CCT111212

BELGIAN BLUES CHANGE WITH THE TIMES • CATTLE PARASITES THAT RIDE INSIDE ANTS www.canadiancattlemen.ca

December 2011 $3.00

YOU CAN BREED HEIFERS AT A LIGHTER WEIGHT JOHN

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240

AND

ADELE POPP, ERICKSON, MAN.

“Canada’s Bulls”

M.C. Quantock Bull Sale SATURDAY JANUARY 28, 2012

Page 2-3 Call for your free DVD www.mcquantock.com www.mcquantock.com Catalogue online in January

... 9,300 Bulls... 43 Sales...

73% repeat customers...

Call Mac...

Absolute FREE Delivery –- Tentative Delivery Routes Routes may change depending on bull distribution. Routes indicated are usually run twice a year — February and April. Some bulls may be interlined with other carriers where necessary.

1-800-561-BULL (2855)

For eight years we advised our customers to “lay in the weeds and wait” and to own as many cattle as they could. It was never pretty, but it was survivable. Now we have a lean profitable, well founded cow business destined to “ROAR” for years. The market fundamentals are perfect. Clear thinking hard nosed cattlemen figured out how to “let a cow be a cow” and take advantage of what she can do cheaply.... We’ll all make more this time around because no one will spend as much as we used to. Unlike a lot of bull producers, we’ve paid for our ranch and cows with our cows. We’re “rooted deep in the commercial reality of this business.”

We’ve built a big good cowherd over time producing bulls strictly for commercial cowmen.

Traditional purebred guys sell dreams…we sell reality. In 20 years our cow herd has produced in excess of 20 million dollars worth of bulls. No “smoke and mirrors”, no “trendy numbers”, no unproven sires, just the real deal.

Our bulls are good quality, all of them, well culled, they’re easy keeping, good looking, durable bulls that sire those “fancy calves the order buyers keep talking about.” Our bulls are older fall and summer born twos (22-26 months when you need them), old enough to be tough and not give trouble. Our bulls can all be left with us till spring, you don’t want new bulls around till you need them, so let us look after them. Our bulls are all delivered absolutely free in Western Canada and cost shared in the East. Our bulls can be purchased sight unseen, in fact about half always are. We help select your bulls and they’re guaranteed to be what you want…”true satisfaction on arrival”. Our customers trust and confidence in us make it all possible. Our bulls are affordable – 75% sell from $1800 to $3800, almost half bring about $3000 and all sell to solid commercial cattlemen. Our bulls are guaranteed like no others…you’ll have a bull to breed your cows no matter what…hard to get better than that! As sale time approaches, you can view all our bulls on video on our website or we’ll send you your very own DVD and catalogue and you can show the neighbors. In fact, it’s probably easier and simpler to buy our bulls than buying bulls locally. You get great service, the best guarantee, lots of selection and your calves will be sired by nationally known bulls. It all helps to get them sold!

Our customers like the fact that all our cattle are managed and fed just like most all commercial cattle. *Free DVD *Free Catalogue *Free Delivery “Great Bulls” Call Today Mac & Pat

Sight Unseen Purchase Plan Buying your bulls is easy... and it’s as close as your phone...



I have spent 30 years working with cattlemen across Canada and together we have developed the most successful Sight Unseen Purchase Plan in the country, so successful in fact that it can sell nearly half our bulls some years. I have done it with sincerity and integrity and the utmost respect for the customers needs and budget. We start by discussing your cows, your breeding program, and what you need to get done. When we are comfortable with each other we can work together to get you the right cattle at the right price. While a few people sell a few bulls on the internet. I much prefer to visit with our customers, get to know them, and help them select the right bulls. Our comprehensive catalogue and DVD will give you an accurate impression of the bulls. After the sale I’ll personally deliver your bulls, in most cases.

You must be completely satisfied on arrival or you are under no obligation to take them You pay for them only when they are delivered and satisfactory.

Mac Creech, D.V.M.

Call me anytime to get started.

1-800-561-2855

Thanks Mac

“Canada’s Bull Supplier" 1-800-561-BULL (2855)

email mcquantock@hotmail.com www.mcquantock.com

M.C. Quantock Bull Sale “Canada’s Bulls”

Website:

)

www.mcquantock.com

Cattle Profiles Program — Sells Customer

Complete Catalogue online in January

450

BULLS

Saturday, January 28, 2012 12 noon MST Exhibition Grounds, Lloydminster, AB/SK

All cattle in heated facility!

Free Beef Lunch 11 a.m.

100 Red Angus Bulls • all older Fall, Long Yearlings and Twos • light birthed but beefy and thick • reliable, predictable like “peas in a pod” • why buy yearlings... “these cost the same”

100 Black Angus Bulls • all older Fall, Long Yearlings and Twos • broad, deep, big bodied, easy fleshing • light at birth but thick • why buy yearlings... “these cost the same”

65 Super Baldie Bulls • all Fall born, Long Yearlings and Twos • add “milk and muscle” • the perfect blend, convenient, consistent and thick

60 Black Super Baldie Bulls • big, buxom, February yearlings, falls and twos • keep ’em or turn ’em Black • balance, muscle, milk and a whole lot more

25 Dehorned Hereford Bulls • broad topped, deep sided • packed full of natural thickness • beautiful dispositions, durable

25 H-2 Bulls • Hereford X Simmental hybrids • pigment, hair coat • deep, thick and convenient • falls/twos

40 Super Guppie Bulls • Red Angus X Gelbvieh • more muscle but still maternal • hair, thriftiness and fleshing ability • falls/twos

35 Charolais Bulls • thick but still smooth • hair coats, moderate birth weights • good disposition, unquestionable soundness • all Two year olds

M.C. Quantock Livestock Corp Call Mac...

1-800-561-BULL (2855)

email: mcquantock@hotmail.com www.mcquantock.com Box 10888, Lloydminster, Alta. T9V 3B1

CALL FOR YOUR FREE CATALOGUE AND DVD

December 2011

Volume 74, No. 13

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 Byproducts cut costs in this feedlot. .......................... 10 You can breed heifers at a lighter weight................... 12 When the dung pat hits the fan!................................... 20 Ward off invaders........................................................... 22 Belgian blues change with the times. ........................... 24 Zombie ants chauffeur parasites

to the livers of grazing animals..............................

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

26

Assistant Production Manager: Farrah Wilson Email: farrah@fbcpublishing.com

Verified beef production................................................ 29

Director of Sales and Circulation: Lynda Tityk Email: lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com Circulation Manager: Heather Anderson Email: heather@fbcpublishing.com

Departments COMMENT............................................... 6 NEWSMAKERS......................................... 8 NUTRITION............................................ 16 VET ADVICE.......................................... 18 RESEARCH............................................ 28 PRIME CUTS......................................... 30 HOLISTIC RANCHING.............................. 31 CCA REPORTS...................................... 32 STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP...................... 33 NEWS ROUNDUP................................... 34 PURELY PUREBRED............................... 37 THE MARKETS...................................... 39 MARKET TALK....................................... 41 SALES & EVENTS.................................. 42

26

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.

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At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1.

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4 Cattlemen / December 2011

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

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

How to Participate cmyk (coated)

logos have white release built into artwork.

1. Tag qualifying cattle with Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Tags.

2. Give the Canadian Angus Association permission to share your contact information with buyers looking for Angus tagged cattle.

3. Sell Angus tagged cattle at Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Sales or contact licensed participants directly.

4. Cash cheque and appreciate the value and efficiency of the Angus breed and its superior meat quality.

Visit www.cdnangus.ca for details about Canadian Rancher logos haveAngus white release built intoEndorsed. artwork.

Canadian Angus Association 142, 6715 – 8 Street NE Calgary, AB T2E 7H7 Phone: 1-888-571-3580 www.cdnangus.ca cdnangus@cdnangus.ca CAA_Cattlemen_December2011.indd 1

07/11/2011 7:55:05 AM

c o m m e n t

by Gren Winslow

Looking forward to 2012

It should be a good one

O

n several fronts 2012 will be a very good year for the beef industry.

Prices are currently high enough to put a smile on even the most cautious face and some of the shackles on our trade with the U.S. and the rest of the world are showing signs of weakening.

On the supply side it looks like it will be another few years before we see any appreciable increase in the North American herd, despite the record-high prices south of the border. Overall supplies will remain tight for the foreseeable future and that should keep the pressure on the price side of the equation. It all depends on demand and that’s one area that needs some shoring up.

Per capita consumption of beef continues to slip in small increments year by year, so the demand index bounces up or down depending on the price people are willing to pay for their beef.

In 2010 it slumped by more than four per cent from the year before. This is where we will look to the newly formed Canada Beef Inc. to hold the line now that its six-month transition period wraps up this month.

I don’t know if it is fair to say we will turn a corner on the trade front in 2012 but it certainly should be an exciting year.

The WTO has now made it official. U.S. COOL legislation is in violation of the trade agreements signed by the U.S. Specifically, says the panel, the U.S. fails the test because it treats imported livestock less favourably than similar domestic livestock; and it does not even provide the consumer information on the origin of a meat product that it claims as justification for the harm it causes Canadian producers.

As you might expect the reaction has been mixed. Every organization and government in Canada is delighted and see this decision as a clear win.

In the U.S. the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Texas Cattle Feeders Association agree with the panel ruling and have advised the U.S. government not to appeal the ruling but to get on with fixing the law so it will comply with WTO rules. That’s not unexpected. Both groups opposed COOL from the beginning.

With equal certainty, R-CALF USA came out screaming about the injustice of it all, claiming U.S. sovereignty is being usurped by foreigners. In a press release, R-CALF noted the panel was made up of diplomats from Pakistan — the country that

6 Cattlemen / december 2011

harboured Osama bin Laden — Switzerland, and a former WTO employee, and called on the U.S. to withdraw from the WTO. The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association took a similar, although less reactionary position.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office was a little cagier, stating it had to review the ruling carefully before responding. Mind you, it’s known since May that the case would go against the U.S., but to be fair it has had quit a few other issues on their plate this year. The U.S. has until mid-January to appeal the ruling.

You have to wonder what grounds they would come up with to reverse an unanimous decision by a duly appointed dispute panel. The USTR’s opening position is that it is pleased to see the panel affirmed the U.S.’s right to require countryof-origin labelling on meat. We will have to wait and see if they are willing to do it in a way that complies with international trade agreements.

It’s ironic that just a few days earlier U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk had listed the trading standards the U.S. would be looking for from Canada to gain its support for membership into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). His list included stronger protection of intellectual property rights, additional opportunities for U.S. goods, services, and investment, and the elimination of various non-tariff barriers.

If I was a betting man I would lay my money on the U.S. appealing the ruling if for no other reason than to drag it out until after the U.S elections in November. We’ll know more in 2012.

The new year could also be the year we finally see some progress in Korea. Now that South Korea has ratified its free trade agreement with the U.S. it is time that Canada to raise the profile on these negotiations.

Japan is also showing signs of raising its import restrictions from 20 to 30 months of age on beef.

This may only be another feint by Japanese officials but the fact President Obama mentioned beef imports in his talks with Japan’s Prime Minister about its entry into the TTP is a positive sign.

The one sure change in 2012 is the elimination of the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly on western grains. So, anything is possible in this magical year.

There’s a lot to look forward to and we at Cattlemen would like to get started by wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a profitable New Year. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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NEWSMAKERS Ray Armbruster of Rossburn was elected president of the Manitoba Beef Producers at the association’s annual meeting in Brandon last month.

He replaces Major Jay Ray Armbruster Fox, who was one of four retiring directors that had reached the limit of three consecutive two-year terms. Fox moves to past-president on the executive along with vice-president Mac McRae, treasurer Theresa Zuk and secretary Trevor Atchison. New directors joining the board this year are: Dave Koslowsky, Heinz Reimer, Ramona Blyth, Bill Murray and Stan Foster. Reelected to the board for another term are Trevor Atchison, Glen Campbell and Theresa Zuk where they join returning directors Ted Artz, Brad McDonald, Ray Armbruster, Mac McRae, Caron Clarke and Kim Crandall.

Alberta Beef Producers recently elected a new slate of delegates that

met early this month to vote on policy stands for Canada’s largest beef organization. The new slate includes: Zone 1 — Howard Bekkering, Vauxhall; Mark Francis, Taber; James Hargrave, Walsh; Brad Calvert, Brooks; Rick Friesen, Vauxhall. Zone 2 — Bob Lowe, Nanton; Cecilie Fleming, Granum; Brent Carey, Stavely; John Schooten, Diamond City; Darren Bevans, Raymond; Allan Minchau, Spring Coulee. Zone 3 — Chuck Groeneveld, Okotoks; John S. Bland, Strathmore, John Buckley, Cochrane; Brian Edge, Cochrane; Gordy Cunningham, Sundre; Bryan Thiessen, Strathmore. Zone 4 — Pat Rutledge, Monitor; Daniel Gray, Big Stone; Craig Ference, Kirriemuir; Judy Fenton, Irma; John Beasley, Youngstown; Tim Smith, Coronation. Zone 5 — Doug Sawyer, Pine Lake; Rose Wymenga, Leslieville; Nanita Blomquist, Big Valley; Cathy Sharp, Lacombe; Charles Christie, Trochu; Arny Tateson, Endiang. Zone 6 — Shauna Harakal, Warburg; Adam Moseson, Ferintosh; Tim Sekura, Rocky Rapids; Chris Simpson, Rimbey; Greg

ANIMAL HEALTH

STARTS ON THE FARM Animal disease outbreaks can be devastating.

How prepared is your farm?

Reduce the risk of animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) by practising sound biosecurity on your farm.

• Have a biosecurity plan in place and review it regularly.

• Observe your animals for signs of disease.

• Call your veterinarian if you think one or more of your animals might be sick.

Talk to your veterinarian about biosecurity measures and how they can be applied to your farm. They’re the best investment you can make to help keep your animals and your business healthy.

For more information call 1-800-442-2342 visit www.inspection.gc.ca/biosecurity follow us on Twitter: @CFIA_Animals

8 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

Bowie, Ponoka; Dave Solverson, Camrose. Zone 7 — Colin Campbell, Bon Accord; Gene Brown, Sangudo; Rick McKnight, Jarvie; Kelly Olson, Athabasca; Ted Ford, Fawcett. Zone 8 — Brian Chomlak, Beauvalion; Gordon Graves, Iron River; Bill Fox, Elk Point; Edward Doktor, Vilna; Lyndon Mansell, Innisfree; Sheldon Hauca, Vegreville.

Zone 9 — Roland Cailliau, Valleyview; Lori Kinnee, Brownvale; Maartin Braat, Fort Vermilion; Bruce Jack, Spirit River.

Three new district representatives will be installed on the board of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association (SCA) at its AGM to be held during the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference in January.

During fall district meetings Ryan Beierbach of Whitewood and Mark Elford of McCord were elected to the board, while Michael Spratt of Melfort got in by acclamation. Returning uncontested are Rick Toney of Gull Lake, Howard Toews of Watrous and David Stuart of Edam. The 2012 board will elect a new chair and vice-chair to take over from Jack Hextall of Grenfell and vice-chair Bruce Holmquist of Kinistino, both of whom declined to let their names stand again. Both men were Jack Hextall heavily involved in the formation of the SCA. Hextall, who has been at the helm for nearly three and a half years, says it’s important to have new, younger people involved with the organization and the industry. He looks forward to mentoring them in his position as past-chair on the 2012 board.

