CCT120409

MOB GRAZING • COVER CROPS • SALINE-TOLERANT ALFALFAS • WHATʼS NEW IN SWATH GRAZING www.canadiancattlemen.ca

April 2012 $3.00

A CONVERSATION WITH

MARTIN UNRAU, THE NEW CCA PRESIDENT

E G RA

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April 2012

Volume 75, No. 5

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 So… “what’s new in swath grazing!”............................ 10 Mob grazing — a tool to improve pasture production.................................................... 14 A conversation with martin unrau. ............................. 16 Cover crops and cattle.................................................. 20 Mr. forage...................................................................... 28 Rotational grazing works for these purebreds........... 32 Salt-tolerant alfalfas compared.................................. 38 Alberta auction replaces sales commission with a buyer’s fee....................................................... 40 Verified beef production................................................ 43

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Departments

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COMMENT............................................... 4 NEWSMAKERS......................................... 6 LETTERS.................................................. 6 NUTRITION............................................ 24 VET ADVICE.......................................... 26 RESEARCH............................................ 30 HOLISTIC RANCHING.............................. 36 PRIME CUTS......................................... 42 CCA REPORTS...................................... 44 STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP...................... 45 NEWS ROUNDUP................................... 46 PURELY PUREBRED............................... 52 THE MARKETS...................................... 55 MARKET TALK....................................... 57 SALES & EVENTS.................................. 58

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Cattlemen / april 2012 3

c o m m e n t

by Gren Winslow

ALMA comes into focus

Its goal is to set a direction for the industry

L

ast month I and a few of my media colleagues were invited to sit in on a meeting between the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA) board and the latest crop of participants on the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) program.

ALMA is a major sponsor of the CYL and three of its directors mentor CYL candidates, so the meeting was meant to educate these young potential leaders about ALMA’s role within the industry. What was unusual was that media were invited. I think that was a first for ALMA, and seems to mark something of a change in direction for this arm’s-length agency.

Many of you will remember ALMA was born in controversy back in 2008. Then provincial agriculture minister George Groeneveld set up the arm’s-length agency to act like a sharp stick to force everyone to stop bickering and come up with a strategy to dig the industry out of the slump it was in at the time. Then he gave it some heft by making ALMA responsible for dispersing the grant money Alberta provides to the industry.

ALMA was required to consult with every organization in the industry, not just the official ones, and then use the government funds as a catalyst to move the industry forward. Inevitably it became something of a lightning rod for the growing tension between Groeneveld, and the Alberta Beef Producers and Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

Once Groeneveld left office ALMA faded somewhat from the scene. Perhaps it was my own bias as a media type but it seemed to become less dynamic, more bureaucratic.

Now, I have to admit I was wrong. They’ve just been quietly going along investing in line with the strategy laid down back in 2008. It doesn’t take long before you realize this board has the experience and mandate to take a big-picture view of the meat and livestock business.

The beef industry is well represented by Kee Jim, a partner in a feedlot veterinary practice that operates in Canada and the U.S. and a very large cattle producer in his own right. Cherie Copithorne-Barnes is a fourth-generation rancher with management experience in Alberta and Uruguay. Charlie Gracey is a former general manager of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and one of the architects of the producer-run national beef-grading agency and the Canadian Cattle

4 Cattlemen / April 2012

Identification Agency. Anne Dunford is a longtime analyst of cattle markets, and more recently a south Saskatchewan rancher.

Joining them around the table are veterinarian and dairy producer David Chalack, hog producer Jurgen Preugschas, the senior vice-president of national supply chain for McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Jeff Kroll, former president of Maple Leaf Foods International Ted Bilyea, former chairman and CEO of Burns Foods Ltd. and private equity fund founder Ron Jackson, trade consultant and former NAFTA negotiator John Weekes and agriculture promotion and marketing entrepreneur Kim McConnell.

Since 2009 ALMA has invested about $84 million, which leveraged about $346 million for the industry. It is directly responsible for granting $36 million to $40 million and has oversight on another $22 million in legacy funds that support the activities of other groups. It also administers $8.8 million of Growing Forward money.

As you can imagine it has strict criteria for issuing funds, set by what the board sees as the industry’s future needs. Projects must satisfy one of ALMA’s four priorities by holding out the promise of improved market access, demand for Alberta livestock and products, competitiveness and information flow within the industry. Its research priorities are healthy animals, healthy food, production efficiency and reduced regulatory burden. Who can’t support that list?

The emphasis is on Alberta but the implications of their choices invariably spill over the entire beef industry. A case in point is traceability.

You might recall that mandatory traceability started in Alberta and I suspect the original source was the ALMA boardroom. Based on their reading of the world Ted Bilyea, Jeff Kroll and John Weekes believe our traceability system will open doors and new markets to Canadian beef and pork. And they were sharply critical of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association for its lukewarm support of this national initiative.

That is one of the benefits of being an independent body. Directors don’t have to support just producers, or packers, or retailers. They are charged with looking out for the entire chain. In that way ALMA is like a weather vane, sensing the winds of change and pointing out what it sees as the way ahead.

You can disagree, but as I now realize, you can’t ignore it. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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NEWSMAKERS MacGregor, Man., cow-calf producer Martin Unrau was acclaimed as president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association at its annual meeting last month Martin Unrau in Ottawa. Camrose, Alta., cow-calf man Dave Solverson moves up to vice-president while Travis Toews from Beaverlodge, Alta., fills out the executive as past president. New to the board of directors are: Cathy Sharp and Pat Rutledge from Alberta; Brent GrifDave Solverson fin and Kevin Woods from Saskatchewan, Heinz Reimer from Manitoba, Tom Wilson and Matt Bowman from Ontario; George Smith from Nova Scotia and Byron Templeton representing the Canadian Beef Breeds Council.

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association director of government and international relations John Masswohl was named one of The Hill Times top 100 lobbyists last month for his ongoing advocacy efforts on behalf of Canadian beef John Masswohl cattle producers. The paper bills itself as Canada’s politics and government newsweekly.

Phil Rowland of High River, Alta. was returned for a second one-year term as president of the Western Stock Growers’ Association (WSGA) at the association’s annual Phil Rowland general meeting.

Aaron Brower of Aden replaces Larry Delver as first-vice president and James Hargrave of Walsh replaces Blaine

The Rocky Mountain Forest Range Association (RMFRA), Nanton, Alta., received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Stewardship at the Society for Range Management (SRM) 65th annual meeting in Spokane, Washington earlier this year. Since its inception the RMFRA has raised over $400,000 for range inventory work and over $850,000 in total investment to enhance the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve RMFRA reps: (l to r) Diane Sawley, Cody Sawley, Rob through the collection of Chisolm, Ian Mason, Roxy Wideman, Jim Lynch Staunton, $1 per animal unit month from grazing members. and Adam Burton.

LETTERS Homeopathy works for us I was interested in your scours stories in the last calving issue.

Years ago when our herd was smaller, we would round up all the calves and give them boluses for scours.

Then we’d set them loose and hope for the best. The stress on them and us and the cows was as bad as the scours.

I’m a real wuss when it comes to our cows.

Because I was so determined to find 6 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

a better way to treat other than needles and boluses I investigated homeopathy for animals. I bought a couple of books and some of the remedies and went to work. I dilute the remedy in water and spray them on a mucous membrane, front or back. Today our calves get Tuberculinum Aviare along with vitamins within the first 24 hours. It’s an immune system booster and helps them to fight bad stuff. I mix the remedy in water and either spray it on their snout or pour it on their back.

We use antibiotics if necessary, but they’re a last resort. We also vaccinate annually for a variety of viruses.

I now treat hoof rot, puncture

Marr as second vice-president. Eileen McElroy-Clayton of Chestermere, Alta. stays on for her 15th year as treasurer.

Livestock brand inspection fees and other provincial service fees in Saskatchewan will increase in 2012-13.

Brand fees will rise by 20 cents per head and community pasture grazing fees by seven cents per cow per day and $5 per calf per grazing season, as part of a three-year phase-in.

Lori Loree, the Alberta Beef Producers communications manager, is back in the office after a year of maternity leave.

Staff and friends of the University of Alberta Kinsella Research Ranch notified us last month of the passing of longtime ranch foreman Jack Welch on March Jack Welch 5 as he was waiting for his 41st calving season at the ranch.

Calgary Stampede organizers began the 100-day kickoff to the stampede’s centennial celebrations on March 29.

Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture Bob Bjornerud intends to step away from the provincial cabinet table when it’s next shuffled. Bjornerud, the MLA for the southeastern riding of Melville-Saltcoats, was one of the founding members of the province’s governing Saskatchewan Party and has been Premier Brad Wall’s ag minister since 2007.

C wounds, mastitis and anything else that comes along using the homeopathy first. If for some reason I can’t keep up with the hourly or two or three times daily treatment we have to go to antibiotics.

Anyone who would like to try a different way to tend the herd could have a look online to find a homeopathic vet. The books I use are: THE TREATMENT OF C ATTLE BY H OMEOPATHY , George Macleod, ISBN 0 85207 247 3; and HOMEOPATHIC HANDBOOK FOR DAIRY FARMING by Tineke Verkade of New Zealand. ISBN 0-473-08376-0.

CHRIS YATES QUICK, B.C. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

doIng more. usIng less.

A series on being ready for the farming challenges ahead

Productivity There will be several ways to meet the challenge of feeding 9 billion people, but creating more land isn’t one of them

More food from the same land base Even if those problems are addressed, more food will be needed to feed a growing population. That food must result from increased productivity. Population may be able to multiply quickly, but the land base to support it can’t. While some more land can be brought into production in South America and the former Soviet Union, that potential is limited.

Much of the land currently in production was developed at the expense of important native ecosystems, and that doesn’t only include the Brazilian rainforest. Only a tiny fraction of the

long-Term World PoPulATIon groWTH 1750 To 2050 Millions

Billions

Population Size

Annual increments

I

t took 123 years from 1804 to 1927 for the world’s population to double from one to two billion. It took 32 years until 1959 to add the next billion and just 15 years for the next billion reached in 1974. It’s now projected to increase by about another billion every 12 years, reaching at least nine billion by 2030.

The remarkable growth in the human population has prompted some to declare that the 18th-century economist Thomas Malthus was wrong. He famously predicted that “The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.”

Yet in another sense Malthus was right. The world’s population in his time was about one billion. Today, the United Nations estimates that about one in seven of the world’s population — also about one billion — go to bed hungry every night. The UN says hunger is the world’s No. 1 health risk, killing more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Feeding today’s hungry is a challenge. Feeding them, plus another two billion more people by 2030, is an even greater challenge.

There is no single solution. Today’s hunger problems are not all due to a lack of food, but to inability to distribute it where needed. That’s often due to war or ethnic conflict which drives farmers off their land, preventing them from feeding themselves and their families.

Much of the world’s food is wasted, lost to insects, animals or mould due to poor storage facilities. In wealthy countries where food is relatively cheap, much is simply thrown away. A George Morris Centre study in 2010 estimated that $27 billion of Canadian food ends up in landfills and compost every year.

Source: United Nations Population Division

biologically diverse tall-grass prairie that once covered central North America remains intact.

Of the world’s agricultural land that has been brought into production, much has been seriously degraded by erosion and nutrient depletion, especially in Africa, where population growth is expected to be highest.

That makes protection of the soil resource the number one challenge. Once threatened by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, North American farmers have made great strides in restoring and protecting their soil through a combination of improved tillage technology and herbicides. While such large equipment can’t be used by farmers in Africa, what North Americans have learned about conservation agriculture can be applied on a scale appropriate for their farms.

A combination of native genetic resources (many of our important food crops originated in Africa and the Middle East) and modern breeding technology will also allow developing country farmers to meet the challenges of feeding their families and neighbours.

Here in North America, technology such as cellulosic ethanol, which would allow production of fuel from waste material or high-yield biomass crops, may help resolve the conflicting demands between fuel and an ever-growing world population.

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RESEARCH

S

SO… “WHAT’S NEW IN SWATH GRAZING!”

wath grazing cereal forage during the winter is still the cheapest way to winter beef cows in Western Canada. It has reduced beef cow wintering costs up to 45 to 50 per cent compared to traditional winter feeding systems and as such is the most significant cost-saving technology developed by the beef industry and the research scientists with the Western Forage Beef Group at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lacombe.

Today with the increasing demand for grain for feed, fuel and food, less land is available for winter feed so it’s even more important to capitalize on these savings by growing the highestyielding perennial pastures, hay land and swath grazing crops in order to raise livestock on a smaller land base.

That starts with seeding, says Lacombe forage physiologist, Dr. Vern Baron. “In order to graze in the winter, cereals need to be swathed in the soft dough stage by mid September, to minimize weathering losses that occur between cutting and grazing. To maximize yield and hit the swathing date at the right time seeding date has to be delayed anywhere from late May until early July, depending on the species and location. This is particularly so for barley.

“Forage yield, quality and the local environment are the three major concerns in evaluating methods of reducing wintering costs,” says Baron. “The goal of extending the grazing season is 10 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

to reduce cost from feeding, hauling, harvesting and manure removal. When we look at why producers don’t switch from the more traditional stored feeds during the winter, we find big regional differences and some farmers are just afraid to change.

“High forage yield of the cereal or small-grain forage is the main criteria for successful swath grazing. The greater the yield of cereal forage, the higher the carrying capacity and the lower the cost per day to maintain the cows. The problem is the late planting date results in low forage yields — less than planted in early May,” says Baron. The more days that the cows can be out grazing in the winter saves extra money. Just having cows grazing, instead of feeding on hay and silage is important and can reduce the daily feeding cost, because a large portion of the yardage charge is eliminated.

The increased stocking rate that comes with higher-than-average forage yield reduces the daily feed cost more.

“The earlier the seeding date, the higher the yield,” explains Baron.” The forage yield of standard barley or semidwarf barley at Lacombe was highest when seeded in early May, but when planted to swath in September yielded in the range of 3.5 tons of dry matter per acre. Oats planted between the last week in May and mid-June produced 4.3 tons per acre while triticale seeded between the last week in May and midJune yielded approximately 4.9 tons

per acre. Corn needs to be seeded by the second week of May or as early as possible in order to get high yields.

At the Indian Head research farm in southern Saskatchewan, Bill May has found oats and barley need to be seeded between May 20 and May 25 to take advantage of spring moisture and cool temperatures. However when seeded this early, the cereals were swathed at the soft dough stage in early August. Swaths left in the field from then to freeze-up were subject to significant weathering due to rain. It may be possible to take advantage of the higher yields of these early-seeded spring cereals by grazing the swaths in August and September and utilizing other perennial forage regrowth for late-fall and early-winter grazing.

This strategy was successfully evaluated at the research centre in Brandon.

The cows grazed swaths in August and September when perennial pastures weren’t productive due to the hot weather and low rainfall. This gave the brome alfalfa pastures a chance to rest and regrow for grazing in the fall.

“The later you plant barley the quicker it reaches the soft dough stage, but the yield is substantially reduced, by 40 per cent compared to earlier seedings,” notes Baron. Oats and triticale are not as affected by late planting as barley. Oats take longer to reach the dough stage at any planting date Continued on page 12 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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Continued from page 10

because they head later than barley.

Triticale takes many more days to reach the dough stage after it heads than barley and oats.

Oats, however, aren’t as digestible, reducing the carrying capacity compared to other cereals with the same yield.

Triticale requires a high grain content to offset its low cell-wall digestibility so it has to be left until the kernels are at the dough stage. Thus it needs more growing degree days between planting and harvest than barley. “Triticale can then be planted earlier in the growing season and harvested later at a date close to the first killing frost,” says Baron.

For the Aspen Parkland climate, triticale provided the most flexibility and highest potential carrying capacity across a range of relatively late planting dates compared to oats and barley. Forage yield and nutritive value for triticale remained relatively high as planting date was delayed to allow attainment of the dough stage of growth in concert with a high potential carrying capacity in the fall.

Time until maturity, decreased as planting was delayed for barley and this rapid maturation was accompanied by yield loss which reduced potential carrying capacity by at least 33 per cent when late-June planting dates were compared to initial planting dates of early May, says Baron. “The low nutrient value of oats negated a yield advantage over barley as planting date was delayed, resulting in approximately similar potential carrying capacity as barley when planted in June.”

Triticale has been criticized by some farmers who say their cows don’t like it or won’t eat it. However, swathgrazed field trials over three years at Lacombe have shown wastage for “bunker” triticale as low or lower than barley. In 2008, triticale left in the field after grazing was eight per cent of the swathed yield, which is really low compared to the average 20 per cent for barley, triticale and oats at Lacombe over many years.

