rapidly absorbed from the site of injection, reaching peak plasma concentrations in 45 minutes with extensive accumulation in the lungs and bronchial fluids. It persists for up to 28 days in the lungs and 21 days in the bronchial fluids in sufficient concentrations to kill M. haemolytica, P. multocida and suppress both of them plus H. somni. Tildipirosin also has the lowest dose volume of any BRD treatment available. In most cases it will require a single subcutaneous injection, administered at a rate of one millilitre per 100 pounds body weight, with a maximum injection volume of 10 ml per injection site. Its formulation is easy to inject, even in cold temperatures, and described by one company spokesman as slightly more viscous than water. The product has a 42-day withdrawal date in Canada versus 21 days in the U.S. Paul Koffman, cattle business unit director for Merck Animal Health says it is normal for withdrawal dates to be extended in Canada. Zuprevo is cleared for use in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle in Canada. It’s not recommended for use on veal calves or breeding cattle. The safety of the product has not been demonstrated in calves less than 14 weeks of age.

STAMPEDE

By Jerry Palen

Location: Westlock, AB

When: Nov. 12th, 13th & 14th, 2012 Can you Graze 365 days a year? We provide a 3-day course that will take you right into the design and planning of a year-round grazing system. The course tuition is $800/Farm Unit, which allows two members from your farm business to attend. This course is well worth the investment.

Also be sure to attend:

*Profitable Pastures* When: April 16th and 17th, 2013 To register please contact:

Steve Kenyon

Greener Pastures Ranching Ltd. (780) 307-2275 www.greenerpasturesranching.com skenyon@greenerpasturesranching.com

56 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2012

“You gotta remember, he grew up in a log cabin with only a black and white TV.”

Koffman says Zuprevo rounds out the company’s lung-health platform for cattle, which in Canada also includes Resflor, Nuflor and the Vista vaccine line.

VACCINES VIDO-INTERVAC BEING CERTIFIED The new VIDO-InterVac secure Level 3 containment laboratory on the University of Saskatchewan campus was being certified last month by Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada to begin work on new human and livestock vaccines. When operational the former VIDO facility will contain the largest CL3 lab in Canada with 145,000 feet of floor space divided into modular labs that can accommodate large animals such as cattle and elk. Dr. Paul Hodgson, VIDO-InterVac’s associate director of business development says the Saskatoon International Vaccine Centre is currently the most advanced CL3 facility in the world. The diseases that can be safely studied in a CL3 facility include tuberculosis and bovine tuberculosis, rabies, West Nile virus, prions (bovine spongiform encephalopathy and chronic wasting disease), pathogenic and pandemic influenzas, hantavirus, anthrax, and brucellosis, as well as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus. While the lab is being certified VIDO-InterVac remains in discussions with its government and industry partners and research foundations to secure operational funding. VIDO was originally established in 1975 as a non-profit research centre of the University of Saskatchewan to develop vaccines against economically devastating livestock diseases. It holds 80 U.S. patents. Of the eight vaccines commercialized, five have been for cattle. The Pneumo-Star vaccine to protect against pasteurella was the world’s first recombinant vaccine licensed for use in animals. Vicogen against calf scours, Somnu-Star Ph against pasteurellosis and haemophilosis, and Econiche to help prevent shedding of 0157:H7 E. coli bacteria were also world firsts. Ecolan RC www.canadiancattlemen.ca

against bacterial and viral calf scours and Somnu-Star against haemophilosis were also developed by VIDO. For more information, visit www. vido.org.

MANAGEMENT BE PREPARED FOR DROUGHT With an eye to the drought in the U.S. the Alberta Beef Producers is suggesting it might be an idea to set aside a year’s worth of hay to carry herds through a bad year should the U.S. drought move north. The August 14 issue of the ABP’s GRASS ROUTES newsletter suggested seasoned producers know bad weather creates expensive feed and have learned

that setting some hay aside in a good year such as this one in much of Western Canada would be a good hedge against going into debt or selling some animals to get the rest through a tough winter after a drought. “We know that will occur again: history has a way of repeating itself. “The other question is should we build a feed shed to keep this inventory?” Having a feed supply as a hedge means more than the feed value, it is that hedge position, said the newsletter. In Alberta from 1976 to 2012 the average on-farm value of good-quality alfalfa-grass hay ranged from $55 in 1978 to over $130 per tonne during the drought of 2002. This year similarquality hay is going for less than $60 per tonne based on advertised sales in the province.

Capital and annual costs for ground, tarp and shed hay storage for 1,200 round bales Hay value $75 per tonne/storage period 24 months Annual costs ($/yr.) Storage type: Outside ground Outside pad & tarp Hayshed

Capital cost $0 $15,840 $64,800

Labour $0 $420 $0

Structure $0 $1,253 $8,424

the power of

integration

Aleis RFID Wand and Panel Scanners

www.aleis.com

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Cover $0 $1,872 $0

Dry matter loss $6,885 $1,913 $1,148

Total annual cost $6,885 $5,457 $9,572

The synergy generated between ITS Global, Aleis Readers, and Thompson Longhorn

Against this are the costs of keeping the hay over two years in lost hay sales, spoilage, reduced nutrient content and possibly storage costs. Some projections on feed costs were made to justify keeping an inventory and having feed storage such as a hayshed or a pad and tarps. “The justification of keeping an inventory is a management decision to ensure having feed during depressed times. The cost of storage is something else,” says the newsletter. Based on research reports they put the spoilage losses from hay stored on open ground over two years at 15 per cent. The cost of money was set at six per cent. The tarps are assumed to last five years. They were priced at cost plus the labour to cover and uncover the feed. The cost of the timber and metal construction hayshed was priced over a 25-year lifetime and large enough to shelter our basic inventory of 1,200 round bales at 1,100 pounds apiece. The cost of money and depreciation were pencilled in for the building. The cost of putting up the hay and moving bales was not. Continued on page 58

Quite simply a value proposition no one else can match!

manage and handle your livestock at every

We know livestock, our people are passionate about this industry, and our longevity speaks for itself!

sector of the beef supply chain.

