CCT110912 by Farm Business Communications

SPOTLIGHTING LAMENESS IN FEEDLOTS • A NEW WAY TO MEASURE TEMPERATURE www.canadiancattlemen.ca

ANIMAL HEALTH SPECIAL

September 2011 $3.00

SUMMER CAMPS BRING IN FUTURE VETS

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240

Look for your copy of the

CUSTOM FEEDLOT GUIDE inside this issue. Sponsored by:

Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Sales for Angus Tagged Cattle Market your 2011 Angus tagged calves at these 169 Angus feature sales at 67 participating auction markets. These auctions are recognized supporters and sellers of cattle identified as Angus through the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Tag (Angus tag). * Dates may change subject to weather

BRITISH COLUMBIA

BC Livestock Producers Co-op Kamloops 250-573-3939 October 18 & 25 Okanagan Falls 250-497-5416 October 24 Vanderhoof 250-567-4333 October 21 Williams Lake 250-398-7174 October 19 Valley Auction Ltd. (Armstrong) 250-546-9420 October 22 & November 12 Vold Jones & Vold (Dawson Creek) 250-782-3766 September 19 & October 17

ALBERTA

Balog Auction Services Inc. (Lethbridge) 403-320-1980 October 18 & 25; November 1 Bow Slope Shipping Association (Brooks) 403-362-5521 October 24, 25 & 31; November 7 Burnt Lake Livestock Mart (Red Deer) 403-347-6100 October 6 & 27; November 10 Calgary Stockyards—Strathmore 403-934-3344 October 15; November 12; December 3 Dryland Cattle Trading Corp (Veteran) 403-575-3772 November 7

Grande Prairie Livestock Market 780-532-3949 November 9 Innisfail Auction Market Ltd. 403-227-3166 October 4 & 17; November 7 & 21; December 5 Medicine Hat Feeding Company Ltd. 403-526-3129 October 17, 19, 24 & 28; November 2, 4 & 11 Nilsson Bros. Inc. Clyde 780-348-5893 September 13; October 11; November 15 Vermilion 780-853-5372 October 22; November 5 Olds Auction Mart 403-556-3655 October 7 & 21 Perlich Bros Auction Market Ltd. (Lethbridge) 403-329-3101 October 5, 19, 22 & 29; November 15 Picture Butte Auction Market 403-732-4400 New November 1 Sale Provost Livestock Exchange 780-753-2369 October 24; November 7 Rimbey Auction Mart 403-843-2439 October 18 & November 18 Sekura Auctions (Drayton Valley) 780-542-4337 September 15; October 6 & 27; November 10 & 24; December 8 Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange Fort Macleod Livestock Auction 403-553-3315 October 13, 20 & 27 Highwood Livestock Auction (High River) 403-652-3343 October 26 & November 16 Stettler Auction Mart Ltd. 403-742-2368 October 14; November 4

TEAM Electronic Auction Market 403-234-7429 October 14; November 4; December 2 Triple J Livestock (Westlock) 780-349-3153 ALL October 24 TAGGED SALE Viking Auction Market 780-336-2209 October 11; November 1 Vold Jones & Vold Foothills Livestock Auction (Stavely) 403-549-2120 October 17; November 7 Ponoka 403-783-5561 September 24 & October 22

Gla

SASKATCHEWAN

Assiniboia Livestock Auction 306-642-5358 October 15 & 22; November 5, 12 & 19 Cowtown Livestock Exchange Inc. (Maple Creek) 306-662-2648 October 18, 20, 22, 27 & 29; November 1 & 3; December 3 Heartland Livestock Services Lloydminster 306-825-8831 October 19; November 7, 16 & 30 Moose Jaw 306-692-2385 October 18; November 1 & 15 Prince Albert 306-763-8463 October 4; November 15; December 6 Regina 306-757-3601 October 21 Swift Current 306-773-3174 October 15 & 22; November 5, 12, 19 & 26 Yorkton 306-783-9437 October 5; November 16 Mankota Stockmen’s Weigh Co. Ltd. ALL 306-478-2229 TAGGED SALE Oct 21; Nov 4

Angus...The Commercial Choice CAA_Cattlemen_Sep_11_Sales.indd 2-3

Int As

Kil

Ste

Str

Tay

Meadow Lake Stockyards Ltd. 306-236-3411 October 13 & 27; November 10 & 24 Parkland Livestock Market (Kelliher) 306-675-2077 October 27; November 3, 17 & 24; December 1 Saskatoon Livestock Sales 306-382-8088 November 7 & 21 Shaunavon Livestock Sales (88) Ltd. 306-297-2457 New October 17 & 28 Sale Spiritwood Stockyards 306-883-2168 October 12 & 26; November 9 & 23 Weyburn Livestock Exchange 306-842-4574 October 17 & 31; November 14 & 28 Whitewood Livestock 306-735-2822 October 18; November 1, 15 & 29

MANITOBA

Gladstone Auction Mart 204-385-2537 March 2, 2012 Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart Ltd. 204-434-6519 October 18; November 8 Heartland Livestock Services Brandon 204-727-1431 October 18; November 1 Virden 204-748-2809 October 19; November 9 & 23 Interlake Cattlemen’s Co-op Association Ltd. (Ashern) 204-768-2360 October 29 Killarney Auction Mart Ltd. 204-523-8477 October 17 & November 14 Ste. Rose Auction Mart Ltd. 204-447-2266 October 27 Strathclair Auction Mart Ltd. 204-365-5327 October 24 & November 7 Taylor Auction Service (Melita) 204-877-3834 October 20 Winnipeg Livestock Sales Ltd. 204-694-8328 September 23; October 21

ONTARIO

Brussels Livestock 519-887-6461 November 14 & 25 David Carson Farms & Auction Services Ltd. (Listowel) 519-291-2049 October 15 Kawartha Lakes Cooperative Auction Market Inc. (Woodville) 705-439-4444 October 19 Keady Livestock Market (Tara) 519-934-2339 October 27 Maple Hill Auctions (Hanover) 519-506-1400 October 24 Ontario Livestock Exchange (Waterloo) 519-884-2082 September 21; October 19; November 23 Ontario Stockyards Inc. (Cookstown) 705-458-4000 October 18 Ottawa Livestock Exchange (Greely) 613-821-2634 October 29

Canadian Angus Association 142, 6715–8th Street NE Calgary, AB T2E 7H7 Phone: (403) 571-3580 • Toll-free: 1-888-571-3580 cdnangus@cdnangus.ca • www.cdnangus.ca

QUEBEC

Encan Sawyerville Inc. (Cookshire) 819-875-3577 October 27; February 9, 2012 Réseau Encans Québec (Saint-Isidore) 418-882-6341 October 28; February 10, 2012

NOVA SCOTIA

Atlantic Stockyards Limited (Truro) 902-893-9603 November 12; February 16, 2012

CONTACTS

Western Canada: Brian Good 403-391-4037 Ken Cox 780-672-6860 British Columbia: Jack Brown 604-888-0862 Manitoba: Blair McRae 204-728-3058 Quebec/Maritimes: Wayne Gallup 819-826-3026

Congratulations Assiniboia Livestock Auction 2010 Canadian Angus Association Auction Market of the Year

10/08/2011 12:31:30 PM

September 2011

Volume 74, No. 9

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

FEATURES These summer camps bring in future vets. .................... 10 Putting our foot down on lameness in feedlots......... 14 Cull for lumpy jaw......................................................... 16 Avoiding coccidiosis in weaned calves........................... 20 Don’t forget clostridial diseases.................................. 24 Using bacteriophages to put the brakes on escherichia coli 0157:H7. ...................................... 30 A new way to measure temperature............................... 32 The pros and cons of automatic syringes..................... 34 Needle-free injection put to the test........................... 36 Verified beef production................................................ 39 Departments

COMMENT............................................... 6 NEWSMAKERS......................................... 7 LETTERS.................................................. 7 NUTRITION............................................ 31 VET ADVICE.......................................... 38 HOLISTIC RANCHING.............................. 40 CCA REPORTS...................................... 42 STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP...................... 43 PRIME CUTS......................................... 44 RESEARCH............................................ 46 NEWS ROUNDUP................................... 47 PURELY PUREBRED............................... 52 THE MARKETS...................................... 55 MARKET TALK....................................... 57 SALES & EVENTS.................................. 58

Advertising Sales: Deborah Wilson Box 19, Site 3, RR 1, High River, AB T1V 1N1 (403) 325-1695 Fax (204) 944-5562 Email: deb.wilson@fbcpublishing.com Head Office: 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 (204) 944-5765 Fax (204) 944-5562 Advertising Services Co-ordinator: Arlene Bomback (204) 944-5765 Fax (204) 944-5562 Email: ads@fbcpublishing.com Publisher: Bob Willcox Email: bob.willcox@fbcpublishing.com Associate Publisher/Editorial Director: John Morriss Email: john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com Production Director: Shawna Gibson Email: shawna@fbcpublishing.com Assistant Production Manager: Farrah Wilson Email: farrah@fbcpublishing.com Director of Sales and Circulation: Lynda Tityk Email: lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com Circulation Manager: Heather Anderson Email: heather@fbcpublishing.com Contents of C attlemen are copyrighted and may be reproduced only when written permission is obtained from the editor and proper credit is given to Cattlemen. Cattlemen and Canadian Cattlemen are Trade Marks of Farm Business Communications. Cattlemen is published monthly (with the exception of July and 2 issues in Februar y and October) by Farm Business Communications. Head of fice: Winnipeg, Manitoba. Printed by Transcontinental LGMC. Cattlemen is printed with linseed oil-based inks. Subscription rates in Canada — $33 for one year, $49 for 2 years (prices include GST). Manitoba residents add 7% PST. U.S. subscription rate — $35 (U.S. funds). Subscription rate outside Canada and U.S. — $55 per year. Single copies $3. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

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Cattlemen / september 2011 4

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

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Ask your veterinarian about ZACTRAN common sense BRD protection ZACTRAN™ is a trademark of Merial Limited. © 2011 Merial Canada Inc. All rights reserved. ZACT-11-7560-JA 1. Huang RA, Letendre LT, Banav N, Fischer J & Somerville, BA. Pharmacokinetics of gamithromycin in cattle with comparison of plasma and lung tissue concentrations and plasma antibacterial activity. J. Vet. Pharmacol. Therap. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2885.2009.01125.x.

c o m m e n t

by Gren Winslow

Canada Beef gets rolling

A packer is put in charge

he producers charged with merging the two marketing arms of the Canadian cattle industry seem to have struck a fine balance. The top tier of the newly created Canada Beef Inc. announced in late July is made up of people from both the Canada Beef Export Federation (CBEF) and the Beef Information Centre (BIC) but an outsider and former packer has been put in charge. Robert Meijer has worked for Cargill for the past 14 years, most recently as director of corporate affairs. During his career he managed the business end of 19 Cargill units dealing with beef, poultry, milling, malt, grain handling and port services, animal nutrition and canola processing. In his last position he was responsible for government relations and regulation, communication and community relations. He’s also built up a network of contacts within the agriculture community as a member of the Federal Beef Roundtable, the Flax Council of Canada, the Malt Industry Association of Canada, the Western Grain Elevator Association, the Canada Grains Council and the Canadian Meat Council. We should also remember that he was one of two packer members who resigned from the CBEF board along with past chairman Ben Thorlakson when a special meeting in February failed to endorse the merger. So he’s not a complete stranger to these organizations, although his appointment is still something of a surprise. When the merger talks began in earnest this spring BIC’s CEO Glenn Brand, and CBEF’s president, Ted Haney, were viewed as the early frontrunners to become the new president. Both men had worked their way up through the ranks of their organizations and served producers with passion and dedication during their careers. Of course, they regularly ended up butting heads as each fought for their share of the checkoff dollars that formed the base of both budgets. It is impossible to know what was in the minds of committee members when they made the final selection. The fact that neither Haney or Brand were chosen to head up Canada Beef may indicate the committee didn’t want to skew the new group toward one organization over the other. Or it may be that Meijer’s broad range of experience better represents the direction the producers want their new marketing arm to take in the future. The next level more clearly reflects the past.

6 Cattlemen / september 2011

Cam Daniels who was in charge of export services for CBEF becomes responsible for building relationships with key partners and customers in Canada and around the world as the Canada Beef vice-president of global relations. Herb McLane, a former executive vice-president of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, past member of Federal Beef Roundtable and CBEF vice-president of international programs, takes on a similar role with Canada Beef as vice-president, international. In the new job he will lead the company’s international operations and take a more active role in co-ordinating market development activities with senior government officials. John Baker carries his senior position at BIC over as vice-president, North America where he will head up market development activities in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. He’s also in charge of technical services. Ron Glaser is vice-president of corporate services and communication, a role he handled capably at BIC and earlier at the Alberta Beef Producers. Michael Shittu also carries over his job from CBEF as vice-president, finance for Canada Beef. The Canada Beef board of directors is exactly as expected, 10 producers and six from the trade — packers, processors and retailers. The larger cattle-producing provinces have one producer rep at the table. Alberta has two to accommodate the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association who gained a seat for supporting the mandatory $1 national checkoff in Alberta until 2013. The two directors at large represent Maritime producers. One reason the old CBEF board resisted the merger so long was to ensure that the new Canada Beef board would include packers and processors, since these are after all the people who sell the beef. Canada Beef’s role is to assist the trade in developing new markets, gather market intelligence and promote beef consumption at home. Of course, this particular board will also be responsible for collecting the national checkoff. Corporate mergers are often messy affairs but it is to be hoped this one will jell fairly quickly. The people already know each other, the overall task remains the same and they won’t have to waste time bickering over who should get a larger share of the producers’ money. Some will go to research and the lion’s share will be spent on Canada Beef. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

NEWSMAKERS Brian and Glenys Weedon of the Weedon Ranch are the 2011 recipient of The Environmental Stewardship Award and Glenys (TESA), a national BrianWeedon award presented by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association to recognize innovative sustainable management practices by cattle producers. The Weedon Ranch encompasses approximately 11,500 acres of native prairie range and 1,920 acres of tame grass in the dry brown soil zone of Saskatchewn. Located near Swift Current, the ranch is mostly in a sandhill ecosystem, making water and grass management a priority for the Weedon’s Black Angus cow-calf and backgrounding operation. Potable surface water is scarce so they installed shallow buried water pipelines, water stations, windmills and dugouts to give the maximum utilization of their range pastures. “Over the last 20 or 30 years, driving around our area in Western Canada, I think what we’re doing on our ranch at one time might have been considered the exception but I believe now it is the norm,” said Brian when accepting the award. Bryan Boyle has retired from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs after 35 years as an

LETTERS Nothing changes This is a letter I found dated Jan. 24, 1986 from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association had written to the Prime Minister on Sept. 2, 1985 re: a proposed National Income Stabilization Plan for cattle producers. Here we are 25 years later and nothing has changed. On June 29, this year, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Carol Mitchell announced a permanent Risk Management Insurance Program for Ontario cattle producers. (Ed. Note: Ontario is still seeking support from Ottawa and the other provinces for its plan) RON OSWALD CHESLEY, ONT. (RON IS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE CANADIAN CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION) www.canadiancattlemen.ca

extension agent. His weaning-weight program in Peterborough County became a template for the provincial Red Meat Program. He has also been lauded for kick starting the feeder finance cooperative in Lambton County as well as producing a must-read monthly newsletter. Boyle has now moved on to a second career as a mediation consultant. Cattlewomen for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament raised $49,000 for Ronald McDonald House, the group’s 2011 charity of choice at their sixth annual event in Medicine Hat last month. Cattlewomen for the Cure’s prizes included donations to food banks. This year, $1,000 is being donated to the Maple Creek food bank and $500 to the Nanton food bank. For more details go to www.cattlewomenforthecure.com. Ken Malterer won the Calgary Stampede’s Quality Beef Competition for the second year in a row with a Speckle Park steer from his Ponoka, Alta.-based Ponderosa Farms. The competition features animals from the Stampede’s UFA Steer Classic show and is judged strictly on carcass quality as assessed by Canadian grade inspector and lead judge, Fred Taylor. Malterer’s Speckle Park steer had AAA 60 marbling, a rib eye of 93 sq. cm rib eye and 668.4-pound carcass. Aaron Miller of Cremona, Alta., Dear Mr. Oswald Thank you for your letter of Sept. 3, 1985, in which you reaffirm the support of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association for the proposed National Income Stabilization Plan for cattle producers and request that I meet with representatives of the association at an early date on this issue. As I expect you are aware, the Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable John Wise is vigorously pursuing the implementation of the stabilization plan with his provincial counterparts with a view to having it come into effect as soon as possible. The Government of Ontario, in this context, committed itself to participate in the stabilization plan, and for hogs and lambs, on Nov. 25, 1985. I understand that there are good prospects that the Governments of the other provinces will also indicate their intention to participate in the plan in the near future. Yours sincerely

took second prize with an Angus steer while Bill and Brad Lamport of Balzac, Alta., placed third and fourth with a Hereford and a Speckle Park. The Cattlemen’s Young Leaders candidates for 2011 were matched with their appropriate mentors at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s Semiannual meetings in Calgary last month. The Candidates and their mentors are: Kelsey Brandon (Alta.): Dr. Calvin Booker — Feedlot Health Management Services; Hayley Rutherford (Alta.): Charlie Gracey — Industry Consultant; Ryan Beierbach (Sask.): Kim McConnell — AdFarm; Christy Goldhawk (Alta.): Dr. Owen Roberts — University of Guelph; Tara Mulhern Davidson (Sask.): Sandy Russell — Spring Creek Land and Cattle Consulting; Virgil Lowe (Alta.): John Weekes — Bennett Jones; Lyndsay Smith (Alta.): Owen McAuley — Producer; Jeff Braisher (B.C.): Brenda Schoepp — BEEFLINK; Sheldon Kyle (Sask.): Harry Haney — Agriculture Financial Services Corp.; Sarah Anderson (Sask.): Mabel Hamilton — Belvin Angus; Amanda Rosborough (Ont.): Dr. Allan Preston — Producer and DVM; Cody Krentz (Man.): Willie Van Solkema — Industry Consultant; Allison Porter (Sask.): Brent Difley — Elanco; Ellen Hondl (Alta.): Chris Simpson — MNP; Mark Lyseng (Alta.): Dr. Roger Davis — Davis-Rairden International; Becky Fenton (Alta.): Dr. Kee Jim — Feedlot Health Management Services. In August Ottawa and provinces came up with $448 million in AgriRecovery funding for flooded prairie producers in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. It provides $30 per eligible acre for crop land unseeded as of June 20, and seeded crop flooded out by July 31. Livestock producers can apply for pasture rents and the cost of trucking feed or livestock to drier sites. Saskatchewan added some Growing Forward money to offer feedlots up to $250,000 to renovate the clay base in flooded pens. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says the Saskatchewan program provides a good template for a national scheme. Ottawa also extended tax deferrals on breeding herd sales in flooded municipalities of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Producers can defer 30 per cent of income when 15 per cent of the herd is sold up to 90 per cent when 30 per cent of the cows are shipped out. C CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011 7

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EDUCATION

Dissecting the bovine heart, lung and eyes.

THESE SUMMER CAMPS BRING IN FUTURE VETS

he welcome mat was rolled out for some very special guests at three of Canada’s veterinary medicine schools during the summer break. For the 13th year running, aspiring young veterinarians filled vet-med summer camps to the max at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and the idea has now caught on at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in Saskatoon and the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). Week-long camps offer students classroom, lab and field instruction from vet student co-ordinators and faculty. AVC hosts three camps for junior high students and one for high school students. WCVM runs four for kids in grades five and six and three for junior high students. UCVM ran its first two junior camps this summer. The Atlantic program is called the Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp in recognition of the man who started them. The program received the national gold medal for community outreach by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education in 2008 and 2010.