“I think some of the negative perception for triticale has arisen because it has been planted too late and harvested too early to optimize forage quality,” says Baron. “The assumption being: manage it like barley, but this is erroneous!”

Research at Lacombe and Melfort has shown spring cereal mixtures do 12 Cattlemen / April 2012

not have a consistent yield advantage over mono crops but barley-oat mixtures tend to offer more yield stability.

The yield of the mixture is usually as good as the higher-yield component grown as a mono crop.

Spring and winter cereal mixtures increase protein concentration and digestibility. The fibre content decreases, but the yield is also reduced by up to 15 per cent. Unless you need this type of swath grazing for calves or livestock requiring more protein than pregnant beef cows mixtures of pea or winter cereals with spring cereals might not be cost effective.

We have also seen significant crop damage by deer when peas are used in a swath-grazing mixture.

High-yielding swath-grazing crops use a lot of nutrients but the cows also tend to return a lot so these fields may need less chemical fertilizer than you might think if they have been swath grazed for several consecutive years.

Nonetheless it’s important to monitor the soil nutrient status of swath-grazed field with yearly soil tests.

The carrying capacity for swath grazing depends on the forage yield, the amount of snow and ice, the use of an electric fence to allocate grazing area and the degree that the cows clean up the area before the fence is moved.

If cows have access to the entire field they will graze the grain heads first leaving the straw or stalk portion for later. If they graze only this portion of the plant for considerable time this could lead to nutritional problems.

At Lacombe, the carrying capacity ranged from 382 to 1,705 cow days per hectare. By crop the carry capacity ranged from 611 to 1,705 days/ha for corn, 886 to 1,283 for triticale, 415 to 765 for barley and 382 to 636 for oats.

Baron’s plot research has shown corn and triticale often have comparable forage yields but corn is about twice the cost per acre. Thus the yields and carrying capacity must be higher than the other alternatives to justify the additional costs especially in areas where corn isn’t a traditional crop.

Corn needs to be planted early and use the entire growing season to produce the extra yield. It can be grazed standing or swathed, but swathing helps with moving the portable electric fences used to allocate grazing areas and reduce wastage.

“Triticale also had the highest carrying capacity for winter swath graz-

ing which resulted in the lowest daily swath-grazing cost per cow regardless of planting date compared to oat and barley,” says Baron. Corn planted early and given enough heat units to mature close to the dough stage will yield more than barley planted late. When this occurs the cost-per-grazing day of corn will be lower or equivalent to barley.

In swath-grazing trials at Lacombe corn had a higher nutritional content than barley or triticale. As a result cows swath grazed on corn over the winter were in better body condition and lost less weight than the cows on triticale or barley. It should be noted that cows will normally lose some body condition and weight swath grazing any crop. In years when the weather is very cold, cows grazing corn may come through the winter in better condition than those on small-grain cereals. Our research has shown that cows need to be on a rising plain of nutrition after calving in order to be bred early in the breeding season and calve at the same time the next calving season.

Dry cows can be wintered on snow as their water source, however if you do not have enough snow then cows need access to fresh water. Before you start to swath graze an alternative watering source must be identified.

Big game damage and feeding can make the practice of swath grazing impossible for some producers. The use of a double electric fence spaced about three to four feet apart will help prevent large wildlife from entering the swath-grazing area or hay storage yards. The B.C. Peace River Forage Association as well as the Grey Wooded Forage Association has projects demonstrating the use of these fences and you might like to contact them for further details, http://www. areca.ab.ca/members/gwfahome.html or http://www.peaceforage.bc.ca/.

With the increasing demand for alternative fuel crops, it will be imperative for the future success of the Canadian cowcalf industry that every acre involved in beef production be as productive as possible as there will be continued pressure to convert a portion of these lands to growing more lucrative crops.

For additional information on swath grazing go to www.Foragebeef.ca. C — Duane McCartney Duane McCartney is a retired forage beef systems research scientist last stationed at Lacombe. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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FORAGE

MANAGEMENT

MOB GRAZING — A TOOL TO IMPROVE PASTURE PRODUCTION

T

he term mob grazing is often used to describe short-duration high-intensity grazing — many cattle on a small area, moved several times a day to a new section of pasture. Neil Dennis, near Wawota, Sask., began intensive grazing more than a decade ago. “We’d gotten into financial problems doing things conventionally, and made a settlement with the bank. The bank wanted us to keep doing what we’d been doing, but with less land. With all the big machinery, we just dug a deeper hole, a little faster,” he says.

“One year, a flier about holistic management came in the mail. My wife Barbara threw it in the garbage at the post office. The second year it came again, and we were under more stress by then so she brought it home and read it. The flier told about a meeting 30 miles from our place, so we went to that,” says Dennis.

“When I listened to the speakers I knew it wouldn’t work because I’d already done some rotational grazing starting in 1989. It worked for a few years and then collapsed. Back then, nobody knew much about it and the government grazing experts told me to regraze the pastures every time the grass got up to six inches,” he says.

14 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

With that method, the plants never had a chance to mature, go to seed, or grow much root system.

“We took this free holistic course in 1997. I didn’t think it would work.

Then in January 1998 Barbara told me she’d signed us up for a class. I argued with the speakers all the way through it,” says Dennis.

“The basis of holistic management is learning how to make better decisions, and becoming flexible to find what works best on your own place.

The only things I remember from the first class was ‘look after the land and it will look after you,’ and take pictures so you know what it looks like afterward. I started doing that because we didn’t have any money to do much else.”

He had a quarter section of cropland he’d sprayed with Roundup to get rid of weeds. “By the time I took the course it was solid weeds again, with sow thistle as tall as the cows.

So this field was my experiment. I turned the cows in and they ate that off,” says Dennis.

“Back then I only used 100 cow-calf pairs on 20 acres for four days, then moved them to another 20 acres and let the plants grow back. The forage kept getting better. Other grasses and

plants came in on their own.” Eventually many forage species crowded out the weeds. Dennis now finds more plant diversity each year — more species coming into his pastures.

“We had a crested wheat field that was only green in the spring, and we needed more diversity — something green and palatable every season for the cows. So I tried what I call ‘deep massage’ on that land. I grazed it only once (in the spring), so there would be regrowth and a lot of stockpiled crested wheat. Then I put 800 head of yearlings per acre on that land the next spring. They ate it off in less than an hour. Then I figured out how much hay they needed for the day and rolled out a big round bale across the paddock. I’d skip a space, roll out another bale, skip a space, etc. When they ate that, I rolled out bales in the skipped spaces. The hay was mature, with seeds in it. The cows eat the seeds, which come through in their manure, and they trampled it into the ground,” he says.

“By then, I’d learned that recovery time is very important. I waited more than 120 days before coming back into these paddocks. Within two years, I Continued on page 15 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Continued from page 14

had more than 40 species of grass in what was once a crested wheat field.

The biggest mistake a lot of people make is not giving pastures enough recovery time. Rest and recovery are different. You can rest a pasture a long time, but if there’s no rain, or poor growing conditions, it won’t fully recover. It has to build more root system,” explains Dennis.

With mob grazing, the land is healthier and the forage is more nutritious. In earlier years, he used three pallets of mineral and three of salt for 200-300 head of cattle each year. This past year he had 1,025 animals and they used 1.5 pallets of salt and only one-quarter pallet of mineral. “The grass is healthier and the cattle are getting more of what they need in the grass,” says Dennis.

He also doesn’t treat as many animals for sickness. He used to carry a crossbow and a bottle of medication on the quad with him all the time, for “shooting” antibiotics into any animal that needed treatment. “I haven’t used that for several years now. If a few animals have a bit of pinkeye or footrot they usually get over it on their own.

I am getting healthier animals, while building healthier land.”

A few years ago, the late Terry Gompert, a grazing specialist from University of Nebraska, came to his farm. “We dug holes with a backhoe to look at soil and plant roots. People from the Burleigh County Soil District in North Dakota looked at it and figured there was 50 to 60 per cent more root mass in the top 23 inches of soil. The carbon was twice as deep as in nearby soils that weren’t intensively grazed. There was twice as much litter. One hole was underneath the fence where there’s no animal impact. There, root systems were shallow and carbon in the soil (the black part) not as deep.

Dennis feels that holistic management and ultra-high stock density grazing saved his farm.

Several innovations make it easy to move the cattle, including Batt Latch automatic gate openers. “I use temporary fences across a pasture, with 12-foot spring gates. Novel Ways of New Zealand developed a solar-powered timer you can program to open a gate (up to 14 days in advance). The gate flies open whenever you want, www.canadiancattlemen.ca

during that two-week period. I move my cows every two hours (eight times per day and sometimes 10). The gate flies open automatically and 1,000 head go through in five to eight minutes, by themselves.” He built some attachments onto his quads to carry fencing material and can put up a quarter-mile fence and take it down in 18 minutes.

“This kind of grazing will work wherever you are. It doesn’t matter how much rain or how little you get.

You adapt high-density grazing to your own situation and environment, and figure out what the recovery time is, on your land,” he says.

“When I started to watch my land rather than just concentrating on the cows I noticed a difference in the paddocks that had a different density.

There were completely different species and the land had changed. So I

“This type of grazing will work wherever you are. It doesn’t matter how much rain or how little you get” started pushing the limits, trying little experiments. I used 10 acres instead of 40. I kept seeing faster response on the land, the higher the stock density.

Legumes came in, and helped build the soil faster. Then they slacked off, and other species of grass come in, and then levelled out to where they need to be. But you need some legumes to help build the soil,” he says.

“When I started, after about 40 days of recovery time, the grass was about as tall as my shoulder and headed out and turning brown, but I didn’t have much plant density. After several years, plant density increased.

The plants don’t grow as tall, but there are more of them — more biomass and more wide-leafed grasses. They also don’t mature as quickly. Now I am resting them for 80 to 123 days between grazing, and it’s greener now than it used to be in 30 days. Everything has changed. You have to keep changing with the land or you end up going backward. It’s a learning experience every year!”

He has tremendously increased the stocking rate on his farm and does some custom grazing with yearlings for 100-120 days. “Every time I increase the density, I get about 20 to 30 per cent more carrying capacity,” he says.

The labour to move the cattle many times a day always pays off. “It depends on where it is on the ranch, and how far I have to go, but I’ve figured I’m making from $41 to $100 per hour by doing all this extra moving. Many people think mob grazing is too labour-intense. But they’re riding on a tractor or combine all day, spending big bucks on machinery and fuel,” he says.

He has systems for easier cattle handling and moving. In pastures he uses wire lifters, alleys, and bungee gates.

In the yard he uses a wire lifter to get cattle into an alley, and bungee gates so they go the right direction — and alley fences to direct the flow.

“I got this idea from airport traffic control. When the crowd comes in, they make you zig-zag back and forth. Barb and I used to have a heck of a time getting 500-600 head into our corral system. Where the corral area got wide the cattle would just slow down and turn around, wanting to go back where they came from,” says Dennis.

“Now, when the cattle come across the field I have lifters for temporary fences so I don’t need any gates. The cattle walk under the wires and come into the alley. I’ve put up portable bungee cord gates to direct them where I want them to go. I just go home and wait for them to arrive. The 1,000 head arrive via the alleys and then zigzag around through the yard. I put a bungee cord so they can’t go the wrong direction in the alley — and they just keep coming. I moved 1,025 head 2.25 miles this summer in an hour and eight minutes by myself, and most of that time I was sitting out in the yard.”

Every time cattle go around a corner they try to speed up, to catch up with the one that just went around the corner. They keep following the leaders, and if they can’t quite see where they are going, they keep coming.

Neil Dennis can be reached at 306739-2896, or by e-mail: sunnybrae@ C rfnow.com.

— Heather Smith Thomas Cattlemen / April 2012 15

POLICY

A CONVERSATION WITH MARTIN UNRAU… the new president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

16 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

PHOTO CREDIT: KAREN EMILSON

L

ittle could Martin Unrau have known 30 years ago, when he became the proud owner of 17 beef cows in partnership with his brother and brother-in-law, that he would one day represent the country’s 83,000 beef producers as president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). That day came on March 9 during the CCA’s annual general meeting when he was officially elected to the position after having served as vicepresident for the past two years and as one of Manitoba’s representatives to the CCA since 2007.

Unrau looks forward to building on the many successes of 2011, however, the troubling times of recent years will not be forgotten.

It was the hit of the BSE trade crisis in May 2003 that spurred this confident beef and grain producer from MacGregor, Man., to get involved in beef industry politics. He was elected as his district representative to the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association (now Manitoba Beef Producers) in January 2005, and served for two years as as president in 2007 and 2008 and then getting reelected to another two-year term as district representative.

“I saw changes ahead and wanted to be part of it,” Unrau recalls. “I had ideas that I thought could help, but I didn’t know much about politics at the time. The way I think is to simplify things, so it seemed simple — we either kill cows to match supply with domestic demand or get markets open again.

It can be edgy for some people because sometimes people don’t like hearing the truth.”

He chose to go the optimistic route with his beef operation. By then, he and his wife Roxie had established their own cow-calf operation a halfmile from the family’s original dairy farm where he was raised. His dad, who was a dairyman, always had a few beef cattle around the farm and a dream of becoming a rancher. Though it wasn’t in the stars for his parents, who have now retired to town, his dad

Martin and Roxie Unrau backed the loan to give the boys their start in beef.

In addition to expanding the beef herd, Unrau remained in the dairy business himself until 18 years ago when he shut the doors on the milking parlour for the last time and went solely into beef and grain. The farm gravitated toward the beef side in time because of the hilly, sandy land suited to grazing in this area south of the TransCanada highway between Brandon and Portage la Prairie. However, BSE put a halt to further expansion of the beef herd and their focus turned to increasing the production of barley, canola and corn.

The ensuing years saw the Unraus make adjustments to improve the efficiency of their beef operation by reducing cow size and testing strategies to extend the grazing season with bale grazing, swath grazing and corn grazing. They still do a bit of swath and corn grazing, but when he crunches the numbers, their corn and barley silage program remains the most economical path for their mixed farm.

Putting feed out every day eliminates waste and gives them lots of options

for mixing in lower-cost feeds, such as straw, screenings, low-grade grain and culled potatoes.

They run a Red Angus and Simmental cross-breeding program and have increased the herd to the present-day 550 cows mostly by retaining their own heifers. Before BSE they had developed a profitable market for open crossbred heifers. Now that there is a breath of life in the replacement heifer business again, they are aiming to get back into it with the goal of improving revenue from their heifers to at least match that of the market steers.

In past years they finished their own calves, but now they background them up to 850 pounds and may buy in others depending on the market and their feed situation from year to year.

His brother Norman owns and operates Rocking U Feeders, a 10,000-head custom feedlot on the family’s original farmstead, so he places calves on feed with him from time to time as well.

His family’s ties to the beef industry have one more link with his brother Continued on page 18 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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Harold who is general manager of the auction market at Grunthal, south of Winnipeg.

“Being connected helps us stay on top of prices and adjustments we need to make in our breeding and feeding programs,” Unrau says. “We” now includes one of their four children, Garett, who has joined them full time in the farming operation.

Unrau feels there’s huge opportunity for young people to get in and stay in the beef business. He can’t pinpoint a deciding factor in their son’s decision, other than, like himself, Garett has always loved the animals. They figure they will eventually need to expand to about 800 cows to provide for two families.

It’s only because of strong family support and the involvement of Roxie, Garett and employee Dwayne Unrau, who has been with them full time or part time since 1997, that Martin has been able to free up the time to commit to industry organizations.

On top of the game Times on the Unrau farm have mirrored the ups and downs of the Canadian beef industry as a whole during the past decade. For producers and their organizations, it has been a continuous process of gathering information, drawing upon resources, making adjustments and looking ahead to buffer obstacles and seize opportunities.

“As vice-president and now as president, I will still be trying to ensure that our industry is in a healthy position. The worst time to relax is when you’re on top of the game because you never know what will happen a few years down the road,” Unrau says.

“We hear talk that the beef cycle has been disrupted and will never be the same again, but I believe that it will always be cyclical. We have seen how important it is to open new markets and maintain and cultivate the markets we do have, and the importance of getting the right policies in place so that when the cycle does change, the industry will always be prepared.”

Toward that end, the CCA has been working diligently on the Growing Forward II file to make sure that some aspects are specific to beef, not just adapted from the grain side when

They run a Red Angus and Simmental crossbreeding program with 550 cows and are looking to go to 800 necessary. Disaster and price insurance with AgriStability as the final backstop as well as food safety are important initiatives on this front.

Broader issues looking ahead are the environment as it relates to the life-cycle of beef cattle and animal welfare policies. Unrau is a member of the CCA’s animal care committee. His interest in that portfolio stems from his firsthand knowledge of the livestock transport business as the former owner of a trucking company that hauled cattle and hogs. The animal care committee works with governments, veterinarians, researchers, animal welfare groups and other sectors of the beef industry to establish the national code for the care and handling of beef cattle.