For more information contact 1.877.333.7373

provides you with everything you need to

Thompson Longhorn Cattle Handling and Sorting Systems

www.thompsonlonghorn.com

ITS Software Management Solutions

www.itslivestock.com

CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2012 57

News Roundup Continued from page 57

The outside storage loss of 15 per cent of available dry matter for 1,200 bales on $75-per-tonne hay comes to $6,900 per year. The annual cost of the tarp over five years, labour, depreciation and spoilage at five per cent over 24 months came to $5,500 per year for 1,200 bales. The 60 x 180 x 20-feet-high hayshed was valued at $65,000 for an annualized cost of $9,600 for 1,200 bales of $75-per-tonne hay. At $50 per tonne for the hay both ground storage and tarps slipped to about $4,500 and the hayshed to $9,200 per year. As the hay becomes more expensive ground storage becomes more expensive because of the higher value of the spoilage. The break-even for the hayshed versus ground storage is about $115 per tonne assuming 15 per cent spoilage in the open. In this example, tarps

always came in at the low end on cost. The ground storage cost is one thing. Having enough feed is another. If the objective is to have 1,200 quality bales then the ground storage needs to be vamped up to accommodate the spoilage factor. An extra 180 bales would give you the desired amount of feed even with 15 per cent spoilage losses from ground storage, without any consideration to nutrient losses. So making a management decision to carry a feed inventory for two years is the first issue; it may save the cowcalf business. The other is how to store the feed. The ABP concluded ground storage is a good basic place to start, especially when there is ample hay available such as there is in Alberta this year. Just remember to hold more bales back to offset any spoilage losses. Going to tarps helps save feed quality and reduces the cost of storage. And going to a hayshed preserves feed quality, is easy to work with, especially on those cold, snowy days, but must be offset as a capital investment.

feedlot Directory Celebrating 20 years

• • Box 127 • Brant, AB T0L 0L0 • •

For details contact:

Pen Sharing Backgrounding Finishing Retained Ownership 15,000 Head Capacity

“looking for a custom feedlot with personalized service?”

HigHway 21 Feeders

• modern 20,000-head facility • Backgrounding • Silage-based rations • Finishing • Share Pen Ownership • Order Buying & Selling • Contracting • Financing • Trucking • Grass Program • Retained Ownership Specializing in Risk Management. Over 25 years experience in custom feeding. Look to highway 21 feeders this year.

HigHway 21 Feeders

Jeff Ball, President

Office: (403) 684-3540/Fax: (403) 684-3345 Email: general@ballco.ca www.ballco.ca

Lyle Miller or ed Miller Cel: (403) 888-3973 Cel: (403) 888-2539 Office: (403) 546-2278 E-mail hwy21@wildroseinternet.ca

2006 ABEX Award Winner for Investment Box 128, Ceylon, Sask., S0C 0T0

John Schooten & Sons

ABEX winner 2010 for community involvement, 2006 winner for investment Finalist for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 for Community Involvement & Service for Exporting Ideal location for Exporting to USA Rations and feeding tailored to customers’ needs by a Nutritionist

* Calves — Background — Finish * Share Pens * Feedlot Solutions — Bunk Management — Medical Program * Age Verification Technology * Professional Nutritionalist on Staff * Lot Capacity is 15,000 Head

Justin: 403-315-5679 Shane: 634-1535 Cody: 634-4116

www.borderlinefeeders.com

www.schootenandsons.com

“Custom Feeding With Personal Care”

Stauffer farm feedlot

* 4,000 head capacity * Finishing/Backgrounding * Proudly producing Alberta beef since 1980 Rod or Carol Calhoun (403) 546-2655 Cell (403) 333-5440

Jason Calhoun (403) 546-2766 Cell (403) 333-5438 Fax (403) 546-3831 Box 72, Swalwell, AB T0M 1Y0

58 Cattlemen / September 2012

Saskatchewan looking at industry-led brand inspection Saskatchewan’s new Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart appears to have taken the first steps toward private brand inspection with the appointment of various industry leaders to study the best way to deliver the service and make a recommendation early in 2013. Stewart tasked the committee with looking at all the options from the industry-run brand inspection in Alberta and B.C., the government-run service in Saskatchewan or an integrated western Canadian approach and come up with a recommendation for a “more efficient” brand inspection service. The government release noted the unique position of livestock as the only agriculture commodity that requires government to verify ownership. Inspectors working out of eight offices also administer the licensing and bonding of livestock dealers, identify stray animals and maintain the brand registry. These same services are provided by industry-paid inspectors in B.C. and Alberta. The committee is co-chaired by Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association president Mark Elford and Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association president Harold Martens. One additional member from each organization plus one each from the Saskatchewan Horse Federation and Livestock Marketers of Saskatchewan and two members-atlarge fill out the committee. Elford appears to already have some thoughts on what will come out of their deliberations. “An integrated

Custom Feedyard Ltd.

P.O. Box 148, Diamond City, AB T0K 0T0 Phone: 403-381-3883 • Fax: 403-381-8809 Email: schootenandsons@yahoo.ca

Phone: 306-454-2250 • Fax: 306-454-2216 • E-mail: blfi@sasktel.net Kevin Antworth, Manager • Cell: 306-442-7401 • E-mail: kevin.blfi@sasktel.net

Calhoun Cattle Co. ltd.

Identification

Division of stauffer farms LtD.

• Custom Feedlot Feeding • All Breeds and Classes of Cattle • Capacity 5,000 head • Pen Sizes 80-300 Head • Calves - Yearlings - Backgrounding to Finish • Competitive Finished Cattle Bids • Computer Data on Feed, Health and Closeout Information • Share Pens – Flexible Sizes •Rations Balanced by Nutritionist • Compare Our Prices and Cost/Pound of Gain. For Information Contact: Stauffer Farm Feedlot Phone (403) 746-5737 Fax (403) 746-5739 R.R. #3, Eckville, AB T0M 0X0

KLASSEN

AGRIVENTURES LTD.

Box 488 Linden, AB T0M 1J0 303007 Rge. Rd. 250

Myron Klassen Tel: 403-312-3577 myron@klassenagriventures.ca

“CUSTOM CATTLE FEEDING” www.canadiancattlemen.ca

western Canadian brand inspection system will help ensure the rightful ownership of everyone’s cattle and be a winwin for everyone involved,” he said in the release issued by the ministry.

pasture Manitoba to take over five federal community pastures Five federally operated community pastures in Manitoba will be under provincial management at the end of the 2013 grazing season, under a deal announced in mid-August. The agreement, now being finalized, covers the Westbourne and Lakeview pastures, north of Portage la Prairie on the west side of Lake Manitoba; the Gardenton and Pansy pastures, south of Steinbach; and the Sylvan Dale pasture in the Interlake, near Arborg. The agreement will also see the pastures’ management by federal Agriculture Department (AAFC) staff extended for another year, to the end of 2013, on those five pastures. Ottawa’s plan to shed its management of Prairie community pastures was revealed in April after the release of the 2012 federal budget. Ray Armbruster, president of Manitoba Beef Producers, said in a separate release that starting the transition after the 2013 grazing season “will give adequate time (for cattle producer groups) to develop and implement an alternative administrative structure.” Continued on page 60

Digi-Star Scales

TURNING LOCAL PRODUCTION INTO GLOBAL ADVANTAGE Presented by Livestock Gentec

& THE FUNDAMENTALS OF RESIDUAL FEED INTAKE (RFI)

S W 2 6 0 0 E ID

- DIgi-Star Scale systems use cable guards to protect against animal biting & undue wear - Allows accurate weighing on uneven surfaces - 3 year warranty - Offers 24 hour help desk

SW 3 0 0

North American made!

