PUBLISHED BY MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS
NOVEMBER 2021
In advance of the Thanksgiving weekend green feed bales were being taken off a field near Deerwood so that the cattle could be turned onto the pasture. (Photo credit: Jeannette Greaves)
Beef business booms while cattle producers squeezed
Manitoba cattle producers are looking back on a tough year while they tally up their losses as the annual fall run kicks in. A lack of snowmelt and parched soils in spring put pressure on pastures and grasslands already dry from the previous fall. A crippling summer drought with record high temperatures and little rain resulted in serious feed shortfalls. High feed grain prices stemming from drought-induced low crop yields added to the difficulty in sourcing feed for animals. Auction markets held emergency summer sales as many producers were forced to downsize or liquidate herds. Some sold off their herds completely. Others scoured the countryside for alternative feeds, stockpiled them for winter and hoped they had enough to get their cattle through the coming months.
The effect of the 2021 drought could have long-term future consequences, industry analysts warn. “The base line for our cow herd in Canada is really going to be impacted by the lack of feed and the cost of feed. That’s hugely concerning,” said Anne Wasko, market analyst for Gateway Livestock Marketing. “What cow-calf producers are going to need is some significant moisture to even start to replenish what’s happened so far.” But while cow-calf producers wonder how long or even if they can hang on, other sectors in the beef industry are doing surprisingly well. Packing plants are running at or near full capacity. Cattle prices in early fall were strong, despite high feed costs. Beef export sales in July were booming, with increases of 13 per cent in volume and 44 per cent in value over July 2020. Here
at home, domestic demand for beef is up over last year, despite high prices at the retail meat counter. “I would say that the marketplace is strong and will continue to be promising going forward,” said Ron Glaser, vicepresident of corporate affairs for Canada Beef. “Overall, it’s been a good marketplace for beef and we think the future is bright.” That’s not to say the industry is immune from the effects of drought and COVID-19. An outbreak of the disease at the Cargill plant in High River, Alberta last year shut down the facility for several weeks and led to a backlog of over 100,000 slaughter cattle. But the logjam has now been largely cleared and plants are running at 90-95 per cent slaughter capacity with an average weekly kill of over 70,000 head - a lot for the time of year, said Brian Perillat, manager and senior analyst for Canfax.
“For the time being, our packing sector looks pretty healthy,” Perillat said. “For the most part, demand has been incredibly strong.” There had been concerns that herd liquidation this summer would continue into the fall and clog the system. But Perillat said so far that doesn’t seem to be happening. “We’re getting a pretty normal fall run,” he said in early October. “We’re not seeing huge volumes flooding the market at this time, so that’s positive compared to where we were two months ago.” Wasko said the fall run early in October looked surprisingly strong price wise, considering the high cost of feed that would normally mean lower calf prices. She said buyers are willing to go higher than they normally would because of a bullish outlook for live cattle futures in Chicago. Page 3
President's Column
New transportation regulations
Manure research
Page 3
Page 4
Page 10
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BY RON FRIESEN
2
CATTLE COUNTRY November 2021
Manitoba Youth Beef Round-Up 2021 After a challenging two years of ups and downs, including our 2nd Round Up, participants at Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up have shown great resilience. It was with heavy hearts that the Round Up committee was forced to cancel our show for yet another year in the wake of the COIVD-19 crisis. However, with a little outward thinking and help from Direct Livestock Marketing Systems (DLMS) the committee was able to host our annual event virtually to be broadcasted and judged online. It was a great success with 42 juniors entered and a total of 80 livestock entries. Despite a totally different approach to the August long weekend our juniors know and love, juniors were still able to participate in open livestock confirmation classes as well as skill building compe- titions such as public speaking, marketing, photography, graphic design and judging. Participants were given guidelines of how to present their animal via video. Animals were presented in show condition and videos were uploaded for broad cast on DLMS. Overall it was an incredibly strong presentation of animals and projects, juniors were applauded by the committee, peers and the gen- eral public for such adaptability and creativity despite a challenging circumstance. This is not just any cattle show, it is an all-around event to promote and educate youth to continue in the livestock industry. Our show would not happen without our dedicated sponsors, parents, juniors and com- mittee members who have stood behind this Junior All Breeds Show and helped to make it a suc- cess in past years. A huge thank you to everyone for their support and willingness to keep the Round Up spirit alive in our virtual show.
Projects were on display on the DLMS website and the Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up Page from July 21 to August 1st. From there the general public could view all projects and check out our ju- niors hard work. Judging also took place during this time period and results were submitted to DLMS. On August 1st at 7pm, what would normally be our banquet and award ceremony, results were announced live on a live video broadcast on DLMS. All videos and comments were featured in a flawless manner for juniors and the public to find out in real time who would be crowned as our winners. This presentation took major effort and coordination from DLMS, and we cannot thank Mark and Joanne Shologan enough for their contribution! Judges for our virtual event included judges of the confirmation show, Greg and Amanda Pugh of Pugh Farms Edgerton Alberta. Our Livestock Judging Competition judge Bevin Hamilton of Ver- milion Alberta. Our Public Speaking Judges Carson Callum, General Manager, Manitoba Beef Producers and Shannon Carvey of Alexander. Our Photography Judge Jessy Milne-Smith of Douglas, and Graphic Design Judge Carson Callum and Marketing Judge Jackie Cavers of LaRiviere. Round-Up 2021 Committee: Lois McRae (Co- Chair) Laura Horner (CoChair) Jake Rawluk, Rilla & Travis Hunter, Blair McRae, Andrea Bertholet, Samantha Rimke, Albert & Michelle Rimke, Jackie Cavers, Geoff Patterson, Megan Kemp, Taylor Carlson, Candace Abey, Nanette Glover, Cody Carson, Trevor Carlson, and Monty Thomson.