A new online database provides details on nearly 2,000 livestock vaccines. It was assembled by Inocul8 and the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines in Edinburgh and is found on the web at www.Vetvac.org.

Canada’s first full DNA lab for livestock opened in Edmonton in late October. The Delta Genomics Centre DNA lab offers biobanking, genotyping and next generation sequencing combined with contract research services. It is a notfor-profit spinoff company of Livestock Gentec (see our October 2011 issue) that will operate under the umbrella of the University of Alberta for two or three years until it can become established. For details call the lab at 780-492-2538. C www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Hill 70 Quantock RancH

“Barn Burnin’ Bull Sale” Sat., Feb. 4, 2012

at the Ranch, lloydminster, aB

1-800-665-7253

“Cowboy Friendly” ProgramS… 3 Sight UnSeen PUrchaSe Program 3 DeliVerY... it’S Still Free 3 rePeat BUYer Program 3 BUll DeVeloPment - till Spring 3 gooD neighBor Program 3 60/40 Finance Plan

We’re here to help – if it works for you – it works for us!

60% sale day; 40% July 1, 2012; 0% interest o.a.c.

Heck... ranching may even seem easy right now! The grass was great, crops good and the fall has never been better!

Optimism in agriculture is contagious right now, no matter what segment you are in.

Iron is still to high... it doesn’t divide, it just depreciates. Cows multiply, harvest and never need refuelling or programming.

When you think on the right side of a cow... she really works.

Our “hard-nosed, dirt on the pants” program geared to “more grass and less diesel” is not the new buzz word here... it is just what we do.

The bulls have been out on grass longer, the uniformity better, the numbers are up, and the cows will graze all winter for the first time... heck it is easy!

As I walk thru our bull pens, I feel the excitement and see the potential... this is the time and this is the place to source your bulls. “More grass and less diesel”... more jingle in your jeans.

Last year we talked about “getting off the sidelines & getting involved” with our program. This is the time and place to get your bulls and share our excitement.

Get up... get to the phone or computer, call, email or use the clip and mail. We would be more than happy to get you on our mailing list.

Bill Creech... “Bill The Bull Guy”

45 Horned Herefords Two’s 105 Red Angus (65 Two’s - 40 Yearlings) 75 Black Angus (50 Two’s - 25 Yearlings) 70 Charolais (30 Two’s - 40 Yearlings) 50 Red & Black Angus X Simmentals

Sight Unseen Purchase Program…

Boys, still your best bet if you can’t be with us sale day. we guarantee your satisfaction! together we’ll analyze each and every bull… we want to be sure the “fit is right”. annually sells 100+ bulls using this program.

Visit our website...

$

www.hill70quantock.com

– reply Card –

Name Address Ph

Fax

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Clip & Mail For Your Free Catalogue & DVD

12 Red Angus X Gelbvieh (Two’s) 100 Registered Red Angus & Commercial Females (Bred & Open)

FridAy, FebruAry 3, 2012

Supper, Branding & Bull Viewing!

# of Cows o Sight Unseen Purchase Plan o DVD of Sale Bulls o Red Angus o Black Angus o Charolais o Horned Hereford o Red Angus X Gelbvieh o Reg. Red Angus Females o Commercial Females (Bred & Open) o Black Angus X Simmental Hybrids o Red Angus X Simmental Hybrids Mail to: hill 70 Quantock ranch Box 756, lloydminster, aB S9V 1c1 info@hill70quantock.com www.hill70quantock.com

$

(Yearlings & Fall Born)

Customer AppreCiAtion night

NUTRITION

BYPRODUCTS CUT COSTS IN THIS FEEDLOT It’s not for everyone

I

t’s late September and all of the desks are empty in the head office at Sharpe’s Farm Supplies near Guelph, Ont. Paul Sharpe hesitates a moment before choosing a place to sit down for an interview. He decides on the desk in his dad’s office, the one with the big picture window that overlooks the brick bungalow where he grew up.

It’s appropriate, since his parents, Bill and Marion, started the business that now provides a career for Paul and his brothers, Michael and John. What is your title here, I ask? “I don’t have one,” he replies. “We all wear a lot of hats.”

It’s that philosophy that has been applied to every aspect of the company: diversity. That way, as Paul says, one thing floats you if another one fails.

By design, it’s hard to peg down just one area when describing their business. There’s the grain elevator at the home base, five feed and farm supply stores, and an agronomy centre that sells fertilizer, herbicides and seeds, all forming the agribusiness side of Sharpe’s Farm Supplies. The farming arm grows cash crops — wheat, soybeans, corn and white beans — and tucked away at a farm near Rockwood, where his brother John lives, there’s a beef feedlot.

How does beef fit in to Sharpe’s diversity equation?

It started in 2003, the year of BSE, when Sharpe’s needed an outlet for oat hulls and corn screenings that were a byproduct from their grain elevator and feed mill. Corn screenings were hard to market — the area doesn’t have a lot of beef cattle left anymore — so the market for byproducts from the elevator and feed mill was inconsistent and hard to find.

Their father had cattle back as far as 1967 so beef wasn’t entirely new to the Sharpe family. The boys wanted to keep it simple, utilizing facilities that were already on the farm that they bought in 2003.

They started small and slowly built their numbers to where they stand today, rolling 500 head or so twice a year.

The size and ease of operation fits in to their hectic schedules — about an hour a day plus cleanout time is all it takes.

So what was their feedlot strategy? Number two corn had too much price competition from ethanol, export, and the hog and feather industries. They knew they couldn’t get more money for their cattle, nor could they buy them any cheaper, so the place to realize a bit more profit was to utilize different inputs. As he explained, “our advantage is on the feed side.”

“The cattle beast is a tremendous thing,” said Paul. As a ruminant they are able to use grains and byproducts to add value to what may otherwise be considered waste.

They’ll use what is available, from frosted corn to rainedon horse hay that stretches the silage. It’s not a nutritional 10 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

Paul Sharpe discount but it is a monetary discount to use such feeds, helping to manage their cost per pound of gain.

Partly because of their proximity to the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), based near Guelph, Ont., Sharpe’s also has access to some unusual byproducts.

It’s those other products that help to account for a two- to three-cent competitive advantage, ingredients such as brewer’s grain from microbreweries in the GTA, coming in lots of small-volume deliveries that food processors are happy to sell at the price of trucking.

Paul also utilizes bakery byproducts that contain a high percentage of chocolate to provide a source of carbohydrates for the cattle. As he says, “it’s all just wheat and sugar.”

Again, the proximity of the farm to the GTA provides the advantage: a middle man collects broken cookies, ice cream cones, jujubes and other throwaways from small bakeries in Toronto and blends them to get a consistent product that has a high percentage of chocolate, making it otherwise not usable by feed mills. Bakery has the biggest potential for variability so it is limited to less than 15 per cent of the ration.

The cattle like it but so do the bees, making storage a little tricky at times.

New storage facilities at their feedlot make it easy for www.canadiancattlemen.ca

companies to recycle such byproducts on a regular basis, ensuring a steady supply as feed ingredients for the cattle.

The bulk of their feedstocks remain corn based, including wet corn gluten and wet distillers grains, corn screenings, corn chop that is a byproduct from a birdseed plant, and corn silage.

Sharpe’s cattle do qualify for the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program administered by the Ontario Cattle Feeder’s Association, where Paul sits as a director. That marketing program started 10 years ago, has been growing in popularity since Day 1 and snowballing since May 2011 when Loblaws took it on.

The diet still needs to be predominantly corn, Paul reports, but he is allowed to use some other products such as brewer’s grain and bakery as long as they are registered with the government (which they are) and

A middle man collects broken cookies, ice cream cones, jujubes and other throwaways from small bakeries are fed at less than 20 per cent of the overall diet. The inclusion of bakery byproducts reflects recent changes to the program requirements.

When it comes to balancing the ration, Paul relies on the services of a nutritionist. Sometimes he can source byproducts at an economical price but won’t pull them in because they don’t meet their nutritional standards. Ingredients not only need to be consistent in supply and inexpensive but they also have to make sense.

Along the way they have tried some ingredients that haven’t worked as well as they would have liked, such as pasta that came with garbage — plastic gloves and cardboard boxes — that had to be picked out. Others have tried to use food waste from grocery terminals but it may flavour the meat, especially if there are onions in it.

Another locally sourced input to their beef feedlot operation is hardwood planings from a local flooring www.canadiancattlemen.ca

mill for bedding. Walnut shavings cause health issues with horses but not for cattle, keeping them cleaner than straw and making for less work.

Sharpe’s will market Black Angus or Charolais-cross steers, buying them both locally and from the West and selling through Cargill in Guelph.

Their average daily gain is consistent at 3.6 to 3.9 pounds per day and they run a feed conversion rate of 6.5 to seven

pounds per pound of beef. They’ll market the steers at around 1,500 pounds, with 97 per cent AA or AAA and two to three per cent at single A grade.

Would feeding byproducts work for anyone? “It’s probably an Ontario thing,” Paul admits, farming on the edge of the GTA with its many food plants. In other regions it may be hard to find the right ingredients.

C — Karen Dallimore

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BREEDING

John Popp

Adele Popp

YOU CAN BREED HEIFERS AT A LIGHTER WEIGHT ‌and safely shave the feed bill

T

he market value of a weaned heifer calf and feed consumed from weaning to calving are the two biggest costs in raising replacement heifers.

So if you want to shave some cost from replacements you have to look at the feed bill. John and Adele Popp of Erickson, Man., have successfully reduced the cost of raising their replacement heifers by restricting the rate of gain so they reach 55 per cent rather than 65 per cent of their mature body weight at breeding. The savings on feed carry over for the next five or so years as these smaller-bodied heifers grow to eventually reach their full mature size. Yet their offspring retain the genetics to gain to their full potential.

The long-standing industry practice of feeding heifers to reach 65 per cent of mature body weight by breeding is based on U.S. research dating back to the early 1960s, but John says genetics have come a long way since then.

His own program began seven years ago with a trip to Nebraska to

12 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

learn more about developing heifers on a restricted-feed system. Researchers with the USDA and universities in Nebraska and Montana have been studying this concept since the late 1990s. A long-term study to evaluated intergenerational effects is now in its 10th year at the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Montana.

The Popps made it a practice to retain heifers from their own Simmental-Angus herd after finding purchased heifers didn’t last more than a couple of years in their environment. Erickson is located in rolling Parkland south of Riding Mountain National Park where tame legume and grass forages are abundant and forested areas provide ample shelter for winter grazing.

Replacement heifer selection begins at birth when they have a chance to closely examine each calf, noting details such as udder, feet and leg conformation that may go unnoticed in the fall when they make the final decision. The potential replacements are identified with a notch in the dangle

tag to ensure that they don’t receive growth implants when vaccinated.

The Popps calving season begins in May and the heifer calves wean off at about 450 pounds at six months of age. Winter sees them bale grazing on good-quality hay free choice supplemented with four pounds of screening pellets per day.

They target 1.25 to 1.5 pound of gain per day rather than the typical 1.7 to 2.0 pounds by restricting the supplement portion of the ration.

As a result the heifers grow more slowly in frame size during the winter, setting them up to make efficient use of the grass on summer pasture.

The heifers weigh 700 to 750 pounds by breeding time in July when they are exposed to the bulls for 80 days. The Popps confirm pregnancies in the heifers by drawing blood samples 30 days after the bulls have been pulled. The lab test costs $4 per sample but this way open heifers can be marketed right away Continued on page 15 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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The research

Dr. Jim Wiltbank was among the earliest researchers to study breed, age and weight ef fects on puber ty in heifers during his tenure with the USDA’s former research station at For t Robinson, Nebraska, from 1958 to 1965.

He developed the long-standing guidelines for managing heifers during the period when the beef industr y was shifting to calving heifers for the first time at two years of age rather than three years of age.

The next significant change wasn’t until the mid-1980s when researchers discovered that bulls with larger scrotal circumferences sired heifers that reached puberty earlier than those from sires with smaller scrotal circumferences.

As breeders adopted the use of scrotal circumference as a selection tool, heifers began reaching puberty at an earlier age, regardless of weight.

Today, economics are such that heifers must be able to conceive early in the calving season and continue to do so throughout their lifetimes in extensive and extended grazing systems. Some researchers believe that feeding heifers to 65 per cent of their mature body weight at first breeding may maximize pregnancy rates, however, the practice may also be propping up inefficient heifers and end up reducing overall profitability.

A three-year study, Cost-Effective Heifer Development, is investigating alternative heifer development that has the potential to decrease costs and impact future adaptability of heifers as mature breeding females in extensive grazing systems. It is being conducted by Dr. Bart Lardner at the Western Beef Development Centre’s Termuende Research Ranch, near Lanigan, Sask., and Dr. Rick Funston, at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory and West Central Research and Extension Centre, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In Saskatchewan, the study is comparing development of spring-born heifers managed in either field bale grazing or drylot pens to achieve a pre-breeding target of either 55 or 65 per cent of mature body weight. In Nebraska, heifers will be managed on either corn stalks, winter rangeland or in drylot pens. The study will determine the effects of each management system on heifer and cow reproductive efficiency, such as age at puberty, conception rate, pregnancy rate, calving interval and animal performance. The costs for each development system will also be collected.

Lardner reports that the first year results went very well, with heifers achieving targeted pre-breeding weights and performing well on pasture and during breeding season. Pregnancy rates ranged from 84 to 90 per cent in Saskatchewan and from 81 to 88 per cent in Nebraska.

Funston presented an overview of research to date on this subject at the 2007 Range Beef Cow Symposium. The paper written by Funston, his associate, Jeremy Martin, and Andy Roberts of the Fort Keogh lab, “Heifer Development — Then and Now,” and related research are available on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension website (www.extension.unl.edu).

According to the paper, most research reports up until

14 Cattlemen / December 2011

the late 1980s continued to show that limiting post-weaning growth had a negative effect on age of puberty and pregnancy rates.

Around the late 1980s, repor ts began to reveal that the association between body weight, puber ty and heifer pregnancy rate had changed. Subsequent studies indicated that delaying heifer gain until two to three months prior to breeding season reduced the amount of feed required, while calving rate, age at calving, postpar tum inter val, and second-year pregnancy rate were not affected.

Evidence supporting a genetic basis for the difference between the early years and today was presented in a 1997 study. While the age and weight at puberty was similar in heifers AI sired by bulls born after 1988 compared with those sired by bulls born between 1982 and 1984, the pregnancy rates were higher in offspring from bulls born after 1988.

In 2004, Funston was involved with a study showing that heifers developed to reach either 53 or 58 per cent of mature weight prior to breeding had similar pregnancy rates from the initial breeding through the fourth breeding.

Continuing with the same herd, Martin found that extending the breeding period from 45 days to 60 days for heifers developed to weights as low as 51 per cent of mature weight at first breeding resulted in similar first-calf conception rates and no difference in second-calf conception rates than the group developed to 57 per cent of mature body weight at first breeding.

The Fort Keogh study began in the winter of 2001 with the control group of heifers fed according to industry guidelines and the restricted group fed according to body weight, which works out to about 80 per cent of the feed provided to the control group. After breeding, the groups graze together until fall when they are sorted into their original groups for the winter feeding period. Again, the restricted group receives about 20 per cent less feed.

