EAST CENTRAL ONTARIO SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION
ECOSA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2020
President’s Message... 2019 ECOSA PRESIDENT Andrea Stillman
Greetings
Andrea Stillman ECOSA President
MARK YOUR CALENDARS....
ECOSA
2020
ANNUAL MEETING
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 AT 6:30PM VILLIERS HALL, INDIAN RIVER, ON Who’s coming? Any ECOSA new and old members and juniors. What’s Happening? Pot luck supper Fund Raising Auction (unwrapped items) Elections Annual meeting ECOSA Junior AGM Why should you come? Great food Good friends New friends Help promote the Simmental breed in our area. Learn what ECOSA has done in 2019 To get away from the barn.
ECOSA HAD A BUSY 2019 YEAR...
ECOSA Scholarship Application 2020 Scholarship Purpose and Guidelines 1. To encourage and financially assist members or family members of the East Central Ontario Simmental Association membership enrolled as full time students in a post secondary education institution. 2. A maximum of two (2) scholarships of $250.00 each can be awarded per calendar year assuming funds are available. Applicant Eligibility 1. An applicant or an applicant’s family must be a member of the East Central Ontario Simmental Association. ECOSA memberships must be current ( dues paid) for the year of application. 2. An applicant must be enrolled as a full time student in a post secondary education institution ( college or university) in the year of application. Proof of enrolment is required. Applicant Information Name of Applicant ______________________________ Address ____________________________________ Telephone/cell number __________________________ E-mail address _______________________________ Post Secondary Institution__________________ Program of Enrollment _____________________________ Applicants are required to make a written presentation to the ECOSA BOARD MEMBERS by FEBRUARY 22, 2020. Please remitt to ECOSA secretary Juanita Elmhirst 1870 Settlers Line, Indian River, ON K0L 2B0 or by email at ircc@nexicom.net The presentation is to be based on: 1. Please list school and community activities you have been involved in. ( other than Simmental related) 2. Please list Simmental related activities you have participated in. 3. How has involvement with the Simmental industry been beneficial to you. 4. Please state you future goals upon graduation.
ECOSA HAD A BUSY 2019 YEAR...
February 2019 ECOSA scholarships were awarded to Sydney Magee at our AGM. Congratulations! March 2019 Lindsay Booth Lily Briand IRCC Annual Bull Sale - ECOSA YCS auctioned off items to raise money July 2019 OYCS Trillium Classic Katie Elmhirst exhibited at the Junior Nationals and Sweepstakes in Louisville, KY. Reserve Heifer Calf Champion August 2019 ECOSA Juniors Katie Elmhirst, Owen Elmhirst, Montana Stillman, Brent Clysdale and Clayton Cameron attended the National YCS Show in Ste. Hyacinthe, Que ECOSA members hosted a display the Hastings County Plowing Match in Stirling-Rawdon. October 2019 Quality Control III Sale – hosted by Indian River Cattle Company November 2019 Congratulations to the many Royal winners and exhibitors from ECOSA: Cameron Farms and Ranching – Reserve Champion Junior Yearling Owen Elmhirst – Champion Simmental, Junior Beef Heifer Show and Champion Bred & Owned, Charles J. Watson Memorial Show Katie Elmhirst – Grand Champion Showperson, Junior Beef Heifer Show Indian River Cattle Company – Premier Breeder Black River Simmentals – breeder of Champion Female Cattlemen’s Connection Sale hosted by Fairview Simmentals
2020 Membership form If not attending the ECOSA Annual Meeting, please mail form to ECOSA Treasurer: Cathy Person PO BOX 157, GRAFTON, ON, K0K 2G0 905 349 3415 | j.kpearson@sympatico.ca Farm Name: _________________________________________________________________________________ Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________ Email: ___________________________________ Website: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Amount due: $20.00
Appication for ECOSA Amabassador Open to any ECOSA Junior between the ages of 12 and 25 willing to represent the ECOSA membership at various functions in our zone and at Simmental events. The winning participant will also compete at the OSA annual general meeting to represent the Simmental breeders of Ontario. Its a wonderful opportunity to network with all sectors of agriculture and in particular the Simmental breeders of our zone and province. This position will also be a valuable asset to put on a future job resume. Applications are due to Juanita (email) (ircc@nexicom.net) by FEB. 22, and as part of this application we request - A brief biography and - A few reasons why you would like to be the ECOSA Ambassador.
2019 ECOSA & OSA Ambassador Lily Briand
Breeding beef cows back after a tough winter By Dean Kreager in BEEF Daily
Buckeye Beef Brief: Thinner cows also produce calves with lower weaning weights.