Individual Judging Division Division Winner Senior Kyleigh Magotiaux Intermediate Grace Glover Junior Fischer Cavers PeeWee Blake Airey Public Speaking Division Winner Senior Christin Dixon Intermediate Madisyn Robertson Junior Chase Airey PeeWee Blake Airey Photography Division Winner Senior Kyleigh Magotiaux Intermediate Grace Glover Junior Chase Airey PeeWee Brynn Steppler Graphic Design Division Winner Senior Christin Dixon Intermediate Grace Glover Junior Lucas Bieganski PeeWee Blake Airey Marketing Division Winner Honourable Mention Senior Orianna Hyndman Intermediate Madisyn Robertson Junior Chase Airey Pee Wee Paisley Baron
Champion Charolais Bred Heifer Brynn Steppler with Steppler Gabby Reserve Champion Champion Charolais Bred Heifer Lukas Cavers with Miss Prairie Cove 68H Class 4 Charolais Bull Calves 1. Paisley Baron Champion Charolais Bull Calf Paisley Baron with Hidden Lake Maui 4J Grand Champion Charolais Female Brynn Steppler with Steppler Gabby Reserve Grand Champion Charolais Female Lukas Cavers with Miss Prairie Cove 68H
Honourable Mention Orianna Hyndmanv Emma Harms Lukas Cavers Brynn Steppler Honourable Mention Kyleigh Magotiaux Carson Baker Sveina Bjarnarson Brianna Snowden
HEREFORD SHOW Class 1 Heifer Calves 1. Orianna Hyndman 2.Teegan Hyndman Champion Hereford Heifer Calf Orianna Hyndman with CRLY 695D Sour Patch Kid 122J Reserve Champion Hereford Heifer Calf Teegan Hyndman with TEEG 27C Nikki 127J Class 2 Hereford bred heifers 1. Levi Rimke 2. Lucas Bieganski 3. Kylee Dixon 4. Levi Rimke 5.Teegan Hyndman 6. Christin Dixon 7.Orianna Hyndman Champion Hereford Bred Heifer Levi Rimke with MAR 206E Azalea ET 7H Reserve Champion Hereford Bred Heifer Lucas Bieganski with RSK 20C Miss Xleona ET 99H Class 3 Hereford Cow Calf Pair 1. Christin Dixon Champion Hereford Cow Calf Pair Christin Dixon with Blair Athol 124E Applause 122G Grand Champion Hereford Female Christin Dixon with Blair Athol 124E Applause 122G Reserve Grand Champion Hereford Female Levi Rimke with MAR 206E Azalea ET 7H Class 4 – Hereford Bull Calf 1. Christin Dixon with Blair Athol KD Talladega 48J Champion Hereford Bull Calf Christin Dixon with Blair Athol KD Talladega 48J
Honourable Mention Christin Dixon Emma Harms Abbey Snowden Brogan Birmingham Honourable Mentionv Madisyn Robertson Orla Duguid
Teegan Hyndman Abbey Snowden Brianna Snowden
CONFIRMATION CLASS RESULTS CHAROLAIS SHOW Class 1 Charolais heifer Calf 1. Paisley Baron 2. Chase Airey Champion Charolais Heifer Calf Paisley Baron with Hidden Lake My Moo 1J Reserve Champion Charolais Heifer Calf Chase Airey with HTA Glitter 124J Class 2 Charolais bred heifers 1.Brynn Steppler 2. Lukas Cavers 3. Fischer Cavers 4. Madisyn Robertson 5. Madisyn Robertson 6. Brianna Snowden 7.Abbey Snowden DISTRICT 1
ALFRED EPP
R.M. of Albert, Cameron, Whitewater, Edward, Brenda, Winchester, Morton
DISTRICT 2
NANCY HOWATT
R.M. of Riverside, Strathcona, Argyle, Lorne, Turtle Mountain, Roblin, Louise, Pembina
DISTRICT 5
STEVEN MANNS
R.M. of Elton, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Cornwallis, Oakland, South Cypress, Victoria, South Norfolk
DISTRICT 6
MELISSA ATCHISON VICE-PRESIDENT
R.M. of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood
Round up Results Continued on Page 6
DISTRICT 9
TREVOR SUND
R.M. of Woodlands, Rockwood, St. Andrews, Rosser, St. Francis Xavier, Springfield, Tache, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, St. Clements, LGD of Alexander, Pinawa
DISTRICT 10
MIKE DUGUID SECRETARY
DISTRICT 3
DISTRICT 7
R.M. of Bifrost, Gimli, Fisher, Armstrong
R.M. of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, Grey, MacDonald, Dufferin, Thompson, Roland, Morris, Stanley, Rhineland, Montcalm
R.M. of Russell, Silver Creek, Rossburn, Ellice, Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, Archie, Miniota, Hamiota, Blanshard
DISTRICT 11
ANDRE STEPPLER
DISTRICT 4
KEVIN DUDDRIDGE
R.M. of Richot, Ste. Anne, Hanover, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Franklin, Stuartburn, Piney, LGD Reynolds
TYLER FULTON PRESIDENT
DISTRICT 8
MATTHEW ATKINSON 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT
R.M. of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Lansdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park
ARVID NOTTVEIT
R.M. of Siglunes, Grahamdale, Eriksdale, Coldwell, St. Laurent
DISTRICT 12
MARK GOOD TREASURER
R.M. of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa
DISTRICT 13
DISTRICT 14
MARY PAZIUK
R.M. of Shell River, Shellmouth,Hillsburg, Boulton, Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Ethelbert, Mossey River, Dauphin, LGD Park
MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Ph: 1-800-772-0458
Deb Walger
Unit 220, 530 Century Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4
PH - (204) 772-4542 FX - (204) 774-3264 info@mbbeef.ca www.mbbeef.ca
GENERAL MANAGER Carson Callum
POLICY ANALYST Maureen Cousins
www.mbbeef.ca
JIM BUCHANAN
R.M. of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas
David Hultin
FINANCE
OFFICE ASSISTANT Vacant
LIVESTOCK PREDATION PREVENTION PROJECT COORDINATOR Ray Bittner
CATTLE COUNTRY EDITOR David Hultin
DESIGNED BY
Trinda Jocelyn
November 2021 CATTLE COUNTRY
3
Building momentum towards our 43rd AGM With November upon us, the fall calf run is in full swing and so far, prices seem to be holding up reasonably well. Many of us had a fear of seeing significant pressure on calf prices this fall, resulting from high numbers being pulled from pastures early due to drought conditions. However, August rains left many areas with some of the best pasture conditions they had all summer, which provided some relief to the situation. We have started into our fall district meetings and have been hearing about the difficult conditions experienced over the summer months. While some ranchers exhausted their feed sources early in the season and were forced to sell animals, others made good use of the marginal cereal crops and sloughs that are typically inaccessible in the wet years. I encourage you to feed test the supply that you have secured, so that you can make the best use of it while meeting your herd’s nutritional requirements. For those that are still buying their feed or incurring certain transportation costs related to eligible breeding animals, remember to retain your receipts in order to submit them for government support under the Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance Program under AgriRecovery. MBP continues to provide feedback to the provincial government about the program based on questions or concerns being brought forward by producers. We are also providing input as the province looks at the herd rebuilding component of the AgriRecovery ini-
TYLER FULTON President's Column
tiatives. We also heard from many producers that were still struggling with water for their livestock. The province has reopened its program for source water development via the Ag Action Manitoba program, specifically BMP 503 ‒ Managing Livestock Access to Riparian Areas. It is taking in new applicants for water source development projects to be completed in 2022. Examples of other BMPs eligible for cost-shared funding under this program intake period include: Resource Management Planning, Establishment of a Cover Crop, Increasing Frequency of Perennials in Annual Rotations, Perennial Cover for Sensitive Lands, Improved Pasture and Forage Quality, Intercropping, Farmyard Runoff Control, Relocation of Confined Livestock Areas, and others. Application intake opens November 8, 2021 and closes December 10, 2021. Also at the MBP district meetings, we have identified some potential changes to MBP’s administration by-law that will be put forward for consideration at our upcoming AGM on Thursday, February 10, 2022. These proposed amendments relate to director term extensions,
an external appointment provision and the realignment of certain districts due to municipal amalgamation, as well as updating of local government names as a result of amalgamation. More details will be published in the December edition of Cattle Country, along with any resolutions arising from the district meetings. If there is an issue that you believe needs some attention, consider submitting a resolution. It is these resolutions that help to inform the advocacy and research work that ensures we are responsive and represent all of Manitoba’s beef producers. If this summer’s drought taught us anything, it’s that farming and ranching is a risky business. We all manage the risk to our operations a little differently, but we have some common tools available to us that are underutilized in my opinion. Specifically, I am talking about MASC’s forage and pasture insurance products that were very helpful to policy holders this year. With most of Manitoba’s hay production and pasture conditions the worst in 40 years, these tools helped to offset some of the challenges related to the huge hole in production and provided a reliable means of replacing the feed with other purchased feedstuffs. Over the winter, I encourage producers to take a closer look at these tools and consider making use of them on your operation in 2022. As always we welcome your feedback on matters affecting the sector. Have a safe fall!