This study indicates that age at the beginning of breeding season is more critical than body weight for a successful pregnancy. Furthermore, given a pre-breeding body weight, the cumulative pregnancy rate through the years for heifers developed in the feed-restricted program is greater than that for the control group.

In 2011, Roberts notes that restricting feed as a replacement heifer seems to have improved the efficiency of the second generation in the restricted-feed system. Cows raised in the restricted-feed program are more likely to remain in the herd until at least five years of age, which is when a cow reaches maximum production as measured by the weight of the calf at weaning. Restricted cows from full-fed dams had the lowest rate of retention until age five.

The studies at both locations have consistently shown that restricting feed during the post-weaning period reduces input costs, improves efficiency during the winter feeding period, and increases rates of gain on pasture the following summer.

While the Fort Keogh study limits the amount of feed, the Nebraska studies have restricted growth by providing a lower-quality diet. Studies are now focusing on how the timing and level of energy and/or protein feed supplements during the post-weaning period affect age at puberty and pregnancy rates.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Continued from page 12

rather than waiting until the herd is pregnancy checked later on.

The following winter as bred heifers, they bale graze with the cows just as they will be expected to do in the years ahead. The heifers weigh approximately 950 pounds at calving time in May. Any heifer or cow that looks thin at any point during the winter is placed with the replacement heifers to receive the screening pellets. They also supply free-choice, tracemineral, loose salt mixed with polysaccharide chelated minerals, which Popp prefers because 98 per cent of the mineral in this form is bioavailable to the rumen and hind gut. (For more information about the minerals, visit www.cr ystalcreeknatural.com.)

The Popps’ overall objective is to save on feed. Instead of feeding 1,400-pound cows, they are feeding cows that weigh 1,250 to 1,300 pounds on average for about half of their lifespan. That’s upwards of 150 pounds of cow they don’t have to maintain for that amount of time.

Consuming 2.5 per cent of body weight, a 1,400-pound cow eats approximately 35 pounds a day versus just over 31 pounds for a 1,250-pound cow. If hay costs three cents a pound, that difference of four pounds a day shaves 12 cents per cow every day off the winter feed bill. For a 200-head herd, it adds up to $24 per day, or $4,320 over a 180-day winter.

It has been five years since they began developing heifers on the restricted-weight gain. In that time Adele says they haven’t seen any increase in calving difficulty or decrease in the rebreeding rate compared to heifers raised to 65 per cent of their mature weight by breeding. The heifers have good milk and mothering ability. The only difference is the smaller frame size.

Similar to other commercial herds, they expect to trim three to five per cent of their breeding herd, including the heifers, each year. Otherwise, they say, they’re not pushing hard enough to ensure continued genetic improvement by selecting the most productive and functional animals.

This isn’t about targeting thin heifers, they stress.

“If feed is restricted, either by quantity or quality, to the point where it doesn’t meet the heifers’ nutritional requirements to continue to have cell division and grow, they will become stunted and will never be able to recover from that loss,” explains John, who holds a PhD in ruminant nutrition. This is why he stresses the importance of starting replacement heifers on screening pellets or grain at weaning. The supplement can easily be increased without causing digestive upsets during cold snaps in order to prevent them from slipping into a negative energy balance.

“They still need to be able to function in our environment and do what we ask them to do — that is, to be tough, go out and forage and raise a calf every year,” he says.

He feels this restricted development technique would be efficient and cost effective for any breed or crossbred beef heifer. The important point to note is that they are reducing the weight gain on development, not cow body condition. Under no circumstances do they advocate starving heifers or cows.

C — Debbie Furber www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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N u t r i t i o n

by John McKinnon John.mckinnon@usask.ca

Feed wheat – are you tempted?

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

I

n this column, I have talked a lot about alternative feeds. While I believe byproduct feeds have their place, chances are if you are backgrounding or finishing cattle, your feeding program is centred on barley or corn.

Some of you may however be tempted to feed wheat this winter, so to avoid any surprises, let’s look at some of the issues you will face.

If you are buying feed wheat, two important considerations will be price and supply. The implications of pricing are obvious and I will come back to value shortly. Supply is equally important for several reasons. First, incorporating wheat into the feeding program means significant changes in feeding and mill management. Before undertaking these changes, you want to ensure that you will have an adequate supply. The last thing you want to do is to move cattle onto and then off wheat-based rations. As we will see, it is simply too hard on the cattle.

How does wheat influence your feeding management? The answer to this question is found in the rumen. Fermentation of starch in cereal grains by rumen bacteria results in the production of short chain fatty acids. These acids are released into the rumen and stress the animal’s ability to maintain rumen health and proper digestive function. The faster the rate of starch fermentation, the more acid produced and the greater the stress on rumen health.

It is in this context that wheat is often referred to as a “hotter” cereal grain than barley or corn.

All three cereal grains are excellent sources of starch, with wheat and corn superior to barley.

With respect to the rumen, however, the greatest difference between these three grains will be in the rate of starch breakdown. Of the three, wheat has the fastest rate of starch fermentation, followed by barley and corn. The high starch content of wheat and its rapid breakdown in the rumen will result in more acid production and greater stress on rumen health. This stress can lead to an increase in the incidence of digestive disturbances, particularly sub-acute acidosis.

Performance suffers due to erratic feed intake, reduced gains, poor conversions, lameness and issues with liver abscesses. In a worst-case scenario, cattle can die from grain overload. To minimize these issues, most nutritionists recommend blending wheat into the ration and placing an upper limit on the amount fed. I place a maximum inclusion rate at 50 per cent of the grain portion of the ration. In a finishing diet,

16 Cattlemen / December 2011

this means a maximum of 40 per cent wheat in the total mixed ration (DM basis).

While the amount fed is important, you also need to consider how you get to this level. The answer — carefully! My recommendation is to replace 10 per cent of the barley (or corn) in the diet, with an equal amount of wheat. Give the cattle two to three days to adapt to this change, if the cattle are eating normally, increase again in a similar fashion. Follow this program until you reach the desired inclusion level.

While the focus of this article is on wheat, do not let me leave you with the impression that barley and corn feeding programs are free from issues with digestive disturbances. Bunk management is just as important when feeding these grains. The point is that the hotter nature of wheat means that you need to be at the top of your game when it comes to bunk management. Mistakes such as over-feeding, moving cattle up on rations too quickly, excessive fines in the bunk are that much more serious with wheat-based rations.

Mill management also needs to change when feeding wheat. First you need additional bin space. It is also recommended to process wheat separately from either barley or corn. This is to ensure proper processing of each grain and to minimize any issues with whole kernels or excessive fines. Wheat can either be dry rolled or tempered prior to rolling, taking care not to overprocess. Grinding is not recommended as it can lead to excessive fines which compound the negative effects on rumen function and performance.

Other concerns with feed wheat, particularly with grain purchased locally, include frozen or sprouted grain. As we have discussed in past issues (i.e. November, 2010) unless you are dealing with severe damage (i.e. very light test weight grain), feeding value is not greatly affected. Also be on the watch for excessive mould contamination, particularly ergot and fusarium head blight.

Feed wheat is an excellent energy source for cattle, generally superior to barley and approaching that of corn grain. When competitively priced, feed wheat is a good buy and with proper management should result in better feed conversions, particularly as a replacement for barley. However, because of the supply and feeding management issues discussed, most feedlots in Western Canada do not look at bringing wheat into the ration until the price approaches or is at a discount to barley. For corn feeders, particularly in Eastern Canada, added transportation costs for western feed wheat and supply issues will need to be factored into the decision. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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VET ADVICE

T

Eight game changers

here are things that happen to industries that have a significant impact on how they succeed year in and year out. The beef industry struggled desperately in the wake of BSE and as it now climbs out of the doldrums it is important to recognize those things that helped create the transition and are going to play an integral part in shaping the future.

Long-term success will mean embracing and adopting the “game changers” that ultimately stabilized the ship that wandered rudderless for the best part of a decade.

1. If one thing became painfully evident in the past eight years it is the tenuous position industries hold when fortunes are built on a single trading partner. While the U.S. will continue to be Canada’s single biggest beef customer, it’s now recognized that the greatest growth opportunities are in Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, Southeast Asia and Russia. Exports to markets outside of the U.S. now account for 23 per cent of Canada’s worldwide beef exports and that percentage must continue to grow.

Japan has recently announced it will consider relaxing restrictions on North American beef imports and that’s good news for everyone in the beef business.

2. Grazing systems are generally considered to be more benign than cropping systems in terms of their effect on the environment. Beef production does impact upon plants, soil, air and water, and needs resources like fuel to operate. It has been said that it takes many plants to make a stand, at least 50 cows to make a herd and a million drops to make a rain, and it’s all linked to the environment. Environmental management in grazing beef production is going to be just as important to the future of the industry as is product quality and consistency, profitability and market access. Every spring when herds go to pasture, there has to be enough plant mass to support grazing. Success in the business depends on it being there year after year. Cattle producers must first be stewards of the resources entrusted to them. Texas beef specialist Rick Machen says natural resource stewardship is a responsibility, not an elective.

3. Beef production is a complex business. There’s no substitute for a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship in assessing an individual herd’s exposure to disease risk and developing a herd health plan tailored to control and prevent disease. A vaccination program alone is not a herd health plan. Effective herd health plans must incorporate a careful look a disease risk and risk assessment. Planning events like calving season and weaning involves the entire herd and looking at disease susceptibility by age group. Managing risk means clear, important biosecurity practices are in place: where and when to purchase, where to buy, what do I ask prior to purchase, how do I quarantine and isolate. Herd health plans effectively manage the use of vaccines and the prudent use of drugs, like antimicrobials. Some studies suggest up to two-thirds of some vaccines are used incorrectly.

4. Good reproductive performance has always paid and

18 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

still does. High calving and weaning weights hold down production costs but reproductive performance is the single most important factor in profitability.

5. A few people do not create a movement, but an industry does. Market forces have changed in the last decade and the beef industry has become much more tolerant of demands placed on it at the supermarket meat counter. Consumer demands about natural food free of chemicals and produced without harm to the environment or the welfare of animals do not go unnoticed.

Efforts are made to explain and educate. Alberta Beef Producer’s award-winning Raised Right campaign is an example of how an industry can showcase the efforts of cattle producers. The industry has been actively involved in developing and implementing Codes of Practice that help prevent the blemishes related to animal welfare that the industry parades on behalf of the unconcerned. Low-stress handling of livestock is no longer something you just read about.

6. Good quality water is perhaps the scarcest resource on the Prairies and needs to be utilized as efficiently as possible. The availability and importance of water has become an elemental part of managing grazing lands.

Cattle using natural streams tend to erode stream banks and foul water, leading to sedimentation and pollution, and possibly algal blooms downstream.

Riparian zone management is becoming a standard on most ranches.

7. Another game changer is the general recognition that this industry is part of a global community. On one side of the equation are the benefits of global trade and commerce as the population counter ticks past seven billion souls with an address on Planet Earth. On the other side of the equation are the challenges that “going global” brings with it. Emerging diseases, many of animal origin, are a constant threat to people and animals alike.

There is the pandemic threat of things like avian influenza and concern over potential epidemics of highly infectious diseases like foot and mouth disease as people and animals traverse a constantly shrinking world. The range of a disease like blue tongue constantly changes as vectors take advantage of shifts in weather patterns, or diseases like West Nile virus jump ship in Manhattan and spread across North America as birds like the common robin become super shedders.

8. We need to remain aware of the universal spread of antibiotic resistance and what role agriculture may be contributing to human risks associated with highly resistant microbes that claim thousands of lives every year in hospital wards. As an industry, we have a role to play in the investment in research. How else can we address the fact that in 1990, 19 companies were in the business of developing antibiotics? Today there are four.

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

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GRAZING

WHEN THE DUNG PAT HITS THE FAN! You should be smiling

A

s most of you know, human resources is a very important part of my business. I work hard at creating positive relationships with all of the people who are a part of my business as well as those just outside my business. It is important for me to keep all of my professionals happy. (My banker, my accountant, my lawyer, my landowners, etc.) There is however, one professional I have troubles with. I can’t keep my mechanic happy.

Don’t get me wrong. When I pull into the repair shop with my quad or bale truck, the boss is pretty happy to see me. Quad repairs are expensive and bale trucks have a hard life. I could do with a few less repair bills, if you know what I mean, but the boss has a smile on his face. It is the mechanics who work on my equipment who don’t like me.

I’m always nice to them. I joke around with them. I treat them with respect, but they still don’t like it when I come in. They tell me that I am the only farmer who brings in equipment that is always covered in manure. They deal with lots of farmers but I’m the only one whose equipment stinks and they don’t like working on it.

I try to wash it off. I spray underneath and I try hard but I can never get it all. The last time my quad went in, they told me they had to wash the manure out of the radiator, and I just smiled.

I have come to realize, that when the dung pat hits the fan… it is a good thing.

Lots of farmers go out with a quad and check their pastures. But not many get covered with manure like I do. If you drive across one of my recently grazed paddocks with a quad, you usually end up with manure all over you.

It whips up off the tires and sprays all over the place. It is hard to miss them.

The truck is the same. I have to clean the radiator on it quite often. The reason? The dung pats hit the fan. Why? Good stock density. One of the benefits to having a high stock density is that your manure distribution is good. The higher the stock density, the better the manure is spread and the better the nutrient recycling.

20 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

A manure-splattered quad is a measure of excellent stock density.

Stock density is the number of animal units on a piece of land at a specific point in time. It is measured in Animal Days per Acre. This is not to be confused with a stocking rate, which is the number of animals you have on a pasture for the season. The other benefit to a higher stock density is improved plant utilization. If you have good plant utilization, every plant is either bitten or stepped on.

This allows for an even playing field for every plant when it comes time to regrow. Stock density is just one of the four grazing concepts needed in the sustainable management of pasture.

(Graze period, rest period, stock density and animal impact.)

So why do we need good stock density? In a continuous grazing system, most of your manure ends up in the trees and around the water site. Both of which do not need to be fertilized. Nutrients are being transferred off your open land. Pretty easy to drive across this field and not hit any manure with your tires. Our goal with increasing the stock density is to get the nutrients to return to where it came from, back out on the open land.

Can you get a dung pat every square metre on your land in a season?

On the other side of the spectrum,

very high stock density, or mob grazing has very good manure distribution.

With mob grazing we might be moving a fence six or seven times a day. When you move a fence that many times a day, there is not a lot of time to get anything else done.

If I have to go to town, I move a fence on the way into town, and move it again on my way home. When I have done this, I found out real quick to make sure I bring along my boots.

Don’t try to move the fence in your town shoes. The manure is everywhere!

Manure distribution is excellent when mob grazing.

At Greener Pastures, I do not make a habit of mob grazing very often due to the very high labour cost associated with it. Don’t get me wrong. The benefits of mob grazing are great and if I was in an environment with lower labour costs, I would mob graze everything. But I’m not, so I don’t.

How much stock density is enough?