10 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

Ogilvie, who was dean of AVC at the time, says the idea of exposing school-aged children to a veterinary career came about through conversation with colleagues. He felt it would be a worthwhile recruitment exercise and provide gainful summer employment for veterinary students who would organize and lead the camps. He also credits Dr. Lonnie King, then dean of Michigan State University (MSU) and now Ohio State University, for advancing the idea at MSU at the same time he was organizing camps at AVC because they were able to bat around ideas. Two totally different camps evolved with MSU holding a big, one-time blitz each year and AVC offering four week-long camps for about 50 students each in July. “When I open vet camp each week, I always tell the parents that each day when they pick up their camper, he or she will take them by the hand and recount the wonders they learned and saw that day,” says Ogilvie, who is currently a professor in large animal medicine with AVC’s department of health management. “I make it clear

that this is a recruitment exercise to show them the breadth and width of veterinary medicine and the interrelationship between environmental, animal and human health and many careers that can come of that.” There have always been far more applicants than seats, so a draw is held each summer to select the lucky campers. Most come from Atlantic Canada but they’ve had campers from across Canada, the U.S., Europe, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Usually they mirror the admissions to AVC, which is about 80 per cent female equally split between city and rural. Campers learn about life as a veterinarian by viewing surgeries, touring anatomy and pathology labs, or learning about radiology, animal welfare, pet first aid, pocket pets, and gain some hands-on experience with microscopes and the maintaining the health of aquaculture systems. Tours of the P.E.I Humane Society shelter and a local dairy farm fill out the program. Former camper Erin Ramsay graduated with her DVM this May. Another, Continued on page 12 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

REAL WORLD CHALLENGES. ONE CLEAR WINNER. SEE IT ALL AT CHEVROLET.CA MOBILE ENABLED

D H O D SILVERA OLET 2011 CHEVR

OF END TRUCK MOTOR TR

THE YEAR速

Dissecting hearts and inspecting the inside of a cow’s rumen score high with these future vets. Continued from page 10

Tori Hall, returned this year to work with counsellors with an eye to organizing a similar service at Mississippi State University, where she is currently enrolled in veterinary medicine. To read more about the AVC program, visit www.upei.ca/avc.

UCVM Meghan McCarty wasn’t lucky enough to be one of the ones’s drawn to attend the Atlantic vet camp but she was quick to accept the challenge of creating and leading UCVM’s first vet camp this summer. “I always knew I wanted to be a veterinarian and this (camp) is something I would have wanted to do,” she says. McCarty and fellow co-coordinator, Melissa Tannahill, set the wheels in motion last November creating lesson plans, arranging for supplies, recruiting other students and staff to assist in specific areas, and organizing the advertising and registration for two separate week-long camps with 24 spaces each. Registration was on a first-come-firstserve basis and within no time, there was a waiting list. Courses involving live animals were a favourite and provided an opportunity to learn about how to handle animals to keep the stress level as low as possible, McCarty says. But many of the hands-on activities, such as palpat12 Cattlemen / September 2011

ing a cow, delivering a calf and milking a cow involved some of the college’s life-like animal models professionally designed and molded for use in teaching veterinary skills to college students. Outside the classroom and labs campers toured the college’s wildlife research centre and the Calgary Zoo led by one of the zoo veterinarians. UCVM plans to offer the program again next year and possibly add more sessions. Updates will be posted on www.vet.ucalgary.ca.

WCVM When WCVM vet camp leader Rebecca Jackson surveys campers at the end of each day to find out what they enjoyed the most dissecting the bovine heart, lung and eyes freshly prepared by a local butcher consistently tops the list, followed closely by a visit to the dairy barn to feel inside the rumen of a canulated cow. On the lighter side, the parasitology plays for which the campers dress up and act the parts of a parasite and host, and making brain caps to learn about the parts of the brain are big hits. The visit to the Canadian Light Source, a national synchrotron research facility in Saskatoon where they are opening a veterinary medicine beam for specialized images, was a unique experience. And any activities involving live animals are always listed among the favourites. The demand is such that the 132

spots in all seven camps sold out in a week and Jackson suspects they could double up on the numbers as word of the camp spreads. Camp leaders promote all the U of S Sci-Fi camps by hosting satellite workshops in schools during May and June. “Then, we get to put our creativity to work to design our camp programs,” says Jackson, who is entering her second year of veterinary medicine. Each week she is assisted by different partners from the full Sci-Fi program, which gives undergrads an opportunity to rotate through various camps to gain experience in different faculties. Many of those who partner with her are already interested in veterinary medicine. Every Friday, faculty members join the group to talk about how and why they became veterinarians. “The goal of the camps is for the kids to have fun and to solidify their interest in veterinary medicine. The two really go hand-in-hand,” Jackson adds. “Nearly all of the kids who sign up for camp have indicated an interest in veterinary medicine, but to most of them, that means cats and dogs. My personal goal is to show them how broad it is so they gain an appreciation of the vastness of the profession and the spectrum of options in veterinary medicine.” For more details visit www.scifi. C usask.ca. — Debbie Furber www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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RESEARCH

PUTTING OUR FOOT DOWN ON LAMENESS IN FEEDLOTS

dentifying lame animals seems an easy task. After all, lameness is when pain or discomfort causes a change in the way an animal walks. Cattle, however, are stoic creatures and might not show much until the pain is severe. And that has made it a challenge to understand the degree of lameness in feedlots. Previous research looked at the causes of lameness in feedlots, from injuries to infectious disease and treatments. Our studies provide a starting point for developing effective treatment protocols for lameness, by developing an understanding of the true prevalence in feedlots and the characteristics of these cases. In previous research lameness was reported in 15 to 30 per cent of animals at slaughter but the potential for rejection of downers at slaughter likely causes such audits to under represent the true prevalence of lameness in feedlots. In the summer of 2010, we gathered preliminary data on lameness in the chronic/hospital pens at three different feedlots near Lethbridge. Every two weeks for three months researchers and two independent observers “gait scored” cattle, noting the limb involved and the severity of any apparent lameness. Blood profiles, weight and temperature of every animal in the chronic pen were collected along with their treatment history, days on feed and the feedlot’s diagnosis that sent them to the sick pen. Every animal in a chronic pen was evaluated, unless they were nonambulatory. For our purposes it was agreed that chronic pens were meant to function as housing for ill animals whether shortor long-term and all such pens at the feedlots were evaluated. Across all three feedlots, a total of 275 animals were observed in the 14 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

This Hereford calf was scored as lame in the left rear leg. chronic pens seven times over three months. The prevalence of lameness in the chronic pens varied between 32.8 and 52.8 per cent for an overall average of 37 per cent. In 77.5 per cent of these cases it was a rear leg that was affected. According to the pen checker’s diagnoses, lameness accounted for 37.4 per cent of animals in the chronic pen, respiratory disease for 35.7 per cent, and respiratory disease in combination with lameness, 10.9 per cent. The other 16 per cent were in for various conditions such as bloat, vaginal prolapse, pinkeye and nervous disease. This short-term study indicates that under 2010 conditions lameness represents a relatively high proportion of

chronic pen cases The results show a much higher prevalence for lameness than found in one U.S. study that linked lameness to 16 per cent of health problems and five per cent of deaths. The spring and summer of 2010 was a particularly wet one in southern Alberta so sloppy pen conditions may have contributed to this higher incidence. Additional data would be needed to better assess the impact of seasonal variation and how pen condition affects the risk of lameness in feedlots. Treatment histories indicated lame Continued on page 15 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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animals were treated less than those with other pathologies. This is likely due to the presence of more aggressive treatment protocols being set for respiratory disease and the “other” category. For some types of lameness, especially severe cases, there may not be a treatment option that can restore the animal to a healthy state. This lack of a strategy for handling these cases becomes an issue for these animals, who by definition are experiencing pain and discomfort. Animals cut out for lameness in conjunction with respiratory disease were given a first treatment an average of 17.3 days on feed compared to 74.2 days in cattle pulled for lameness alone. This may reflect the stoic nature of cattle and the challenge for pen riders in identifying cases before the lameness becomes severe. Reviews of lameness in feedlot cattle in the U.S. have found that significant amounts of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) generally precede signs of lameness and suggest a pneumonia-arthritis syndrome as the cause. It is plausible that the syndrome is involved in the earlier treatment of lame animals with respiratory issues in the current study. Cattle scored as lame by researchers gained an average of 7.5 kilograms less during the two weeks between observations than the other cattle in the chronic pens. Analysis of the same biweekly gain using the feedlot’s diagnoses to classify animals showed no difference in performance between lame and non-lame cattle. Studies in dairy cattle have consistently associated lameness with reduced feed intake and lower production. Our data indicates lameness is a prevalent issue in chronic pens, posing a welfare and chronic challenge to feedlot managers. Regulations and enforcement on the transportation of lame animals is becoming stricter, affecting the ability to market these animals and salvage some carcass value. Developing better methods for identifying lameness, risk factors and treatment protocols holds the promise of reduced suffering for the animals and a better return to the feedlot. C — Christy Goldhawk Christy was a member of a research team led by Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein of the Lethbridge research centre. Other members of the team involved in this study are: Elena Tessitore, Eugene Janzen, Ed Pajor, Giulio Cozzi. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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DISEASE

CULL FOR LUMPY JAW

The damage is often permanent

here are two kinds of lump jaw in cattle. Soft tissue abscesses are relatively easy to treat and clear up, whereas lumpy jaw is a deeper infection, within the bone — and much more difficult to treat. Dr. Chris Clark of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon says many cattle develop swellings or abscesses in soft tissue along the jaw, and these are the ones we typically blame on foxtail, cheat grass or some other sharp material in feed that penetrates or lodges in the lining of the mouth and allows bacteria to enter and create an infection. “These can be opened to drain and flush, and usually heal with just one flushing treatment. With true lumpy jaw, by contrast, a bacterium called Actinomyces bovis gets in alongside the tooth and settles in the bone at the bottom of the tooth. As these bacteria multiply, this sets up an inflammatory reaction in the bone. The affected bone is being resorbed internally, but because of the inflammation there is also swelling,” he explains. “The bone is a dynamic, living material and tries to repair itself. New layers of bone build up on the outside, even as the inside is being destroyed. The animal ends up with an extremely hard bony swelling on the jawbone, in contrast to a soft tissue abscess that is just in the skin and mouth tissues and

Wooden tongue Some animals with wooden tongue develop multiple abscesses around the head and jaw. In some instances a case of wooden tongue might be mistaken for lumpy jaw, because of the abscesses and difficulty eating. But if an animal with wooden tongue has abscesses they usually just contain pus — and the animal has very hard tongue tissue. It’s difficult to move the tongue. Because a wooden tongue infection is in the soft tissue of the tongue (and not the bone), it can be treated with antibiotics. The tongue can then remodel and those animals recover and do well. Sodium iodide given IV is also very effective in treating wooden tongue.

16 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

quite moveable,” says Clark. If you press the bony lump with your hand, it does not move.

Causes John Campbell, professor and head of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Science, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says lumpy jaw often starts as a soft-tissue infection that gets into the bone via a penetrating wound through the mouth — from rough hay or feed, sticks or pieces of wire baled up in hay — or a wound from the outside. “This particular organism, Actinomyces bovis, eventually gets into the bone tissue, usually in the lower jaw but sometimes the upper one. Often there is ulceration or fistulous tracts that drain pus. The pus contains bacteria, so if another animal eats something rough that scratches the mouth, and feed is contaminated with bacteria from the pus, that animal could get the infection also,” he says. Thus this disease is mildly contagious in that another animal may pick up bacteria from an infected animal. “These bacteria survive in the environment fairly well, so if a cow is spreading pus around on the hay feeder or feed ground, another animal may become exposed,” says Campbell. The bone infection usually gets started when a foreign body penetrates down to the bone alongside the teeth and set up infection at the bottom of the tooth socket. Young adults — especially twoand three-year olds — seem to have a higher incidence of bony lump jaw, perhaps because this is the age they are shedding teeth. “This may make them more vulnerable, when teeth are loosening and coming through the gums. There might be an opening where a piece of feed or something else could get jammed into the tooth socket,” explains Clark. There’s no way to completely prevent this disease or protect cattle. The bacteria are present in the environment — in soil and feed. “They only cause a problem, however, if they manage to find their way down the side of a tooth,” he says.

Treating is often a waste of time. Lumpy jaw can be diagnosed with a culture, but it’s fairly easy to diagnose just by its characteristics — a hard lump, firmly attached to the bone. It may also ooze a clear serum containing crystalline material from a fistulous tract, or the fluid may contain pus. “If the infection gets into the teeth, the animal may lose teeth,” says Campbell. As the disease progresses it can make it difficult for the animal to eat, unable to chew. This becomes a welfare issue; you can’t let these animals go on too long. “It eventually affects their ability to eat and if they are starting to lose body condition its time to cull them,” he explains.

Permanent bone damage “The affected bone is being absorbed and new bone is being laid down, but the new bone is not properly organized, and weaker,” says Clark. “As the bone changes, teeth often become misaligned,” he says. This makes it harder for the animal to chew, and it starts to lose weight. These animals are often in relatively poor condition. “Even if you could kill the bacteria with the best antibiotic in the world, the bone is still damaged. You may halt the infection and inflammatory process but the bone is weakened. Depending on how far the disease has advanced, if the animal were to bang its jaw on something, it may suffer a fracture,” says Clark. “My opinion is that once you find an animal with true lumpy jaw, that animal should be culled at the next culling cycle,” he says. If it’s a bull, sell him after the current breeding season. If it’s a cow, you might let her raise her calf or have another calf if she’s heavily pregnant, but then sell her at the next opportunity. Continued on page 18 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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“If the disease is still in early stages and she hasn’t lost weight, and her teeth are still aligned properly, I talk to the owner and we might try treating her and monitoring her. But with most commercial animals, lumpy jaw should raise them to the top of the culling list for that year,” he says. Eventually the bony lump will grow again and cause the teeth to become misaligned or fall out, or create risk for a broken jaw. “If the disease has been going on awhile and the mouth is compromised — the animal is not eating well and losing weight — from a welfare standpoint that animal should be culled immediately, even if you have to just butcher her,” says Clark.

Treatment Treatment involves trying to halt the bacterial infection. “There is no real cure, however,” says Campbell. “We can slow its growth but we can’t make it go away. We don’t have any treatment that will make it disappear.”

If caught in the early stages it may be worth treating, however, just to slow the progress. “We usually treat with sodium iodide intravenously. This should be repeated once or twice after a week or two,” says Campbell. Some producers worry about the dangers of abortion when using sodium iodide. “The label says it’s not approved for use in pregnant cows. This may be because the companies have not done the testing necessary to know whether it is safe. If they haven’t done the research they can’t put that on the label. Many veterinarians have used it in pregnant cows, however, with no problems. One textbook here at the college states that sodium iodide has been shown to be safe for use in pregnant cows with little risk for causing abortion,” he says. Some veterinarians recommend antibiotics as well. “You might use tetracycline or penicillin. These drugs can also be helpful when treating a soft-tissue problem like wooden tongue, even though it is caused by a different type of bacteria,” explains Campbell. “Sodium iodide, given intrave-

WH PP - 7 x 5 -:AGI 11-07-13 1:12 PM Page 1

nously, is an old treatment still used by many veterinarians,” says Clark. “We’re not entirely sure how it works, but it seems to help break down the fibrous scar tissue the body is creating to try to wall off the infection. A number of different antibiotics have also been tried, including oxytetracycline. This is the one we commonly use because it penetrates into bone relatively well. In beef cattle we use the long-acting form which gives adequate levels for three days, which keeps the number of treatments down,” he says. “But when treating lumpy jaw, I personally only treat the animal if I can catch it early, and generally only if there is significant genetic value in that particular animal that makes it worthwhile to try. I stress to the owner that the animal must be monitored. If the animal is comfortable and maintaining weight, and not suffering, it can probably stay in the herd a while, especially if it’s a young cow,” says Clark. If the condition starts to worsen, then it’s time to cull that animal. C — Heather Smith Thomas

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DISEASE

AVOIDING COCCIDIOSIS IN WEANED CALVES

occidiosis is a protozoan disease that exists wherever there are cattle. Nearly all cattle carry a few of these parasites in their digestive tract. Most cattle have encountered these protozoa and have developed some immunity, but may continue to shed a few oocysts (the egg form of the protozoa) in feces, which may contaminate feed and water. Calves are most vulnerable to the disease because they don’t yet have immunity. If they ingest a high number of protozoa in a dirty environment, they may develop the disease. After calves reach six months of age they’ve all been exposed, though only two to five per cent will have shown symptoms, according to research studies. At weaning, when cattle are gathered and congregated, especially if calves are confined in a corral or feed yard, calves may be exposed to more manure and coccidia, and some may break with coccidiosis. If they’ve been out on large pas-

20 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

It’s all about prevention tures, calves may have been exposed to a few protozoa, but not enough to cause disease. When the group is gathered and confined, however, they are suddenly exposed to more fecal material and a high level of infection — and the stress of weaning may hinder the immune system. The best defence against this disease is good management, preventing situations in which contamination can build up to infective levels. Steve Hendrick, an assistant professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in Saskatoon, says that any time you confine cattle there will be greater exposure. “At weaning time the calves are more at risk for respiratory diseases and also for coccidiosis,” he says. “If hygiene is poor (such as allowing feed or water to be contaminated with feces), it doesn’t take long for all the calves to be exposed. Some develop clinical signs such as a dirty hind end or blood in the manure.

Diarrhea in newly weaned calves may be the result of a drastic change in feed, but often it’s a sign of coccidiosis,” says Hendrick. “Clinical signs can vary from subtle to very severe. A calf may merely have a slightly looser stool, but in severe cases the calf may become quite dehydrated, with sunken eyes,” he says. These calves may become so weak that it’s hard for them to get up. When a group of calves becomes exposed to high levels of oocysts (the egg stage of protozoa, passed in the manure), you generally see a large number of animals with messy diarrhea, but only a few animals are severely affected. Once a few individuals break with diarrhea, however, they are spreading millions of oocysts and there is more risk for contamination of feed and water, and the whole group is soon exposed. John Campbell, head of the Department of Large Animal CliniContinued on page 22 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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cal Sciences at WCVM, says that the more fecal material, the more risk for disease. “The strategies for dealing with coccidiosis are largely preventive. We don’t have very effective treatments. Most calves recover on their own, but we do treat them and attempt to accelerate healing. Often, however, the damage is already done by the time we realize they have coccidiosis, and they have to heal on their own. We can try to prevent further damage, but we can’t do much for what has already happened — with the parasite damaging the gut wall. By the time you see bloody diarrhea, the calf must deal with that, and we’re just trying to prevent further damage and shedding,” says Campbell. The calf may need supportive therapy, especially fluids, if he’s dehydrated from diarrhea. Oral fluids may be necessary, and in severe cases the calf might need IV fluids. Drugs for coccidiosis include coccidiostats like amprolium, decoquinate, and sulfa drugs, but these work better for prevention than treatment. There is no “best” treatment, but there are several options. Producers should discuss this with their veterinarian to try to decide what might be best in their own situation. “There are many products used for prevention, such as adding amprolium to the drinking water or adding Deccox, lasolocid or monensin to feed. We rarely see much coccidiosis when cattle are fed a diet containing monensin or another coccidiostat (drugs than inhibit these protozoa). These drugs do a pretty good job of controlling it, but you could probably still have some sick animals if their environment is badly contaminated,” says Campbell. Good management should be the first step. “This may mean feeding up off the ground — in bunks, where cattle are less apt to defecate on the feed — and avoiding contamination of water bowls. Weaned calves can be easier to deal with than baby calves, because we don’t have some of the licks for cows containing monensin (available in the U.S.), which can be an advantage in reducing the coccidia load in baby calves.” Some producers try to treat the cows so they are passing fewer oocysts in their manure. 22 Cattlemen / September 2011

