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TRACKING TRACEABILITY · DIRECT MARKETING GRASS-FED BEEF

THE BEEF MAGAZINE

August 2014 $3.00

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

We want to market

MORE BEEF Trish Sahlstrom, A&W VP

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240

Look for your copy of the STOCK BUYER’S GUIDE inside this issue.

Sponsored by:

Efficiency You Can Trust

“I background approximately 250 head each year. I started feeding Hereford five years ago. There were a number of differences in the Hereford cattle from the other breeds I fed: • Noticeable increase in feed efficiency, • Absolutely awesome temperament, • Extremely healthy, • Great demand when time to market them, • When the bills were paid, I was paid as well.”

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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

Contents CANADIAN CATTLEMEN · AUGUST 2014 · VOLUME 77, NO. 8

 M A NAG E M E N T

Field Editor: Debbie Furber Box 1168, Tisdale, SK S0E 1T0 (306) 873-4360 Fax (306) 873-4360 Email: debbie.furber@fbcpublishing.com

A&W explains its marketing campaign to producers.

ADVERTISING SALES Deborah Wilson RR 1, Lousana, AB T0M 1K0 (403) 325-1695 Fax (403) 944-5562 Email: deb.wilson@fbcpublishing.com Crystal McPeak (403) 646-6211 / (403) 360-3210 Email: crystal@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: Lynda Tityk Email: lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com Associate Publisher/Editorial Director: John Morriss Email: john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com Production Director: Shawna Gibson Email: shawna@fbcpublishing.com Circulation Manager: Heather Anderson Email: heather@fbcpublishing.com

WE WANT TO MARKET MORE BEEF  M A R K ET I NG

FEATURES

President: Bob Willcox Glacier FarmMedia Email: bwillcox@farmmedia.com

Producers give a thumbs-up to price insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 We want to market more beef. . . . . . . . . . 14

Contents of Cattlemen are copyrighted and may be reproduced only when written permission is obtained from the editor and proper credit is given to Cattlemen.

Canadian… and proud of it! . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Cattlemen and Canadian Cattlemen are Trade Marks of Farm Business Communications.

Has traceability fallen off the track? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Cattlemen is published monthly by Farm Business Communications.

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Direct-marketed 28 grass-fed beef fuelled their expansion

Verified Beef Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Veteran market introduces ‘fall-forward’ sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

DEPARTMENTS

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Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Newsmakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Our History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Member

Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

LIVESTOCK PUBLICATIONS COUNCIL

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.

Direct-marketed grass-fed beef fuelled their expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

 M A R K ET I NG

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, Canadian Cattlemen and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Canadian Cattlemen 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.

14

Research on the Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Holistic Ranching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Veteran market introduces ‘fall-forward’ sales

Congratulations!

To our August survey winner, Percy Jerrold, Brownvale, Alta.

This month’s survey is on page 38.

Cover Photo: Debbie Furber

32

Prime Cuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Vet Advice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Straight from the Hip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 CCA Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 News Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Purely Purebred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 The Markets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Market Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Sales and Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 C AT T L E M E N · AU G U S T 2 0 1 4

3

 COMMEN T

By Gren Winslow

can we stop shrinking?

No sign of a turnaround yet

W

hat will it take for cow-calf producers to start expanding the herd?

That was the question that kept popping into my head as I read through the recently released 2013-14 results report of the Canadian Cattlemen Market Development Council.

If that name doesn’t ring a bell, I’m not surprised. It isn’t well known outside of the power circles within the cattle industry. It is the industry- (read producer) run body set up by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association to administer the $80-million Legacy Fund. That name is probably more familiar. The fund was established in 2005 when Ottawa kicked in $50 million and Alberta another $30 million in matching funds to backstop a 10-year marketing program to help the industry dig its way out of the beef glut caused by the discovery of BSE in 2003.

This government money, matched by money from producer checkoffs and industry partners should add up to a $120-million investment in marketing Canadian beef by the time the fund wraps up in March 2015.

Most of the money as you might expect went to fund the activities of the Beef Information Centre and Canada Beef Export Federation and more recently their replacement, Canada Beef Inc. Some also went to support the marketing of Canadian beef genetics by the Canadian Beef Breeds Council.

The results as you can imagine have been mixed, although there is no denying that we’ve gotten rid of the glut of unwanted cows that populated the herd after BSE was discovered. Cattle inventories have now reached the point where Canada Beef’s marketing plans must of necessity be targeted at getting the most value from a diminishing beef supply rather than simply moving volume.

One interesting chart in the report tracks some of the indicators of the industry’s progress from 2006 to 2013 and in some cases compares it to 2002, the last year of the pre-BSE period.

On the genetics end, live breeding cattle exports initially jumped from 4,803 to 16,606 in 2008, when borders opened and prices were low, but they’ve settled into an annual range between 4,900 and 3,600 head since then. Semen sales started out with 553,306 lots worth $8 million in ’06 but have bounced around since then. In 2012 the volume jumped to 917,738 but the total return sank to $6.64 million. 2013 wasn’t much better.

On the beef side, Canadians came through and kept eating beef in the years after BSE. Total Canadian beef consumption jumped from 958,000 tonnes in 2002 to 972,000 tonnes in 2006, and one billion tonnes in 2007. Most of it was Canadian beef too, with domestic disappearance running over the 800,000-tonne mark up to 2008.

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Our exports, of course, were down in those early years: 372,000 tonnes in 2006 compared to 521,000 tonnes in 2003. In fact total beef exports have still not regained that pre-BSE level. Just the reverse, the numbers have been dropping steadily since peaking at 407,000 tonnes in 2010, down to less than 280,000 tonnes in each of the last two full years.

Consumption of Canadian beef at home has been slipping as well over time, although it has stabilized around the 690,000-tonne mark over the past three years.

It seems like we’ve been talking about tight cattle numbers for years now but these numbers really drove it home for me. We are shrinking, and that brings me back to my original question. When will we see some heifer retention?

eifer slaughter is up 10 per H cent and feeder exports up 41 per cent, with heifers making up 70 per cent of the total This is a question of some urgency for Canada, according to a recent agri-benchmark analysis of our competitive position in the world. Agri-benchmarking is the bright idea of ag economists in 29 countries who are attempting to realistically rank the competitiveness of their various countries in the international beef market. CanFax publishes the Canadian version of the analysis.

Worldwide demand is growing, especially in China and Middle East and tight supplies have doubled global beef prices in the past decade. Unfortunately most of the growth in this market has been going to the countries set up to produce cheaper grass-fed beef. The time looks ripe for Canada to expand. As a bonus we are still small enough that any increased production here won’t have any impact on world markets, but is bound to have positive implications for Canada.

“Cow-calf margins in 2014 are projected to surpass anything seen during the expansion phase of the 1990s,” says the CanFax report. Whether this will tempt many cow-calf producers is still to be seen.

The evidence so far isn’t persuasive. Heifer slaughter to date is up 10 per cent, and to mid-July feeder exports were up 41 per cent, as well, with heifers now making up 70 per cent of the total.

The Americans can smell the way of the future. c

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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 THE INDUST RY

NewsMakers Leighton Kolk and David Andrews were appointed to the board of directors of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency last month.

Leighton is co-owner of Kolk Farms Ltd., a cattle feeding and grain-farming operation near Iron Springs. He is also on the board of Alberta Cattle Feeders Association and Leighton Kolk Immanuel Christian Schools and a past board member of Alberta Beef Producers and Gateway Livestock Exchange. In addition he serves on the Tiffin Conference planning committee, has been a shareholder and adviser to Avena foods for the past six years, participated on the advisory committee to Canada Gold and acted as cochair of Batter Sea drain watershed group.

David and his wife Cheryl, run a mixed farming operation, Lazy A Farms Ltd. near Brooks.

In addition to his farming operation he is serving as chairman of the CanaDavid Andrews dian Cattlemen Market Development Council, which administers the beef industry’s Legacy Fund, president of the Bow City Landholders Protection Committee, on the board of the Conservation and Working Landscape Coalition, Alberta Irrigation Council, and Water Management Review Committee, and Advocate for Alternate Land Use Services. He is a past president of Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and past

chair of the Alberta Beef Producers and held several committee chairmanships with both groups. He also served on the board of Bow River Water Quality Council and Utilities Consumers Advocate Advisory Council, the Beef Information Centre and Canada Beef Export Federation, and Canadian representative to the Five Nations Beef Congress.

Researchers Emma McGeough, Bill Biligetu and Raquel Rodriquez Doce have been selected for a pilot run of a new mentorship program developed by the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) “to deepen their understanding of the needs of the beef industry in a practical and meaningful way.”

McGeough is an assistant professor in the department of animal science at the University of Manitoba. She is currently a co-investigator on a number of research projects ranging from forage evaluation to the environmental footprint of the Canadian beef industry.

Biligetu is an assistant professor of forage crop breeding with the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. His research is focused on developing improved forage species for livestock feed, as well as breeding forage crops that are adapted to the Prairie region of Western Canada.

Rodriquez Doce is a post-doctoral fellow at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research centre in Lacombe, Alberta.

Her research is focused on the development and management of cereal-forage crops for improved utilization in cow-calf, backgrounding and feedlot operations.

Kelly Ashworth from Oungre, Sask., is the new president of the Canadian Simmental Association. Filling out the executive for this year are first vice-president John Kelly Ashworth Sullivan, Kazabazua, Que.; second vice-president Lacey Fisher of Amherst, Nova Scotia and past president Fraser Redpath.

Dr. Bruce Coulman has received the 2014 Forage Industry Innovation Award from the Saskatchewan Forage Council in recognition of his long-standing forDr. Bruce Coulman age breeding program at the University of Saskatchewan and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Station in Saskatoon. His work to date has resulted in the registration of 22 forage crop cultivars, many of which are thriving today on western forage and livestock operations.

The list includes hybrid brome grass and AC Grazeland, a bloat-reduced alfalfa for Western Canada.

Travis Rogers of Westlock, Alberta, was named grand champion of the 2014 Calgary Stampede International Livestock Auctioneer Championship last month.

Dan Clark of Winner, South Dakota came second by the narrowest of margins. Tyler Slawinski of McCreary, Man., was named rookie of the year.

Members of the Canadian Hereford Association were shaken by the sudden passing of their president Burt Grundy, of North Grower, Ont., just a couple of days Mr. Burt Grundy before their annual meeting was to convene in Lyndsay, Ont. Vice-president Daryl Kirton of Abbotsford, B.C. stepped in to fill the president’s chair and was elected to the position during the annual meeting. Doug Mann of Swift Current is the new vice-president. c

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www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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 our histo ry

By J.R. Weston, Calgary, Alta.

Horse Sense, What is it?

Canadian Cattlemen June 1947

I

n July of the year 1902 I was riding NL cattle for that old greaser “Slippery Bill on the range out from High River. I had for a night horse a grey by the name of Silver, an intelligent saddle horse of about 1,200 pounds. He was agile and a very good cut horse.

One night, the outfit being short handed, I went alone to bed the cattle down, that is from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. when I was to have been relieved by two regular night herders. The night was very cloudy with a warm, muggy air and the mosquitoes were out in the millions. They got into one’s eyes and mouth (if you opened the latter for a breather) and they kept that herd of some 500 beef constantly on the move. The cattle milled and milled the whole night through, and no relief was at hand by 10 p.m.

The night was densely black and no stars were out. I rode back and forth, back and forth until about midnight when a cool wave of night air settled over the prairie and put every mosquito down into the grass.

The cattle stopped, glad for this relief from the tormenting insects. Gradually they lay down, and all was well once again.

But on account of the constant milling and the riding back and forth to keep the cattle under control for four hours, I didn’t know in the least in which direction camp lay. I was lost and I knew it. About an hour after the cattle were down and resting, a rider loomed up out of the darkness and I asked him where the heck he had been all

night when I should have been relieved at 10 p.m. He answered that he had been looking for the herd for the past two hours. The cattle had drifted about two miles from their original bed-ground and as the night was exceedingly black he could not find the herd, but it appeared that his pony located it by his own horse sense, and brought him up to the herd.

I asked him where camp was. “Search me,” he said, “I haven’t the faintest idea. I expect to be with the herd until daylight.”

“But,” he continued, “I think it is somewhere over there,” pointing in the general direction to my left.

Well, “over there” could be anywhere if you rode far enough, but that was all the hint that I got as to where camp probably lay. So I turned my pony in that general direction and let him have his head. His ears pricked forward inquiringly, then a left ear would be bent backwards; don’t ask me why.

Again his two ears pointed forwards, and he seemed to be going in a direct straight line; he did not turn or deviate from his direction one iota.

I had faith in this horse. He seemed to know where he was going, even if I didn’t, and so I let him have his own way. Soon I heard the bell tinkling on the bell horse of the saddle horse cavvy to my right, and I thought, he will take me to the saddle horse herd and from the night wrangler there I will be able to get the location of the camp.

Steadily the bell tinkled to my right, and my horse kept straight on. Now, I thought

he is passing around a slough and then he will turn to the right and make straight for the horses. But instead, he kept on going straight ahead and the bell by this time was well past me on my right.

Still I did not interfere with that horse; the confident pricking of his ears forward, then the left one backwards, held me as if in a trance. He was going somewhere, and I did not interfere with him. We went on into the night, when suddenly, and like a lighthouse flashing in the darkness, up loomed the sleeping tent square before me, with a lighted candle showing up dimly inside.

I was mystified! How could that horse, after four hours of twisting and turning with 500 restless and mosquito-tormented steers, keep track of the camp from where he had come some five hours previously?

I thanked that horse’s good sense. I always had faith in a range horse to take one home in a blizzard or at any time when one was not sure of the trail, but how did this night horse find camp? How he did it and in such a straightaway direction is beyond me. Why did he not go to the horse herd?

Or again, why did he not stop at the cook’s square tent?

No! He knew that he had to come to the sleeping tent before he could get rid of me and the saddle. Horse sense, what is it? c For more of the past from the pages of our magazine see the History section at www. canadiancattlemen.ca.

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 insuranc e

By Debbie Furber

Producers give a thumbs-up to price insurance

T

he Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) jumped off to an excellent start in the first year of the new program.

The uptake exceeded expectations in Saskatchewan, since the program didn’t get off the ground until April 8. Starting next year, the window for purchasing calf policies will be February 1 to May 29 in all four western provinces. Feeder, fed and hog programs are already available year round.

As of July 1, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp.’s WLPIP coordinator Jodie Griffin says 1,282 producers in her province had enrolled and taken out 1,097 calf policies covering about 15 per cent of the provincial calf crop. Another 216 feeder policies and two fed policies had been sold by the same date, but those numbers were expected to pick up closer to the beginning of the fall run of calves and yearlings.

In Manitoba 555 producers had enrolled by the third week of June and purchased 317 calf policies to cover $27 million, 69 feeder policies worth $21.5 million; and four fed cattle policies worth $229,000.

Craig Thomson with Manitoba Agriculture Services Corp. was sure more producers would sign up as they gain confidence in the program.

In British Columbia 263 producers enrolled by July 1; 207 purchased calf policies and 55 signed feeder policies.

Albertans have had access to price insurance for fed cattle since 2009, feeder cattle in 2010 and calves and hogs in 2011. Hogs were introduced to the other provinces with the WLPIP in April this year.

From April 8 to July 1 in Alberta, 2,036 calf policies, 651 feeder policies and 41 fed price policies were written under WLPIP, as well as seven fed basis policies.

Government policy-makers are watching the uptake in this first year of the four-year pilot program to gain an indication of producer support for the new insurance scheme.

Calf insurance

Producers who missed out on calf insurance this year, but plan on retaining ownership of their calves, can take out feeder price insurance any time during the year, Griffin says.

Those who purchased calf price insurance and then decide to retain ownership are also eligible to purchase feeder price insurance while the calf policy is playing out. The same goes for feeder calves retained for finishing.

The calf insurance program has a deadline because it is intended to reflect what most producers in the West are doing — calve in spring and sell in fall. At times when the trade is light, there isn’t enough cash market information to create robust settlement indexes every week. Settlement tables for the calf program come out weekly from September through December coinciding with the peak period for calf sales in Western Canada.

Producers with calving seasons that run through June can include the predicted sale weight of the unborn June calves in their estimation of total sale weight when purchasing a policy if those calves would normally be sold during the September-to-December settlement period.

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C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

You insure a price that you choose, explains Saskatchewan’s Jodie Griffin.

Chris Simpson, a cow-calf producer at Rimbey, Alta., says the best way to learn about the program is to participate in it. There’s no minimum weight requirement, so producers can start by insuring the price on some of their calf weight and take it from there as they feel comfortable. When in doubt, the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful, he adds.

He has taken out calf policies in two of the last three years the program has been available in Alberta to set his floor price in the September market. That gives him a hedge against what’s happening in the overall cash market or a marketing catastrophe between the start of calving in January and selling his calves in early September.

Judy Fenton of Irma, Alta., recalls how price insurance served her cow-calf operation well when the former XL plant ran into problems just as the fall run got underway.

She’s enjoying the turnaround in cattle prices, but doesn’t see that as a reason to abandon her risk management options.

She usually insures her total calf weight, but not necessarily at the top price. Bankers look at it much the same, she adds. Whether you’re just getting started in cattle or been at it for years, you need to be able to show them you are trying to mitigate risk.

The top tip we received from producers we talked to for this article was to stay on top of the premium tables. Coverage and premiums change daily. When you see a good match take it that day because you never know what it will be tomorrow.

Simpson didn’t buy a policy last year because he felt the premiums were too expensive for the coverage available. This year he liked the coverage-premium mix early on and started buying coverage right away. The trend remained favourable and he ended up taking out two additional policies as time went on.

Continued on page 12

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2. As per the approved Canadian product label concentrations and recommended dosages.

ZUPREVO® and RESFLOR® are registered trademarks of Intervet International B.V., used under license by Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA, operating in Canada as Merck Animal Health.

MERCK® is a registered trademark of Merck Canada Inc. in Canada.

Copyright © 2014 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

Zuprevo High tech-Graph Cow Canadian Cattleman.indd 1

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Continued from page 10

Producers can buy more than one policy under the same program component as long as the total calf weight insured doesn’t exceed their predicted sale weight.

Think price

It is important to realize that you are insuring a price, not production. When you take out a policy the premiums and potential payouts are based on your predicted sale weight, not the actual weight or price you receive for the calves when they’re sold. Claims are calculated on the average weekly cash price, not on weight.

In talking to producers who are unfamiliar with the program, Griffin says she has to emphasize that WLPIP doesn’t guarantee a market price for individual calves. Rather it insures a price you choose against a decline in the overall cash market as determined by actual weekly sales reported by auction markets.

Fed cattle settlement prices are based on contract sales gathered from weekly producer surveys.

The goal is to cover your risk and the best way to do that is to make a reasonable estimation of total calf weight and choose a contract length that coincides with your expected sale date. However, selling the cattle before or after the policy expires doesn’t void the policy.

Knowing your cost of production and break-even price is a good place to start when choosing a coverage level for your own operation.

Craig Ference, who runs a cow-calf-to-finish and grain farm near Kirriemuir, Alberta likes the open upside feature of WLPIP while locking in a floor price for his feeders and fed cattle. In any given year, he’ll market his cattle using a mix of futures, contracts, the cash market and WLPIP. With a contract, he knows the price he’ll get; not a penny less, but not a penny more either. With price insurance, he knows he’ll get at least the average cash price of the week on his settlement, but there’s nothing stopping him from trying to do better than that because the actual price they sell for doesn’t affect the policy.

If they sell for more than his insured price there’s no payout, but he’s up overall since the cash market is performing better than anticipated. That’s what you want, for the market to outperform WLPIP. It’s similar to using options, says Ference, but easier because there’s no need to use a broker or to take a position in the futures or options markets.

Leighton Kolk, a feedlot operator from Iron Springs, Alberta has also used WLPIP to lock in his fed cattle when he has seen an opportunity arise or other risk management tools are not available.

He believes the biggest advantage to WLPIP is that it gives ranchers and backgrounders who may not have futures accounts or relationships with cattle buyers an easy way to get a start on risk management. If they are uncertain they can give WLPIP a try on 25 or 50 head to gain some experience.

Easy to use, easy to get into, quick and convenient, these are the chief advantages for WLPIP that came up in our small survey of producers across Alberta who are familiar with the program.

You can add some flexibility to that, as well. Price insurance doesn’t force a producer to sell before he or she wants to in order to make a claim. And it gives you three opportunities to insure the price on the same set of calves through the calf, feeder and fed programs.

For more information go to www.wlpip.ca or contact your provincial insurance provider in B.C. (844) 782-5747; Alberta (877) 8992372; Saskatchewan (888)935-0000andManitoba(844)782-5747.c

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 s h i f t i ng p r e m i u m s

Premium tables Premium tables change daily because the coverage levels (up to 95 per cent of predicted future cattle prices for calf and feeder and 80 per cent for fed) fluctuate according to many market factors, including CME futures, basis, and currency. In effect, this wraps all the risk factors into a package so you don’t have to follow each of them separately.

Premium rates fluctuate as well. When markets are volatile, premiums are higher than when market prices are fairly steady because there’s more risk to the insurance provider that there will be payouts on the policies.

Overall, the premium rates increase as you move

up the table to the highest coverage level and across the table to longest policy period (available in fourweek increments, generally from 12 to 36 weeks out from the purchase date).

The premium tables are available on WLPIP’s website and by email so you can keep tabs on them on your smartphone wherever you are. The administrator, Alberta Financial Services Corp., publishes them each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 1 p.m. Alberta time for purchases from 2 to 5:30 p.m..

Producers who don’t have internet access are encouraged to contact their provincial administrator to find out how to participate.

 pay o n t h e av e r ag e

Settlement tables

Settlement prices are scaled to reflect the average market price of a 600-pound calf for the calf program and an 850-pound steer for the feeder program. They are generated from actual weekly sales data reported by auction markets across Western Canada as explained in detail on WLPIP’s website.

The two premium/ settlement tables reflect regional differences in price risk in Alberta and SaskMan. Producers from all provinces can choose either one depending on where they’re most likely to sell their cattle.

There’s only one settlement table for fed cattle because the vast majority of western cattle go through the two major plants in Alberta.

CanFax producer surveys of contract sales are used

because there often isn’t enough activity in the cash market to establish weekly settlement prices.

Settlement tables are available Mondays from 1:30 to 7 p.m. Alberta time.

You can make claims on portions or all the weight you’ve insured any Monday during the four weeks leading up to the expiry date of your contract. If you see a settlement price lower than your insured price, you are in a claim position. If settlement prices stay higher than your insured price throughout the four-week period, the contract automatically expires. If no claims are made, the contract will expire at the end of the fourth week and that week’s settlement price determines whether you receive a payout.

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 MARKETI NG

By Debbie Furber

WE WANT TO MARKET MORE BEEF A&W explains its marketing plan to producers SSGA director Henry McCarthy (l), Marty Seymour Canadian Western Agribition CEO with Trish Sahlstrom.

I

t was fun while it lasted — the new burger family served in tidy little foil bags; the frosted mug of root beer; the carhops delivering orders to the window. It was 1956 and A&W came onto the Canadian food-service scene with a flare that captured the fancy of the postwar generation.

By 1972, when Unilever purchased A&W Canada from its U.S. parent company, the chain was tired looking and the shine had worn off sitting in too-hot or too-cold cars waiting for food. A new generation of customers was drawn to a growing field of competitors offering quick service with a sit-in option.

“We don’t want to be in a position like the 1970s with business failing because the world is changing around us and we don’t sense it or do everything we can to respond to keep the business relevant,” Trish Sahlstrom, A&W Canada’s vice-president of purchasing and distribution, told an attentive audience at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s summer annual conference.

That’s the whole point behind A&W’s better beef campaign promising that beef for its entire burger family is from cattle raised without the use of steroids or hormones and that additives and preservatives aren’t used in making the patties.

Since 1973, the company has been using the Trendsitions decision-making model that includes SWOT (strength, weakness,

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opportunities, threats) analyses as part of an ongoing strategic renewal process geared to managing future change rather than reacting to change as it happens.

It guided A&W from near demise in the 1970s as 300 drive-ups were eventually replaced by a mix of restaurants in shopping malls, free-standing restaurants with drive-throughs, and the latest urban restaurants in downtown city core areas to meet varying needs of consumers in 812 locations across Canada. A&W’s famous root beer has also been made widely available through other retailers.

Now, Trendsitions is pointing to a shift in consumers’ attitudes around the food they eat.

“There is a wariness, a sense of distrust with science and big business,” Sahlstrom says. “Bad-news stories have had an impact on how consumers perceive and feel about the food they eat and who they look to and trust. They want to know that their food hasn’t been changed without their knowing. They don’t want to feel tricked.

“We started with beef because that’s who we are. We are a beef burger business and beef, at this point in time, is the most challenged, under-attack ingredient on our menu. Are there others? You bet. Are we going to have to figure out what to do about that? You bet.”

Coming out of the gate, the response from consumers has been extraordinarily positive, she says. A&W is selling more beef

and people are saying they have returned to eating beef burgers.

Response from beef producers was equally swift, but not as encouraging. The campaign drew widespread criticism on several points they were quick to reinforce at the meeting.

A silent minority confided that they’re all for A&W’s strategy if it boosts beef consumption.

Many take issue with the term “better beef” because it implies that beef raised differently is somehow inferior.

Most are discouraged that A&W turned to sourcing beef from the U.S. and Australia, with only one Canadian supplier, Spring Creek Ranch at Vegreville, Alta., in the loop.

As Sahlstrom explains it, the latter was an unintended consequence and A&W’s hope is to be able to someday return to all Canadian beef that meets company specs.

“We knew that we would be challenged to find beef that met those specs for a company as large as ours and spread from coast to coast, but we knew that many producers raise animals this way. The question was, how do we access it? We knew it would cost us more, but we didn’t think it wouldn’t be available.

“In fact, we encountered a great deal of difficulty in finding supply or interest in supplying, so we bought what we could and went outside the country for the balance,” Sahlstrom says, adding that she rarely hears feedback from consumers disappointed that A&W had to go out of country or that

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

marketing

the Canadian beef industry couldn’t see the opportunity.