Here is an easy rule of thumb for you without getting into a bunch of calculations. If you drive across your pasture with your quad and you get splattered with manure, you are doing a good job with stock density. If not, you might need to step it up a bit. You will need more fencing. For my operawww.canadiancattlemen.ca

tion, I think I have found a balance between good land management and labour costs. On average, I move cattle every day in the spring and every two to four days in the summer. Now this is a little different on each cell and is adjusted each year depending on many factors but it is mainly dictated by my margin on each pasture.

Your farm is different than mine, but make sure your stock density is high enough to have good manure distribution and therefore gives you good nutrient recycling. If you don’t get covered in poo while driving your quad across your pasture, you’re losing out on some very beneficial nutrient recycling.

I don’t actually want to drive over

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

The higher the stock density, the better the manure is spread and the better the nutrient recycling my dung pats as this increases their surface area and increases the losses due to volatization and run-off. (Similar to the detrimental practice of harrowing your paddocks.) A well-placed dung pat that is undisturbed is decomposed by the soil life from underneath.

This is nutrient recycling in action. My challenge to you is to improve your manure distribution by improving your grazing management. Here is hoping you can recycle most of your nutrients back into your land for next year.

The downside… you might need to give your mechanic a nice Christmas present next year.

I should add my deepest and most sincere apologies to my own mechanics. Sorry guys, but it happens.

C —Steve Kenyon Steve Kenyon runs Greener Pastures Ranching Ltd. in Busby, Alta., www.greenerpasturesranching.com, 780-307-6500, email skenyon@greenerpasturesranching.com.

Cattlemen / December 2011 21

grazing

WARD OFF INVADERS

Chances are these combative weeds are lurking in a field near you

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complete series of five fact sheets promoting beneficial management practices (BMPs) to prevent and control the spread of invasive plants is now available from the Saskatchewan Forage Council.

The fact sheets offer BMPs for forage seed, hay, grazing, riparian areas, and transportation developed by people with expertise in all sectors of agriculture, says project co-ordinator Coy Schellenberg.

These are non-native plants that proliferate readily when introduced to areas outside their natural habitat where they face few natural predators to keep them in check. In short, they become weeds, very hard-to-kill ones.

In Saskatchewan common invaders are downy and Japanese brome, leafy spurge, common tansy, toadflax (yellow and dalmatian), Canada thistle, purple loosestrife, common burdock, scentless chamomile, round-leaved mallow, ox-eye daisy, orange hawkweed and knapweed (Russian, spotted, diffuse).

Some are classified as noxious or prohibited weeds under municipal or provincial rules which means some help may be available to go after them. The best way to find out the status of an unusual plant is to contact your municipal or provincial authorities. They, along with provincial forage councils and invasive plants councils provide information and possibly assistance in identifying and controlling these plants.

22 Cattlemen / December 2011

Invasive plants are a threat to native grasslands and riparian areas as they disrupt the natural checks and balances in an area. Often they take hold in remote areas where they go unnoticed, are difficult to get at and control with treatments that may be effective in tame hay, pasture, cropland and roadside ditches. Even in these areas, control can be a neverending battle once an invasive species becomes established.

The overarching message with invading plants is that prevention is the first, best and most affordable option. Start by familiarizing yourself with these plants and how they spread, then plan for regular inspections of your land.

Invasive plant parts and seeds can arrive by water, on the wind, buried in the fur or hair of wild and domestic animals, on people’s clothing, field equipment and vehicles. As such you could seed them down while you are haying, feeding or just checking on your stock without knowing it. There are a million ways for those wayward seeds to make their way into new areas, so the fight is definitely weighted in favor of the invaders.

An inspection checklist should include those places most at risk of accidental contamination — riparian areas, pastures, hayfields, field perimeters, ditches, fireguards, fencelines, corrals, bale yards, winter feeding areas, livestock watering and salt locations, trails and runs.

Exposed bare ground is an open invitation for any undesirable plant.

Early identification is the key to control. If you do find suspicious plants, report them to your municipal weed control officer or a provincial weed specialist. Map and mark the infestations and take pictures for future reference.

Control strategies vary depending on the size and location of the infestation and often involve a combination of actions prior to seed set involving herbicides, hand pulling, mowing, grazing (high-density, multi-species, planned grazing), biological weapons (insects), burning and buffer areas.

Cut and bale clean hayfields first. If necessary, consider breaking up tame hay or pasture and sowing an annual crop or fallowing for a year to allow for herbicide control.

10 tips to reduce the risk 1. Check for and remove plant parts and seeds from your clothing, horses, stock dogs, equipment and vehicles before leaving an area with known invasive plant infestations.

2. Try to minimize livestock and human activities, such as haying, overgrazing, bedding and feeding livestock, trailing, boating, camping, forestry activities, cultivation and the use of all-terrain vehicles in riparian areas that are at risk of infestations from adjacent areas.

3. Implement grazing strategies that promote the growth and vigour www.canadiancattlemen.ca

of native and desirable species in riparian areas, pastures and haylands to avoid bare spots where invasive plants can take root.

4. Don’t forget that animals transport viable seeds in their digestive tracts as well as on their bodies and hooves. Quarantining new animals and feeding weed-free hay for 48 hours should provide enough time for the seeds to pass in the manure before turnout. Likewise, when moving cattle out of an area with a known infestation, consider arranging an area where they can be held and fed for 48 hours before turning them into a new pasture or moving them down the road.

5.

6.

7.

8.

tains invasive plant parts or seeds.

If transporting hay of unknown or suspicious status, tarp the loads to reduce the chance of invasive plant parts falling off along the way. Avoid travelling near sensitive areas such as sand hills and rivers.

9. Be vigilant when bringing in or moving soil, gravel, trees and plants around your property.

10. Help create awareness by participating in local education and control initiatives. Inform your visitors and recreational users about the risk of invasive plant species and ask them to take precautions to reduce the spread.

C — Debbie Furber

Avoid trailing cattle through areas with invasive plant infestations.

Use certified weed-free seed when establishing new pastures and hayfields.

Inspect ditches and any new areas for invasive plants before cutting them for hay.

When purchasing standing forages for baling or grazing, ask about invasive plants in the area and, if possible, inspect the field during the growing season. Purchase hay from fields cut prior to seed set. Store purchased hay and grain in a separate area to simplify the cleanup effort should the feed contain invasive plants.

Avoid transporting hay that con-

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BREEDING

Sam Dunlop

Paula Dunlop

BELGIAN BLUES CHANGE WITH THE TIMES Caesarean births are few in North American herds

S

am Dunlop’s road to becoming president of the Canadian Belgian Blue Association (CBBA) began nine years ago when he and his wife, Paula, and their two sons emigrated from Northern Ireland. The transition from the misty isle where their families raise Charolais cattle, sheep and vegetables, to the arid Canadian prairie near Southey, Sask., involved a stint of grain farming while they established their beef herd.

“We knew we wanted Belgian Blue cattle because we knew of their background and double-muscled Beltex sheep from back home,” Dunlop says. They liked the idea of raising cattle that would put the feed to good use, building muscle rather than fat and bones. In Northern Ireland, the second home of Belgian Blue cattle, the breed is promoted as the “Modern Meat Machine.”

They custom fed and calved out some Gelbvieh cattle for a few years while they started building their own herd with full-blood Belgian Blues.

Ulster Belgian Blues, so named for the most northerly province in Ireland, came into being when they purchased their first heifers in 2006 from Tony and Ruth Hill at Wiseton, Sask.

Today the Dunlops’ herd of 20 full bloods, 20 percentage bloods, and 30 24 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

commercial cows with Belgian Blue calves at foot is an eye-catcher along the highway leading to Regina. It’s not unusual to see people pulled over to take a closer look, Paula says. The breed’s Shorthorn ancestry is still evident with cattle ranging from solid white, red roan, blue roan and solid black cattle. The discriminating eye will also pick up on the unique conformation, with the double muscling particularly evident in the rump, loin, back and shoulders.

Double muscling doesn’t mean that Belgian Blue cattle have two of every muscle. Rather, there are more strands of fibre within each muscle. The fibres are shorter and finer and the muscles grow larger than those in cattle without this trait. Researchers determined that mutations in the myostatin gene, which normally tells the cells of the embryo when to stop dividing and begin to differentiate into fibres, likely render it inactive in cattle with the double-muscle trait. The resulting fibre structure and density leave little room for connective tissue and fat within the muscle, making beef from cattle with Belgian Blue genetics naturally lean and tender.

“The key is that Belgian Blue and Belgian Blue cross calves have to be fed properly, that is, fairly aggressively,

so that they are growing fast and putting on muscle at a quick rate to finish out at a youthful age. If the environmental factors before slaughter are right, they will yield tender, juicy beef without a lot of marbling,” says Matthew Heleniak, manager and cattle buyer with Norpac beef packers in Norwich, Ont. The company handles a high percentage of the Belgian Blue calves raised in Canada, buying finished calves as well as feeder calves to finish out at its own facility.

Heleniak likes calves with Belgian Blue genetics because they typically have a high dressing percentage. The beef from Belgian Blue crosses with British breeds or Simmental cattle has more marbling than straight Belgian Blue calves, which generally grade Canada A for marbling.

The flavour of the naturally lean beef is preferred over the buttery flavour of marbled beef by Europeans and ethnic groups in Ontario’s large cities, he explains. Between the good demand for Belgian Blue beef and the breed’s great dressing percentage, packers will pay a 15 to 20 per cent premium for finished Belgian Blue calves.

Ken Holgerson, who still runs a handful of Limousin cows along with Belgian Blues near Olds, Alta., agrees that the management of the feeding prowww.canadiancattlemen.ca

gram and quality of the feed show in the Belgian Blue meat. Belgian Blues require high-energy rations for the last 120 days on feed in order to grow properly.

From his many years of past experience working in his father-inlaw’s butcher shop, Holgerson readily attests to the European claim that Belgian Blue cattle are a “butcher’s delight.” “The dressing percentage on the Belgian Blues is phenomenal. We had steers dress out as high as 67 per cent. We would never get that from an Angus, Hereford or Charolais animal,” Holgerson says. The last lot of 100 Belgian Blue and Limousin-Belgian Blue steers and heifers that he had finished out and processed at Norpac dressed out at 65 per cent across the board.

Dressing percentage is the warm carcass weight (hide, head, feet and innards removed) divided by the shrunk live weight at delivery. Cutability is another measure of carcass merit and one that Holgerson finds many producers don’t understand. It is what you actually put in the deep freeze after the extra bones and fat have been removed. The bone structure visible on the outside is the same on the inside of the animal, he explains.

So, even though two animals have the same live weight, there can be a significant difference in cutability. You’ll end up with more usable meat — at least eight per cent more — from Belgian Blue cattle because of the fine bones and lean meat. Belgian Blue-Limousin cattle beat everything he has see as far as cutability goes.

The 2003 to 2007 Agribition carcass competition results reveal that calves with Belgian Blue genetics, raised and finished in varying production systems on the Canadian Prairies, hold their own with other breeds noted for superior carcass quality. In 2004, Belgian Blue-cross carcasses exhibited by D. Sparks of Zealandia, Sask. topped both the steer and heifer classes.

Improved genetics for calving ease

Despite significant genetic improvements since 1978 when Belgian Blue cattle were first introduced to Canada, there remains a misconception that all Belgian Blue calves have to be delivered by caesarean. Dunlop says this idea comes from Belgium where the breed is the extreme-muscled type and the majority of purebred herds are calved by elective caesarean for management purposes. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Calving by elective caesarean may be economically feasible in Europe where cattle are raised in intensively managed systems and meat is valuable, but it doesn’t cut it with beef producers in North America and other countries with vast land bases where herds are much larger and many animals never see the inside of a barn.

“In Canada and the U.S., breeders said they need height, mobility, good legs, fertility and natural calving in order to export here,” Dunlop says.

To gain export markets and because of the importance of the breed to the U.K. meat industry, members of the British Blue Cattle Society (BBCS) have concentrated on improving the functionality of the breed by implementing measures such as screening semen imports to exclude extreme blood lines, mandatory pre-sale inspections to ensure desirable conformation, and developing a correlation between external pelvic measurements and calving ease. By 1999, the improvement had been significant and the BBCS began promoting what it calls the British type of Belgian Blue, or “British Blues,” noted for ease of calving, a short gestation period, good structure and mobility and excellent temperament.

Expected progeny differences were introduced in 2000 and have been mandatory in all sale catalogues since late 2004, the year in which estimated breeding values were developed. In 2007, as part of the Breedplan geneticevaluation program, a combination of estimated breeding values and economic factors was used to develop the pedigree breeding index.

As a result of the BBCS’s work, Canadian beef and dairy producers now have access to a lot of information on individual sires that wasn’t available even a decade ago.

Since they began raising Belgian Blue cattle, the Dunlops have had one caesarean in the full bloods. The crossbred calves average about 85 pounds and the full-blood calves average 96 pounds. The cows winter well on alfalfa hay without grain.

Longtime CBBA member Ken Miller of Avonlea, Sask. has been using nothing but Belgian Blue sires on his mature Red Angus-Simmental cows since 1993 and says that definitely would not have been economically viable nor manageable if caesareans were an issue.

Alain and Marc Sequin of Noelville, Ont. have been crossing

Belgian Blue sires on Holsteins without problems since 1985, and on Jersey-Holstein cows for seven years.

The Belgian Blue-Holstein calves weigh 80 to 105 pounds, while the Belgian Blue-Jersey-Holstein calves weigh 70 to 90 pounds. Three generations of their most prolific maternal bloodline have produced 31 Belgian Blue calves by natural birth.

Heleniak runs 90 commercial cows with Belgian Blue bulls. None have had caesareans and the only calves he has ever assisted have been breech presentations. It’s important to do your homework when selecting a bull, he adds.

Look for calving ease, but also consider growth along with frame size so that the calves are able to put on weight.

Holgerson says he has never had any calving problems with Limousin cows bred to Belgian Blue bulls. The calving issue is specific to purebred Belgian Blue females and pre-calving management has a lot to do with it.

The first year, he made the mistake of feeding the Belgian Blue cows too well and ended up with five caesareans. The following year, he cut back on feed during the two months leading up to calving and has never had a problem since.

When purebred cows receive more feed than required, the excess nutrients go into building muscle mass, including muscles around the birth canal.

Calving difficulties are not related to the calves, he stresses. Their purebred Belgian Blue calves weigh 80 to 90 pounds and have the fine bone structure typical of the breed. The calves are born with the double-muscle trait, but the muscles aren’t bulky at birth. He likens it to horned cattle — the buds are there at birth, but it takes time for the horn tissue to develop. The doublemuscle trait doesn’t begin to express itself until two to six weeks of age.

Holgerson’s herd winters on stubble land with the poorest-quality hay fed first. After that, he alternates between hay bales and straw bales. Absolutely no grain is fed until after calving, when the cows receive either grain or topquality alfalfa hay to boost the nutrition level for milk production and rebreeding. This way, cows aren’t thin at calving, but neither do they have layer upon layer of muscle.

For more information, contact Dunlop at 306-726-2291, or any of the members listed on the CBBA website at www.belgianblue.ca.

C — Debbie Furber Cattlemen / December 2011 25

HEALTH

ZOMBIE ANTS CHAUFFEUR PARASITES TO THE LIVERS OF GRAZING ANIMALS

T

he ants may never know why they arrived at the top of a plant stem, but researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are unravelling the mystery for them. The villain in this piece is a ruthless parasite that takes control of unwary ants, using them as a vehicle to reach its final destination, the liver of grazing animals.