Foreign trade has been his special interest right from the time he threw his name into the hat for the district five election. As CCA’s vice-president and chair of the foreign trade committee, he recently represented the CCA on trade missions to the European Union (EU), visiting England, Ireland, Spain and France.

The Canadian delegations always ask to visit cow-calf and feedlot operations to gain an understanding of the production and culture of the beef business in the countries they visit.

But trade missions are just as much about ensuring that other countries understand the Canadian beef production system.

“Everyone is always amazed at how we can raise cattle in our cold climate because this is very different from almost anywhere else in the world,” Unrau explains. Generally, the Europeans don’t like the idea that cattle are housed outside rather than in barns during the cold of winter. Their viewpoints change once they hear and see how it can be accomplished with good breeding, feed and shelter, and come to recognize how the cold weather favours beef production because it kills pathogens. Crossbreeding is also a foreign notion in most European countries because purebreds are the norm.

The CCA has been lobbying hard to make sure everyone understands what the Canadian beef industry needs out of the Canada-EU trade negotiations, Unrau says. “Beef and dairy will be left to the end, likely to the last two per cent of the negotiations, which will be coming to a head within a couple of months. If we do get what we need, it will be great for the beef industry.” C — Debbie Furber

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FORAGE

MANAGEMENT

COVER CROPS AND CATTLE … a powerful one-two punch

A

dding cover crops to an annual crop rotation protects and improves the soil, but you can take a extra leap by adding some grazing cattle and then intensively grazing them.

That’s what Garry Richards expects to happen on his Bangor, Sask., mixed farm where he has put cover-cropping strategies developed in North Dakota to work for the past three years. “Ultimately, you want something growing all year long to capture free inputs of solar energy and rain,” he explains. “If there isn’t something growing, you are losing out on an economic opportunity.”

The payoff, he says, will be improved crop yields and/or less costly fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides meaning a greater return from the land. And there are direct benefits to those who feed these cover crops to livestock.

The main purpose of a cover crop is to cover the land to reduce evaporation and inhibit weed growth. Decomposing thatch also feeds the soil microbes, bugs and worms that improve fertility, soil structure and nutrient availability to help protect his crops against the stress of extreme temperatures, drought, floods, disease or insects.

The best way to stress-proof a crop is to seed a mix of tall and short plants, creating a thick vegetative canopy capable of smothering weeds and capturing maximum solar energy before it reaches the ground.

20 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

An effective mixture supplies big taproots that dig down to scavenge nutrients and punch through hardpan and shallow-rooted plants that bind the soil surface and capture nutrients that might otherwise be lost.

Richards’ cover crops have included turnips, radish, sunflower, buckwheat, peas, hairy vetch, clovers, alfalfa, winter triticale, oat and millet.

It’s important to choose varieties suited to your growing conditions and budget. Seed for varieties suited to cover cropping is more available now that the demand is growing, however prices can soar up to the $60 to $70 per acre range when supplies are short.

Richards tries to limit his seed cost to $25 to $30 per acre.

These crops can be sprayed out if necessary but tillage should be avoided as it wipes out much of the improved soil structure created by covering the soil.

In North Dakota, cover crops are often seeded after the main crop is harvested which is costly and in much of the Canadian Prairies may not be practical. So Richards and some other members of the Parkland Holistic Management Club have been looking for better ways to reap the benefits of cover cropping on their farms in eastcentral Saskatchewan.

A mix for two seasons Richards sowed his first cover crops in the spring of 2009. One was

a mix of turnip, radish and clovers with barley to be combined for grain that fall. He already had a strawbuncher attachment for the combine to collect straw and chaff in small piles for early-winter grazing. The barley was straight cut and made malt grade, leaving the other species to regrow. The clover continued to grow the following spring.

The second 2009 cover crop was a diverse polyculture for August grazing. The rule of thumb when grazing cover crops is to take half and let the stock trample the rest into a thatch on the ground. He did this by moving the herd to fresh areas every day. Once the cows got used to this forage smorgasbord, they tied into everything except the sunflowers. He was able to graze the cover crop again in late October, at which time he left the cows in the first section until they were hungry enough to take a taste of the sunflowers. After the first few bites, they were away.

In 2010, Richards sowed his mixture in May. The cows were able to give it a light graze at the start of July which was sandwiched between two five-week rain events at the end of May and the end of August. It was grazed intensively in October.

That July, he also sprayed out a short-term alfalfa rotation, baled the forage, then direct-seeded a mix of winter triticale at two bushels per acre Continued on page 22 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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Cows grazing the cover crop.

with hairy vetch at six pounds to be combined the following year. Excessive moisture in the spring of 2011 prevented topdressing with nitrogen and applying herbicide. As it turned out, the entire growing season was a washout, but he ended up combining a 45-bushel per acre winter triticalehairy vetch crop, worth about $10 per bushel if sold or saved as seed. The inputs were the cost of spraying out the alfalfa, the seed, and 50 pounds per acre of phosphorus fertilizer applied at seeding.

“That’s a profitable and low-risk crop in itself, with lots of options for grazing, cattle feed or grain production and the bonus is land improvement. I really like this type of mix because it’s a two-year mix,” he says.

Last May, he again took the two-year approach when he planted his 2011 cover crop, using alfalfa with winter triticale, oats, buckwheat, millet, sunflower, clover, hairy vetch, pea, turnip and radish. After the August grazing, he let the crop regrow and go into winter as a healthy stand of winter triticale, hairy vetch, clovers and alfalfa.

“I think this has really good potential for beef producers because it offers lots of versatility and risk management,” Richards adds. In the first year, the cover crop could be grazed or cut for silage and in the second year, it could be grazed and then left to regrow for greenfeed or combined with the chaff and straw collected for fall grazing. Or, it could simply be grazed two or maybe three times before the snow flies.

Soil improvement

50 to 60 per cent of crop is left for thatch.

A diverse mixture including some turnip and radish.

22 Cattlemen / April 2012

The “perfect” rotation has yet to be determined. From what he has observed from visits to North Dakota, a proper annual crop rotation with two or three cover crops can cause drastic changes to your soil within five years.

Richards expects the time it will take to see positive changes will really depend on each producer's land and his or her management. His farm is in the black soil zone of the Parkland belt and has been zero-tilled for the past 10 years.

As soil health improves, he says particles aggregate into little balls giving the soil a spongy, cottage cheese-like structure that reduces crusting and erosion and promotes aeration and water infiltration.

What we are really looking at is organic matter, the stuff that releases nutrients and improves the soil's water holding capacity. Many people believe cover crops rob moisture from the next crop. However, tests show moisture efficiency actually improves when forages are in the rotation.

The hard proof should come in the next three to five years when the firm hired to take comprehensive soil samples before seeding in 2011 goes back in to take samples from the same GPS locations. Another company is conducting a food-web analysis, counting the number of bacteria, nematodes, protozoa, fungi in these spots to round out the evaluation.

Does cover cropping work? Common sense says it will,” Richards says. “We will have concrete numbers in five years that will show how much benefit there really is on our farm. It has given us hope to be sustainable and for the future of farming when we see people who have been doing it have land that is healthier and more productive every year.”

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

Supplements — a necessary evil!

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

S

upplements for cattle take many forms and choosing the right one is never easy, often confusing and expensive.

Let’s start with minerals. The vast majority of cow-calf producers are faced with supplementing minerals. The exact mix required will be a function of location (i.e. soil type, water quality), cattle type and the nature of the diet, particularly the forage base. Mineral supplements are packaged in a variety of forms including loose mineral, salt blocks or as molasses-based tubs.

Macro minerals provide a source of calcium and phosphorus, typically in ratios of 1:1 or 2:1.

Expected consumption (listed on the mineral tag) typically ranges from two to four ounces per head per day. Depending on the formulation, these minerals can provide cattle with other macro minerals such as magnesium as well as required trace minerals (i.e. copper, zinc, magnesium, iodine, cobalt and selenium). A bonus is that many supply vitamins A, D and E as well. In the cow-calf sector, mineral feeding is often free choice or with grain.

Perhaps one of the most perplexing aspects of free-choice mineral feeding is variability in consumption. I often get comments from producers such as “my cows won’t touch brand X but when I put out brand Z, they eat me out of house and home,” or, “I just started mineral feeding last week and they are eating it like candy.” There is no doubt that some minerals are more palatable than others. Palatability can vary due to differences in phosphorus concentration and flavouring agents used by different suppliers. My advice, find a mineral that matches your cow’s requirements and one they will eat. Then manage the mineral feeder by keeping a weekly record of what is supplied versus consumed, ensuring that intake is limited to that recommended on the tag. Problems with mineral intake can also be overcome by mixing with salt and adjusting the ratio until consumption is at the recommended level. This takes advantage of the animal’s requirement/craving for salt. This concept has been applied commercially with the development of trace mineralized salt.

Free-choice consumption is again the method of choice for feeding for many cow-calf operators.

When purchasing a mineral supplement, many producers focus on price. I recommend that in addition to price, you pay attention to the tag.

The mineral tag will indicate the concentration of each mineral in the mix, as well as the recommended intake. Why is this important? Simply

24 Cattlemen / April 2012

put, the concentration of a mineral such as copper in the supplement will dictate the required intake to meet the animal’s requirement. For example, take two mineral supplements, one with 1,000 parts per million (ppm) copper at $600 per tonne, the other with 2,500 ppm at $700 per tonne. If the cattle consume 56 grams (two ounces) per head per day, the cattle will consume a total of 56 milligrams of copper from the first mineral while they will get 140 milligrams from the second. Typically mature cows are going to require a minimum of 80 to 100 milligrams of copper per day. If our objective to meet the majority of this requirement from the mineral, the question becomes which mineral is the better buy? In the above example, mineral intake from the first supplement needs to be 2.5 times that of the second to get equal intakes of copper. If similar differences in concentration exist in other important minerals, then the answer is obvious — cheaper is not always better!

For those of you who need to supplement protein in addition to minerals and vitamins, the situation is more complicated. The type of protein supplement required will depend on the class of cattle fed, the nature of the pasture or diet and the form of protein (natural versus non-protein nitrogen). Commercial supplements can be formulated to a wide variety of protein levels (i.e. eight to 32 per cent) using all natural protein sources or incorporating a non-protein nitrogen source such as urea or biuret. Compounds that supply non-protein nitrogen such as urea are not protein sources per se; rather they provide rumen bacteria with a source of ammonia for protein synthesis.

Again the tag is your guide. A tag that gives the protein level as 32(0) per cent, indicates an all natural protein supplement while a 32(14) tag indicates a 32 per cent protein supplement where a maximum of 14 per cent (or almost half) of the protein is derived from non-protein nitrogen sources. All things being equal, the latter supplement should be cheaper. Urea-based protein supplements are best utilized when the diet provides adequate energy for rumen bacterial growth such as in finishing rations. In some pasture situations, a protein supplement that is a combination of natural and urea-based protein can increase forage intake and utilization, however the response will vary with forage quality.

So you have lots of choices. Do your homework and make sure you are bringing home the right supplement at the best price! www.canadiancattlemen.ca

VET ADVICE

Fresh meaning and new potential

T

he Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) founded in February 2012 may be the long awaited catalyst for advancement in sustainable beef production. The GRSB was a product of the Global Conference on Sustainable Beef, held last November in Denver when key players in the beef value chain dissected and discussed key issues destined to influence the future sustainability of beef production (www. sustainablelivestock.org). The broad range of stakeholders from all sectors of the value chain committed to finding answers to questions gripping an industry set in the constant turmoil of highs and lows was a historical first.

The GRSB hopes to advance sustainability through: • Adoption of leading production and supply chain practices, policy, and technology including employment and economic development initiatives; • Support of action-oriented, outcome-based initiatives by industry groups that are going to make a difference; • The use of relevant and science-based information to address high-priority issues that will ultimately affect sustainability; • Development of a forum for constructive engagement, information exchange, and technical problem solving.

And why should everyone in the business start paying attention?

First and foremost it’s about the might at the table.

The intellect and resources big players like JBS, Cargill, McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, major pharmaceutical companies and others bring to the game means those in the business of developing strategy and pursuing outcomes are now a part of the game of providing direction to an industry seeking answers to the question of sustainability. Add groups like the World Wildlife Fund and the Nature Conservancy to this think tank and the global roundtable becomes a powerful order of counsel ready to tackle the future.

Early in its work, the Global Conference on Sustainable Beef (GCSB) steering committee considered it necessary to adopt John Elkington’s concept of the “triple bottom line,” whereby all estimates of success spawned by industry change has to be measured at an economic, environmental and social level (Cannibals With Forks: the triple bottom-line of 21st century business, 1998).

They also recognized the need to make science-based measurements of both the positive and negative aspects of issues associated with the global beef-supply chain.

A number of issues are complex in nature and not amenable to “quick fixes.” The interconnected nature of some issues makes functional communication networks a critical feature of success. Important questions about the definition of sustainability, how should it be measured, issue priority, the value of sustainable beef production and who pays remain on the table.

Some of the big-ticket items identified by the GRSB include: Biodiversity and how biodiversity can be managed as an asset, including avoidance of deforestation and loss of biodiversity and grazing practices that enhance biodiversity. Human resilience becomes a part of the biodiversity equation.

26 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

Community. The beef supply chain plays a critical role in the social and economic health of many rural communities and in providing safe, affordable and wholesome food for a growing population. It was recognized that significant differences exist between community issues and practices in regions, sectors and operations. Specific opportunities and challenges noted were things like environmental and ecological services provided by beef producers; mistrust between communities and government, NGOs, industry supply chain in understanding the triple bottom line; and preparation of leaders, stakeholders and communities for change.

Energy. At its roots, beef production can be described as the conversion of solar energy into protein, calories and nutrients for people. It was recognized that efficiencies can be found in every link of the beef supply chain.

The terms “natural,” “organic” and “local food miles” become entangled in the debate on sustainability.

Food safety and nutrition. The theme of sciencebased decision making touched many areas especially as it related to understanding the state of the industry and the impact of change throughout the beef supply chain.

Education regarding efficiency in protein production and use of the cow herd in developing ways to feed at risk populations were topics identified as both opportunity and challenges.

Greenhouse gas emissions. Some participants described greenhouse gas emissions as the most important and challenging issue facing the beef supply chain.

The fact that a significant number of stakeholders do not believe there is a link between human-caused CO2 emissions and climate change makes the topic a particularly challenging issue.

Labour and business. One overarching issue facing all regions and stakeholder groups was the challenge of attracting, developing and keeping talented professionals in the beef industry.

Land management. One of the big challenges around land management were the significant gaps that exist in financing requirements and marketplace rewards for accomplishments associated with land management.

Water. There was a recognized need to anchor definitions around the metrics and footprint of water demand; share best practices; and close gaps in awareness and understanding. As a whole, many view the beef supply chain as a small industry with a significant historical demand for water.

While the jury is still out on the potential success of GRSB in helping realign an industry seeking sustainability. Bryan Weech, director of livestock agriculture with the World Wildlife Fund described the Denver conference, “As a journey that’s been started, and if the mood and momentum generated are genuine, a truly significant thing happened in Denver.”

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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FORAGE

PROFILE

MR. FORAGE

Doug Wray has a vision for forages in Canada

D

o u g Wr a y i s p a s s i o n ate about forages. He just about eats, sleeps and dreams forages every day.

He and his wife Linda run a 300 Angus-cross cow herd at Irricana, Alta. about 30 miles northeast of Calgary. The Wrays are model grassland farmers and it is the grass and grazing that drives their operation.

Their goal is to graze their cows year round, if the weather allows for it. “We often don’t get a lot of rain in our area in the late summer, so we don’t get the regrowth on perennial pastures that some ranchers get elsewhere,” explains Doug. “We graze the cows on alfalfa meadow brome paddocks on a rotational basis from May through into October. Our goal is to get 60 cow days per acre. We have been able to keep the alfalfa and meadow brome in our pastures for the past dozen years with this style of grazing management. In the winter, snow permitting, the cows graze the native grass that we have stockpiled in the coulees. During the summer we would take half, leave half, we can graze harder on the dormant grass, often getting close to double the stock days per acre with dry cows in good condition. The native grasses are thriving under this regime.”

“In order to graze all year we need to have all sorts of options,” says Doug.“If it doesn’t snow, we graze the native grass but if the snow gets too deep then we bunch graze straw and chaff piles, green-feed swaths or bale graze. We go back to that grass when the chinook, or spring comes.