She says Spring Creek has been a fantastic partner in helping grow Canadian beef content. Although she has fielded calls from producers who would like to bring naturally raised beef to market, it’s not possible to take them up on the offer one by one because A&W’s supply has to be traceable from the ranch through the production chain. That means animals have to be segregated and tagged to retain their identity through the feedlot and a federally inspected packing plant.

Melissa Downing, co-ordinator of the Spring Creek program, says demand for Spring Creek beef from the company’s retail and restaurant customers, including A&W, is exceeding supply and she welcomes the opportunity to bring more ranchers on board.

Spring Creek has built a network of cooperating ranches across Western Canada since introducing the brand in 2003. There are requirements for eligibility and Downing prefers to discuss those on an individual basis with interested producers because if they aren’t already eligible, she’s more than willing to work with them toward meeting the requirements.

Spring Creek purchases calves outright to finish at Highland Feeders. Finished cattle are shipped to the JBS plant at Brooks at designated times for processing and distribution of the beef.

Currently, there are few options available to producers wanting to market naturally raised beef, Sahlstrom says. She sees that on the verge of changing as more retailers and food-service companies are already making naturally raised beef available and looking to include higher percentages of it in their beef offerings.

“We’ve had conversations with large food-service and grocery retailers in Canada about how we can help support and grow this. What hasn’t been established to the extent it needs to be is a sense that there is a business case there and this is an important option to make available. We know we

have a responsibility to create the pull in the marketplace that helps to create the business case that encourages industry to invest in the process necessary to bring beef with this spec to the market.”

Managing future change

“We’ve seen beef declining as consumers’ protein of choice for the past two decades.

What was unthinkable in the ’50s is an absolute reality today,” Sahlstrom says. “We want to keep selling beef and believe that consumers would like to eat more beef because it can be very much part of a healthful diet.

We think we can bring consumers back to want to eat beef and to having a sense of confidence in beef. So we asked a lot more questions trying to understand what was underneath all of this.”

A&W commissions research firms to select representative samples of the population for polling. It was consumers who called out steroid free, antibiotic free and hormone free as being most important for meat in their burgers, however, Sahlstrom says, she doesn’t know exactly where consumers got those ideas to start with.

Each of the top three were important to 62 to 66 per cent of respondents in the 2013 survey, which was up from 53 to 60 per cent in the 2011 survey.

Other beef characteristics from a long list identified by consumers in previous research that made the top 10 survey, along with the percentage of respondents who said they were important in 2011 and 2013 included: burgers made from lean meat (54 per cent, 2013 only), from animals treated humanely (54 per cent, 2013 only), naturally raised (45, 48 per cent), free range (35, 39 per cent), locally raised (35, 40 per cent), grass fed (34, 45 per cent) and vegetarian fed (26, 32 per cent).

“When we asked what it would mean if we could assure them our beef in burgers met those (top three) specs, they said that would be better and when we sampled those burgers to them, they said they tasted better.

“ Our business isn’t about changing people’s minds about what they eat or would like to eat because consumers are smarter than that — and if you don’t figure out a way to respond to what they’re asking… you’re going out of business.”

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

They said they felt better about eating them and they said they’d buy them more often.

From there was born our A&W better beef campaign. We were using their term when we did the launch,” Sahlstrom says.

As the campaign rolled out, consumers started speaking specifically about what they appreciated and the company realized that the overused and vague word “better” wasn’t important to consumers or necessary.

When challenged by a beef producer about sharing the responsibility of helping consumers make informed, rational decisions, Sahlstrom offered a differing perspective.

“Our business isn’t about changing people’s minds about what they eat or would like to eat because consumers are a lot smarter than that and they’re gonna make decisions and choices themselves and if you don’t figure out a way to respond and make yourself relevant to what they’re asking… you’re going out of business.

“So there are times when absolutely I would like to think that we let the producers have the voice in talking about what’s going on. There is plenty of science out there to be had in the battle on what’s right or wrong.

It’s not our responsibility and it’s not what our restaurants across Canada are trained on or educated to do. Within the evaluation of what’s the right thing to do for our business and for corporate responsibility, it is to try to deliver for consumers what they are asking.

“For now the thing that’s important to us is bringing people back to beef and having them enjoy it.”

From an animal health and welfare stand, A&W fully supports use of antimicrobials to treat ailing animals. The company’s specs only prohibit the use of feeding ionophores to promote growth, though some of their suppliers have more stringent guidelines.

Sahlstrom looks forward to the work A&W will be able to undertake as a member of the Canadian Roundtable on Sustainable Beef.

“We’ve been on many ranches in Canada over the past couple of years and have seen fantastic practices and great standards.

Canadian producers are great stewards of the land and their animals. We need to find a way we can communicate this and one way is to create a definition (of sustainable beef) and thereby get recognition for these practices.”

The A&W presentation is posted at www. skstockgrowers.com. For more information about Spring Creek’s program, contact Melissa Downing at 780-436-0335. c

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15

 grazing

By Steve Kenyon

Canadian… And Proud of It!

O

f all the different species of forages that grow in my pastures, my favourite plant is the Canada thistle. It actually comes from southeastern Europe originally, so I am not sure how we Canadians got credit for it, but either way I’m proud to call it my own. Canada thistle is what I refer to as a pioneer species, and it is very good at its job! When I think of pioneers, I think about folks like my grandfather who settled this land. They worked hard and survived through some very harsh conditions. They were tough, and they worked tirelessly in extreme weather conditions, broke the land, which in turn, made our lifestyles here today a lot easier. This is a very similar situation to what happens in our pastures; when conditions are harsh for our plant communities, sometimes “weeds” or pioneer species become an issue.

As always, when I look at dealing with any management decision on my property, I like to address the problem instead of attacking the symptoms. In this case, the symptom is that there are “weeds” in my pasture. If I resort to tillage or spray to deal with this symptom, they will continue to reappear year after year. This is only a short-term fix or a Band-Aid solution. However, if I deal with the problem of overgrazing, I will find a long-term solution. This would mean using some better grazing management and following the four grazing concepts.

What is a “weed?” It is really only a plant that we have not found a good use for. The only reason we call it a “weed” is that it competes against our desired crops. From nature’s point of view, most of our “weeds” have a job to do. If you are wondering why the quotation marks, I believe that there is no such thing as a “weed.” They are pioneer species. When the growing conditions are harsh, these pioneer species come in to heal the land; they act like a scab and cover the ground. I have mentioned before that the thatch layer on the soil surface acts like our skin to protect the internal processes and when this thatch is injured, we need a scab to protect it in order for the skin to heal.

Let me describe to you what these harsh conditions might be for a baby grass plant.

Our soil might be lacking in moisture or short

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Canada thistle isn’t a weed, it’s a plant that pops up to cover bare spots in overgrazed pastures.

on nutrients; maybe the land has been cultivated or the pasture overgrazed. If the thatch layer (skin) is poor it will allow for too much run-off and excess evaporation. You will be continually losing soil moisture. All of these would make the conditions unfavourable for the survival of a young new grass plant.

Now let’s look at our good friend the Canada thistle. It has a very powerful tap root. If we are lacking moisture, it can find it by digging down six or eight feet. It is pretty easy to see that while it is looking for moisture, it is going to be finding a lot of nutrients that are not available to the grass plants with much smaller root systems. If the desirable plants are overgrazed, they will be much weaker and unable to compete with the pioneer species. A lot of pioneer species are unpalatable which again favours their survival.

Our pioneer species have all the advantages due to the harsh conditions and get to reproduce. This, my friends, is a good thing, all because now the plant dies and the plant material remains as residue for the following season. It falls to the ground and gives the ground some protection. This residue left behind will now reduce run-off and evaporation. As it decomposes it will release nutrients that were previously not available

at the soil surface. Another benefit is that these big root systems will also decompose and leave a beautiful network of tunnels through your soil which will improve aeration and water percolation. With this scab protecting our soil, a baby grass plant might have a chance of survival the following year, as long as we don’t screw it all up by overgrazing or tillage.

I have a question for you. What happens when you rip off a scab? In this case it would be killing the pioneer species by tillage or spray. I’ll tell you, if you rip off a scab, you will bleed again and nature will have to start the healing process all over again. This is how “weed” problems persist. If we leave the “weeds” alone and stop the overgrazing, the land will heal.

Forget about the Band-Aid fixes that only address the symptoms. We need to allow this process to take place, which can take a few years to complete, but as the land begins to hold more moisture and recycle more nutrients, the desired species will simply outcompete the pioneer species.

Of course this also means we have to manage our grazing correctly. Short graze periods, longer rest periods, increase your stock density and improve your animal

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

grazing

impact. As the soil heals, we no longer need the scab so the pioneer species will disappear. Don’t get me wrong, they are not gone, the seed bank is full. They are only dormant waiting for the next time the soil needs healing. I am simply trying to make the conditions favourable for the desired forage to outcompete the “weeds.”

I do, however, have a dilemma; I have been unable to find a seed producer who sells certified seed for Canada thistle. If you need to heal some land and you too are unable to find Canada thistle seed, I would recommend sweet clover. It is a biannual and needs harsh environmental conditions to cause it to germinate (like a drought). It has very similar characteristics

to the Canada thistle, as it has a strong tap root, is unpalatable and can grow in harsh conditions. It also has an added bonus of nitrogen fixation. I do not add sweet clover to my seed mix as forage; it is added as a soil amendment. I want it out there to heal the land. If the cattle eat it, that’s fine but I want its root system and residue left behind. Even without seeding, your seed bank will most likely already include some very tough pioneer species that will assist you in healing the land. Let them do their job.

I must add, if your local “weed” authority has an issue with your new crop of pioneer species, do not give them my number. My recommendation is to mow them. Please take note; I did not say “hay them” as this

removes the residue from the land. If you mow the area, the residue remains, helping to protect the soil surface. So next time you are looking at a field of pioneer species and cussing them, look to see if they are the symptom or the problem. You might save yourself years of frustration and a pile of cash if you take the time to address the problem, not the symptom. Remember, there is no such thing as a “weed.” Best wishes and God Bless! c Steve Kenyon runs Greener Pastures Ranching Ltd. in Busby, Alta., www. greenerpasturesranching.com, 780-307-6500, email skenyon@greenerpasturesranching.com or find them on Facebook.

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C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

17

Tag_Retention_Best_Practices_CCM_Jul_28.pdf 1 28/07/2014 3:44:59 PM

Tags... We’re it !

As producers of one of Canada’s greatest renewable resources, Canadian beef farmers work smarter every day as they continue to deliver

world-class beef products to consumers and beef eaters in Canada and around the world. Like other critical business operators, Canadian beef farmers continue to expand their market opportunities and increase the value of their efforts by controlling costs and increasing efficiencies.

Recognizing that timing and preparedness mean everything on the farm, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is pleased to support the beef industry as it heads into fall-run by sharing best practices from our teams in the field to maximize retention on approved CCIA radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

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How RFID works: A transponder consists of an encoded microchip and antenna. A reader transfers electromagnetic energy, which activates the transponder. The transponder transmits the encoded number to a reader, and the reader receives and decodes the number. Approved CCIA RFID tags are passive devices designed to function without battery power for the lifetime of the animal. All RFID tags must meet national standards for retention to be recommended for approval for use in the national system.

While approved CCIA RFID tags provide a technical solution for tracking animal movement, there are occasions when these tags do not perform as expected. This reference is intended to provide some practical advice on how to manage common challenges, and where to go for additional assistance.

Field team experience indicates the most common reasons for tag loss are: Improper application (i.e., incorrect placement, incomplete tag application, etc.), inadequate hygiene, infection and tag hazards such as twine, wire fence, heavy brush, some bale feeders, etc.

IDEAL PLACEMENT: Apply tags at approximately 1/4 of the length of the animal’s ear from the head between the two branches of cartilage (as shown in the diagram on the left).

Best Practices: Ensure the animal is properly restrained, which will help to stabilize its head while you are applying the tag.

Apply tags as recommended by the manufacturer’s directions.

Use the recommended tag applicator and pin for the specific tag type and brand.

Use tags and applicators that are clean and free of debris.

Apply antiseptic to tags and tag applicator between animals while tagging to help control infection.

Disinfect both sides of the animal’s ear before applying the tag. Do not tag ears covered in debris.

If possible, tag animals in moderate temperatures.

Do not apply a new tag in a hole from a lost tag. Cross reference the new tag number with lost tag number, if known.

When applying, ensure the male portion of the approved CCIA RFID tag is on the back of the ear.

We are here to help !

As the National Administrator for the animal identification program and a not-for-profit agency initiated and led by a board of directors representing 16 producer associations from all sectors of the livestock industry in Canada, CCIA offers a full array of COMPLIMENTARY traceability and technical support services toll-free at 1-877-909-2333 and email at info@canadaid.ca for the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database, including: CLTS account updates, animal identification, age verification, import, export and movement reporting.

In response to producer requests, CCIA has implemented a QUICK and EASY to use web store for ordering beef tag supplies online at

tags.canadaid.ca

and by toll-free telephone at 1-877-909-2333.

Now is a good time to visit your local tag dealer to get your tags or activate your CCIA web store account, order tags online and have the supplies shipped to an address of your choice in time for fall-run !

ď ľ Nutriti o n

By John McKinnon

Strategic Protein Supplementation

I

n the May and June issues of this column, we examined how stage of maturity influences the nutritive value of forages for grazing cattle. The focus was on factors influencing the availability of energy and crude protein (CP) in forages and on the ability of rumen bacteria to utilize these nutrients to support their own growth (i.e. synthesize protein) and to allow the grazing animal to utilize the energy stored in the leaves and stems of the plant. The subsequent flow of microbial protein from the rumen to the small intestine is a critical step in meeting the protein and amino acid requirements of all classes of cattle. We also discussed the differences between rumen degradable (RDP) and undegradable (RUP) protein and the importance of RDP to driving fermentation activity by the rumen bacteria. In this column I would like to discuss how strategic protein supplementation can make a difference in your bottom line.

There are several examples one can give where mismatches in dietary energy and protein availability in the rumen can result in poor performance. In the feedlot, a good example is the feeding of corn-based diets, a practice common to the U.S. and Eastern Canada. Corn grain is low in CP (eight to 10 per cent) and RDP (approximately 45 per cent) compared to barley (11 to 13 per cent CP of which approximately 70 per cent is RDP). Cornbased growing and finishing rations typically require protein supplementation, particularly when corn silage is used as the forage source. In such situations, a urea-based supplement is a wise choice. As discussed in the June issue, urea provides a source of readily available nitrogen to the rumen bacteria which can be used to support microbial protein synthesis which in turn is used to meet the protein/amino acid requirements of the animal. In this case, strategic supplementation of a rumen degradable nitrogen source will enhance rumen fermentation, improve feed efficiency and help lower protein supplementation cost as urea-based supplements are generally cheaper than all natural protein supplements.

A second area where we get concerned with matching rumen energy and protein availability is with advancing maturity of many of our cool-season forages. A classic example is the change in nutrient value of crested wheat grass (CWG) as it matures over the summer. At the Western Beef Development Centre in Lanigan, Sask. we have shown that the CP content of CWG pasture can drop from 15 per cent or more in the spring to less than seven per cent in the late fall. In contrast, acid detergent fibre (ADF) levels increase almost linearly from initial values of 32 per cent in the spring to 46 per cent in late fall.

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Remember from earlier discussions that as ADF levels in forages increase, available energy content decreases. In effect, we are dealing with a situation that as CWG pasture matures both energy and protein content of the pasture decline. Similar patterns are seen with other cool-season forages with advancing plant maturity. There are several issues that occur as a result.

The first is that the energy and protein content of the pasture falls to levels that will not support desirable gains in growing cattle and may only meet maintenance needs in non-lactating cows.

Compounding this issue, is the fact that dry matter intake of cattle grazing mature forages with less than seven to eight per cent CP (DM basis) often declines due to reduced digestibility of the forage.

This is a result of insufficient rumen degradable protein to support microbial protein synthesis. As a result, rumen bacteria fermentation activity declines and forage dry matter digestibility drops. This lost productivity can be a serious issue for beef producers who rely on late-season grazing for both yearlings and lactating cows. One solution is to supplement protein, particularly RDP. This will allow the rumen bacteria to increase their fermentation activity which in turn will increase forage dry matter digestibility and thus increase dry matter intake. The increase in microbial protein synthesis also helps to meet the animal’s protein requirements.

There are numerous means of providing protein supplements to cattle grazing mature forages. These include providing a predetermined amount of a natural RDP supplement such as canola or soybean meal or a supplement high in RUD such as dried distillers grains with solubles. These supplements can be fed daily or less frequently (i.e. every second or third day) in an effort to reduce supplementation costs.

Other methods include the strategic supplementation of protein blocks and tubs. From a convenience perspective, the latter is preferred by many producers.

Cattle blocks/tubs range from 15 to 40 per cent crude protein and include a variety of natural and non-protein nitrogen (i.e. urea) sources of protein. The nature (i.e. RDP versus RUP) and concentration of protein in each product is typically designed to meet the specific pasture conditions where supplementation is required.

As well, most block/tub formulations include a range of macro and trace minerals as well as vitamin A, D and E. Choice of supplement should depend on need for supplemental protein, product nutrient concentration, method and ease of delivery and daily cost per head supplemented. c

John McKinnon is a beef cattle nutritionist at the University of Saskatchewan

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 marketi ng

By Debbie Furber

Has traceability fallen off the track?

Veronica McGuire, and Eric Aubin from CFIA explain to auction operators why the government is looking at more options for traceability at this late date.

“

W

hat happened to recommendations from the cattle summit in Saskatoon?” was the big question of the day at the Livestock Markets Association of Canada’s annual conference this summer, after two senior Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officials explained the reasons behind a new epidemiological assessment of three movement reporting options that weren’t in the cattle implementation plan agreed to by the industry.

The peer-reviewed study contracted by the CFIA raised some serious questions coming as it did after the first round of formal consultation with industry late last year that kicked off the regulation-making process for movement reporting and premises identification.

The national cattle traceability summit in 2011 was a milestone in many people’s minds because everyone had a will to get something started and compromises were made all around, says Rick Wright of Virden, Man. Wright and Larry Witzel of Ontario represent LMAC on the industry-government advisory committee (IGAC) on traceability. Both also sit on the cattle implementation plan (CIP) working group that is charged with ham-

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C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

mering out the details of what was agreed to at the first summit. Wright is also a director of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA).

After the summit 17 industry groups from across the country signed on in support of the cattle implementation plan as the road map to traceability.

“That’s why it was such a shock when government started popping these other options at us without industry input,” says Wright. It raised concerns about whether full traceability was still as important to government as it had been at the outset.

“So it sort of woke a sleeping dog,” Wright says. “It was more than a goodwill gesture on the part of the CFIA to let Veronica and Eric come to the conference. We heard, yes, traceability is still important to government and the CFIA is still listening to industry.

We are very appreciative of that because it left us with a much better feeling.”

Veronica McGuire, executive director, program regulation and trade policy, and Eric Aubin, national regulatory and policy officer for livestock and meat traceability, heard first hand from LMAC members as well as CCIA and Canadian Cattlemen Association reps that the industry still supports the original implementation plan. It

may not be perfect, but it’s a good starting point and the industry wants to at least give it a good try, and then address any gaps that may become apparent.

McGuire and Aubin explained that the epidemiological study was conducted to gather information for a preliminary costbenefit analysis in preparation for a second round of consultation with industry planned for later this year. Aubin says a cost-benefit analysis at this early stage is an unusual step.

It is normally a treasury board requirement for all proposed regulatory packages. If that final analysis doesn’t demonstrate that the benefits outweigh the costs, it will be much more difficult to bring the regulations forward and get them approved by the minister and cabinet committee.

There’s still a long way to go and there will be opportunities for further industry input as the regulation-making process plays out over the next 18 months or so. The time to engage through your industry association is now, McGuire advises, assuring people that every comment is read to take industry views on board as a fundamental element in the decision-making process.

It’s a slow, complex, rigorous process, she says. Proposals have been circulated, but no final decisions have been made.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

marketing

“Our objective is to put in place the best system possible, get it right, effective and affordable,” McGuire says.

Controversial study

The epidemiological study compares the effectiveness of three movement reporting options when responding to fast-spreading diseases like foot-and-mouth and slow-spreading ones like BSE. Lot (group) movement, siting, and lot movement with passive reading were evaluated for use at all intermediate sites, which include every place cattle might be from when the ID tag is applied at the farm of origin (including linked premises) to when tags are retired at slaughter, the rendering plant or export.

The agreed-to cattle implementation plan, the CIP, on the other hand, considers how animals typically enter these commingling sites and the most appropriate and cost-efficient way to handle movement reporting at each without disrupting usual business practices. The key, Wright says, is to make it as painless as possible so it becomes an everyday part of doing business.

The option of lot movement reporting accompanied by a manifest-type document is recommended in the CIP, but it is to be phased in, and only apply at entry to market sites (auction markets, buying stations, assembly yards, electronic auctions).

The siting option being proposed requires the reading of tags to report a given animal on a given day at all intermediate sites.

The CIP recommends this system be phased in and only at entry

 i d e n t i f i cat i o n

Group movement and manifests Group movement reporting would require an information document be completed at the time of loading by the owner or person in charge of the cattle on the owner’s behalf.

It would be similar to the manifests that have for years been a mandatory part of the livestock inspection service in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where they serve a commercial purpose and are part of the everyday course of doing business. The Manitoba and Ontario governments have recently made manifests available for use on a voluntary basis.

Work is moving along on developing a 10-point national manifest that would provide basic information to help the CFIA in a disease investigation including where the animals were loaded onto the truck, how many animals, the species, date, licence plate of the truck and delivery point.

The document would provide critical information even if the movement hadn’t yet been reported to the national database, or whatever system is deemed appropriate to hold this type of record.

Work on an electronic manifest has stalled but there is still a lot of interest and hope that it will someday be a reality. (Canadian Cattlemen, June/July 2011)

Continued on page 24

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

23

 i d e n t i f i cat i o n

m a r k et i ng

Continued from page 23

to feedlots because animals typically go through the chute shortly after arrival, and for transient sites, such as fairs, 4-H, vet clinics and AI centres where individual animal handling is the norm.

The CIP considers community pastures and grazing leases as linked premises if the producer so chooses. The important point is that producers would be able to verify the whereabouts of their cattle during the summer grazing season, Wright explains.

Reading tags on large groups of cattle isn’t feasible at many of these locations because handling facilities are bare bones at best, particularly where cattle are trailed in, and many such sites don’t have power available.

The first consultation document recommends that premises identification be made mandatory at the national level, and that location be reported whenever cattle move to premises with a different number.

Wright says the industry had no qualms with this because premises identification is a basic requirement for full traceability.

The real kicker was the third option, which was ranked best overall by the CFIA. It proposed lot reporting with passive tag reading at all intermediate sites. Industry would be responsible for installing the readers and supporting software, ensuring the system is operational, and reporting whatever tag numbers are captured. CFIA is hoping that, with improved tags and readers over time, the read rate will consistently reach 100 per cent, but operators would not be fined for lower read rates.

The CIP does not support reading individual tags at markets or buying stations, Wright stresses. On top of that, passive reading has never before been presented as an option.

“All through the research projects we were told that anything less than 100 per cent was unacceptable and if that couldn’t be achieved it wasn’t worth the expense of installing the equipment,” he says.

Nor did the study take into account, as stated in the CIP, that the vast majority of cattle coming into markets on a group manifest would go to feedlots where tags would be read and reported as they move in, and again when they are retired at packing plants, renderers or when exported.

The CIP is built on “move-in” reporting, therefore, farms that purchase animals for backgrounding, grassing or as potential breeding stock would need to report those tag numbers.

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C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

The CFIA’s objective is to have rapid access to accurate up-to-date information for animal health and food safety investigations. Given that producers have anted up for individual animal identification and CFIA has full access to the information for disease control purposes, Wright says the LMAC’s stand is whomever benefits from movement reporting should pay for it.

Earlier research demonstrated reading tags at auction markets is expensive, didn’t meet the read rate required and provided no benefit for markets and buying stations.

“If holes in the CIP are of real concern to the CFIA, then government should make a long-term commitment to traceability by installing the equipment and taking responsibility for the overhead and ongoing operating costs,” he says.

A copy of the CIP is available on the CCIA website at www.canadaid.ca.

Busy year ahead

Aubin says the epidemiological assessment will be revised to account for cattle tag numbers being read at feedlots, while noting that the regulations also cover four other species — bison, sheep, goats and cervid — for which feedlots don’t play a big role.

A demographic study looking into where the cattle come from and go to from the various intermediate sites will also be done to weigh any identified risks.

The document to be prepared for the second consultation with industry will address gaps identified in the first round by industry and factors not in play on the first go-round.

“So through committees and the second round of consultations we will discuss what we will do if costs outweigh benefits, but we can’t just continue to say we can’t have full traceability because we don’t have premises identification,” Aubin states.

Feedback from the second round will be reviewed early in 2015, when they will start drafting regulations that must get past the ministers involved, cabinet committee and treasury board based on how well they will promote safety, mitigate risk, affect industry and Canada’s trade obligations.

After that the proposed regulations and cost-benefit analysis will be published in Canada Gazette Part I, and opened to public comment for 30 to 60 days.

After the comments are reviewed and changes made the final version will be published in Canada Gazette Part II bringing the regulations into force, most likely in 2016. c

Premises identification The first consultation document circulated to industry to begin the regulation-making process for movement reporting and premises identification recommended premises identification (PID) be made mandatory at the national level. The requirement would be to report a PID number whenever animals are moved to a location with another PID. According to the industry’s cattle implementation plan, producers and owners of commingling facilities would have the option of linking owned and rented locations to their home premises. This would eliminate the need to report everyday cattle movement between linked premises. On the other hand, if cattle at one location are never in contact with cattle in other owned or rented locations, it may be advantageous to obtain a PID number for each one in the event of a quarantine situation.

Premises identification is a provincial responsibility because provinces have access to geographic land locations through their land titles database to verify premises locations.

The national database administered by the CCIA only holds contact information linked to the account of the person who purchased and supposedly applied the animal identification tags, unless the person has applied for a PID number and verified a land location.