Squeeze Chute

Panels & Feeders Livestock Trailers

Presented by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

The Matrix Hotel Edmonton, Alberta October 16th & 17th, 2012

Stationary Handling Systems & more! Classic Portable Handling System

www.livestockgentec.com Includes “rodizio” themed banquet at PAMPA Brazilian Steakhouse Oct 16th

Tru-Test

3 year structural warranty

- Quick setup time - 1 piece transportable unit - fully loaded with 3 jacks - 2 double sided rolling gates - built with animal & operator safety in mind

Real Industries Ltd. call for a sales outlet near you

www.realindustries.com

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

1-888-848-6196

Cattlemen / September 2012 59

News Roundup Continued from page 59

MBP noted it has formed a steering committee including its own directors plus the leaders from each of the pastures’ patron advisory committees (PACs). That committee is to lead the development of an “alternative producer-led structure” to administer community pastures in Manitoba, MBP said. “We are confident the new administrative structure, led by producers, will be in place to facilitate an orderly transfer of these first five pastures to transition away from federal administration,” steering committee chair Barry Lowes said. The model being developed by the steering committee will be used to administer all of the Manitoba pastures as they transfer out from AAFC management, Armbruster added. The federal and Saskatchewan governments are working on a similar agreement for pastures slated for the “first round” of federal divestment

— also including federal management through to November 2013. The first group of Saskatchewan pastures to be divested hadn’t been announced at press time. The first round was expected to include 10 pastures across the Prairies in total. “Our goal is to ensure patrons are able to continue using these lands and we want to give them every opportunity to have input about the transition of their pastures,” Saskatchewan’s Ag Minister Lyle Stewart said in a separate release. A separate advisory committee of Saskatchewan cattle industry leaders and producers has recommended a transition framework, in which pasture patron groups get the opportunity to own and operate each pasture, and in which each pasture is maintained as a complete block. “We have had numerous inquiries by patron groups who are interested in owning and operating these pastures,” Stewart said. “I encourage all pasture patron groups to look into forming legal entities or grazing co-operatives in order to transition these pastures into their hands.” Stewart noted talks are ongoing with the federal government and Farm Credit

Answer our survey — and have a go at winning one of our caps

We have a goal to be the best beef cattle magazine in the business. But we need your help. If you could just fill in this survey and return it to me, you would be helping us set the future editorial direction for Canadian Cattlemen. All you have to do is tell me

We’d appreciate it if you could tell us a little about yourself. It makes it easier for us to keep your main interests in focus  I’m ranching or farming Enterprise Total beef cattle Yearlings on feed/pasture Registered cows Fed cattle (sold yearly) Commercial cows Horses Calves on feed/pasture Other livestock

# of head

 I no longer take an active part in farming If not an owner/operator of a farm, are you:

 In agribusiness (bank, elevator, ag supplies, etc.)  Other (please specify) ____________________ My approximate age is:  a) Under 35  b) 36 to 44  d) 55 to 64  e) 65 or over

 c) 45 to 54

60 Cattlemen / September 2012

marketing Quebec cows head south Two months after the closure of the Levinoff-Colbex facility at StCyrille-de-Wendover George Morris Centre market analyst Kevin Grier says it appears nearly all of Quebec’s market cattle are heading south to U.S. packers.

what you like about the magazine, and what you don’t like. There’s also some space for you to tell us what you would like to see in future issues. ClIp And enClose your mAIlIng lABel. each month, we will draw one name from all the surveys sent in and send that person a Cattlemen cap. It could be you!

What do you think of: On a scale of 1 to 5, how do you and your family like these features? 5 – I always watch for it; let’s see more of it 4 – I regularly read it and like it 3 – I usually read it 2 – There are things I’d rather read 1 – I don’t want it; get rid of it Regular Columns 5 4 3

Canada on financing options for patron groups wanting to buy the divested pastures. “This transfer is a great opportunity for those with a more direct stake in the usage of the land to take over the pasture management,” federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said. The one-year extension on the affected pastures’ management by AAFC staff “will give Manitoba and Saskatchewan the time needed to further consult pasture users and others in preparation for managing these lands.” The federal government’s plan to shed its role in community pastures is spread out over six years, into 2018.

Regular Columns News Roundup Purely Purebred The Markets

Market Talk Sales and Events

2 1 Nutrition Comment Research Special features 5 4 3 2 1 Newsmakers Letters Calving Issue (Jan.) CCA Reports Custom Feedlot Guide (Sep.) Prime Cuts Stock Buyers’ Guide (Aug.) Straight From The Hip Animal Health Special (Sep.) Holistic Ranching Beef Watch (May & Nov.) What would you like to see? __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ How much time do you and your family spend reading 1666 Dublin Avenue Canadian Cattlemen?  Under 2 hours  Over 2 hours Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

During June and July total slaughter in Eastern Canada averaged about 1,600 head per week less than last year, Grier reports in his August 10 biweekly Canadian Cattle Buyer newsletter. “That decrease in slaughter appears to be almost totally accounted for by increased cow exports from Eastern Canada. “Weekly fed exports from Eastern Canada to the U.S. have been basically the same or lower than last year but cow exports have been increasing by around 1,500 head per week. That suggests Ontario packers, notably Cargill, have not upped their cow kill as a result of the May closure of Levinoff.” He says the exodus of cows is understandable given the loss of the capacity in Quebec. The question then becomes whether the loss of capacity has had any impact on eastern Canadian cow pricing. “At this point it is difficult to make any definite conclusions given the impact of the drought on cow prices in both Canada and the U.S. Higher cow slaughter as a result of the drought has driven down prices on both sides of the border.” For the previous 12 weeks from August 10, the Ontario D1,D2 spread versus Pennsylvania boner cows averaged C$-7 per cwt. That is two times wider than the spread last year. “Given the drought, it is too early to make definite conclusions, but at this point it does appear that the closure has hurt eastern cow prices.” U.S. buyers are taking advantage of the weaker market in the East and while Ontario buyers may not be stepping up their kill, he says, their cow costs have improved.