We may feed some bales to balance the ration and stretch the days.” In the past Doug used to wait until mid July before cutting his cow hay but now he goes after the early harvest to get the higher-quality hay and then uses it as a supplement for his cows in winter rather than the sole source of winter feed.

Straw and the chaff buncher that goes behind the combine dropping the material into small piles in the field provide another option. “Our 28 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

cows clean up the small piles very efficiently, says Doug. “I prefer to graze the barley fields with the bunch piles early in the winter as I don’t have to supplement. We can get up to 90 cow days per acre. In the later part of the winter, cows on the straw chaff piles get high quality hay as their supplement.” If it snows while the cows are on the chaff piles they often have a difficult time cleaning up the piles and Doug has to leave it until the spring for regrazing. One zero-till neighbour is concerned about collecting chaff piles as he wants the residue to be even over the whole field. However, other grain farmers in the area are seeing a build up of residue on their zero till fields.

The Wrays maintain a bale pile for emergency and supplemental feeding.

Since they are in a relatively dry climate they don’t see a lot of spoilage in stored hay although they do put some longterm reserves in a shed or under tarps.

“We have tried growing some winter triticale for early-spring grazing.

On our rotational grazing we also use crested wheat grass in the early spring.

The goal is to graze year round but to do that Doug needs lots of options to fall back on when it doesn’t rain We have established cicer milkvetch, Russian wild rye, and wheat grasses on one quarter to give us some quality into the fall. We’ve been able to stubble graze on some neighbour’s grain fields in the fall and we rented more native pasture which allowed us more flexibility.

“We have tried saving some stockplied grass until spring and the cows get a mixture of 60 per cent old grass and 40 per cent new grass as the new growth comes. The cows also have access to different paddocks of crested

Doug Wray wheat grass and winter triticale for spring grazing .

On the Wray ranch, green feed ends up as swath grazing. This is their primary feed source to overwinter calves. “We’ve been swath grazing for over 15 years and always use portable electric fences to control consumption.

We get about 30 per cent more grazing days using the fence,” Doug says.

“I put the calves on a swath grazing mixture of barley and oats. The barley matures earlier and the calves get the benefit of the extra energy in the barley heads. We plan for the option to move the cows onto swaths during extreme cold and in April, heading into calving when their nutrition requirements increase.”

“We continually track our rain and snow. By knowing our moisture reserves, combined with a rolling inventory of our forage and its growth potential, we have a good understanding of our feed reserves and can predict potential shortfalls well in advance. If it doesn’t snow a lot our ace in the hole is native grass. One of our drought-management strategies is to background our calves and graze them on high-quality pastures as yearlings. If there is a summer drought then we can sell or move the yearlings at full value to the feedlot. If it starts to go dry by moving the yearlings out www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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we are able to save the balance of our grass for the cows.”

It has been very dry this past fall and winter at their ranch as they haven’t received any storable moisture since last August. “The lack of moisture could be a very big problem for us this spring,” he says.

“The most difficult decision I ever had to make was moving my calving season from late winter to May. That meant calving 250 cows away from the barn. It was really out of my comfort zone but has allowed more flexibility in our grass management.”

Doug has influenced his neighbours and they are picking up on this enthusiasm for grassland and winter cow management but he’s now taken his forage message a little further from home. He’s a former chairman of the advisory board for the Western Forage Beef Group at Lacombe Research Centre and sits as the forage industry representative on the Agriculture and Agri-Food Beef Round Table. He was also initial chair of the Alberta Forage Industry Network and currently chairs the newly formed Canadian Forage and Grassland Association.

“Being a grassland farmer in these days of high canola and grain prices spurred on by the alternative fuel markets is a real challenge” says Doug.

“Our grasslands have to compete for acres with canola. Through our national organization we have to get a better sense of the value of forage.

I think if we can accurately describe that value, then producers will gain an appreciation for what forage brings and it’s ability to compete with the grain and oilseed industry for land and resources.”

“A lot of the land that we have in forage is not good for growing canola and wheat. They are best suited for growing forage. But in order for you to be economically sustainable on this land you still have to apply the very best management skills you can to make it work.”

“It’s taken us many years and many tries to develop a plan that works for our operation. There have been hits, and misses, along the way, but you won’t know what works until you try.” C — Duane McCartney Duane McCartney is a retired forage beef systems research scientist at Lacombe. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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RESEARCH

Forage research in Canada

A

fter 10 years of extremely narrow or negative margins, the outlook for Canada’s cow-calf sector has become brighter. Growing market access to an increasing global demand for beef means that feeders and packers are competing aggressively for the calves and fat cattle produced from Canada’s smaller cow herd. Grain prices are also high, so graziers are competing with the grain sector for land. High feed grain prices encourage longer backgrounding and grazing periods prior to feedlot finishing. All of these factors point to the need for scientifically validated tools to increase forage productivity per acre.

At one time, Canada’s forage research was almost solely funded by government. The beef industry focused on animal health, productivity, beef quality and food safety research, and didn’t notice that retiring government forage researchers were not being replaced. This led to a drastic loss in Canada’s forage production and breeding research expertise. Provincial forage councils recognized this problem, but had no checkoff system to raise forage research funds.

Canada’s beef industry eventually realized that more productive forages would require a greater checkoff investment in forage research. Between 2001 and 2008, the Beef Cattle Research Council allocated 10 per cent of its research budget towards forage and grasslands research.

Since 2009, this allocation has doubled to 20 per cent.

Last month, representatives from Canada’s seedstock, cow-calf, forage, feeding, animal health and packing sectors attended a National Beef Cattle Industry Research Workshop that was sponsored by Canada’s Beef Value Chain Roundtable. Leading up to this meeting, the Beef Cattle Research Council surveyed 25 federal, provincial and industry beef research funders to learn which types of research had been funded between 2007 and 2011.

The survey showed that the lion’s share of total beef research funding went into prion research (24 per cent).

Beef quality, animal health, and feed grains and feed efficiency each received between 16 and 21 per cent of total beef research funding. Forage and grassland researchers received 13 per cent of total beef research funds; only food safety research received less at seven per cent.

Sixty-seven per cent of the total forage funding over the past five years was directed toward tame forages.

Tame forage breeding was focused on sainfoin and alfalfa, probably because there are almost no active tame grass breeders remaining in Canada. Nearly half of the tame forage production research was focused on weed and pest control, with less directed towards improved establishment, persistence, quality or yield. Tame forage utilization research focused on extended grazing, foragefinished beef, or grazing alfalfa or sainfoin. Considerable tame forage research was also focused on environmental issues such as carbon sequestration, water use efficiency and methane production by grazing cattle.

30 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

Annual forages received 21 per cent of total forage funding. This research was largely focused on breeding and variety testing for improved quality and yield, evaluating forage quality and reducing leaf and nutrient loss in swaths, and swath grazing and animal performance.

The remaining 12 per cent of funding was directed towards native forage research. Half went towards characterizing bloat-safe native clovers, and forage quality and drought resistance in rough fescues. About a third funded weed and pest control and rejuvenation of native pastures, and a small amount supported grazing trials involving native forages.

Workshop participants, having discussed how the forage research funding had been allocated over the past five years, considered the current challenges and opportunities facing their sectors. Those discussing forage and grassland issues identified a clear need for research that will: 1. Develop new forage varieties with increased yield, nutritional quality and stand life (recognizing that regional environmental differences can be important); 2. Take advantage of new molecular and genetic technologies that can produce faster and more targeted genetic improvements; 3. Follow a “systems-based” approach considering the entire beef and forage production chain, and incorporate a meaningful producer-level economic analysis demonstrating real benefits; 4. Clearly measure the environmental benefits of forage and grasslands, and demonstrate how maintaining and improving forages and grassland benefits both producers and society; and 5. Improve the productivity of native range by developing breeding, grazing and rejuvenation strategies that improve forage productivity on sensitive marginal land without degrading it.

Accomplishing these goals will be difficult. Co-ordination and co-operation among all of Canada’s beef research funders is required to generate the very large, long-term investment needed to rebuild the forage breeding and research expertise the industry has lost. Reaping the full benefits of this research will also require extension and technology transfer to demonstrate the benefits of adopting the new varieties, management practices and technologies developed through this research.

After 10 years of adopting and adapting innovative forage and cattle management practices to minimize winter feeding and overall production costs, Canada’s cattle industry needs proven, cost-effective tools to improve forage and grassland productivity. I am optimistic that the industry and government funders who participated in this exercise will work together to rebuild the research capacity and support the work necessary to develop these tools.

— Reynold Bergen Reynold Bergen is the science director for the Beef Cattle Research Council. A portion of the national checkoff is directed to the BCRC to fund research and development activities to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Canada’s beef industry.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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FORAGE

GRAZING

ROTATIONAL GRAZING WORKS FOR THESE PUREBREDS He just had to tweak the breeding season

W

hen Don Guilford took his first course in holistic management, his instructor, Alan Savory, considered by many to be the father of holistic management in North America, warned him that as a purebred cattle breeder, rotational grazing probably wasn’t going to work for him.

That was over 30 years ago. Guilford, who farms near Clearwater, Man. admits that it certainly wasn’t easy, but determined that rotational grazing was the system he needed to improve and maintain the quality and productivity of his pastureland, he has evolved a method that works for his herds of purebred Black Angus and Hereford cattle.

Which is precisely what holistic management encourages and what motivated Guilford to be one of the early adopters of this practice. Holistic management is a regenerative process that is about seeing the farm as a whole ecosystem, where the needs of the land, the people, finances and the animals are balanced.

For Guilford, when it came to the breeding cycle for his cattle, it was about finding alternative ways to do things, which eventually yielded benefits far beyond his initial expectations.

Guilford had, for over 40 years, maintained a fairly tight breeding cycle for his purebred Hereford cows, the initial herd which had been established in the 1920s by his grandfather. Guilford added a second, Black Angus herd in 2002.

“Before we rotationally grazed we used to run the cows with the bulls for 60 days. On three quarter sections we would split the cows up into breeding pastures and run one bull with 20 or 30 cows,” says Guilford. “Normally we would run about 40 cows per quarter, so if we divided them up into groups of even 30 we had five different pastures and weren’t able to move them around the same because the bulls couldn’t be together.”

That breeding cycle from around July 25 to September 20 had the added dis-

32 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

Don Guilford advantage of being smack in the middle of the grazing season, when the pastures are at their most productive. This is the time when, especially in rotational grazing, farmers generally move their cattle every two to three days through smaller paddocks to maintain the productivity.

Guilford likes to move cows off a paddock after they have taken their first bite of the grass and before they have a chance to go back for a second bite, which he says prevents overgrazing of the paddock and encourages faster regrowth. “It was frustrating because we just got nicely into rotating the cows through all the paddocks and then we had to split them up for the breeding season,” he says.

Rotational grazing does pose some challenges because in a grazing cell Guilford prefers to have at least eight to 10 paddocks. “We usually have about 11 to 13 bulls out,” he says. “So that would mean we would need 120 paddocks to manage each individual breeding herd that way.”

Obviously Guilford does not have 120 paddocks. On the three quarter sections where he runs his cows, he generally has about 30. So he has had to adopt a unique method to accommodate the breeding cycle in those paddocks and still ensure he can move the cattle through them efficiently.

“What we do now is still divide the

cows up into small breeding groups and then we run the Hereford bulls on the Hereford cows for 21 days and the Angus bulls on the Angus cows for 21 days,” says Guilford. “Then we put the Herefords all back in one big group and the Angus back in a big group and run Hereford bulls with the Angus cows and Angus bulls with the Hereford cows. So that means that we only compromise our rotational grazing system for 21 days instead of 60 days.”

But how does Guilford then tell which calves have been sired by which bulls? It was an issue that Guilford bore in mind when choosing the second breed to introduce to the farm.

“When we started our second herd we wanted to keep a breed that was a maternal breed and so we looked at Black Angus and Red Angus,” he says. “But the advantage with the Black Angus is that when you cross a Hereford with an Angus you usually get a black calf with a white face, but you definitely get some white markings somewhere on them. So there’s no question that when you get a black-bodied calf it has been sired by an Angus bull and if it has white on it you know it was sired by a Hereford bull on an Angus cow.”

It’s a system that takes a lot of calculation and the planning, which starts well ahead of the grazing season and takes into account multiple factors.

Guilford needs to plan so that at least one paddock is kept empty between the breeding pastures. “As we move the cows through the pastures early in the summer we have to leave grass on every quarter so that when we bring the cows back into the breeding pastures in July there’s grass there for them and it hasn’t all been grazed off.”

He also needs to make sure he is alternating paddocks each season and allowing them the rest that they need to naturally rejuvenate. “We don’t save the same paddocks every year and that’s part of the holistic management approach,” says Guilford. “You need to rest the grasses at different times of the year every year. So the next year www.canadiancattlemen.ca

reasons. The cows are much cleaner, you graze them at a different time of he says, and don’t accumulate as much the year, because there’s cool-season tag on their legs and bodies, which grasses and warm-season grasses in the can cause them to lose the insulation mix and you want to rest everything at value of their hair. He estimates he some point in time so that everything saves around $12,000 a year in corral has a chance to go to seed. That’s how cleanout and bedding costs. “And we we replenish our stand.” haven’t even factored in the fertility of Guilford, who has doubled the carthe land,” says Guilford. “Manitoba rying capacity of his land, largely mainAgriculture’s yield analysis has contains that productivity through natural firmed that when we bale graze we are reseeding, which increases the biodigetting around five times the producversity of species and ensures that, no tion and in some cases it exceeds that.” matter the weather a particular season Another big benefit for Guilford brings, something is always growing has been the increase in fertility of in abundance. He has also found that his herd, which he says is well above bale grazing at pasture during the winthe national average with a 65 to 70 ter months can help regenerate areas per cent first-cycle conception rate as that are particularly low in fertility. evidenced by the number of purebred On one patch of his poorest land, calves born each year. He feels he is which is sandy and has been cropped producing at least 10 per cent more and overgrazed in the past, beforepurebred calves now compared to and-after soil tests showed that after when he started this program. one season of bale grazing the nitro“I am just as much excited from a gen content increased from around 30 breeding management perspective as I pounds an acre to an average of 300 am from a grazing management view,” to 400 pounds per acre, with peaks in says Guilford. “Because now the only some areas in excess of 900. bulls we sell are all conceived in the He also favours bale grazing rather WH PP - 7 xthe 5 -_AGI 12-02-16 PM Page 1first cycle and from our most fertile than using winter corrals 3:48 for other

cows. From an economical point of view, fertility is 10 times more important than rate of gain. The only bulls we have to sell are all conceived in the first 21 days of the breeding season and because we only put purebred cattle back in the herd the only ones we sell for replacements or put back in the herd are the most fertile as they were all conceived in the first 21 days.”

Guilford has always placed an emphasis on fertility, and it was one of the reasons he went to a 60-day calving season in the first place. But he admits he is now even tougher on his cows than in the past. “If they are going to have an impact on our purebred herd they have to be fertile,” he says. “They may last for a long time but if they never have calves in the first cycle then there will be no daughters to go back into the herd.”

Guilford is usually grazing by April 1 on stockpiled grass and now calves in May at pasture. The health, fertility and profitability of his herds and land have all increased as a result of being creative in the management of his farm.

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HOLISTIC RANCHING

Our H M Convention Our annual convention was held in Yorkton in February. Almost 250 people attended with representation from the four western provinces and Quebec plus some folks from the northern states.

Our first speaker was Arlene Jorgenson. Arlene has over 25 years’ experience working in the addictions area. Her message covered what she referred to as the A, B, & Cs. A was to remember to adjust your attitude. B was to bolster your beliefs and C was to be an encourager.

Wayne Berry was our second speaker. Wayne has used H M on his ranch in North Dakota for over 25 years and has also taught H M at Williston State College. Wayne talked about doubling his grass, reducing his winter feeding period and building a profitable, sustainable business.

The afternoon session began with a panel on intergenerational transfer. Trent and Carolyn Walls from Alameda were our first speakers. They purchased the family ranch from Trent’s parents and shared how writing their holistic goal and sharing it with their parents was instrumental in facilitating the transfer.

Matt and Rhonda Tees from Lousana, Alta., who purchased their ranch from Rhonda’s parents were the second couple to speak. Matt and Rhonda are leaders in their community. They lead by example. They even expect their six-year-old son to provide leadership to his younger siblings. Matt and Rhonda reminded me of a saying of Gandhi’s, “be the change you expect.”

The last couple to speak was Mark and Bluesette Campbell from Meadow Lake, Sask. They have been working for 10 years on a ranch owned jointly by Mark and Blue, Mark’s brother Scott and his wife Jenna, and Mark’s parents Don and Bev Campbell. Mark and Blue shared the challenges and benefits of working in an intergenerational business. I also made a short presentation to wind up the panel.