“Calves at weaning are somewhat easier to deal with than baby calves that get coccidiosis. The younger calves usually get it before they are eating much solid feed,” says Campbell. Coccidiosis can be prevented with medicated feed, but it’s harder to medicate baby calves because even if you try to creep feed them they won’t eat enough of it to be effective. “Weaned calves, by contrast, can be on feed, or have a water source that can be medicated,” he says. You won’t see diarrhea right away when calves get coccidiosis. “The incubation period is about three weeks from the time the animal ingests the protozoa until breaking with diarrhea. It takes awhile before you see the clinical signs,” says Campbell. The oocysts multiply within the animal to high levels and create the gut damage that leads to diarrhea. The calf will eventually fight the pathogen and develop some immunity. Calves get over the diarrhea, but in a severe case there’s so much intestinal damage that the calf may lose weight and won’t start gaining again for a while. “If the disease is chronic and ongoing, you see some very stunted calves. Some people call this ‘big head’ disease because the calf is much older than its body size looks,” says Hendrick. More often the disease is subtle and the calf just doesn’t gain and grow as well as it would have. Weather can play a role in disease outbreaks. Bad weather creates more stress, and if cattle are bedding on wet, contaminated straw or hay, and then lick themselves, they pick up a high number of protozoa. Calves may ingest oocysts when drinking from contaminated puddles. Wet weather and contamination of feed grounds and calving areas can also bring on coccidosis in baby calves. “When ranchers have experienced outbreaks in baby calves, they may try to treat the cow herd before calving (adding a coccidiostat to the cows’ feed, to prevent proliferation of protozoa in the intestinal tract and halt extensive shedding of oocysts in the feces). The hope is to ‘clean out’ the cows and minimize contamination of the environment for young calves. Ranchers might try this before weaning time — putting the calves on medicated creep feed before they are weaned and exposed to high levels of coccidia. It’s hard to know whether this would be economically feasible,”

says Hendrick. In situations where producers have had severe outbreaks at weaning time, however, this might be something to consider. Some ranchers may not be able to utilize creep feed before weaning time. In a feedlot situation, by contrast, where feed and water can be controlled, a coccidiostat might be more readily added to the feed or water. “Before weaning it may be difficult to get enough of the medication into calves — especially if they are young and are not used to eating grain or supplemental feed,” he says. One way to reduce the problem of coccidiosis is to minimize stress as much as possible. “At weaning, calves often get put through the chute and vaccinated. If a lot of procedures (vaccination, deworming, castration, dehorning, etc.) take place at this time, this is stressful. And if you are putting calves through a chute, they are head to tail, and some of the calves may be shedding oocysts in their feces. The calves behind them may become exposed. Ranchers need to realize there is some risk involved,” says Hendrick. “The best way to address this issue is to vaccinate at a different time (ahead of or after weaning), to reduce stress and exposure,” he says. It may be difficult for a rancher to work the animals twice, but it’s wise to spread out these stresses and not have it all happen at once. Low-stress weaning methods, such as fence line weaning, pasture weaning, or use of nose paddles (that keep calves from nursing their mothers) can often help prevent disease in weaning-age calves. “We haven’t done studies with the nose paddles to prove there would be less incidence of coccidiosis or shedding, but I think the lower stress might be helpful,” says Hendrick. “I am sure stress plays a significant role in vulnerability, as does confinement,” says Campbell. If the cattle can be more spread out, such as weaning the calves on pasture, using fenceline weaning or some other low-stress method, these risks may be reduced. “Anything you can do to lower the stress at weaning could be helpful, but calves can still get coccidiosis without stress if the environment is dirty. The stress, however, could make it worse,” he explains. C — Heather Smith Thomas www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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DISEASE

DON’T FORGET CLOSTRIDIAL DISEASES

There is only one rule — vaccinate

lostridia are sneaky bacteria. They have the ability to form a protective waxy covering in a dormant stage, morphing into spores in reaction to adverse conditions such as drought. In this state they can survive in the soil almost indefinitely just waiting to be eaten or rubbed into an open wound by unfortunate cattle. Spores can also linger inside the gut in a latent state just waiting for the right conditions to spring to life producing toxins that can kill when they get into the bloodstream. Since most of these bacteria are ever-present in the environment — and cattle are always exposed to them — the only way to protect cattle is by vaccination. “Blackleg is probably the most prevalent,” says John Campbell, head of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. “The bacterial spores are everywhere. Clostridial diseases occur most often in young, unvaccinated cattle,” he says. Older animals may have been exposed earlier in life (with low levels of bacteria) and developed resistance. “There are certain geographic regions where redwater is very common,” says Campbell. In regions with liver flukes, stockmen may have to vaccinate for redwater twice a year. Flukes damage the liver, enabling bacteria to gain entrance to these tissues. “Blackleg and malignant edema are very similar and we see these diseases quite often unless cattle are vaccinated,” says Campbell. There are 7- and 8-way vaccines combining protection against most of these diseases, including blackleg, redwater, malignant edema, black disease, enteroxemia (gut infection caused by C. perfringens types C and D). “There is one 8-way vaccine here in Canada, a Schering-Plough product,

24 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

Blackleg spores eventually end up in the muscle. that includes tetanus,” says Campbell. All clostridial diseases can be deadly, but they are also unique in that they can be very effectively prevented by vaccination. Dr. Steve Hendrick of WCVM says clostridial diseases aren’t contagious in the usual sense. “We are used to diseases where one animal gets sick and can pass the disease directly to another. This is not the case with clostridial diseases. They are caused by spores that live happily in the environment for many years. The spores are resistant to heat, cold and any other harsh environmental conditions. We joke that these diseases are very happy, even living in the cold weather of Saskatchewan,” he says. “It just depends on whether or not the environment on your farm or ranch has been contaminated in the past. “In wet conditions we see more

cases, so clostridial diseases could potentially be a serious issue this year,” says Hendrick. Dormant spores are brought up to the surface with the moisture where they float on top of the puddles and gradually concentrate on the surface as the puddles dry up. “As cattle graze in low areas, or drink from shrinking puddles, they may pick up spores,” explains Hendrick. With these diseases, you usually don’t see sick animals. You generally go out to the pasture and find one or two animals dead. Some are brought in for treatment, but usually they die so quickly that you just find them dead. Clinical signs, such as swelling in a muscle (typical of blackleg), particularly if there is no wound may be difficult to notice. Continued on page 28 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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10/08/11 5:50 PM

Continued from page 24

“The animal ingested the spores, which eventually end up in the muscles. It’s usually a very fast-growing calf (one of your best animals) that’s affected. If the muscles don’t get enough oxygen, the spores proliferate in the muscle. Bruised tissue creates ideal conditions for spores to grow,” says Hendrick. “Many of the cattle we’ve looked at that died from blackleg also had infection around the lining of the heart,” says Campbell. “It can affect the muscle around the heart.” One of the first cattle vaccines was created for blackleg. “Some of the clostridial vaccines have been developed in different countries, where there are different disease conditions. The big difference is the inclusion of tetanus in some of the combination vaccines. Producers here should be aware that tetanus is not included in all clostridial vaccines in North America,” says Hendrick. The single tetanus vaccines are only used in horses, and are expensive. “We’ve seen outbreaks of tetanus when people are banding bull calves at weaning time or when coming into a feedlot,” says Campbell. “We don’t see it so much in baby calves, but more in the larger calves. For these big calves, many people use banders. All clostridial organisms thrive in an anaerobic environment (without oxygen). The clamp against the testicles provides a perfect place for bacteria to grow. We’ve seen producers do this and get away without using tetanus vaccine year after year, and all of a sudden one year they have a large number of banded cattle develop tetanus a few weeks later,” he says. There are many clostridial diseases. “People might be aware of botulism or tetanus because humans get these. Unfortunately, we don’t have a cattle vaccine for botulism in Canada. But we can protect cattle against tetanus, blackleg, gas gangrene, malignant edema, etc. Some of those spores can get into the body through a wound, if it is contaminated with soil,” says Hendrick. “In other instances the animal ingests spores with feed and the spores get into the liver or muscles. Many people don’t realize that redwater disease starts with liver damage. In an area that has liver flukes, cattle are at risk for redwater. The 28 Cattlemen / September 2011

difference between a 7-way and an 8-way vaccine is the inclusion of redwater,” he explains. Calves are at risk for gut infection from Clostridium perfringens. “These clostridia can cause intestinal damage and severe hemorrhagic diarrhea,” he says. Calves may die suddenly if the gut damage allows bacterial toxins to seep through into the bloodstream. The animal quickly goes into shock and dies within a few hours. It’s often the biggest, fastest-growing calves that suddenly develop gut infection, often called enterotoxemia by ranchers. “Most cattle have clostridium perfringens in the GI tract. There are several different types, such as A, B, C and

The disaster that can happen — especially with blackleg — can be tremendous D. It’s common to find some of these types in the GI tract, without disease. This makes it more difficult to accurately diagnose a problem, but typically when a calf dies from this kind of infection there is very severe hemorrhagic enteritis — with bloody diarrhea due to extreme gut damage.” The animal may die so quickly, however, that there is no evidence of diarrhea. The clinical signs may be severe gut pain (the calf kicking at its belly or throwing itself on the ground) and then the calf goes into shock and dies. “The bacteria are normally found in the gut, and spores are passed in feces. If cows are passing some of the spores, they may pass even more when stressed at calving time. Depending on the ranch management, there may be more exposure for calves,” says Hendrick. Certain conditions within the gut also make a calf more likely to have a problem, such as when a calf has been off feed awhile and then loads up on a large amount of milk. This creates an ideal environment for certain types of C. perfringens to proliferate. Prevention is crucial. “The vaccine is relatively inexpensive — probably the cheapest one — and works very well, compared to some of the other vaccines. Efficacy of clostridial vaccines (even though they have multiple com-

ponents) is great, giving good protection — as compared with some of the respiratory vaccines,” says Hendrick. “Clostridial vaccines have been in use for many years and have dramatically cut down the incidence of these diseases,” says Campbell. “I still see some cases, on farms where people try to save money and didn’t vaccinate. The disaster that can happen — especially with blackleg — can be tremendous. One farmer lost about half his calf crop to blackleg, dying at pasture,” says Campbell. There is no reason to not vaccinate for clostridial diseases. “It is an irritating vaccine, however, so you want to give it under the skin and not into the muscle,” says Campbell. Some animals react more adversely than others, developing swelling at the site. “The vaccine companies are working on trying to make these vaccines less irritating,” he says. “One challenge for people who calve on pasture later in the year is that they have to round up the calves at some point to vaccinate and make sure they get their first clostridial vaccine. In the more traditional setting, where ranchers calve in March and April, they gather and vaccinate cattle before they are turned out to summer pasture. It’s more challenging for people who calve later, out on summer pasture, to vaccinate calves at one or twomonths of age,” he says. “In other aspects of prevention, I try to promote proper disposal of the carcass when an animal dies,” says Hendrick. “This topic came to the forefront with anthrax, when people started asking what to do with dead animals. The clostridial diseases are no different. If you leave the carcass for scavengers to scatter, you are creating the same scenario as you would with anthrax. The bacteria create spores and contaminate the surrounding environment. These may create problems later — maybe not the next year, but possibly sometime in the future. The spores last forever, and may affect cattle many years from now,” he explains. “Everyone got worried about anthrax, and I’ve been amazed at the extent people will go to, burning carcasses and burying them — which is good. Yet if they find a dead calf and assume it was blackleg, they don’t seem to worry about it. They need to realize that these carcasses should also be properly disposed of,” he says. C — Heather Smith Thomas www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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RESEARCH

USING BACTERIOPHAGES TO PUT THE BRAKES ON ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7

scherichia coli 0157:H7 was first identified as a human pathogen following two outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness in the United States associated with undercooked hamburger patties in 1982 and has been known as “hamburger disease” ever since. Most strains of E. coli are harmless inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of humans and other warm-blooded animals, but pathogenic E. coli strains, such as E. coli 0157:H7 can cause serious bloody diarrhea and in severe cases kidney disease and even death. The disease is particularly prevalent in children under 10 and in the elderly or immune-compromised individuals, but anyone can potentially acquire disease. Since its discovery in the United States it has been documented in over 50 countries across six continents. It costs the Canadian economy about $100 million each year and occurs at a rate of about 2.3 cases per 100,000 people in Canada. Outbreaks linked to vegetables, fruit juices and other mammals and insects indicate that E. coli 0157 rapidly disseminates within the environment, but beef cattle are thought to be the primary reservoir of the pathogen. Within the beef cattle population, our work has documented that individual cattle known as “super shedders” (cattle that shed greater than 100,000 bacteria per gram of feces) are key in the transmission of this bacterium among cattle within the feedlot and to the surrounding environment. Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect and kill bacteria, and our team has established a collection of phages that are extremely specific for killing E. coli 0157, thereby avoiding the disruption of beneficial bacteria. Phages invade the bacterial cell, commandeer the cellular machinery of the host and self-replicate, culminating in lysis or destruction of the host cell and

30 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

the release of progeny that can in turn infect more of the host bacteria. Our team has specifically selected a collection of phages from commercial feedlots and dairies that are capable of killing a wide range of E. coli 0157. These bacteriophages also release large numbers of viral progeny upon lysis, thus increasing their chances in coming in contact with and killing the targeted host. Phages may be particularly suited for controlling E. coli 0157:H7 in super-shedders where there are large numbers of hosts for them to infect. Work in our laboratory has already shown that feedlot cattle that harbour

Our team has selected a collection of phages from commercial feedlots and dairies capable of killing a wide range of E. coli 0157 bacteriophages, lack or have lower numbers of E. coli 0157:H7 and one of our objectives is to develop management practices that promote bacteriophage proliferation. To be effective, phages have to come in contact with E. coli 0157:H7 and as phages lack motility this is essentially a random event. The likelihood of this event occurring is logically higher in super-shedders where we have measured as many as one billion E. coli 0157:H7 per gram of feces. Bacteriophage therapy is not a new science and was a major field of study prior to the advent of antibiotics in the 1930s. Recent concerns about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have led to revitalization in the interest of using bacteriophages to target specific bacterial populations.

Bacteria can also develop resistance to bacteriophages and we have witnessed this adaptation in our own research, where some strains of resistant E. coli 0157 required 1,000 times more phages in order to kill them. Consequently, we have employed the strategy of using a cocktail of four or more phages in our therapeutic studies as a means of reducing the likelihood of E. coli 0157 becoming resistant to all phages within the mixture. In our challenge studies using E. coli 0157:H7, we have found that inoculation with bacteriophages can lower the number of 0157 shed, but that the animals frequently reacquire E. coli 0157:H7 either from the hides of pen mates or from the pen floor. Selecting phages that exhibit greater persistence in the environment may be a means of overcoming this limitation. Bacteriophages have already been approved in the United States for the control of Listera monocytogenes on meat and meat products. However, using phages to control a target bacterium on the surface of meat is far less complicated than attempting to use this same approach to control E. coli 0157:H7 within the digestive tract of cattle and the farm environment. We are presently undertaking whole-genome sequencing of a selection of isolates from our phage bank in an effort to define those factors that optimize their success against the targeted host. Understanding the nature of the interactions between bacteriophages and their host could be the key to developing phage formulations that are effective in both the animal and the farm environment. C — Drs. Tim McAllister, Dong Yan Niu and Kim Stanford The authors are animal scientists with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based at the Lethbridge Research Station. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

N u t r i t i o n

by John McKinnon John.mckinnon@usask.ca

Byproduct feeding — is this your future? John McKinnon is a beef cattle nutritionist at the University of Saskatchewan

ithout question, meeting the energy requirements of your cattle is the most expensive component of your feeding program. Typically we rely on cereal grains such as barley, feed wheat or corn to meet the energy needs of cattle for maintenance and gain and in some cases pregnancy. While it is too early to know the nature of this year’s barley crop in Western Canada, it is evident the corn supply in the U.S. will be tight and as a result we are likely to see upward pressure on cereal grain prices. To counter this increased cost, many cattle feeders and cow-calf operators look to byproduct feeds as energy substitutes for cereal grains. The type and nature of these byproducts is extremely variable. Most are produced as a result of value-added processing of the grain, oilseed and vegetable sectors. Examples include cull potatoes and beans, byproducts from grain and pulse processing (i.e. oat and pea hulls, grain screenings, wheat midds), distillers grains and milk processing byproducts, to name a few. Each has unique nutritional characteristics and in order to make effective use of a given byproduct, we need to understand nutritionally what they are contributing to the ration and how they influence performance and cost of gain. To give an example, consider grain screenings a byproduct of the grain cleaning industry. Screenings are comprised of unwanted material such as chaff, small weed seeds, foreign and/or broken grain kernels that are removed when grain is cleaned. Grain screenings are a good source of protein for cattle, typically averaging 13 to 15 per cent (dry matter basis). However in terms of energy, grain screenings are at best an intermediate source, typically the value of a light oat. Processed (ground and pelleted) grain screenings can be used to replace barley grain in wintering rations for cows as well as in backgrounding programs. The biggest issue will be to remember that if you are replacing barley grain with grain screenings, you need to increase the amount fed by 10 to 15 per cent to maintain the same energy content in the diet (15 to 20 per cent in the case of corn). This increased intake should be considered when pricing processed grain screenings relative to cereal grains. The biggest concern with grain screenings is variability in nutrient content between loads from the same or different sources. To get around this issue, the feed industry has developed “fortified grain screenings.” While each company may have a unique

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formula, fortified grain screenings are screeningbased products that have been blended with barley or feed wheat to target a specific energy level in the pellet. In some cases, oilseeds can be added to the mix to provide a high-fat pellet that again is more consistent in energy content. Fortified grain screenings can be custom formulated to meet all mineral, salt and vitamin requirements and can include feed additives such as an ionophore. These products are a convenient means of supplementing cattle to meet their nutritional needs for growth or pregnancy. However for finishing cattle, their use can be limited due to energy density. Lentil and pea screenings can also be a smart buy, particularly if you are located near a source. Relative to grain screenings, they are a superior source of both energy and protein. Another example is the use of canola meal as a protein supplement. Canola meal is a byproduct of the oilseed crushing industry and its supply is increasing due to industry expansion. Canola meal is a great source of crude protein for cattle, averaging 38 per cent or better on a dry matter basis. Its combination of rumen degradable and undegradable (bypass) protein is well suited for growing and finishing cattle. However, as with screening byproducts, canola meal is an intermediate energy source. This fact and relative cost dictates that inclusion rates reflect its value as a protein supplement and not as an energy supplement. As a final example to illustrate the versatility of byproducts, consider the use of whey permeate from the milk-processing sector. This product is approximately 22 per cent dry matter and 3.5 per cent crude protein (dry matter basis). However, on a dry matter basis, it is 80 per cent lactose, which when fed in moderation, serves as an energy source in the rumen of cattle. Producer experience feeding this product at 15 to 20 per cent of the ration (as fed) is that it increases your flexibility as a feeder. For example, in feeding programs that rely on processed hay as the forage source, the use of whey permeate is a means of adding moisture, controlling dust and enhancing intakes. This can reduce cost of gain, particularly when hay is cheap. One of the recent trends in byproduct feeding is the replacement of cereal grains in backgrounding and finishing diets with high protein byproducts such as distillers grains. Next month we will examine this practice. Cattlemen / September 2011 31

RESEARCH

A NEW WAY TO MEASURE TEMPERATURE …it’s a camera

here is a brand new, quicker and absolutely innocuous way to measure cattle’s or for that matter any animals temperature. It is called infrared thermography (IT) and is now in the practical testing stages as to how to implement commercial applications. Research has been ongoing over the last decade to perfect the science behind it. The research has been a collaborative effort between federal and provincial agriculture department. It makes use of a very fast infrared camera to record up to 60 images per second and measures very accurately the radiated temperature. The area around the eye is used most commonly (Infrared Orbital Thermography). I personally have seen this same type of technology used years ago looking at the temperature of bull testicles. This temperature should be lower than body temperature in order for sperm to develop and survive normally. Detecting abnormalities in this temperature gradient is another tool for selecting infertile bulls. Researchers have found the area around the eye is not only easy to access but correlates well with body temperature and in the event of an impending temperature increase, orbital temperature rises about four days before the actual body temperature increases. In the beef industry this may be used as an early indicator of respiratory disease, for instance. What a beautiful tool if we knew up to four days in advance of a potential disease situation. With today’s longacting antibiotics a true preventative program could be initiated on an individual basis. With increasing economies of scale and technology advances the cost of these cameras has been going down plus they have gotten smaller and portable so commercial applications are what will be tested next. What researchers Dr. Al Schaeffer at Lacombe Research Centre and others found was that orbital temperature

32 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

The research camera is positioned alongside a single-file waterer. generally runs about 4 C centigrade under core body temperature. With the camera taking as many images as it does and linking it to a RFID tag we conceivably could record temperatures without human intervention other than watching a monitor screen. Currently large feedlots use very accurate rectal thermometers but they still have limitations on time plus labour as it is a manual operation. With large numbers of cattle and increasing labour costs, this alone makes this new type of technology desirable. There has always been the argument that if we could give antibiotics just before animals get sick disease could be prevented. With beef quality assurance, drug residues, and antibiotic resistance becoming top priorities infrared thermography could help in all these areas. By predicting the potential for an undifferentiated fever (disease) days in advance you have the potential to thwart disease before the animal even gets sick, It would be a massive benefit. Likewise, if a large percentage of cattle were already showing an increrase in orbital temperature then that

whole pen could be metaphylactically treated to eliminate a respiratory disease outbreak. This technology can be applied to other areas of the body such as the already mentioned testicles on bulls. There are numerous applicatons for this technology, everything from footrot in cattle where temperature increases are seen around the feet to swellings under the jaw with distemper in horse. How to apply this cost effectively and commercially is the next hurdle. Dr Schaeffer and his co-researchers have already set up cameras by watering bowls, which limit access to one animal at a time. This fall they are setting up one camera at a processing barn where cattle will actually be scanned before the chute so temperature will already be known when they are processed. Any preventive treatment can be given at that time in the event of an increase in orbital temperature. This will also give researchers an idea of the normal orbital temperature of cattle after transport, stress and being run through an auction www.canadiancattlemen.ca

market. They have already documented that stress can increase orbital temperature rather quickly but whether this increase persists for days is another question. Another method being tried is a hand-held camera to quickly take temperatures at large cattle shows. These purebred cattle are very valuable so monitoring and treating ahead of time could prevent damaged lungs if pneumonia, for example, is picked up too late. The camera was set up at last year’s Farmfair International in Edmonton. They were able to read some of the cattle and a couple of head that were predicted to become sick did in fact succumb later during the show. It bears repeating. This would be much quicker than rectal thermometers and the cattle do not even need to be touched or restrained. Purebred cattle are a great group to practise on as they are quiet and halter broken so focusing on the eyes was straightforward. The camera can be a few feet away making it even more user-friendly for more fractious animals like bison and Orbital temperatures track body temperatures. game-farmed or zoo animals. Other applications are monitoring an entire barn for temIn consultation with your veterinarian you could put peratures in poultry or swine to identify upcoming disease appropriate treatment measures in place that kick into action outbreaks. This is where herd or flock treatments will be wherever high temperatures are noted, up to four days before used. any clinical signs appear. This is the most significant point As you can see infrared thermography could have a large with this leading edge technology. C number of practical applications, be cost effective, and very — Dr. Roy Lewis DVM minimal in terms of //the labour requirement other //than setAd# NAHSB60040811 IO#TBD // Canadian Cattleman L: 7"x 5" // 4C” // Rights Managed Image: Fotosearch_u19291179–insertion 2/6 ting it up. Dr. Lewis is a large animal veterinarian in practice at Westlock, Alta.