District meeting season up and running Well, we have officially kicked off our 2021 fall district meetings. The format has changed this year, partly as a result of COVID-19 pandemic-related impacts, but we also decided to try something new this year. By the time you receive this edition in your mailbox we will have completed one virtual meeting, and a number of in-person meetings in the even-numbered districts where director elections are required. For the in-person meetings, we decided to move them to an afternoon format. Afternoon sessions allow for those that have personal commitments in the evening to take part, as well as decreases the risk of accidents to members and staff from driving long distances at night in potential wintery conditions. The virtual sessions happen in the evening, which can be very convenient and efficient for folks, as they can take them from the comfort of their own home. We know this change may be challenging for some, but we believe it strikes a good balance. Feel free to give me a call if you have comments on the format you would like to raise. I always appreciate your feedback. I hope the extended grazing and regrowth as a re-
CARSON CALLUM
General Manager’s Column sult of rains over last couple of months has provided some relief on your operations. I strongly encourage you to reach out to the Manitoba Department of Agriculture and Resource Development to get applications for AgriRecovery programming. We continue to advocate for adjustments, such as inclusion of more eligible expenses to make it responsive to more producers impacted by drought. We are also waiting on details of a herd rebuilding program to be announced, which will most likely be related to the animals you had to sell above and beyond the normal culling rate. Please keep an eye on Cattle Country, our social media accounts, and our enewsletter for announcements related to these and other important support programs. Due to the persistent dry conditions, there has been
an increase in alternative feed options being sourced for winter feed this year. I encourage all producers to have their operation’s feed tested. It’s important to know the nutritional attributes of the feed sources being utilized in order to appropriately balance rations. Also, knowing the antinutritional components (such as nitrates) will be important to know to avoid any herd health challenges. For our 43rd Annual General Meeting, the tentative plan is to hold a one-day meeting in Brandon on February 10, 2022 at the Victoria Inn. It will have the normal business component as well as a couple of interesting speakers. There will be a virtual offering available for those who can’t make it there in person. Planning and delivery of the in-person event is contingent on public health restrictions related to the pandemic. Stay tuned for further details on our social media, in Cattle Country, and our e-newsletter. It sure has been great to see many of you during our virtual and in-person meetings this fall. Looking forward to many exciting initiates to drive the industry forward. Carson
Beef demand remains strong Page 1 “The expectations of tighter supplies in North America and strong export demand, along with domestic demand, has got the markets thinking that prices are going to be better next year.” On the export front, Glaser said he expects
“tremendous strength in international markets” as the demand for Canadian beef abroad continues to grow. Canada exports 48 per cent of its beef production. China and east Asian countries are taking an ever-increasing share, thus easing Canada’s traditional
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heavy reliance on the U.S. market. The U.S. took 73 per cent of Canada’s beef exports in 2020 but Glaser said the figure used to be much higher. Domestic beef sales also continue strong after slumping in 2020 when COVID temporarily closed many fast food restaurants.
Glaser said the pandemic shutdowns sent many consumers back to the kitchen where they rediscovered the pleasures of home cooking. Beef is a premium product and Canada Beef ’s cooking videos and recipes are seeing heavy use, he said. With so much positive
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news in the beef industry, why aren’t producers seeing more benefits from it, especially when there appears to be a strong demand for their product? Wasko said on-farm profitability is the key and producer prices need to be strong enough to overcome high feed and other
input costs. For that reason, all eyes will be on the markets in the months ahead, she said. “It’s going to be important to see cattle prices - not just finished prices but everything right down to the ranch - move along next year.”
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4
CATTLE COUNTRY November 2021
New transportation regulations affect cattle producers BY: ANGELA LOVELL As the deadline of February 2022 fast approaches for a two-year transition period to allow the livestock industry to prepare for proposed changes to transport regulations, it appears there is still work to be done to ensure that final changes meet the intended goal of improving animal welfare, while not having any unintended negative impacts on the animals or the industry. Amendments to the transportation of animals requirements under the Health of Animals Regulations were first announced in 2019, with the main changes being to shorten the maximum length of the transport period for cattle from 48 hours to 36 hours and lengthening the duration of feed, water and rest breaks from five to eight hours. Looking at the science A primary concern for the industry is the feed, water and rest (FWR) intervals. “The industry wants to make sure that any changes are based on science that’s reflective of Canadian conditions, geography and commercial transport methods, and wherever possible are outcome based, focused on the animal, and are not solely prescriptive measures,” says Brady Stadnicki, Manager of Policy and Programs for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA)
That science is still being prepared through research projects being conducted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Lethbridge Research Centre, led by Dr. Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, to try and determine whether there are benefits to a rest stop after various transport times. The research, which comprises of three projects, two of which have released results and the third, which has concluded, is expected to release findings in early 2022. The first two projects compared various transport times and different length of rest stops, as well as no rest stop, in groups of calves that had been pre-weaned three weeks prior to transport and those weaned the day of transport. The animals were monitored for an array of health and performance indicators at all points of transport; prior to initial loading, after unloading for a rest break, prior to re-loading and after they arrived at their final destination. They were also monitored for four weeks after arrival at the feedlot for any disease or other health issues, as well as performance levels. What the researchers found was that there was no obvious benefit to the rest stops in terms of effects on health or performance of the calves, and in fact calves that had a rest stop appeared to be more sluggish and less alert.