The panel was a crowd favourite. It was real people sharing real stories. All three stories were different.

There was something for everyone in the crowd to think about and reflect on. The biggest impact for me was realizing that the future of agriculture is in the hands of the younger generation and the wisdom, maturity and depth of thought displayed by these young people shows that future is in good hands.

David Irvine was the first speaker on the second day.

David is a well-known motivational speaker and author.

He has a love and appreciation for H M. At one time David was a board member of H M Canada. In his presentation “working with the ones you love” he explained the eight stages of transition. He defines transition as “coming to grips with change.” When change comes and we are thrown into chaos our first reaction is to want to return to our status quo. It may not have been that good but at least it was familiar. To experience growth we need to go through the chaos. The stages of growth are reflec-

36 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

tion, decision, rebuilding, trust and finally a new and better status quo.

We are all faced with change. In fact that’s the one constant in life. Knowing the stages of change and how to deal with them allows us all to grow and learn.

Roland Kroos from Bellegard, Montana was our next presenter. Roland has been a certified educator with H M since the 1980s. In fact he was one of the first people to introduce H M into Western Canada. Roland’s topic was “achieving profitability… no excuses.” His talk gave very real positive steps we can take to achieve profitability.

Following lunch we had three breakout sessions.

Two were by David and Roland and the third one was led by Josh Dukart, a certified educator from North Dakota. He is involved in the family farm at Hazen and also works with the Burleigh Soil Conservation Assoc.

Josh’s topic was “holistically managed cropland.” It is refreshing to know that there is an alternative to chemical agriculture. Josh focused on how to build the soil.

As the soil improves cropping becomes more economical, profitable and sustainable. He also talked about the value of forages and animals in crop rotations.

Both cropping and animal agriculture can benefit from working together.

Our second producer panel included Darcy and Candice Goodrich from Hardisty, Alta., Wayne and Colleen Gardiner from Langruth, Man., and Gary and Lynn Richards from Bangor, Sask. Each couple shared how H M had impacted and helped them.

Our windup session presented by David Irvine dealt with the differences between our standard of living and our quality of life. Standard of living is all about how much stuff we have. Quality of life is more focused on how we feel about ourselves and our relationships with those close to us. Quality of life is what leads to true wealth. It was interesting that most of the things that make David wealthy don’t cost money. The list included things like values learned from his parents, honesty, integrity, a good work ethic and the many mentors he has had. All of us left in a thoughtful, reflective mood. It was a great way to wind up our convention.

Each year we hold an auction during our convention.

This year’s auction organized by Alberta forage and beef specialist Grant Lastiwka raised just under $6,000.

Summing up I would say our convention was a great success. One of the most valuable things is just to rub shoulders with so many like-minded, positive people. If you attended, thank you. If you didn’t I ask you to consider attending next year. The convention is open to anyone. Everyone is welcome. You don’t have to have taken an H M course to attend. Next year’s convention will be held in Manitoba. I hope to see you there.

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.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

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RESEARCH

SALT-TOLERANT ALFALFAS COMPARED First year field test bears out laboratory ratings

N

ow that salt-tolerant alfalfa varieties are becoming available in Canada, producer groups are interested in evaluating the performance of these new varieties in head-to-head field trials.

Salt-tolerant varieties have strong overall production traits, plus improved ability to emerge and persist in saline soils compared to varieties developed without salt tolerance in the breeding program.

Halo, developed by Cal/West Seeds of California has been commercially available from Viterra for the past two years and seed availability is good for 2012. AC Bridgview, developed at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Lethbridge Research Centre and licensed last year for seed increase and marketing to SeCan, will be commercially available in 2015. Northstar Seeds, headquartered at Neepawa, Man., expects to collect the final year of yield data on its alfalfa line with improved resistance to salinity and file for registration this fall.

An Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technology (ADOPT) project at the Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation Diversification Centre (CSIDC) near Outlook, Sask. is one of the first field comparisons of three alfalfa varieties noted as having superior tolerance to salinity by Dr. Harold 38 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

2011 YIELDS OF SALT-TOLERANT ALFALFA VARIETIES ON IRRIGATED LAND Variety

Halo

Plant height Aug. 30 (cm)

1st cut yield June 23 (t/ac.)

2nd cut yield Aug. 4 (t/ac.)

3rd cut yield Sept. 15 (t/ac.)

2011 yield 3 cuts (t/ac.)

50

2.36

2.05

1.50

5.91

CW064027

56

1.97

1.99

1.48

5.44

Bridgeview

40

1.99

1.41

1.11

4.51

AC Blue J

43

2.03

1.66

1.36

5.05

Steppuhn in the salt-testing lab at the AAFC Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre at Swift Current.

The lab is the only one of its kind in Canada. Cultivars are grown in vats of sand with the salt concentration controlled through the watering system.

Field trials are then done to verify the lab findings. Dryland trials are also in progress in co-operation with producer groups at Swift Current and Oyen.

Halo, AC Bridgeview and the experimental line CW064027 were the three varieties chosen for the ADOPT demonstration. The control is AC Blue J, a popular variety grown under irrigation.

Accounting for the variation in salinity across a field is one of the challenges in testing the performance of these salt-tolerant lines. Salinity also changes over time depending on environmental conditions, explains Saskatchewan irrigation agrologist Gary Kruger, who led the demonstration on behalf of the

producer-run Irrigation Crop Diversification Corporation (ICDC).

The salinity across the demonstration site was mapped before seeding in spring of 2010 and resurveyed in October to identify transects, perpendicular lines across the site where the salinity is fairly uniform. One transect was severely saline, six were moderate and one showed no salinity.

The entire area was in summerfallow the previous summer and no fertilizer or inoculant were applied before, during or following seeding on June 29. All three varieties were sown at eight pounds per acre at a depth of one-half inch and sprayed a month after seeding with 2,4-DB at 400g/L then cut for hay on September 18.

In 2011, forage samples were collected along the eight transects at the early bloom stage on June 23, and again on August 4 and September 15.

Soil samples showed salinity www.canadiancattlemen.ca

remained unchanged at seven transects but shifted from moderate to severe at one of them.

Findings “Going by the salinity map, the area that I thought would produce the highest yield — the non-saline area — was among the lowest average yield from the eight transects,” Kruger says.

This was attributed to excessive soil moisture, particularly in the lowerlying non-saline area due to irrigation efforts to get the demonstration off to an ideal start in 2011, followed by generous precipitation in June and early July. Waterlogging appeared to be more of a limiting factor than salinity in 2011.

The average dry-matter (DM) yield off the three cuts for all four varieties combined was 4.48 tonnes per acre on the non-saline area, 5.58 tonnes per acre in the severely saline soil, and 4.28 to 5.67 tonnes in moderately saline soils. The CSIDC’s Crop Varieties for Irrigation manual lists a 5.13 tonnes per acre average DM yield for the check variety Beaver, with AC Blue J at 104 per cent of Beaver.

The average height of the regrowth in all varieties after the first cut was 46 centimetres (cm) in non-saline soil, 47 to 49 cm in moderately saline soils and 43 cm in severely saline plots.

The top-yielding variety was Halo, with CW064027 close behind. Kruger says both varieties demonstrated rapid regrowth following cutting. Varieties with genetics for rapid regrowth tend to have later dormancy, that is, they want to continue growing later into the fall than varieties with earlier dormancy that stop growing, thereby conserving energy reserves in the roots. Based on the selection criteria for the lines used for AC Bridgeview and the regrowth observed in the demonstration, he suspects it will have earlier dormancy.

Kruger is hoping to be able to keep the demonstration in production for another two growing seasons to evaluate the persistence of these plants at different soil salinity.

The field yields confirmed the relative yield ratings for these varieties determined in the SPARC salt-test lab, he adds.

A bit about Halo Halo has added potential for salt tolerance without giving up yield that you would expect from a highwww.canadiancattlemen.ca

performance variety designed for use in three- and four-cut systems under irrigation, says Vern Turchyn, Viterra’s director of seed marketing, sales and production.

“So far, feedback from producers is that where crop production is diminished by underlying saline conditions, they have been able to achieve full forage yield in those areas by using Halo.”

As with any alfalfa, Halo won’t tolerate prolonged wet conditions on heavy soils and yield will drop off in saline soil compared to its yield in nonsaline areas, Turchyn adds. Under normal growing conditions in soils with low to moderate salinity, you could expect Halo to yield 20 per cent more than varieties not bred for improved salt tolerance.

Halo exhibits 84 per cent multifoliate expression, meaning it has genetic potential to produce up to seven leaves on 84 per cent of the stems as opposed to the typical three.

Halo’s fall dormancy rating is 4.0.

Varieties with fall dormancy ratings in the two to four range are most

suited to multiple-cut systems in Canada. Halo is rated 2.5 for winter hardiness on a scale of 1.0 to 6.0, with 1.0 being very hardy and 6.0 being the least hardy and more suited to southern regions.

A preview of AC Bridgeview AC Bridgeview was derived from saline-tolerant selections of Apica, AC Blue J, Barrier, Beaver, Heinrichs, Rangelander and Roamer alfalfa. It has an erect growth habit with less than five per cent multifoliate expression. It has a deep crown of medium width, however winter hardiness and fall dormancy ratings have not yet been established. Bridgeview looks to be well suited for hay production in Western Canada and indications are it would perform well in both pure and mixed stands with grasses and other legumes.

For more information go to www. irrigationsaskatchewan.com or contact Gary Kruger at 306-867-5524, gar y.

C kruger@gov.sk.ca.

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MARKETING

ALBERTA AUCTION REPLACES SALES COMMISSION WITH A BUYER’S FEE

T

he Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange (SALE) blazed a new trail for its future in the cattle auction business with a single move this month when it replaced its sales commission with a buyer’s fee on feeder and slaughter cattle. The change came into effect April 1 for all cattle sold by the pound through SALE’s two locations, Fort Macleod Auction at Fort Macleod and Highwood Livestock Auction at High River.

Gone are the $15.50 per head commission on calves and 1.5 cent per pound commission on slaughter animals sold by the pound. Sellers now pay a nominal yardage fee of $2 per head on feeder cattle, $5 on slaughter cows and $15 on bulls to cover costs specific to marketing their cattle, such as manure removal, bedding and spreading sawdust in the alleys.

The $1 per head brand inspection fee and $3 for Hartford insurance are still charged to the seller.

The buyer’s fee is one to two per cent of the price paid for feeder and slaughter cattle.

Sellers will still pay regular commission on stock sales of bred cows and heifers and cow-calf pairs, because cow-calf producers are both buyers and sellers, explains co-owner Justin Keeley.

As the fourth generation of a family with deep roots in ranching, Keeley is well aware that the cost of many of regulations and policies brought in due to BSE have fallen back on cowcalf producers. He says SALE’s new strategy will help offset some of that burden by allowing producers to pass some of the costs up the chain and still benefit from true price discovery inherent in the auction system.

“The angle for us is to do the best job possible of marketing and we are confident that this will allow us to do better for producers, putting more money in their pockets at the end of the day,” Keeley says. “It’s an avenue for us to be able to source more cattle from all sizes of herds and from farther distances away, giving our buyers a chance to do business with as many producers as possible every sale day.”

The draw for buyers is cattle — lots

40 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

Justin Keeley, Allan Lively and Darren Shaw (l to r). of cattle. The more that come in for a sale, the more choice buyers have to find the right kind of cattle to fill their orders and go home satisfied.

“SALE has always taken pride in its ability to attract and professionally present large lots of quality cattle,” Keeley says. “That said, quality is all in the eye of the buyer and cattle from all sizes of herds are important when it comes to filling orders, so this is not just about about attracting big strings of cattle. We just want to attract more cattle. More cattle equals more buyers.”

SALE’s major buyers were consulted during the planning stages to get their honest opinions and all of the company’s regular buyers were contacted before going public with the plan in early March. “Most of them were fine with

it and understand because this industry has changed so much,” Keeley says.

Only time will tell how the buyerfee system will affect bid prices. Buyers think of the price in terms of “landed cost” of the animals in the yard, he explains. The buyer fee will be just one of many variables that come into play to determine what they are willing to pay for a calf any given day. In today’s global marketplace, one phone call and it can all change in an instant, let alone a day.

It’s normal to see a three to five per cent flux in the price during a sale.

Nobody anywhere can say to a decimal point what the value of an animal is until it goes through the ring.

The status quo is changing and it could be said that change itself is the www.canadiancattlemen.ca

new status quo. SALE’s owners firmly believe that, whether it be on the farm or in the ag service sector, those who are willing and able to adapt to change will be the survivors.

The auction industry as a whole is changing, too, Keeley adds. If you take livestock out of the picture, more and more auction companies have been moving to a buyer fee in the last few years. As far as he knows, SALE is the first cattle auction company in North America to follow this trend.

It gives producers another option for selling cattle. The hope is that money saved on commission could make the road a little shorter and pockets a little heavier.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

In tandem with the change in fee structure, both markets will accept cattle 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the convenience of consignors scheduling shipments of cattle from long distances. At the seller’s request, feed will be provided at cost in feed and water pens.

Cattle will still be sold on an overnight stand and weighed as they go through the ring.

SALE offers regular cattle sales yearround with special sales on a seasonal basis and as booked. Regular sales start at 9 a.m. every Tuesday at Fort Macleod Auction and every Wednesday at Highwood Livestock Auction.

SALE is an independent company

owned and operated by Allan Lively and Justin Keeley of Pincher Creek, and Darren Shaw of Cardston, with silent partners Harry Lively, Ron Jackson and Clarke Schlosser. Keeley and Shaw, who bought into the business earlier this year, are excited to be part of this progressive company.

Allan Lively is president and general manager of the Highwood Livestock Auction; Keeley is the general manager of Fort Macleod Auction; and Shaw is SALE’s business manager. Together they bring more than 45 years of experience to the business.

For more information, call SALE at 1-888-553-7715 or visit the website at www.livestock.ab.ca.

C

Cattlemen / April 2012 41

P r i m e

c u t s

by Steve Kay

The changing industry A North American view of the meat industry.

Steve Kay is publisher and editor of Cattle Buyers Weekly

T

he declining cattle herd, record-high 2011 but Mother Nature got in the way. It’s not feed prices, ethanol co-product feeds overly simplistic to say that the best way to stimand other factors are causing significant ulate herd rebuilding is to pray for rain because structural changes in the U.S. cattle green grass and more cows go hand in hand. industry. The number of operations with beef The industry might also consider ways to help cows has declined by more than 270,000 or 27 producers retain heifers, such as cattle feeders per cent in the past 25 years. Some cow-calf prooffering long-term contracts for calves that will ducers are selling their cow herds and becoming be born in three years’ time. The industry might stocker operators. The number of feedlots has consider offering free clinics to help producers been declining since 1996, although the largest manage their financial risk. It might try to perare getting larger. And more cattle are being fed suade bankers to offer reduced lending rates for on the Northern Plains because of the availability cow-calf producers to carry those heifers to calf. of ethanol co-products.

Suppliers to the industry might encourage proThese are some of the points in a new study ducers to use all possible available technologies of the industry by agricultural economists Darto improve productivity and reduce costs and rell Mark, South Dakota State University, Ross death loss. Beyond this, it’s imperative to let the Pruitt, Louisiana State University and David market take care of the herd size and prices. ProAnderson, Texas A&M ducers will expand their University. The structural herds if it rains and calf changes are likely to conand feeder prices remain tinue in 2012 and beyond The cow-calf sector has record high. as the industry adapts I’m not as concerned to lower cattle num- been shrinking because as some about the impact bers, they say. Even with the smallest and least on industry structure. modest heifer retention, The cow-calf sector has the U.S. beef cow herd efficient have exited. This been shrinking because or cattle-on-feed inventhe smallest and least tory in 2012 will likely will continue. It’s now time efficient producers have decline. Growth will for the largest feedlot exited. This will conlikely be modest at best, tinue. The industry has as high capital invest- operations to mothball had significant overcaments keep producers pacity in the cattle-feedcautious in these histori- some feedlots ing sector for years. But cally low return enterthis didn’t stop the largprises. While this will continue to affect cattle est operators expanding over the past decade. It’s producers, it will also have important impacts now time for the largest operations to mothball on rural communities, allied service industries some feedlots. and downstream beef processors, retailers, and Finally, it’s important to note that despite consumers, they conclude. record-high retail beef prices, consumers will The U.S. herd has declined for 13 out of the continue to buy beef. That’s because they crave last 16 years. So there’s much talk about how its taste and there’s no substitute. They will spend to arrest the decline and encourage producers to more on beef because they will eat less due to expand. This is easier said than done. But one availability. The industry’s focus should be on starting point is to reiterate that the industry continuing to improve beef’s quality and consisis still extremely large in terms of global cattle tency, to make beef’s value equation even more numbers, and that the U.S. is still the world’s compelling for consumers. largest beef producer and produces the highestquality beef in the world. Global demand for this Cattle Buyers Weekly covers the North American meat beef is growing. Producers need to know that the and livestock industry. For subscription informafuture looks bright. tion, contact Steve Kay at P.O. Box 2533, Petaluma, CA 94953, or at 707-765-1725, or go to www.cattleIt’s also important to note that cow-calf probuyersweekly.com. ducers wanted to expand their herds in 2010 and

42 Cattlemen / April 2012

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

BUILDING TRUST IN CANADIAN BEEF

B.C. Trinity Ranch targets the beef customer of the future

Young ranch family builds with a clear focus on marketing basics There are not many marketing fundamentals more basic than those and they are the foundation of the future for the young family owners of Trinity Ranch at Hixon, B.C. Producing beef was always a dream of Natasha and Urs Reichlin. While Urs had spent some time working on farms, Natasha had no direct farm experience.