This is of concern to the CFIA, particularly for dealing with fastspreading diseases, because of the time-consuming task of contacting people one by one to find the location of the cattle at a given time.

Most provinces now have their own databases for PID numbers and premises identification is mandatory under provincial regulations in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. The CFIA could hire a service provider or contractor to generate PIDs for provinces that have been unable to set up their own systems.

Provincial PIDs will be used to populate the national database with geographic locations for each account holder. Once all provinces have a system in place, the national system will no longer generate PID numbers.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

 researc h o n t h e r eco r d

By Reynold Bergen

A New Look at Acidosis

S

ome rumen microbes prefer to break down fibre, while others thrive on sugars and starches. This allows cattle and other ruminants to take advantage of a wide variety of different feeds. If the feed contains a lot of poorly digestible fibre, the fibre-digesting microbes will predominate.

This allows ruminants to survive in Canada’s long, cold winters. Other rumen microbes dominate when plants are growing rapidly in spring and contain a lot of sugar and easily digestible fibre. These more digestible feeds provide energy and protein to the animal more quickly, and deliver the nutrients needed to allow them to produce milk, recover body condition, grow, and rebreed quickly and efficiently during Canada’s relatively short growing season.

Regardless of what they’re fed, rumen microbes convert fibre, starch and sugars into volatile fatty acids (VFAs).

This affects rumen pH (acidity). Diets that contain low levels of fibre or high levels of starch or sugar will be digested more rapidly, and cause the rumen pH to drop lower (become more acidic) than diets that are high in fibre and low in starch. Suddenly switching cattle from a high-fibre /low-starch diet to a low-fibre/high-starch diet can cause sudden, severe drops in rumen pH. Rumen acidosis may also happen if cattle go off feed because of a feed interruption or winter storms. Problems are thought to start when rumen pH drops much below 6.0.

Much of our knowledge about rumen pH comes from studies that used individually penned and fed animals, or animals fed in groups using systems that only allowed one animal to eat at a time. Cattle are herd animals, so their feeding behaviour is different when they cannot interact with each other. Feeding behaviour affects the rate and level of feed intake, which affects rumen pH. Monitoring rumen pH in groups of cattle fed in regular feed bunks should produce a more realistic picture of rumen pH levels and patterns.

Dr. Greg Penner and co-workers from the University of Saskatchewan and AAFC Lethbridge studied the incidence, prevalence, severity and risk factors for ruminal acidosis in groups of feedlot steers fed from regular feed bunks. This study was co-funded by the National Checkoff through the Beef Cattle Research Council, and was published this July in the Journal of Animal Science (92:3053-3063).

What They Did: 278 British-cross steers were fed in eight pens at the university feedlot. Calves were backgrounded (46 per cent barley silage, 42 per cent barley grain, 13 per cent protein, mineral and vitamin supplement) to 925 pounds. Steers were stepped up to a finish-

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ing diet (five per cent silage, 81 per cent grain, 14 per cent supplement) using four transition diets over 19 days, and slaughtered at 1,459 pounds. Rumen pH was recorded every 10 minutes for the entire trial in three or four rumen cannulated steers per pen.

What They Learned: Cattle had higher average rumen pH (6.4) and spent less time below pH 5.5 (four minutes per day) during the backgrounding period than during the finishing period (pH 6.0 to 6.2, and 1.3 to 3.2 hours per day below pH 5.5). That was not surprising.

However, the drop in pH during the step-up period was much lower than expected (average pH 6.3, 12.1 minutes per day below pH 5.5).

What it Means: This is the first study to monitor rumen pH in groups of cattle fed a high grain diet in typical feed bunks, and this allowed the cattle to express normal feedlot feeding behaviour. Since 2005, several other studies have measured pH in cattle that were fed individually, or fed in bunks that allowed only one animal to eat at a time. One of the earlier studies found that cattle fed a high grain finishing diet spent 3.9 hours at pH below 5.6, only slightly longer than the 3.2 hours per day reported in this new study. All the other studies reported that cattle fed a high grain diet spent 6.3 to 20.9 hours per day at pH below 5.6. These previous studies have taught us a lot about how dietary changes affect the rumen, but appear to have greatly overestimated the effects of high grain diets on rumen pH. Measuring pH under typical feedlot conditions allowed the cattle to exhibit normal feeding behaviours. This is likely why the drop in pH was not as extreme as previous research would indicate.

Commercial feedlot pens are much larger than the 35 head pens used in this study. Group size may also affect feeding behaviour. Dr. Penner is currently conducting a large pen followup study at a commercial feedlot. Some of the cattle have been given a bolus that continuously measures and records rumen pH. This research will shed even more light on how diet changes and weather conditions affect rumen pH, animal health, performance, liver scores and carcass grade.

The Beef Research Cluster is funded by the National Checkoff and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada with additional contributions from provincial beef industry groups and governments 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. c Dr. Reynold Bergen is the science director of the Beef Cattle Research Council.

C a t t l e m e n · A u g u s t 2 0 1 4 25

 Holistic R a nc hi ng

By Don Campbell

the greater sage grouse

I

recently attended a meeting in Medicine Hat, Alta. The meeting was sponsored by The Western Stock Growers’ Association and Sustainable Canada (a group of concerned ranchers). The meeting dealt with the fact that the greater sage grouse has been declared an endangered species. This was followed by an Emergency Order for the Protection of Greater Sage Grouse in Canada. Full information can be found at www.sararegistry.gc.ca.

My understanding of the proposals is that there may be a large reduction in the stocking rate on these lands. This reduction could be 50 per cent or more. There may be noise restrictions, fencing regulations and reduced or denied access. All these regulations are being set by the government with little or no involvement of local stakeholders.

These regulations may be well intended, however, if they are meant to protect the sage grouse they will have no positive impact. In fact the regulations will have a negative impact on the sage grouse, the land and local stakeholders.

Let me explain how I arrive at this conclusion. Allan Savory (the man who developed Holistic Management) had four key insights which provided new knowledge about how our ecosystems function. While this knowledge has been available in Western Canada for the last 25 or 30 years it is still not as widely accepted as it might be.

I do not mean to imply that the people who developed these regulations were wrong. What I do imply is that they are working with incomplete information because they were either unaware or chose to overlook this new knowledge.

Allan’s Four Key Insights

1. Nature functions in wholes: This implies that in nature everything is interrelated. Each species has a function, a purpose and a value. Each species contributes to the health and well-being of other species. Managing for a single species will not be effective. We must manage for the health of the ecosystem. The result will be balance between all species.

2. Overgrazing is a function of time: For many years it was accepted that overgrazing was the result of too many animals. Allan has proven that overgrazing is a function of time. When grazing, the animals can’t stay too long or return too quickly. To have a healthy ecosystem it is essential to stop the overgrazing. If cattle numbers are reduced and continuous grazing occurs the land will deteriorate. A deteriorating ecosystem will be harmful to the sage grouse.

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C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

3. The prey-predator connection: Most of the grasslands in the world were developed by the presence of large herds of grazing animals that were kept bunched and moving due to predators. This is nature’s way.

Planned grazing focuses on mimicking nature’s plan. The result is a healthy ecosystem.

4. The brittleness scale: This is a 1 to 10 scale. Number 1 (non-brittle) represents a rainforest. Number 10 (brittle) a desert. All environments fall somewhere on this scale. In a rainforest resting the land (removing the animals) will improve the land. Resting the land in a brittle environment is detrimental to the land. The land involved in this discussion is in a brittle environment. Large grazing animals are essential to maintain the health of the land.

Using Allan’s insights we can see that the likely result of the emergency order will be: 1. A continued deterioration of the land.

2. A further reduction in the number of greater sage grouse.

3. The ranches will be unprofitable.

4. A loss of a way of life.

5. Economic loss for other stakeholders.

6. A devaluation of the deeded land in the area.

A Better Solution

1. Bring all the stakeholders together.

2. Develop a common vision for the land.

3. Apply all the knowledge available.

4. Develop a sustainable plan.

The likely result of the better solution will be: 1. An improvement in the health of the land.

2 An increase in sage grouse and other species.

3. Profitable, sustainable ranches.

4. A way of life maintained.

5. Economic benefits for other stakeholders.

6. An increase in the value of the deeded land.

This is a serious issue. It represents a great opportunity for all stakeholders to come together and develop a win/ win plan for the future. Holistic Management can help this happen. Let’s hope that cooler heads prevail and wise decisions are made. Happy trails. c Don Campbell ranches with his family at Meadow Lake, Sask., and teaches Holistic Management courses. He can be reached at 306-236-6088 or doncampbell@sasktel.net.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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BRITISH COLUMBIA ABBOTSFORD McClary Stockyards Ltd.* Box 40, Abbotsford, B.C. V2T 6Z4 Phone: 604-864-2381 • Fax: 604-854-3038 Email: mcclarystockyards@shaw.ca • Website: mcclarystockyards.ca Contact: Jono Rushton ............................................................................. 604-823-2125 Dave Rushton ............................................................................ 604-823-6692 Regular Sales: Every Mon., 11 a.m. .......................................... Slaughter, feeder cattle, sheep & goats Every Wed., 1 p.m. .............................................................................Dairy & beef cattle Special Sales: Contact for details.

ARMSTRONG Valley Auction Ltd.* 903 Raffan Rd., Armstrong, B.C. V0E 1B7 Phone: 250-546-9420 • Fax: 250-546-3399 Email: mail@valleyauction.ca • Website: www.valleyauction.ca Contact: Peter Raffan .............................................................................. 250-260-0758 Donald J. Raffan........................................................................ 250-558-6789 Regular Sales: Every Thurs., 11 a.m. .............................................................All breeds

LANGLEY Fraser Valley Auctions 21801 – 56th Ave., Langley, B.C. V2Y 2M9 Phone: 604-534-3241 • Fax: 604-534-4770 Email: livestock@fraservalleyauction.com • Website: www.fraservalleyauction.com Contact: Ken Pearson .............................................................................. 604-534-3241 Regular Sales: Every Wed., 11 a.m. ..................................................................... Cattle Special Sales: Aug. 26; Sept. 16; Oct. 7, 7 p.m. ............................................Mixed feeder

ALBERTA BONNYVILLE Western Pride Auction Co. Ltd.* Box 6587, Bonnyville, Alta. T9N 2H1 Phone: 780-826-2233 • Fax: 780-826-2243 Contact: Marc Jubinville .......................................................................... 780-826-0992 Andy Jubinville .......................................................................... 780-645-9593 Robert Gagne ............................................................................ 780-826-1131 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 10 a.m.

Special Sales: Contact for details.

Special Sales: Check website for details.

BROOKS

Internet Sales: Canadian Satellite Livestock Auction www.cslauction.com (see Red Deer)

Bow Slope Shipping* Box 1299, Brooks, Alta. T1R 1C2 Phone: 403-362-5521 • Fax: 403-362-5541 Email: bowslope@eidnet.org • Website: www.bowslope.com Contact: Manager, Lachie McKinnon ....................................................... 403-362-1825 Asst. mgr. Erik Christensen....................................................... 403-363-9942 Cole Webb ................................................................................ 403-793-5387 Chad Bouchard ........................................................................ 403-501-9760 Art Paetkau ............................................................................... 403-501-9750 Regular Sales: Every Fri., 9 a.m.

DAWSON CREEK VJV Dawson Creek Auction 301-116th Ave., Dawson Creek, B.C. V1G 3C9 Phone: 250-782-3766 • Fax: 250-782-6622 Website: www.vjvauction.com Contact: Don Fessler................................................................................ 250-719-5561 Regular Sales: Every Thurs., 10 a.m.

Special sales: Mon., Sept. 15, 22; Oct. 6, 20, 27; Nov. 17; Dec. 8 ............................Calves & yearlings Mon., Nov. 3, 24; Dec. 1, 15.............................................................Bred cows & heifers Sat., Sept. 27........................................................................................................Horses Internet Sales: Canadian Satellite Livestock Auction www.cslauction.com (see Red Deer)

KAMLOOPS B.C. Livestock Producers Co-operative Association* #1 10145 Dallas Dr., Kamloops, B.C. V2C 6T4 Phone: 250-573-3939 • Fax: 250-573-3170 Email: info@bclivestock.bc.ca • Website: www.bclivestock.bc.ca Contact: Kenny Allison, Kamloops ........................................................... 250-571-9045 Wilf Smith, Williams Lake ......................................................... 250-398-0813 Al Smith, Vanderhoof................................................................. 250-570-2143 Larry Jordan............................................................................... 250-319-0872 Wayne Jordan ............................................................................ 250-319-0873 Regular Sales: Okanagan Falls: Mondays Kamloops: Tuesdays Williams Lake: Thursdays Vanderhoof: Fridays Special Sales: Oct., 1 to Nov. 19 ....................................................................................... Feeder & calf Tues., Aug. 12 ............................................................................ Kamloops pre-sort cow Tues., Sept. 9 .................................................................................... Kamloops yearling Fri., Sept. 12 ...................................................................................Williams Lake horse Fri., Sept. 19 ......................................................................................... Kamloops horse Sat., Sept. 27................................................. Williams Lake Pacific Invitational female Wed., Oct. 1 ...........................................................................Williams Lake Special calf Tues., Oct. 7 ............................................................Kamloops special calf and yearling Wed., Nov. 12 ............................................................... Williams lake bred cow & heifer Sat., Nov. 15 .....................................................................Vanderhoof bred cow & heifer Mon., Nov. 24 .....................................................................Kamloops bred cow & heifer Internet Sales: TEAM (The Electronic Auction Market) www.teamauctionsales.com (see Calgary)

Special Sales: Fri., Sept. 12, 10 a.m........................................................74th Annual Anniversary sale Mon., Sept. 15, 1 p.m. ............................................................................. Sheep & goats Wed., Sept. 24, 5:30 p.m. ......................................................................... Horses & tack Oct. 20, 21, 27; Nov. 3, 10 a.m. ............................................Red & Black Angus calves Oct. 22, 29; Nov. 5, 10 a.m. ........................................................ LimoX & CharX calves Nov. 10, 12, 19; Dec. 1, 10 a.m................................. All breed calves, bred cows & heifers Internet Sales: Every Thurs. DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

CALGARY

CLYDE

Calgary Stockyards – Strathmore 1 mile west of Strathmore on Trans Canada Hwy. Phone: 403-934-3344 • Fax: 403-934-4383 Email: info@calgarystockyards.com • Website: www.calgarystockyards.com Contact: Don Danard................................................................................ 403-234-7429 Bryan Danard............................................................................. 403-934-1644 Jason Danard............................................................................. 403-519-8916 Will Irvine................................................................................... 403-560-4343 Bill Wilson.................................................................................. 403-560-5265 Lester Gurnett............................................................................ 403-681-3151 Cliff Pahl.................................................................................... 403-854-1900 Ben Payne.................................................................................. 403-633-4175 Jeff Van Wert.............................................................................. 403-793-9988 Regular Sales: Every Thurs., 8 a.m......................................................................................... All classes Every Wed., Nov. 2 to Dec. 14, 11 a.m..............................................Bred cows & heifers

North Central Livestock Exchange Inc. Box 119, Clyde, Alta. T0G 0P0 Phone: 780-348-5893 • Fax: 780-348-5704 Email: jchesher@nclclyde.com • Website: www.ncl.com Contact: Len Hrehorets............................................................................. 780-991-6737 Garth Rogers.............................................................................. 780-349-1491 Purebred & special sales Travis Rogers.............................................................................. 780-307-3144 Regular Sales: Tues. & Thurs., 9 a.m.

Special Sales: Every Sat., Oct. 13 to Dec. 1.......................................................... Calf sales Internet Sales: TEAM (The Electronic Auction Market) • www.teamauctionsales.com Calgary Stockyards Ltd. #200-5925 12th St. S.E., Calgary, Alta. T2H 2M3 Contact: Jason Danard............................................................................. 403-519-8916 Don Danard................................................................................ 403-234-7429 Bryan Danard............................................................................. 403-934-1644 Will Irvine................................................................................... 403-560-4343 Bill Wilson.................................................................................. 403-560-5265 Lester Gurnett............................................................................ 403-681-3151 Cliff Pahl.................................................................................... 403-854-1900 Ben Payne.................................................................................. 403-633-4175 Jeff Van Wert.............................................................................. 403-793-9988 Internet Sales: TEAM (The Electronic Auction Market) • www.teamauctionsales.com Real time bidding, pictures, pre-approval required for bidding.

Contact: Jason Danard............................................................................. 403-234-7429 Regular Sales: Thurs., 9:30 a.m. MST............................................................................Slaughter cattle Fri., 9 a.m. MST...........................................................................................Feeder cattle

NOTES

_ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________ _ __________________________________________

Special Sales: Contact for details.

Contact: Shelby Vuylsteke........................................................................780-554-4939 Email: shelby@dlms.ca • Website: www.dlms.ca Internet sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

Edmonton DLMS #303 13220 St. Albert Trail, Edmonton, Alta. T5L 4W1 Phone: 780-554-4939 • Fax: 780-732-4385 Contact: Shelby Vuylsteke......................................................................... 780-554-4939 Email: shelby@dlms.ca • Website: www.dlms.ca Internet Sales: Thurs., 10 a.m. MT– DLMS Direct Off-farm cattle sales Daily (fall, winter & spring) – Live broadcast of presort sales from auction rings across Western Canada. Purebred & Specialty sales.

Pre-approval required for bidding.

Participating markets: Assiniboia Livestock Market; Balog Auction Services; Bow Slope Shipping Assoc.; Burnt Lake Livestock Market; Cowtown Livestock Exchange; Highwood Livestock Auction; Fort Macleod Auction; Grande Prairie Livestock Market; Heartland Livestock Services (HLS) Lloydminster; HLS Yorkton; HLS Prince Albert; HLS Swift Current; HLS Moose Jaw; HLS Brandon; HLS Virden; North Central Livestock (Clyde); NBI Vermilion; Provost Livestock Exchange; Saskatoon Livestock Sales; Weyburn Livestock Exchange.

FORT MACLEOD Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange Box 1330, Fort Macleod, Alta. T0L 0Z0 Phone: 403-553-3315 • Fax: 403-553-4264 Email: darren@livestock.ab.ca • Website: www.livestock.ab.ca Contact: Darren Shaw.............................................................................. 403-601-5165 Justin Keeley............................................................................... 403-627-6534 Dan McDougall........................................................................... 403-634-0604 Allan Lively................................................................................. 403-627-7776 Sheep/ hog Blaine Kellington........................................................................................ 403-312-1279 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m.............................Starting with yearlings & feeders.

Check our website for up-to-date information on fall calf sale dates.

Internet sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

Grande Prairie Grande Prairie Livestock Market 14809 – 100 St., Grande Prairie, Alta. T8V 7C2 Phone: 780-532-3949 • Fax: 780-532-2211 Website: www.gplmcattle.com Contact: Marty Gilfillan............................................................................. 780-831-4399 Ralph Calder.............................................................................. 780-518-5586 Regular Sales: Every Wed. Special sales: Check our website or a calendar from the GPLM. Internet sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

HIGH RIVER Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange Box 5145, High River, Alta. T1V 1M3 Phone: 403-652-3343 • Fax: 403-652-3446 Email: darren@livestock.ab.ca • Website: www.livestock.ab.ca Contact: Darren Shaw............................................................................... 403-601-5165 Allan Lively................................................................................. 403-627-7776 Justin Keeley............................................................................... 403-627-6534 Sheep & hogs Blaine Kellington........................................................................ 403-312-1279 Regular Sales: Every Mon., 9 a.m..............................Starting with yearlings & feeders.

Check our website for up-to-date information on fall calf sale dates.

Internet sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

INNISFAIL

OLDS

Innisfail Auction Mart* 4504 – 42 St., Innisfail, Alta. T4G 1P6 Toll free: 1-800-710-3166 • Phone: 403-227-3166 • Fax: 403-227-2202 Email: iamarket@telus.net • Website: www.innisfailauctionmarket.com Contact: Danny Daines............................................................................. 403-391-0580 Jack Daines................................................................................ 403-227-5113 Mark Daines............................................................................... 403-350-0200 Duane Daines............................................................................. 403-358-4971 Grant Daines.............................................................................. 403-350-1519 Kyle Daines............................................................................... 403-598-0311 Regular Sales: Every Wed., 9 a.m............................................................................. All classes of cattle Every Mon. in the fall, 10 a.m................................................................... Presort calves

Olds Auction Mart Ltd.* 4613 – 54 St., Olds, Alta. T4H 1E9 Phone: 403-556-3655 • Fax: 403-556-2688 Website: www.oldsauction.com Contact: Dan Rosehill............................................................................... 403-556-4458 Jim Crawford.............................................................................. 403-556-4457 Greg Sanderson.......................................................................... 403-559-7204 Joel Waddell............................................................................... 403-512-6151 Tyler Rosehill.............................................................................. 403-507-1782 Patrick Cassidy.......................................................................... 403-559-7202 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m. ............................................................... All classes

LETHBRIDGE Balog Auction Services Inc. Box 786, Lethbridge, Alta. T1J 3Z6 Toll free 877-320-1988 • Phone: 403-320-1980 • Fax: 403-320-2660 Email: sold@balogauction.com • Website: www.balogauction.com Contact: R.C. (Bob) Balog........................................................................ 403-382-5727 Louis Balog................................................................................ 403-331-0611 Brad Balog................................................................................. 403-642-7444 Darwin Balog............................................................................. 403-330-2681 Mark Lenz................................................................................... 403-330-7600 Andy Carrol................................................................................. 403-308-9493 Ron Reid..................................................................................... 403-625-0233 Jason Aman (Sask.).................................................................... 306-948-2019 Cal Ramsay (Sask.).................................................................... 306-398-7343 Randy Ames (Sask.)................................................................... 306-573-4620 Regular Sales: Every Wed., 10:30 a.m......................................................................... Finished cows & bulls Every Wed., 1 p.m....................................................................................... Yearling sales Special Sales: Fri., Aug. 15, 1 p.m............... 3rd Annual Fall Roundup Brand of Excellence video cattle .................................................................. feat. yearlings & calves – Balog Cow Palace Every Fri., Oct. 3 to Dec. 19, 10:30 a.m. . ...Rancher calves Tues., Oct. 21; Nov. 4 10:30 a.m. ....................................................................................British breed rancher calves Tues., Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m....................................8th Annual Angus appreciation calves Tues., .Nov. 11, 10:30 a.m....................................................... All breeds rancher calves Every Mon., Oct. 27 to Dec. 22, 1 p.m...................................... Stock cow & bred heifers Every Thurs., 10 a.m. ................................................. Video sales of yearlings & calves Perlich Bros. Auction Market Ltd. Box 1057, Lethbridge, Alta. T1J 4A2 Phone: 403-329-3101 • Fax: 403-327-2288 Email: auction@perlich.com • Website: www.perlich.com Contact: Bob Perlich................................................................................. 403-382-7800 Darcy Moorhead......................................................................... 403-635-0308 John Perlich................................................................................ 403-331-9911 Ken Lidberg................................................................................ 403-382-8189 Regular Sales: Thurs., 10:30 a.m...................................................................................Slaughter cattle Thurs., 12:30 a.m..................................................................................... Yearling cattle Special Sales: Every Mon. & Wed., Oct. to Dec., 10 a.m.................................................Rancher calves Every Sat., Oct. 11 to Nov. 15.................................................................... Presort calves Every Tues., Fri., Sat., Nov. to Dec., 1 p.m................................ Stock cow & bred heifers

MEDICINE HAT Medicine Hat Feeding Co.* 3381 Gershaw Dr. S.W., Medicine Hat, Alta. T1B 3N2 Toll free 1-800-452-3129 Phone: 403-526-3129 • Fax: 403-528-9355 Email: office@mhfc.ca • Website: www.mhfc.ca Contact: Lyle Taylor................................................................................... 403-528-0797 Nolan Herman............................................................................ 403-502-6417 Regular Sales: Every Wed., 9:30 a.m.

Special Sales: Fri., Aug. 22, 29; Sept. 5, 9 a.m............................................................Presort yearlings Mon., Oct. 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10; Wed., Oct. 22, 29; Nov. 5;.................................................

Fri., Oct. 24, 31; Nov. 7, 14, 21, 10 a.m. .................................................. Presort calves Wed., Nov. 19, 26; Dec. 3, 10, 17, 1 p.m..........................................Bred cows & heifers

Special Sales: Every Fri., Sept. to Dec., 10 a.m...............................................Presort calves (load lots) Every Fri., Dec. to Apr., 2014, 10 a.m............................................Preconditioned calves Every Tues., Oct. to Dec., 1 p.m........................................ Bred heifers & cow dispersals

PICTURE BUTTE Picture Butte Auction Market 2001 Ltd.* Box 6, Picture Butte, Alta. T0K 1V0 Phone: 403-732-4400 • Fax: 403-732-4405 Website: www.picturebutteauction.ca • Email: operations@picturebutteauction.ca Contact: Erik............................................................................................. 403-308-6662 Steven........................................................................................ 403-715-9305 Regular Sales: Tues., 10:30 a.m. ...................................................................................................Cattle Sat., 11 a.m. ............................................................................................... All livestock Special sales: Tues., Aug. 26; Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m..................................................................Yearlings Tues., Oct. 28; Nov. 4, 11, 10:30 a.m....................................................................Calves

Ponoka Vold, Jones and Vold Auction Co. Ltd.* 4410 Hwy. 2A, Ponoka, Alta. T4J 1J8 Phone: 403-783-5561 • Fax: 403-783-4120 Email: office@vjvauction.com • Website: www.vjvauction.com Contact: Mike Brennan............................................................................. 403-783-1074 Neil Campbell............................................................................ 780-814-4113 Trevor Duke................................................................................. 403-740-5753 Donny Fessler............................................................................. 250-719-5561 Mitch Hettler.............................................................................. 403-302-0681 Craig Jacklin.............................................................................. 403-783-1453 Harry Makkinga (dairy)............................................................... 403-783-1274 Stan Skeels................................................................................ 403-704-0288 Nansen Vold............................................................................... 403-783-0349 Andrew Wildeboer....................................................................... 780-348-9358 Trapper Green............................................................................. 780-837-0171 Regular Sales: Every Wed. 8:30 a.m............................................................................. Butcher cows/bulls (rings 2) 9 a.m.....................................................................................Stockers & feeders (ring 1) 11 a.m........Cdn. Satellite Livestock Auction followed by Cdn. Gold Show Alley with live ................................................................ online bidding (ring 1); Hay & straw (outside) 12 noon......................................................................... Dairy cows/baby calves (ring 3) 2 p.m..........................................................Bred cows & heifers, cow-calf pairs (ring 2) Special Sales: Wed., Aug. 22..................................................................... Anchor D Ranch female sale Sat., Oct. 18....................Calf/yearling sale feat. Speckle Park, Charolais & Simmental Sat., Nov. 1..................Calf/yearling sale feat. Angus, Limousin, Simmental, Charolais Sat., Nov. 22, 29; Dec. 6, 13.............................................................................. Cow sale Internet Sales: Canadian Satellite Livestock Auction www.cslauction.com (see Red Deer)

PROVOST Provost Livestock Exchange* Box 808, Provost, Alta. T0B 3S0 Phone: 780-753-2369 • Fax: 780-753-2493 Email: plec@plecattle.com • Website: www.plecattle.com Contact: Jerry Hewson............................................................................... 306-753-7788 Dean Lawes................................................................................ 780-753-0803 Darcy Lakevold........................................................................... 780-753-8669 Wayne Black............................................................................... 403-575-0200 Regular Sales: Every Fri., 9 a.m.......................Calves, yearlings, butcher cows & bulls,

Special Sales: Mon., Oct. 20 to Nov. 17, 9 a.m...........................Presort live broadcast all breed calves Mon., Oct. 27; Nov. 10. 9 a.m.....................Black & Red Angus, Limousin X calves feat.