In emulation of a B-grade horror movie, the parasite invades the brain of the ant, turning it into a compliant zombie that climbs to the top of a flowering plant or grass stem where it is in perfect position to be consumed by a grazing animal. The resulting infection can compromise the general health and performance of the host, which, if it happens to be livestock, can have economic consequences.

Researchers are currently focused on learning more about the parasite’s impact on the liver of these animals and strategies for a quick diagnosis in lessen the damage and check the westward spread of this infection.

The parasite is a flatworm, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, that infects the liver of herbivores such as cattle, sheep, deer and elk. It is one of many parasites picked up on pasture that survive inside animals through the winter. It is also relatively new to Alberta. The high levels of infection recorded in recent studies can have a significant impact on weight gain in cattle.

“The appearance of this parasite in a place it hadn’t been before got our attention,” says Dr. Doug Colwell, a livestock parasitologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Lethbridge Research Centre. “It appears to be thriving in the Cypress Hills.”

Since this parasite is relatively new to Alberta the researchers are currently focused on learning more about its impact on the behaviour and productivity of cattle by studying controlled infections within the confines of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. The plan is to develop specialized diagnostic tools that can help producers and wildlife managers pick up on these subclinical infections at an early stage.

Several studies have shown that controlling parasitism in livestock results in significant savings for producers. Infection of Dicrocoelium dendriticum can induce anemia, liver damage and predisposition to other diseases. Its effects are magnified when animals suffering from poor nutrition are exposed to large numbers of the parasite. As with all forms

26 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

Infected ants lock onto a plant and wait to be eaten. of subclinical parasitism, the outward symptoms are not obvious, but may present in small changes in behaviour and overall condition of the animal. Dicrocoelium dendriticum is known to have a significant impact on the health of sheep but its impact on cattle still remains unclear.

Dicrocoelium dendriticum is an invader from Europe, brought to North America in sheep in the early 1930s. Not fussy about its final host, the parasite infects many grazing animals. Since its arrival, it has moved across the continent.

In the late 1980s it was found in elk in the Cypress Hills region straddling the southern Alberta-Saskatchewan border.

A survey in 1990 found only one beef animal infected. By 2003, the worm was found in 70 per cent of cattle surveyed.

In 2004 it had spread to 95 per cent.

The parasite causes inflammation of the liver and swelling of the bile ducts. An additional concern is the ease with which the infection moves between wildlife and domestic animals.

Diagnosis is achieved through the detection of parasitic eggs in host feces. The parasite’s life cycle consists of three stages and three hosts. Adult worms in an animal’s liver shed thousands of eggs that exit the animal in the manure.

Snails in the pasture pick up the eggs from the manure and generate balls of slime full of second-stage parasites.

Foraging ants consume the slime balls and the parasite eventually migrates to brain of the ant gaining control of its motor activity. The zombie ant then carries the parasite to the top of plants where it is picked up by the grazing animal. Once ingested, the parasite migrates to the liver to complete the cycle.

Using a confocal microscope that uses a laser to image intact specimens, researchers have seen the parasite lodged in a cyst-like structure in the ant’s central nervous system.

They’ve also observed these ants heading up to the top of pasture plants in the cool of the morning where they take a firm www.canadiancattlemen.ca

GREENER PASTURES

RANCHING LTD. grip on a leaf and appear to develop lockjaw, unable to move. Videos of this behaviour show the ants apparently frozen on a leaf with just their antennae in motion. As the temperature warms up, the parasite loses control and the ants return to the ground where they resume normal foraging behaviour.

Determining how the parasite controls this behaviour in the ant is critical to finding a strategy to reduce its impact on grazing animals. At present the scientists are considering three ways the parasite may exert control.

One is that it could be pressuring a nerve. Another is that this is a byproduct of the ant’s inflammatory response to remove the parasite. The third is that the parasite produces specific neuro-chemicals that control the behaviour of the ant. All three are under investigation.

This research is supported by the Beef Cattle Research Council and is conducted by Dr. Doug Colwell, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, in collaboration with Dr. Cam Goater and PhD

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Cattlemen / December 2011 27

RESEARCH

Does feeding distillers grains affect beef quality?

Background Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) are widely used in North American feedlot rations. Feedlot operators can quickly and easily calculate the impact of DDGS on animal performance and carcass grade, but determining how DDGS might affect retail beef quality is much more difficult and expensive. Feeding DDGS may increase polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels in beef. This could have human health benefits. For example, omega-3s are a type of PUFA. Health Canada could allow a “nutrient content claim” for beef that contains at least 300-mg omega-3s per 75-g serving. However, PUFAs are less “oxidatively stable” than saturated fats.

This makes PUFAs more prone to chemical reactions that lead to off-flavours, unpleasant smells, discolouration and shortened shelf life. Two recent National Check-Off funded research projects investigated how feeding DDGS affects PUFA levels (including omega-3s) and retail acceptability of beef.

What they did In Trial 1, Drs. He, Yang, McAllister and Beauchemin of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre worked with Dr. John McKinnon at the University of Saskatchewan. These researchers used DDGS to replace barley silage in the finishing diet. A total of 200 crossbred steers were fed four diets (20 pens, 10 head per pen, five pens per diet). The control diet contained 85 per cent barley-based concentrate and 15 per cent barley silage. One experimental diet replaced some of the barley grain with wheat DDGS (65 per cent concentrate, 10 per cent silage, 25 per cent wheat DDGS). The other two experimental diets replaced silage with wheat DDGS. These two diets both contained 65 per cent concentrate, and either five per cent silage (30 per cent DDGS) or zero silage (35 per cent DDGS). The percentage of intramuscular (marbling) fat was determined in skirt steaks, as well as the percentage of PUFA and omega-3s.

In Trial 2, Dr. John McKinnon partially replaced barley grain with DDGS in a finishing trial at the University of Saskatchewan. A total of 288 crossbred steers were finished on four diets containing 93 per cent barley-based concentrate and seven per cent barley silage (24 pens, 12 head per pen, six pens per diet). The control diet contained no DDGS. The three experimental diets replaced some of the barley grain with 40 per cent corn DDGS, 40 per cent wheat DDGS, or 40 per cent DDGS from a corn/ wheat blend. At the end of the trial, Dr. Phyllis Shand and graduate student Lane Stoll collected rib-eye steaks from 20 head per diet, aged them for 14 days and did intramuscular fat analyses, shelf life and taste panel tests.

28 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

What they learned Trial 1: Replacing silage with DDGS in the finishing diet did not affect intramuscular fat (marbling) levels in the skirt steak. The PUFA levels rose as the DDGS content of the diet increased, but still accounted for less than seven per cent of the total intramuscular fat.

Omega-3 levels also rose along with the DDGS content of the diet, but were still below 40 mg per serving. These levels would have to be eight to 11 times higher to meet Health Canada labelling standards.

Trial 2: Replacing 40 per cent of the barley grain with DDGS in the finishing diet didn’t affect intramuscular fat (marbling) levels in the rib-eye. PUFA levels were higher in the 40 per cent DDGS diets (11.3 to 12.2 per cent of total intramuscular fat) than in the barley grain control diet (seven per cent). Diet also affected omega-3 levels, but were well below 15-mg per serving, and would have to be 25 to 33 times higher to meet Health Canada labelling standards.

Retail acceptability Compared to steaks from cattle in the control group, steaks from cattle fed the DDGS diets were less red, lost redness faster, showed more discolouration and were less desirable to consumers as time in the display case increased. Recall that these steaks had been aged for two weeks prior to entering the retail case, so this may not be a serious concern in all retail situations.

Cooking characteristics Diet did not significantly affect the fat content, drip loss, cooking loss, cooking time or sheer force (a mechanical measure of toughness) of rib-eye steaks.

Taste panel evaluation The trained taste panel did not detect any significant differences in tenderness, juiciness, flavour, or texture of the rib-eye steaks from cattle fed the four different diets.

What it Means: Feeding DDGS increased the omega-3 and overall PUFA levels in beef. Although omega-3 levels are still far from meeting Canadian regulatory standards, PUFA levels may be elevated enough to increase the risk of oxidation and negatively affect the appearance of beef that has been aged before entering the retail meat case. Once the beef is cooked, however, there do not appear to be any differences in eating quality in the beef from cattle fed diets containing DDGS compared to those fed traditional feedlot finishing diets.

— Reynold Bergen Reynold Bergen is the science director for the Beef Cattle Research Council. On average, 15 per cent of Canada’s National Checkoff is directed towards the BCRC to fund research and development activities that will improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Canada’s beef industry. For more information, visit www.cattle.ca or call 403-275-8558.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

BUILDING TRUST IN CANADIAN BEEF

Think responsibly with broken needles This industry’s reputation rides on your response as a beef producer If you’ve ever processed cattle in your life you may have had it happen at some point. A broken needle.

When it happens you may not be sure where it is. Is it actually still in the animal or did it drop to the ground somewhere?

The simple truth is that unless you find it on the ground, it really doesn’t matter. It needs to be dealt with, and you need to assume the worst and manage the situation responsibly.

How you respond as a producer can have a huge potential effect on your industry. Needle management is one of the fundamentals in Canada’s on-farm food safety programs. It’s why Animal Health Management is one of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Verified Beef Production program of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

Detectable needles are available so ask your farm supply store or veterinarian.

What you need to do There is a recommended course of action if a broken needle occurs. It’s important to identify the suspect animal on a permanent record. If the animal is being sold, the next owner must be informed of the fact there is a broken needle in that specific animal.

The animal can be euthanized and disposed of, or keep the animal for slaughter for your own use and manage the meat process accordingly.

There are also some simple management approaches to help prevent and deal most easily with the situation.

On the prevention side an absolute must is never to try and

Help us protect Canada’s beef market “It’s not hard to imagine the food safety risk of a broken needle making it into a meat product.

Consumers are depending on industry to control and prevent this risk from ever taking place.”

— canadian packer

straighten a bent needle. That just never works and is a recipe for disaster. Make sure to securely restrain the animal and use sharp not burred needles. Use shorter needles for subcutaneous injections. And use detectable needles.

Simplest injection site is the neck. If you do have a problem this area of meat can be isolated at custom slaughter at your local abattoir. It’s a lot easier to dispose of this lower-value cut of meat than if the injection is in more expensive carcass cuts.

Don’t leave it to the packer Canada’s beef-processing industry takes broken needles very seriously. Animals documented as having a broken needle are handled accordingly as individuals. As well, if they know the whereabouts of the suspected broken piece and it is a detectable needle, they may be able to use scanning equipment to identify the broken fragment.

While that effort is ongoing and diligent, the biggest opportunity in managing broken needles is to prevent the potential situation of broken needles in the consumer beef supply in the first place. Act responsibly as a producer and work as a partner in the supply chain.

A lot of people are depending on that.

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USDA hears angry cowpokes A North American view of the meat industry.

Steve Kay is publisher and editor of Cattle Buyers Weekly

I

t takes a lot of angry cowboys (and girls) to terms. It will also not proceed with a proposed sway a federal agency. This in a nutshell is packer-to-packer sale ban and restrictions on what has happened with USDA’s attempt to packer buyers/dealers. But it intends to re-propose put more regulations on the way livestock three livestock provisions at some point. These and poultry are marketed in the U.S. provisions are: elimination of the competitive USDA stunned the industry in June last year injury requirement; unfair, unjustly discriminawhen its Grain Inspection, Packers and Stocktory and deceptive practices; and undue or unreayards Administration (GIPSA) unveiled a rule sonable preferences or advantages. that threatened to upend 30 years of progress in USDA provided some details about the two the beef industry to equate cattle (and hog) prices rules in a briefing of industry representatives in with quality. The proposed rule only came about early November. Significantly, a senior adviser to because of loud and emotional cries from certain Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held the brieffringe groups for USDA to “rein in the big bad ing, while Butler was conspicuously absent. It packers.” told the briefing that GIPSA needs more time to GIPSA administrator Dudley Butler, who had provide additional clarity on the above three propreviously helped chicken growers sue poultry visions before modifying and re-proposing them. processors, happily complied. His big mistake It appears particularly sensitive to the many though was that he and two fellow authors wrote comments that GIPSA received about the risk of a rule that went way beyond what Congress in increased litigation between producers and packthe 2008 Farm Bill had asked USDA to do. Coners as a result of the proposed rule. GIPSA will gress wanted USDA to focus only on five poulre-propose the provisions in one rule and seek try practices. The rule additional comment, though threatened to says USDA. upend years of livestock As soon as news USDA’s actions and words marketing agreements of USDA’s final rules between packers and in early November indicated emerged, it was time for livestock producers. the proposed rule’s supit knows that GIPSA and This made the vast porters to get mad again. majority of producers The Western OrganizaButler wildly over-stepped so mad that they began tion of Resource Couna ferocious campaign to cils said it was appalled the mark, and that it will have the rule withdrawn that USDA had diluted significantly water down any the final fair livestock or radically rewritten.

They enlisted producers market rules so signififuture livestock provisions large and small to speak cantly. USDA and the to the rule’s potential Administration have let damage to their businesses and to the industry. down independent farmers and ranchers, says They even persuaded an unprecedented bipartiWORC. The National Farmers Union demanded san coalition of members of Congress to criticize that USDA act in implementing the rule, notably USDA. The result was that in early November, the section on competitive injury.

USDA said it had sent a much-watered down However, USDA’s actions and words in early final rule and an interim final rule to the Office of November indicated it knows that GIPSA and Management and Budget for review. USDA’s stunButler wildly over-stepped the mark, and that it ning retreat represents one of the most successful will significantly water down any future livestock industry lobbying campaigns I have ever seen. provisions. Chalk this up for a victory for comThe battle is not quite over, however. The mon sense and non-stop industry lobbying. livestock industry has dodged a bullet for now because USDA left nearly all livestock provisions Cattle Buyers Weekly covers the North American meat out of its rules. It says it does not intend to finaland livestock industry. For subscription information, ize a regulation that would have required packcontact Steve Kay at P.O. Box 2533, Petaluma, ers, swine contractors and live poultry dealers CA 94953, or at 707-765-1725, or go to www. to maintain records justifying price and contract cattlebuyersweekly.com.

30 Cattlemen / December 2011

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

HOLISTIC RANCHING

The cost of feeding

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here are two main costs to wintering cows, the feed and the cost of putting out the feed. There is quite a bit of awareness about the cost of feed.

Most of us are at least aware of the term “least-cost ration.” Feedlots do an excellent job in this area. In the cow-calf sector there may be some room for improvement.

So let’s look at the cost of feeding the feed. I didn’t want to use the term “yardage” as that includes more than just the cost of feeding. For this discussion we have the feed and need to get it to the cows. How can we do this economically?

The most economical way to feed that I am aware of is to leave the bales where they are produced. When you bale graze in this manner the cost of feeding is zero. A similar case can be made when purchased feed is unloaded where it will be bale grazed. Both these scenarios have a zero cost for putting out the feed. Is there any way to improve on this?

Now let’s look at some scenarios where the feed is handled again and see what happens to the cost. I will use some figures from our place. They are real to me but what really matters is the numbers for your place.

We have areas where we want to bale graze that are not accessible to bale trucks. Our tractor and wagon can move 19 bales per trip. This takes about one hour.