Both had a longing to be involved in food production and to raise a family on a farm.

Land in the native Okanagan area was out of reach financially but a beautiful spot at Hixon on the highway heading north to Prince George proved to be “perfect” and a little over seven years ago Trinity Ranch was born. Fifteen cows that first year have grown to 80

calving this year and two young children have added to the dream team.

Designer customers “We have always had a belief in producing beef as naturally as possible, things like grass fed, well-cared-for animals, environmentally sustainable production,” says Natasha. “We feel that more people today want to know where their food comes from and that’s the market we have gone after.

“We didn’t want to do the conventional beef operation where calves are sold the traditional way, so our focus has been to develop a brand for our beef and sell direct to the end customer.”

That value-added strategy would help them reach financial goals without having to grow as large.

Growth in customer-direct sales has been slow and are still a small part of the business. Remaining calves from their Angus/Simmental herd base go through the auction service.

“It has taken us a while to get the meat processing side established,” admits Natasha. “We had to find the processors who could process the beef the way we wanted, manage regulations and get the timing and delivery process down. But we have that figured out pretty well now and are set for growth in the future.

The customer base that will pay for that quality has been a bit slower to develop in their northern area of the province, but it’s coming, she says. As

an example a store recently opened in nearby Quesnel catering to that clientele.

“The big thing on people’s minds is food safety. With food recalls showing up more frequently in the news, people want confidence in their food.”

Building the brand

A core part of building their Trinity Ranch brand has been to get involved in industry programs, says Natasha. That can often help securing funding offered.

An Environmental Farm Plan sets a baseline of environmental management. The Verified Beef Production (VBP) program does the same for on-farm food safety.

“It’s important people understand that we are passionate about our program,” she says. “Our customers love the idea of VBP. It’s another sign of how we are doing things and that the product is safe.”

VBP provides very useful management information. Proper handling of drugs and proper injection techniques provide confidence in doing things properly.

“It has been a simple process to be involved in VBP and it is a big part of our brand from meat products to our website at www.trinityranch.ca,” says Natasha. “I think some people may be scared off by the idea of an audit of what they are doing on their operation, but it really was so simple and seamless and we never felt threatened in any way.

We were doing most of the things anyway and we learned some useful new things as a result.”

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RALGRO Canadian Cattleman QSH.indd 1

12-01-25 14:17

C C A

A

Martin Unrau is president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

r e p o r t s

s I write this column — my first as president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) — calving is underway at my ranch. There’s nothing like a fresh crop of healthy, newborn calves to stoke a sense of optimism in a cattle producer, particularly in the current environment of high cattle prices.

A similar feeling of optimism was apparent at the CCA 2012 Annual General Meeting in Ottawa in March. Canada’s beef cattle industry is in a good place and the outlook is encouraging. As the president of the CCA, I will continue to focus on the issues that will improve industry competitiveness for the long term and ensure our role as a leading producer of high-quality beef to the global marketplace.

Trade is vital to ensuring the long-term profitability of the industry. The CCA will continue to work to open new markets, expand existing market access agreements and maintain current markets. Recent market access wins, particularly in South Korea and China, are the result of the tireless efforts of the Government of Canada and the CCA. Market access is the lifeblood for our industry and the agreement with China is a good example of that. The agreement calls for the approval of additional Canadian beef export facilities and the inclusion of bone-in beef and offal from UTM cattle, as well as live dairy cattle. This is in addition to the resumption of Canadian beef tallow exports. The more parts of a carcass that we can sell into the highest-priced markets improve the value of every animal for producers.

The CCA supports the streamlining of regulatory process wherever possible to improve industry competitiveness. The CCA continues its efforts on reducing regulatory burden through the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC).

Initiatives under the RCC include road maps to achieve the elimination of unnecessary duplication of meat inspections for imports, implementation of electronic border clearances, and improved approval processes for veterinary drugs.

Streamlining the meat inspection process at the border will remove the burden of duplicate inspection on our beef and live cattle exports.

An improved approval processes for veterinary drugs would reduce costs for producers. Achieving consistency on this and other trade issues with the U.S. is important. Canada exports nearly half of its beef production and approximately 80 per cent of those exports go to the U.S. We also compete with the U.S. selling high-quality grain fed beef to the world.

The Growing Forward II (GFII) policy will come into effect in March 2013. As cattle producers we need to ensure that the programs we get will serve us today and well into the future.

The main issues under the GFII program are: • AgriRecovery and the predictability and timeliness of the program.

44 Cattlemen / April 2012

by Martin Unrau

• Pasture and Hay insurance that is useful and affordable for producers.

• Cattle Price insurance beyond Alberta (work is ongoing on this).

• AgriStability — With our margins beginning to grow from some of the positive years we’re having, we need to ensure we find a way to use AgriStability as a backstop for the cattle industry.

The CCA has been very vocal about the importance of the innovation and research section of GFII. These areas have seen increased investment by industry because they can add value and profit to producers for the long term. We hope federal and provincial governments support this investment with their own commitments. We must ensure research will have practical application in order to benefit producers. Investment in feed grain varieties to improve yields in dry or wet conditions is one example of research that would bring more productivity to the feed market which is a benefit to livestock producers.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz understands how vitally important research and innovation are to the industry. At the CCA AGM, Minister Ritz announced an additional $3 million in federal funding for the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS). This will ensure that the value of the BIXS tool is there for program participants as we forge ahead in harnessing information technology for the beef industry.

We will continue to work on having an affordable and economical traceability system without added cost to grassroots producers. A robust traceability system will help us to address challenges efficiently when they arise.

Being from Manitoba, the still-present bovine TB situation in Riding Mountain National Park is something I hope to see addressed in a meaningful way during my term. We have to find a way to address the TB issue to ensure wildlife doesn’t carry disease to cattle.

The CCA will continue to communicate about the beneficial environmental aspects of cattle production and provide input to the Beef Cattle Code of Practice renewal process. An updated code is important to have so industry can show interested people how things are done in the Canadian beef cattle industry.

The CCA is also funding the national Canadian Livestock Transport (CLT) Certification Program. The CLT ensures that producers will continue to be accountable and responsible for the care, feeding and transport of their animals.

It is important to remain competitive between provinces, within Canada and globally for our provincial members. All of the issues will be addressed as we move forward, understanding that certain needs and certain regions and provinces are different, and work towards ensuring we are competitive in Canada. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP

Single order During a recent agricultural visit vineyard and for this they charged an extra 40 per cent. to Europe I had the pleasure of visitToday, they are the largest retailer of wine in Holland. ing with Henk van Dongen, the retail I like the wine story because I think it speaks to the king who owns Fresh Retail in the meat case. In our commodity-driven thinking we often Netherlands. His creative and enerforget that folks don’t know about beef, can’t cook it getic approach challenged all tradiand are overwhelmed by the sea of red that greets them tional thinking on marketing food at the retail shelf. The beef in the meat case is dead — and related products. As with all great dead weight to a consumer who is generations from sales stories, it starts with understandunderstanding food, let alone beef. Would it not benefit ing the population demographic. our industry to step out from behind the glass and tell For the first time in North American and western our story? Could we not capture a greater market share European history, we have more people over 60 years of of meat protein through creative marketing and presenage (25 per cent) than we have children under the age of tation? For Fresh Retail, stripping a client down from 15 years (15 per cent). Folks are older, but they are not 18 varieties of tomatoes to eight varieties added a 40 old as they remain active, health conscious and often per cent margin and increased sales by 30 per cent. Now single. In fact, across the age demographic in both gena single “grilling” tomato sells for as much as $5. Van ders, there is a domination of the single scene with a lot Dongen’s message was simple, “Take out the low sellers of edges. These include singles having pure fun as well and add something new that has the same characteristics as panicked females who hear a biological clock and year round.” frustrated males who can’t tolerate women smarter than For perishable and non-perishable goods, the single themselves. And there are singles who chose a career male and female of all ages will be a primary buyer and path over a relationship and many in the game for the shop for a variety of goods based on what they know. second time around as well as a massive surge of singles They will use their mobile devises to determine what in their senior years. will be bought and in urban areas buy direct from their A focus on this demographic opens the door for cellphone for pickup or delivery. Today, 74 per cent of superb marketing opportunities as this population set Europeans maintain they plan to buy their food in this is smart and particular and will way. The $10 apple was launched pay for items that tickle them at on the Internet as was the wine and the core. They are also curious with the $5 tomato. access to technology and have an We often forget that You can buy beef online. Here is interest in the story behind their folks don’t know about an example of a single order of beef food. Hank van Dongen reminded short ribs from Amazon (the book us that “If you are convinced there beef, can’t cook it, store). The site reads: Our authentic is a difference in your product then marinade makes meat tender and you have to explain that. Just mak- and are overwhelmed full of flavours. We hand pick each ing a claim is not enough anymore.” by the sea of red that USDA Choice grade beef short rib Differentiation in the marketpackage. Your package will be creplace is a strong marketing tool. It greets them in stores ated when you order and shipped is apples that sell for $10 apiece and within a day or two unfrozen so $5 tomatoes. How? By telling the story to the buyer. In you can enjoy superior taste. Packaged small enough for the case of apples, the $10 apple is one that it is picked a single and presented with great photos, instructions on late from the sunny side of the tree and on the outermost how to cook the product, consumer reviews and home limbs. The sugar content in these apples is higher than delivery make for a stimulating virtual shopping adventhose on the inside of the tree or those that are picked ture. But it is the review from a single male that really early. It is a simple concept and a simple story. When the wraps up this story when he quips “Seriously, people — outside apples are different, beautifully presented and this is great stuff! Everything is already marinated inside the story told — the value of those apples, especially to a the package and ready to go. The meat was so tender single, becomes rather unlimited. and fresh I seriously reconsidered ever buying any kind The same can be said for any commodity. Take wine of meat at my local grocer ever again.” for example. Two enterprising young men recognized that The cost: $25/lb. Case closed. entertaining and the single life often revolved around a — Brenda Schoepp good bottle of wine. They too appreciated wine but knew nothing about it. Through research, the men discovered Brenda Schoepp is a market analyst and the owner and author that each wine had a story and thus intrigued they proof BEEFLINK, a national beef cattle market newsletter. A ceeded to buy six classes of wine and open a tiny shop. professional speaker and industry market and research consultant, she ranches near Rimbey, Alta. Contact her at brenda.

For the display case, they featured only six bottles of each schoepp@cciwireless.ca or visit www.brendaschoepp.com. All class of wine at a time with a complete description of the rights reserved 2012. wine, how to serve it with a meal, the story behind the

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CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012 45

NEWS ROUNDUP ENVIRONMENT DO BMPS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY? It seems agriculture, and specifically livestock agriculture, is always under the environmental looking glass. In response most provinces have come up with a list of Beneficial Management Practices that they promote as the route to improved environmental stewardship. Unfortunately the effectiveness and economic implication of these BMPs are not well documented and this leaves producers and policymakers alike wondering which BMPs give the best bang for the buck.

In search of those answers a large research team led by the Irrigation and Farm Water Division of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development launched a six-year Nutrient BMP Evaluation Project in 2006 to evaluate BMPs under different conditions based on improvements in water quality. The study is entering the last lap this spring and the final report and recommendations will be available next year.

Two watersheds Two agricultural watersheds were selected. Indianfarm Creek Watershed, which is about 14,145 ha in size near Pincher Creek. About 40 per cent is cropped with the rest in perennial forages. It has a deep drainage system, and the watercourse is influenced by cattle in the riparian area. The other is the Whelp Creek Sub-watershed, which covers 4,600 ha west of Lacombe.

About 60 per cent of this Aspen Parkland sub-watershed is in annual crops mostly fertilized with manure. The watercourse is shallow and often cultivated in dry years.

Two field sites were also selected northeast of Lethbridge: one in the Bat-

Constructing a sediment stop.

46 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

tersea Drain Watershed and the other in the Lower Little Bow Watershed.

Both are irrigated sites with high nutrient levels, particularly phosphorus, from years of manure application.

Each BMP’s impact was measured by sampling changes in water quality at the 19 field-scale sites for two to four years before and after the BMPs were put in place. They also measured soil nutrients, riparian and/or rangeland quality.

The BMPs included off-stream watering, rotational grazing, run-off control with berms, relocated wintering site, removing corrals, manure nutrient management, manure application setbacks, grass channels, switching from surface to injected liquid manure, and precision irrigation application.

Within the Indianfarm Creek Watershed, the drainage system is erosive and flashy, often with high flows in spring. Rainfall run-off is significant and loss of nutrients in sediment is a primary concern putting the focus on cattle access and point sources on the creek. In contrast, the Whelp Creek Sub-watershed has a shallow drainage system and the loss of dissolved nutrients is the main concern. Manure nutrient application and the close proximity of cropland to the drainage system are important factors. Even though the project’s primary focus is on surface water quality, we now know that shallow groundwater plays an important role in the hydrology of the Whelp Creek Sub-watershed. As a result, a groundwater study was initiated within the sub-watershed in 2010.

At one BMP site in the Indianfarm Creek Watershed, a large dugout, created by an earth dam on a tributary, was fenced to exclude cattle and a solarpowered, off-stream watering system installed to provide water to surrounding pasture. Even though the cattle still had access to the creek, the cattle preferred to drink from the watering system. Initial measurements showed biodiversity increased in the riparian area; however, improvements to water quality were inconclusive.

At another site in the Indianfarm Creek Watershed, old corrals were adjacent to the creek and there was a substantial manure pack from cattle that lingered at the corrals for wind shelter. Run-off from the corral area drained into a nearby channel and then into Indianfarm Creek. The cor-

rals were removed and water quality improved. At a nearby farm, a wintering site was moved away from the creek and the cattle switched to rotational grazing. This involved installing off-stream watering systems and creating a riparian pasture to keep the cattle away from the area next to the creek during sensitive periods such as April and May. The result: improved water quality.

Costs at the different sites ranged from $170 to $76,000 and involved anywhere from five to 350 hours of labour. BMPs less than $500 involved only soil sampling and developing nutrient management plans. About 70 to 80 per cent of the most expensive BMPs involved hauling manure to alternative fields.

Early in the project they learned that BMPs must be site specific and in every case several BMPs were needed to address water quality concerns. For example, a rotational grazing plan may require off-stream watering and fencing, or a manure management plan may also include setbacks and a grass water channel. It is clear that promotion of a single BMP as a “silver bullet” will not achieve an environmental outcome. Instead, the desired outcome should be determined first, and then BMPs prescribed to achieve it.

Complete information can be found on the Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development website ( www.agric. ab.ca) by typing Nutrient BMP Evaluation Project into the search option.

POLICY OCA MEETING LOW KEY The Ontario Cattlemen’s Association’s (OCA) recent annual meeting in Toronto was one of the most relaxed in recent years riding on the heels of last year’s successes and the general optimism in the beef industry.

Newly elected president Dan Darling of Castleton says it will be important this year to ensure that the new Risk Management Insurance Program (RMIP) for cow-calf, backgrounder and feeder operations continues to roll out as it should and is taken up by as many producers as possible. Several resolutions dealt with ways in which the program could be tweaked to improve it for producers. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

During 2010, the OCA joined forces with Ontario Pork to put together a concerted lobby effort on behalf of their members for a permanent RMIP modelled after the grains and oilseeds pilot program.

The program pays out if the average Ontario market price falls below the support level. The support level is based on a cost-of-production formula, multiplied by the selected coverage level (80, 90 or 100 per cent). Cow-calf producers pay an annual premium based on the anticipated number of calves to be sold, starting at $18.98 per head for 80 per cent coverage. The annual premiums for backgrounders and feeders are based on expected weight gain, starting at $0.0021 per pound for the 80 per cent coverage level for calves to be backgrounded, and $0.0034 per pound for calves to be finished. The program is administered by the provincial Agricorp agency (www.argricorp.com).