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CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 33 8/12/112011 1:32 PM

EQUIPMENT

THE PROS AND CONS OF AUTOMATIC SYRINGES Take time to set it up properly before you start

ith larger farming operations and labour at a premium the switch to automatic guns for vaccination and other pharmaceutical administration is very common. Although there are tremendous advantages to this, primarily in speed of administration and accuracy, there are several pitfalls producers should watch out for. In their day, the older-style automatic roux syringes with the glass barrels and expandable plungers made life easier. However they were prone to breakage of the barrels and needed constant adjustment to prevent air from leaking into the barrel. The way the plunger was designed you sometimes were never sure whether four or five cc was administered. At the higher dosages a difference of one cc was not great but with most newer vaccines where the regular dose is two cc that difference of one cc represents 50 per cent of the dosage (a huge difference). The newer syringes such as the Phillips are very accurate at these lower dosages and have a safety mechanism whereby air cannot enter the syringe when vaccinating. They are a little harder to depress as the barrel is large but if well maintained slide easily. You should have some spare parts on hand and properly maintain them. After usage a good cleaning with warm water followed by slight lubrication with cooking oil on the O-ring will keep it supple. Some products like penicillin and the new product Excede cause rubber O-rings to expand and will cause a great deal of sticking. You will find the same if you use the plastic disposable syringes with these products. Very quickly the rubber on the plunger becomes extremely sticky. The way to avoid this problem is purchase a syringe automatic or otherwise with a silicone O-ring replacing the rubber. I always remind producers to monitor the usage of a product as a check on whether too much or too little is being dispensed. A 50-dose vial of vaccine should pretty much be empty after 50 head. If administering two vaccines, compare their usage to each other. Some vaccines will have one or two doses extra but that is all. Too much or too little vaccine left may alert you immediately to a syringe incorrectly set or one that is not dosing correctly. I have seen where guns have been bumped and the dosage changed. Keep the syringes labelled so products are not inadvertently mixed. If for instance a modified live vaccine is mistakenly sucked up into the syringe which just had blackleg in it the formalin carrier will completely inactivate the live vaccine. This potential wreck must 34 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

The NJ Phillips PAS1392 is a 5 ml dial-a-dose syringe. be instilled in your processing crew. Another trick to avoid mixing products is to refill before the syringe is completely empty. Most products have a different color which should clue a person in. I also have the syringes far enough apart and inject in a certain order and location to keep everything consistent. Good processing crews are very methodical this way and spend time after cleaning and maintaining their syringes. The auto-fill syringes where the bottle is attached to the syringe do eliminate time filling and are quite accurate as well. Often several holes need to be poked in the bottle to allow the plastic drain needle to penetrate the rubber stopcock. Again one must be very careful to monitor how much product is being used. In older models a piece of rubber could block the exit and the product was not being dispensed or at a greatly reduced rate. The product would simply flow in and out of the bottle and was not being injected into the animal. Always, always monitor usage. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Producers pay good money for vaccines so it is important to make sure the product is handled well, mixed well and properly administered at the right dosage. We definitely can’t have freezing of the products and overheating needs to be avoided as well. Most automatic guns can be used with the one-handed technique and it is often easier to feel when needles are getting dull and need to be changed. This is no fault of the syringes but always doublecheck dosage and preferred route of administration. Different trade names may use different dosages. Combination products often have a higher dosage. It is too late if the entire herd is processed and you find out the dosage of a vaccine was four cc and you gave two cc. Essentially the entire herd should be re-run and the other two cc given. If you are giving too high a dosage this mistake shows itself quicker when you run out of vaccine and still have lots of cattle to process. All these are costly mistakes and are avoidable if a few minutes are taken to go over things and double-check your syringes. Try and have the same personnel do the same jobs throughout the day. If everyone is jumping around animals may be missed or double vaccinated. If all the above pitfalls are avoided you should have an uneventful time processing. You will get the maximum benefit from the products you inject. C — Roy Lewis DVM

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Cattlemen / September 2011 35

EQUIPMENT

NEEDLE-FREE INJECTION PUT TO THE TEST

research team at the University of Manitoba is investigating the potential of using a needle-free injection device (NFID) for delivering vaccines to beef cattle. NFIDs use pressure to drive the vaccine though the hide into subcutaneous or muscle tissue. Mechanical pressure on the nozzle triggers the injection as it touches the skin, explains Michel Rey, a masters student on the project supervised by Dr. Kim Ominski. The idea of using needle-free injections to vaccinate people originated in the 1940s, however, only in the most recent decade has the technology been revived and improved upon for use in human and animal health. Most of the research and uptake has been in the swine industry in the U.S. and Canada, while most of what little research has been done with cattle has been carried out at Kansas State University with dairy cattle housed indoors. “We know from previous studies that needle-free injections have many advantages, so our research will focus on investigating whether using a NFID to administer vaccines will generate an immune response capable of protecting the calves from disease and whether this is a piece of equipment that can be used year-round for delivering all types of vaccines or whether it is best suited for specific vaccine products administered under certain conditions,” Rey explains. The Manitoba study is looking at whether antibody response to two types of vaccines delivered with a NFID differs from that when the vaccines are administered by the conventional needle-and-syringe method. The second segment of the study will evaluate how the NFID stands up to use in cold weather as well as whether conditions such as the increase in hair coat and hide thickness will affect penetration of the vaccine. Eighty spring-born calves were divided into three groups with 10 in a control group and two treatment 36 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

Researchers didn’t notice any difference in the reactions of the calves.

In human trials, people reported feeling more pain with needle-free injection. groups of 35 calves each. One group was vaccinated with a NFID and the other with needle injections. The calves were 60 days of age at the time of the initial vaccination and boosted according to vaccine label directions. Two vaccines commonly used in beef operations were administered on opposite sides of the neck: a clostridial, which is a killed vaccine that protects against certain bacterial infections such

as blackleg; and a five-way respiratory vaccine, which is a modified-live product that also protects against bovine viral diarrhea (BVD). All calves were screened for BVD prior to the start of the study to ensure that none were persistently infected. Blood samples to be analyzed for antibody titres against blackleg and BVD are to be taken throughout the study. This segment of the trial wraps up www.canadiancattlemen.ca

with final blood samples drawn when the calves are 201 days old and the trial will be duplicated with fall-born calves. Rey expects the results to be available sometime next summer. His review of published studies reveals that use of a NFID potentially has more advantages than disadvantages when compared with needle injections. The most obvious and most important is that the NFID does away with the needle, thus eliminating the possibility for broken needles to end up in meat cuts, the need for used-needle disposal and accidental needle sticks to people. Some studies cite a reduction in disease transmission and others suggest that use of a NFID reduces the time it takes for producers to vaccinate their cattle. Needle-free and needle systems appear to be on equal footing as far as triggering an immune response. There have been mixed findings on injection site lesions in swine, however, there has been little to no research investigating site lesions in cattle vaccinated with a NFID. Likewise, there is no evidence to suggest that needle-free injections are less Needle-free systems are more complicated and costly. painful than those delivered with needles, primarily because sound of the pressure when the NFID triggered didn’t seem there has been no research with livestock to measure pain to bother the calves. and stress levels associated with either method. People parThe straight-out disadvantage is the cost of NFIDs, which ticipating in a study reported higher levels of pain when vaccurrently run in the neigbourhood of $2,500 to $5,000. cinated with a NFID. They are more complex than a needle-and-syringe system, Rey, who hails from a cow-calf operation, says as far as therefore, training to perform the injections and maintain his personal observations go, he didn’t notice any real difthe equipment might be an issue. C ference in animal behaviour between calves vaccinated by — Debbie Furber NFID and Cdn those vaccinated a needle and syringe.9:08 TheAM Page 1 BOVI_017 Cattlemen 2010using Fall Ad_Layout 1 06/08/10

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VET ADVICE

Leptospirosis — re-emerging or rediscovered

eptospirosis is an economically important bacterial infection of livestock that causes abortions, stillbirths, infertility, and loss of milk production. Leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira and is an important cause of abortion and infertility in North American cattle. Leptospirosis is a re-emerging infectious disease that tends to fluctuate in prevalence as a livestock pathogen. Its transmission to livestock and to humans is often associated with wet, unsanitary conditions favouring the collection of surface water infected with organisms shed in the urine of infected animals. Along with dogs, cattle, horses and pigs are commonly infected. A number of wildlife species (skunks, raccoons, rats, muskrats) are incriminated as reservoirs and shed organisms into puddles, ponds and streams that ultimately put livestock at risk, especially those on pasture. Pathogenic leptospires have been categorized into seven species and approximately 250 serovars. Individual serovars favour specific hosts. For example: serovar Hardjo is commonly found in cattle, serovar Canicola is common in dogs. Herd prevalence may reach 30 to 40 per cent of animals, most shedding organisms in urine at any one time. Transmission of the infection involves contact with infected urine, placental fluids, or milk. Leptospira can also be transmitted in semen and during natural breeding or pregnancy. Leptospires invade through intact oral mucosa or water-saturated skin. Environments with standing water sustain bacterial populations and soften the skin of the coronary band to facilitate invasion. Under the right conditions, leptospiral organisms survive for weeks outside of the animal. Persistently shedding herd mates, wildlife and infected herd additions represent the greatest risk to naive animals. Infected bulls may shed in semen and urine for months. Replacements have been a source of new infections. Infected wildlife has been known to contaminate cattle-holding areas. Leptospires invade the body through mucous membranes or damaged skin. After an incubation period of three to 20 days, organisms are carried by blood and subsequently invade many tissues, including the liver, spleen, kidneys, reproductive tract, eyes, and central nervous system where they multiply. Antibodies to Leptospira appear soon after infection and with appearance of antibodies infected animals start to clear organisms from most organs except the urinary system.

Clinical signs Leptospira infections in cattle generally result in no or relatively mild clinical signs, but produce a renal carrier state associated with long-term urinary shedding. Persistent infection of the reproductive tract is common in both males and females. Clinical signs of infection can be subtle. Late abortions, stillbirths, or birth of weak calves

38 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

is an outcome when pregnant females are infected for the first time. Retention of fetal membranes is common. Abortions due to serovar Hardjo infection tend to occur sporadically. Some serovars (Pomona or Grippotyphosa) can be associated with abortion “storms.” Perhaps the most economically significant manifestation of Leptospira infections is the subtle impairment of herd reproductive performance. Exposure of non-infected replacement females to organisms shed from chronically infected cows in the herd perpetuates the occurrence of abortions, stillbirths and weak calves.

Diagnosis A good clinical and vaccination history is important. Co-ordination between veterinarian, owner and a diagnostic laboratory with experience in the diagnosis of leptospirosis is necessary to maximize the chances of making an accurate diagnosis. Diagnostic tests include blood tests designed to detect antibodies against the organism, examination of abortion and fetal tissues or tests designed to detect fragments of Leptospira genetic material in tissues or body fluids (PCR or polymerase chain reaction). No single diagnostic procedure can be used in every situation increasing the importance of using combinations of tests. Dependence on blood tests alone is often misleading. Presently, there is a lack of consensus about what antibody levels are indicative of active infection and confusion over interpretation of the cross-reactions that occurs with Leptospira species and vaccines. Up to 50 per cent of cows aborting due to serovar Hardjo will be seronegative at the time of abortion.

Control The most common approaches to the control of leptospirosis in cattle are based on prevention of exposure, vaccination, and selective treatment. Important elements of control include: • Limiting direct and indirect contact between cattle and carriers of leptospirosis e.g. rodent and wildlife control around buildings, fencing swampy ground or streams. • Proper diagnoses of reduced reproductive performance is critical. • Quarantine/treatment of replacements. • Vaccination. Vaccine choice needs to be discussed with a veterinarian. • Antibiotics can be used to treat individual animals and will, in general, eliminate persistent infections. Longacting oxytetracycline (20 mg/kg, IM, two doses 10 days apart) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of serovar Hardjo infections. • Eliminate standing water in high-use areas. 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

Pine Haven Colony builds a culture of food confidence This Alberta colony sees consumer confidence as a marketing opportunity A lot of different farm products are sold by Alberta’s Pine Haven Colony. Many are marketed directly to consumers or retailers. All of that commerce is based on a simple belief that agriculture today needs to provide consumers with confidence in their product. Location helps. The colony, just outside Wetaskiwin, Alta., is close to several growing communities, and within easy driving distance of Edmonton. But today, what drives the farm program is a valueadded marketing philosophy. Pine Haven’s beef operation is a strong example of that, says William Hofer. It consists of a feedlot that produces 3,200 head annually, and a 400 cow-calf operation. Both beef operations are officially registered with Verified Beef Production

(VBP), Canada’s national program for beef on-farm food safety. Multiple beef products are produced. On the ranch side, the black Angus herd is summer calved and producing a forage raised product. “Our calves enter our own feedlot. Some may go on specialty programs for domestic or export markets and the best heifers go back into the herd,” says Hofer. The most recent example of beef marketing for the colony is a new valuechain relationship on the feedlot side. Cattle are sourced according to program standards, including no antibiotics, no ionophores in the feed and no implants. “That program sells into many niche markets,” says Hofer, “so it’s even more important that production protocols are followed.” The colony also finishes approximately 250 head of cattle a year for beef to be slaughtered onsite and sold through the colony’s own meat shop. Those cattle are raised on a special feeding regime designed to appeal to the direct market consumer.

VBP registered

Cattle from Pine Haven Colony are raised for specialty programs such as Heritage Angus Beef.

Pine Haven Colony started on the VBP program in 2008, and their experience is a testament to how a well-organized beef production system can easily get involved with the program. The colony joined the program and completed the VBP audit or registration stage all within a few months. “We found that like many producers, we were doing a lot of this already, and what we weren’t doing, made sense

and was easily added to our management approach,” says Hofer. VBP establishes a set of standard operating procedures or SOPs, designed to ensure that proper food safety procedures are being followed in beef production. The optional validation audit which involves having a third party auditor visit the farm to assess conformance is not onerous, says Hofer, and having good records is essential. “We track every animal that enters and leaves the feedlot and what is done in between,” he says. “Computer searches are very easy and when an animal leaves our lot we search to see if there are proper withdrawal times and no broken needles. If there are things that are unusual we can catch that before shipping or ensure that the proper paperwork follows the animal.”

Verified production Where possible, production on the Pine Haven Colony is verified. “Our whole farm is audited: dairy, hogs, poultry, our feed mill and our meat shop,” says Hofer who believes it just makes sense. “A large percentage of the cattle operations in Canada are already doing this stuff, so why not assure the public we are doing all these things,” he says. “We say Canada has the best beef in the world so why not prove to consumers and our export markets that we do with a third party national program? “If everyone gets on board we should be able to gain more markets.”

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VISTA Once Canadian Cattlemen QSH.indd 1

8/11/11 4:30:43 PM

HOLISTIC RANCHING

H M week in Manitoba

just returned from holistic manhis wintering costs by about $40 per head. This is agement (H M) week in Mania direct cash savings and doesn’t place any value on toba. It wasn’t really a week the extra grass gained the next summer from bale but it was three action-packed grazing. For the Guilfords a savings of $40 per head days. The event began with a meetworks out to about $12,000 per year or $84,000 ing in Clearwater. About 40 people for the last seven years. As Don said, “we just didn’t attended. Doug Peterson from Mishave an extra $84,000.” souri addressed us. Doug gave a The day wound up with a wonderful roast beef very interesting presentation on soil supper at the Clearwater curling rink. Then it was health. As measured by the percentoff to Neepawa where we spent the night. age of organic matter, water-holding capacity, eroOn the second day we toured the Rosedale farm. sion, biological activity and productive ability soil This is a demonstration farm started in 1966 to deal health has declined in most areas of North America. with serious erosion and downstream flooding. The Doug pointed out that this is a serious situation. farm has used trees and grass to stop erosion. The Twenty or more civilizations have failed in the past farm has been quite successful and is an example when their agriculture failed. The same thing could that H M would strongly support. happen again. We need to pay attention to soil The balance of the second day was spent discusshealth. ing topics of interest to those present. It’s amazing Doug addressed the benefits of using planned how spending time with a group of positive people grazing with high stock density and the benefits of can motivate us. cocktail cropping. Both of these practices have the The third day was spent at the University of potential to improve soil health and help us create a Manitoba in Winnipeg with representatives from the more sustainable agriculture. university, HMI, Manitoba Forage Council, Ducks In the afternoon we toured Jim and Wayne Unlimited, MAFRI, PFRA, Manitoba Beef ProducMcDonalds operation. They ers, Manitoba food charter have pastured pigs (they run and H M producers. out year round), range sheep The goal was to give (year round) and cattle. The people more information on The whole idea of cocktail sheep and cattle are pastured H M. The most important cropping is to improve soil together for part of the year. news was that H M was The McDonalds direct maras a credit course at health by providing nutrients offered ket a good portion of their the University this past winproduction. ter. It was led by Blain Hjerfor all the living organisms Our next stop was the taas and Gary Martens and in the soil farm of Dave and Val Pogwill be offered again this son. Dave talked about year. This was a first for H cocktail cropping. He has M in Canada. only used it for two or three Three producers, Lisa years but is already conClouston, Hugh Blair and vinced it is beneficial. The whole idea of cocktail Don Guilford, spoke about their H M experience. I cropping is to improve soil health by providing won’t try and summarize their presentations, suffice nutrients for all the living organisms in the soil. The it to say they all spoke from the heart. Each one of improved soil then allows Dave to grow a more them gave a powerful message and a great testimony profitable crop using fewer inputs. Dave plans to do for H M. I was proud to be part of the H M movemore cocktail cropping and alternate between cockment as I heard them speak. tails and cash crops. H M is spreading. More and more people are From the Pogsons we travelled to the home of becoming aware of the benefits it provides. And Don and Dianne Guilford. The Guilfords have folmore and more organizations are supporting it. lowed H M principles for 20-plus years and are More importantly more producers are enjoying the pleased with the results. Don noted as they increased benefits of H M. Is it time for you to check out H their recovery days between grazings from 40 or 50 M? Courses will be offered across Canada this windays to 80 or 90 days they saw a vast improvement ter. Come and join us. in the amount of grass they were able to grow. As a — Don Campbell result his good grazing management has allowed him to more than double his grass production. He also Don Campbell ranches with his family at Meadow Lake, uses bale grazing in winter and feels it has reduced Sask. He can be reached at 306-236-6088. 40 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

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SimmBeef ad - 8.25 x 10.875:Layout 1