We don’t have real good numbers but estimate that it costs $50 per hour to operate our equipment. Using a bale weight of 1,300 pounds each trip with 19 bales puts out 24,700 pounds of feed (1,300 x 19). We like to feed 35 pounds per head per day (3% of body weight on a 1,200 pound cow). The 24,700 pounds provides 705 cow days of feed (24,700 lb./35). The cost of feeding this feed is $.07 per cow per day ($50/705).

We also feed with a deck truck. We estimate $50 per hour for the truck. When the feed is close to the cows we can feed four bales per hour. Feeding four bales weighing 1,300 pounds each allows us to feed 5,200 pounds of feed per hour (1,300 x 4). Using our 35 pounds of feed per head gives us 148 cow days of feed (5,200/35). The cost of feeding the feed is $.34 per cow per day ($50/148).

When the cows and feed are not close together we can only feed two bales per hour. Feeding two bales weighing 1,300 pounds each allows us to feed 2,600 pounds of feed per hour (1,300 x 2). That gives us 74 cow days of feed (2,600/35) and a cost of feeding of $.68 per head per day ($50/74).

These numbers show that feeding with a deck truck can cost five to 10 times as much as feeding by bale grazing. It is important to remember these are my figures.

Feeding in a pen also adds corral cleaning to the cost of feeding. I won’t put any numbers down for this as I have no personal experience. Please use your own numbers.

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Bale grazing is the most economical way there is to feed cows. Now let’s look at some of the common excuses for not bale grazing. The most common is that bale grazing wastes too much feed. Here are three points you might consider regarding wasted feed.

1. The amount of feed per head is largely determined by the owner of the cattle, not the feeding system. If you like your cows hog fat, your feed cost per head will be high. If you like your cows on the lean side they will be low.

2. There is no waste in nature. Every ounce of residual feed left on the land improves your land and is an investment in biological capital. This investment will give you a positive return in the future. We have places where we wintered cattle 50 years ago. The improvement to the land is still obvious today. It is true that any extra feed must be cash flowed but extra feed cannot be wasted.

3. Looking back at our example we see bale grazing cost $.07 per head per day and feeding with a bale truck cost 34 and 68 cents per day. The difference is 27 and 61 cents per day. At our feeding rate of 35 pounds we could buy nine or 20 pounds of extra feed (at three cents per pound) with the money saved by bale grazing. Nine pounds is a 25 per cent increase in feed purchased (9/35). Twenty pounds is a 57 per cent increase in feed purchased (20/35).

Spending money on feeding (equipment, repairs and fuel) doesn’t produce anything. Buying extra feed with the same money (if you felt it was necessary) would result in a huge investment in biological capital. Which option makes more sense?

4. Bale grazing saves 27 or 61 cents per head per day in the our example. At 27 cents we save $40 per head in a 150-day feeding period (.27 x 150) or $91 per head at 61 cents per day.

I hope you will seriously consider these ideas. Don’t just say “oh my costs aren’t that high.” Figure out your costs. They are the only costs that matter. If you have exceptionally low equipment costs both your bale grazing and feeding may be way cheaper than mine. The important thing is that the difference will still favour the bale grazing.

We have now enjoyed the benefits of bale grazing for 23 years and it is most rewarding to see the cumulative results. I encourage you to talk to a neighbour who is bale grazing. There are people doing it in all areas of the country. Perhaps it will work for you as it has for so many others. The sooner you start the sooner you will enjoy the benefits. I wish you success in making positive change.

Happy trails.

— Don Campbell Don Campbell ranches with his family at Meadow Lake, Sask., and teaches Holistic Management courses. He can be reached at 306-236-6088 or doncampbell@sasktel.net.

CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011 31

C C A

I

Travis Toews is president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

r e p o r t s

n November, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) representatives met with officials from Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Office to discuss a number of important issues around competitiveness. Country-of-origin labelling (COOL) and Product of Canada rules were among the items discussed. On COOL, we requested the Prime Minister’s continued assistance in anticipation of the public release of the WTO report November 18. We shared our position that Product of Canada rules must be changed to coincide with our U.S. solution, that the country of processing should confer origin.

We discussed the importance of completing the Korean Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and thanked the Prime Minister for his engagement on the Korean beef access file. We shared our appreciation for the Prime Minister’s engagement with Japan, and requested this level of engagement continue as Japan reconsiders its approach to domestic BSE testing, which is a prerequisite for broader beef access from BSE controlled-risk countries. The CCA also raised the issue of Japan possibly joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and with that, the necessity of Canada joining the TPP. To get accepted into the TPP, Canada would most likely be required to allow access for dairy and poultry imports.

In October, myself and CCA representatives joined cattle producer organizations from Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. along with the Mexican hosts for the Five Nations Beef Alliance (FNBA) conference. In addition to two full days of formal meetings, the itinerary provided the opportunity to meet with Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture, tour Mexican cattle operations and deepen relationships with counterparts from the other alliance countries.

During the meeting with Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture, I pointed out the importance of trade rules based on sound science, and the inconsistency with Mexico’s approach to beef from cattle over 30 months of age from Canada.

Longstanding areas of common interest for the FNBA have been working together as a force in favour of liberalization of global beef markets and ensuring that countries make animal health and food safety decisions affecting beef trade on the basis of science and proper risk assessments.

These fundamental principles were reaffirmed.

The CCA was on hand for the 2011 fall meetings for producers in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

This busy meeting season provides the CCA with an opportunity to update producers on what their checkoff funds are going toward, to reconnect with producer concerns and to aid in policy development through providing information on current CCA policy and activities.

We appeared before the House Standing Committee on International Trade in late October to discuss the issues around the Canada-Europe Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) on behalf of the Canadian cattle industry.

32 Cattlemen / December 2011

by Travis Toews

With annual beef consumption in the EU at approximately eight million tonnes, the CETA may represent the most significant opportunity in a generation to create new market access for Canadian beef exports. Unfortunately, Canada ships very little beef to Europe due to the layers of tariff and technical barriers that prevent Canadian beef from realizing its potential in the EU market.

While the CCA strongly supports the CETA negotiations, our support of the final agreement will depend on whether it provides meaningful access for Canadian beef. In our view, achieving meaningful access will require that the many layers of tariff and technical barriers be addressed in entirety.

I was in Ottawa to appear before two committee hearings: the House Standing Committee on Finance annual pre-budget hearing and the House Standing Committee on Agriculture hearing on Innovation in the Growing Forward II suite of programs.

The CCA’s main message was that research and innovation funding in Canada needs to be improved and increased in order to improve Canadian competitiveness and to be able to respond to challenges of tomorrow. Industry’s recognition of the importance and return on investing in research is shown by the 150 per cent increase in industry investment in recent years. The need to increase funding of market development and to allow the mature grain ethanol industry to compete for feed grains in the open market were also part of the briefs delivered.

We were pleased to see that the funding details of the $50 million Agricultural Innovation Program announced in Budget 2011 include a nonrepayable funding stream to assist and support knowledge creation and innovation development in the agriculture sector.

The Knowledge Creation and Transfer stream is one of two funding streams available under the program. Of particular interest to the applied research community, the Knowledge Creation and Transfer funding stream will support projects that facilitate national value-chain development such as market research and business planning, as well as the research leading to the development of new products, technologies and processes.

Applied research is vital to the industry’s competitiveness through developing more efficient and environmentally sound production practices, and ensuring consumer confidence through food safety and beef quality.

At this time I wish the readers of this column a very meaningful and enjoyable Christmas season.

2011 has been a busy and productive year for the CCA and we look forward to continuing our work in 2012, with a goal of improving the competitiveness of the beef cattle industry on behalf of Canadian cattle producers. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP

Now we are cooking!

A

s an industry, we strive to meet the societal needs of the public and ensure accountability for food safety, animal health, environmental and corporate responsibility and the ethical and humane treatment of animals. It is a certainty that consumers vote with their values and the beef industry must be sensitive to these societal needs. The unasked question about this investment cost is — will the consumer pay for our good deeds and our label of assurance?

In a recent study out of the United States, the top 10 retailers were listed according to their sales per square foot. It may surprise you to see the mix of product.

Topping the trend in buying was the non-essentials such as new technology and personal entertainment, jewelry, handbags and clothing. At the top of the list in USD per square foot was Apple: $5,626 and Tiffany & Co.: $2,974 followed by Coach: $1,820, Lululemon Athletica: $1,731, GameStop: $1,009, Costco Wholesale: $998, Signet Jewelers: $955, Polo Ralph Lauren: $904, Whole Foods Market: $867 and Best Buy at $831 per square foot. This is an interesting piece of work because of the diversity of consumer spending and the clarity of what the consumer perceived as value. As for the food chains, Costco is known for focused member service and high-quality beef at wholesale prices and double-digit growth at the meat counter. Whole Foods is reputed for their presentation of natural and organic product from food animals and is known to the beef industry because of their animal care label.

With the exception of Costco, the secret to the success in these retail stores is strong messaging focused on turning a non-essential item into something that is seen as a need. Although one may have trouble seeing the need for a $1,000 Coach handbag, targeted marketing triggers an emotion toward the object, allowing the client to do their own self convincing. Eventually the handbag is seen as an essential item in the mind of the consumer.

The atmosphere in which the product is presented also contributes to the buying experience. It is highly effective to have a few of the items beautifully displayed. When you go to look at a Coach handbag, there will be just a few on display. This gives the impression of exclusiveness and spurs an emotional response allowing the retailer to charge a high price — which the consumer gladly pays. The high price creates a sense of inclusiveness giving the buyer a sense of belonging to the “club.”

The label or brand drives the sale. To fully understand how critical the label is we turn to Dutch research that has shown that those who apply for jobs in designer clothes will be hired over another person

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of equal qualifications in the same outfit without the designer label. When canvassers for charity wear clothing with a designer label, contributions double, eluding that sporting a designer label makes one more trustworthy.

If we relate this to the beef industry, we can see how managing our label, applying some finesse at the sales counter and shorting the product on the shelf may be of benefit, especially to the high end shopper. A wall of red greeting a shopper with printed labels reading “Round Steak $6.99” is not designer fare nor does it in any way reflect an assurance of safety, animal welfare or environmental consciousness. Imagine — beef could be in a separate space that highlights our product quality, differences and societal attributes.

In the ever-shrinking global world of retail, technology plays an integral role in marketing. A 2011 European study revealed that 32 per cent of consumers used their cell phones to shop for food, with 32 per cent indicating they plan to “access retailer websites or mobile apps by phone in the future.” Searches for grocery online increased by 43 per cent in January of 2011 compared to January of 2010. To be in the game buyer attention and product sales must be captured online.

The other end in this hourglass economy is the perception of value through volume or discount shopping.

Fully one-third of all grocery is discount. We have seen this split reflected in the beef industry as ground beef and the loin own market share on opposite ends of the spectrum. Folks may purchase in bulk at a low price and make things stretch or buy high end products that they see have value (which accounts for 35 per cent of buying). This is evident in the well known Lipstick Index. In times of uncertainty, high-end lipstick sales surge, taking elite cosmetic companies like Estee Lauder to record profits. Canadians buy lipstick, chocolate and eat out in times of uncertainty. This past year was a classic example as food-service rib and loin created the value floor for domestic beef demand.

As an industry we need to decide where we want to be and understand that consumers will pay at the top end of the hourglass. It is safe to shed our status quo and appreciate that the creation of value is an exciting and worthy challenge. The driver is a single recognized label, like the polo pony, that reflects our elite environmental, animal welfare and food safety consciousness.

Watch sales sizzle by taking it to another level and present beef beautifully displayed apart from other protein and have that image readily available online. Now we are cooking!

— 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 / DECEMBER 2011 33

NEWS ROUNDUP POLITICS MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS SET AGENDA Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) delegates debated some 30 resolutions at their annual meeting in November, held in conjunction with the Manitoba Beef Expo at Brandon. Many of the resolutions revolved around what newly elected president Ray Armbruster refers to as the competitiveness of the province’s beef industry.

“I welcome the challenge and opportunity to lead the MBP and take this responsibility very seriously because I care deeply about the industry. I’ve been involved in raising my own cattle since I was 12 years old, so am fully committed myself, and have a stake in the future with our daughter and son-in-law and our son now involved in the operation.

So I look at these things through their eyes, too,” he says. The Armbruster family runs a 200-head commercial cow-calf operation with purebred Shorthorn and Angus cattle near Rossburn in the Birdtail Valley, bordering Riding Mountain National Park.

In his sixth year as a director, Armbruster has been a Manitoba representative to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association for the past three years and currently serves as its representative on the board of the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association.

Though their ranch sustained some

STAMPEDE

By Jerry Palen

“Guess that answers the question about the cows getting enough to eat.”

34 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

water damage this spring it wasn’t to the degree experienced by many producers who made Herculean efforts to move their cattle to safety under horrid conditions. It was only when flooded land started to reappear after a couple of months under water that producers began to realize the full extent of the damage. Fences and forage were destroyed and debris strewn across once-productive hay fields and pastures. In some areas, the cattle won’t be coming home this winter.

Early on the province announced a forage shortfall program to help producers move cattle and forage, however the funds have been slow in coming. Armbruster says MBP will be vigilant in monitoring the progress of those payments.

One resolution calling for MBP to lobby the province for a zero-till program, including equipment to assist in rehabilitation of damaged land, received unanimous approval. Many beef producers don’t have field equipment so it isn’t feasible for them to go out and make these large purchases, says Armbruster. Some conservation districts already provide equipment, setting a precedent for one way to deliver such a program.

It will be quite some time before things return to normal for producers in the Lake Manitoba area affected by the Portage Diversion, and the Shoal Lakes watershed where consecutive wet years have turned three smaller lakes into one big one. Some producers were receptive to taking a provincial buyout for their flooded properties, but others want their land and roads back and a strategy for moving forward.

A resolution supported the construction of a drain to bring the Shoal Lakes down to a manageable level was supported by producers but the association also plans to lobby for flooded land purchased by the province to be designated as agricultural Crown land rather than set aside as a natural reserve or for recreational use.

The producers also adopted a new policy manual that allows the MBP to work with government in developing a comprehensive, long-term water strategy for Manitoba.

Cattle dealer bankruptcy was another fresh issue on the minds of delegates after several producers lost money when a dealer declared bankruptcy earlier in the year. “We are looking for

some security and protection for payment. We would like the government to have more oversight and performance on licensing and bonding livestock dealers to ensure they are in good standing before a situation deteriorates,” says Armbruster. The meeting also directed the board of directors to investigate the feasibility of an insurance program patterned after the one in Alberta.

A resolution to lobby for the elimination of the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council (MCEC) checkoff was carried after much discussion. The MCEC was created by the province to expand federally inspected packing plant capacity in Manitoba, however, a business plan for a proposed beef plant recently failed after Ottawa diverted promised funds into a hog plant instead.

“Producers are definitely saying that after paying into it for five years, they want to see something for it. MBP will move cautiously in dealing with this complicated issue and is willing to have further discussion,” Armbruster says.

The province’s four-year mustering fee to cover the cost of rounding up cattle to be tested for tuberculosis in the Riding Mountain Eradication Area (RMEA) ended this year. The delegates directed their organization to ask the provincial and federal governments to reinstate the fee and each contribute $6.50 per head along with $1 per head from MBP to cover producers’ full cost of getting these cattle together for testing.