When something needs to be said, you say it.

Join the young Canadians who are speaking up for agriculture. Are you passionate about agriculture? Do you enjoy sharing your views with others? Join the upcoming Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition. As part of this unique competition, contestants prepare a five-to seven-minute speech on one of five agriculture-related topics and present it in public. Cash prizes are available for two age groups: Junior (11 to 15) and Senior (16 to 24). The 28th annual Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition takes place on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario. Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture. For competition rules, a list of speaking topics and accommodation assistance please visit www.cysa-joca.ca.

It’s your time to shine.

The application deadline is September 30, 2012.

biosecurity National beef biosecurity standard published The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) have released a voluntary national biosecurity standard for the beef sector. The standard outlines on-farm practices designed to minimize the introduction and control the spread of endemic, emerging, and foreign infectious diseases in the Canadian herd. “On-farm biosecurity is one of the front lines of prevention for managing the risk of animal diseases for cattle producers,” said CCA president Martin Unrau. “This standard will provide the industry with a valuable tool to reduce the risk of disease entering cattle operations.” Many of the practices outlined in the standard are already in use on beef operations throughout Canada. The standard is a tool that can be used to measure a farm’s biosecurity practices around four basic principles: • minimizing the risks associated with animal movement; • managing the movement of people, vehicles, equipment and tools; • managing animal health practices, such as buying feed from reliable sources; • employee knowledge and training on biosecurity practices and principles. The standard was developed over two years, in consultation with producers, industry associations, academia, and provincial governments and can be applied to Canadian beef farms of any size and type. To request a copy of the 36-page standard online visit: h ttp://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/biosec/ C bovin_sume.shtml. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Cattlemen / September 2012 61

purely purebred Suggestions are always welcome. My phone number is 403-325-1695 Email: deb.wilson@ fbcpublishing.com

Deborah WILSON

◆ The “Old-timer” pic from last month

brought back memories for Helge By who emailed me with his guess — “The fellow on the left is Norman Geck who was a Horned Hereford breeder and my 4-H Beef Club leader for many years at Kelvington. I believe the man he is talking to is Vic Althouse, who was also from Kelvington, and was a member of Parliament for nearly 20 years. I have no idea what the event or the year would be but I would think it would be sometime in the ’80s.” Well, Helge was half right, the fellow on the left was his old 4-H leader and a Hereford breeder, but the other fellow was Melvin Ziola. The picture was taken at Regina Bull Sale in the early ’80s. So good for you, Helge, and thanks to Mrs. Geck for sending the picture to me.

◆ The Canadian Hereford Association was extremely proud to host the 16th World Hereford Conference held from July 8 to 24, and welcome Hereford enthusiasts from around the world to Canada. The event was extremely successful. The tours were sold out with 160 on the pre-tour and 72 on the post-tour and 300 registered for the full conference. The technical conference in Calgary and the cattle shows in Olds enjoyed packed houses. On July 13-14 folks from the pretour as well as those who came directly to Calgary, representatives from each member country gave their reports to 62 Cattlemen / September 2012

◆ This month’s “Blast from the Past” picture truly is a blast. Hope you get as big a chuckle as I did identifying the individuals in this pic. Let’s see who you can identify and tell me why this picture was taken. I love when people come up to me and say “I have the greatest picture!” and then send it to me. That way all of us can enjoy it. the meeting following the closed-door World Hereford Council meeting led by the current secretary general Jan Wills. Jose “Pepe” Bonica, president of the Uruguayan Rural Society, was elected as council secretary general for the 2013 term. The technical sessions of Saturday at the Calgary Stampede attracted 445 guests.

◆ The Calgary Stampede held its annual Quality Beef Competition following the stampede. The goal is to identify carcasses of superior quality, and encourage ranchers to meet the latest in consumer demands. “The following is unbelievable,” noted Don Miller, chair of the stampede’s Steer Classic committee, and a Cremona, Alta.-based veterinarian who runs Sundown Livestock Transplants, providing semen and embryo transfer services to international customers. This year’s winner of the stampede’s Quality Beef Competition, held July 16 at Cargill Foods in High River was a Shorthorn steer owned by Ryan Gilchrist of Bluffton, Alta. It graded AAA 90 marbling, a rib-eye of 90 square centimetres, a Sterling Silver score of 82, and a carcass weight of 743.2 pounds. Gilchrist pocketed a grand-champion cheque for $3,000, plus the value of the carcass. The runner-up was an animal from

the UFA Steer Classic’s Market Heifer class owned by Kyle Mitchell of Airdrie, Alta. It graded AAA 60 marbling with a rib-eye of 87 square centimetres, a Sterling Silver score of 82, and a carcass weight of 796.2 pounds. Mitchell collected $2,000 on top of the value of the carcass. Will Harvie of Olds, Alta., was third overall with a Hereford steer featuring AAA 10 marbling, a rib-eye of 88 square centimetres, a Sterling Silver score of 80, and a carcass weight of 773.2 pounds. Harvie earns $1,500 plus the the carcass. In all, two Shorthorns and two Speckle Parks earned spots among this year’s top 10 placings. Optimal points are scored for a ribeye between 86 and 95 square centimetres, AAA marbling; two to four millimetres of backfat; fine-grain meat texture; and a carcass weight of 700 to 800 pounds. A total of 76 carcasses were entered, the most in recent memory. Just under 70 per cent of the field graded AAA or higher, while about 43 per cent qualifying for all branded beef programs such as Sterling Silver or Certified Angus Beef. More than 51 per cent rated a Yield Grade 1. The lead judge was grader Fred Taylor.

◆ Rancher Day at the World Hereford

Conference kicked off with an experienced panel of cattlemen and cattlewww.canadiancattlemen.ca

women judging from horseback. The women judged the cow-calf pairs and the men did the pen of three bulls in front of 1,200 people. The Champion Pen of Three Bulls was shown by Wyatt, Merle of Arrowwood, Alta., and the Champion cow-calf pair by Remitall West, Olds, Alta.

◆ With the retirement of Judy Cum-

mer, the manager of the Canadian Charolais Association’s registry department in July, the new office manager Mel Reekie had to be trained on the registry system to ensure a smooth transition. Reekie has also been updating the CCA website and growing Facebook presence. Cummer was honoured at the president’s dinner for 28 years of service to the CCA. Reekie was originally from a mixed farm in Clarksburg, Ont., and comes to the CCA from Viterra where she arranged truck freight in Western Canada and northern U.S.