04/08/2010

10:28 AM

Page 1

C C A

Travis Toews is president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

r e p o r t s

ver the summer I’ve had the opportunity to meet with a number of producers both informally and at meetings like our CCA semi-annual and convention. Optimism among producers regarding the cattle industry is at the highest it’s been in some time. There are several factors influencing the favourable position the industry finds itself in: new market access agreements, growing global demand for beef and tighter North American cattle supplies. Perhaps one of the biggest signs of change has to do with the performance of beef and live cattle prices during late July and August as the U.S. debt ceiling deliberations and subsequent downgrade by Standard & Poor’s ratings agency were taking place. Despite the financial turmoil and market uncertainty, beef and live cattle prices have stayed remarkably resilient. In Canada, prices are being supported by tight supplies with slaughter down 12 per cent year to date. As a smaller feeder crop comes forward, competition by feedlots for placements is strong, supporting prices at levels not seen since early 2002. U.S. demand for beef has strengthened from the lows seen in the second quarter of 2010 and are now back at 2009 levels. The U.S. market is being supported by export opportunities and growth. Supplies are projected to be steady with year-ago levels through first-quarter 2012 as cattle are being placed early because of drought bringing cattle off grass. At the same time, market access continues to improve. Exports are of vital importance to the Canadian cattle industry and every new market access agreement presents new opportunities for producers. Finding the highest-value customer for each cut and product from every animal that we produce is essential to maximizing returns for producers. The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into effect on August 15. The Colombia-Canada FTA will provide duty-free access for up to 5,250 tonnes per year of Canadian beef and offal. Canadian beef exports to Colombia annually could exceed $20 million under the agreement. In early August, I joined Prime Minister Stephen Harper and International Trade Minister Ed Fast in Bogota, Colombia, to mark the start of the Canada-Colombia FTA. We met with Colombian President Manuel Santos, and he relayed to me his enthusiasm for strengthening Colombia’s trade relationship with the Canadian beef and cattle industry. While Colombians are pleased to have immediate duty-free access to our high-quality beef, they are also very interested in our worldclass livestock and genetics. I want to thank the Prime Minister for placing such a high importance on specific market access opportunities for Canadian beef and cattle. I was once again able to share with the Prime Minister

42 Cattlemen / September 2011

by Travis Toews

our dependency on competitive market access, and I can tell you that he is very supportive of that priority. The Government of Canada also announced negotiations to modernize the Canada-Costa Rica FTA to improve Canadian beef access. A 15 per cent tariff on Canadian beef is currently in effect. Canadian producers of live breeding cattle, goats and sheep now have market access to the Vietnamese market for the first time since 2003. The Vietnamese market is worth up to $50 million. Progress continues on the Korea file and I’m optimistic that we will be exporting beef there by the end of the year. In late June, Canada announced it had reached a science-based technical agreement with South Korea as a step toward restoring market access for Canadian beef. The breakthrough agreement represents $30 million by 2015 for Canadian beef producers. We continue to follow Korea’s progress regarding the procedural steps that must be completed in the technical agreement before Canadian exports of UTM beef can flow. If it appears Korea is not proceeding in good faith, we will advise our government to request that the WTO case be reinstated. With South Korea working to resolve market access issues, finalizing the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement has become a high priority for the CCA. Technical negotiations with China based on the agreement signed by Prime Minister Harper and Chinese President Hu continue. Beef trade experts believe China could become a very valuable market in the years to come. These market access breakthroughs are attributable to the hard work of Agriculture and AgriFood Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Fast. Minister Ritz is to be congratulated for his tireless efforts to improve market access for Canadian beef. His hard work has paved the way for the many market access opportunities that have come to fruition, including the CanadaColombia FTA. On the WTO front, the final World Trade Organization report on Canada’s country-of-origin labeling (COOL) case was issued to the parties on July 29th. It remains confidential until it is translated and circulated to the WTO membership this fall. Our advocacy work in Washington, D.C. around COOL continues on a number of fronts along with discussions around possible remedies and solutions. It has been a busy and productive summer. I am encouraged by the positive developments in our industry and the optimism held by many producers. The market is showing resiliency in the face of external market factors, demonstrating the strong fundamentals that exist. I look forward to the new opportunities that lay ahead for this industry and remain optimistic about our future as Canadian cattle producers. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP

It all starts and ends — on the plate

he YouTube clip starts with a stark warning about “a global crisis and national crisis” with the host voicing fear over “the suffering and death of the silenced, confined and hidden.” Images appear of the dead — and then the rescued. Another clip features an engaging host exposing the huge injustices to the “nameless, faceless and absent.” With staggering footage I am drawn into the “horrendous, intolerable and unacceptable” world of abuse. With every click of the mouse, raw footage becomes more intense and by the end of my search the images are too disturbing to watch and a few minutes into the video I turn away, emotionally drained. It was a rainy day, one for investigation and the subject was animal welfare. A search lead me from the proactive activities of animal welfare groups in North America that focus on prevention and education right through to rescue sources. It was then I moved to humane societies and finally animal rights groups. Through the entire journey it became clear to me that animal welfare was not clearly understood but abuse was. And “factory farming,” as intensive food animal production is referred to, is considered abuse. One could argue economics of scale, disease prevention or adequate welfare practises, but the reality is that this information and the accompanying video footage are there for the world to see. It is on your home computer, on the desk of your politician and on your child’s phone. The starkness of the images cast a long shadow on production practices and in keeping these messages before the public there is a certainty of change. Reel back to the impact of animal welfare and animal rights groups and the legislation regarding downer cattle. This was not a carefully thought-out policy initiative on the part of industry and government. The force for change came from a public outcry after exposure of the realities of the problem by groups who saw the delivery, treatment and processing of downer cattle as abusive. Footage of downer animals brought the suffering to life. It was a shift that benefited the public in terms of food safety, raised awareness at the farm and eradicated one more level of suffering for the animal. The many groups that promote animal rescue, welfare, rights and alternate diets are all moving to a different target and that target is currently confinement. From the farm to the feedlot, range to the cage, confinement does not sit well with consumers. The latest consumer studies in the United States indicate that animal welfare is a top priority and it has been identified as a motivator at the retail shelf. In July a new survey of consumers of pork and poultry claim they

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would pay 20 per cent more for product that was not produced in cages or pens. In Canada, the message became clear in August when Whole Foods Market announced that it was expanding its animal welfare rating labelling to include livestock destined for Canadian meat cases. Although it only has six stores in Canada, four in Vancouver and two in Toronto, the small can become the mighty. This move affects 200 Canadian livestock producers who must meet one hundred criteria just to qualify for step one which bans the use of cages and crates and forbids crowding. Producer testimonials indicate that it is all worth the hassle and remind us that the concept of an animal welfare label was driven by consumer demand. It is somewhat like the sleeping giant we talked about last fall when Coles of Australia, prodded by consumer concerns, banned implanted beef from its retail stores. Coles may not have been that big of a player in the whole environment, but the move ignited a chain reaction and Australia has since picked up on EU contracts because of that commitment. Even the big guys are paying a little more to keep their clients happy. McDonalds has joined Wendy’s, Wal-Mart, Trader Joe’s, Burger King and Safeway in buying a portion of cage-free eggs because it is more costly if they don’t than if they do. Like all great debates, the rant over the confinement of animals, referred to as “factory farming,” is one of core values. We could argue about animal health advantages and economics forever but folks just are really not going to accept confinement. In the case of eggs, either you care about chickens being able to flap their wings, regardless of the price of eggs, or you don’t. For the beef industry we are reminded that it all starts and ends on the plate. What consumers perceive and believe to be is their reality. Animal welfare is defined as the quality of life of an animal and includes natural expression. In the future, the confinement of food animals, what and how they are fed, how animals are transported and the stress of comingling will be issues that the public will be engaged in and they will be influenced by groups outside of food production. We need to be proactive in our message and in creating change. As Dr. Ed Pajor from the University of Calgary states “Simply saying ‘trust us’ when it comes to animal welfare or food safety, is simply not good enough.” Society will not only vote with their plates. Food animals are in our care and they know it. Our responsibility is to them both. — Brenda Schoepp Brenda Schoepp is a market analyst and the owner and author of BEEFLINK, a national beef cattle market newsletter. A professional speaker and industry market and research consultant, she ranches near Rimbey, Alta. Contact her at brenda.schoepp@cciwireless.ca.

CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011 43

P r i m e

c u t s

by Steve Kay

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

he extreme to exceptional drought in declines might have been due to increased presthe southern U.S. is rapidly becomsure on pasture availability, with more acres going ing the story of the year for the U.S. to crop production, says Jim Robb, director of the beef industry. Since I wrote about the Livestock Marketing Information Center. drought in my June-July column, conditions have Conversely, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, worsened appreciably. Yet the drought shows no North Dakota, Kansas and Colorado all saw signs of abating. Not only is it altering near-term an increase in 2010 in beef cow numbers. Robb supply patterns, it is reshaping the U.S. cattle herd expects such increases to continue this year, as in terms of geography and size. well as in California which is having one of its Canadian producers should be watching events best grass seasons in some years. Beef heifers and closely. No producer wants a market advantage young cows have already come to California this because of another’s disadvantage. But the continyear from Texas, he says. ued liquidation of the U.S. beef herd, when many The decline in beef heifer numbers is extremely had hoped for stability this year, provides an even important as it means the U.S. industry continues stronger market for Canadian cattle. Furtherto shrink its nursery, says Robb. Cow-calf promore, the market will be just south of the border ducers not in the drought zones have an economic because that’s where the green grass is. incentive to expand their herds but they are still USDA’s mid-year cattle inventory report being very cautious. Depending on how much showed that total cattle and calf numbers in longer the drought persists and cow slaughter the U.S. on July 1 were continues to run large, down one per cent from the overall herd might a year earlier. Beef cow decline 1.5 per cent this numbers were also down The continued liquidation year to 91.2 million one per cent but more of the U.S. beef herd provides head, he says. significantly, beef cow The drought in replacement numbers an even stronger market the southern U.S. and were down 4.5 per cent. northern Mexico conThese heifers, instead of for Canadian cattle tinued to force large being retained for herd numbers of cattle into rebuilding, went to feedfeedlots in June and lots for finishing and July. Yet the drought then to slaughter. These declines, plus an expected shows no sign of abating and many ranchers, 0.5 per cent decline in the 2011 calf crop and especially in Texas, have run out of feed and ongoing liquidation due to drought, means the water. So forced cattle movement and herd liqU.S. herd might decline this year by as much as uidation continues. This suggests that August 1.5 million head. This would make the herd the feedlot placements were also higher than last smallest since 1958. year. Market-ready supplies of cattle are therefore Drought conditions from Arizona to Florlikely to remain quite sizeable into early 2012. ida/Georgia are forcing producers to liquidate Feedlot placements this fall might decline sharply, their herds. But at the same time, producers in which would have a bearing on market-ready northern and western states are adding numsupplies from April next year. But any decline bers because of excellent pasture conditions. This will depend on whether drought leaves any wheat trend first showed up in January’s annual invenpasture available on the Southern Plains for wintory report. Texas, by far the largest cow-calf ter grazing of calves. state, saw its beef cow numbers decline 115,000 to 5.025 million on January 1 from a year earlier. Cattle Buyers Weekly covers the North American meat Oklahoma, Florida, Arizona, New Mexico and and livestock industry. For subscription information, all the southern-tier states also had declining beef contact Steve Kay at P.O. Box 2533, Petaluma, cow numbers. Numbers also fell in Minnesota, CA 94953, or at 707-765-1725, or go to www. Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. These cattlebuyersweekly.com.

44 Cattlemen / September 2011 2011

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

More efficient Means More Hereford. Hereford — making black better. For efficiency and profitability, nothing gets you there faster than Hereford. Hereford characteristics, such as gain and feed conversion, show a $61.50 USD- advantage per head over Angus-sired calves from start to finish*. Ideal for your herd and for the future of your business, adding Hereford gives you the power to become more profitable.

Canadian Hereford Association 5160 Skyline Way NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6V1 1-888-836-7242 • www.hereford.ca *Preliminary findings from 2007 & 2008 California State University study in cooperation with Lacey Livestock, Harris Feeding Co., and Harris Ranch Beef Co., “Impacts of Crossbreeding on Profitability in Vertically Coordinated Beef Industry Marketing Systems.” Visit Hereford.org and click on the “Heterosis Report” tab or contact Karin Schmid, Breed Development Coordinator at karin@hereford.ca for more information.

RESEARCH

Feed efficiency

46 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011

87% concentrate, ionophore, implant, optimized backgrounding

Cohen & Cooper 1983 Research, Year

85% grain + ionophore + implant

85% grain + implant

85% grain + ionophore

85% grain

2/3 grain

growth performance and carcass quality in a variety of breed types, backgrounding periods, and slaughter endpoints in steers finished on an 87 per cent concentrate diet. The feed:gain ratio for the Hereford steers during the finishing period ranged from 5.6:1 to 5.9:1, growth rates averaged over 4.0 lbs./day, and carcasses exceeded 700 lbs. with 8.0 mm of fat (J. Anim. Sci. 79:133-140 and 267-275). These four studies all used Hereford steers, so some of the improvement in growth and efficiency may also be from genetic selection. In 2004, Flavio Schenkel and others at the University of Guelph reported that feed:gain ratio had a heritability of 0.37, which means that 37 per cent of an animal’s feed:gain efficiency is due to genetics. A value of 0.37 is considered to be moderately heritable, which means that feed:gain will improve if you select for it. Of course, selecting breeding stock for improved feed efficiency means measuring how much feed each individual animal consumes. This is very difficult and expensive. However, feed:gain is genetically correlated with average daily gain, which means that some of the genes involved in growth rate are also involved in feed:gain ratio. This stands to reason, since average daily gain is part of the feed:gain calculation. So selecting for average daily gain will also improve feed:gain ratio. Residual feed intake (RFI) is of interest to breeders who want to improve feed efficiency without increasing the size of their cattle. RFI tries to identify differences in feed intake that are caused by differences in the animal’s metabolic “idling” rate by factoring out things like growth rate and fat thickness that affect feed intake. RFI and feed:gain ratio also have about half of the same genes in common, so selecting for improved RFI in breeding stock will also lead to improved feed:gain in feedlot progeny. The GrowSafe feed intake system developed in Canada has made it easier to measure feed intake in cattle, and has become a highly valued tool at a number of university, federal and private research feedlots. Producer checkoff funds from Alberta Beef Producers, Ontario Cattlemen’s Association and the Beef Cattle Research Council are supporting several projects that might reduce the number of animals that need to be tested for feed efficiency. At AAFC’s Lacombe Research Station, Al Schaefer is testing whether infrared animal Changes in feed:gain ratio of Hereford feedlot steers in Canada temperature measurements are related to feed efficiency. At the University of Guelph, Steve Miller and Yuri Montaholi are measuring infrared images and a variety of hormone and enzymes in hopes of identifying quick, cheap and reliable predictors of feed efficiency. Steve Miller is also looking for DNA markers for feed efficiency, in collaboration with the University of Alberta and researchers in Australia and the U.S. Research often takes a long time to produce small improvements. But a quick look back shows how industry is still benefiting from this and other work done by Canadian researchers long ago, and will continue to benefit in the future. — Reynold Bergen Whiting 1957 1/3 grain

Feed:gain ratio

he two largest variable costs facing the cattle-feeding sector are the calf and the feed needed to finish it. This makes the feed:gain ratio a key measure of efficiency. This column features a few research projects that illustrate how feedlot feed:gain (and growth rate, days on feed and carcass weight) have improved over the years. In 1957, Frank Whiting of AAFC’s Lethbridge Research Station decided to increase the amount of grain fed to Hereford and Angus steers (Can. J. Anim. Sci. 37:50-57). Steers that were fed one-third concentrate and two-thirds forage needed 9.5 lbs. of feed for every pound of gain. Steers fed two-thirds concentrate and one-third forage ratio needed 7.8 lbs. of feed per pound of gain. This was an 18 per cent improvement in feed efficiency. Steers fed the higher-grain diet also grew faster (1.97 versus 1.58 lbs./day), finished sooner (206 versus 254 days), and produced heavier (516 versus 494 lbs.) and fatter carcasses (14 versus 12 mm grade fat). A few years later, Dr. Bob Hironaka and others at the Lethbridge Research Station showed that the feed:gain ratio of Hereford steers decreased (improved) by approximately 0.05 for each percentage increase in the level of concentrate fed (Can. J. Anim. Sci. 74:495-501). In the early 1980s, Dr. Roger Cohen and J.A. Cooper at the University of British Columbia compared growth performance in Hereford steers fed an 85 per cent concentrate diet, with or without an ionophore and growth implant (Can. J. Anim. Sci. 63:361-365). The control steers with no growth promotants had a feed:gain ratio of 8.1, and steers given both growth promotants had a feed:gain ratio of 6.4:1 (a 21 per cent improvement). Average daily gain for the control steers (2.60 lbs./day) was also lower than for the steers given both ionophore and an implant (3.13 lbs./day). These steers finished in just over 100 days, and produced carcasses that averaged 620 lbs. with six mm of fat. In 2001, Hushton Block and others at the University of Saskatchewan published a pair of studies that compared

Block et al. 2011

Reynold Bergen is the science director of Beef Cattle Research Council.

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NEWS ROUNDUP RESEARCH FINDING OTHER USES FOR SRM Research at the University of Alberta has led to the discovery of a process to convert specified risk material (SRM) into heavy-duty plastics for industrial uses. In August, David Bressler, an associate professor of bioengineering and fermentation with the department of agricultural, food and nutritional sciences, and Philip Choi, a professor from the chemicals and materials engineering, filed for patent on the new thermal plastic-making process. Bressler says since 2004 his team had been working with renderers to find uses for other animal proteins. In collaboration with industry, governments and other researchers, they refocussed their efforts in 2007 to look at plastics with support from Prionet, the Alberta Prion Research Institute and the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency. There are many different plastics for many different uses currently made from non-renewable petrochemicals, he explains. The goal of the research was to develop a plastic from cattle byproducts that would meet the specifications of the auto industry. Since the auto industry has the most stringent requirements, the plastic could then be made suitable for other uses by altering its flexibility. “By filing for the patent, we have demonstrated that the process works. Now, we are still working to develop recipes for different flexibility properties,” he says. It remains to be seen whether a new company will be formed to commercialize the process, or if one of the industry partners that have been involved in the project will step up to take ownership. The University of Alberta is the only post-secondary facility approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to conduct this type of research involving the use of SRM. The CFIA guidelines for disposal of SRM allow for it to be permanently contained by burial, or destroyed by incineration, thermal (high temperature) hydrolysis, or caustic (chemical) hydrolysis, Bressler explains. Approximately 5,000 metric tonnes of SRM goes into landfills each week because it is the least-expensive method of diswww.canadiancattlemen.ca

posal, however, that land can never again be used for agricultural purposes and the practice has created a huge expense while eliminating an important source of revenue for the beef industry. The new plastic-making process relies on either thermal or caustic hydrolysis to meet the CFIA’s requirements for SRM disposal. “In its development, we have conducted testing to make sure that there is nothing left of the original material,” Bressler states. Therefore, there are no special requirements for the disposal of the plastic products once they reach the end of their lifespan. The research team hopes that the discovery will divert the valuable protein in SRM from landfills and recapture some of the value lost to the beef industry with the introduction of the enhanced feed ban. On other fronts the Calgary-based company, BioRefinex Canada, is developing a biorefinery in Lacombe that will use thermal hydrolysis to turn 55,000 tonnes of SRM waste per year into useable organic fertilizer or biogas. Then there is the $10 million the Government of Canada recently loaned Cargill Meat Solutions to purchase and install equipment to utilize SRM and compost material to produce energy in the form of steam and electricity for Cargill’s High River facility rather than ship it to a landfill. Once operational, the equipment will provide 80 per cent of the plant’s energy needs, reducing fossil fuel requirements. This includes capturing methane off of the waste treatment plant and converting it to energy. That project is slated for completion in May 2012 at a total cost of $36 million. The federal enhanced feed ban also increased deadstock disposal costs for cattle producers which is the subject of another research project at the Lethbridge Research Station to see if composting carcasses effectively breaks down BSE prions. These researchers have successfully identified and characterized a new bacterial species that effectively breaks down keratin and appears to be an important proteolytic microbe during composting. Information on the fate of prions during composting has been a regulatory impediment to the adoption of composting as a method of SRM disposal. This team has devel-

oped a method to measure prions in compost and has shown that up to 40 per cent of scrapie prions (which are more resistant than the BSE prion) were degraded during a single large scale composting cycle. The first summary of this research should be published this fall.

MARKETING ECONOMISTS BUOYANT ABOUT BEEF OUTLOOK A positive outlook for the future in a global climate of political, economic and consumer unrest was what the over 300 attendees at ILC Beef 2011 wanted to hear, and with some cautions, they got their wish. Government, industry and consumer outlooks point to opportunities for growth, but new approaches from production to marketing are required across the board. Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) vice-president Martin Unrau opened the Congress saying the industry focus must be on opening doors to new Asian markets. Glen Hodgson, senior vice-president and chief eonomist for The Conference Board of Canada, also identified the Asia Pacific market as the future. “We are in unchartered territory and need to redouble our efforts to make gains. The world economy has been recovering since ’09, it just doesn’t feel that way due to economic shocks, consumer fears, heavy debt burden and media coverage,” he said. The U.S. economic crisis, the EU’s financial instability, and Japan’s natural disaster, which “took six per cent of GDP out of their second quarter and revealed the fragility of the global supply chain” undermined global market confidence and potential growth. Countries like Canada, whose “federal deficit will go down,” are in a much better position to experience growth in the coming years, if new markets are secured, added Hodgson. In analyzing the North and South American economies, Hodgson said that while Canada’s growth is real and U.S. growth is artificial, the growth in South America, particularly Brazil, is “extraordinary.” Continued on page 48 CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011 47

News Roundup Continued from page 47

Producers were advised to plan for a strong Canadian dollar, reduced production expenditures and rising labour costs and shortages. “We are forecasting a very strong real business investment growth in technology, to cope with a tight labour market,” said Hodgson, adding flexibility, innovative solutions and developing new markets were needed to achieve sustainable growth.