Wed., Nov. 10, 19, 26; Dec. 3, 10, 17, 12 noon . .................... Bred heifers & stock cows Internet Sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

RED DEER Burnt Lake Livestock Mart 131A-28042, Hwy 11, Red Deer, Alta. T4S 2L4 Phone: 403-347-6100 • Fax: 403-340-3560 Website: www.burntlakelivestock.com • Email: kduncan@burntlakelivestock.com Contact: Mel Glencross............................................................................. 403-358-9442 Regular Sales: Every Thurs., 9 a.m...........................................................................................Slaughter Every Thurs., 10 a.m..................................................................... Feeder cattle & calves Special Sales: Aug. 21, 28; Sept. 4, 11, 18, 10 a.m.................................................................Yearlings Sept. 25, 10 a.m.................................................................................Calves & yearlings Oct. 2, 23; Nov. 6, 10 a.m.......................................................................Angus influence Oct. 9, 16, 30, 10 a.m.................................................Charolais & Simmental influence Nov. 6, 10 a.m............................................................................ British influence calves Nov. 13, 20, 10 a.m................................................................................ All breed calves Nov. 13, Dec. 4, 10 a.m..................................................................... Bred cow & heifers Internet Sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton) Canadian Satellite Livestock Auction Box 26005, Red Deer, Alta. T4N 6X7 Phone: 403-346-8365 • Fax: 340-2019 Email: csla@cslauction.com • Website: www.cslauction.com Canadian Satellite Livestock Auction now offers a total Internet service, in association with Online Ringman, the largest Internet auction company.

Live sales are broadcast every Wednesday at 11 a.m. on www.cslauction.com feat. live video with Internet bidding on the cattle as well as phone-in bidding. Live Auctioneer, Live Video, Real-Time Bidding. Call for details on bull sales or farm sales.

RIMBEY Sekura Livestock Ltd./Rimbey* Box 680, Rimbey, Alta. T0C 2J0 Phone: 403-843-2439 • Fax: 403-843-3485 Email: jeffram@live.ca • Website: www.sekuraauctions.com Contact: Jeff Fritz...................................................................................... 780-203-4953 Mack Vars................................................................................... 780-898-5604 Barry Neumeier.......................................................................... 403-350-8222 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m.............. All classes with feeders first in fall followed by butcher cows & bulls Special Sales: Fri., Oct. 17; Nov. 14........................................................................ Special feeder sales Fri., Oct. 31; Nov. 21................................................................. Feeder sales feat. Angus Sat., Oct. 25; Nov. 8, 29; Dec. 20..................................................................... Bred cows Internet Sales: TEAM (The Electronic Auction Market) www.teamauctionsales.com (see Calgary) Contact: Mack Vars or Jeff Fritz

STAVELY Foothills Livestock Auction Stavely Box 10, Stavely, Alta. T0L 1Z0 Toll free: 1-877-549-2121 Phone: 403-549-2120 • Fax: 403-549-2253 Email: foothillsoffice@vjvauction.com • Website: www.vjvfoothillsauction.com Contact: Rob Bergevin.............................................................................. 403-625-7171 Kim Cochlin................................................................................ 403-625-1035 Lorne Depaoli............................................................................. 403-652-0344 Steve Schlaht............................................................................. 403-485-8348 Jordie Waters.............................................................................. 403-601-1377 Regular Sales: Every Fri., 9 a.m........................ Slaughter cattle, feeder cattle to follow Special Sales: Every Mon., Oct. to Nov..............................................Contact for details.

Internet sales: Canadian Satellite Livestock Auction www.cslauction.com (see Red Deer)

STETTLER

NOTES

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Stettler Auction Mart (1990) Ltd.* Box 1238, Stettler, Alta. T0C 2L0 Phone: 403-742-2368 • Fax: 403-742-8151 Email: sam1990@telusplanet.net • Website: www.stettlerauction.ab.ca Contact: Jim Abel...................................................................................... 403-740-9609 Greg Hayden............................................................................... 403-740-9610 Brad Lohr................................................................................... 780-679-5500 Terry Silbernagel........................................................................ 403-318-5873 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m.................................................................................................. Mixed Fri., 10 a.m.................................................................................. Special calf/bred cows Special Sales: Aug. 12, 26; Sept. 2, 16 ..........................................................................Yearling feeder Sept. 23; Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24; Nov. 7.......................... Presorted calves, single owner lots Oct. 3, 10; Nov. 7............................................................................ Angus/British calves Oct. 25; Nov. 14, 21, 28; Dec. 5, 12, 19............................................Bred cows & heifers Oct. 31 or Nov. 7 (call for final date)......................................................Limousin calves Nov. 4.............................................................................. Charolais & Simmental calves Dec. 2, 9........................................................................................Preconditioned calves All cattle scanned. Watch for age verified sales Internet Sales: www.stettlerauction.ab.ca

THORSBY Thorsby Auction Mart Ltd.* Box 379, Thorsby, Alta. T0C 2P0 Phone/Fax: 780-789-3915 Contact: Harley Steinke (Res.).................................................................. 780-986-1097 (Cell).......................................................................................... 780-991-6307 Regular Sales: Every Mon., 12 noon................................................................. All breed mixed livestock 1st Thurs. of the month, 6 p.m..............................................................................Horses Special Sales: Bred cow, heifer & bull sales to be announced.

Contact for details.

VERMILION Nilsson Bros. Livestock Exchange Box 3300, Vermilion, Alta. T9X 2B2 Phone: 780-853-5372 • Fax: 780-853-2521 Email: vermilion@nbinc.com • Website: www.nbinc.com Contact: Rusty Stalwick........................................................................... 780-853-7669 Jim Pulyk ................................................................................... 780-853-0626 Les Trach ................................................................................... 780-645-0939 Harvey Trach.............................................................................. 780-645-5172 Pat Lawerence ........................................................................... 780-826-2655 Steiger Stalwick ........................................................................ 780-853-7946 Dave Crittal ......................................................................306-344-2188/2184 Ryan Noble ................................................................................ 306-875-8636 Roland Goertz ........................................................................... 780-656-0506 Kyle Soderberg........................................................................... 306-883-7374 Regular Sales: Every Wed., 9 a.m. .........................................................................Butcher cows & bulls Every Wed., 12 noon ..................................................................... Presort Internet sales Special Sales: Sat., Oct. 18; Nov. 1, 10 a.m. ........................... Angus influence presort Internet calves Sat., Oct. 25, 10 a.m............................................Exotic cross presort Internet calves Sat., Nov. 22, 29; Dec. 6, 13, 20, 12 noon ............................................Bred cow/heifers Fri., Nov. 21, 1 p.m. ................................. WestGold Farms Annual purebred production Mon., Dec. 1, 12 noon ..........................................................Westman Farms bred heifer Sat., Dec. 6, 12 noon .......................... Little Willow Creek 200 Simental inf. bred heifer Mon., Dec. 8, 12 noon .........................................Y-Coulee bred heifer & Red Angus bull Sat., Dec. 13, 12 noon .......................Tingley Farms 300 home raised Black bred heifer Internet Sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

VETERAN Dryland Cattle Trading Corp.

Box 615, Veteran, Alta. T0C 2S0 Phone: 403-575-3772 • Fax: 403-575-3935 Email: office@drylandcattle.com • Website: www.drylandcattle.com Contact: Ian Goodbrand........................................................................... 780-753-1515 Graham Schetzsle ..................................................................... 403-575-4001 Kurt Cole ................................................................................... 403-575-5388 Curtis Perry ............................................................................... 403-578-8062 Kirk Goldsmith........................................................................... 403-575-5654 Regular Sales: Every Mon. ...........................................Slaughter cows, bulls & feeders Special Sales: Please check our website for dates for feeder calf, bred cow & bred heifer sales

VIKING Viking Auction Market Ltd. Box 100 Viking, Alta. T0B T08 Phone: 780-349-31539 • Fax: 780-349-5466 Email: vikauc@gmail.com • Website: www.vikingauctionmarket.ca Contact: Cliff Grinde................................................................................ 780-336-6333 Darcy Sheets ............................................................................. 780-336-6485 Allen Stefiuk .............................................................................. 780-632-8701 Garry Zimmer ............................................................................ 780-889-3793 Robert Kunnick .......................................................................... 780-336-6301 Gene Hoffman ........................................................................... 780-720-5044 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m.........................................................................Cattle

WESTLOCK Sekura Livestock/Triple J 9004 – 110 A St., Westlock, Alta. T7P 2N4 Phone: 780-349-3153 • Fax: 780-349-5466 Email: Levi@triplejlivestock.com • Website: www.triplejlivestock.com Contact: Levi Pedgerachny....................................................................... 780-349-1446 Ivan Potts .................................................................................. 780-349-1270 Bob Scott ................................................................................... 780-689-9203 Trent Ewasiw.............................................................................. 780-349-0239 Hank Stach ................................................................................ 780-898-3733 Wade Schaupmeyer ................................................................... 780-305-4104 Wade Meakin ............................................................................. 780-349-1650 Regular Sales: Every Thurs. 9 a.m.

Every 1st & 3rd Mon., 11 a.m. ................................................................. Sheep & goats Every 3rd Sat., 10 a.m. .........................................................................................Horses Special Sales: Check our website for details

SASKATCHEWAN ALAMEDA Alameda Auction Market Box 370, Alameda, Sask. S0C 0A0 Phone: 306-489-2221 • Fax: 306-489-2238 Contact: Chad Levesque Regular Sales: Call for sale dates

ASSINIBOIA Assiniboia Livestock Auction* Box 1328, Assiniboia, Sask. S0H 0B0 Phone: 306-642-5358 • Fax: 306-642-4549 Email: ala@assiniboiaauction.com • Website: www.assiniboiaauction.com Contact: Ryan Rutledge Rene Boutin Chris Hannah Regular Sales: Every 2nd Wed. Oct. 1 to Dec. 17 Special Sales: Mon., Aug. 19, Sept. 16................................................................................Yearlings Sat., Dec. 6, 13, 20................................................................................Bred cow/heifers Internet sales: 11 a.m. (Pre-approval required for bidding) Sat., Oct. 25; Nov. 22,.............................................. Presorted Angus & Hereford calves Sat., Oct. 18; Nov. 1, 8, 15, 29 ..................................... Presorted Angus/AngusX calves Tues., Oct. 21; Nov. 11, 18...................... Presorted CharX & Red AngusX calf/yearlings Tues., Oct. 28; Nov. 4, 25................................... Presorted CharX or Red AngusX calves Tues., Dec. 2, 9 .........................................................Presorted all breeds calf/yearlings Dates subject to change, please check our website.

Internet Sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

GLENAVON Candiac Auction Mart Box 39, Glenavon, Sask. S0G 1Y0 • Phone: 306-424-2967 • Fax: 306-424-2097 Contact: Kevin Czerwonka ....................................................................... 306-539-4090 Janet Czerwonka ....................................................................... 306-539-0165 Brad Stenberg ........................................................................... 306-551-9411 Regular Sales: Every Fri., 10 a.m.

Special Sales: Contact for details

KELVINGTON

mankota

Kelvington Stockyards Box 640, Kelvington, Sask. S0A 1W0 Phone: 306-327-4642 • Fax: 306-327-4311 Contact: Clint Peterson............................................................................. 306-327-4642 Gary Rudychuk........................................................................... 306-865-7448 Special Sales: Contact for details

Mankota Stockmen’s Weigh Co. Ltd.* Box 248, Mankota, Sask. S0H 2W0 Phone: 306-478-2229 • Fax: 306-478-2443 Email: mankotastockmens@sasktel.net • Website: www.mankotastockmens.com Contact: John Williamson......................................................................... 306-478-2433 Ev Chanig................................................................................... 306-478-2229 Special Sales: Sept. 5, 12 noon................................................................................................Yearlings Sept. 12, 12 noon........................................................................................... All classes Oct. 3, 12 noon..................................................................................................Yearlings Oct. 10............................................................................................................ All classes Oct. 17........................................................... Canadian Angus rancher endorsed calves Oct. 24..............................................................Red Angus, Hereford & Charolais calves Oct. 31........................................................................................................ Angus calves Nov. 7................................................................................................... All breeds calves Nov. 14..................................................................................................All breeds calves Nov. 21........................................................................................................... All classes Dec. 5........................................... 25th Annual select bred heifer sale & herd dispersal Dec. 12.................................................................. All classes & Anthony herd dispersal

Leross Parkland Livestock Market* Box 250, Kelliher, Sask. S0A 1V0 Phone: 306-675-2077 • Fax: 306-675-2033 Email: parklandlivestockmarket@sasktel.net Website: www.parklandlivestockmarket.com Contact: Brian Murry................................................................................ 306-621-1239 Robert Ross................................................................................ 306-795-7387 Regular Sales: Every Thurs., Aug. 21 to Dec. 11, 10 a.m............................. Slaughter cows, bulls, feeder cattle & calves Special Sales: Thurs., Aug. 21, 28; Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25..............................Off grass yearlings & calves Thurs., Oct., 30; Nov. 6, 20; Dec. 4....................... Red & Black Angus influence calves Sat., Nov. 1, 15, 29; Dec. 13.............................................................. Bred cow & heifers

LLOYDMINSTER Heartland Livestock Services Box 930, Lloydminster, Sask. S9V 1C4 Phone: 306-825-8831 • Fax: 306-825-7713 Email: lloydminster.lmc@hls.ca or rcopeland@his.ca • Website: www.hls.ca Contact: Russ Copeland........................................................................... 780-808-6548 Wayne Woodman........................................................................ 306-821-6310 Doug Health............................................................................... 306-821-6668 Regular Sales: Every Thurs., 9 a.m..........................................Followed by presort sales Special Sales: Thurs., Oct. 23; Nov. 20; Dec. 11.................Black & Red Angus influence calves Mon., Nov............................................................................Special Annual Black sale Internet Sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

NOTES

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MAPLE CREEK Cowtown Livestock Exchange Inc.* Box 730, Maple Creek, Sask. S0N 1N0 Toll free 1-800-239-5933 • Phone: 306-662-2648 • Fax: 306-662-2615 Email: cowtown.ls@sasktel.net • Website: www.cowtownlivestock.ca Contact: Wayne Bowyer............................................................................. 306-662-2648 Gordie Cameron......................................................................... 306-622-2234 Rocky Houff................................................................................ 403-527-0352 Darvin Mason............................................................................. 306-662-8218 Regular Sales: Tues., 11 a.m.

Special Sales: Thurs., Aug. 21, 28; Sept. 4, 11.........................................................Presorted yearlings Tues., Sept. 23; Nov. 11..........................................Off-truck yearlings with regular sale Sat., Oct. 28, ................................ Charolais Simmental & Red Angus calves presorted Thurs., Oct. 30; Tues., Nov. 4 . ..................................................... All breeds feat. Angus Sat., Nov. 1; Thurs., Nov. 6. ,.................................... Presorted Angus & Hereford calves Mon., Oct. 28............................................................ Presort Charolais & Simmental calves Thurs., Oct. 31; Tues., Nov. 5...............................................All breed calves feat. Angus Sat., Nov. 1; Thurs., Nov. 6................................All breed calves feat. Angus & Hereford Tues., Nov. 18, 25; Dec. 2, 9, 16..........................Regular sale with bred cows & heifers Thurs., Nov. 20, 27;..........................................................................Bred cows & heifers Thurs., Dec. 4................................................................. Money in the bank bred heifers Sat., Dec. 6.......................................Presort freshly-weaned & preconditioned calves Thurs., Dec. 11..........................................................Cowtown cowmaker bred heifers Internet Sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

Meadow lake Meadow Lake Livestock Sales Ltd. Box 130, Meadow Lake, Sask. S9X 1Y1 Phone: 306-236-3411 • Fax: 306-236-3412 Email: mlstockyards@sasktel.net • Website: www.mlstockyards.com Contact: Brent Brooks............................................................................... 306-240-5340 Blair Brooks................................................................................ 306-240-9883 Boyd Stuart................................................................................ 306-841-7998 Regular Sales: Mon., 9:30 a.m.......................................................................................Calf & yearlings Thurs., Oct. 1, 11 a.m...................................................................... Presort Internet sale Fri., Nov. 30, 12 noon...................................................................................... Bred cows Fri., 5:30 p.m................................................................Horses (check website for dates) Internet sales: TEAM (The Electronic Auction Market) www.teamauctionsales.com (see Calgary)

MOOSE JAW Heartland Livestock Services Box 608, Moose Jaw, Sask. S6H 4P4 Phone: 306-692-2385 • Fax: 306-692-7996 Email: mjaw.lmc@hls.ca Contact: Grant Barnett.....................................................................................631-0410 Tyler Cronkhite....................................................................................630-6846 Jerrad Schollar...................................................................................630-4059 Regular Sales: Thurs. starting Sept. 19........................................After the presort sale Internet sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

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M-1997_ cancat_BRD _EN.indd 1

2014-08-05 1:12 PM

Johnstone Auction Mart Ltd.* Box 818, Moose Jaw, Sask. S6H 4P5 Phone: 306-693-4715 • Fax: 306-691-6650 Email: info@johnstoneauction.ca • Website: www.johnstoneauction.ca Contact: Scott Johnstone.......................................................................... 306-631-0767 Wayne Johnstone........................................................................ 306-631-7709 Corey Mantell............................................................................. 306-631-1888 Regular Sales: Every Sat.......................................... All breeds bred cows/heifers/pairs

PRINCE ALBERT Heartland Livestock Services Box 186, Prince Albert, Sask. S6V 5R5 Phone: 306-763-8463 • Fax: 306-763-4620 Email: hls.pa@hls.ca • Website: www.hls.ca Contact: Glen Smith.................................................................................. 306-960-4732 Brennin Jack............................................................................... 306-981-2430 Regular Sales: Every Tues. 9:30 a.m., Check website for details.

Special Sales: Check website for details.

Internet pre-sort sales: 11 a.m., Check website for details.

Internet Sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

Saskatoon Saskatoon Livestock Sales Ltd.* Box 60, Saskatoon, Sask. S7K 3K1 Phone: 306-382-8088 • Fax: 306-382-8319 Email: sls@yourlink.ca • Website: www.saskatoonlivestocksales.com Contact: Michael Fleury............................................................................ 306-222-9526 Harvey Welter............................................................................. 306-227-8684 Alvin Busby................................................................................ 306-221-0905 Pat Tellier................................................................................... 306-291-2720 Regular Sales: Every Mon. & Tues., 9 a.m. ................................................... All classes Special Sales: Fri., Oct. 10, 17, 31; Nov. 14, 28, 10 a.m..........................Presorted all breed calf sales Mon., Nov. 3, 17; Dec. 1, 9 a.m............................................... Calf sales feat. Angus calves Fri., Nov. 7, 21; Dec. 12, 19, 12 noon...............................................Bred cows & heifers For purebred bull & female sales refer to our website.

Internet Sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton) TEAM (The Electronic Auction Market) • www.teamauctionsales.com (see Calgary)

SHAUNAVON Shaunavon Livestock Sales (88) Ltd. Box 1419, Shaunavon, Sask. S0N 2M0 Phone: 306-297-2457 • Fax: 306-297-2371 Contact: Ralph Oberle.............................................................................. 306-297-7979 Kelly Oberle................................................................................ 306-297-9366 Regular Sales: Usually Mon. at least once a month, 12 noon........Contact for details.

Fall Sales: Contact for details.

Special Sales: Fall sorted calf sales & bred sales. Contact for details.

SPIRITWOOD Spiritwood Stockyards (1984) Ltd.* Box 160, Spiritwood, Sask. S0J 2M0 Phone: 306-883-2168 • Fax: 306-883-3913 Email: ssy@sasktel.net • Website: www.spiritwoodstockyards.ca Contact: Brian Jacobson........................................................................... 306-883-7375 Fred Walter................................................................................. 306-883-7368 Regular Sales: Every Wed., 9 a.m. on real-time Internet (includes individual producer presort show pens) Special Sales: Fri., 1 p.m., As needed (Bed cows, pairs, herd dispersals, purebreds etc.)

Internet Sales: TEAM (The Electronic Auction Market) www.teamauctionsales.com (see Calgary)

swifT Current Heartland Livestock Services Box 367, Swift Current, Sask. S9H 3V8 Phone: 306-773-3174 • Fax: 306-773-8570 Email: swift.current.lmc@hls.ca Contact: Lee Crowley................................................................................ 306-741-5701 Richard Gallinger....................................................................... 306-741-5701 Jim Jeffrey.................................................................................. 306-741-8331 Donnie Peacock.......................................................................... 306-662-8288

Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9:00 a.m............... All classes of feeder & Slaughter cattle Special Sales: Tues., Aug. 19 9:30 a.m.....................................................................Off-truck yearlings Thurs., Sept. 4, 9:30 a.m........................................................................Sorted yearlings Thurs., Sept. 25, 9.30 a.m........................................ Sorted yearlings & all breed calves Thurs., Oct. 9, 9:30 a.m...........................................Sorted all breed calves feat. Angus Thurs., Oct. 16, Nov. 13, 20, 9:30 a.m.................................................. All breeds calves Sat., Oct. 18; Nov. 1, 8, 15, 9:30 a.m................................................Black & Red calves Thurs., Oct. 23, 9:30 a.m..........All breeds feat. Charolais, Simmental, Gelbvieh calves Sat., Oct. 25, 9:30 a.m.............................................................................. Ranch calves Thurs., Oct. 30, 9:30 a.m..................................................................Black & Red calves Thurs., Nov. 6, 9:30 a.m.............................................All breeds feat. Simmental calves Tues., Nov. 18, 25, 1 p.m................................................................... Bred cow & heifers Mon., Dec. 1, 1 p.m.........................................................Six Mile Red Angus bred heifer Thurs., Dec. 4, 11, 18, 1 p.m............................................................. Bred cow & heifers Mon., Dec. 8, 1 p.m.....................................................................Rock Solid bred heifers Tues., Dec. 23, 14, 1 p.m................................................. Last sale, bred cows & heifers Internet sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

tisdale Edwards Livestock Centre Box 727, Tisdale, Sask. S0E 1T0 Phone: 306-873-5049 • Fax: 306-873-2328 Contact: Bruce Edwards........................................................................... 306-873-5049 Bruce Edwards (Cell)................................................................. 306-873-7779 Regular Sales: Assembly for all local auction markets. Contact for details Special Sales: Livestock sales facility available for your elite purebred bull, female sales & commercial stock cow sales. Contact for details

WEYBURN Weyburn Livestock Exchange* Box 1504, Weyburn, Sask. S4H 3N8 Phone: 306-842-4574 • Fax: 306-842-3610 Email: wle@weyburnlivestock.com • Website: www.weyburnlivestock.com Contact: Dean Martins & Roy Rutledge Regular Sales: Every 2nd Wed. Sept. 10 to Dec. 17, 9 a.m....................................................................Cull cows & bulls Special Sales: Mon., Aug. 25; Sept. 22, 11 a.m................................Presorted yearlings Internet sales: (pre-approval required for bidding) Mon., Sept. 29; Nov. 17; Dec. 1, 8, 11 a.m.............. Presort all breed calves & yearlings Mon., Oct. 6, 27; Nov. 10, 24, 11 a.m.................Presort Angus or AngusX calf/yearlings Mon., Oct. 20; Nov. 3, 11 a.m....... Presort Charolais, Simmental & Xbred calf/yearlings Fri., Nov. 28; Dec. 5, 12, 19, 11 a.m.................................................Bred cows & heifers Internet Sales: DMLS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

WHITEWOOD Whitewood Livestock Sales* Box 68, Whitewood, Sask. S0G 5C0 Phone: 306-735-2822 • Fax: 306-735-4284 Website: www.whitewoodlivestock.com Contact: Gene Parks................................................................................. 204-729-7118 Rhett Parks................................................................................ 306-735-7813 Glen Vargo.................................................................................. 306-736-7710 Chad Kelly ................................................................................. 306-735-7810 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m.......................................................All types of cattle Special Sales: Oct. 7.....................................................................................Simmental influence presort Oct. 4, 28; Nov. 11, 25................................................................Angus influence presort Oct. 21...................................................................................Charolais influence presort Nov. 4, 18.............................................................................................All breeds presort Nov. 7, 28; Dec. 12.......................................................................................... Bred cows Dec. 16.................................................................................................Last sale of 2014 Visit: www.whitewoodlivestock.com for delivery schedules, market reports & contacts.