“Traceability is a big deal in agriculture, so we will continue to educate producers more on what they will have to do moving ahead and how to make it work for them,” Darling says.

The OCA will continue to support the Ontario Corn-Fed Beef value chain, which Darling notes has been a big win for the Ontario beef industry, and to search out other valueadded markets of interest to members.

“If we can accomplish some of these goals this year, we will be doing good,” says Darling, who was re-elected last fall to his third and final three-year term as a representative to the OCA. He also serves as one of Ontario’s representatives and an executive member of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association board of directors.

He and his wife, Mary, and three daughters operate a mixed farm in partnership with his brother, Van. They run 250 cows, background their calves to about 1,000 pounds, farm gate some of their own beef, and grow corn, soybean and wheat.

research Controlling Foxtail Barley With Other Forages Foxtail barley is a real pest, particularly for cow-calf producers in Western Canada.

It’s hard to burn off in spring but easily killed with tillage which isn’t always convenient on pastures and hayfields.

It is an invader and thanks to the vast number of airborne seeds it produces it usually fills in bare spots and takes over areas not favoured by other plants, such as saline patches. Add to that cattle don’t like it much. The stiff, sharp awns are like slivers, lodging in the nose and mouth of grazing animals reducing intake, weight gain and milk production and in the worst cases causing infection.

What’s needed is a simple way to suppress foxtail barley, particularly in saline soils, and researchers Harold Steppuhn and Alan Iwaasa, from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre in Swift Current may have found it.

Their study compared the efficacy of several forages in reducing foxtail barley growth at different salinity levels.

Two Alberta field sites near Oyen and Warner were seeded in 2006. Both were downwind of a significant foxtail barley seed source; the soil salinity was severe at the Oyen site (av. 7.7 dS/m) and moderate at Warner (av. 4.3 dS/m).

Continued on page 48 www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Cattlemen / April 2012 47

News Roundup Continued from page 47

The Warner plots also contained downy brome.

Ten forages or mixtures were seeded alongside a check plot at each location.

Saltmaster blend, AC Rocket smooth brome grass, Spredor 4 alfalfa and AC Saltlander green wheat grass were seeded with 12- and six-inch rows spacings, Nuttall’s salt-meadow grass, Polar northern wheat grass, slender and green wheat grass at six-inch rows spacing, along with Poole western wheat grass, and Orbit tall wheat grass.

In 2007, 2008 and 2010, at Oyen, no forage averaged more than 79 per cent control. Drought hit in 2009. But in 2011 AC Saltlander green wheat grass at 12- and six-inch rows and plots seeded with slender and green wheat grass in alternating rows averaged better than 80 per cent control. The green wheat grass varieties did best among all the forages at this severely saline site.

At the lower saline Warner site five forages smothered more than 80 per cent of the foxtail barley and downy

Saltlander versus unseeded control. brome. They were the Saltmaster blend, Orbit tall wheat grass, and AC Rocket smooth brome grass; the AC Saltlander green wheat grass and slender and green wheat grass in alternating rows again showed best, controlling 98 per

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cent of the foxtail after three growing seasons. The green wheat grass smothered 98 per cent of downy brome, and 97 per cent of both weeds.

Dianne Westerlund, manager of the Chinook Applied Research Association, says producers have been expressing interest in the Saltlander variety due to the results of this trial.

As AC Saltlander was one of the varieties best suited to controlling foxtail barley at both salinity levels, its suitability as a grazing forage was also tested. Production was similar to smooth brome grass over four years in both saline and non-saline soils.

Statistically there was no difference in grazing performance based on average daily gain, although there was a consistent numerical advantage in gain for steers grazing AC Saltlander. Over the four years, the average daily gain per head was 13 per cent higher over the entire grazing season for animals pastured on AC Saltlander.

“The palatability of Saltlander is a real asset,” Westerlund explains. “It is difficult to find salt-resistant varieties that cattle will graze.” It wasn’t tested in the fall however, so its suitability for late-fall grazing or as a stockpile forage requires further research.

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Ken Miller of Miller Seeds in Milk River, Alta., says he has often grazed cattle on Saltlander through the winter months, as it is a very tough variety.

Miller cautions that you “can’t just scatter some seeds around and hope they get rid of the foxtail.” Seedbed preparation is key to the establishment of suppressor forages. Any existing weeds should first be destroyed. Tillage of the affected area prior to the seeding of suppressor forages like Saltlander is recommended to bury the existing shallow seedbank and decrease the salt concentration at the surface of the soil.

“Once the forage is established, it does an excellent job of controlling foxtail,” he says. “The seedlings are vigorous.”

The value of suppressor forages in controlling foxtail barley lies not only in reducing the application of costly herbicides to infested areas. Improved weight gain plus increased forage production are other pluses.

If the land is used for hay production, a decrease in the amount foxtail barley present from 10 to five per cent would return $10-$20 per ton of hay produced by decreasing the price discounts resulting from foxtail barley contamination. Cropland with saline areas unsuitable for crop production

GREENER

could be seeded to AC Saltlander to help contain the saline areas and eliminate the negative cash flows associated with applying expensive crop inputs to these low-yielding areas.

This particular project was supported by Alberta Beef Producers, Alberta Dryland Salinity Control Association, Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, Chinook Applied Research Association, Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre, Miller Seeds, Proven Seed/Viterra, and the Warner County Ag Board.

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A market analysis and strategic Continued on page 50

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Cattlemen / April 2012 49

News Roundup Continued from page 49

development study headed up by Glenn Brand, the former CEO of the Beef Information Centre, is assessing current retail merchandising and marketing practices in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. He is also identifying future requirements to assess the feasibility of a beef value chain for B.C. beef.

The market research firm, People Talking, is surveying beef-eating habits, purchasing decisions, and attitudes toward beef to identify the most important attributes for beef in this market, including the large local Chinese population.

Meyers Norris Penny will complete the other half of the puzzle with an economic assessment of a B.C. beef cattle value chain, looking at direct and multiplier effects of B.C. beef on provincial gross domestic product, taxes and job creation as well as the social and environmental contribution made by the industry.

The BCCA expects to present the market analysis report later this spring to the task force.

The BCCA’s popular consumer education and research program Behind the Beef recently received a boost in its three-year federal-provincial AgriFlexibility program. Right now they hire 16 beef educators who can talk knowledgeably about beef to shoppers in grocery stores. Several large

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grocery retailers with stores in Victoria and Vancouver Island, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Merritt, Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon, Salmon Arm, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Prince George, Smithers and the Peace have signed on to the program. Most of these beef educators have a background in agriculture and/or meat cutting and all have taken the mandatory Beef 101 training course.

The BCCA expects to offer the program in 150 to 200 grocery stores and to conduct approximately 2,000 events annually at the various venues at no cost to the hosts.

associations WSGA aims to stop rustlers The Western Stock Growers’ Association (WSGA) has established a virtual office after more than 100 years of maintaining a brick-and-mortar headquarters. President Phil Rowland of High River says the move will allow the association to put more of its funds into activities rather than office space.

The Calgary office closed at the end of last year and director Wendy Adam is serving as the interim executive assistant while she researches how the virtual office should operate.

Contact information is being maintained on the association’s website at www.wsga.ca.

Arrangements have been made to store the WSGA’s historical documents in a climate-controlled vault at the Glenbow museum in Calgary. Some items are already on display at the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation museum at Cochrane.

Due to the resurgence of cattle rustling in southeastern Alberta, WSGA members unanimously carried a resolution at their recent annual meeting to establish a trust fund to offer rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone stealing livestock from a WSGA member.

The WSGA was to provide $10,000 to get the fund started and hope to raise a total of $50,000. Since the annual meeting Rowland says donations from producers and banks has put the fund well on the road to reaching this target.

The WSGA is prepared to pledge the full amount if warranted. The executive has also had discussions with Livestock Inspection Services, which oversees brand inspection services

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in Alberta and supports two dedicated RCMP positions, as well as with the Crime Stoppers program.

WSGA first vice-president Aaron Brower says ranchers in his area first noticed cattle going missing in 2004.

Since then, he has lost 160 head from his ranch at Aden, Alta., and a neighbour lost 150. Another 250 head were reported missing south of Medicine Hat and approximately 200 from the Brooks area. These are only the producers who have actually counted their cattle and reported a shortfall to the RCMP. Members also carried a resolution to lobby the Government of Alberta to repeal its proposed land-use bills 19, 24, 36 and 50 on the basis that they are not needed or violate property rights.

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purely purebred Suggestions are always welcome.

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

Deborah WILSON

◆ Well another pic from the smokin’ ’70s, literally and figuratively. Who are these two gentlemen?

◆ In the March issue several folks recognized Pam Miller but only one person identified Rob Holowaychuk.

I had no idea that Rob ever wore a cowboy hat until I saw this picture. If anyone has a great oldie pic to share either email it to me or stop me at an event and give it to me. I promise to get them back to you! ◆ On Friday, March 16 the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) board of directors relieved executive vice-president Brett Campbell of his duties. In a statement the board said the role of CBBC leadership and industry, government liaison and lobbying will be handled in the short term by the executive committee and board of directors. “It was heard very clearly last Friday morning that the CBBC needs to reconnect with the grassroots membership. Until such time as the CBBC board can determine what leadership requirements are necessary 52 Cattlemen / April 2012

in the position, the executive vicepresident role is not necessary,” said the statement.

Meanwhile Mauricio Arcila has rejoined CBBC as its technical services co-ordinator. Executive assistant Doris Rempel will be factoring significantly in the day-to-day operation of the office in the interim.

◆ Congratulations to Harvey Dann and Jackie Dann of Alert Agri Distributors. Their national “Steaks for Soldiers” drive raised $120,000 to provide the steaks at all the homecomings for our troops as they returned from overseas in the last 24 months. Two years ago Harvey decided to take this project on to celebrate the anniversary of his company. Any monies left over will be donated to military charities.

If you donated and would like a statement, contact Alert Agri Distributors in Winnipeg. ◆ The Ontario Limousin Association

(OLA) had a very successful annual meeting on February 25. A strong turnout attended the full-day event.

Guest speaker Dr. Steve Miller from the University of Guelph spoke about genomics. New board members are Tim Siefried, Murray Shaw, Tadomi Hunt and Brett Gosnell. Junior members Robert Enright, Abbey Gibson and Brad McIntyre were awarded a trip to the U.K. via the Royal Beef Heifer Show (note: that event is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2012).

New Limousin stocker sales are scheduled for the fall in 2012. The first one will take place on September 29 at Carson’s in Listowel and the second one is at the Cargill Auction on October 26. The Ontario Limousin provincial show will move to a new location this year at Brampton Fair on Sunday, September 16.

largest crowd in years. The show judge was Bob Switzer, Aneroid, Sask. (See our summary on page 54.)

◆ The 2012 Young Canadian Simmental Association (YCSA) National Classic will be held in conjunction with the 2012 CSA annual meeting in Truro, Nova Scotia as well as the Maritime Classic Sale and Salt Water Classic Elite Sale from August 23-25.

◆ Mark your calendar for a YCSA event near you. Further details about these events will be available soon: Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up — August 3-5, Alberta Wild Rose Classic — July 27-29, Ontario Trillium — to be determined, Maritime National Classic — August 23-25, Saskatchewan — August 1-4, Quebec Expo Boeuf Junior Simmental Show — October 5-7. ◆ The Canadian Livestock Transport

(CLT) Certification Program is the new name of the Certified Livestock Transport Program. While the name has changed to reflect the Alberta-based initiative’s new national reach, the CLT acronym will remain the same. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is contributing to the project’s growth with a funding commitment through to 2013. Many updates to the program and its modules are under develop-

STAMPEDE

By Jerry Palen

◆ The Diamond 7 Meats Steak Fry

was a great way to end show day, March 4 at the 93rd Annual Pride of the Prairies Bull Show and Sale in Lloydminster, Sask. Breeds represented were Black and Red Angus, Horned and Polled Hereford, Simmental, Charolais and Limousin. Almost 250 people stayed to enjoy the steaks after a tremendous day of showing. The Bull Sale began Monday, March 5 at 12 noon with 196 bulls on offer and the

“Elmo’s so crabby even his blood type is negative.” www.canadiancattlemen.ca

ment, including a French version of the cattle module. A new exam is also being developed.

◆ The Limousin breed made headlines in the U.K. with a new all breed world record for a beef bull sold at auction. It was set at Borderway Mart, Carlisle when the Limousin bull, Dolcorsllwyn Fabio sold for the equivalent of C$188,921. Consigned by Glyn Vaughan and Son of Machynlleth, Powys in Wales, the September 2010born son of Fieldson Alfy out of a Mas du Clo cow took the pre-sale show. He was sold to Messrs. Jenkinson for the 150 head Whinfellpark herd at Penrith, Cumbria.

350 members of Parliament and government dignitaries. Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz announced an additional $3 million in Agriculture Flexibility Funds for the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS).

The money will be used to expand the program and ensure crucial data is incorporated into the BIXS database.

The Canadian Meat Council sponsored the event.

◆ Good news for Canadian beef pro-

ducers — the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is moving forward in their rule-making process to implement the long-awaited comprehensive BSE rule. The proposed rule will update the

way the U.S. recognizes other countries’ BSE status and bring the United States in line with the system adopted by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in 2006. Having the U.S. adhere to OIE standards would make Canada’s beef exports to the U.S. more secure and hopefully encourage other countries to adopt these international science-based guidelines.

◆ The 112th Calgary Bull Sale Hereford Show was judged Feb. 29 at the stampede grounds by Byron Templeton and his daughter Jocelyn, of Coaldale, Alta. Grand Champion Continued on page 54

◆ Dallas Wise, the main registry clerk at the Canadian Limousin Association took a short “bovine” maternity break for the month of March. Devra Leavitt filled in for her while she was away. ◆ Costco Canada has enhanced their

commitment to Canadian AAA beef this year with in-store promotions and a new slice-and-save guide. “We are very pleased with the new promotions Costco is running in store this winter,” says Martin Lemoyne, Canada Beef Inc.’s North America marketing manager. “They have always been a major supporter of Canadian beef in their meat case and the new initiatives are a great way to get people thinking about beef in the winter.” Costco’s AAA Canadian beef purchases have grown significantly over the past five years.

◆ During the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association AGM in Ottawa the annual VIP reception attracted

sales Chapman Cattle Company 100% “Forage Developed” 2-Year-Old Bull Sale Stettler, Alta., February 16, 2012 5 Black Angus bulls, av. $4,983 5 5 Red Angus bulls, av. $5,140 60 Bulls, gross $299,760

Mar Mac Farms and Guests Bull Sale Brandon, Man., March 7, 2012

70

CALL OR DROP BY ANYTIME!

Red Angus bulls, av. $4,621 Black Angus bulls, av. $4,688 Simmental bulls, av. $3,434 Bulls, gross $276,350, av. $3,948

Steve and Virginia Howard 403-823-7037 Jack Howard 403-823-9366

15th Annual Richmond Ranch Grass Country Limousin Bull Sale

Visit our website at www.papajack.ca

Rumsey, Alta., March 9, 2012 65 Bulls, av. $5,060 42 Heifers, av. $1,532

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

REGISTERED RED ANGUS BULLS AND FEMALES FOR SALE.

C

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/PapaJackFarmsLtd Cattlemen / April 2012 53

Continued from page 53

Hereford bull was SNS 5S Stanmore Lad 60X consigned

by S. Nixdorff & Sons of Airdrie, Alta. This bull was also the choice of the buyers as he was the top-selling Hereford bull, going for $25,000 to Fenton Hereford Ranch of Irma,

Bull Sale Results Calgary Bull Sale: February 29-March 1 Number of lots sold

Average price

Breed

2011

2012

2011

2012

45

77

Angus

$4,593

$5,443

4

—

Charolais

2,400

—

1

—

Gelbvieh

2,400

—

123

126

Hereford

4,248

5,931

—

2

Simmental

—

3,800

173

205

TOTAL

4,284

5,727

Alta. The Reserve Grand Champion Hereford bull was MN 17P Aster Brit 531X shown by MN Herefords of Airdrie, Alta. The Grand Champion Angus Bull was selected

by Judge Ken Munton of Vulcan, Alta., and was consigned

by Belvin Angus of Innisfail, Alta. and sold for $26,000 to LCL Angus of Coronation, Alta. The sale also featured some Simmental bulls. (See summary results in table.)