Jean-Philippe Gervais, senior economist at Farm Credit Canada, added that with much of the beef industry’s exporting success tied to new markets in Asia, Canada’s beef industry must adapt to “capture some of this growth.” “With 97 per cent of the world’s future population growth coming from less advanced countries, like China, India and Africa, food demands will grow and the beef industry can benefit,” said Gervais. “But, the regions that will grow the most are also the most closed (due to tariffs).” Despite the positive outlook, Gervais allowed that the international market

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is a complex one and volatility would remain an issue. The EU, Canada’s second-largest trading partner, is also showing some market potential, and The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is a priority for the Canadian government. Gilles Gauthier, chief agriculture negotiator for Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, said the focus was on increasing the current EU imports of beef products to more than the current $2.2 billion, and getting a foot in the door for the “substantial opportunity” their five per cent import opening offers. “For meats, the EU is essentially a closed market due to current trade barriers,” said Gauthier, who wants to see Canada in the top 10 suppliers, along with South America, the U.S. and Africa. Underlying many of the global trade issues is the continuing lack of agreement on technical protocols. “To get into the EU, Canadian cattle production protocols must change,” said Mark Klassen, CCA director of technical services. “We hope to have this resolved in two years time,” said Klassen, a key factor in the successful expansion into developing markets, including China and Russia. In addition to political, export and production challenges, the beef industry is also facing consumer-driven concerns ranging from the mild to the militant. “The beef industry has to pay much more attention to what consumers say they want and can afford to buy,” said American agri-business consultant Bill Hemming, referring to the “hamburger society.” Commenting on a 2010 consumer meat study, Theresa Dietrich, principal, People Talking Market Research Services, Toronto, reported price, origin and humane practices were the topthree concerns, with 35 per cent of Canadian consumers caring a lot about buying Canadian beef. “From an opportunity perspective, the beef industry should take advantage of this consumer expectation,” said Dietrich. “We need to go online and into social media, as well as our traditional promotions,” added Dietrich, who sees much of future consumer communication taking place on the Internet. “The one-size fits all retail channel won’t work,” said Jeff Doucette of Sales is Not Simple in Calgary. “We need to focus on driving consumer demand through non-price promotions.” www.canadiancattlemen.ca

He recommended making the meat section come alive through innovative merchandizing, taking a lesson from the growing popularity of farmers markets, and paying attention to consumer interest in organics and food safety.

marketing Vietnam opens to Canadian cattle In what the Canadian government calls a “milestone” decision, Vietnam became the first Asian market since 2003 to accept live Canadian breeding cattle, sheep and goats in August. It’s a market worth about $50 million a year. The Vietnamese industry has expressed “strong interest” in live cat-

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tle from Canada as well as live sheep and goats, the government said. Vietnam was one of many export markets to close its ports to Canadian beef and cattle in 2003 following Canada’s confirmation of its first domestic case of BSE in an Alberta cow. Hanoi consistently indicated it would take a phased approach to resume Canada’s access to the Vietnamese market, first on beef, then on cattle. All Canadian beef from animals of all ages was granted full access in July last year. Canada also has access to Vietnam for beef offal (heart, liver, and kidney); bovine semen and embryos; ovine (sheep) semen and embryos; and caprine (goat) semen and embryos. The agreement also gave the goahead to a co-operative project announced last October between the

Canadian Livestock Genetics Association (CLGA) and Vietnam’s National Institute of Animal Sciences on livestock genetics improvement for sheep and goats in Vietnam. Canada also opened talks to expand its 2002 free trade agreement with Costa Rica last month. Among other things the talks aim to broaden the market access for more products such as Canadian beef that was excluded from the original trade pact and later banned by Costa Rica following confirmation of BSE in 2003. Costa Rica fully reopened its ports to Canada’s beef in February this year, but its 15 per cent tariff on imports of Canadian beef remained in effect. “The potential to export Canadian beef to Costa Rica may be small… but Continued on page 50

Cattlemen / September 2011 49

News Roundup Continued from page 49

it is unacceptable to have beef remain excluded entirely from any agreement,” Canadian Cattlemen’s Association foreign trade chair and MacGregor, Man., producer Martin Unrau said in a separate release. “We want this omission to be corrected.” The value of Canada’s pre-BSE beef exports to Costa Rica in 2002 totalled $235,000.

policy Forage and Pasture Insurance Task Force Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the administrators dealing with forage and pasture insurance want to change the present focus on these programs, according to a recent report by Fred Hays, the policy analyst of the Alberta Beef Producers.

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Up to now Canadian producers have been offered a series of programs to help back poor production, usually related to weather. However, producer uptake of these programs has been poor. In the event of excessive drought or flooding the government usually comes up with some fallback that is not part of the insurance stream called AgriRecovery, which is funded 60:40 by federal and provincial government contributions. AgriRecovery was not designed as a Business Risk Management (BRM) program but a process for federal and provincial governments to follow in considering ad hoc payments for extraordinary devastating events. A recent government industry meeting took place in Winnipeg to form a task force to look into why producers weren’t making use of these insurance programs for forages, rather than relying on AgriRecovery and other ad hoc supports. In Alberta, for example, the uptake for hay and pasture insurance is only seven per cent for hay and 33 per cent for pasture. In B.C. only about 15 per cent of forage acres are insured and the level of coverage is about the same

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able indemnity premium ratios, and to use AgriRecovery as true disaster support. “And maybe those who sign up for some of the insurance programs would be the ones to qualify for AgriRecovery anyway.”

PROGRAMS ONTARIO BOOSTS FEEDER LOANS The province of Ontario will boost its limit as the guarantor for the Feeder Cattle Loan Guarantee Program to $130 million from $80 million to allow more farmers, including new farmers, to get loans to buy feeder cattle. Eligible new farmers will be able to borrow up to $50,000 while established farmers can apply for a $250,000 from one of the province’s 19 feeder cattle co-operatives. Only producers with paid-up membership in a co-op can apply for a loan to buy up to four groups of cattle. The co-operative facilitates the payment, supplies feeder program ear tags, handles the paperwork for the loans and insures the cattle. Members are not required to make payments for a year, or until the cattle are sold. Financing is available up to 100 per cent of the purchase price. Currently the program has loans out to about 800 producers. The Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) has more details on its website at www. cattle.guelph.on.ca.

and it actually reduced cost per acre. We’re down to 75 cents per cow per day in a 183-day situation.” Swath grazing triticale also complements perennial forage acres as grazing can start during the busy harvest period while most producers still have grain to harvest. “Another big advantage of triticale is very low fusarium levels,” says Chapman. “In any of the screening trials we can still find traces of fusarium, but triticale definitely seems to have better resistance than many other crops.

CORRECTION There were a couple of errors in our listing of the sales at the Ontario Stockyards Inc., Cookstown, Ontario, in last month’s Stock Buyer’s Guide. We reported they would sell yearlings on Thurs., Dec. 9 at 11 a.m. It is, of course, Thurs. Dec. 8 when the sale will be held. As well, the annual Simcoe Dufferin and Leeds Grenville County sale will not be held this year, but cattle that normally go into that sale are being consigned to sales Nov. 15 and 29 at Cookstown. C

FORAGE SEPTEMBER IS THE TIME TO SWATH GRAZE TRITICALE An Alberta Agriculture specialist says swath grazing in mid-dough stage can increase yield, energy and overall quality. “The trick is to get the crop into the ground early and then swathing grazing it in early September in the mid dough stage,” says Bill Chapman, a crop business development specialist with Alberta Agriculture in Barrhead. “By seeding triticale early and swathing in September, you can get higher production yields from a combination of the grain and the forage. And, with a crop like triticale, you get less deterioration for feed quality in the slighter wetter conditions of the fall.” “We’ve done some trials where we’ve seen between 175 and 211 grazing days per acre with swath grazing, www.canadiancattlemen.ca

CATTLEMEN / SEPTEMBER 2011 51

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

Deborah WILSON ◆ I have a question to pose to readers of my column. We, at Canadian C attlemen magazine, are contemplating a change to the name of this column. I have no doubt that over the last five years you have noticed that I include not just purebred news in this column, but newsworthy items from other beef organizations, shows and conferences. “Anything Beef” is my motto when putting this column together. Since the readers stay in contact with me and take such strong ownership of this column by sending me news, we are asking the readers to suggest names. If you feel this is a good idea let us know. Or are you happy with the name as it is? What’s your opinion?

ships” and 150 juniors from across Canada with approximately 260 head of purebred and commercial cattle shown did exactly that. Bonanza is the largest junior show in Canada. Cattle started to arrive on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 and headed home on Sunday, July 31. The facilities at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon did a wonderful job in accommodating the juniors and their cattle. Congratulations to David Reid of Saskatoon and his committee for all their hard work and dedication. Randy Radau will continue to serve for a second term as president of the Canadian Hereford Association, leading us through the World Hereford Conference being held in Alberta in July 2012. Outgoing Canadian Junior Hereford Association president, Kaityn Reid of Saskatchewan announced at the banquet on Saturday night that Meghan Black of New Brunswick was elected as the new president of the CJHA. New directors to the CHA board are David Reid and Doug Mann both from Saskatchewan. Garth Charlton and Harvey Duke are to be commended for their years of service to the CHA.

◆ Congratulations to Ferme d’Anjou

et Fils who were presented with the Canadian Angus Association Feedlot of the Year Award for Eastern Canada on August 13. The award for Western Canada was presented to High Ridge Feeders and Shannondale Farm of Manitoba at the annual general meeting in June.

◆ Northlands Farmfair, Olds Fall

◆ The Oldtimers are back!! Who is

this young lad proudly showing his 4-H calf, and a lifetime figure in the beef industry?

◆ The Canadian Hereford Association held its annual general meeting on Friday, July 29, 2011 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in conjunction with Bonanza 2011. It was a great success with about 100 members attending the annual meeting. Bonanza’s theme for this year was “Building Friend52 Cattlemen / September 2011

Classic and Lloydminster Stockade Round-Up have collaborated to introduce the Alberta Supreme Championship. The Alberta Supreme will include all breed winners from Northlands Farmfair Agriculture Showcase, Olds Fall Classic and Lloydminster Stockade Round-Up. In addition to winning the Alberta Supreme Champion title, the exhibitor of the male and female champions will drive away in a 2011 Dodge Ram truck.

◆ Longtime Manitoba Charolais breeder, Bob Digby of Rolling D Charolais, Dropmore, Man. passed away in his sleep Aug. 2 at his summer home. He was 72. His funeral

was held at the Roblin Community Centre. Bob will be missed by his immediate and extended family.

◆ Foley Marquess, of Charmark

Ranches, Gem, Alta., passed away Aug. 2, 2011 at the age of 68. Funeral services for Foley were held at Knox Presbyterian Church, Bassano. Foley started his Charolais herd in 1971 and was still a member of the Canadian Charolais Association.

◆ Former Charolais breeder Happy

Tegart of Justanother Farm, Irricana, Alta., was killed Sunday, July 31 in a baling accident. Justanother Farm was in the Charolais business from the mid-1970s until they dispersed in 1991. Hap was 72 years old and died suddenly doing what he loved — farming. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Sharon (Patterson); son Rob (Melanie); three grandkids: Kasper, Klover, and Kayman. Happy was raised in the Columbia Valley and in his younger years travelled North America on the professional rodeo circuit where he met Sharon. The highlight of his career was winning Canadian Bareback Champion in 1968. Following a successful custom cattle fitting and showing business, Hap became even more known for raising Charolais cattle and paint horses. He was very involved with his community and over the years held a number of positions with different organizations including the Calgary Stampede Beef Cattle Committee, Western Irrigation District, Alberta Charolais Association, Canadian Pro Rodeo Association and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame.

◆ One of Wellington County’s best-

known beef farmers, Charlie Watson, passed away July 29. Charlie, who was 87, left home with a Grade 8 education in the midst of the Great Depression of the 1930s and was a millionaire by the time he was 35. In the 1960s, Watson developed the 1,100-acre Peel Village in Brampton and Shoppers World in Scarborough. Through it all he always called the village of Dromore, north of Mount Forest, Ont., home. His son Charlie Jr. died in 2006 while attending Agribition in Regina. Both Charlie Sr. and Charlie Jr. were longwww.canadiancattlemen.ca

time Charolais breeders, their operation known as Wat-cha Farms.

◆ At the conclusion of the Calgary

Stampede’s 29th annual UFA Steer Classic on July 17, Justin Hall’s 1,404pound Angus was named the grand champion — a victory worth $9,000, plus $1,000 for best-in-breed honours in the stampede steer show’s Angus class. The Hall family victory came on the heels of the steer’s win at the Lloydminster Classic Steer Stake Show, and brought things full circle for Justin’s father, Barry Hall, who himself had won the UFA Steer Classic in 1989 and ’94 — and hadn’t returned to the Stampede City since. The reserve champion, a 1,385-pound Limousin from Denfield, Ont., was worth a runner-up cheque of $4,000, as well as another $1,000 for bestin-class, to its owners, Mark Phillips and Brodie Gutzke of Phillips Cattle Co. The steer was purchased by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen. With 98 entries this year from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, up from 79 a year ago, the UFA Steer Classic represents the culmination of the regional steer show season. It is the richest steer show in Canada. The Jackpot Heifer Show, held on Sunday, July 17 was won by Dakota and Wacey Townsend of Sylvan Lake, Alta. With roots tracing back to 1983, the UFA Steer Classic is nearly three decades old… but suddenly got a lot younger this summer. Organizers have put a special emphasis on the show’s Junior Class by boosting the payout to the winners — $5,000, including a $3,000 scholarship, to the owner

(l-r) Patty Hall, Barr y Hall, judge Dave Longshore and Justin Hall. Grand Champion Steer shown by Justin Hall. of the grand champion, and $3,500, including a $2,000 scholarship, to the owner of the reserve champion. Shelby Kent of Carstairs, Alta., and Kathryn Dolliver of Stettler, Alta., respectively, earned those inaugural scholarships, and their winning steers were put in the spotlight at Saturday’s all-new Junior Champion Auction, which was held immediately after the UFA Steer Classic, with proceeds sustaining the scholarship fund.

◆ Sparrows Hombre 355X by Spar-

rows Eldorado exhibited by Josie Sparrow, Vanscoy, Sask., won Grand Champion Female honours at the Canadian Charolais Youth Association Conference and Show held July 23 in Saskatoon. Judge Kasey Phillips selected SVY Starstruck 8X by SVY AD Invincible exhibited by Katie Serhienko, Maymont as Reserve Grand Champion of the 37 entry show.

◆ The Cattlemen’s Young Leaders candidates have all been matched

with appropriate mentors for the program. Most of the CYL participants were also able to attend the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s Semiannual meetings held in Calgary, in early August, in conjunction with the ever popular International Livestock Congress. For more detailed information on candidates and mentors go to www.cattlemensyoungleaders.com/ participant_spotlight.

◆ Livestock Gentec is holding its second annual conference in Edmonton on October 19 and 20. The 2011 conference theme is “Addressing the Gap Between Discovery and Profitable Adoption, and the potential for impact across the value chain.” Speakers include David Chalack (ALMA), Stephen Moore (University of Alberta) and Stephen Miller (University of Guelph) as well as Sally Northcutt (American Angus Association) and Christoph Weder (Prairie Heritage Beef). Livestock Gentec is an Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions centre, created to conduct genomics research and bring commercial benefits to the Canadian livestock industry. For more information, or to register please visit www.livestockgentec.com or contact Livestock Gentec at 780-248-1900. ◆ For the second straight year, the

International Youth Livestock Show is part of a collaboration between the stampede and the Olds Agricultural Society entitled Summer Synergy. The integrated, week-long show, which concluded on Friday, July 15 at Olds, drew an estimated 350 competitors and about 600 head of livestock from all over Western Canada. The major-

Judge Dave Longshore commenting on the Championship steer class in Calgary. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Continued on page 54 Cattlemen / September 2011 53

Continued from page 53

ity of the 2011 Summer Synergy event — which included a youth marketing competition, a multi-species judging competition, conformation, showmanship, and show team judging — took place in Olds, beginning Sunday, July 10. Youths exhibited animals in three species classes — sheep, dairy, or beef — and Stampede International Youth scholarship interviews were held on Stampede Park on Saturday. In all, the stampede nearly doubled the number of annual IYLS scholarship recipients, to 48, and boosted the total scholarship value to $50,000, from $35,000, with help from sponsors CCS Corporation, ConocoPhillips, WA Ranches, Ted and Enid Jansen, Enbridge Inc., the Elmer and Ona Hansen Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Calgary Stampede Foundation. The scholarship recipients were introduced and recognized on Saturday night during the evening Grandstand Show at Stampede Park.

◆ Rod Burnett, of Armstrong, B.C.,

won the Calgary Stampede’s 23rd

annual International Livestock Auctioneer Championship from a field of 10 finalists. Victory was sweet for Burnett, who sold cars and heavy equipment for 15 years before being convinced in 2008 by his current employers at Valley Auction Ltd. — brothers Peter and Don Raffan, both former stampede champs themselves

Paul Koffman (l) of Merck Animal Health (a major sponsor of the event) with Rod Burnett.

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

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54 Cattlemen / September 2011

◆ Due to extreme weather conditions in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan the YCSA National Classic had to be cancelled. There have been many challenges for livestock producers resulting in very few entries and unfortunately there were not enough to constitute a National Classic this year. The Manitoba Youth Beef Round-Up went ahead as planned. Stay tuned for information regarding the YCSA annual general meeting (AGM) this fall. C

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

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

— that he should turn his attention to livestock. Burnett collected $5,500 in cash, prizes, a stampede championship buckle, and an automatic berth into the 2012 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship at Hilmar, Calif. Reserve champion Mike Nuss of Minatare, Neb., takes home $1,000 and a buckle. Brennin Jack of Regina, the reigning Canadian champion and the 2009 stampede rookie of the year, placed third, good for $600. This competition is widely acknowledged to be the second-most prestigious auctioneers’ showdown in the world.

Regular Columns News Roundup Purely Purebred The Markets

Market Talk Sales and Events

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

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The markets

Market Summary debbie mcmillin Fed Cattle Following an up-and-down trend in July, a weaker Canadian dollar coupled with tight fed supplies domestically led to a stronger summer fed market. Board premiums and strength in the U.S. cash market also pushed the Canadian fed market higher. Fed steers increased $7 per cwt in the first half of August to an average $105.41, about $16 above last year. The fed cattle basis narrowed compared to the five-year average through most of the summer, currently sitting at just -8.51 per cwt. The pre-BSE five-year average for August is -10.37. Cattle-on-feed on August 1, 2011 in Alberta and Saskatchewan totalled 671,690 head, five per cent more than a year ago but six per cent smaller than the August 1 five-year average. This larger on-feed total is the result of smaller marketings which in turn are due to smaller placements through

the last part of 2010 and early 2011. That trend continues with July placements running five per cent below year-before numbers and 31 per cent below the five-year average for the month. Steer slaughter to date is 859,750 head, 11 per cent fewer than last year while fed heifer slaughter is also down 11 per cent at 578,601 head. At the start of August the average steer carcass weight was 858 pounds, up 20 from the same week in 2010. That is a bit of a turnaround as carcass weights have been running lower than last year through much of 2011. The combination of lower slaughter and lighter carcass weights has reduced Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beef production by a projected 18 per cent from last year, the smallest it has been since 1995. Live cattle exports to the end of July at 235,716 head were down 39 per cent on the year.

Feeder Cattle A weaker dollar, a stronger fed market and very light summer volumes have also led to positive price movement on heavier-weight feeders. A friendly deferred feeder board has also been supportive for both current and delayed delivery. The 850-feeder steer price at mid-August averaged $125.63, up $2.88 from the week previous and nearly $21 over 2010. Very limited trade on light feeders in Alberta at mid-

Debâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Outlook Fed Outlook

Fundamentally the fed cattle supply ahead in Canada is supportive to the fall market but U.S. supplies will pick up toward the end of the year. Beef consumption increases as the weather cools and families adapt to school schedules right up to the Christmas holidays. A premium board, weakness in the Canadian dollar, increases in seasonal demand and smaller supplies all point to a stronger market in Canada. Factors to watch include instability in world markets and concerns over economic conditions among our trading partners.