YORKTON Heartland Livestock Services Box 490, 107 York Road E., Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W4 Phone: 306-783-9437 • Fax: 306-782-4110 Email: yorkton.lmc@hls.ca • Website: www.hls.ca Contact: Clayton Hawreluik...................................................................... 306-621-3824 Harvey Exner............................................................................... 306-621-5486 Ryan Hurlburt............................................................................. 306-621-5649

Brian Rathgeber........................................................................ 306-621-5421 Regular Sales: Every Wed. 8 a.m...........................................................................All classes Special Sales: Wed., Sept. to Mar., 10 a.m. ........ Weekly presorts feat. all major breeds & Rancher’s Endorsed Angus Green Tag sales Fri., 11 a.m. ................................. Bred cows & heifers Fri., Monthly, 5 p.m...................... Sheep, lamb, goats & horses Internet sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

MANITOBA ASHERN Interlake Cattlemen’s Co-op Assoc. Ltd.* Box 599, Ashern, Man. R0C 0E0 Phone: 204-768-2360 • Fax: 204-768-3690 Email: icca@mymts.net • www.ashernauction.com Contact: Kirk Kiesman ............................................................................. 204-768-0019 Lorne (Buddy) Bergner .............................................................. 204-768-2669 Regular Sales: Every Wed., Mid-Aug. to Jun., 2015, 9 a.m. ......... All classes of cattle Special Sales: Sat., 11 a.m. .....................................Fall feeders. Contact for details.

BRANDON Heartland Livestock Services* 329 – 12th Street North, Unit A, Brandon, Man. R7A 7K4 Phone: 204-727-1431 • Fax: 204-727-6520 Email: kcleaver@hls.ca • Website: www.hls.ca Contact: Keith Cleaver (mgr.) .................................................................. 204-761-0668 Brad Delgaty ............................................................................. 204-724-0421 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m. & Every Thurs., 9 a.m. (Sept. to Apr., 2014) Special Sales: Internet presort calves Bred cows. Contact for details.

Internet sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

GLADSTONE Gladstone Auction Mart Ltd.* Box 318, Gladstone, Man. R0J 0T0 Phone: 204-385-2537 • Fax: 204-385-2582 Email: auctmart@mts.net • Website: www.gladstoneauctionmart.com Contact: Tara Fulton ................................................................................ 204-870-9524 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m.

Special Sales: Contact for details.

GRUNTHAL Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart* Box 71, Grunthal, Man. R0A 0R0 Phone: 204-434-6519 • Fax: 204-434-9367 Email: g_lam@hotmail.ca • Website: www.grunthallivestock.com Contact: Harold Unrau ............................................................................. 204-871-0250 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m.........................................................................Cattle Special Sales: Check website for details.

Internet Sales: TEAM Auction Sales • www.teamauctionsales.com (see Calgary)

KILLARNEY Killarney Auction Mart Ltd.* Box 1435, Killarney, Man. R0K 1G0 Phone: 204-523-8477 • Fax: 204-523-8190 www.killarneyauctionmart.com Contact: Allan Munroe ............................................................................. 204-523-6161 Scott Campbell.......................................................................... 204-724-2131 Regular weekly Sales: Every Mon., 9 a.m.

Special Sales: Every Thurs. .........Feeder & bred cows as advertised. Contact for details.

MELITA Taylor Auctions Box 568, Melita, Man. R0M 1L0 Phone: 204-522-3996 • Fax: 204-522-8121 Email: srtaylor@mts.net Contact: Ross Taylor ................................................................................ 204-522-5356 Brock Taylor ............................................................................... 204-522-6396

Regular Sales: Every Thurs., 9 a.m.. ....................................Cows, bulls, fats & feeders Special Sales: Bred cow sales as scheduled. Contact for details.

STE. ROSE DU LAC Ste. Rose Auction Mart Ltd.* Box 450, Ste. Rose du Lac, Man. R0L 1S0 Phone: 204-447-2266 • Fax: 204-447-3369 Email: myles@srauction.ca • Website: www.srauction.ca Contact: Myles Masson ...........................................................................204-447-7054 Regular Sales: Every Thurs., 8 a.m. ..................... Feeder calf sales (1,500 – 2,000 head) Special Sales: Nov. 6, 8 a.m. ........................................ Angus influence feeders (1,500 – 2,500 head) Every Thurs., 11 a.m.........................................................Preweighed show listed sales Bred cow and special purebred sales to be listed this fall starting in November.

Check website for details.

VIRDEN Heartland Livestock Services* Box 340, Virden Man. R0M 2C0 Phone: 204-748-2809 • Fax: 204-748-3478 Email: virden.lmc@hls.ca • Website: www.hls.ca Contact: Robin Hill .................................................................................. 204-851-5465 Rick Gabrielle ........................................................................... 204-851-0613 Jim Blackshaw .......................................................................... 204-748-2809 Drillon Beaton ........................................................................... 204-851-7495 Brock Taylor ............................................................................... 204-522-6396 Regular Sales: Every Wed., 9 a.m. ......................................................................................Feeder cattle Every Mon., Sept. 29 to Apr. 27, 2015, 9 a.m. ...................... Butcher cows, bulls & fats Special Sales: Wed., Oct. 1, 8, 22; Nov. 12, 26 ...................................................All breed presort sales Wed., Oct. 15; Nov. 5, 19 .................................................................Angus presort sales Wed., Oct. 29 ............................................................................... Charolais presort sale Fri., Nov. 7, 21, 28; Dec. 5, 12, 19 ...........................................................Bred cow sales Jan. to Apr. 2015 ........................................................ Special presort & bred cow sales Call for details................................................................................ Sheep & horse sales Internet sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

WINNIPEG Winnipeg Livestock Sales Ltd.* Box 13, Group 220, R.R. 2, Winnipeg, Man. R3C 2E6 Phone: 204-694-8328 • Fax: 204-697-4476 Website: www.winnipeglivestocksales.com Email: info@winnipeglivestocksales.com Contact: Scott Anderson .......................................................................... 204-782-6222 Mike Nernberg ........................................................................... 204-807-0747 Jim Christie ............................................................................... 204-771-0753 Regular Sales: Every Fri., 9 a.m. .........................................................................Feeder/slaughter cattle 1st Wed. of the month, 1 p.m. ................................................................. Sheep & goats

ONTARIO NORTHERN CATTLE SALES NETWORK For sale results of the Northern Cattle Sales Network, check our Website at www.northerncattlesales.com for location details and sale results.

HOARD’S STATION Sponsor: Quinte Cattlemen’s Association Contact: Denton Meiklejohn 2530 Spring Brook Road Spring Brook, Ont. K0K 3C0 Email: farmerdenton@yahoo.ca Phone/Fax: 613-395-2008 • Sale week: 613-653-3660 Special Sales: Register with www.cattleinmotion.com for online bidding.

Sept. 19, 11 a.m................................................ 700 yearlings/calves, 90% vaccinated Oct. 24, 11 a.m. ................................................ 700 yearlings/calves, 90% vaccinated Nov. 28, 11 a.m. .....................................................700 head calves, 100% vaccinated Jan. 23, 2015, 11 a.m. ...................................................... 800 head, 100% vaccinated Mar. 11, 2015, 11 a.m. ........................................................ 700 head, 90% vaccinated May 1, 2015, 11 a.m. ........................................................ 900 head, 100% vaccinated Location: Hoard’s Station Sale Barn, 15 miles north of Belleville, halfway between Stirling and Campbellford on the county road

PETERBOROUGH/ VICTORIA COUNTIES Sponsor: Peterborough-Victoria County Cattlemen’s Association Contact: Wayne Telford 2264 Chemory Road R.R. 1, Peterborough, Ont. K9J 6X2 Phone: 705-292-9531 • Sale week: 705-439-4444 Special Sales: Oct. 1, 11 a.m. ............................................................750 yearlings, 100% vaccinated Nov. 5, 11 a.m. .................................................................... 1,000 head certified calves Nov. 19, 11 a.m. ...................................... 300 yearlings, 400 calves, 100% vaccinated Jan. 14, 2015, 11 a.m. ...................................................... 600 head, 100% vaccinated Mar. 20, 2015, 11 a.m. ...................................................... 600 head, 100% vaccinated May 6, 2015, 11 a.m. ..................................................... 1,050 head, 100% vaccinated Location: Kawartha Lakes Co-op (KLC) Sales Barn, County Road #9, Woodville, Ont.

THESSALON Sponsor: Algoma Co-operative Livestock Sales Contact: Dennis Kirby R.R. 2, Iron Bridge, Ont. P0R 1H0 Phone: 705-842-5534 • Sale Barn: 705-842-2249 Special Sales: Sept. 11, 10 a.m. ...................................................................................1,200 yearlings Oct. 18, 10 a.m. ............................................................................................ 300 calves May 2, 2015, 10 a.m. ...................................................................................... 200 head Location: East of Thessalon, off Highway 17 at Green Lane, at the Stockyards

WIARTON Sponsor: Grey-Bruce Livestock Co-operative Contact: Terry Moser 1153 Bruce County Road #9 R.R. 6, Wiarton, Ont. N0H 2T0 Phone: 519-375-7957 • Sale day: 519-534-0400 Email: n.cunning@bmts.com

Special Sales: Sept. 11, 10 a.m. .......................................................................... 800–1,000 yearlings Oct. 30, 10 a.m. ....................................................................................650–700 calves May 7, 2015, 10 a.m. ..............................................................................600–700 head Location: At the base of Bruce Peninsula on Hwy # 6, just south of Wiarton.

Free transportation available from the airport at Wiarton

BRUSSELS Brussels Livestock* Box 59, 42857 Newry Rd., Brussels, Ont. N0G 1H0 Phone: 519-887-6461 • Fax: 519-887-9449 Email: info@brusselslivestock.ca • Website: www.brusselslivestock.ca Contact: Mark Ferraro .............................................................................. 519-492-0181 Kevin McArter ............................................................................ 519-357-0594 Len Gamble ............................................................................... 519-231-0761 Regular Sales: Fri., 10 a.m. ...........................................................................Stocker calves & yearlings Tues., 10 a.m. ........................................................................... Fed cattle, bulls & cows Thurs., 8 a.m. ...................................................Bob calves, veal, lambs, goats & sheep Special Sales: Sat., Oct. 11, 10 a.m. ...........................................................................4-H Show & sale Fri., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. .........................................................................Calves & yearlings Fri., Oct. 24, 1 p.m. ....................................................................Hereford influence sale Mon., Nov. 24, 10 a.m. ............................................................. Bred cow & stocker sale Fri., Nov. 28, 10 a.m. .....................................................Calves & yearlings regular sale Fri., Nov. 28, 1 p.m. ....................................................................... Angus influence sale

CAMPBELLFORD Community Livestock Exchange Hoard Station 2508 County Road 8 • R.R. 5, Campbellford, Ont. K0L 1L0 Phone: 705-653-3660 • Fax: 705-653-4610 Email: daveyd@xplornet.com • Website: www.hoardstnsalebarn.ca Contact: David DeNure ............................................................................ 705-653-3660 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 12 noon ........................................Special sales by request Special Sales: 11 a.m.

Quinte Cattlemen’s Stocker sales. Stocker sales will be on live video.

Online bidders please pre register.

Fri., Sept. 19 ................................................................................Vaccinations preferred Fri., Oct. 24; Nov. 28 ............................................................................ All vaccinated

CARGILL Cargill Auction Market Inc. Box 64, Cargill, Ont. N0G 1J0 • Phone: 519-366-2214 • Fax: 519-366-2444 Contact: Alan Anstett .............................................................................. 519-366-2214 Calvin Anstett ........................................................................... 519-881-6623 Brian Kirkland ........................................................................... 519-797-1668 Regular Sales: Every Wed., 7 p.m. ....................................................Stockers & feeders Special Sales: Fri., Sept. 5; Oct. 3, 7 p.m. .............Charolais & exotic cross yearlings, steers & heifers Fri., Sept. 26, 7 p.m...............................................................................All breed heifers Fri., Oct. 31, 7 p.m. .....................................................................................Local calves Fri., Nov. 7, 7 p.m. ....................................................................Local calves & yearlings

COBDEN Renfrew Pontiac Livestock 18156 Hwy. 17, R.R. 3, Cobden, Ont. K0J 1K0 Phone/Fax: 613-646-7335 Contact: Ben Dick .................................................................................... 705-752-4635 Matt Dick ................................................................................... 613-633-1598 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 1 p.m...................................................................All breeds

COOKSTOWN Ontario Stockyards Inc.* Box 402, Cookstown, Ont. L0L 1L0 Phone: 705-458-4000 • Fax: 705-458-4100 Email: info@ontariostockyards.on.ca • Website: www.ontariostockyards.on.ca Contact: Wayne Small.............................................................................. 705-435-1423 Murray Morrison ........................................................................ 416-233-1526 Brian Pascoe ............................................................................. 705-878-7026 Regular Sales: Every Thurs., 11 a.m. .........................................................................Stockers & feeders

Special Sales: Tues., Sept. 16; Oct. 7, 28; Thurs., Dec. 4, 11 a.m............................................Yearlings Thurs., Oct. 16, 11 a.m.............Cdn. Angus Certified calves/Cdn. Hereford Assoc. sale Thurs., Oct. 24, 11 a.m............................ Regular sale & Annual Leeds/Grenville calves Tues., Nov. 11, 25, 11 a.m................Ontario Stockyards & all vaccinated bred cow sale Leeds/Grenville sale to be announced at later date.

Check website for details.

DENFIELD Denfield Livestock Exchange R.R. 2, Denfield, Ont. N0M 1P0 Phone: 519-666-1140 • Fax: 519-666-1143 Contact: Stan Rees................................................................................... 519-871-5968 Regular Sales: Every Tues.

Special Sales: Sat., Sept. 20; Oct. 4, 18; Nov. 15, 29, 11 a.m............. Stockers, bred cows, cow/calf pairs Sat., Nov. 1, 11 a.m...................................................................................... Local calves

GREELY Ottawa Livestock Exchange Ltd.* Box 340, 1643 Sale Barn Road, Greely, Ont. K4P 1N6 Phone: 613-821-2634 • Fax: 613-821-4594 Email: ottawalivestock@bellnet.ca • Website: www.ottawalivestockexchange.ca Contact: Steven Spratt............................................................................. 613-822-1351 Charles J. Menard...................................................................... 819-983-1056 Robert/Richard/Denis................................................................. 613-821-2634 Regular Sales: Mon., 11 a.m.........................................................................................................Calves Mon., 1 p.m........................................................................... Slaughter cows & stockers Thurs., 11 a.m..........................................................................Calves & slaughter cows Thurs., 12:30 p.m........................................................................................... Dairy cows Thurs., 2 p.m......................................................................................................Stockers Special Sales: For upcoming stocker & bred cows sales visit our website.

Hanover Maple Hill Auctions Box 341, Hanover, Ont. N4N 3T2 Phone: 519-506-1400 • Fax: 519-506-1402 Contact: Andy McCulloch.......................................................................... 519-379-1370 Regular Sales: Mon., 7 p.m.

Special Sales: Every Mon. from Sept. 8 through fall, 7 p.m................................................. Stocker sale Sat., Aug. 30, 1 p.m........................................................ Ontario autumn Angus classic Sat., Sept. 13, 1 p.m................................................Ontario autumn Simmental classic Sat., Sept. 27, 1 p.m.............................................................Up The Ante Charolais sale Sat., Oct. 18, 1 p.m.........................................................Bluewater Angus bred females Sat., Nov. 1....................................Walnut Drive Farms Hereford/Angus production sale

Listowel David Carson Farms & Auction Services Ltd.* R.R. 3, Listowel, Ont. N4W 3G8 Phone: 519-291-2049 • Fax: 519-291-5065 Email: info@davidcarson.on.ca Website: www.davidcarson.on.ca Contact: David/Brad Carson..................................................................... 519-291-2049 Don Robertson............................................................................ 519-291-8582 Bill Haalstra............................................................................... 905-774-1739 Regular Sales: Sat., 11 a.m................................ Stockers, cow/calf pairs, cows & bulls Special Sales: Mon., Oct. 27, 1 p.m............................Carson’s special fall stocker sale Approximately 600 preconditioned, bunk adjusted and age verified steers and heifers of various breeds. Live video of sale on the website. Check website for time.

Listowel Livestock Ltd.* R.R. 3, Listowel, Ont. N4W 3G8 Phone: 519-291-2200 • Fax: 519-291-1381 Email: listowellivestock1@bellnet.ca Contact: Grant Jackson............................................................................ 519-291-4450 Bob Jackson............................................................................... 519-291-3365 Graham Jackson......................................................................... 519-291-4528 Regular Sales: Every Tues., 1 p.m...................................................................All breeds Special Sales: Fri., Oct. 24, 12 noon......................................... Local vaccinated calves

MILVERTON Parks Livestock of Canada LP 6 Spencer Street, Milverton, Ont. N0K 1M0 Phone: 519-595-8555 • Fax: 519-595-8552 Website: www.parkslivestock.com Contact: John Nicholson........................................................................... 519-595-8555 Regular Sales: Every Mon., 12 noon.................................Farm fresh bob calves & veal

NEW LISKEARD Temiskaming Livestock Exchange 883006 R.R. 3, New Liskeard, Ont. P0J 1P0 Phone: 705-647-5415 • Fax: 705-647-4411 Contact: Bill Stewart............................................................................... 705–544-3508 Regular Sales: Every Mon., 2 p.m........................................All classes of livestock Special Sales: Oct. 3, 18, 12 noon.....................................................Calves & yearlings

RAINY RIVER Rainy River – Stratton Sales Barn Rainy River, Ont. N0M 1P0 Phone: 807-483-5354 • Email: kaat-james@hotmail.com Contact: James Gibson............................................................................807-271-2005 Live video sales: through DLMS. Sat., Sept. 6, 9:30 a.m............. Yearlings & calves, most vaccinated, 75% age verified Sat., Sept. 6, 1 p.m....................................Calf Club cattle, Rainy River raised protocol Sat., Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m................................... Calves, most vaccinated 75% age verified Sat., Oct. 25, 9:30 a.m............................................Late season calves & bred cow sale Internet Sales: DLMS • www.dlms.ca (see Edmonton)

Tara Keady Livestock Market R.R. 4, Tara, Ont. N0H 2N0 Phone: 519-934-2339 • Fax: 519-934-2715 Website: www.keadylivestock.com Contact: Garry Kuhl.................................................................................. 519-934-1626 Scott Kuhl................................................................................... 519-477-2339 Tom McNabb.............................................................................. 519-794-3072 Regular Fall Sales: Every Tues., 9 a.m.

Special Fall Sales: Fri., Sept. 26; Oct. 3, 10, 17, 9 a.m.................... 1,200 to 1,500 head of yearling steers & heifers on ONS Calf-O-Rama presorted calf sale week 9 a.m., Sat., Oct. 25 . ................. Bruce Peninsula Calf Club sale, vaccinated & presorted calves Tues., Oct. 28............................... Georgian Bay Charolais Calf Assoc. sale, 1,000 to 1,500 mainly Charolais, vaccinated, presorted calves Thurs., Oct. 30 Bluewater Black Calf Club sale, 1,000 to 1,500 mainly Black, vaccinated, presorted calves Sat., Nov. 1, 9 a.m......................... Central Calf Assoc. sale, 600 to 800 all breed vaccinated calves selling in owner lots Fri., Nov. 7, 21, 9 a.m................... Local calves, preweaned or right off the cow in owner lots (1,000 to 1,500 per sale) Fri., Nov. 14, 9 a.m....................... 1,200 to 1,500 head of yearling steers & heifers Fri., Nov. 28, 5 p.m.......................... Bred cow & heifers (Jim Cole Jr. dispersal of 85 Sim/ RedAngus/ CharX cows and 3 Saunders Char. breeder bulls) Tues., Dec. 16, . ........................... Last sale of 2014 Tues., Jan. 20, 2015..................... First sale of 2015

VANKLEEK HILL Vankleek Hill Livestock Exchange* Box 134, 1239 Ridge Road • Vankleek Hill, Ont. K0B 1R0 Phone: 613-678-3008 • Fax: 613-678-6017 Email: francois-tremblay@live.ca Contact: Francois Tremblay...................................................................... 514-233-9383 Regular Sales: Every Mon., 5 p.m.; Wed., 4 p.m.

Special Sales: Last Wed. of the month Aug. to Nov., 2 p.m.................. Stockers & cows

WATERLOO

LA GUADELOUPE

Ontario Livestock Exchange Inc.* Box 443, Waterloo, Ont. N2J 4A9 Phone: 519-884-2082 • Fax: 519-884-0509 Website: www.olex.on.ca • Email: dropp@olex.on.ca Contact: David Ropp................................................................................ 519-749-5072 Brian Yost.................................................................................. 519-741-6205 Larry Witzel................................................................................ 519-741-6333 Allen Colwell.............................................................................. 519-501-0147 Live Sales: Wed, 1 p.m. .............................................................................Vaccinated Feeder Cattle Thurs., 11 a.m. .....................................................................................Regular stockers Special Sales: Daily Internet presort sales & direct from ranch sales, contributing markets: Moose Jaw Swift Current Provost Lloydminster Vermilion Yorkton Maple Creek Meadow Lake Assiniboia Weyburn Mankota Prince Albert

Marché d’animaux vivants Veilleux & Frères Inc. 1287, 14th Avenue, La Guadeloupe, Que. G0M 1G0 Phone: 418-459-6832

WOODVILLE Kawartha Lakes Community Sale Barn Inc. 580 Woodville Road, R.R. 3, Woodville, Ont. K0M 2T0 Phone: 705-439-4444 • Fax: 705-439-3145 Email: info@klcauction.ca • Website: www.klcauction.ca Contact: Kevin Barker .............................................................................. 705-878-2947 Bruce Woodrow .......................................................................... 705-879-0507 Sales Barn................................................................................. 705-439-4444 Regular Sales: Every Sat., 10 a.m. ...................... Cull cows, bulls, finished cattle, veal calves, bob calves, replacement cattle, stocker cattle, bred cows & cows with calves.

Special Sales: Wed., Sept. 17, Nov. 12; Dec. 3, 17, 11 a.m. ...................... Stocker sale Wed., Oct. 1, 11 a.m. ................... 850 head Peterborough/Victoria County Cattlemen’s yearling sale, 90% vaccinated To consign contact: Wayne Telford at 705-292-9531 Wed., Oct. 15, 11 a.m. ................. Special Angus stocker sale Sun., Oct. 19, 1 p.m. ................... Purebred Autumn Harvest Angus sale Contact: Ron Bryant at 707-373-4853 Wed., Nov. 5, 11 a.m.........................Peterborough/ Victoria cattlemen’s certified stocker sale (live video) Sun., Nov. 16, 1 p.m. ........................Purebred Simmental sale Wed., Nov. 19; Jan. 21; Mar. 18, 2015, 11 a.m.................. Peterborough/ Victoria cattlemen’s sale, 90% vaccinated Wed., Nov. 26, 7 p.m.................... Bred cows

Special Sales: 9 a.m.

Sept. 11 .................................800 head Oct. 9 ....................................900 head Oct. 23................................1,350 head Nov. 20 ...............................1,050 head

SAWYERVILLE Encan Sawyerville Inc. 420, Route 253, Cookshire, Que. J0B 1M0 Phone: 819-849-3606 • 819-875-3577 Special Sales: 9 a.m.

2015 Special Sales: 9 a.m.

Aug. 28 .................................900 head Sept. 18 .................................800 head Oct. 2C ...............................1,150 head Oct. 16................................1,150 head Oct. 30................................1,500 head Nov. 13 ...............................1,500 head Nov. 27 ...............................1,350 head Dec. 4 ....................................950 head Dec. 11 ...............................1,100 head

Jan. 15................................1,500 head Feb. 5 .................................1,050 head Feb. 12 ..................................900 head Mar. 5 .................................1,000 head Mar. 26 ...............................1,000 head Apr. 16 ...................................750 head May 7..................................1,275 head May 28...................................850 head June 26 ...............................1,000 head

ST-ISIDORE Réseau Encans Québec 2020 Rang de la Rivière, St-Isidore-de-Dorchester, Que. G0S 2S0 Phone: 418-882-6341 • Toll free 1-866-839-9475 Special Sales: 9 a.m.

2015 Special Sales: 9 a.m.

Aug. 22 ................................ 1,600 head Aug. 29 ................................ 1,700 head Sept. 12 ............................... 1,200 head Sept. 19 ............................... 1,100 head Sept. 26 ............................... 1,150 head Oct. 3................................... 1,000 head Oct. 10.................................... 800 head Oct. 17................................. 1,650 head Oct. 24................................. 1,500 head Oct. 31................................. 1,850 head Nov. 7 .................................. 1,850 head Nov. 14 ................................ 1,500 head Nov. 21 ................................ 1,850 head Nov. 28 ................................ 1,850 head Dec. 5 .................................. 1,850 head Dec. 12 ................................ 1,850 head

QUEBEC The Feeder Calf Sales’ Agency 555 blvd. Roland-Therrien, Suite 305, Longueuil, Que. J4H 4G2 Phone: 450-679-0540 ext. 8891 Contact: Eve Martin Feeder calf development marketing officer........... Email: emartin@upa.qc.ca

BIC Coopérative des encans d’animaux du Bas-St-Laurent 3229, Route 132 Ouest Rimouski, Que. G0L 1B0 Phone: 418-736-5788 Special Sales: 9 a.m.

Aug. 21 ............................................................................................................ 750 head Sept. 25 ........................................................................................................... 650 head Nov. 6 ............................................................................................................. 875 head 2015 Special Sales: 9:30 a.m.

Jan. 21............................................................................................................. 750 head Mar. 19 ........................................................................................................... 750 head Apr. 23 ............................................................................................................. 700 head June 4 .............................................................................................................. 800 head

2015 Special Sales: 10 a.m.

Jan. 22...................................800 head Feb. 26 ..................................750 head Apr. 9 ....................................500 head May 21.................................. 600 head

Jan. 16................................1,850 head Jan. 23................................1,850 head Feb. 6 .................................1,750 head Feb. 13 ...............................1,150 head Feb. 27 ..............................1,850 head Mar. 6 ................................1,400 head Mar. 20 ..............................1,200 head Mar. 27 ...............................1,100 head Apr. 10 ................................1,000 head Apr. 17 ................................1,750 head Apr. 24 ................................1,850 head May 8..................................1,800 head May 15................................1,000 head May 22................................1,700 head May 29................................1,875 head June 5 .................................1,875 head

NEW BRUNSWICK SUSSEX Sussex and Studholm Agric. Soc. Auction Barn P.O. Box 5063, Sussex, N.B. E4E 5L2 Phone: 506-432-1841 • Fax: 506-432-1825 Regular Sales: Every other Wed., 11:30 a.m............................................................................All breeds 11:30 a.m. ...............................................................................Feeder & stock cow sales Contact for details.