Armbruster knows first-hand about the stress of mandatory testing every two to five years on cattle and producers, while dealing with the risk of a quarantine, or losing their livestock r hanging over their head. “A mustering fee only helps to soften the blow, but it’s only a tiny part of it,” he explains.

“Producers have done their part, but haven’t had much support and we have lost a lot of producers from the area over this.”

The RMEA was established to eradicate tuberculosis from wildlife and domestic livestock in the eradication area and MBP feels that the province is not meeting its obligation as far as testing wild animals to establish the level of risk and a plan to eradicate it. “This is an issue that needs leadership, direction and support from the provincial and federal governments,” he says.

An emerging animal health issue for Manitoba producers is the rising incidence of deer liver flukes affecting cattle www.canadiancattlemen.ca

in the past two years. Producers have reported heavy losses, likely due to wet springs and summers, which are compatible with the life cycle of this parasite. Since no effective treatment is available for this parasite in Canada, MBP is looking for compensation for losses due to deer liver flukes.

Emergency drug release is another ongoing issue, and one that affects the competitiveness of all Canadian producers. U.S. producers have access to drugs not approved in Canada. The national Veterinary Drug Directorate has made good progress in clearing the four-year backlog of drug applications and is working to harmonize regulations, but the fact remains that in emergency situations producers need product now, not yesterday.

“Competitiveness of the beef industry relative to other agricultural sectors is also very important in my mind,” Armbruster says. Producers who must compete for acres and cattle will be on the losing edge without a level playing field interms of programs compatible with other sectors.

Toward that end, resolutions were carried in support of seeking compensation for wildlife damage to standing forages, adding annual ryegrass to the list of insurable forages, excluding two or more consecutive disaster years for insurance coverage and productivity indexes, and a tax deferral on all types of livestock to the next fiscal year.

Among the other resolutions discussed were traceability (tag retention and ensuring Manitoba’s premises identification system is compatible with the Canadian Livestock Tracking System are issues), full production-cost compensation for livestock killed by predators, gopher control, payment to producers for ecological goods and services, and increasing measures to control invasive plant species.

Trade

ment by “according less-favourable treatment to imported Canadian cattle and hogs than to like domestic products.”

The panel went on to say COOL — which the U.S. government has previously touted as a way of educating and informing U.S. consumers — “does not fulfil its legitimate objective of providing consumers with information on origin” and also breaches the TBT Agreement in that respect.

The TBT Agreement was set up following the Tokyo Round of GATT negotiations in 1979, with the goal of preventing governments from imposing non-tariff trade barriers dressed up as “technical regulations and standards.” unreasonable

Apart from the TBT violations, the DSB panel also condemned an open letter sent to U.S. food processors by U.S. President Barack Obama’s agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack in February 2009.

Vilsack in the letter had urged processors to apply stricter and broader labelling practices, or else he would review the COOL law’s language with an eye on tightening restrictions even further.

The DSB ruled the suggestions for voluntary action in Vilsack’s letter went beyond certain obligations under the COOL measure, and that the letter therefore constitutes unreasonable administration of the COOL measure under Washington’s obligations to the 1994 GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade).

Vilsack’s letter, when released, was seen as a blow to Canada, which had previously gone so far as to put its December 2008 WTO challenge of COOL on hold.

Until his letter’s release, it had appeared that the previous interpretation of the COOL rule, near the end of Continued on page 36

WTO rules against U.S. COOL An international body has ruled the United States’ law requiring mandatory country-of-origin labels on beef, pork and produce violate its commitments to global trade rules.

The ruling released last month by a panel of the World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), is seen as a clear win for Canada, which has fought the law through diplomatic and WTO channels for years before and after it was imposed.

The law, dubbed COOL, was conceived in Washington’s 2002 Farm Bill but didn’t come into force until September 2008. It orders U.S. retailers to notify their customers, by way of labelling, about the sources of foods such as beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat, fish, fruits, vegetables, peanuts, pecans and macadamia nuts.

Both Canada and Mexico have long contended that COOL violates international trade laws, restricts market access and is a technical trade barrier. Canada in late 2008 formally challenged COOL at the WTO, which convened this DSB panel on the case in November 2009.

Canadian livestock groups add that the law has forced unnecessary costs on U.S. meat processors, who currently must either segregate Canadian animals and meat for labelling purposes, or limit their imports from Canada.

Inconsistent

The DSB panel classifies COOL as a “technical regulation” under the WTO’s Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and ruled the label law “inconsistent with the United States’ WTO obligations.”

Specifically, the DSB said, COOL breaks the TBT Agreewww.canadiancattlemen.ca

Cattlemen / December 2011 35

News Roundup

Park Place Taber, 1E9 CSA 6015 Bus. Card Jan04AB T1G 12/9/03

The U.S. will now be required to bring COOL “into conformity with its WTO obligations,” the Canadian government said. However, Ottawa warned, if Washington decides to file an appeal at the DSB, “it could delay the outcome.”

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office suggested as much in its initial reaction to the DSB decision.

“We are pleased that the panel affirmed the right of the United States to require country-of-origin labelling for meat products,” Andrea Mead, press secretary for the USTR, said in a statement.

“Although the (DSB) panel dis-

agreed with the specifics of how the U.S. designed those requirements, we remain committed to providing consumers with accurate and relevant information with respect to the origin of meat products that they buy at the retail level,” she wrote.

“In that regard we are considering all options, including appealing the panel’s decision.”

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association noted in a separate release that Washington, in theory, could also just ignore the DSB panel’s decision. Doing so, however, could eventually put Canada in a position to apply “retaliatory options,” such as new or higher tariffs on imports from the U.S. All that said, “we hope the U.S. will decide that complying with the WTO ruling will be in its best interest,” the CCA said.

In its talks with U.S. lawmakers, the CCA said, “we do not ask for the outright repeal of COOL, but seek only those regulatory and statutory changes necessary to eliminate the discrimination that COOL has imposed.”

STAMPEDE

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Federal Ag Minister Gerry Ritz called the DSB ruling “a clear win for our industry… This day has been a long time coming but, by working closely with our cattlemen and pork producers, we have paved the way for a stronger and more profitable livestock industry.”

Correction There was an error in an item titled Tax Tips, pg. 42, November, 2011 issue.

The article suggests livestock producers may defer livestock sales through a public auction market to a subsequent taxation year. In fact, this cannot be done.

We apologize for any confusion this has caused our readers.

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36 Cattlemen / December 2011

Vern Lonsberry - 403.601.4090 Wade Pearson - 403.901.4876 Jodie Griffin - 306.690.7561 Office - 888.901.1986

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My phone number is 403-325-1695 Email: deb.wilson@ fbcpublishing.com

Deborah WILSON

◆ I haven’t had any guesses for the photo of the Charolais heifer in the sale ring in the last issue — come on Charolais breeders — what year and where?

◆ Here is the response I

got from the last photo in the Fall Feeding issue.

• “Hi, Photo is of Carm Hamilton of Lindsay, Ont.,” Gail Johnson and Mike Chell, JNC Gelbvieh of Fenelon Falls, Ont. • “He always gave good advice” said Ross Warburton, OCA rep on the Haliburton County Farmers Assoc, as he identified Carm Hamilton.

• “The above picture in this month’s Cattlemen magazine is that of Carm Hamilton, who was the agriculture representative and 4-H leader for Victoria County in Ontario, several years ago.” Sincerely Jack Dudman of Fenelon Falls, Ont. • Jean Batty of Lindsay, Ont. also identified Carm Hamilton.

• “ The picture is of Carm Hamilton but I deserve no credit for knowing this. “Carm” was a year ahead of me at OAC in 1957, and is well and favourably known throughout Ontario for the work you mentioned, as well as for work with community pastures and as an Ag Rep,” said Charlie Gracey. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

• “The man in the picture would be Carmen Hamilton. I have fixed an electric fencer or two for Carmen.

Also I believe he presently acts as Secretary for the Victoria Community Pasture. Thank-you, have a great Day!!” — Dale Van Camp. (Note: Carm is no longer the secretary for the Victoria Community Pasture.)

These replies are just a few of the many, many calls, emails and letters I received, which didn’t surprise me.

Carm called me the other day as he and my husband Bill have a 40-year friendship. He was one of my husband’s 4-H leaders when my husband was in his teens and Carm was in his 20s. My husband said that Carm hauled him and his fellow 4-H-ers around to judging competitions for several years, coaching them and helping them practice their judging skills on the long drives from the Ottawa Valley to the competitions.

You should be proud Carm, as it started a tradition in our family with all five of our kids going through 4-H and learning to judge from Bill. We hope to start into the third generation in about two years. I also have to say that it was evident from the people that contacted me that Carm was an integral and wellliked part of the Ontario Beef Industry.

◆ On Nov. 10, the 2011 inductees into

the Canadian Simmental Association Hall of Fame were announced. The Hall of Fame Award is given to individuals who have contributed to the expansion and growth of the Simmental breed, and are considered leaders in their community and in the beef industry. To be considered for the Canadian Simmental Hall of Fame, individuals are recognized and nominated by their fellow breeders as leaders in promoting the Simmental breed, for their involvement in their provincial association and their contribution to the CSA board. Congratulations to Rodney James, Chuck Groeneveld, Lazy S Ranch and Lewis Farms for being honoured this year with the CSA Hall of Fame Award.

◆ The Canadian Simmental Associa-

tion (CSA) recently underwent some management changes as Dale Kelly is no longer with the association. Dale will be focusing all of his energies on his position as president and CEO of POS Bio-Sciences in Saskatoon, Sask.

Bruce Holmquist will become CEO of

programming and external relations, and Barb Judd CEO of office management. The announcements were made at the CSA annual meeting held Nov. 11 in Edmonton in conjunction with the National Simmental Show during Farmfair. The CSA thanked departing board members, president Rick McIntyre and Don Lundberg for their dedication to the breed and welcomed Deanne Young and Kelly Ashworth to the board of directors. Fraser Redpath was re-elected to a second term on the board.

◆ Part of the festivities surrounding

the Canadian Simmental Association annual meeting in Edmonton was the breed’s Foundation Auction. Thanks to the companies, breeders, and individuals who donated items to this worthwhile event. This year’s auction was another success, raising $11,866 for the Garth Sweet Simmental Foundation.

◆ The CSA has also offered congratulations to Megan Robertson, Pictou, N.S., Jill Harland, Frenchman Butte, Sask. and Tyler Lewis, Spruce Grove, Alta., the 2011 recipients of the Dr. Allan A. Dixon Scholarships. ◆ The Alberta Supreme Championship

debuted at this year’s Farmfair included all beef breed winners from Northlands Farmfair Agriculture Showcase, Olds Fall Classic and the Lloydminster Stockade Round-Up. This was an exciting competition as the provincial female and bull champions were declared.

Exhibitor Miller Wilson Angus won the Alberta Supreme Champion title for both the bull and female champions and drove away in not one, but two 2011 Dodge RAM trucks. Now Dawn and Lee have his and hers trucks, which with the miles they put on promoting their cattle will really be appreciated.

Sharon Altstadt from Daysland, Alta., was the Rural Roots Raffle grand prize winner. Sharon won a 2011 oneton Dodge Ram and a Jayco Fifth Wheel Trailer valued at over $102,000.

The Rural Roots Raffle helps support agriculture leadership, education, recognition and training in Alberta.

◆ The Alberta Livestock and Meat

Agency (ALMA) has contributed $375,000 to the $1 million genomContinued on page 38 Cattlemen / December 2011 37

Continued from page 37

ics project being conducted by the Canadian Simmental Association. It complements a larger project funded

by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agriculture Adaptation Program, to develop genomics and genetic prediction tools designed to improve fertility, feed efficiency, and carcass and meat quality of beef cattle.

Genetic improvement in seedstock sets the foundation for more economically viable beef production, benefiting all segments of the beef production chain. “As a result, consumers of Canadian beef, both domestically and internationally, will be offered higher quality, more predictable beef products, improving the marketability and competitive advantage of Canadian beef,” says Gordon Cove, CEO of ALMA.

◆ Effective Jan. 1, 2012, the Canadian Angus Association will begin transitioning to SNP parentage verification. Microsatellite testing via DNA will continue to take place for a period of time. The fee and additional information will be communicated to members as soon as it is known. ◆ Five years ago Manitoba cattleman,

Grant Moffat, disappeared and since that time a fund has been set up for Junior Cattle Producers to purchase a purebred female of any breed to start their herd from the Grant Moffat Herdbuilder Fund. For more information check out the website www.grantmoffat. com.

To honour Grant the Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup shirts for 2011 were dark purple, Grant’s farm colour with Holmsyde Charolais, his farm logo, on the back. The Juniors were excited to wear the shirts in honour of a past fellow cattle producer. Five of the winners of the Grant Moffat Herdbuilder Award participated in Roundup events. It is great to see the enthusiasm this award has brought to the Junior Cattle Producers.

Forty six of Manitoba’s enthusiastic Junior Cattle Producers attended the Fourth annual Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup July 29, 30, and 31, 2011 in Neepawa, Man. One-third of them were new to Roundup which was encouraging to see.

◆ At the Canadian Red Roundup Banquet, Oct. 21, Wildor Farms of Coronation, Alta., was named the Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society’s Commercial Breeder of the Year. The King 38 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

Rob Adams presents Wes and Joanne Sieger of Wildor Farms with the Commercial Breeder of the year award for the Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society.

Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society Purebred Breeder of the Year. (l to r) Megan King and son, Jim and Laurel King all of Innisfail, Alta. family — Jim and Laurel, and their daughter Megan King — of Innisfail, Alta., were named Purebred Breeder of the Year. The following day the sale was held, at the Westerner grounds in Red Deer, Alta., with a standing room only crowd.

◆ Canadian Gelbvieh breeders had great success showing and selling as they participated in the NILE in Billings, Montana. On Oct. 20 prior to the show Davidson Gelbvieh from Ponteix, Sask., participated in the NILE

Gelbvieh Female Futurity and Sale. The Heifer Futurity selected by the membership was won by Danell Diamond Six Ranch of Lewistown, Montana. In a draw down process the lucky cardholders were Davidson Gelbvieh and they won the heifer! Vernon and Eileen Davidson topped the sale by selling a February 1, 2011 Red Wrap daughter for $6,200 to repeat buyers M Heart D Gelbvieh of Stevensville, Montana.

Judge Jake Scott of Gordon, Nebraska chose the Grand Champion Bull DVE Davidson YNOT 37Y born February 9, 2011. He is a son of the 2011 National Western Stock Show Reserve Grand Champion Bull DVE Davidson Romance 116W earlier named in January. Congratulations to Davidson Gelbvieh for doing a terrific job of representing Canadian Seedstock cattle at the NILE.

◆ The partial results of the Canadian National Angus show held in Brandon at the Keystone Centre Nov. 5 were as follows: Premier Breeder Red Angus Show — Mar Mac Farms, Brandon, Man.; Premier Exhibitor Red Angus Show — Blairs Ag, Lanigan, Sask.; Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor Black Angus Show — Stewart Cattle Co, Russell, Man. ◆ The first day of Stockade Roundup in Lloydminister Nov. 3, saw enthusiastic crowds and exciting action with the Stock Dog Trials and the presentation of the Cattleman of the Year Award to George and Bernice Larre of Paradise Hill, Sask., the King of the Ring jackpot show, and the Supreme Show. ◆ Congratulations to Dr. David Chalack, Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA) board chair, on his induction into the 2011 Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame.