Feeder Cattle Outlook Good grass conditions will spread out the higher volumes during the fall run. However, anticipated strength in the yearling market will likely cause some backgrounder/

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August had 550-feeder steers averaging near $144, up about $26 from last year. The feeder basis the second week of August was -6.91 per cwt, which compares to -12.34 per cwt last year and a -15.03 five-year average.

Non-Fed Cattle D1,2 cows were trading in the low $70s for several weeks, reaching an average $71.13 in mid-August which is $10 per cwt ahead of last year and $26.50 better than 2009. The drought in the U.S. southwest has hit a region with a large number of beef cows, forcing many ranchers to sell off some or all of their herds. The droughtinduced kill in the southern U.S. has dumped extra supplies of non-fed beef into the market however, demand for this product has maintained prices fairly well, particularly in Canada where cow buyers have had smaller volumes to work with. Canadian cow slaughter is down 15 per cent from a year ago; bulls are off nine per cent at 13,643 head. Butcher bull prices had levelled off to an average $81.18 by mid-August after slipping lower over the past month. Live exports of slaughter cows and bulls to the end of July totalled 105,349 head, down 21 per cent.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Debbie McMillin

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

grass operators to bring yearlings to town ahead of grass shortages. Strong demand is expected in the feeder market through the fall based on the smaller calf crop, plenty of available forage and a friendly fed market. One factor to keep an eye on is the cost of gain particularly as the USDA last month announced a reduction in previous corn crop estimates.

Non-Fed Cattle The cow market has a strong seasonal trend with an increase in numbers in the fourth quarter as producers wean and make culling decisions. However, with good calf prices and ample hay in most areas some producers may choose to keep their mature cows for another year which in turn will tighten available supplies even as the bulk of the cows come to town. Demand remains high for non-fed beef and that will support prices at levels similar or stronger than last year. Cattlemen / september 2011 55

Break-even Prices on A-Grade Steers 115

ALBERTA

150

105 95 85 75

Market Prices

160

140 130

western Market Summary

120 110

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

135

100

Steer Calves (500-600 lb.) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

ONTARIO

125

115

105

85 75 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2011

Canfax weighted average price on A-Grade steers

D1,2 Cows Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Ontario 2010 Market Ontario prices based on a 50/50 east/west mix Summary O ntario

2011

2010

A lberta

Break-even price

2011

for steers on date sold

2012

2011

Kevin Grier2010

Market Summary (to August 6)

August 2011 prices* Alber ta Yearling steers (850 lb.)............... $123.03/cwt Barley................................................. 4.47/bu. Barley silage..................................... 55.88/ton Cost of gain (feed)........................... 59.92/cwt Cost of gain (all costs)..................... 83.89/cwt Fed steers...................................... 101.77/cwt Break-even (December 2011)......... 109.00/cwt Ontario Yearling steers (850 lb.)............... $121.27/cwt Corn silage....................................... 66.40/ton Grain corn........................................... 8.05/bu. Cost of gain (feed)......................... 118.00/cwt Cost of gain (all costs)................... 143.20/cwt Fed steers...................................... 105.49/cwt Break-even (February 2012).......... 130.34/cwt *Mid-month to mid-month prices Breakevens East: end wt 1,450, 183 days West end wt 1,325 lb., 125 days

56 Cattlemen / september 2011

2011 Total Canadian federally inspected slaughter............. 1,726,056 Average steer carcass weight............................................ 837 lb. Total U.S. slaughter.................................................... 20,733,000

2010 1,955,220 842 lb. 20,730,000

Trade Summary EXPORTS 2011 Fed cattle to U.S. (to July 30)........................................ 235,716 Feeder cattle and calves to U.S. (to July 30)................... 57,105 Dressed beef to U.S. (to June).............................. 269.01 mil.lbs Total dressed beef (to June)................................. 362.79 mil.lbs

2010 387,481 152,833 361.29 mil.lbs 467.93 mil.lbs

IMPORTS 2011 Slaughter cattle from U.S. (to June) . ........................................ 0 *Dressed beef from U.S. (to June)........................ 165.23 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Australia (to June)...................... 8.30 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from New Zealand (to June)................ 33.64 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Uruguay (to June)..................... 8.73 mil.lbs

2010 0 128.64 mil.lbs 10.38 mil.lbs 29.93 mil.lbs 24.47 mil.lbs

Canadian Grades (to August 13, 2011) % of A grades AAA AA A Prime Total EAST WEST

+59% 20.3 30.2 2.8 0.2 53.5 Total graded 348,348 1,257,884

Yield â&#x20AC;&#x201C;53% Total 9.8 52.3 2.2 42.6 0.0 2.9 0.5 1.1 12.5 Total A grade 98.9% Total ungraded % carcass basis 104,707 76.3% 71,840 62.0%

54-58% 22.2 10.2 0.1 0.4 32.9

Only federally inspected plants

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market talk with Gerald Klassen

Financial markets and cattle price relationship

he equity markets have been quite volatile over the past month as we have seen the Dow Jones Industrial Average swing over 400 points quite regularly. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve received many inquiries from cattle producers asking how this will influence cattle prices in the upcoming fall period. We all remember the stock market meltdown during the fall of 2008 and during the first quarter of 2009. Cattle prices followed the equity markets quite closely as the U.S. economy went into one of the worst recessions on record. Many producers are now wondering if the equity and cattle markets will experience a similar pattern. In this issue, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to discuss the relationship between the financial and cattle markets.

Interest rates Inverse

Direct

Dow Jones Industrial Average

U.S. dollar

Inverse

Direct Commodities

Diagram from Darin Newsom DTN Market Outlook December 2009.

The U.S. Federal Reserve stated on Tuesday, Aug. 9 that they intend to keep its target lending rate in the range of zero to 0.25 per cent. Recent economic data suggests that the U.S. economy is very close to slipping back into a recession. GDP was a meagre 0.8 per cent during the first half of 2011 while consumer spending dropped to 0.1 per cent in the second quarter. Americans actually cut their spending for the first time in two years during June by 0.2 per cent. Cattle producers need to remember that a one per cent increase in consumer spending equals a one per cent increase in beef demanded. Consumer spending is also responsible for approximately 70 per cent of U.S. GDP. Therefore, it is very important to watch these numbers and projections. Last winter the markets were factoring in an interest rate hike for November and December of 2011 but now this has been delayed. The postponement of the further hikes prowww.canadiancattlemen.ca

vides a totally different economic environment from earlier projections. Interest rates have a direct relationship with the U.S. dollar. The greenback has been hovering near historical lows which has actually been positive for U.S. beef exports. A low U.S. dollar results in greater demand for commodities. However, Canadian beef exports to the U.S. during the first five months of 2011 were down 26 per cent in comparison to 2010. The Bank of Canada has set its target lending rate at one per cent. If the Canadian interest rate premium over the U.S. increases, this is bullish for the Canadian dollar and if the interest rate spread narrows, the loonie usually comes under pressure. A couple days after the Federal Reserve announcement, the overnight basis swaps started to factor in a 25 point decrease by the Bank of Canada. The Canadian dollar actually dropped under the par level for a brief time period and Alberta fed cattle prices jumped $3 to $4 around that time frame. Many economists are projecting a Bank of Canada interest rate hike in the first quarter of 2012. Mixed outlooks on the Canadian interest rates will continue to result in larger volatility in the Canadian dollar. Interest rates have an inverse relationship with the equity markets. Low interest rates are considered bullish for stock market indexes because this is a stimulant for consumer spending and business investment. When the Federal Reserve lowered its rate to zero, the Dow Jones Industrial Average moved from a low near 6,500 in March of 2009 to a high in May 2011 of 12,876. I ran a very simple exercise comparing the weekly futures close for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the nearby live cattle futures. From January 2008 through December 2009, the correlation between the weekly close on the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Live Cattle futures was 0.65; from January 2010 to August 2011, the correlation jumped to 0.9. There is a very strong direct relationship between the Dow and Live Cattle Futures because consumer spending is responsible for overall U.S. economic strength and beef demand. In conclusion, the U.S. Federal Reserve is committed to low U.S. interest rates. While American consumer spending contracted in June, lower rates for the next two years should result in greater consumptive demand for commodities. If the Bank of Canada also lowers rates, Canadian cattle prices should track closer to U.S. values as the Canadian basis strengthens. Gerald Klassen analyzes markets in Winnipeg and also maintains an interest in the family feedlot in southern Alberta. He can be reached at jkci@mymts.net or 204-287-8268. Cattlemen / September 2011 57

SALES AND EVENTS EVENTS September 7-8—4th Annual Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Cow-Calf Roadshow, Peterborough area, Ont. 13-15—Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock, Ont. 20-24—International Plowing Match, Chutea-blondeau, Ont. 22—Alberta Shorthorn Assoc. “All-Star Classic Sale,” Lacombe, Alta.

AD INDEX Page Ag Growth Industries 18 Ballco Feeders 48 Boehringer Ingelheim 19 Border Line Feeders Inc. 48 Calhoun Cattle Co. Ltd. 48 Canadian Angus Assoc. IFC, 3 Canadian Charolais Assoc. OBC Canadian Hereford Assoc. 45 Canadian Limousin Assoc. 26, 27 Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society 50 Canadian Shorthorn Assoc. 49 Canadian Simmental Assoc. 41 Canadian Welsh Black Society 50 Canadian Western Agribition 51 Canadian Wheat Board 35 Direct Livestock Marketing 35 Elanco Animal Health 13 General Motors 11 Highland Feeders 48 Highway 21 Feeders 48 International Stock Foods 50 Jaylor Fabricating Inc. 35 John Deere Ag Marketing Center 21 Kubota Canada 6 a-h Lakeland Group/Northstar 14 a-p Merck Animal Health 8, 9, 23, 39, A-1-12, IBC Merial 5, 25 Northwest Consolidated Beef 50 Novartis Animal Health Canada 33 Pfizer Animal Health 15, 37 John Schooten & Sons Custom Feedyard Ltd. 48 Shannondale Farms 48 Stauffer Farm Feedlot 48 TD Bank Financial 29 Vetoquinol Canada Inc. 17 Waygu Canada Inc. 50

24—Canadian Blonde D’aquitaine 37th Annual General Meeting, Lindsay, Ont. 30-Oct. 2— Olds Fall Classic Beef Show, Olds Ag Society, Olds, Alta.

21-26—Canadian Western Agribition, Evraz Place, Regina, Sask. 25—Canadian National Hereford Show, Agribition, Regina, Sask.

October

December

7-9—National Shorthorn Show, Victoriaville, Quebec 8—Quebec Classic, Victoriaville, Quebec 13-15—Cattlemen’s Young Leaders Fall Forum, Calgary, Alta. 17-18—Summit for Agriculture-Feeding a Hungry WorldFarm Care Foundation, Summit Host — www.farmcarefoundation.ca, Delta Ottawa Centre, Ottawa, Ont. 19-20—Livestock Gentec AGM Conference, Delta Edmonton South, Edmonton, Alta. 30-Nov. 2—Antimicrobial Stewardship in Canadian Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Marriott Toronto Airport Hotel, Toronto, Ont.

7-8—Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan Conference, Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, Sask., www.facs.sk.ca

January 2012 18-20—Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, Sask. 20-21—Canadian Bull Congress, Camrose Exhibition, Camrose, Alta. 21—Beef Symposium and FarmSmart, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont.

February 2012 15-17—Alberta Beef Industry ConferenceCapri Conference Center, Red Deer, Alta.

July 2012

November 3-5—Lloydminster Stockade Roundup Show, Exhibition Grounds, Lloydminster, Alta. 3-6—Canadian Limousin National Show and Sale, Royal Winter Fair, Toronto, Ont. 3-6—Manitoba Livestock Expo, Keystone Centre, Brandon, Man. 4-13—Royal Winter Fair, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Ont. 4-13—Farmfair International, Northlands, Edmonton, Alta. 5—Canadian National Red and Black Angus Shows, Manitoba Livestock Expo, Brandon, Man. 9-12—Agri-Trade 2011, Westerner Park, Red Deer, Alta. 9-12—Saskatoon Fall Fair, Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, Sask. 9-13—Canadian Finals Rodeo, Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alta. 10—National Simmental Show, Northlands, Edmonton, Alta. 11—Canadian Simmental Association Annual General Meeting and Garth Sweet Simmental Foundation Auction, Northlands, Edmonton, Alta.

8-25—2012 World Hereford Conference, Olds Ag Society, Olds, Alta.

SALES October 21-22—Red Roundup Show and Sale, Westerner Grounds, Red Deer, Alta. 22—All Star Classic Shorthorn Sale hosted by Alberta Shorthorn Association, Lacombe Research Station, Lacombe, Alta.

December 10—MC Quantock “Canada’s Cow” Sale, Vermilion, Alta.

 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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bear trap feeders

British Columbia

Bob or Don Lowe Box 1499 Nanton, Alta. T0L 1R0 Ph: (403) 646-5550 Fax: 646-5697 Lot capacity: 4,000 1 5 2 9

Andrews A1 Feeders Gary Andrews 167 Dure Meadow Road Lumby, B.C. V0E 2G7 Ph/Fax: (250) 547-2219 Lot capacity: 650 9 2 8

Blue Ridge colony

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

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

Alberta Antelope Butte ranch ltd. Jim Lynch-Staunton Box 10 Lundbreck, Alta. T0K 1H0 Ph: (403) 628-2020 Cell: (403) 627-6770 email: jim@jrtwave.com Lot capacity: 1,200 9 2 BALLCO FEEDERS inc. Jeff Ball Box 127 Brant, Alta. T0L 0L0 Ph: (403) 684-3540 Fax: 684-3345 email: jeff@ballco.ca Lot capacity: 15,000 1 9 2 8 4 7 Barnett Farms Bill Barnett Box 1, Site 14, R.R. 1 Strathmore, Alta. T1P 1J6 Ph: (403) 934-4260 Fax: 934-4920 email: barnettfeeders@aol.com Lot capacity: 3,000 1 9 2 4

1custom order buying and selling

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

Rod, Carol or Jason Calhoun Box 72 Swalwell, Alta. T0M 1Y0 Ph: (403) 546-2655 Fax: 546-3831 Cell: 333-5440/333-5438 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

Ben Wurz, Johnny Wurz Box 40 Carmangay, Alta. T0L 0N0 Ph: (403) 643-2456 Fax: 643-2410 Cell: 795-9806/795-9805 Lot capacity: 5,000 9 2 8 Cattleland feedyards ltd. Greg Appleyard Box 58, Site 20, R.R. 2 Strathmore, Alta. T1P 1K2 Ph: (403) 934-4030 Fax: 934-4594 Cell: 888-0795 email: cflgreg@telus.net Website: cattlelandfeedyards.com Lot capacity: 25,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

Diamond 8 Cattle co.

Mark Hengstmengel Box 122 Iron Springs, Alta. T0K 1G0 Ph: (403) 738-4805 Fax: 738-4919/ Cell: 308-6632 Lot capacity: 2,700 2 9

Cam VanEe Box 100 Pincher Creek, Alta. T0K 1W0 Ph: (403) 627-1525 Fax: 627-1524 Cell: 894-2178 email: barjw@hotmail.com Lot capacity: 7,500 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

chinook feeders Box 343 Nanton, Alta. T0L 1R0 Ph: (403) 646-2087 Fax: 646-2978 Lot capacity: 17,000 1 9 2 8

Diamond H farms Ltd. Gabriel Hebert Box 123 St. Vincent, Alta. T0A 3B0 Phone/Fax: (780) 635-2699 Cell: 645-8695 Lot capacity: 2,200

Claresholm Beef producers ltd. Andy Lindsell/Terry Wintoniak Box 1043 Claresholm, Alta. T0L 0T0 Ph: (403) 625-2911 Fax: 625-2151/ Cell: 625-0086 email: cattlemanager@ claresholmbeef.com Lot capacity: 13,000 9 2 8

Diamond V ranch Peter Wambeke Box 5640 High River, Alta. T1V 1M7 Ph: (403) 652-7248 Fax: 652-3738 Dri-land feeders ltd. Harry Swanson Box 237 Warner, Alta. T0K 2L0 Ph: (403) 642-3732 Fax: 642-3897 email: hswanson@ telusplanet.net Website: www.drilandfeeders.com Lot capacity: 6,000 1 5 9 2

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

Carmangay Colony Feeders

5 market analysis

Central h Feeders ltd.

backgrounding

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

FootHill Farms Henk Vanden Berg Box 793 Fort Macleod, Alta. T0L 0Z0 Ph: (403) 553-4290 Fax: 553-4291/ Cell: 315-3969 Lot capacity: 5,000 1 9 2 4

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

grandview cattle feeders Ltd. Greg Van Vaerenbergh Box 336 Picture Butte, Alta. T0K 1V0 Ph: (403) 328-9775 Fax: 381-0250/ Cell: 317-9550 email: grandvu@ la.shockware.com Lot capacity: 43,000 5 2 4

de wilde feeders Box 142 Monarch, Alta. T0L 1M0 Ph/Fax: (403) 824-3635 Cell: (403) 634-3352/ 634-4026 email: adriandw@ shockware.com Lot capacity: 5,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

2 health program

hagel feeders Ltd.

8 pen sharing

Dan Hagel/Jason Hagel R.R. 1 Swalwell, Alta. T0M 1Y0 Ph: (403) 546-2187/ 546-3874 Cell: 312-7153/ 312-7154 Fax: 546-3949 Lot capacity: 4,800 1 9 2 8 4 trucking

7hedging

hairy hill colony

hWY 52 beef producers ltd.

Darius R. Hofer Box 35 Hairy Hill, Alta. T0B 1S0 Ph: (780) 768-3770 Fax: 768-3770 Lot capacity: 1,200 5 9 2 8

Dwight Morhart/ Ryan Kasko Box 1250 Raymond, Alta. T0K 2S0 Ph: (403) 752-2333 Fax: 756-3434 Cell: 795-7394 email: hwy52@shockware.com Website: www.kaskocattle.com Lot capacity: 15,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

highland feeders Bern & Mike Kotelko Box 400 Vegreville, Alta. T9C 1R4 Ph: (780) 768-2466 Fax: 768-3888 Cell: 632-1031 email: bkotelko@ highlandbeef.com Website: www.highlandbeef.com Lot capacity: 36,000 1 5 2 8

hiltona holdings Ltd. Barry Hilton Box 26, Site 23, R.R. 2 Strathmore, Alta. T1P 1K5 Ph: (403) 934-3609 Fax: 934-4764 Cell: 888-5445 email: hiltona@efirehose.net 1 2 8

High River colony

J.G. Larson Livestock

Martin & Ed Box 5610 High River, Alta. T1V 1M7 Ph/Fax: (403) 395-2107 Cell: 652-8758 Lot capacity: 2,500 9

James Larson Box 1982 Enchant, Alta. T0K 0V0 Ph: (403) 654-2819 Fax: 654-2089/ Cell: 634-1322 email: jlarson@cciwireless.ca Lot capacity: 4,500 1 9 2 8

highway 21 feeders ltd. Ed Miller/ Lyle Miller Box 60 Acme, Alta. T0M 0A0 Ph: (403) 546-2278 Fax: 546-3709 Cell: 888-2539 (Ed) 888-3973 (Lyle) email: hwy21@ wildroseinternet.ca Lot capacity: 20,000 1 5 2 8 4 7

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jubilee feedlot

Jonust Farms Ltd.