NOVA SCOTIA TRURO Atlantic Stockyards Box 293, Truro, N.S. B2N 5C1 Phone: 902-893-9603 • Fax: 902-893-4483 Contact: Sean Firth.................................................................................. 902-670-5999 Regular Sales: Every Thurs., 1 p.m. ........................................... All classes of livestock Fall Feeder Sales: 10 a.m., Sat., Sept. 13; Oct. 18; Nov. 15; Dec. 6 Special sales: Contact for details. *2014 member of the Livestock Markets Association of Canada (LMAC)

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2014-08-05 4:44 PM

 PRIME CUTS

By Steve Kay

CRUEL WEATHER AND COWS

F

looded fields, ruined hay crops and foot rot in cattle. That’s what producers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are currently experiencing (forgive me if I’m leaving out other areas). It’s a far cry from the great drought of 2001-02 when desiccated pastures forced tens of thousands of additional Canadian feeder cattle to go south.

North America has seen numerous weather extremes over the past couple of decades. Urban areas have been hit by natural disasters (from monstrous floods in Alberta to Hurricane Sandy on the U.S. East Coast). But nothing impacts agriculture, especially crop and cattle production, like drought or excessive rain. Drought forced the U.S. beef cow herd to drop below 30 million head on January 1 this year (to 29.0 million) for the first time in many years. This meant the 2013 calf crop at 33.9 million head was the smallest since 1949. The total U.S. cattle inventory at 87.7 million head was the smallest since 1951.

The drought that afflicted the major cow-calf states hasn’t fully abated. But soaking rains, especially in late May, put a smile back on the faces of many producers. That’s tempered by the juxtaposition that some ranchers now have grass growing halfway up their fences and not enough cattle to eat it. Also, the rains didn’t touch any part of my home state, California.

It’s as bone dry as I’ve seen it in 28 years. It’s the only state in the nation where drought conditions worsened from last month to this. Nearly 80 per cent of the state is under extreme or exceptional drought, up from nearly 28 per cent at the start of the year and up from zero a year ago.

That’s how rapidly conditions have deteriorated. Last year was the driest on record in many parts of California,

and the entire state on average received just 7.0 inches of rain. The average included desert regions that hardly got any rain. But even the “wettest” North Coast region received only 22.7 inches. To put 2013 in historical perspective, the next driest year, 1898, received 11.7 inches.

Some California ranchers still remember the 1976 drought when the state got 13.1 inches. This year so far has also been the warmest year to date in 118 years and virtually no rain has fallen since March.

Yet this historic drought isn’t going to break anytime soon. California will get little rain for another five or six months. Even worse, it will get little relief from the El Niño weather phenomenon that is moving across the Pacific. El Niños at their strongest have caused widespread flooding (even in my town). But this year’s might only produce a few inches of rain, say meteorologists.

The conditions are disastrous for every one of California’s cattle producers, as well as most crop growers.

California’s $45-billion agricultural sector thus faces a huge hit. Worst impacted will likely be the livestock sector, whose products brought in $12.2 billion in 2012.

Cow-calf producers have been selling their cows or moving them out of state, and selling calves and feeder cattle early. This and the closure of National Beef Packing’s Brawley, Calif., plant in May is why California’s cattle-onfeed numbers on June 1 were 85 per cent of a year earlier.

It’s why Texas’s COF total exceeded Nebraska’s for the first time in several months.

California isn’t a big beef cow state. But the industry needed every one of its 600,000 cows it had on January 1.

Now the fear is that drought might cut that number by at least 100,000 head. So Canada, please send water our way.

Every drop will be gratefully received. c

A North American view of the meat industry. Steve Kay is publisher and editor of Cattle Buyers Weekly.

Search ag news and stories from the sources you trust.

Network www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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C AT T L E M E N · AU G U S T 2 0 1 4

27

 marketi ng

By Debbie Furber

Direct-marketed grass-fed beef fuelled their expansion

B

uilding a beef farm from scratch takes a lot of grit during the best of times. Starting up in hard times calls for that and for confidence in the future.

Richard and Kristy-layne Carr have plenty of both. Not bound by tradition, they went into business with 30 cows on a quarter of land near Marchand, Man., and an open mind about what many established farmers viewed as new ways a decade ago.

“We started the farm in the midst of BSE, so we learned right from the start how to keep inputs low and still keep quality high,” says Richard. “We love the lifestyle and outdoor work, but it’s a long road and there have also been hours and hours spent in front of a calculator doing the math.”

The two bring complimentary skills to their business, Rich Lane Farms. Kristylayne grew up on a beef farm, studied animal and range science and managed the Seine-Rat River Conservation District. Richard has strong ties to the dairy industry going back to his early childhood, a longtime involvement in dairy 4-H and employment in the industry. He is cur-

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rently a sales and nutrition consultant for EMF Nutrition.

Richard always figured his destiny was to become a dairy farmer so their original plan was to raise a few cattle, pigs and chickens to direct market grass-fed meat while starting a small dairy operation.

“I thought I had good stockmanship skills, but I soon learned the beef side is a whole different story when I got chased by a cow at calving. I didn’t look back then and we haven’t looked back since. This is the quality of life we want,” he says.

Getting into beef required far less capital expense than dairy, with a more flexible time commitment, and a structure that gives them room to grow, he says.

They snagged the opportunity to expand four years ago when a farm with a developed yard site including livestock facilities and 1,000 acres came up for sale.

They now run 200 cows and feel there’s still room for more.

“We’d feel comfortable with 250 cows on the current land base, but the sky’s the limit because we could rent private pasture, use community pasture, or find custom gra-

ziers with management practices similar to ours,” he says. “It’s a good time to expand.”

Most of their calves are sold at weaning through a local auction market, but they keep about 50 back for their grass-fed meat business. It started with a simple Kijiji ad that garnered business from Winnipeg and they still make the hour-plus trip into the city every couple of weeks to deliver orders. Lacoste Garden Center retails their meat as well.

Local demand is really taking off now with their participation in the Pine Ridge Hollow Farmers Market during the summer months and keen interest from two local food-buying co-ops in Steinbach, where their products also sell through Good ’n Natural and Nature’s Pasta.

The meats are processed at provincially inspected plants and cut, wrapped and frozen in clear vacuum packaging by Earl’s Meat Market in Steinbach and Country Style Meats in New Bothwell.

“I love direct marketing because I’m a big promoter of agriculture. I like telling a good story — our story. If you sell your confidence, right there, customers are drawn to you,” he says. “The farmers’ mar-

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

marketing

ket is a great place to tell people what we do and address misconceptions.”

Last year they participated in Manitoba Agriculture’s annual Open Farm Day for the first time and plan to be on the list again this year. Approximately 60 farms signed up to showcase what they do by offering on-farm activities of interest to the general public.

Videos and maps from participating farms are posted on the Open Farm Day website well ahead of time. Oftentimes groups organize tour buses to stop at several farms, but lots of families venture out on their own to see for themselves what farming is all about.

More than 100 people from the area and beyond showed up at Rich Lane Farms where they were treated to pasture tours on a horse-drawn wagon and a meal of local food with proceeds donated to a local charity.

“It was the first time some people had seen a real cow, pig or chicken,” Carr says.“The beef industry has the advantage of being more transparent because cattle are raised out in the open, so most people have seen cows in pastures, but lots had never seen one up close.”

Production cycle includes stewardship

Their interest in selling agriculture and direct marketing beef has them scouting opportunities to direct market calves as well.

They’ve discovered connections to naturalbeef chains and even mainstream feedlots that appreciate their pre-weaning strategy.

“We are big believers that vaccinating and introducing hay to calves at least a month before weaning, so they know what hay and water bowls are about, reduces stress at weaning,” he explains.

They’re flexible on the weaning date going year by year by taking weather and market conditions into consideration. Last winter, they weaned on the early side in December because their cow herd is fairly young. Looking back at the extremely cold winter, it was a wise move.

They’re not so flexible when it comes to their breeding schedule. Calving starts April 20 and runs 60 days.

The core herd is Beefbooster with some Angus and Simmental crosses and a sprinkling of other breeds. They purchase Red and Black Angus bulls developed on highforage diets.

This spring they brought in their first AIsired calves. It’s a skill he picked up working in the dairy industry where he saw the advantage of using superior, proven genetics.

On the beef side, he sees the added advantage of having a large number of uniform calves www.canadiancattlemen.ca

from one sire on the ground in short order that will package up nicely at weaning. Using a fixed-time protocol with breeding on the third day, the conception rate was 65 per cent for the 50 cows in the program.

Calving happens on the high side of the home half-section and the pairs are trailered to summer pasture three miles away.

Richard and Kristylayne Carr started with 30 cows in the midst of BSE are now up to 200 head and aiming for 250 The pastures are fenced in 40-acre squares to accommodate drag line applications of hog manure. It’s a great amendment for their light sandy soil and really boosts production on their native and quack grass pastures.

They’ve adopted rotational grazing over time using temporary cross-fencing, but feel there’s still some tweaking to do to help the pastures reach their full potential.

In talking about being selected as Manitoba Beef Producers’ representative to TESA (the environmental stewardship award, to be presented at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s semi-annual meeting in Prince Edward Island in August), Carr says a stewardship standout for them has been the success of bale grazing.

They get lots of strange looks and questions over it because bale grazing isn’t very common in their area. “It’s not the lazy way, it’s the smarter way,” he comments. “The

cows get fed, it improves the land and it reduces yardage costs of hauling bales to the cows, rather then hauling the manure out.”

The results are noticeable the first growing season after bale grazing, especially in dry years, when brown turns to green where the bales had been because the litter traps more moisture.

They buy hay from a neighbour who places it in groups around the wintering site as it’s delivered in October. At first they sectioned off three days’ worth of feed at a time.

Now it’s a week. He’s talked to others who have stretched it to a month’s supply and say the cows clean up the hay just as well.

If it’s decent-quality hay, they’ll clean it up better, he says, adding that it took a few years to get his head around the idea that he didn’t have to harrow the residue to let the grass grow through.

They wouldn’t go back to wintering cows any other way, but circumstances forced their hand in 2012, when it was very dry and the limited hay supply had to be reserved for animals in their grass-fed program.

The rest of the herd received pellets and straw fed with a shredder every day. Not only was it a very expensive way to feed, he says, but there’s something about hay bales that the substitute ration couldn’t match, even though it balanced out on paper.

Summer plans call for installing a yearround solar-powered water bowl out in the pasture. This will let them move the bale grazing site around to target more areas with poor soil.

They’re also looking forward to starting a water retention project in co-operation with the Seine-Rat River Conservation District. The idea is to filter run-off nutrients from their pasture before the water reaches the spring creek that eventually drains into the Seine River.

The Carrs see lots of opportunity in beef and room for small farms of all kinds because they have the resilience to flex with time and circumstances.

Two important take-away messages from the recent holistic management course led

by Bev and Don Campbell were to plan for profit from the start and to write goals into your farm plan. If quality of life is a goal, family time has to be part of the farm plan and even more so now with Slade, five, Elora, three, and twins Nate and Isabel, a year old this summer. They want their family to grow up seeing the good side of agriculture with memories of farm life as positive as those they had as children that ultimately led to where they are today. c

C at t l e m e n · au g u s t 2 0 1 4

29

 vet aDv i c e

UPDATE ON GUIDANCE #213

I

n January 2014 the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners (WCABP) published an article in Vet Advice about pending change in the use of antimicrobials in livestock production. Although Guidance #213 is a U.S. initiative introduced through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), its intent is to limit use of antimicrobials in livestock production. Canada will be obliged to follow suit.

FDA’s resoluteness in the matter was clearly stated: “In light of the risk that antimicrobial resistance poses to public health, the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs for production purposes is not justified. Indications like ‘increased rate of gain’ or ‘improved feed efficiency’ will no longer be supported in the approval process when claims involve medically important drugs.”

Guidance #213 provided guidance for drug companies to voluntarily revise FDA-approved labelled use conditions to (a) remove the use of antimicrobial drugs for production purposes; (b) add, where appropriate, scientifically supported disease treatment, control or prevention uses; and (c) making drugs that were available over the counter (OTC), prescription drugs requiring a veterinary prescription for use in livestock production.

The term “production purposes,” as used by FDA, meant use of antimicrobials with the intent of enhancing growth or improving feed efficiency.

Some of the common drugs that will be affected include: oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, sulfa drugs including sulfamethazine and sulfaquinoxaline, erythromycin, neomycin, tylosin, lincomycin and penicillin.

There were a number of people involved in the livestock industry that doubted how quickly and completely the pharmaceutical industry would come on side. For one, there remained burning doubt that many of the antimicrobials targeted were contributing in any significant way to resistance in human medicine. The lack of definitive proof of resistance was a tool in the hands of the pharmaceutical industry, already a formidable lobby against the indiscretionary use of “precaution” by government, to offset sweeping change.

The FDA requested that animal drug sponsors (those who own the right to market products) voluntarily work with FDA to revise approved use conditions for medically important antimicrobial drug products.

FDA assumed a position from the outset that sick animals need treatment, and that the antimicrobial drugs in question should remain available for the purposes of treating, controlling or preventing disease.

The FDA’s request for the pharmaceutical industry to voluntarily comply and collaboratively make application to change label claims, worked. Twenty-five of 26 major sponsors responded. The 25 represented over 99 per cent of total pharmaceutical sales affected by Guidance #213. It’s expected some companies will voluntarily withdraw applications completely and effectively remove these products from sale in the U.S., and probably eliminate their availability in Canada.

Once product labelling is changed, using these products in feed for production purposes becomes illegal. In addition, FDA regulations do not permit extra label use for non-therapeutic purposes.

It is important to note that all products affected by this plan are currently available over the counter (OTC). A key component of

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FDA’s plan was the transition of affected antimicrobials from their current OTC status to one requiring producers to obtain a prescription or order products through a licensed veterinarian. The FDA believes firmly that any measure of judicious use of medically important antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals should involve the oversight of licensed veterinarians given the importance of their scientific and clinical training and knowledge.

In the case of prevention, a veterinarian practising judicious use would determine the risk of a specific bacterial disease and whether it would be appropriate to use medically important antimicrobials for prevention purposes. For example, the veterinarian would consider the way the drug acts against the particular bacteria in question, whether it can effectively get to the place of infection, and how long the drug maintains effective levels at the site of infection.

Other important factors veterinarians consider when determining whether a particular drug is appropriate for preventive use include whether: (1) there is evidence that the drug will be effective in treating the particular disease, (2) such preventive use is consistent with accepted veterinary practice, (3) the use is intended to address particular bacteria, (4) the use is appropriately targeted to animals at risk of developing a specific disease, and (5) there are no reasonable alternatives for intervention.

Two significant events within the last year anchored the need for regulatory change and removed any doubt that industry was on side with change. First, was the World Health Organization’s report on global antibiotic resistance. In the words of Dr. Keiji Fukudu, WHO assistant director general for Health Security, “Unless we improve efforts to treat and prevent infection, and prescribe and use antibiotics we will lose more and more of these global health tools. The implications are devastating.”

The second was a recent publication by the FDA on the pharmaceutical industry’s response to Guidance #213.

In the meantime, Canada dawdles. Repeated attempts to have government agencies associated with drug approvals and feed regulations deal specifically with issues like changing label recommendations related to performance enhancement are slow. The import of active pharmaceutical agents — many unregistered and in the form of pure antimicrobials that eventually find their way into the ration of various livestock species — remains a sore point with groups seeking change.

In the same context, persistence of the regulatory loophole that allows producers to import drugs for their own use without products being registered in Canada, is an irritant. Little has come of a petition submitted to the auditor general in September 2012 on behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee on Antimicrobial Stewardship in Canadian Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine related to these shortcomings.

AMR is an emerging crisis. Estimates suggest that antimicrobial resistance directly affects the health outcome of over 2.5 million people in North America every year; over 2,500 die and the cost of resistance may be as high as $40 billion. It’s time to do more. Agriculture has a role. c 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

BUILDING TRUST IN CANADIAN BEEF

Natural health products and the food safety challenge Producers have responsibilities

For a word that simply describes what occurs in nature, the word “natural” can cause some big debates when it is applied to food and agricultural products.

Once largely confined to specialized circles such as the organic community, natural health products have grown. Today they see widespread use in the general food and livestock feed and relatedproducts business.

Growth in other areas such as the companion animal industry and human health add to the marketing pressure. All of that has led to continued pressure in government and industry regulatory circles. Some want the regulatory process tightened up. Others want it opened up to speed movement of these products to market.

While not all answers are clear cut, using natural health products still means producers must check with authorities and use responsibly.

Producer response

What does this mean for beef producers?

Just because a substance occurs naturally does not mean it is safe for use in food animals. If producers use natural health products, it’s up to them to keep food safety in mind. Look for the active ingredient and try to verify that it is accepted by Health Canada or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Some of these substances are in the veterinary compendium but mostly producers will have to look on the CFIA website under the organics section. As well, the Animal Health Care and Product Aids list can identify restrictions on a particular ingredient.

One rule of thumb is that you should only use natural health products orally or topically. Any other mode of action inherently increases risk. On the other hand, anyone using that product in other ways is advised to seek the opinion of a veterinarian and get a prescription.

There is confusion between a feed and a natural health product administered in other ways. Feed tends to be lower risk but that depends on the active ingredient. If a producer cannot determine what that is, and the product is not on CFIA’s permitted substance list or on Schedule IV of the Feeds Act, then don’t use it. Or ask your vet for further advice.

New information

Producers interested in natural health products should watch for new information on the topic. There are low-risk programs in the companion animal industry, and as a result there is new work being done between Health Canada and the Canadian Animal Health Institute. That may lead to new advice for producers.

There may also be information of interest on other websites. The dairy industry’s Canadian Quality Milk Program has information for its producers. And government websites such as Health Canada have related fact sheets and information.

Take precautions

The bottom line is that beef producers have to take steps they feel are necessary to protect the food safety of their product. If there is a question, they know it must be answered.

The fundamentals of the Verified Beef Production program remain strong. And the program will continually be updated as part of the process of continual improvement.

That’s why it was designed: To anchor the reputation of Canadian beef at home and around the world.

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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.

For more information, talk to your veterinarian or call our technical service at 1-866-683-7838.

® Registered trademark of Intervet International B.V. Used under license.

REV-XS Canadian Cattlemen QSHere.indd 1

13-07-24 14:49

 marketi ng

By Debbie Furber

Graham Schetzsle (l) and Ian Goodbrand.

Veteran market introduces ‘fall-forward’ sales

W

ith optimism on ranches and feedlots riding an alltime high, auction markets are gearing up for an exciting fall run with potential for record calf prices.

Auction markets continue to reinvent this long-established and trusted system of selling cattle with all sorts of options to suit their customers’ needs and Dryland Cattle Trading Corp. at Veteran, Alta., is no exception.

DCTC co-owner and manager Graham Schetzsle explains the “Fall Forward” sale idea, which some markets have started offering and DCTC will be introducing for the first time on September 15, combines aspects of a video sale with contracting.

“The calf market is projected to be very positive and the whole industry is moving to forward selling, so this kind of sale appeals to ranchers with large strings of calves who may not be able to or want to pull them off pasture that early in the fall,” Schetzsle explains.

DCTC’s Fall Forward sale will be an in-house video sale with buyers on hand at the market where the videos will be shown on the screen and auctioneers Kirk Goldsmith and Greg Johnson calling the sale.

A DCTC rep will visit the ranch ahead of time to video and accurately describe the cattle. Clips will be posted online through the Dryland Direct System along with a sale catalogue describing the calves, conditions of sale, and other specs such as the health program. The consignor stipulates the date of sale, which could be the actual day of the Fall Forward sale or any date thereafter.

It’s all in the description of the cattle, Schetzsle says. At delivery time, DCTC sorts the cattle accordingly to make sure the buyer receives what’s described. Sorting can be done at the ranch if appropriate handling facilities are available. If not, the calves are trucked to the

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market or another convenient place. The same goes for weighing, but other options such as feedlots and truck scales can be used to save miles.

DCTC handles the financial transaction and no money changes hands until the sale is executed according to arrangements made between the buyer and seller.

All of DCTC’s regular Monday sales are webcast live via the TEAM network, but without the online bidding option for now.

“It’s only a five- to six-second delay, which doesn’t seem like much, but it’s quite a break during a live auction,” Schetzsle explains. “So, in fairness to buyers at the sale, we are holding off until the day when online bidding fits smoothly with live sales.”

Schetzsle says even without online bidding, webcasting the sales has been a great information tool for producers to keep tabs on what market prices are doing from wherever they may be. If they like what they see, getting in on the action is as easy as putting a call through to one of the ringside buyers.

Weighing the lots of calves before the sale and putting them through the ring before the cows is another service that’s been well received by consignors and buyers and really saves time during the sale. The calves aren’t pre-sorted as for a pre-sort sale, just preweighed, he clarifies. A pre-sale catalogue is then printed and posted online, usually the night before the sale, but sometimes first thing sale-day morning depending on when weighing finishes up.

Regular calf and cow sales run every Monday at 10 a.m. year round except for stat holidays.

DCTC’s sale lineup also includes bred heifer and cow sales from late November through December, purebred/production sales from the end of February through April and cow-calf sales in May and June.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

marketing

As a TEAM agent, DCTC reps are available to view and list cattle for TEAM’s online sales.

Nothing but cattle

DCTC is all about selling cattle and only cattle. The company takes pride in its local roots and, at the same time, being tuned into the beef industry on the whole.

The facility underwent a major renovation last year with a new front and the addition of 2,400 square feet of office space.

About 80 per cent of the penning is steel. The yard can comfortably accommodate up to 6,000 head. Realistically, though, 4,000 to 4,500 head is a big sale to finish up in reasonable time.

Schetzsle recalls sales during the fall run that ran way into the wee hours during his dad’s time and doesn’t miss those days at all now that the fall run is spread out more evenly. Ranchers moving their calving times into spring have adjusted their marketing programs accordingly.

Veteran is situated in the heart of east-central Alberta’s ranch country that was home to many well-known pioneers in the Charolais industry and gained a reputation for having the best Charolais cattle in Canada.

Top-quality Charolais calves attracted a lot of interest from buyers down east, but that market diminished during the past 10 years as ranchers rolled over to British-base cow herds. Schetzsle speculates that part of the reason eastern buyers may have backed off was because eventually there weren’t enough Charolais-type calves available to make the trip worthwhile. Freight costs during challenging times may have been a factor as well.

The recent shift to breeding British cows Charolais has been driven by strong demand for Charolais-cross calves from down east and Alberta feedlots, he says. Greater availability of this type of cattle and a return to overall profitability in the industry is reviving eastern interests and DCTC has been seeing more cattle headed that way over the past two years.

DCTC has a long history in the area as a locally owned market, originally established as the Veteran Auction Market by Albert Ellerby in the early 1970s. Cyril Curran kept the name when he bought the business in 1980. Graham’s parents, Terry and Linda Schetzsle, owned and operated the business under the name of Schetzsle Livestock from 1989 to 2000, when they sold to Graham and his wife, Jen, who ran the business as Schetzsle Marketing Corp.

In 2005, Ian and Connie Goodbrand bought the majority share and the name was changed to Dryland Cattle Trading Corp.

Goodbrand, has been a huge asset to the company, Schetzsle says.

As a veterinarian with a large, successful practice at Provost and a cattle feeder, he’s sharp minded and has a lot of contacts in the beef industry.

Alberta Auction Markets Association

Schetzsle keeps on top of industry issues through his longtime membership in the Alberta Auction Markets Association and was elected president by acclamation in February.

One membership advantage he appreciates is the monthly meeting, which is usually a conference call. It’s a good way to keep in touch with peers and, even though they compete with each other for business, there’s lots of good information that members can share and use.

He feels keeping up his membership is important because the association has a voice with the provincial government on issues that affect the cattle-marketing sector and with the federal government through its membership in the Livestock Markets Association of Canada. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

One of the biggest challenges and most time-consuming files has been traceability. This isn’t just the current animal movement issue, but going way back to when animal identification tags became mandatory in July 2002 and markets found themselves enforcing the regulations or being fined.

Schetzsle says auction markets aren’t against traceability.

They are willing and have been working with government and industry all along to find solutions that are manageable and affordable.

Animal handling, welfare and safety for animals and people is another active file.

Labour is definitely a challenge, more so for markets in larger centres that don’t have large farm populations to draw in employees with experience handling livestock. Market operators are finding they need to put more time into training staff starting at the very beginning with basic handling techniques.

All things considered, Schetzsle says there’s a wave of positive feeling about the future of the cow-calf industry that bodes well for the marketing sector.

Schetzsle offered his fall market outlook on the condition that he could add a huge caveat — it was still four months out. Considering 550-weight calves were already being forward contracted for $2.20 a pound in June and the very strong demand, he’s pegging fall prices at $2.30 to $2.50.

For more information, call Schetszle at 403-575-3772, visit www.drylandcattle.com, join the email list, or follow @drylandcattle on Twitter for market news as it happens. c

“Be Competitive, Sell by Auction” You can sell with confidence when you consign your livestock with one of the bonded, licensed, member markets of the livestock markets association of canada

Leading the way in the past and aiming for the future are the member markets of the Livestock Markets association of canada. as members of the Livestock Markets association of canada, we are committed to bringing all producers, large and small, the most competitive markets possible.

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no other way of marketing your livestock has the competitive edge of the auction arena. a place where buyers and sellers meet and a direct link between what the producer has to sell and what the buyers wants is reflected in the price.