2021
That raises the question, did the calves know what they were supposed to do during the rest stop. “We can give them a rest break but we don’t explain to them, you’ve got eight hours to get rested up,” says Dr. Reynold Bergen, Science Director at the Beef Cattle Research Centre (BCRC). “In a new environment they may have simply wandered around and explored, and maybe didn’t rest as much as intended.” The freshly weaned calves also ate less during the rest breaks. “What might have happened is that eight hours of FWR extended the time that they weren’t eating, or drinking, or sleeping by eight hours,” Bergen says. The final study is looking at whether length of transportation to final destination after a rest break has any effect on the animals. Because the data from the final component of the study won’t be available likely until early in 2022, CCA and other provincial beef and producer organizations are lobbying for an additional year extension before enforcement of the new regulations. “What we have asked in policy meetings this past summer as an industry, and at the national and provincial cattle associations level is that the Government of Canada and CFIA extend this transition period from
February 2022 to February 2023 to allow for additional time for this full package of research, including the trial that is ongoing right now, to be reviewed, and if warranted, take a look at potentially updating the regulations based on the results of that research,” Stadnicki says. Cattle industry already doing a good job A previous benchmarking study conducted on beef cattle transportation in Canada showed that the sector is already performing well. The study showed that 99.95 percent of cattle in transit on long hauls (four hours or more) reached their destination with no serious problems, and for short-hauls of less than four hours the percentage was 99.98 percent. The same study also found that time long-haul trips averaged 16 hours in length, and more than 95 percent per cent of cattle spent less than 30 hours in transit. “We know producers and haulers are doing a great job and we want to make sure that regulations around livestock transportation are going to get us closer to 100 per cent rather than risk moving us farther away,” says Stadnicki. “If animals are getting off the transport in good shape, and there’s no indications of major stress or injuries, that’s a good outcome, but if there is avoidable negative outcomes that occur, that’s when there should be penalties around the regu-
Virtua l Event
lations.” For Manitoba cattle producers and marketers, especially those who are shipping into Quebec or Eastern Ontario, the new regulations will likely pose some challenges, mainly because there isn’t enough infrastructure, especially during the fall run, to accommodate all the cattle for rest breaks. “We have basically two ‘cow hotels’ between here and Ontario where we can stop to feed and water the cattle, and it’s hard to get a reservation when the fall run is on, so we’ve got a bit of a bottleneck happening with that,” says Rick Wright, Executive Administrator of the Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association. New documentation coming Under the new regulations, producers, carriers and others transporting cattle will also need to provide a Transfer of Care document to the markets or feedlots that receive them, and keep detailed records related to the movement of the animals, including the date and time the animals being transported last had access to feed, water and rest. As well, the transportation time will now begin as soon as the feed and water are removed, not from the time they are loaded and the truck begins to move. One of the problems is that there is no standardized form that producers
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across Canada can fill out to provide the information required, and in fact some jurisdictions already have different versions of a manifest or form, while others don’t have anything. The CCA has a record keeping template on its website, developed in association with the CFIA and the industry, that lists all the things producers need to record, and it’s available as an editable pdf document for free download from the CCA’s website. (See resources sidebar). “We are working with CFIA on ways to make record keeping as user friendly and simple as possible,” Stadnicki says. Another concern is that new federal drivers’ hours of service regulations, that were put in place last July and must be fully implemented by July 2022, do not align with the new cattle transportation rules. “We see lack of flexibility under those hoursof-service rules,” Stadnicki says. “The biggest change is going from paper logging of hours to electronic devices that will log those hours for drivers. We don’t have an issue with the technology advances, but we do want to have flexibility when there are emergency situations or adverse driving conditions that the driver comes upon, where the focus can still be getting the animals to the final destination, if driving conditions make it necessary Page 5
November 2021 CATTLE COUNTRY
5
Importance of vaccine programs VET CORNER
By: Dr. Tanya Anderson, DVM
The uptake of vaccination in calves is poorer than that in cows. According to the most recent (2019) Western Canadian Cow Calf Surveillance Study all producers vaccinate for Clostridial diseases and 15% do not give respiratory vaccines to calves before weaning. Cow herd vaccination is done primarily for the prevention of reproductive diseases but some of those same viruses (BVD, IBR namely) cause pneumonia in young stock. Carryover of colostral antibody to calves helps provide protection for them within the first few months of life. Calves are the most at-risk group in the herd for developing illness. They have immature immune systems and rely on colostral antibody transfer from their dams at birth. A solid cow herd vaccination and nutrition program will ensure that this transfer is the best it can be. But colostral immunity begins to wane by as early as two months de-
pending on the disease organism and calves will then become more susceptible to disease unless their immune systems are again boosted through the use of vaccines. Calves are also high risk for developing disease due to herd dynamics and modern large scale management practices. Crowding and stress during processing, weaning and shipping causes immunosuppression. Mixing of cattle from various sources at sale time through auction barns or when sorted for placement in the feedlot also increases the risk of disease transmission. Vaccination of calves prior to leaving the farm and going to the feedlot is crucial to ensure lowered sickness rates post-weaning. With the new transport regulations to come into place in February 2022 and expected delays in getting cattle to long-haul destinations, proper preparation on the farm of origin is required. Choosing not to vaccinate because you don’t have health issues on your farm may be a valid comment but if
you are wanting to sell your calves or are considering entering the bred cow/ heifer market, no vaccinations equates to poor management and flags your operation as high risk for both disease and even antibiotic resistance. Some in the industry feel that the time will soon come where tracebacks to the herd of origin by cattle feeders will happen. Don’t be the producer who becomes known for cattle with high sickness and death losses in the feedlot. Feedlot technologies are improving as new devices such as the Whisper and QuantifiedAg programs allow better and earlier sick calf detection despite the labour shortage issues plaguing the whole agricultural industry. However, due to tightening regulations on the use of antibiotics in food production systems, the lack of new antibiotics in the pipeline and the paucity of effective alternative feed additives to boost immune function, we need to focus more on prevention rather than treatment. Pharmaceutical companies are
making great strides in the development of better vaccines that stimulate multiple aspects of the immune system - both mucosal and systemic. Research is demonstrating how cattle respond to infections by IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, Mannheimia, Pasteurella, Histophilus and Mycoplasma. Knowing that response then helps them develop vaccines that support and aid that response to prevent infection or to at least minimize the damage following infection. Programs must be tailored to your operation’s health problems and to meet your ultimate marketing program requirements. Don’t forget that environmental factors like malnutrition, dehydration, dust and stress will undermine the positive effects of your vaccination program. That is where the challenges of the new transport regulations lie. The job of the cow calf producer is to prepare calves for shipment so they have a chance to arrive at the feedlot before their “ best before” date.