◆ On Nov. 3, Kim McConnell, co-

founder and former CEO of AdFarm received the 2011 the Canadian AgriMarketing Association (CAMA) “AgriMarketer of the Year” award. The designation honours excellence in agricultural marketing.

Grand Champion Gelbvieh Bull DVE Davidson YNot 37Y 2011 NILE, Billings, Montana.

◆ The Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS) has announced a new online cattle sales listing service for registered participants.

Launched today at http://bixs-cattlelist.cattle.ca the BIXS Cattle-Classifieds enables program members to advertise upcoming auction market or private sales of their BIXS registered cattle to prospective buyers.

C www.canadiancattlemen.ca

The markets

Market Summary debbie mcmillin Fed Cattle While many commodities on the board felt the pressure of the European debt crisis in the past few weeks it has not been seen in the fed cattle cash market. Fed cattle prices in Alberta rose just over $3 per cwt from the end of October to post a midNovember average of $112.28. That’s more than $19 better than the same week last year. While local fed prices surged, they still haven’t kept pace with prices south of the border, which widened the cash-to-cash basis to an average -16.96/cwt. In mid-November the U.S. weekly average reached a record $125.30, fuelled by tight supplies at the start of the month and rising demand for Choice product which in turn has created a historically wide Choice/Select spread.

Locally the November cattle-onfeed report for Alberta and Saskatch-

ewan confirmed the tight supply situation. Marketings were down four per cent and placements up six per cent pushing the total on feed six per cent above the year-ago numbers.

However, a smaller number of heifers were placed in October, which supports other indications of heifer retention and herd growth in the future.

To date 2011 fed cattle exports to the U.S. total 350,649 head, which is down 36 per cent from last year.

Fed slaughter to date also confirmed the tight supply situation, with steers down eight per cent to 1,249,310 and heifers down 14 per cent at 795,094 head.

Feeder Cattle Larger volumes of feeders hit the market in the last few weeks of our reporting period, however prices continued to steam ahead, particularly on top quality groups of calves. Supported by smaller calf numbers, high deferred futures, empty pens and good fed prices, feeder calf prices rose on all classes. Yearlings that reached an average just over $135 by late October dropped back a notch during the first two weeks of November to $131 per cwt in central Alberta. That’s still $21.50 higher than the same week of 2010. The yearling feeder basis on 850 feeders at mid-November was -11.98

Deb’s Outlook Fed Cattle Historically basis tends to narrow towards the end of the year, which is supportive of a fed market heading into the holiday season when higher priced cuts are generally favoured. However there are negative factors ahead — a large number of market ready cattle that were forced into U.S. feedlots this summer by drought, negative packer margins and wide AAA/AA, Choice/Select spreads already in place. Looking into 2012, strong deferred live cattle futures continue to fuel optimism.

Feeder Cattle Cost of gain remains a negative factor to watch as we wrap up the year, but strong underlying factors — buoyant live cattle futures, fewer calves and excess

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

per cwt. It was much tighter in 2010.

Feeder steers at mid-November averaged $157 per cwt, up $23.30 on the year. Feeder exports through the first 10 months of 2011 totalled just 68,172 head which is 64 per cent fewer than 2010.

Non-Fed Cattle Increased numbers did pressure non-fed cattle lower, but this seasonal decrease was in line with the seasonal and historical average decrease of just under $8 per cwt from August to November. Alberta D1,2 cows at mid-November averaged $63.78 per cwt, $11.84/cwt ahead of the same week in 2010. Butcher bulls dropped to $72 per cwt. While domestic cow slaughter picked up in the past couple weeks it’s still cumulatively 13 per cent smaller than at the same time last year. In addition the smaller availability of cows is noted in the live exports, which are down 28 per cent in 2011.

Bull slaughter domestically currently sits at 16 per cent under a year ago while live bull exports to date are up 17 per cent at 4,700 head.

— Debbie McMillin

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

More markets➤

feedlot pen space — continued to push up prices toward the end of the fall run. Calves managed with contracts made available by rising prices on the spring futures will continue to gain strong support. Any pressure late in the fall is likely to fall on the lighter calves that will finish next summer, a typically slow time for meat movement.

Top quality feeder calves and heavy calves will continue to bring high prices on this strong fall market.

Non-Fed Cattle The lows for cull cattle will come soon if they haven’t been posted already. But as numbers start to slow towards the end of the year prices will pick up. The smaller Canadian herd leaves fewer slaughter type cows available. And higher bred stock prices will keep anything destined to be herd builders at home rather than off to the packing plant as in the past few years. Supplies of non-fed cattle will remain tight.

Cattlemen / december 2011 39

Break-even Prices on A-Grade Steers 120

ALBERTA

150

110

140

100 90 80 70

Market Prices

160

130

western Market Summary

120 110

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

100

Steer Calves (500-600 lb.)

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

85

135

ONTARIO

125

75

115

65

105

55

95

45

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

2011

Canfax weighted average price on A-Grade steers

35

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 November 5, 2011)

November 2011 prices* Alber ta Yearling steers (850 lb.)............... $132.45/cwt Barley................................................. 4.67/bu.

Barley silage..................................... 58.38/ton Cost of gain (feed)........................... 62.67/cwt Cost of gain (all costs)..................... 87.33/cwt Fed steers...................................... 110.52/cwt Break-even (March 2012).............. 116.28/cwt Ontario Yearling steers (850 lb.)............... $132.17/cwt Corn silage....................................... 53.36/ton Grain corn........................................... 6.42/bu.

Cost of gain (feed)........................... 95.88/cwt Cost of gain (all costs)................... 121.09/cwt Fed steers...................................... 111.49/cwt Break-even (May 2012)................. 127.59/cwt *Mid-month to mid-month prices Breakevens East: end wt 1,450, 183 days West end wt 1,325 lb., 125 days

40 Cattlemen / december 2011

2011 Total Canadian federally inspected slaughter............. 2,463,399 Average steer carcass weight............................................ 851 lb.

Total U.S. slaughter.................................................... 29,248,000

2010 2,757,565 848 lb.

29,313,000

Trade Summary EXPORTS 2011 Fed cattle to U.S. (to Oct. 29)........................................ 350,649 Feeder cattle and calves to U.S. (to Oct. 29)................... 68,172 Dressed beef to U.S. (to September).................... 417.20 mil.lbs Total dressed beef (to September)....................... 561.33 mil.lbs

2010 544,042 188,143 539.28 mil.lbs 695.38 mil.lbs

IMPORTS 2011 Slaughter cattle from U.S. (to September) ............................... 0 *Dressed beef from U.S. (to September)............. 271.01 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Australia (to September).......... 14.08 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from New Zealand (to September)..... 46.19 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Uruguay (to September).......... 9.98 mil.lbs

2010 0 205.99 mil.lbs 15.39 mil.lbs 41.16 mil.lbs 24.63 mil.lbs

Canadian Grades (to November 12, 2011) % of A grades AAA AA A Prime Total

EAST WEST

+59% 18.8 29.7 2.9 0.2 51.6 Total graded 491,258 1,796,558

Yield –53% Total 10.6 51.3 2.7 43.2 0.0 3.0 0.5 1.1 13.8 Total A grade 98.6% Total ungraded % carcass basis 151,216 62.1% 73,063 77.4%

54-58% 21.9 10.8 0.1 0.4 33.2

Only federally inspected plants

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

market talk with Gerald Klassen

Feeder cattle prices — looking ahead

L

ightweight feeder cattle have been selling at enormously high prices over the past month on both sides of the border. Peewee calves weighing 300 to 400 pounds sold in the range of $185 to $220 per cwt in southern Alberta, which is a record high. The USDA reported in Kansas that 100 steers averaging 359 pounds sold for $231 per cwt; 431-pound steers sold for $199.

Producers are paying over $800 for a animal that will most likely reach slaughter weight in the final quarter of 2012.

I’ve had many inquiries from cattle producers asking why these cattle are so precious? In this article, I’m going to discuss the main factors influencing the price structure for these expensive feeder cattle.

The U.S. beef cow slaughter from January through September of 2011 was 2.783 million head, up from 2.670 million head for the same timeframe last year. For 2011, the total beef cow slaughter is expected to finish at 3.775 million head, up 80,000 head from last year; total dairy cow slaughter is expected to come in at 2.970 million, also up 80,000 head over 2010. The dry area in Texas and Kansas remains a concern but the drought region is shrinking given recent rains. Cow-calf producers in the U.S. Southern Plains are now starting to feel comfortable with their current herd size given current feed and forage supplies. Producers in the Northern Plains are gearing up for expansion, similar to Canadian ranchers.

Given the higher cow slaughter, many analysts have lowered the 2011 calf crop projection. I’m now forecasting the 2011 U.S. calf crop at 35.2 million head, down 480,000 head from 2010. For 2012, the U.S. calf crop is expected to dip to 34.612 million head which will cause of year-over-year decline of approximately 600,000 head.

Producers also need to remember that the market is encouraging expansion. We will see an increase in heifer retention throughout 2012 in all regions of the U.S., causing feeder cattle supplies to drop by an additional 300,000 to 400,000 head. If we take into account the lower calf crop and the heifer retention, the total feeder cattle pool will be down approximately one million head in comparison to 2011.

In previous issues, I’ve mentioned that the most important factors influencing the feeder cattle price structure is the potential price at slaughter and the cost per pound of gain. The USDA recently lowered their beef production estimate for 2012. However, I specifically want to draw attention to the fourth quarter of 2012 where a yearover-year decline in production is estimated at 520 million pounds or eight per cent. December 2012 live cattle futures traded over $130 in November and the market is incorporating a risk premium due to the uncertainty in supply. Keep in mind that in bullish cattle markets, the cash leads the futures higher, exactly what the market is currently experiencing. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

U.S. quarterly beef production (million pounds) 2008

Quarter

2009

2010

Est. 2011

Est. 2012

Per cent change

6,372 6,899 6,908 6,382 26,561

1 2 3 4 total

6,248 6,602 6,690 6,426 25,966

6,251 6,547 6,768 6,741 26,307

6,411 6,559 6,737 6,570 26,277

6,195 6,295 6,420 6,050 24,960

96.6% 96.0% 95.3% 92.1% 95.0%

U.S. GDP grew by 2.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2011 which suggests consumer spending increased by approximately 1.75 per cent. A one per cent increase in consumer spending equates to a one per cent increase in beef demand. It now looks like the U.S. economy has weathered the second quarter economic slowdown and the business cycle will be in full-fledged expansion throughout 2012, raising beef demand. Unemployment will continue to decline and consumer confidence will start to percolate higher. U.S. offshore exports are also expected to increase in 2012, especially if Japan lowers the age restriction on imported beef.

U.S. corn fundamentals are relatively tight for 2011-12 given the lower yields. However, next year, there is potential for U.S. corn acres to reach 95 million, up from the 2011 seeded area of 91.9 million. Using an average yield, most analysts expect a surge in corn production resulting in a carryout above the five-year average. World corn for 2012 is expected to be a record 890 million mt, up from the 2011 crop of 860 million mt and the six-year average of 774 million mt. World wheat production is also expected to reach a record next year. Barley acres in Western Canada have potential to be up 12 to 15 per cent as well. Feed grain prices are expected to stay strong until April 2012 but then deteriorate on a long-term downward trend lowering the cost-perpound gain during the latter half of 2012. This is a major factor influencing the price structure of feeder cattle under 400 pounds.

In conclusion, feeder cattle weighing under 400 pounds are selling for record-high prices. The larger cow slaughter in 2011 along with heifer retention in 2012 will sharply reduce feeder cattle supplies in 2012. Lower calf crops and lower feedlot placements will result in a sharp year over year decline in beef production. The U.S. economy is now moving into full-fledged expansion raising beef demand. Feed grain prices will decline in the latter half of 2012 lowering the cost-per-pound gain. Look for these peewee calves to stay abnormally high or even strengthen in upcoming months.

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 / December 2011 41

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December

December

12-14—Alberta Beef Producers Annual General Meeting, Sheraton Cavalier, Calgary, Alta.

13-14—Canadian Forage and Grassland Assoc. 2011 Conference and AGM, Radisson Hotel, Saskatoon, Sask.

15—Saskatchewan Forage Council — Forage Industry Stakeholder Forum “Assessing the Potential Impact of Roundup Ready Alfalfa”, Radisson Hotel, Saskatoon, Sask.

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

20—Willabar Angus Total Herd Dispersal, Highwood Livestock, High River, Alta.

January 2012

Address:_____________________________________________ City/Town: ________________________Prov.: _____________

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. 26-28—Feeder Associations of Alberta Ltd. 2012 Convention, Capri Convention Center, Red Deer, Alta.

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January 2012 27—Lazy S Purebred Black Angus Dispersal Sale, Steak Fry and Cattlemen’s Social to follow, at the ranch, Mayerthorpe, Alta.

28—Lazy S Bull Power 2012, at the ranch, Mayerthorpe, Alta.

28—M.C. Quantock “Canada’s Bulls” Bull Sale, Lloydminster Exhibition, Lloydminster, Alta., 1-800-561BULL(2855), www.mcquantock. com

February

7-9—Canadian International Farm Show, International Centre, Toronto, Ont. 15-17—Alberta Beef Industry Conference, Capri Conference Centre, Red Deer, Alta.

4—Hill 70 Quantock Ranch “Barn Burnin Sale,” at the ranch, Lloydminster, Alta., www.hill70quantock.com, 1-800-665-7253 6—Lazy RC Ranch Ltd. Red and Black Angus Long Yearling Bull Sale — 60 bulls, Heartland Livestock, Swift Current, Sask.

11—Soderglen Ranches Ltd. Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Airdrie, Alta., www.soderglen.com

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13-17—Canadian Angus Association Annual Meeting, Lethbridge Lodge, Lethbridge, Alta.

25—12th Annual Saskatoon Gelbvieh Bull and Female Sale, Saskatoon Auction Mart, Saskatoon , Sask.

26—Harvie Ranching Charolais and Polled Hereford Bull Sale, at the ranch, Olds, Alta.

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11-13—Canadian Limousin Annual General Meeting, Olds Ag Society, Olds. Alta.

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42 CATTLEMEN / DECEMBER 2011

✃

✃

EVENTS

Page Canadian Agri-Blend 15 Canadian Angus Assoc.

5 Canadian Charolais Assoc.

OBC Canadian Food Inspection Agency 8 Canadian Hereford Assoc.

13 Canadian Limousin Assoc.

36 Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society 36 Canadian Shorthorn Assoc.

21 Canadian Simmental Assoc.

36 Canadian Welsh Black Society 36 Canadian Wheat Board 15 Direct Livestock Marketing 35 Greener Pastures 27 Hill 70 Quantock Ranch 9 International Stock Foods 36 John Deere Ag Marketing Center 7 Lazy RC Ranch Ltd. 27 MC Quantock Livestock IFC, 3 Merck Animal Health 29, IBC Merial 19 Northwest Consolidated Beef 36 Red Brand Fence 11 Select Introductions 36 Soderglen 17 Willabar Ranch 23

 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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