◆ July 16 kicked off the Junior Here-

ford Bonanza, in Olds, Alta., where young cattle breeders from across Canada and 42 junior members from around the world participated in a conformation cattle show as well as showmanship and photography competitions. There were over 700 in the audience. The next day 320 head competed in front of Judge Dave Durie Jr.

and 1,200 guests at the World Hereford Conference National Hereford Open. The winning bulls are shown below. The female winners were: Grand Champion Horned Hereford Female, Big Gully Farm, Maidstone, Sask. Grand Champion Polled Hereford Female, Cayley Cattle Co., Princeton, B.C.

◆ The World Charolais Congress was

held June 9 to 24 in four regions of the United Kingdom. About 34 Canadians attended the event. The tour stopped at operations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland and included a visit to the Royal Highland Show, in Scotland.

◆ Groundbreaking will soon begin on one of the most significant infrastructure projects in stampede history — the Agrium Western Event Centre, which will be the largest facility of its kind in Canada upon completion. For details and artistic renderings of this mag✷

DON’T M IS S

◆ Cassie Bacon and Ryan Dorran

were married on Friday, July 20 at The Blooming Fields in Didsbury with the reception at the Carstairs Hall that evening. Cassie is the daughter of Dr. Craig and Debbie Bacon, Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and is currently employed by the Canadian Angus Association as the marketing and communications specialist. She originally hails from Arkansas and grew up showing Polled Hereford cattle. Cassie also has her own business — Rural Route Creations, which can be viewed online. Ryan is the son of well-known auctioneer Steve Dorran, of Fort Collins, Colorado and Nancy Latimer of Didsbury, Alta. He is also Continued on page 64

Quality Grain Bags & Net Wrap Self-unloading Hay Trailers

Canadian Welsh Black Cattle Society

Hay Feeders, Gates & Panels, Steel Fence

Box 546 Trochu, AB T0M 2C0 Ph/Fax: (403) 442-4372

✷

http://corporate.calgar ystampede. com/about/park-development/agriumwestern-event-centre/.

✷

“THE WELSH BLACK ADVANTAGE” www.canadianwelshblackcattle.com

nificent 150,000-square-foot agriculture showcase and competition venue, scheduled for completion in 2014, visit

✷

P.O. Box 39075, Lakewood Common, Saskatoon, SK S7V 0A9

Ph: (306)227-2992

Email: office@redangus.ca

www.redangus.ca

“A GOOD BOTTOM LINE STARTS WITH A GREAT COW HERD!”

Grand Champion Horned Hereford Bull — Hirsche Herefords and Angus Ltd, High River, Alta.

CANADIAN GELBVIEH ASSOCIATION

• Fresh calves straight from the producer • Checked for castration and clearly identified • 63 special feeder sales, all vaccinated calves Information and pocket calendar at: Feeder Calf Sales Agency Phone: (450) 679-0530, ext 8891 Fax: (450) 442-9348 E-mail: gaetanefournier@upa.qc.ca

Fédération des producteurs de bovins du Québec

5160 Skyline Way NE, CALGARY, ALBERTA, T2E 6V1 PH: (403) 250-8640 • FAX: (403) 291-5624

WWW.GELBVIEH.CA “A Better Way to Manage your Livestock Business”

Forage Additive For alfalfa silage, corn silage and baled hay

Dry granular or ready-to-use liquid

Value of dry matter saved - treatment cost = dollars saved INTERNATIONAL STOCK FOOD

Grand Champion Polled Hereford Bull, Remitall West, Olds, Alta. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Toll Free: 1.855.246.2333

info@bioTrack.ca • www.bioTrack.ca

1-877-473-2474 info@isfcanada.ca www.isfcanada.ca

MARKET PLACE

The Quebec Feeder Calf Sales Circuit

Cattlemen / September 2012 63

Continued from page 63

an auctioneer and ringman, actively working a large number of purebred sales each year.

◆ Canadian Cattle Genome Proj-

ect — Bull of the Month’s profile is a Hereford bull named Remitall Keynote 20X. This impressive bull heav-

ily influenced Hereford populations in North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. He sired National Champions and high sellers in every country in which his semen was sold. Born in 1988, he grew to over 3,000 pounds. He was an Agribition class winner and Grand Champion bull at the Calgary Stampede in 1990 but is believed by owner Bryan Latimer to be “a bull ahead of his time.” His remarkable ability to produce progeny with high muscle content, excellent marbling and daughters that were exceptional milk producers made him extremely desirable as a sire. He physically bred cows every summer of his

STAMPEDE

By Jerry Palen

“Tiptoe! The bulls are in session.” 64 Cattlemen / September 2012

life at the Remitall farm near Olds, Alta., until his death at the age of 13. For more information on the Canadian Cattle Genome Project see the website at www.canadacow.ca. If you have samples of influential bulls that you would like to donate to the project please contact Mary DePauw, project manager at mdepauw@ualberta.ca or Steve Miller, project leader at miller@ uoguelph.ca.

◆ Preparations are underway for another great Canadian Western Agribition! Three breed associations will be hosting National Shows (Gelbvieh, Simmental and Speckle Park), trade show space is already at a premium and an inaugural Canadian Western Agribition Grain Expo is scheduled for November 20 and 21. Canadian Western Agribition has been actively meeting with international buyers to further develop business opportunities for exhibitors. Meetings with interested parties from China, Kazakhstan, and the Czech Republic all took place earlier this year. Buyers from these countries have expressed a strong interest in Canadian cattle, and are expected to visit the 2012 show. ◆ On August 14, 2012, the Alberta

Angus Association held its annual meeting at the Bashaw Agricultural Grounds along with the 37th Annual Alberta Junior Angus Show. The Alberta Angus Hall of Fame Gala was held in the evening with several awards presented to deserving individuals and families. Breed Builder Awards were presented to Doug and Linda Henderson, Edmund Kolesar and Get-ALong Stock Farms, Dennis and Shelley Ericson, The Purebred Breeder of the Year Award went to C.D. Land and Cattle, the Domolewskis of Taber and the Commercial Breeder of the Year Award to Geahring’s Ranch at Coutts.

◆ The 2012-13 feeder calf sales for Angus tagged cattle of the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed program are now posted! View a full listing of these sales by clicking on the Canadian Angus Association Commercial Programs drop-down menu and selecting Fall Feeder Calf Sales. The following sales will be having ALL TAGGED SALES which include only Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed tagged cattle. Be sure to pay special attention to these sales. Williams Lake, Oct. 17-18, 2012, Triple J Livestock (Westlock), Oct. 22,

2012, Mankota Stockmen’s Weigh Co. Ltd., Oct. 19, 2012, Yorkton — Heartland Livestock Services, Oct. 31, 2012, Virden — Heartland Livestock Services, Oct. 10, 2012, Brandon — Heartland Livestock Services, Oct. 25, 2012. Call Brian Good, director of field services for more information at 403-391-4037.