Livestock Markets association of canada www.lmacmarkets.ca President ken Perlich Perlich Bros. auction Market Ltd. Lethbridge, aB t1J 4a2 Office: 403-329-3101 Fax: 403-327-2288 Email: ken@perlich.com

executive secretary rick Wright Box 1923 Virden, MB R0M 2C0 Phone: 204-748-7676 Fax: 204-748-2638

Email: rickwright.lmac@gmail.com

C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

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 straigh t f ro m t h e h i p

By Brenda Schoepp

what is at ‘steak’?

W

hen we consider the trials and tribulations of beef packers, there is often very little room for sympathy. But beef packing is a tight-margin business and processors will engage in more than one protein to offer consumers. Looking at the top five global processors in the world shifts our perspective on the importance of processing beef.

We can’t start the conversation without acknowledging the influence of JBS from a global perspective. The largest meat processor in the world, JBS has a weekly slaughter capacity of 500,000 head of cattle, 60 million chickens, 125,000 lambs and 350,000 pigs. A global employer in 22 countries, including Canada, there are 185,000 persons on the payroll. One in 10 cattle worldwide is processed by JBS. Started by the Batista family, who currently own 28 per cent of the company, JBS was unheard of in North America prior to its buying Swift in 2007 and now its operations in Canada, the U.S. and Australia account for 73 per cent of group revenue.

Funded by the Brazilian Economic Development Bank, which owns 30 per cent of the company, the run on acquisitions has been at warp speed, giving JBS a quick global presence and deep market penetration. That has brought its own set of challenges from operating in so many different cultures, to competition from within Brazil. To survive, this company has turned back to its extensive knowledge of the cattle and beef industry. This way they continue to control many markets (they own 25 per cent of the Australian industry) and to export the beef they produce for external markets.

We know Tyson Foods as a beef processor but it is heavy into chickens with a weekly slaughter capacity of 41 million birds. And it is chicken that it is flocking to in the corporate boardroom. In the first quarter of this year, chicken margins were 9.5 per cent and that is due to the value adding to poultry. Tyson adds value to 60 per cent of all chicken compared to the one to two per cent in beef and pork. With US$34.8 billion in sales last year, Tyson employs 115,000 persons who work in 13 beef plants, nine pork plants, 26 prepared food plants and 57 chicken plants. It is the chicken and prepared food plants where the money is made as the company offers 2,500 products to food service and this number is expected to keep growing. What’s hot is fried and rotisserie chicken along with grill breasts, strips, wings and diced product. For pork the shine is on meals like mac and cheese with pork added or racks of ribs and pulled pork. Because consumers rarely know what they want or will cook for dinner, these quick alternatives sell well. Chicken wraps and sandwiches are still the No. 1 seller for food service.

For Cargill, meat packing is just a small part of a broad portfolio of processing and product lines. Privately

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owned by the Cargill family in the U.S., total revenues for 2013 exceeded USD$136.7 billion. The States is home to the majority of its beef slaughter with 154,000 head per week going on the rails. With such a diverse product line from chocolate to minerals, grain, nutrition, energy and finance, it is easy to see why beef packing has to be part of something much greater on the side of value adding. The ever-popular Sterling Silver branded beef line is just the trim on product offerings from Cargill.

Value adding in Canada for beef is provided through both the plants in Spruce Grove, Alta. and Brampton, Ont. Together these plants produce 1.5 million pounds of beef burgers every week. Cargill focuses on more than just beef in Canada and also processes 230,000 chickens per day in two separate Ontario plants.

The other top two players in the global processing industry are from Brazil and they nip at the heels of JBS for world power. Unlike JBS that counts on the knowledge of the beef industry to survive, for rival Brasil Foods, poultry accounts for 32 per cent of sales. Brasil recorded US$13.6 billion in sales last year and ran 49 processing facilities but beef and pork made up only 9.3 per cent of sales as 35 million birds are being slaughtered per week.

Marfrig the other Brazilian competitor, can process 104,000 head of cattle per week. Its revenue was US$8.4 billion in 2013 and the bulk of that came from the poultry side as it processes 3.7 million birds per day. Vion Foods, from the Netherlands, is Europe’s largest meat processor. Small companies make up the majority of European processing. Unlike the success of JBS and Tyson in world markets, Vion found the culture difficult to dominate.

This story could be about corporate dominance but there is more at stake than just a report on profits. In markets where consumers are not connected and tend to buy in bulk, such as in North America, large corporations do well. In cultures where food is a way of life then small processors collectively dominate and global coporations have cultural competition. For all global processors both the volume and the value added came from their poultry divisions and output outstripped beef at every turn.

Consumers want it quick and easy.

The day we started eating chicken balls we knew we had a problem but this is more than fluff and feathers. According to Tyson, the value adding to poultry is expected to grow two times the rest of its business. Is beef fast and affordable enough to compete? c Brenda Schoepp is a motivating speaker and mentor who works with young entrepreneurs across Canada and around the world. She can be contacted through her website www. brendaschoepp.com. All rights reserved. Brenda Schoepp 2014

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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 CCA repo rts

By Dave Solverson

labour shortages

T

he heat was on in the western provinces in July, from both a temperature and political perspective. As the mercury soared in Alberta, representatives from a range of sectors including energy services, oil and gas, cattle, forestry and business turned up the dial in response to the recently announced reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) vice-president Dan Darling flew in from Ontario to attend a couple of roundtables on the TFWP reforms hosted by Economic and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Minister Jason Kenney in Calgary. I was able to talk one on one with Minister Kenney at the Calgary Stampede reception, where I emphasized the fact that if we hope to take advantage of the increased opportunities for trade the Government of Canada has worked so hard to achieve, the packers require a workforce sufficient in numbers and training. I pointed out that the Alberta plants are operating at about 65 per cent capacity and the U.S. plants have a competitive advantage over the Canadian operations, as meat packers and processors are well paid in Canada. I reiterated what was said at the roundtables about the packers’ good record bringing on TFWs and then hiring them on as new Canadians.

This helped to drive home the points made earlier at the roundtables, where participants including processors shared their concerns with the recently announced reforms and outlined their impact to their respective sectors.

During this same week, Canada Beef Inc. announced a partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Western Economic Diversification to realize the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence. This will be a great resource for domestic and international companies that are interested in Canadian beef. With the ability to broadcast virtual tours of the whole supply chain, including the processing sector, potential customers can learn all about Canadian beef, the sustainable production of the cattle industry and the country’s food safety environment without the expense of a costly trip. Chief among the centre’s goals is to build brand loyalty and generate new marketing opportunities — which brings us back to the TFWP reforms.

The CCA appreciates that on-farm primary agriculture, which includes feedlot workers, on-farm workers and the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), is exempt from many of the major reforms, given the proven acute labour shortages there. The CCA is working to have the processing sector, also plagued with chronic and acute labour shortages, recognized as unique and therefore no longer subject to the reforms and their detrimental effect on business.

Through the Value Chain Roundtables the beef sec-

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C at t l e m e n · au g u s t 2 0 1 4

tor along with the rest of Canadian agriculture has been pushing a Labour Action Plan for agriculture that focuses on three things: 1. Increase the labour supply to agriculture by augmenting domestic with temporary and seasonal labour.

2. Connecting workers with jobs through a job resource library and career promotion tools.

3. Improving the knowledge and skills of workers through training and learning resources.

The CCA looks forward to improving on these areas with ESDC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and AAFC. To date we have not had a good indication that there is specific uptake of the action plan by the departments but we do see aspects of it in the changes announced.

The CCA, as part of an industry coalition, will continue to promote this position and seek clarity around the new measures on the meat-processing sector.

Some media reports have suggested that Minister Kenney is considering some regional labour exemptions on the TFWP. The CCA looks forward to seeing if those reports are substantiated following the federal-provincialterritorial agriculture ministers’ meeting in Winnipeg.

AgriRecovery is likely going to factor in to those ministerial discussions as well. Parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba were devastated by flooding and crop and pasture loss will make winter feeding an issue. In Manitoba and Ontario, many producers still struggle to feed their animals and maintain their herds in the lingering aftermath of extreme weather events. The CCA remains committed to improving disaster response programs.

AgriRecovery is part of disaster response but well-functioning forage insurance and other potential program improvements continue to be examined with governments. These events show the importance to agriculture of continued investment in infrastructure. Managing water requires steady investment that yields payback in productivity gains and loss avoidance. I hope the federal and provincial governments can find ways to work together to get this and future water all the way to Lake Winnipeg and to find ways to reduce the impact of what may be a long-term rainfall pattern.

At least prices are holding out for producers and consumers don’t seem to mind. The latest numbers confirm that consumers continue to eat beef and that they are willing to pay more for it. While chicken surpassed beef in volume back in 2001, beef continues to lead in value with consumers willing to pay more for beef. Beef holds the largest market share in terms of consumer expenditures at 42 per cent compared to poultry at 35 per cent and pork at 24 per cent.

The scenario presents an interesting picture as Canada moves ahead on market access agreements that encourage more exports of high-quality Canadian beef. c

Dave Solverson is president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

 THE INDUST RY

NewsRoundup SEEDSTOCK

Big DNA step for U.K. Aberdeen Angus By Colin Ley

The Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society in the U.K. and Ireland has introduced a new DNA sampling process to be applied immediately to every pedigree Aberdeen Angus calf at birth with the aim of “raising the bar on pedigree validation.”

“With paper-based systems, mistakes have been made in the past in linking the correct calf to the correct sire,” said the society’s chief executive, Ron McHattie, speaking after the launch of the process at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh. “We have an extensive pedigree herd book that goes back a very long way but the information in it is only as good as the information we were given. People have made mistakes in the past, genuine mistakes which they didn’t make knowingly, but as a result some bulls have been listed with the wrong sire.

“Errors have been picked up through previous DNA processes, of course, but we’ve not gone as far as checking the sisters of such bulls. We’ll never know, therefore, how many cattle were affected or how big the problem is. By now introducing DNA samples at birth for all pedigree calves, however, we are taking our herd book’s integrity on to an entirely different level. What we’re doing will also protect our iconic Aberdeen-Angus brand.”

From now on, all the breed’s pedigree calves, born in the U.K. and Ireland, will be DNA sampled as part of the normal tagging system, with all samples being kept for seven years. This will be achieved through the use of DNA ear tags which automatically collect a tissue sample when inserted at birth. Another part of the process, also automatic, will seal the sample inside a bar-coded storage tube, eliminating any risk of contamination or record-keeping confusion.

In facing up to past doubts over pedigree recording mistakes, the tagging development is seen by the society as a step which will bring greater consistency to its product worldwide.

“We will be able to identify the genetic lines through the sire's DNA that deliver a more consistent product into the abattoir and therefore into the retail sector,” said McHattie. “By identifying the genetic lineage that gives better carcass yield, greater tenderness, higher marbling and more succulence we’ll be able to find the bulls that deliver these traits consistently, minimizing the variables that currently exist.”

Asked where such intense checking potential might lead, he said that the vast majority of major retailers were already generic testing carcasses at the point of slaughter, certainly for branded Angus products, to make sure the sire involved was definitely an Angus.

“It’s amazing how much DNA technology has come into the beef industry since the horsegate scandal,” he said. “Who knows?

Maybe retailers will one day only take beef from cattle whose sires have been DNA profiled.”

Reaction from breeders in the U.K. and Ireland has been generally positive, despite a few complaints that the process was “rushed through” to cash in on a public launch opportunity at Highland Show, Scotland’s premier agricultural event which attracted more than 178,000 visitors during its four-day run in June.

Breeders have also sought assurance that the new tagging pro-

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Continued on page 38

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News Roundup Continued from page 37

cess will work to their advantage and that it will remain under their sole control.

“While a sample will be taken from every calf at the point of tagging and sent for storage, actual DNA tests will only be carried out on samples as and when the breeder gives instructions to do so,” explained assistant breed secretary, Neil Caul. “Ownership of the sample and any DNA test results will also remain with the breeder.”

Questions have been raised by breeders concerning how much the new process might add to their costs, a point which McHattie covered by saying the process would be “cost neutral” in comparison to existing tagging systems.

“It’s really just a different tag,” he said, adding that the seven-year storage process didn’t require any refrigeration and was therefore not an added expense.

As for the global impact of the U.K. and Ireland initiative, he said his society was the first in the world, for any breed, to apply DNA sampling to all pedigree calves.

“Few other breeds have such an iconic brand as ours, of course,” he continued. “In that context, it would be remiss of us not to apply every possible technology at our disposal to protect our product.

“It’s up to other Angus societies, elsewhere in the world, to make up their own mind on whether or not they follow us in this,” he said, before admitting that when he’d outlined the idea during an Angus Forum in New Zealand last October, the reaction from N.Z. breeders, was one of “total surprise.”

“To us in the U.K. and Ireland, however, we believe we are bringing the ultimate full supply chain integrity to our breed and that we are doing it from a strong science base rather than paper base of the past.”

GOVERNMENT

Now’s the time to speak up about Safe Food Act

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has extended the initial public comment period

to August 29 on its proposed overhaul of federal food inspection regulations under the Safe Food for Canadians Act. The new regulatory framework presents a sweeping makeover of the CFIA’s food inspection model to arrive at a consistent, science- and risk-based approach to food inspection.

Existing regulations covering multiple acts are being reworked into one set to cover all food commodities (not only those currently under federal regulation) and companies involved in domestic manufacturing of food for interprovincial and export trade as well as importers.

The proposed regulations call for minimum food safety requirements across all commodities, bolstered by commodityspecific rules only where necessary.

Key areas of the framework are licensing, trade, preventive control plans (PCPs) and traceability.

PCPs address food safety risk and are the centrepiece of the legislation. Wherever possible the regulations state the requirements for a given commodity and give the company the flexibility to meet the standard taking into account the product, the processes involved

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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!

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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

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NEWS ROUNDUP

and the size of the operation. This allows the companies to adopt innovations without having to wait for regulatory changes. They also have additional responsibilities when it comes to issuing recalls on products.

The CFIA’s new role will be to provide guidance, verify that the PCPs are appropriate, and ensure they are followed. Risks that remain after a company puts its PCP in place would determine the level of oversight the CFIA would provide.

The traceability component addresses record-keeping to ensure a rapid response in the event of food safety failures.

Instead of registering facilities, the CFIA proposes renewable two-year licences to ensure its database remains current.

Ryder Lee, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s (CCA) manager of federal-provincial relations, says the people in our federally inspected packing plants don’t anticipate any difficulty in meeting the new standards because they have always been highly regulated. The proposed requirements for PCPs would bring other plants up to the same level.

The CCA is still trying to learn what it all means for the people who send those animals to the plants. There are some grey areas related

to applying the international Codex Alimentarius standard for traceability that requires tracking one step forward and one step back in the production chain and the general safety requirements for “everyone who imports, prepares, grows or harvests food for interprovincial trade or export, regardless of the commodity or size of operation,” says Lee. This framework is about safe and healthful food, but the process is about the agency’s inspection model, Lee explains. As such it sets the stage for modernization of plant and animal regulations down the road as outlined in the CFIA’s integrated agency inspection model.

“The CFIA is presenting its model, so this is a chance to have a say in how you will operate in the future. The more people who weigh in, the better. Change doesn’t come along easily afterward, so it’s important to participate and think about what the proposed framework might mean in the future.”

Producers can have their say through the CCA, their provincial organization or by adding their own comments.

Disclosure of information, violations subject to penalties, and recall and review mechanisms will be addressed in the near

future. The food labelling modernization initiative could lead to regulatory change in labelling, grades and standards of identity.

The agency also plans to introduce and consult on requirements for transporters, warehousers and distributors starting in 2016. This gap was identified in last year’s consultations with industry.

The quickest way to find the framework on the CFIA’s website (www.inspection. gc.ca) is to type “2014 presentations, draft regulations and accompanying policies” into the search box.

The act received royal assent in November 2012 but won’t come into force until the regulations are published in Canada Gazette II sometime in mid-2015.

PACKERS

ALMA supports upgrades to Harmony Beef

Sometime this year, Harmony Beef will join the big names in beef processing — Cargill and JBS — to become the third beef processor in Western Canada.

Continued on page 40

Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Competition 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 30th annual Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition takes place on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario.

Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture.

It’s your time to shine.

For competition rules, a list of speaking topics and accommodation assistance please visit www.cysa-joca.ca.

The application deadline is Sept. 30, 2014.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

C AT T L E M E N · AU G U S T 2 0 1 4

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News Roundup Continued from page 39

Being the “new kid” on the block, however, means the plant requires a niche that differentiates it from the competition. To that end, CEO Rich Vesta says the European Union is a good starting point, given that a trade agreement between Canada and the EU is in the works. Vesta, a veteran of the meat industry, has visited Europe several times to study and

borrow best practices in meat processing to ensure that Harmony Beef’s products meet the requirements of the EU market.

Harmony Beef purchased the former Ranchers Beef plant in Rocky View County just outside Calgary in November of 2013.

The Ranchers plant ceased functioning in 2007 and reviving operations is among the tasks Vesta is tackling. To get things moving, the plant needs a biological water treatment facility and upgrades in fabrication and refrigeration systems.

“These are two critical elements that need to be addressed for Harmony Beef ’s future,” says Vesta.

In line with its mandate of spurring

growth in Alberta’s meat sector, the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA ) is supporting Harmony Beef with the upgrades.

“Our objective is to create competitiveness and strengthen the Alberta meat industry and the rural economy. That’s the reason we are supporting Harmony Beef because there are going to be tangible dividends from this support,” said Gordon Cove, president and CEO of ALMA. The water recycling solution will enable the plant to operate without any water or sewer services from Rocky View County. It will use 35,000 gallons of fresh water for its functions on a daily basis. Upgrading the fabrication and refrigeration systems will enhance safety

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40

C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

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NEWS ROUNDUP

and efficiency as well as improving carcass chilling and storage capability.

Once operational, Harmony Beef will process 125 head per day. This figure is planned to increase to 600 head per day at the end of year one. The plan is for the plant to process 650 head per day in its second year of operation, and possibly 800 head in the third year.

Vesta says once the plant is fully operational, it will be the largest plant in Canada set up to meet EU requirements. Ultimately, he envisages that Harmony Beef will scale up its operations to meet the growing demand in the Chinese market.

Cove welcomes the optimistic outlook for the plant.

“ALMA will continue to encourage and support the meat industry to target foreign and domestic markets,” he said.

HEALTH

Zilmax shows no harmful effect on cattle — study

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The study was undertaken after Zilmax’s maker, Merck Animal Health, temporarily suspended sales of the additive last year when concerns emerged in some quarters that it might cause lameness in cattle, says Ty Schmidt, a UNL animal scientist, who worked with colleagues including Jeff Carroll and Nicole Sanchez, both of USDA-ARS. During the 26-day study, scientists collected blood, via catheters; body temperature; and video images from 20 heifers, which were divided into two groups, with half receiving Zilmax at the recommended dose and half not receiving it. On the last day of the trial, four days after Zilmax supplementation was discontinued, heifers were exposed to a simulated stress event to mimic the stress response that would be anticipated in cattle being shipped from the feedlot to the packing plant. At the conclusion of the trial, heifers were harvested at UNL and their hearts, liver, lungs, kidneys and adrenal glands were studied.

Results from the study demonstrated some differences in physiological and endocrine markers of stress and muscle accretion in heifers that were supplemented with Zilmax compared to heifers not fed Zilmax. Heifers fed Zilmax had an increase in parameters that indicate increased muscle mass. The increase in these parameters

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was expected, as the drug label for Zilmax includes statements pertaining to increases in creatinine and creatine phosphokinase, Schmidt says.

Results from this study, he added, also demonstrated that heifers supplemented with Zilmax had a decreased production of the stress hormone cortisol, and decreased body temperature during the simulated stress event. Histopathology of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands revealed some differences between the heifers supplemented with Zilmax and the heifers not receiving Zilmax. The livers and right adrenal gland of the Zilmax heifers were slightly smaller than heifers that were not fed Zilmax, but there was no difference in lungs, kidneys, or heart.

“Overall, the results of this trial indicate that while there are variations in the body temperature, endocrine and metabolic parameters and histopathology of major organs of Zilmax-supplemented heifers, these differences are minor and show no indication that supplementation of Zilmax is detrimental to the health or well-being of cattle,” Schmidt said.

Back in March Reuters reported on a study by Texas Tech University and Kansas Continued on page 42

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41

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News Roundup

findings were based on observational information rather than randomized controlled trials. Elanco, the manufacturer of Optaflexx, provided seed funding for this study.

Continued from page 41

Fundamentals strong, but beware of ceiling

State University researchers suggesting 40 to 50 per cent of 3,800 deaths in 10 feedlots that were fed Zilmax in 2011 and 2012, were likely attributable to Zilmax.

The manufacturer of Zilmax, Merck, criticized the methods used in the study saying the

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point to a rosy picture for the industry.

Good made the remarks during a general session of the 2014 Cattle Industry Summer Conferences in Denver August 1.

“It’s one for the ages,” Good says, referring to the cattle market. “It’s been a tremendous change from a year ago.”

He says the industry is accelerating the rate of expansion, and “it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of the trend.” However, while the fundamentals are friendly, he said, “the market will have a correction.

And that correction could be soon.

“Something needs to give.

“You have to be prepared for that ceiling.”

Good says a “perfect storm” was in place for the industry in terms of profitability.

There’s a tighter animal supply in general, with the PED virus in the pork industry and hatchability and genetic issues in the poultry industry keeping pork and chicken supplies in check. With all animal protein supplies stable and prices increasing, beef is not that far out of line, he said.

U.S. calves in 2014 are averaging $2.40 cwt, while feeder cattle are $2 and fed cattle $1.50. CattleFax expects prices should be stronger again on average in 2015, but larger supplies of beef by 2016 and larger total meat supplies will limit prices by then.

Lowering corn prices are giving the industry some relief. They are the lowest since 2010, and are expected to average in the $4-perbushel range, and possibly in the upper $3s, for the year. Production in 2014 is expected to be in the 14-billion-bushel range, he said.

Range conditions are the third best they have been in the past 20 years. El Niño has been moderately strong, and is also providing relief for much of the country devastated by drought. However, he says the industry is still in the midst of a 20-year drought, so producers should still be cautious about conditions for 2015, ’16 and ’17.

Exports are increasing, and will continue to be a key component of producer profitability, according to Good. The China market (including Taiwan and Hong Kong) has become the top importer of beef in the world, and will continue to be a critical export market for beef-producing countries in the future.

Good said about 17-18 per cent of a U.S. beef animal’s value is exported in beef, variety meats and hides, and producers should recognize the importance of this income source.

“We are living in extraordinary times,” Good says. “And prices are going to be continually strong over the next couple of years.” Still, he urged producers to exercise caution. “It’s easy to be optimistic today,” he said. “But markets don’t go up forever.” c

43

 NEWS AB OUT YOU

By Deb Wilson

PurelyPurebred

Suggestions are always welcome. My phone number is 403-325-1695

n Our condolences go out to the family of Mr. Burt Grundy, Canadian Hereford Association president and Ontario director, who passed away in mid-July. Burt’s family continued to participate in Bonanza, the Canadian Junior National Show and the CHA’s annual meeting held July 29-August 2, 2014, in Lindsay, Ont. The Canadian Hereford Association (CHA) vice-president, Daryl Kirton, who represents British Columbia, assumed the role as president. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Burt may be made to OVACC c/o Tina Rudkoski, 7149 McCordick Rd., North Gower, Ont. K0A 2T0, or Ontario Junior Hereford Association, for a bursary in his memory, c/o Justin McLaughlin, 3103 Mackey Rd., North Gower, Ont. K0A 2T0.

July 26, 2014 at Elkhorn Resort in Manitoba in conjunction with the CSA annual meeting weekend. This year’s auction was a tremendous success with a new record amount of $89,570 being raised. Funds raised by the foundation support youth development programs and scholarships as well as research and development initiatives focusing on the improvement of the Canadian beef industry through Simmental genetics. Ken Lewis, FCSF chair, noted, “The phenomenal success of the foundation auctions has come from the amazing broad-based support of the CSA membership and the beef cattle industry with this year being no different.” A special note of appreciation was extended to Bonchuk Farms of Solsgirth, Manitoba for the donation to this year’s auction of a bred heifer for raffle which raised $16,460 which was won by Transcon Livestock Corporation and Beechinor Brothers Simmentals. New Holland Agriculture donated a tractor/baler rental which was purchased by Cudlobe Angus of Stavely, Alberta for $8,750.

presented Canadian Junior Angus Association president Michael Hargrave with a cheque for $12,145.60. The money raised was divided among eight national junior breed associations representing nearly 2,000 members and Canadian Western Agribition.

“We are extremely happy with this year’s event. With the help of our generous sponsors, we have raised nearly $300,000, which has provided opportunities to a great number of youth,” said Bryan Kostiuk, co-chairman of the tournament. “The tournament encompasses people from all segments of the industry as well as those who wish to have fun and support a great cause.”

n Bruce Holmquist, Canadian Simmental Association general manager, as well as CSA director Lacey Fisher and her husband Jacob attended the 2014 World Simmental Fleckvieh Federation (WSFF) Congress in Colombia in July. Along with tours of local farms, sites and events, there were many discussions on research projects happening around the world. The WSFF executive remains the same — Josef Kucera, president, Czech Republic; Johan Kluyts, vice-president, South Africa; Fred Schuetz, second vice-president, U.S.; Bruce Holmquist, past president.

n The Canadian Angus Association released its full lineup of Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Sales, starting in September (see full-page ad with dates in this issue) and running until March. They will present 175 sale dates at 61 auctions. While CAA field staff will visit each location through the sale season, Angus producers are encouraged to do their part to promote the breed. With that many sales and locations, everyone should be able to find a sale location near them.

The association also has new field staff this year, including recently retired director Lois McRae in Manitoba and Peter Van Staveren in Ontario.

n The seventh annual T Bar Invitational golf tournament was once again an overwhelming success, raising close to $50,000, for youth in the beef industry. Chris Poley

n The Canadian Simmental Association’s (CSA) newly restructured and renamed Friends of Canadian Simmental Foundation (FCSF) held their annual charity auction on

Feed & Water Testing Ph: 204-237-9128 Fax:855-754-1046 www.ctl.mb.ca

44

C at t l e m e n · au g u s t 2 0 1 4

Email: deb.wilson@ fbcpublishing.com

n Canadian Simmental producers from across Canada gathered at the Elkhorn Resort in Clear Lake, Man., July 25-27 for the Canadian Simmental Association’s 46th annual general meeting. Along with the annual meeting keynote speaker Dr. Dorrian Garrick, of Iowa State University and executive director of the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium gave a presentation on current developments in genomics and EPDs. CSA members elected two new directors to the board, Lee McMillen of Carievale, Sask., and Blair McRae of Brandon, Man., and returning director Kelly Ashworth, Oungre, Sask.