Record keeping important component of transition Page 4 for the driver to go an extra 30 minutes or two hours over the allowable hours of service time to get there, rather than being stopped for the full break time.” The industry is lobbying for the federal government to look at driver regulations in the United States, which allow for a livestock exemption, so that a driver can extend their on-hours duty to get livestock to their final destination if it’s within a certain distance or time. “It works down there, so we hope we can come up with something that will work here in Canada because of our geographic location, and the size of our country and the movement of the product,” Wright
says. “We are very unique, so it has to be a made-in Canada solution.” What can beef producers do to get ready? What can producers do to prepare for the new transport regulation changes? Probably number one is to keep on doing what they have been doing, says Stadnicki. “The Canadian beef industry has a great track record of transporting cattle and reaching their destination in good condition, so I would encourage producers to continue to use some of the factors that have led to that success like low-stress handling facilities and techniques, making sure that they are assessing cattle readiness before loading, and ensuring the cattle are
fit for the entire journey, using trained and knowledgeable drivers, and having that strong communication all the way throughout the transport continuum between the producer, the driver, and the receiver” he says. It's also important to be informed about the upcoming changes. “Staying up to date on what is going to be required is important in terms of record keeping for the new regulations,” says Carson Callum, General Manager of the Manitoba Beef Producers. “It’s also important that producers and drivers of transport vehicles have a contingency plan, because of changing weather conditions, or other issues that could arise out on the road,
Fall 2021 District meeting schedule – as of October 22 Please note that the ability to hold in-person district meetings is contingent upon the COVID-19 pandemic situation and the requirements of the Manitoba public health orders related to meeting venues which are in effect when the meetings are taking place, such as face covering or vaccination requirements. Monitor the MBP website (www.mbbeef.ca), our e-newsletter and our Facebook and Twitter accounts for the latest details as the meetings approach. If in-person meetings are not possible for the even-numbered districts where director elections are required, a virtual meeting will be held for each of those districts on the dates listed.
to ensure that the animals being transported are well taken care of, and ensure that they get to their destination in the best shape possible.” Stadnicki adds that producers should make sure they are up to date with the new definitions and criteria for unfit and
compromised cattle that are part of the Canadian Beef Cattle Code of Practice and are embedded into the new transport regulations. Wright would also like to see producers use their voice to lobby for some practical adaptations to the regulations.
“As we move forward record keeping is going to be very important; it’s part of the traceability and for animal care, and I think beef producers and beef producer organizations have to lobby the government to get a standard form, and standard rules,” Wright says.
Resources for new livestock transportation regulations
CCA – fillable pdf of required Transfer of Care information https://www.cattle.ca/assets/3d44aa5672/Cattle-Transport-Record_ fillable.pdf BCRC - General information about safe transportation of cattle https://www.beefresearch.ca/research-topic.cfm/transport-1 CFIA – Now and Then - chart of livestock transportation regulation changes https://www.ontariobeef.com/uploads/userfiles/files/humane_ trans_reg_then_now_fact_sheet_1550526161243_eng.pdf Beef Farmers of Ontario – Overview of livestock transportation changes https://www.ontariobeef.com/services/transport-information.aspx
DISTRICT
DIRECTOR
DATE
LOCATION
District 14
Jim Buchanan (E)
Nov 1 @1pm
Minitonas and District Arena
District 12
Mark Good (E)
Nov 2 @1pm
Ste. Rose du Lac Community Hall
District 8
Matthew Atkinson (E)
Nov 3 @1pm
Neepawa Legion
District 6
Melissa Atchison (E)
Nov 8 @1pm
Oak Lake Community Hall
Odd # Districts
Virtual
Nov 9 @7pm
Online
Elections to be held in even-numbered districts. For all other districts – 1, 3, 5, 7. 9, 11 and 13 – MBP will be holding one virtual meeting where interested producers will be provided with the same updates as those producers in the even-numbered districts.
www.mbbeef.ca
6
CATTLE COUNTRY November 2021
Round up results from Page 2 continued...