◆ As of July 1, 2012, animals with a standard three-generation pedigree made up of all-Canadian Angus genetics will receive a designation of “Canadian” and a maple leaf will adorn both the registration certificate and the online Herd Book for such animals. Animals with an additional two generations of Canadian sires and dams free of the “IMP” tattoo will be designated as “Straight Canadian” and labelled with a Canada flag. While the majority of the Top 10 sires based on registered offspring in 2011 are foreign, the CAA seeks to recognize those animals that are distinctly Canadian, whether they are black or red. The new designation means that “Canadian” animals will be at least 94 per cent all-Canadian blood while the “Straight Canadian” will be more 99 per cent or higher. ◆ Showdown 2012 was a huge success in Lindsay, Ontario, July 19-21. There were 120 juniors from across the nation who attended this year’s event competing in more than 12 other events and exhibiting 150 head of Angus cattle. All press releases from the event can be found on the Canadian Angus Association website. ◆ Manitoba Angus hosted its First

Pen Show and Gold Show Field Day on a hot summer day in Neepawa July 28, with judges Tom Madsen, Allan Horner and Lloyd Cavers. Even with the hot weather, 63 head of Black and Red Angus cattle and 10 commercial Angus were exhibited in this first-time event. In the past, it was hard to get the numbers out to the summer show, so the Manitoba Angus Association tried a new approach to the Gold Show with the cattle being exhibited and shown pen style. The cattle came from as far away as Lloydminster, parts of Saskatchewan and all of Manitoba to participate. Along with the pen-style show, the crowd took an active part in the event by buying a chance to win some of the cash if they had the placings the same as the judging team. C www.canadiancattlemen.ca

The markets

Market Summary debbie mcmillin Fed cattle Cash sales of fed cattle struggled to match expectations this summer. With break-evens running above the current market and feed costs creeping continually higher feedlots struggled with losses on cattle that were not hedged or contracted. Prices dipped as low as $107.85 before stabilizing at $112.65 in mid-August, which is $5.50 higher than the same week in 2011. Retail beef prices in the first half averaged six per cent higher than last year. It’s to be hoped the higher prices are not met with consumer resistance, however beef isn’t alone in this. All protein prices are higher on Canadian retail shelves in 2012. The fed basis narrowed slightly to -6.24 per cwt after quite a stretch of being wider than last year or the average for the last three years. On August 1 Alberta and Saskatchewan lots had 634,327 head on feed, six per cent less that last year and eight per cent below the five-year

average. July placements were down 12 per cent continuing the trend of the last five months. Steer and heifer slaughter were each off by four per cent at 860,005 and 572,438 head, respectively, to mid-August. The spread in carcass weights this year to last recently narrowed to just 13 pounds. To date for the year steers are averaging 872 pounds, 34 pounds more than last year at this time. Fed exports have slowed slightly, due to the dollar and shrinking supplies. To date Canada has exported 229,228 slaughter-ready cattle to the U.S., five per cent fewer than last year.

Feeder Cattle Dried-down U.S. corn crops, red ink in the feed alleys and a rising Canadian dollar sent feeder cattle values sliding in the past month. Lightweight calves fell over $20 from the end of June while the 550 Alberta steers seemed to stabilize at $155 for a few weeks, which is still $7 above the same week in 2012. Looking at heavier-weight classes, the 850pound feeder steers moved downward as grain prices rallied, however not as sharply as the lightweight calves. At press time 850 feeder steers were trading at an average $134, which had picked up slightly from the start of August and was $8.37 above last year. The feeder basis has narrowed from double digits at the start of the year to just -5.26 per cwt in mid-August.

Deb’s Outlook Fed Cattle Sellers should gain leverage this month as front-end supplies tighten and seasonal beef sales pick up steam. Nearby features should also support the cash heading into fall, although the dollar could dampen U.S. interest somewhat. Another caution is the willingness of packers to slow chain speed to adjust for smaller supplies when facing price resistance from feedlots or retail meat buyers.

Feeder Cattle Feedlot profitability, feed costs and a higher Canadian dollar are part of the risk profile for the feeder market. On the upside, tight North American inventories and the early movement of cattle into feedlots in drought-

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Non-Fed Cattle D1,2 cow prices in Western Canada dipped to $77.75 per cwt at the start of August however by mid-August were back up to $79.58. By comparison that is $8.33 better than last year and $19.41 above the 2010 average for that date. Drought through much of the U.S. has increased cow slaughter in many regions. And if it continues it will likely lead to further culling as producers chose to sell additional cows off pastures rather than go shopping for winter forage at current high prices. Cow slaughter in Canada is currently 272,051, down three per cent from the same period last year. Exports of cows to the U.S. to date are running six per cent ahead of last year at 91,818 head. Butcher bull prices in August trended slightly lower but are still averaging over $93 per cwt. Domestic bull slaughter has increased in recent weeks as producers began pulling the bulls off pasture. Year-to-date bull slaughter is still running 22 per cent behind last year at 10,932 head. While the slaughter has been down in 2012 live bull exports are up eight per cent with a total of 25,848 bulls heading south of the border so far this year.

— Debbie McMillin

Debbie McMillin is a market analyst who ranches at Hanna, Alta.

More markets➤

stricken states will reduce the number of available feeder cattle for this fall run. The sharp move in grain prices has already been absorbed into the feeder price. While current prices may be disappointing after the early optimism surrounding the 2012 calf crop, they should hold relatively steady from here on as feedlots look to fill pens in the coming weeks.

Non-Fed Cattle September will see a seasonal increase in the number of cows coming to town as producers start to pull in their herds and wean the calves. Farther out the reality of those smaller inventories will start to shorten the numbers of available cows, and apply some pressure to prices. The strong Canadian dollar does present a price risk for the cow market, but the demand for grinding and trim meats remains strong, which will keep prices moving forward. Cattlemen / september 2012 65

Break-even Prices on A-Grade Steers 130

ALBERTA

170

110

90 80

Steer Calves (500-600 lb.)