Volume buyers at the 2012 Calgary Bull Sale were Guenther Ranch of Consort, Alta., Pipeline Grazing Co-op of Medicine Hat, Alta., WA Ranches Ltd. of Calgary, Miller Ranches Ltd. of Hanceville, B.C., and John Simkin of Veteran, Alta. The Commercial Replacement Heifer Pen Show and Sale, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, had 15 pens of five heifers selling for a total of $104,875. Total sales at the Calgary Bull Sale were $1,380,675 a jump of more than half a million from 2011. Congratulations to Mabel Hamilton and Alberta Cattle Breeders Association for an excellent show and sale.

C

Pride of the Prairies Bull Sale — March 5 Lloydminster

Number of lots sold

Average price

Breed

2011

2012

2011

2012

25

38

Black Angus

$3,568

$4,022

11

12

Red Angus

2,782

3,450

23

25

Charolais

3,561

3,504

12

11

Horned Hereford

2,942

3,136

7

17

Polled Hereford

3,500

3,447

8

5

Limousin

3,675

5,440

44

38

Simmental

3,932

4,414

130

146

TOTAL

3,568

3,903

Calgar y Bull Show and Sale Grand Champion Hereford bull consigned by S. Nixdor ff & Sons of Airdrie, Alta.

Regina Bull Sale: March 11 Number of lots sold

Average price

Breed

2011

2012

2011

2012

35

15

Black Angus

$3,678

$4,210

19

23

Red Angus

3,991

3,763

17

11

Charolais

3,821

3,036

32

31

Hereford

3,475

4,072

8

12

Limousin

2,750

3,375

6

—

Simmental

3,583

—

117

92

TOTAL

3,598

3,803

54 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

Calgar y Bull Show and Sale Grand Champion Angus Bull consigned by Belvin Angus of Innisfail, Alta. www.canadiancattlemen.ca

The markets

Market Summary debbie mcmillin

marketings through February led to a smaller year-over-year comparison than the month before. Steer slaughter is up two per cent but the heifer kill is down 10 per cent. Carcass weights remain well above last year, at 895 pounds in mid-March versus 848 in 2011. U.S. buyer interest has started to pick up in recent weeks but year-to-date slaughter exports are still down 28 per cent on the year.

Fed cattle

Feeder Cattle

Fed-cattle prices sagged slightly the past few weeks. Alberta fed steers that opened March at an average $115.88 per cwt fought off a lower U.S. fed market, long-bought packers and sluggish cutout values to reach a mid-March average of $114.62 with yearling supplies thinning out and calves starting to reach market weight. That’s down $1.25 from the early-March peak reached three weeks prior but still nearly $7 better than last year.

The March 1, 2012 cattle-on-feed report from Canfax again posted a one per cent increase in the number of cattle on feed, at 959,799 head. Placements were up three per cent in February, made up in part by an increase in heifers under 600 pounds, an increase of 48 per cent in this one class alone, compared to a year ago. Aggressive

Canadian feeder cattle held mostly steady over the past few weeks. Following the strong start to the year with central Alberta 550 steer prices hitting at average $185.10 per cwt in mid-February the market had given back $2 by mid-March. While the average is slightly lower, prices held at the top end on quality grass cattle.

Not bad when you realize auction volumes have been the heaviest seen this year, as peaking prices started drawing cattle out of backgrounding pens. Good replacement-type heifers are still testing the top end of weight ranges at many auction markets as producers look to rebuild herds.

Heavier feeders were meeting some price resistance as they grew past the grasser classes and looked to finish in that soft summer market. Alberta 850 steers slipped $139.25 at mid-month,

Deb’s Outlook Fed Cattle The peak reached in early March may have been the seasonal high we wait for each spring. It is also possible we could see a slight bump in April either from a stronger basis or lower dollar as yearling supplies tighten up before the calves are ready to go. Beef demand also generally rises when spring barbecues come out, but this spring retail price resistance may be a factor.

Looking ahead, if the high is in or still coming, tight front-end supplies and strong live cattle futures

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

down from $143 earlier in the year.

While down, it is still $17.89 better than last year.

The feeder basis remains wide at 13.74 under the U.S. although it has tightened up some in recent weeks with freshening U.S. interest. The shrinking supply of North American feeder cattle has added some spunk to export sales. To the start of March we shipped 25,864 head, a 41 per cent increase over last year.

Non-fed Cattle D1,2 cows have held their own at $77.13 in mid-March. Prices are still trending up but the strength of that trend has levelled off some in recent weeks. Young cows in good condition tested the top end of the trading range at $84. Cow slaughter has dropped off in recent weeks but is still up three per cent year to date at 108,451 head.

Export is down 18 per cent at 26,511 head. Butcher bull slaughter is also down by 17 per cent at 2,791 head but exports at 7,059 are up 20 per cent. Slaughter bulls in mid-March averaged just over $88.50 per cwt.

— Debbie McMillin

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

More markets➤

and spring beef demand will slow the typical descent into the summer market.

cattle board for technical or fundamental reasons will support spring feeder markets.

Feeder Cattle

Non-Fed Cattle

Going forward we will see fewer lightweight feeder calves which, combined with the appearance of green grass, will hold prices up on quality packages. Packages of breeding heifers will continue to fetch top dollar. At the other end heavy feeder classes will struggle as feedlots look at already high break-evens and a seasonally lower summer market.

Risk management opportunities will be needed to manage these higher break-evens, so any jump in the live

As commercial producers swing into calving supplies sag and prices respond. In 2012 we’ve seen a slower upswing in the cow market, only about 10 per cent from Jan. 1 to mid-March compared to 32 per cent last year. This slow climb to the spring/summer high will likely continue in the near term. Looking further out Canadian cow supplies will be considerably smaller in the latter half of the year, which is supportive.

Cattlemen / april 2012 55

Break-even Prices on A-Grade Steers 130

ALBERTA

170

110

90 80

Steer Calves (500-600 lb.)

180

120

100

Market Prices

190

160

western Market Summary

150 140

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

130

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

95

145

ONTARIO

135

D1,2 Cows

85

125

75

115

65

105

55

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

2012

Canfax weighted average price on A-Grade steers

45

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

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

2012

2011

A lberta

Break-even price

2012

for steers on date sold

2012

2011

Kevin Grier2011

Market Summary (to March 10)

March 2012 prices* Alber ta Yearling steers (850 lb.)............... $132.45/cwt Barley................................................. 4.70/bu.

Barley silage..................................... 58.75/ton Cost of gain (feed)........................... 63.26/cwt Cost of gain (all costs)..................... 88.64/cwt Fed steers...................................... 114.77/cwt Break-even (July 2012).................. 123.12/cwt Ontario Yearling steers (850 lb.)............... $139.76/cwt Corn silage....................................... 52.56/ton Grain corn........................................... 6.32/bu.

Cost of gain (feed)........................... 94.68/cwt Cost of gain (all costs)................... 120.19/cwt Fed steers...................................... 119.71/cwt Break-even (September 2012)........ 131.66/cwt *Mid-month to mid-month prices Breakevens East: end wt 1,450, 183 days West end wt 1,325 lb., 125 days

56 Cattlemen / april 2012

2012 Total Canadian federally inspected slaughter................ 531,563 Average steer carcass weight............................................ 884 lb.

Total U.S. slaughter.......................................................6,684,000

2011 543,695 855 lb.

7,039,000

Trade Summary EXPORTS 2012 Fed cattle to U.S. (to March 3)........................................ 62,091 Feeder cattle and calves to U.S. (to March 3)................. 25,864 Dressed beef to U.S. (to January)........................... 44.97 mil.lbs Total dressed beef (to January).............................. 58.98 mil.lbs

2011 86,167 18,362 46.04 mil.lbs 59.46 mil.lbs

IMPORTS 2012 Slaughter cattle from U.S. (to January) . ................................... 0 *Dressed beef from U.S. (to January).................... 26.26 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Australia (to January)................. 3.31 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from New Zealand (to January)............ 5.24 mil.lbs *Dressed beef from Uruguay (to January)................ 3.06 mil.lbs

2011 0 26.21 mil.lbs 1.12 mil.lbs 5.75 mil.lbs 0 mil.lbs

Canadian Grades (to March 10) % of A grades AAA AA A Prime Total

EAST WEST

+59% 17.3 28.6 1.4 0.1 47.4 Total graded 108,748 392,427

Yield –53% Total 12.0 52.2 3.4 43.9 0.0 1.5 0.5 0.9 15.9 Total A grade 98.5% Total ungraded % carcass basis 30,388 56.9% 0 83.2%

54-58% 22.9 11.9 0.1 0.3 35.2

Only federally inspected plants

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

market talk with Gerald Klassen

Understanding beef demand

M

any cattle producers focus on inventory and on-feed numbers but have little understanding of beef demand. While it is important to analyze the supply, this is only half of the equation for the price structure. North American offshore beef exports appear to be increasing each year, but the largest factor influencing demand is domestic consumption. There are certain indictors that producers should watch very closely as this can have a large impact on the overall trend for consumer behaviour. First-quarter U.S. beef production is going to finish marginally lower than last year, however U.S. fed cattle prices are up eight per cent over year-ago levels and Alberta fed cattle are up six per cent. The increase in cattle prices is clearly due to improved demand for beef.

A one per cent increase in consumer spending equals a one per cent increase in beef demanded. Very clearly, if 312 million Americans cut back on beef consumption by two pounds per year because of the high cost, this lowers demand by nearly 624 million pounds. Obviously this excess doesn’t go to waste but is priced into the market to encourage consumption.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is committed to keeping interest rates exceptionally low, near 0.25 per cent until 2014. Recent U.S. data shows a rise in consumer borrowings during the final U.S. wholesale prices Jan. 2009 to Mar. 2012 monthly average

U.S. full service restaurant spending (millions of dollars)

quarter of 2011, which is the first increase since the second quarter of 2008. Stronger credit growth should improve consumer demand and beef consumption longer term. Economists also feel this makes the economic recovery more resilient.

Another positive feature is that outstanding mortgage debt has continued to decline resulting in a higher household net worth.

Home equity and credit lines are used to start small businesses which accounts for 60 per cent of U.S. employment.

U.S. consumer confidence jumped up to 70.8 in February from a revised 61.5 in January. Consumers are less pessimistic about business and labour markets and feel more comfortable spending money. This bodes well for beef demand moving forward and I would not be surprised to see the confidence level reach 90 by July. A reading of 90 indicates that consumer spending is back to pre-recession levels and reinforces stability in the economy. Consumer spending is 70 per cent of U.S. GDP so this is a closely watched number by all economists.

The U.S. added 227,000 jobs in February but the unemployment rate stayed at 8.3 per cent because 0.5 million more Americans started looking for work. December and January were the two best months for hiring since the recession began.

In early March, wholesale Choice beef prices reached an 8-1/2 year high at $198 per cwt; Select product touched $195. Over the past month, we have seen the Choice-Select spread narrow which is a positive signal for carcass value.

Long-time cattle producers know that the fed-cattle market usually makes seasonal highs in late March or early April. This is largely due to an increase in food expenditures.

The USDA reported that January at-home food spending was up 4.6 per cent over last year and away from home food spending was up 8.9 per cent. In addition to the yearover-year increase, notice that there is a 10 per cent seasonal increase in restaurant spending from February to March.

U.S. restaurants added over 40,000 jobs in February and the sector has doubled the growth rate of the overall U.S. economy. We are also seeing current restaurant employees work longer hours for the first time in seven years. Restaurants definitely sense growing demand and confirm that more people are eating out.

At the same time beef retail prices are starting to stall out due to larger pork and poultry supplies as consumers start to back away from the higher levels for ground beef and higher valued cuts and look at competing pork and poultry. Beef is a feature item in grocery stores and is used to draw consumers into the store. Higher beef prices means that beef is not on the front cover of the advertisement which slows consumption across the U.S. on the retail level.

In conclusion, producers should watch beef demand factors such as consumer confidence, unemployment levels and consumer spending data. Projecting this information can be extremely important when forecasting beef and cattle prices.

Gerald Klassen analyzes markets in Winnipeg and also maintains an interest in the family feedlot in southern Alberta. He can be reached at jkci@mymts.net or 204-287-8268.

www.canadiancattlemen.ca

Cattlemen / April 2012 57

SALES AND EVENTS Plaza Hotel, Calgary, Alta., www.vet.ucalgary.ca/beef2012

EVENTS

July

April

May

31-June 3—Livestock Markets Association of Canada Convention, Deerfoot Inn and Casino, Calgary, Alta.

31-June 3—LMAC Annual Auctioneers Competition, VJV Foothills Livestock Auction, Stavely, Alta.

6-15—Calgary Stampede, Stampede Park, Calgary, Alta.

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

11-13—National Junior Limousin Conference, Olds Ag Society, Olds, Alta.

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

13—Canadian Limousin Association AGM, Olds, Alta.

13—National Jr. Limousin Conference, Olds, Alta.

14—Greener Pastures Walk — Family Event, Busby, Alta.

June

August

7—Douglas Bull Test Station Sale at the stations, Douglas, Man. 14-15—Lloydminster 4-H Grooming and Showmanship Clinic, Lloydminster Exhibition, Lloydminster, Sask.

5-7—2012 3rd International Beef Welfare Symposium, Delta Bessborough, Saskatoon, Sask., www.beefwelfare2012.ca 5-7—Canadian Animal Health Institute Annual Meeting, Westin Trillium House, Collingwood, Ont. 12—Alberta Cattle Feeders Golf Tournament, Paradise Canyon, Lethbridge, Alta.

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

14-15—UCVM Beef Cattle Conference, Coast

AD INDEX Ag Growth Industries David Andrews Bar T5 Agra Services Beef Improvement Ontario Beefbooster Boehringer Ingelheim Brett Young Seeds Canadian Angus Assoc.

Canadian Cattlemen’s Assoc.

Canadian Charolais Assoc.

Canadian Hereford Assoc.

Canadian Limousin Assoc.

Canadian Red Angus Assoc.

Canadian Shorthorn Assoc.

Canadian Simmental Assoc.

Canadian Welsh Black Society Case-IH Direct Livestock Marketing Farmers of North America Inc. Fleetwood Farms Quarter Flyka Inc. General Motors Giberson Performance Horses Greener Pastures International Livestock Congress International Stock Foods John Deere Ag Marketing Center Kubota Canada Lakeland Group/Northstar Matchmakers Select Merck Animal Health Myterra Ranch Norheim Ranching Northwest Consolidated Beef Novartis Animal Health Papa Jack Farms Pfizer Animal Health Red Brand Fence Sandy Ridge Stallion Station Scotiabank Solar West Southern Alberta Livestock Spring Creek Arlin Strohschein

58 CATTLEMEN / APRIL 2012

Page 33 51 50 51 27 21 11 IFC 3, 7 OBC 51 51 37 41 23 51 8, 9 47 18 50 51 IBC 50 49 19 51 17 25 14 a-p 51 43 50 51 51 13 53 5, 31 39 50 29 51 47 49 49

7—Towaw Cattle Co. 33rd Annual Bull Sale at the ranch, Sangudo, Alta., www.towawcattle.com 7—Maritime Beef Test Station Breeding Stock Sale at the Station, Nappan, N.S., www. maritimebeefteststation.com 11—9th Annual Spady Bull Sale — RivercrestValleymere Angus at the Rivercrest Ranch, Alliance, Alta.

14—12th annual Practical Innovators Bull Sale, Olds College, Olds, Alta.

14—26th Annual West Country Bull Sale at the farm, Innisfail, Alta., www.shorthorn.ca 21—Sandy Bar Angus-Short Grass Bull and Female Sale at the ranch, Aneroid, Sask., www.sandybarangus.com  Event listings are a free service to industry.  Sale listings are for our advertisers.

14-17—Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Semi-annual Meeting, Deerfoot Inn and Casino, Calgary, Alta.

15—Beef 2012 — International Livestock Congress, Deerfoot Inn and Casino, Calgary, Alta.

15—Cattlewomen for the Cure Golf Tournament, Cottonwood Coulee, Medicine Hat, Alta.

Your contact is Deborah Wilson at 403-325-1695 or deb.wilson@fbcpublishing.com

January 2013

23-25—Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, Sask.

SALES April

4—Peak Dot Ranch Sale — 168 Bulls and 60 Heifers at the ranch, Wood Mountain, Sask., www.peakdotranch.com 5—Holloway Farms Ltd. Hereford Production Sale, Dryland Trading Corp., Veteran, Alta.

5—Who’s Your Daddy Bull Sale, Saskatoon Livestock Sales, Saskatoon, Sask.

STAMPEDE

By Jerry Palen

The Canadian Beef Breeds Council board of directors. Seated (l to r): David Bolduc (Angus) vice-president and Byron Templeton (Hereford) president. Standing: Rod Remin (Speckle Park), Anne Brunet-Burgess (Limousin) and Allan Marshall (Charolais) past president.

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