Bradley Raugust Walter Raugust R.R. 1, Ponoka, Alta. T4J 1R1 Ph: (403) 783-2726/ 783-2202 Fax: 704-2339 Cell: 350-5265/ 350-8023 email: blackelk@telusplanet.net Lot capacity: 1,000 9 2 8

5 market analysis

backgrounding

Wayne Forbes Box 5510 Westlock, Alta. T7P 2P5 Ph: (780) 349-2476 Fax: 349-5414/ Cell: 349-0127 email: wayne@jubileefarms.ca Lot capacity: 6,500 1 9 2 8 4

Larson custom Feeders ltd. T.J. Larson Box 1227 Fort Macleod, Alta. T0L 0Z0 Ph: (403) 553-3110 Fax: 553-2828/ Cell: 394-6496 email: larsonfeeders@ gmail.com Lot capacity: 6,000 5 9 2 8 7

Kasko Cattle Co. Ltd. Ryan Kasko Box 1266 Coaldale, Alta. T1M 1N1 Ph: (403) 345-4301 Fax: 345-3778/ Cell: 795-2246 email: ryan@kaskocattle.com Lot capacity: 25,000 1 5 2 8 4 7

marnies Feeders Allan Johnson Box 151 Hughenden, Alta. T0B 2E0 Ph: (780) 856-2241 Fax: 856-2399 Cell: 842-0232 email: marniesfeeders@ xplornet.ca Lot capacity: 8,500 5 9 2 8 4

K-Belt farms Bruce Konynenbelt Box 90 Nobleford, Alta. T0L 1S0 Ph: (403) 824-3431 Fax: 824-3258/ Cell: 634-4744 email: k beltfam@ shockware.com Lot capacity: 4,000+ 9 2

Molenaar Farms Custom Feedlot John or Trevor Molenaar Box 268 Nobleford, Alta. T0L 1S0 Ph: (403) 824-3691/ 824-3590 Fax: 824-3691 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 9 2 8 4

Kenwynn Farms Ltd. Brian McKinnon Box 129 Carseland, Alta. T0J 0M0 Ph: (403) 934-4114 Fax: 934-2122 Lot capacity: 7,500 1 5 9 2

J.F. Murray farms

KeHo lake colony Martin-Min Wurtz Box 125 Barons, Alta. T0L 0G0 Ph: (403) 757-2330 Fax: 757-2337 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 8 4 2 health program

8 pen sharing

Shawn Murray Box 86 Picture Butte, Alta. T0K 1V0 Ph: (403) 732-4631 Fax: 732-4187/ Cell: 308-0618 email: jfmurray5sn@gmail.com Lot capacity: 9,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

4 trucking

7hedging

RJ Feeders

Park road farms ltd.

Rocky ridge land & cattle

penridge feeders Office Box 4 Swalwell, Alta. T0M 1Y0 Ph: (403) 546-0015 Lot capacity: 4,000 1 5 9 2 8 7 Poplar Lodge Ranch Ltd. Will Porter Box 12 Czar, Alta. T0B 0Z0 Ph: (780) 857-2056 Fax: 857-2057 email: willr@telusplanet.net Lot capacity: 3,500 1 9 2 8 poplar haven (2000) Garnet Smith Box 638 Wimborne, Alta. T0M 2G0 Ph: (403) 227-6606 Cell: 358-2936 Lot capacity: 2,000 1 9 2 8 raven Feeders Mark & Deborah Schwengler Box 579 Alder Flats, Alta. T0C 0A0 Ph/Fax: (780) 388-0015 Cell: (403) 318-9393 Lot capacity: 600 2 9 8

1custom order buying and selling

Schwartzkopf farms Ltd.

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

Allan Slomp P.O. Box 419 Nobleford, Alta. T0L 1S0 Ph: (403) 824-3676 Fax: 824-3677 email: prf@xplornet.com Lot capacity: 4,500 9 2

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

South Cara Farms Ltd.

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

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

Shelter Valley land & cattle

south island farms ltd. Scott MacLean Box 249 Bow Island, Alta. T0K 0G0 Ph: (403) 545-2422 Fax: 545-2442/ Cell: 952-1405 Lot capacity: 6,500 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

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

Roulston Farms Rob Roulston Box 152, Bruce, Alta. T0B 0R0 Ph: (780) 688-2284 Fax: 688-2289 Lot capacity: 1,000 9 2 8 John Schooten & Sons Custom Feedyard Ltd. John Schooten Shane Schooten Cody Schooten Box 148 Diamond City, Alta. T0K 0T0 Ph: (403) 381-3883 Fax: 381-8809 Cell: 6 34-1459 (John) 634-1535 (Shane) 634-4116 (Cody) email: j ohnschooten@ yahoo.com Lot capacity: 10,000 1 2 4 5 7 9 8

5 market analysis

backgrounding

stafford feeders ltd.

Shelter Valley Custom Feeding Cory Conan Lethbridge, Alta. Ph: (403) 894-1020 Cell: 780-209-2373 Lot capacity: 10,000 1 9 2 4

Ken & Chris Box 2243 Athabasca, Alta. T9S 2B7 Ph: (780) 675-9207 Fax: 675-5095 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 9 2 8 4 7

Signal Ridge Farms Russell Klassen Box 1287 Stettler, Alta. T0C 2L0 Ph: (403) 742-9762 Fax: 742-1828 email: info@ signalridgefarms.com Lot capacity 2,000 1 5 9 2 8 4

stankievech ranches Glen & Clare Stankievech Box 389 Trochu, Alta. T0M 2C0 Ph: (403) 442-2242 Fax: 442-3169/ Cell: 588-6325 â&#x20AC;˘ Wintering cows Lot capacity: 2,000 5 9 2 8 stauffer farm feedlot

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

2 health program

8 pen sharing

Murray Stauffer Jack Puddifant R.R. 3, Eckville, Alta. T0M 0X0 Ph: (403) 746-5737 Fax: 746-5739 email: stauff1@telusplanet.net 1 5 9 2 8

4 trucking

7hedging

stronks Feedlot Ed Stronks Box 870 Picture Butte, Alta. T0K 1V0 Ph: (403) 738-4106 Fax: 738-2193/ Cell: 308-9997 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 5 2 8 4 7 sundial livestock feeders ltd. Chris Tetreault Box 359 Bassano, Alta. T0J 0B0 Ph: (403) 641-3500 Fax: 641-3018/ Cell: 633-0890 Lot capacity: 10,000 1 9 2 8 sunnybend Feedlot John B. Walter R.R. 1, Westlock, Alta. T7P 2N9 Ph: (780) 349-3542 Fax: 954-2636 Cell: 349-1740 Lot capacity: 2,000 9 G. Thompson Livestock Box 142 Iron Springs, Alta. T0K 1G0 Ph: (403) 738-4351 Fax: 738-4762 email: tlcbeef@telusplanet.net Lot capacity: 18,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7 thompson colony feeders Marvin Tschetter Box 160 Fort Macleod, Alta. T0L 0Z0 Cell: (403) 635-0340 Fax: 553-2958 Lot capacity: 2,000 9 Tongue creek feeders ltd./Roseburn ranches ltd. Peter Morrison Box 5910 High River, Alta. T1V 1P6 Ph: (403) 652-7410 Fax: 652-2936/ Cell: 312-7909 email: cattle@roseburn.net Lot capacity: 16,000/12,000 1 5 4 9 2 8 tf farm industries ltd. James 6311-56th Ave., Taber, Alta. T1G 1X9 Ph: (403) 223-9090 Fax: (403) 223-9061 Lot capacity: 25,000 1custom order buying and selling

urichuk farms ltd.

Vee tee feeders ltd.

Terry & Valerian Urichuk R.R. 1 Willingdon, Alta. T0B 4R0 Ph: (780) 367-2434/ 2527 Fax: 367-2525 Cell: 632-1496/ 632-9215 email: urichve@telusplanet.net Lot capacity: 2,500 1 9 2

Richard Davies Box 2220 Lloydminster, Alta. T9V 1R6 Ph: (780) 875-6231 Fax: 875-6232 Cell: 871-1779 email: veetee@hmsinet.ca Lot capacity: 6,000 1 9 2 8 7

V.G. Feedlot

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

Western feedlots ltd.

Pete Stahl Veteran Colony Veteran, Alta. T0C 2S0 Ph: (403) 575-2169 Fax: 575-2190 Lot capacity: 1,000 1 9 2 4

Travis Hickey Box 5279 High River, Alta. T1V 1M4 Ph: (403) 652-3933 Fax: 601-8670 Website: westernfeedlots.com 1 5 9 2 8 7

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

H & R Vandenberg Farms Harold Vandenberg Box 454 Coaldale, Alta. T1M 1M5 Ph/Fax: (403) 345-3991 Cell: 382-7986 email: vanfarm@yahoo.com Lot capacity: 5,000 1 5 9 2 8 4

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

Vandenberg cattle co. ltd. John or Geert Box 531 Picture Butte, Alta. T0K 1V0 Ph: (403) 381-3302/ 381-6569 Fax: 381-3364/ Cell: 380-0300 Lot capacity: 4,300 5 2 4

5 market analysis

backgrounding

birch island land & cattle co.

white haven farms Maggie Dulaney R.R. 4, Site 6, Box 1 Innisfail, Alta. T4G 1T9 Ph: (403) 227-2276 9

2 health program

8 pen sharing

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

4 trucking

7hedging

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Rev-XS ad - Feedlot Guide.indd 1

8/12/11 3:07:21 PM

braeval livestock services Cory & Shauna Wilson Box 147 Meadow Lake, Sask. S0M 1V0 Ph: (306) 236-5965 email: braevallivestock@ msn.com • Custom heifer A.I. Lot capacity: 500 1 2 8 4 7 bluestone stock farms Jason & Karla Hicks Box 265 Mortlach, Sask. S0H 3E0 Ph:/Fax: (306) 355-2265 Cell: 630-7466 Website : www. bluestonestockfarms.com Lot capacity: 1,000 Grass capacity: 1,200 2 4 8 9 Border line feeders inc. Ryan Thompson Box 128 Ceylon, Sask. S0C 0T0 Ph: (306) 454-2250 Fax: 454-2216/ Cell: 442-7401 email: ryan.blfi@sasktel.net Lot capacity: 12,000 15 9 2 8 4 Christopherson Farms Ltd. Lorne Christopherson Box 280 Weldon, Sask. S0J 3S0 Ph: (306) 887-2103 Fax: 887-2073/ Cell: 961-5890 email: chfarms@skvelocity.ca Lot capacity: 3,500 1 9 2 8

1custom order buying and selling

dietrich farms ltd. Jim Dietrich Box 68 Mendham, Sask. S0N 1P0 Ph: (306) 628-4249 Cell: 628-7170 email: jdietrich@sasktel.net Lot capacity: 2,200 1 5 9 2 8 4

M & T Feedlot

Greg Thompson Box 336 Moose Jaw, Sask. S6H 4N9 Ph: (306) 694-5314 Fax: 693-8822/ Cell: 631-7413 Lot capacity: 3,500 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

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

McQueen Feedyards Excellerator Genetics Ron Dietrich Box 116 Moosomin, Sask. S0G 3N0 Ph: (306) 435-9381 email: e xcellerator@ sasktel.net Website: www.excelleratorgenetics.com Lot capacity: 4,000 1 9 2 4 7 Goldenhill Cattle Company Ltd. Gerard Clavelle Box 310 Viscount, Sask. S0K 4M0 Ph: (306) 944-4545 Fax: 944-4888/ Cell: 221-1616 Lot capacity: 17,000 1 9 2 8 hagerty livestock ltd. Larry Hagerty General Delivery, Box 11 Stony Beach, Sask. S0G 4S0 Ph: (306) 345-2523 Fax: 345-2085 Lot capacity: 3,000 1 9 2 8 4 L & D feeders Dave & Lynne Baumann Box 39 Tompkins, Sask. S0N 2S0 Ph/Fax: (306) 622-4605 Lot capacity: 2,200 1 9 2 8 5 market analysis

backgrounding

Bill & Dave McQueen Box 35 Tessier, Sask. S0L 3G0 Ph: (306) 656-4465 Fax: (306) 656-2042 Lot capacity: 6,000 1 5 2 8 4

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

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

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

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

Rolling Hills feedlot

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

8 pen sharing

Rick Maddess Box 551 Assiniboia, Sask. S0H 0B0 Ph: (306) 476-2122 Fax: 476-2142 email: rhfeedlot@xplornet.com Lot capacity: 9,000 9 2 8

4 trucking

7hedging

shur Transport exporting & trucking

Vaughan Feedlot

Norm Shurygalo Box 308 Beinfait, Sask. S0C 0M0 Ph: (306) 388-2329 Fax: 388-2321/ Cell: 421-3482 email: shurtruck@hotmail.com Lot capacity: 800 1 5 9 2 8 4 Southland Livestock Feeders Ltd. Brent Cammer Box 67 Webb, Sask. S0N 2X0 Ph: (306) 674-2234 Fax: 674-2235 Lot capacity: 4,200 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

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

willow valley farm lot

Lyle Vaughan Box 22 Canwood, Sask. S0J 0K0 Ph/Fax: (306) 468-2677 Lot capacity: 1,000 9 2 8 Watteyne Cattle feeders LTD. Wes Watteyne Box 262 Lafleche, Sask. S0H 2K0 Ph/Fax: (306) 472-3775 Cell: 472-7642 email: w s.watteyne@ xplornet.com Lot capacity: 2,200 1 9 2

Manitoba

Dave Taciuk Box 774 Wakaw, Sask. S0K 4P0 Ph: (306) 233-5959 email: d.taciuk@sasktel.net Td3L Hull Ranch Terry & Debbie Hull Box 160 Willowbrook, Sask. S0A 4P0 Ph/Fax: (306) 782-7295 email: tdhull@yourlink.ca Lot capacity: 1,100 9 2 8

1custom order buying and selling

westwood Land & Cattle Company Kevin Woods Box 6 Moosomin, Sask. S0G 3N0 Ph: (306) 435-2102 Fax: 435-4833/ Cell: 435-7313 Lot capacity: 10,000 1 5 9 2 4 7

Wes Wiebe Box 1651 Swift Current, Sask. S7H 4G6 Ph: (306) 773-2171 Cell: 741-1220 • Winter cows Lot capacity: 600 9 8 willow park ranch Ben Wurz Box 70 Tessier, Sask. S0L 3G0 Ph: (306) 237-9510 Fax: 237-9511/ Cell: 220-0400 Lot capacity: 800 1 5 9 5 market analysis

Dwight Braun Box 209 Plumas, Man. R0J 1P0 Ph: (204) 386-2280 Cell: 476-6094 email: dwbraun@mts.net Lot capacity: 2,500 1 9 2 8 4 five Star Ranch Chris Coulson Box 181 Oak River, Man. R0K 1T0 Ph: (204) 724-0654 email: ccoulson@mts.net Lot capacity: 1,500 1 5 9 2 8 4

BarM Stock Farms Ltd.

wes Wiebe Tyner Valley Stock farms

Braun Farms

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

backgrounding

Brad McDonald P.O. Box 1345 Portage la Prairie, Man. R1N 3L5 email: bradleymcdonald_8@ hotmail.com Ph/Fax: (204) 239-5928 Cell: 856-6293 Lot capacity: 1,800 9 2

Double d livestock Danny & Debbie Vanbeselaere Box 255 Waskada, Man. R0M 2E0 Ph: (204) 522-3697 Cell: 522-6013 Lot capacity: 2,000 1 9 2

Baseline Cattle Company Darren Grasby Alvin Smelski Box 639 Gilbert Plains, Man. R0L 0X0 Ph: (204) 629-9000 Fax: 548-2381 Lot capacity: 3,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

Foxwillow Christopher & Sarah Walwin Box 69 Hamiota, Man. R0M 0T0 Ph: (204) 562-3633 email: cswalwin@mts.net • Specialize in pedigree cattle Lot capacity: 600

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

2 health program

Hamiota feedlot ltd.

8 pen sharing

Larry Schweitzer Box 610 Hamiota, Man. R0M 0T0 Ph: (204) 764-2449 Fax: (204) 764-2264 email: feedlot@goinet.ca Website: www.hamiotafeedlot.com Lot capacity: 13,000 1 9 2 8 4 trucking

7hedging

G.C. Klassen and sons

Wild Rose cattle ranch

Garry or Cindy Box 1152 Altona, Man. R0G 0B0 Ph: (204) 829-7706 Fax: 829-3676/ Cell: 324-7405 Lot capacity: 500 1 9 2 4

Mark or Nicholas Symbol Box 18, Group 6, R.R. 1 Anola, Man. R0E 0A0 Ph: (204) 866-2683 Lot capacity: 240 9 2 8 Willis farms

Mayes meadow farm Box 141 Pierson, Man. R0M 1S0 Ph/Fax: (204) 634-2489 Lot capacity: 1,000 1 5 9 2 8 7

PEnner feedlot Phillip Penner Donavon Penner Box 66 Kelwood, Man. R0J 0Y0 Ph/Fax: (204) 967-2009 Cell: 212-0221 Lot capacity: 650 9 2 8 Rocking U feeders Box 779 MacGregor, Man. R0H 0R0 Ph: (204) 685-2264 Fax: 685-2135 email: hnunrau@xplornet.com Lot capacity: 10,000 1 9 2 4 Rolling Acres Daniel Hofer Box 95, Eden, Man. R0J 0M0 (204) 916-3525 ext. 216 Lot capacity: 250 9 Shannondale farm ltd. Harry Dalke Box 112, R.R. 1 Morden, Man. R6M 1V9 Ph: (204) 822-3643 Fax: 822-1373/ Cell: 362-4101 email: hbdalke@xplornet.com Lot capacity: 3,000 1 5 9 2 8 7 T.J. Livestock Thor Jonsson General Delivery Oakview, Man. R0C 2K0 Ph: (204) 768-2422 Fax: 768-3393/ Cell: 739-3230 email: tjonsson@mts.net Lot capacity: 2,000 1 5 9 2 8 4 7

1custom order buying and selling

Warren Willis Box 467 Winnipeg Beach, Man. R0C 3G0 Ph: (204) 389-2065 Fax: 389-3089 Lot capacity: 1,000 9

Ontario Edenview Acres Ltd. Pete Sereda R.R. 1 Centralia, Ont. N0M 1K0 Ph: (519) 229-6383 email: edenview@quadro.net Lot capacity: 600 Carl Frook R.R. 1 Elmwood, Ont. N0G 1S0 Ph: (519) 881-2061 Fax: 881-2887/ Cell: 881-6752 email: mfrook@bmts.com Lot capacity: 1,850-2,000 9 2 Daniel Jeffrey R.R. 2 Stratford, Ont. N5A 6S3 Ph: (519) 273-7843 Cell: (519) 272-9001 Fax: 271-9382 Lot capacity: 900 9 2 8 4 7 maple ridge beef farms ltd. R.R. 5 Brussels, Ont. N0G 1H0 Ph: (519) 357-4710 (519) 357-6613 Fax: 357-3579 email: k pcoultes@ hurontel.on.ca • Ont. Corn Fed Beef Q.A. Feedlot Lot capacity: 1,000 1 9 2 8 4

5 market analysis

backgrounding

Trans Claude Lussier

wayne martin

Claude Lussier/ Trudy Beaton 4 North Hill Rd. Gould, Que. J0B 2Z0 Ph: (819) 877-5461 Fax: (450) 372-1185 Cell: (450) 522-1876

R.R. 2 7468 Wellington Road 8 Alma, Ont. N0B 1A0 Ph: (519) 638-3871 Fax: 638-3825/ Cell: 589-5181 email: wsmartin@golden.net Lot capacity: 450 9 2 8

Nova Scotia

Amsey Martin R.R. 2 Drayton, Ont. N0G 1P0 Ph: (519) 638-3767 Lot capacity: 350

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

milldale farms ltd. R.R. 1 Norwich, Ont. N0J 1P0 Ph: (519) 468-2325 Fax: 468-2326/ Cell: 532-8748 email: vanker@execulink.com Lot capacity: 550 5 9 2 4 7 John Noltie R.R. 2 Chatham, Ont. N7M 5J2 Ph: (519) 683-2462 Lot capacity: 125 9

New Brunswick Davanna Holdings Dean & David Acton 308 Cookville Loop Rd. Cookville, N.B. E4L 2A4 Ph: (506) 536-2508 Fax: (506) 536-2826 Cell: 379-0024 email: davanna@xplornet.ca Lot capacity: 1,000 1 9 2

richard trimble 323 Belleriver Road Woodslee, Ont. N0R 1V0 Ph: (519) 839-5521 Fax: 839-6524 Lot capacity: 60 1 9 2

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

Quebec Bovinor farme Sébastien Tremblay 4200 Chemain des Ruisseaux St-Honoré de Chicoutimi, Que. G0V 1L0 Ph/Fax: (418) 673-4776 Cell: 812-1035 email: sebastien.tremblay@ videotron.ca Lot capacity: 270 2 9

Prince Edward Island beech hill Farms

R.M. lang Farms Ralph Lang/ Elwyn Lang R.R. 1, C. 45 Shawville, Que. J0X 2Y0 Ph: (819) 647-3607 Fax: 647-1943 Lot capacity: 200 9 2 8 4

2 health program

8 pen sharing

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

4 trucking

7hedging

+ 5.2% to 11.5%1 ily

+ 14 lb to 20 lb1

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+ 24 lb to 30 lb1 + 1.5 percentage point1

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

Consult your veterinarian.

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

Zilmax ad- Feedlot Guide.indd 1

8/12/11 3:05:02 PM

The mosT compleTe single-shot respiraTory vaccine

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Trademark of Intervet, Inc. Used under license.

Vista Once ad - Canadian Cattlemen FeedlotGuide.indd 1

8/12/11 2:56:47 PM