180

120

100

Market Prices

190

160

western Market Summary

150 140

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

130

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

145

ONTARIO

135

D1,2 Cows

125

115

105

95 85 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2012

Canfax weighted average price on A-Grade steers

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Ontario 2011 Market Ontario prices based on a 50/50 east/west mix Summary O ntario

2012

2011

A lberta

Break-even price

2012

for steers on date sold

2012-13

2011-12

Kevin Grier2011

Market Summary (to August 4)

August 2012 prices* Alber ta Yearling steers (850 lb.)............... $135.12/cwt Barley................................................. 5.96/bu. Barley silage..................................... 74.50/ton Cost of gain (feed)........................... 79.63/cwt Cost of gain (all costs)................... 104.48/cwt Fed steers...................................... 109.77/cwt Break-even (December 2012)......... 124.14/cwt Ontario Yearling steers (850 lb.)............... $133.20/cwt Corn silage....................................... 66.48/ton Grain corn........................................... 8.06/bu. Cost of gain (feed)......................... 119.48/cwt Cost of gain (all costs)................... 145.22/cwt Fed steers...................................... 108.22/cwt Break-even (February 2013).......... 138.17/cwt *Mid-month to mid-month prices Breakevens East: end wt 1,450, 183 days West end wt 1,325 lb., 125 days

66 Cattlemen / september 2012

2012 Total Canadian federally inspected slaughter............. 1,605,398 Average steer carcass weight............................................ 872 lb. Total U.S. slaughter.................................................... 19,871,000

2011 1,554,486 837 lb. 20,740,000

Trade Summary EXPORTS 2012 Fed cattle to U.S. (to July 28)........................................ 224,095 Feeder cattle and calves to U.S. (to July 28)................. 101,941 Dressed beef to U.S. (to June).............................. 347.59 mil.lbs Total dressed beef (to June)................................. 265.73 mil.lbs

2011 235,757 57,105 359.49 mil.lbs 269.01 mil.lbs

IMPORTS 2012 Slaughter cattle from U.S. (to June) . ........................................ 0 *Dressed beef from U.S. (to June)........................ 166.57 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Australia (to June).................... 14.52 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from New Zealand (to June)................ 28.34 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Uruguay (to June)................... 13.38 mil.lbs

2011 0 165.25 mil.lbs 8.30 mil.lbs 33.57 mil.lbs 8.75 mil.lbs

Canadian Grades (to August 11, 2012) % of A grades AAA AA A Prime Total EAST WEST

+59% 19.6 27.6 1.7 0.2 49.1 Total graded 354,800 1,296,424

Yield â&#x20AC;&#x201C;53% Total 12.4 55.1 2.8 40.3 0.0 1.8 0.6 1.2 15.8 Total A grade 98.4% Total ungraded % carcass basis 64,114 65.1% 88 82.0%

54-58% 23.1 9.9 0.1 0.4 33.5

Only federally inspected plants

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

market talk with Gerald Klassen

Feed grain update

tunity to take forward coverage for the crop year. Export barley prices have also softened over the past month. Ukraine and Russian barley has been trading at a sharp discount to Canadian offshore values. Despite the smaller production in these regions, producers are anxiously taking advantage of the higher prices resulting in larger exports during the fall period. French farmers are also in the midst of harvest resulting in stronger competition on the world market. The USDA estimated average corn yields at 123.4 bushels per acre, down from the July projection of 146 bushels per acre and down from the 2011 yield of 147 bushels per acre. U.S. corn production was projected to finish at 10.7 billion bushels; however, many analysts are using a lower yield estimate resulting in production under 10 billion bushels. The corn market has come off the highs due to the rapidly expanding harvest in the southern States. Supplies in export positions are burdensome resulting in weaker basis levels. U.S. farmers are very aggressive sellers now at harvest. Longer term, the U.S. will have a feed grain deficit of over 30 million to 40 million mt due to the smaller corn crop. Where is this going to come from?

ash barley prices in southern Alberta have come under pressure over the past month as harvest progresses across Western Canada. Barley has traded in the range of $250 to $260 per mt delivered to the feedlot as yields have come in larger than expected. Given early yield results, the Canadian barley crop is now projected to reach 8.8 million mt, up from my July projection of 8.5 million mt and up from the 2011 crop of 7.8 million mt. Despite the marginal increase in production, the 2012-13 carry-out is projected to remain at historically tight levels due to larger barley exports. Feedlot operators should know that August and September is a period of seasonally low demand due to smaller cattle-on-feed numbers. At the same time, this is when producer deliveries are at their peak. Farmers tend to sell a large amount of their crop at harvest and then again in February and March. Domestic feed consumption tends to peak in December and January and then again in late April and May. In past years, this is usually when barley prices are at their highest levels. Farmer selling is usually the lowest in December due to tax reasons. Feedlot operators should know the market will likely be at the lowest levels in late September and October, which will be the oppor-

Supply and disposition of Canadian barley (â&#x20AC;&#x2122;000 tonnes) Acres seeded Acres harvested Yield (bu./ac.)

10-year average

StatsCan 10/11

Estimated 11/12

Estimated 12/13

11,067 9,381 55

6,911 5,899 59.21

6,472 5,843 61.00

7,365 6,481 60.00

2,844 9,517 42 12,403

2,368 11,141 76 13,585

2,583 7,605 42 10,230

1,441 7,755 40 9,236

1,036 8,467 40 9,542

1,301 256 954 7,309 9,820 2,583

1,538 372 981 8,346 11,237 2,348

1,272 233 902 6,382 8,789 1,441

900 280 1,020 6,000 8,200 1,036

1,500 280 1,200 5,500 8,480 1,062

08/09 9,357 8,521 62.50

09/10 8,663 7,209 60.60

1,626 11,781 42 13,449 1,495 309 1,015 7,731 10,550 2,899

SUPPLY

Opening stocks Aug. 1 Production Imports TOTAL SUPPLY USE

Exports Seed Human food/industrial/1 Feed-waste-dockage

TOTAL USE TOTAL CARRY-OVER 1/includes barley processed domestically and then exported as malt