SHORTHORN SHOW Class 1 Shorthorn Heifer Calves 1.Rylee Patterson Champion Shorthorn Heifer Calf Rylee Patterson with Trailside Lady Esther 14J Class 2 Shorthorn Bred Heifer 1.Fischer Cavers 2. Lukas Cavers 3. Sierra Inglis 4.Harleigh Carlson Champion Shorthorn Bred Heifer Fischer Cavers with Golden View Molinari 326H Reserve Champion Shorthorn Bred Heifer Lukas Cavers with Mount Hope Haley 36H Class 3 Shorthorn Cow Calf Pair 1. Harleigh Carlson 2. Rylee Patterson Champion Shorthorn Cow Calf Pair Harleigh Carlson with Bell M Misby 12G Reserve Champion Shorthorn Cow Calf Pair Rylee Patterson with KF Lady Esther 9G Grand Champion Shorthorn Female Fischer Cavers with Golden View Molinari 326H Reserve Grand Champion Female Lukas Cavers with Mount Hope Haley 36H Class 4 Shorthorn Bull Calf 1. Harleigh Carlson Shorthorn Bull Calf Champion Harleigh Carlson with Up the Creek Cow Man 2J ALL OTHER BREEDS SHOW Class 2 All Other Breeds Bred Heifers 1. Laine Muir (Angus) 2. Gracie Muir (Angus) 3. Laine Muir (Angus) 4. Brooklyn Wirgau (Gelbvieh) Class 2A All Other Breeds Bred Heifers 1. Brayden Steppler (Angus) 2. Jake Muir (Angus) 3. Ellie Nolan (Angus) 4. Brogan Birmingham (Simmental) 5. Brady Wirgau (Gelbvieh) Champion All Other Breeds Bred Heifer Brayden Steppler with Merit Black Lass 122H (Angus) Reserve Champion All Other Breeds Bred heifer Jake Muir with HBH Lenlock 77H (Angus) Class 3 All Other Breeds Cow Calf Pair 1. Brooklyn Wirgau (Gelbvieh) Champion All Other Breeds Cow Calf Pair Brooklyn Wirgau with HL Miss Fayette 17F (Gelbvieh) Champion All Other Breeds Female Brayden Steppler with Merit Black Lass 122H (An- gus)
Photo credit: Lois McRae
Reserve All Other Breeds Female Jake Muir with HBH Lenlock 77H (Angus) COMMERCIAL SHOW Class 1 Commercial Heifer Calf 1. Kyleigh Magotiaux Champion Commercial Heifer Calf Kylie Magotiaux with Beyonce Class 2 Commercial Bred Heifer 1. Carson Baker 2. Keirra Duguid 3. Kyleigh Magotiaux 4. Sveinna Bjarnarson 5. Cora Baker 6. Orla Duguid Class 2A Commercial Bred Heifer 1. Sveinna Bjarnarson 2. Jayci-Jo Best 3. Eric Schultz 4. Orianna Hyndman 5. Chance Inglis Champion Commercial Bred Heifer Sveinna Bjarnarson with Bailey Reserve Champion Commercial Bred Heifer Carson Baker with Green Bush Lady Pride 3H Class 3 Commercial Cow Calf Pair 1. Carson Baker 2.Keira Duguid Champion Commercial Female Sveinna Bjarnarson with Bailey Reserve Champion Commercial Female Carson Baker with Green Bush Lady Pride 3H Class 4 Commercial Bull Calf 1. Kyleigh Magotiaux 2. Kyleigh Magotiaux
Champion Commercial Bull Calf Kyleigh Magotiaux with Theo Reserve Champion Commercial Bull Calf Kyleigh Magotiaux with Max MARKET STEER SHOW Class 5A 1. Chase Airey 2. Jayci-Jo Best 3. Carson Baker 4. Aklen Abbey 5. Alayna Bieganski Class 5B 1. Christin Dixion 2. Kaitlyn Davey 3. Jackson Best 4. Lucas Bieganski 5. Sveinna Bjarnarson Class 5C 1. Brayden Steppler 2. Chance Inglis 3. Grace Glover 4. Emma Harms 5. Brady Wirgau 6. Easton Patterson Class 5D 1. Brynn Steppler 2. Madisyn Robertson 3. Blake Airey 4. Rylee Patterson 5. Sierra Inglis 6. Brooklyn Wirgau Champion Market Steer Brynn Steppler with Henry. Reserve Champion Market Steer Christin Dixon with Fortnight. Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up would like to acknowledge and thank our major sponsors for 2021. Platinum Enns Brothers Gold Manitoba Charolas Association Silver Klondike Farms Manitoba Angus Association Manitoba Simmental Association Bronze DLMS/ cattlevids.ca Manitoba Hereford Association and Manitoba Junior Hereford Association MB/SK Blonde D’Aquitaine (In memory of Marcel Dufault) Industry Manitoba Shorthorn Association MB/SK Gelbvieh Association
Please visit the Manitoba Angus website for details and deadlines on the The VanDaele Award & the Commercial Producer of the Year Award https://www.cdnangus.ca/ manitoba-angus-association/
For a list upcoming Angus Tag sales in your area check out the Manitoba Angus website! KEYSTONE KLASSIC SALE December 4th, 2021 Keystone Centre, Brandon MB
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StockTalk Q&A Feature Brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development TIM CLARKE
Livestock Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development tim.clarke@gov.mb.ca (204) 768-0534
Q: With the recent dry conditions and feed shortages, what can I do on my operation to mitigate this effect and manage for profitability? A: Fertility is the #1 most important economic trait affecting the profitability of a beef cow-calf operation. Pregnancy testing and shipping open cows and heifers therefore should be in order. Feed Testing: Know what feed sources you have available and the true nutritional quality of them so you can make the best decisions for your herd. Sending representative feed samples to a lab for analysis and working with a nutritionist or livestock specialist who can interpret the results and help develop balanced rations is crucially important. Assistance to pay for feed testing is available. Go to: www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture and click on AgriRecovery: Drought Assistance for Livestock Producers. Body Condition: Prevent cows you plan to keep in the herd from losing too much condition over winter. Cows with an ideal amount of fat cover (a body condition score of 3.0) eat less and are easier to maintain through the winter and get rebred. Cull early to help keep the remainder of the herd in good condition. Water Quality: When cattle drink out of dugouts and other surface water bodies and these get close to dry during late summer or drought, the cattle urine and feces become concentrated and the water becomes high in nitrates, sulphates and other contaminents (including blue-green algae) and cause production problems. Nitrates impair the ability of the blood to carry oxygen, sulphates inhibit the absorption of copper and selenium, two important elements for fertility. Selenium injection and chelated mineral containing copper assist with offsetting these effects. Fencing off dugouts and pumping into a trough dramatically improve water quality as well as improve fertility and gains. Big Cows Versus Little Cows? This is an excerpt from a recently published research report from the U.S. Cow Efficiency: Modeling the Biological and Economic