Retiring from the board are past president Fraser Redpath and Deanne Youn.

The new executive for 2014-15 executive is composed of president Kelly Ashworth, first vice-president John Sullivan, Kazabazua, Que., and second vice-president Lacey Fisher of Amherst, N.S. n The 2014 Canada Beef Annual Forum takes place September 18-19 in Toronto.

The theme, “The Power of the Brand — Building Loyal Partnerships” will explore leveraging traditional and non-traditional

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

PURELY PUREBRED

partnerships within the industry to create brand loyalty. September 18 will be a full day of presentations including the industry panel and the evening banquet dinner.

The CBI AGM will follow on September 19 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. n 2014 Young Leaders — Tessa Nybo, Sundre, Alta.

Mentor: Jamie-Rae Pittman, Kyle, Sask.

Tessa Nybo was raised on a commercial cowcalf operation near Sundre, Alta. With her father being a veterinarian she grew up with a passion for cattle and agriculture. Through years of Tessa Nybo 4-H and showing cattle, Tessa has learned a great deal and is keen to share her knowledge with others, especially young cattle enthusiasts. She does so through her clinic business in which she offers cattle clinics, judging clinics, and public speaking clinics for 4-H clubs as well as at events such as Farmfair International. She also owns a herd of commercial show cattle from which she raises and sells calves for 4-H and jackpot shows. Details of her services, clinics and cattle can be found at www.tessanybo.com. Tessa graduated from the Olds College Agricultural Management program with a major in marketing. She has worked for the Alberta 4-H Branch and AgCareers.com, among other positions and continues to serve on numerous 4-H and industry committees. Tessa and her fiancé, Colin Verbeek, also a CYL mentee, are moving near his family’s farm in Sturgeon County where they will begin building their own cattle operation that will include a purebred Limousin herd. Tessa appreciates the opportunity to acquire practical production knowledge as well as gain a greater perspective on the cattle industry as a whole in addition to networking through the CYL program.

Her mentor Jamie-Rae Pittman lives in the southwest of Saskatchewan where she ranches and farms with her husband, their three young children and her husband’s family. She and her husband operate under the name Pittman Holdings. The cow herd is a commercial cow-calf operation, as well they farm cereal and pulse crops. Jamie-Rae is a co-founder and art director of Bella Spur Innovative Media Inc., a marketing company with roots and a large client base in agriculture. Her involvement with the marketing industry puts her in touch with agricultural producers and agribusiness owners all across Canada.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

— Stuart Sommerville, Endiang, Alta.

Mentor: Doug Sawyer, Pine Lake, Alta.

Stuart Somerville, his wife Kayla, and their son Robbie live near Endiang, Alberta and work with Stuart’s parents on the family’s mixed grain and cow-calf operation. Stuart completed Stuart Sommerville a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Alberta in 2007 and currently shares his time between teaching in Hanna, Alberta and working on the family farm. He is proud to be the fourth generation to work this homestead, and prouder still to have the chance to introduce a fifth generation to this way of life.

His mentor Doug Sawyer is a cow-calf producer and past chair of the Alberta Beef Producers.

— Stacey Domolewski, Taber, Alta.

Mentor: Terry Hockaday, Calgary, Alta.

Stacey Domolewski is from Taber, Alta., where she is part of her family’s Red Angus operation, C.D. Land and Cattle. They calve 180 purebred cows and hold their bull sale the Stacey Domolewski second Saturday of March on the farm. Stacey has been very involved with Junior Angus Associations acting as a director on both the Alberta and Canadian Junior Angus boards. She has really enjoyed the opportunity to help plan and organize junior shows and events. Stacey was also selected as the 2012-13 Robert C. McHaffie Junior National Angus Ambassador where she had the opportunity to attend many shows, events, and tour farms and Angus operations all across Canada.

She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2013 with her animal science degree, and is currently back at the U of S completing her master’s degree in animal science. Upon completion of her degree she hopes to pursue a career in extension and communication, while still remaining actively involved in her family’s farm.

Her mentor, Terry Hockaday is the president of Meristem, an Alberta-based communications company specializing in agriculture with products such as the web-based Meristem Land and Science and NewStream, a digital news service. n To advance the potential in genomics, the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency

(ALMA) is partnering with Livestock Gentec and the University of Alberta on two projects on the relationship between genomics and residual feed intake (RFI).

Scientists from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development as well as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are also involved in the projects. Along with ALMA, the Beef Cattle Research Council, Canadian Angus Association, Canadian Charolais Association and Beefbooster are also supporting these projects. n Mel Reekie has been promoted to the role of general manager for the Canadian Charolais Association. Mel joined the association as office manager back in May of 2012. n Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) vice-president Dan Darling was in Calgary, in early summer, to attend roundtables on reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program hosted by Economic and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Minister Jason Kenney. The first roundtable had more Continued on page 46

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PU R E LY PU R E B R E D

n A Charolais-cross steer owned and shown by Megan McLeod of Cochrane, (left) was slapped 2014 UFA Grand Champion steer by judges Lee and Dawn Wilson, Bashaw, Alta. at the Calgary Stampede. Megan was also a recipient of one of the Youth Foundation Scholarships at the stampede. The 1,316-pound Canadian steer is off a purebred Charolais cow and sired by Monopoly. It has been named Champion at nine shows since the fall of 2013 and brought in over $18,000 in cash and prizes.

The reserve Grand Champion, and Hereford Champion steer, is co-owned

by Barry Olney, his daughter Emily Geisel, both of Estevan, Sask., and Cody Lafrentz of Bienfait, Sask. The steer is out of a Hereford/ Maine Anjou cow sired by the bull Believe in Me. It is the third year in a row the Champion Hereford steer has gone on to place Reserve Grand Champion.

Continued from page 45

than 20 participants from a range of industries, including the cattle sector, that shared its concerns with the recently announced reforms and the impact they would have of its various sectors. The second roundtable involved processors. The CCA is pleased that the recently announced reforms recognize the chronic and long-term labour challenges of primary agriculture but more work needs to be done on the processing side. There is a real concern that the recent changes will negatively impact packing operations. All the opportunity in new market access (and in existing markets) depends on processing profitably. Exemptions or other methods to allow targeted access beyond the levels spelled out in the recent changes need to be considered. nAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Gerry Ritz and Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification Michelle Rempel joined Canada Beef chair Chuck MacLean and president Rob Meijer to announce $3,844,800 in funding for the new Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence.

“Our government is proud to support this cutting-edge facility. This centre will give our industry a competitive advantage in showcasing Canada’s top-quality meats and will allow our producers to capitalize on new and existing market opportunities,” said Minister Ritz. This state-of-the-art facility will provide space and resources to help the industry promote new beef products, training and education,

46

C at t l e m e n · au g u s t 2 0 1 4

focused around the technical advantages of Canadian beef, and play a valuable role in marketing Canadian beef domestically and internationally. “The Centre of Excellence will further empower our industry to reach consumers and customers both here at home and around the world to build brand loyalty and generate new marketing opportunities,” said Meijer. With a full commercial kitchen, meat case, classroom, dining facilities and broadcast capabilities, the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence will become a cornerstone in the Canadian beef industry, and provide a focal point for domestic and international marketing opportunities, and incoming trade missions. The Centre of Excellence should be completed in Calgary in December 2014. n Corinne Gibson of Fir Mountain, Sask, was elevated from the position of president elect to president of the Canadian Angus Association at its recent national convention in Moose Jaw. Tammi Ribey of Paisley, Ont., is the new president elect of the association and Kevin Blair of Lanigan, Sask. moved into the past president’s chair. Several new directors were also elected with Doug Reid and Brett Wildman replacing retiring directors Gary Latimer and Dawn Wilson in Alberta. Shawn Birmingham replaces retiring director Lois McRae in Manitoba; Ryan Currie replaces retiring director Jérôme Richard in Quebec and Trevor Welch replaces retiring director Jim Colodey in the Maritimes. All five new directors will serve three-year terms and be eligible for re-election to a second term.

n Results from Colonial Days in Lloydminster, Sask. July 16, 2014: • Classic Steer Stake — Grand Champion Steer: Bar SK Cattle and Wade Brokenshire, Lloydminster, Alta.

— Reserve Champion Steer: Cassidy Serhienko, Maymont, Sask.

• Heifer Classic Show — Supreme Champion Heifer: Jenn’s 1406 Fay 135A exhibited by Jennifer Jones, Lloydminster, Sask.

— Reserve Champion Heifer: HLC 1220 Sweet Emotion 36ZA exhibited by Nicki J. Ross and Hollinger Land & Cattle, Duchess, Alta.

• Junior All Breed Beef Show — Grand Champion Bull Calf: French Fry exhibited by Jarrett Sroka, Maidstone, Sask.

— Reserve Grand Champion Bull Calf: Chica’s Zorro exhibited by Brianna Kimmel, Lloydminster, Alta.

— Grand Champion British Breeds Female: Jenn’s 1406 Fay 135A exhibited by Jennifer Jones, Lloydminster, Sask.

— Reserve Grand Champion British Breeds Female: Justamere 40 Mistress 420A exhibited by Jorja Fox, Lloydminster, Sask.

— Grand Champion European Breeds Female: NGDB Ace of Spades 339A exhibited by Quinn Hoegl, Lloydminster, Sask.

— Reserve Grand Champion European Breeds Female: CMS Poker Annie exhibited

by Brianna Kimmel, Lloydminster, Alta.

— Overall Grand Champion Female: Jenn’s 1406 Fay 135A exhibited by Jennifer Jones, Lloydminster, Sask.

— Overall Reserve Champion Female: Justamere 40 Mistress 420A exhibited by Jorja Fox, Lloydminster, Sask. c

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

 Market Su mma ry

By Debbie McMillin

TheMarkets Fed Cattle It seems like a repeat of old news but once again in the summer of 2014 fed cattle cash prices continue to break records with Alberta fed steers moving up by more than $7 in the past two weeks to $162.95 per cwt. That’s $42.23 per cwt or $610 per head more than the same week in 2013.

Granted, small cash offerings capitalized on this rising market as many feedlots were well contracted ahead of the most recent rallies. Tight protein supplies and strong retail demand have pushed prices up by 25 per cent since the start of the year.

The cash-to-cash basis has strengthened over the past two weeks by more than $7 to $3.17 under the U.S. at mid-July, nearly $3 narrower than last year.

While overall exports of fed cattle to date are down three per cent, the pace picked up in June. The numbers in the last week of the month were up 20 per over the previous week and 60 per cent over the same week in 2013, bringing the total exports for the first six months of 2014 to 207,682 head. Domestically steer slaughter is up six per cent year to date at 705,470 head while the heifers kill is up 12 per cent at 469,774.

Feeder Cattle The feeder cattle market has moved right along with the fed market throughout the summer. In anticipation of a smaller grass yearling supply buyers are already looking for inventory and sellers are more eager to sell yearlings with a future delivery date. The 850-pound steer price generally gains through the summer and 2014 has been exceptional with Alberta prices currently averaging $202.33 per cwt or $1,720 per head.

Recently some forward-sold yearlings with a third-quarter delivery date were

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reported at $1,900-$2,000/head. The current 850 weight price is $69.83 or nearly $600 per head above last year.

The cash to futures has narrowed some to $22.36 under the U.S., moving more into line with last year in mid-July. The prices on smaller feeders continue to soar although lower volumes are available. In mid-July 550-weight Alberta steers were trading for an average $241 per cwt or $1,325 per head, nearly $600 per head higher than the same time last year. Feeder cattle exports have slowed considerably in the past four weeks however, year-to-date exports are still 43 per cent ahead of last year.

Non-Fed Cattle Cow and bull prices have also soared to new levels. D1,2 cows are up over 44 per cent since the start of the year, averaging $115 per cwt in mid-July, which is $35 per cwt ahead of last year. Strong export demand also has bulls averaging $124.57 with some in the $130s. Nonfed exports are mixed with cow shipments down 12 per cent from last year and bull exports up 12 per cent in the first half of the year. The smaller cow supply is showing up in the domestic slaughter, down five per cent from a year ago at 215,340 head. Bull slaughter is up seven per cent at 2,006 head.

The drought-induced sell-off of cows in the U.S. over the past few years has left a very tight supply of grinding cuts and trim this summer to try and fill U.S. grills. To date, U.S. beef cow slaughter is down 14 per cent and dairy cow slaughter is down 11 per cent. c Debbie McMillin is a market analyst who ranches at Hanna, Alta.

 DE B ’S OUTLOOK Fed Cattle The fed cash market is expected to trend slightly lower following new highs and a dip in cut-out values. However, retail prices are sky high and will continue to climb as current beef supplies move through the pipeline. Seasonal trends point toward fed prices coming under pressure in the near term, however, the supply fundamentals remain supportive.

Smaller carcass weights and current feedlots mean tighter beef supplies. That coupled with strong demand despite the high prices will limit the downside.

Feeder Cattle The grain crop will be the main market factor to watch over the next month.

Recent pressure in the corn futures fuelled an upturn in the feeder cattle prices however, a mix of extreme wet and very hot, dry weather across the Prairies may cause some ripples. At the moment there’s still too much growing season left to try and predict the final crop. The fundamentals remain strong as we move closer to the fall run. Overall calf crop numbers are smaller and in addition more cattle seem to be forward sold which will add to the competition for available cattle.

Positive profit margins at the feedlot level will also support the feeder cattle market as buyers look to swap in new inventory and keep pens full.

Non-Fed Outlook Solid support will continue for non-fed cattle moving forward. Typically the August cow prices would be pressured with higher numbers coming to town.

This year high fed cattle prices and cut-out values coupled with tight cow supplies will soften the seasonal downturn. The demand for cows in the U.S. will put a solid floor under cull cattle.

More markets 

C a t t l e m e n · a u g u s t 2 0 1 4 47

M A R K ETS

Break-even Prices on A-Grade Steers

Market Prices

160

250

ALBERTA

150

210

140

190

130

170

120 110 165 155

Steer Calves (500-600 lb.)

230

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

130 120

ONTARIO

100

135

90

125

80

115

70

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

60

2014 2013

D1,2 Cows

110

145

Canfax weighted average price on A-Grade steers

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

Break-even price for steers on date sold 2014-15 2013

July 2014 prices* Alberta Yearling steers (850 lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $196.52/cwt Barley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.20/bu.

Barley silage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.50/ton Cost of gain (feed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64.57/cwt Cost of gain (all costs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96.96/cwt Fed steers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153.41/cwt Break-even (December 2014) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157.41/cwt Ontario Yearling steers (850 lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $202.54/cwt Corn silage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.84/ton Grain corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.48/bu.

Cost of gain (feed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70.69/cwt Cost of gain (all costs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98.40/cwt Fed steers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164.23/cwt Break-even (January 2015) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159.45/cwt *Mid-month to mid-month prices Breakevens East: end wt 1,450, 183 days West end wt 1,325 lb., 125 days

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

Ontario

Alberta

2014 2013

2014 2013

Ontario prices based on a 50/50 east/west mix

Market Summary (to June 28) 2014

2013

Total Canadian federally inspected slaughter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,350,143. . . . . . . . . . 1,272,316 Average steer carcass weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 844 lb.. . . . . . . . . . . . 875 lb.

Total U.S. slaughter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,340,000. . . . . . . 16,405,000

Trade Summary Exports 2014 2013 Fed cattle to U.S. (to June 28). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207,682.. . . . . . . . . . .214,288 Feeder cattle and calves to U.S. (to June 28). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227,638.. . . . . . . . . . . 159,413 Dressed beef to U.S. (to May). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200.56 mil.lbs.. . . . . 182.83 mil.lbs Total dressed beef (to May). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278.03 mil.lbs.. . . . 254.85 mil.lbs IMPORTS 2014 2013 Slaughter cattle from U.S. (to May) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 *Dressed beef from U.S. (to May) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115.25 mil.lbs. . . . . . 148.57 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Australia (to May) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.79 mil.lbs. . . . . . . 14.73 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from New Zealand (to May) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.22 mil.lbs. . . . . . . 15.75 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Uruguay (to May) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.78 mil.lbs. . . . . . . .17.79 mil.lbs Canadian Grades (to August 2, 2014) % of A grades +59% 54-58% AAA 23.6 21.9 AA 28.9 8.2 A 1.8 0. 1 Prime 0.3 0.5 Total 30.7 54.6

EAST WEST

Total graded 351,375 1,231,113

Yield – 53% Total 10.4 55.9 1.8 38.9 0.0 1.9 0.7 1.5 12.9 Total A grade 98.2%

Total ungraded 14,121 158

% carcass basis 81.8% 88.5% Only federally inspected plants

48

C at t l e m e n · au g u s t 2 0 1 4

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

 market ta l k

By Gerald Klassen

Feed Grain Price Outlook

I

’ve received many inquiries as to the price outlook for feed grains over the past month as crop conditions vary across Western Canada. A fair portion of the wheat crop was seeded after June 1 which will be susceptible to frost. The U.S. corn crop has been developing under favourable conditions setting the stage for imports in southern Alberta during the harvest season. It is that time of year where I generally discuss the fundamentals for Canadian barley and U.S. corn as these crops will dictate the price structure should adverse harvest conditions influence the wheat crop.

Statistics Canada estimated seeded barley area at 6.1 million acres, which is down 14 per cent from 2013. Using an average yield projection of 65 bushels per acre, the crop size is expected to finish at 7.8 million mt, down from 10.2 million mt last year. Total supplies will be 9.7 million mt as of August 1, 2014, down 1.5 million mt in comparison to August 1, 2013.

The function of the barley market is to ration demand away from offshore channels. Domestic feed prices will need to trade at a premium to the world market to slow exports. At the time of writing this article, elevator bids in the non-major feeding regions of Western Canada were in line with world values. Export prices are under pressure as barley from Ukraine, Russia, Romania and Bulgaria saturate North Africa and Middle East demand. Exports for 2014-15 crop year are estimated at 700,000 mt of which will be mostly malt barley. Cattle-on-feed inventories have been running eight to 10 per cent above year-ago levels and this will likely continue through 2014-15; therefore, feed demand will be about the same as last year.

The carry-out for the 2014-15 crop year is estimated at 1.1 million

mt, down from the 2013-14 ending stocks of 2.0 million mt and sharply below the 10 year average of 2.1 million mt.

The fundamentals for the U.S. corn crop are exactly the opposite to Canadian barley. The USDA is estimating the U.S. corn crop at 13.8 billion bushels which is marginally lower than the 2013 crop.

Notice that total supplies which includes the carry-in stocks is estimated at 15.1 billion bushels, up from the 2013-14 total supply of 14.9 billion bushels.

The largest difference on the demand front will be the U.S. corn export program. During the 2013-14 campaign, exports were 1.9 billion bushels but will only reach 1.7 billion bushels during 2014-15.

Ending stocks are expected to finish at 1.8 billion bushels compared to the 2013-14 carry-out of 1.2 billion bushels and the five-year average of 1.3 billion bushels. The function of the corn market is to encourage export movement. This will result in U.S. corn flowing into southern Alberta in the latter half of the 2014-15 crop year.

The fundamental structure difference for barley and corn will influence feeder cattle prices. The cost-per-pound gain is expected to be higher in Western Canada compared to the U.S. and this may cause U.S. order buyers to bid more aggressively for feeder cattle in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. Feedlot operators need to be aware of this especially in the latter half of the crop year when barley prices are expected to trade at a premium to imported U.S. corn values delivered into southern Alberta. c

Supply and disposition of Canadian barley (’000 tonnes)

u.s. corn Supply and demand

StatsCan 10/11

StatsCan 11/12

StatsCan 12/13

10-year average

Acres seeded

6,911

6,472

7,405

9,379

7,083

6,089

Acres harvested

5,899

5,843

6,797

8,280

6,554

5,480

Yield (bu./ac.)

59.21

61.00

54.10

57.48

Estimated Estimated 13/14 14/15

71.70

65.00

Opening stocks Aug. 1

2,583

1,441

1,195

2,149

983

1,975

Production

7,605

7,755

8,012

10,322

10,231

7.755

42

14

19

42

11

12

10,230

9,210

9,226

12,514

11,225

9,742

TOTAL SUPPLY

Acres seeded

USDA 10/11

USDA 11/12

USDA 12/13

5-year average

USDA 13/14

Potential 14/15

88.2

91.9

97.2

90.0

95.4

91.6

Acres harvested

81.4

83.9

87.4

82.2

87.7

83.8

Yield (bu./ac.)

152.8

147.2

123.4

148.4

158.8

165.3

SUPPLY (million bushels)

SUPPLY

Imports

Gerald Klassen analyzes markets in Winnipeg and also maintains an interest in the family feedlot in southern Alberta. He can be reached at gklassen7@hotmail.com.

USE

Opening stocks Aug. 1

1,708

1,128

989

1,424.6

821

1,248

Production

12,447

12,360

10,780

12,159.6

13,927

13,852

Imports TOTAL SUPPLY

27

29

162

48.0

35

30

14,182

13,516

11,931

13,632.2

14,783

15,130

4,803

4,548

4,335

4,816.8

5,175

5,200

USE (million bushels) Feed-waste-dockage

Exports

1,272

1,200

1,250

1,576

1,350

700

Seed

233

257

249

317

250

280

Human food/industrial/1

902

933

886

957

950

950

Feed-waste-dockage

6,382

5,625

5,858

7,560

6,700

6,700

Exports

1,835

1,543

731

1,590.8

1,900

1,700

TOTAL USE

8,789

8,015

8,243

10,409

9,250

8,630

TOTAL USE

13,053

12,528

11,110

12,368.0

13,535

13,335

TOTAL CARRY-OVER

1,441

1,195

983

2,105

1,975

1,112

1/includes barley processed domestically and then exported as malt

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Food seed industrial Ethanol Domestic demand

6,415

5,867

6,044

5,846.4

6,460

6,435

5,020

5,011

4,648

4,587.8

5,075

5,050

11.218

10,985

10,379

10,777.2

11,635

11,635

TOTAL CARRY-OVER

1,128

989

821

1,264.0

1,248

1,801

Stocks-to-use Ratio

8.6%

7.9%

7.4%

10.2%

9.2%

13.5%

C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

49

 GOINGS ON

Sales&Events Events September 18-19

23-25 24-25

anada Beef Annual Forum and C AGM, Toronto, Ont. Agriculture and Agri-Food Council’s Summit Up, Pomeroy Inn, Olds, Alta.

Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef AGM, Kelowna, B.C.

October 3-5

lds Fall Classic, Olds Regional O Exhibition, Olds, Alta.

November 2-9

armfair International, Northlands Expo F Centre, Edmonton, Alta.

5-8 Agri-trade Farm Show, Westerner, Red Deer, Alta.

7-16 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ont.

13

est of Canadian Agri-marketing, B Association Awards, Ottawa, Ont. 17-19 5th Annual Canada’s Forage and Grassland Conference and AGM — “Closing the Forage Gap,” Bromont, Que. 18-19 Canfax Forum, Deerfoot Inn, Calgary, Alta.

24-29 Canadian Western Agribition, Evraz Place, Regina, Sask.

December

9-11 2 014 Western Canadian Grazing Conference — “Going Beyond Sustainability,” Radisson Hotel South, Edmonton, Alta.

January 2015

10-25 National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, National Western Complex, Denver, Colorado, www.nationalwestern.com 21-23 Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, Evraz Place, Regina, Sask. c

Canadian Simmental board of directors. Front row (l to r): John Sullivan (first vice-president), Kazabazua, Que.; Maureen Mappin-Smith, Byemoor, Alta.; Kelly Ashworth (president), Oungre, Sask.; Lacey Fisher (second vice-president), Amherst, N.S. Back row (l to r): Wes Mack, Estevan, Sask.; David Milliner, Dundalk, Ont.; Lee McMillen, Carievale, Sask.; Blair McRae, Brandon, Man.; Randy Mader, Carstairs, Alta.

50

C at t l e m e n · Au g u s t 2 0 1 4

 A DV E RT IS E R IN DEX Page 43 Ability Pump Airdrie Trailer Sales 42 Assiniboia Livestock Auction 40 40 Bow Slope Shipping Assoc.

Calgary Stockyards Ltd. 40 9, 42 Canadian Angus Assoc.

Canadian Cattle Identification Assoc. 18, 19 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show 35 OBC Canadian Charolais Assoc.

Canadian Gelbvieh Assoc.

43 IFC Canadian Hereford Assoc.

Canadian Limousin Assoc.

42 Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society 42 Canadian Simmental Assoc.

42 Canadian Western Agribition 23 Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture 39 Case-IH 7 Central Testing Laboratories 44 Foothills Auctioneers Inc. 40 Ford Motor Company Canada 5 Greener Pastures 45 Grunthal Livestock Market 40 Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment 42 International Stock Foods 42 Livestock Markets Assoc.

33 Manitoba Livestock Cash Advance Inc. 40 Mankota Stockmen’s Weigh Company 40 Meadow Lake Stock Sales Ltd. 40 Merck Animal Health 11, 31 Nester Livestock 17 Nilsson Bros. Livestock 41 Northlands Farmfair International 13 Olds Auction Mart 41 Ontario Livestock Exchange Inc. 41 Perlich Bros. Auction Market Ltd. 41 Picture Butte Auction Market 41 Plain Jan’s Inc. 42 Salers Assoc. of Canada 42 Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange 41 Stettler Auction Mart (1971) 41 The Cattle Range 6 Vermeer Corporation IBC Viking Auction Market Ltd. 41 Vold, Jones & Vold Auction Co. Ltd. 37 Winnipeg Livestock Sales Ltd. 41 Zoetis Animal Health A1-A16

 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

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SIMPLICITY AT EVERY TURN. Vermeer, the Vermeer logo and Equipped to Do More are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. Š 2014 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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