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Currently, Brazilian corn is trading into the eastern U.S. and Canadian Western Hard Red Winter wheat is moving into Texas feedlots. Once the U.S. harvest has wrapped up, the corn market will function to encourage imports of coarse grains. Secondly, the wheat:corn spread has to narrow so that there is a massive shift from corn to wheat feeding. Keep in mind the U.S. will need a large supply from Brazil from April to August of 2013. Therefore, the feed grains complex will be very sensitive to corn production estimates from South America. There has been talk of an easing of the ethanol-blending mandate. Gas prices are ratcheting higher and given the current margin structure for ethanol plants, there is little chance that a change in policy would result in lower ethanol production. Another risk to consider is the Russian implementation of an export tax or some type of control on all cereal grains similar to the 2010-11 crop year. Barley and wheat stocks will drop to desperate levels if there is no government interference. Currently grain supplies are forecasted to be lower than in 2010-11 so there is a high probability of some type of control which would result in a price surge on the world market. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m expecting larger feed barley exports during the winter period because major importers will have to come to Canada for their barley requirements. Domestic demand tends to peak in early winter and than again in May. The U.S. corn market is also functioning to encourage imports. The feed grains complex cannot afford a crop problem in the Southern Hemisphere. Russian export policy is a huge risk in the upcoming crop year as well. Barley prices will likely be at their lowest level in the fall period and then ratchet higher through the crop year. In the next issue, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll discuss the feeder cattle market and the effects of high feed grain prices. Gerald Klassen analyzes markets in Winnipeg and also maintains an interest in the family feedlot in southern Alberta. He can be reached at jkci@mymts.net or 204287-8268. Cattlemen / september 2012 67

SALES AND EVENTS EVENTS September

11-13—Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Canada’s Outdoor Park, Woodstock, Ont. 19—Canada Beef Annual General Meeting and Forum, Sheraton Cavalier, Calgary, Alta. 19-23—Lindsay Exhibition Fall Fair, Lindsay Exhibition, Lindsay, Ont.

October

16-17—Livestock Gentec Conference, the Matrix Hotel, Edmonton, Alta., www.live stockgentec.com 26-27—22nd Annual Edam Fall Fair Commercial Cattle Show and Sale, Edam Community Centre, Edam, Sask. 30—Farm Animal Conference — Media Training, Saskatoon, Sask., www.facs.sk.ca

AD INDEX Page AGCO-Hesston 37 Agriculture For Life 41 Ballco Feeders 58 Beef Improvement Ontario 63 Border Line Feeders 58 Buhler Manufacturing 45 Calhoun Cattle Co. Ltd. 58 Canadian Angus Assoc. IFC Canadian Charolais Assoc. OBC Canadian Gelbvieh Assoc. 63 Canadian Hereford Assoc. 5 Canadian Limousin Assoc. 46, 47 Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society 63 Canadian Shorthorn Assoc. 36 Canadian Simmental Assoc. 51 Canadian Welsh Black Society 63 Canadian Western Agribition 11 Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture 61 Canfax Cattle Market Forum 22 Case-IH 12, 13 Direct Livestock Marketing 59 Ford Motor Company Canada 17 Federation des producteurs de bovins du Quebec 63 General Motors 31 Greener Pastures 56 Highway 21 Feeders 58 Integrated Traceability 57 International Stock Foods 63 Iron Solutions 26 John Schooten & Sons Custom Feedyard Ltd. 58 Klassen Agriventures 58 Kubota Canada 6 a-h Lakeland Group/Northstar 18 a-p Livestock Gentec 59 Merial 15, 49 Merck Animal Health 8, 9, 21, 42, 43, 53, IBC Merck Animal Health A 1-12 New Holland 33 Norheim Ranching 63 Novartis Animal Health Canada 16 Pfizer Animal Health 23, 25, 39 Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd. 29 Real Industries 59 Southern Alberta Livestock 61 Stauffer Farm Feedlot 58 Vermeer Corporation 27 XL Foods 26 Xplornet 55

68 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2012

November

1-3—34th Stockade Roundup, Lloydminster Exhibition, Lloydminster, Alta. 1-4—Manitoba Livestock Expo, Keystone Centre, Brandon, Man. 2-11— Royal Winter Fair, Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, Ont. 3-11—Canadian Finals Rodeo, Expo Centre, Edmonton, Alta., www.canadianfinals rodeo.com 5-10—Farmfair International, Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alta., www.farmfair.ca 7-10—Agri-trade, Westerner Park, Red Deer, Alta., www.agri-trade.com 7-10—Saskatoon Fall Fair, Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, Sask., www.saskatoonex.com 13-14—Canfax Cattle Market Forum, Deerfoot Inn, Calgary, Alta. 15—Best of Canadian Agri-marketing Association Awards, Saskatoon, Sask., www. bestofcama.com, www.cama.org 19-24—Canadian Western Agribition, Evraz Place, Regina, Sask., www.agribition.com 28-29—Western Canadian Grazing Conference and Trade Show, Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer, Alta.

SALES December

4—MJT Cattle Co. Ltd. — Hereford and Angus Dispersal, at the ranch, Edgerton, Alta. 15—Perrot-Martin Charolais Complete Herd Dispersal, at the farm, Niacam, Sask.  Event listings are a free service to industry.  Sale listings are for our advertisers. Your contact is Deborah Wilson at 403-325-1695 or deb.wilson@fbcpublishing.com

STAMPEDE

By Jerry Palen

December

5—Advocates for Agriculture Communications Workshop, Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, Sask., www.facs.sk.ca 5-6—Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan AGM “Fence Lines to Corporate Board Rooms,” Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, Sask., www.facs.sk.ca

January 2013

3-22—107th National Western Stock Show, National Western Complex, Denver, Colorado 23-25—Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, Sask.

February

7-8—Manitoba Beef Producers AGM, Victoria Inn, Brandon, Man.

“It’s just dirt, grease and filthy band-aids, not bad tattoos.”

Canadian Charolais Association board of directors, front row (l-r): Neil Gillies, general manager; Brent Saunders, Markdale, Ont. (first vice-president); Wade Beck, Lang, Sask. (president); John Wilgenbusch, Halbrite, Sask. (second vice-president); Lyle Bignall, Stettler, Alta. (past president). Back row (l-r) Bernard Begin, Ste. Marie, Que.; Ricky Milton, Cornwall, P.E.I.; Campbell Forsyth, Eriksdale, Man.; Dor y Gerrard, Innisfail, Alta.; Brian Coughlin, Cobden, Ont.; absent Ursula Corpataux, Erskine, Alta. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

The mosT compleTe single-shot respiraTory vaccine

is back

vista once sQ is back â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which means you can provide cattle with the broadest coverage Tm

available against the most common and costly respiratory diseases in a single shot.

onCe vaccinated, twice covered. Only VistaTM Once sQ combines an avirulent-live Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida culture with a single-dose, five-way, modifiedlive virus vaccine (iBr, BvD type 1 and type 2, pi3, Brsv). all you need is VistaTM Once sQ.... Once and for all.

To find out more, contact your veterinarian.

Trademark of Intervet, Inc. Used under license.

Merck Animal Health, operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright ÂŠ 2011 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

Untitled-5 1

12-08-10 12:59 PM

Untitled-2 1

8/16/2012 2:20:04 PM