How do you avoid getting stuck in a rut? Take a different path. There was a real shortage of high-quality — or even medium-quality — hay made last year. Related: Avoid a breeding objective wreck: Use indices correctly Forage analysis results that I reviewed last fall were all lower quality than expected. As a result, many cow herds were much thinner at the beginning of the spring calving season this year. The problem with having thin cows at calving time is that they are likely to be even thinner at breeding time. When a cow eats, her use of nutrients is prioritized. First is maintenance for survival. This is followed by lactation and growth, which includes weight gain; and finally, reproduction. Related: Breeding soundness exams: Do ’em! While reproduction is the No. 1 priority trait for profitability, it is not at the top of the list when the body of the cow is deciding how to use its nutrient resources. Years of research have established that thin cows are often difficult to get bred. Results often show around a 30% decrease in the number of cows displaying estrus by 60 days post-calving on a cow with a body condition score at calving of 4, vs 6. Similar results are seen when comparing pregnancy rates within a 90-day window of calving. These thinner cows also produce calves with lower weaning weights. Early weaning Early weaning has often been suggested during drought years, but it can also have a place when managing thin cows. The energy required for lactation is high enough to keep many cows in a negative energy balance while nursing a calf. Removing the calf from the cow will stop lactation and allow the cow to begin to use energy toward reproduction. Weaning times of 45 to 60 days allow cows to begin a positive energy balance and start cycling earlier. If you are past the time where a 45- to 60-day weaning is possible, consider weaning calves at 3 to 5 months of age instead of 7 months. While you will not get the immediate reproductive benefits, this still provides the cows with an extra opportunity to gain a body condition score point or two so they will be better prepared for next winter. A 5 to 7 body condition score at the beginning of the calving season will increase the likelihood of the cow cycling early and getting pregnant early in her next season. Having a calf early in the breeding season is one of the most important determinants of profitability. Extra management, resources and facilities are needed when early-weaning calves, but there are also some benefits in addition to the improved reproductive performance of the dams. Early-weaned calves can be very efficient at growing. Their feed conversion can be in the neighborhood of 1 pound of gain from 5 pounds of feed. This efficiency is a big part of why young calves are worth more per pound. Early-weaning calves started on a good nutrition and health program can provide increased value when they are sold. The importance of pregnancy checking is even higher in herds with thin cows that may remain in anestrus for extended periods. Lack of signs of estrus is no guarantee that a cow was pregnant when the bull was removed. Pregnancy checking If the bull remained with the cows for extended periods, do you know when the breeding occurred? The cost of pregnancy-checking 20 cows is likely less than the cost of feeding one open cow through the winter.
continued... There are three commonly used methods for pregnancy-checking cows —rectal palpation, ultrasonography and blood testing. While the first two depend on the skill of the technician, all three are highly accurate. Ultrasonography and blood testing can be performed around 28 days, while rectal palpation is usually done after 35 days. There are advantages and disadvantages of each method. Ultrasonography and rectal palpation typically require a farm visit from a veterinarian, but these methods are capable of staging the age of the fetus. Blood testing is inexpensive and can be completed by most producers, but it does not provide the age of the fetus. Finding the open cows, or the ones that did not breed back within the desired calving season, will allow you to remove them from your herd early to conserve feed resources for the rest of the herd. Maybe this is the year to look at a different management approach. Don’t get stuck in a rut.
Steak Fajita Roll-Ups for Clean Eats Posted in Dinner by Rachel Maser
These took a tad bit more time to prep, but the results are SO WORTH IT! Totally delicious and FUN to eat! The entire family was SUPER IMPRESSED! Ingredients 1 lb. thinly sliced sirloin steak, pounded to a very thin even thickness and then cut into 1’’x3’’ strips 2 Tbsps avocado oil, or olive oil, divided 3 different colored large bell peppers, cut into thin strips as shown 1 large yellow onion, sliced into strips 2-3 green onions, green parts sliced a small handful of fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped Fajita seasoning mix: 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp ground black pepper Directions In a very small bowl whisk all fajita seasoning ingredients, then set aside. Heat 1 Tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in your onions, bell pepper strips, and season with just half of your homemade fajita seasoning mix. Cook stirring frequently until just crisp-tender, about 3-4 minutes. Remove peppers and onions from pan, and set on a plate. To prepare the roll-ups, place the prepared steak strips on a large cutting board, and sprinkle them lightly with your remaining fajita seasoning, add peppers and onion strips equally and nicely as shown to each piece of steak, then roll up and around, and insert a toothpick to secure the rolls as shown. Heat the same large skillet over medium-high heat again, and add in remaining oil. Carefully add into the skillet all of your steak roll-ups, and cook for about 2 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked to your liking. Remove from heat and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley/cilantro and green onions. Enjoy while hot!