Output of a Michigan Beef Herd Logan R Thompson, Matthew R Beck, Daniel D Buskirk, Jason E Rowntree, Melissa G S McKendree Translational Animal Science, Volume 4, Issue 3, July 2020, txaa166, https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaa166 Published: 10 September 2020 “Cow-calf production systems are highly variable and balancing cow size with both the management and grazing environment may help improve the system profitability (Nasca et al., 2015). These results indicate that in the Upper Midwest utilization of lighter weight cows increases the WW ratio (calf ’s pre-weaning growth versus the herd average expressed as a percentage) of the herd, may require less land and hay per cow, and potentially increases expected net returns on a per ha basis. The NPV (net present value; or value to the owner for her calves and herself) of light weight cows increased as the number of grazing days decreased, as they require less hay compared to their heavier counterparts. This may provide protection for producers against adverse weather events and climatic variability that is predicted to increase in frequency in Michigan (Melillo et al., 2014). Additionally, the increased weaning weight per ha captured by the lighter cows may also meet the goals of sustainable intensification by maximizing production per unit of land (Makkar, 2013; Tedeschi et al., 2015). RED ANGUS | BLACK ANGUS | SIMMENTAL
Photo credit: Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development
This would require a paradigm (preconceived notion) shift from producers, which often believe that heavier cows maximize profitability and require improved estimates of cow size from producers, as most do not weigh their animals consistently (Doye and Lalman, 2011; Reuter, 2017).” Replacement Heifer Management: On operations where heifers are raised as replacements, having a breeding season on heifers of two cycles or 42 days can have a very positive long term positive effect on overall herd fertility. The open heifers can be shipped and fetch young stock prices, not heiferette or open cow prices such as when they have one or two calves and then come in open (lower fertility animals). Additionally those heifers raised on your farm will be accustomed to your germs, water and the type of feed you have and will thrive better than purchased heifers. Reducing Weaning Stress: Any time we can reduce weaning stress we improve gains on our calves. Offering dry feeds to calves while still sucking their mothers can reduce stress on the calves come weaning time. This could be creep feeder with a high quality grain type product, or could be a creep-in corral where calves have access to high quality roughages such as second cut alfalfa/grass. Intake on prepared feed can be limited by adding non-iodized (white) salt to prevent over-consumption. Rumensin can be added to reduce the likelihood of acidosis and bloat, as well as to increase feed efficiency and prevent coccidiosis.
Early Weaning: Although early weaning has many benefits to the cow herd, those early-weaned calves bring different management challenges. Producers may need to retain ownership to get the most value out of the calves, in which case they must determine the best strategies for feeding calves separately. General advantages of early weaning for the cow herd include: • Cows are more likely to maintain an adequate body condition when they are not producing milk. Ideal body condition is linked to: • fewer problems at calving, • more cows rebred next year and • there is some evidence to suggest cows that have their calf weaned early have a larger calf the following year. • Reduced stress on the pasture and overall feed requirements because calves consume a significant amount of forage when with their dams. We want to hear from you. For the next issue of Cattle Country, a Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development forage or livestock specialist will answer a selected question. Email your questions to: Tim.Clarke@gov.mb.ca. For information related to feed and freight assistance programs, go too: www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture and click on “Drought Assistance Programs for Livestock Producers.”
Support for Manitoba livestock producers affected by drought
Apply for Feed and Transportation Assistance If you are a Manitoba livestock producer affected by the drought conditions in 2021, AgriRecovery can help you recover from extraordinary costs.
Buying, testing and moving feed from distant locations Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance helps livestock producers purchase and test feed for livestock to maintain their breeding herds, including transporting purchased feed from distant locations.
Moving your livestock to alternate feeding locations Livestock Transportation Drought Assistance helps livestock producers offset freight expenses associated with moving their breeding herd to alternate feeding locations due to shortages of feed.
Apply for Assistance To apply, get full program details, or to access resources on managing dry conditions, call Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development at 1-844-769-6224 or visit manitoba.ca/agriculture. Blair & Lois McRae & Family Brandon, Manitoba 204-728-3058 | Blair: 204-729-5439 | Lois: 204-573-5192
FEMALE SALE & COMPLETE BLACK ANGUS DISPERSAL
DECEMBER 13, 2021 - AT THE FARM
www.mbbeef.ca
Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development AgriRecovery – Print Ad Cattle Country 1/4 page horizontal — 6.39” wide x 5.75” deep
8
CATTLE COUNTRY November 2021
Transportation costs have been rising The fall cattle run is here and right on schedule. Mother Nature gave cattle producers a bit of a break with a late grazing season, allowing the calves to put on some extra weight while pushing the marketing schedules back to the seasonal normal. As predicted, the feeder cattle market opened stronger than expected and held on until mid-October before the sheer numbers on offer started to put downward pressure on the cattle market. Prices are close to last year’s levels, with heifers selling about 30 cents behind the steers. Transportation going both east and west is a major problem this fall. Rates have gone up, with the cost of shipping to southwestern Ontario jumping to 13 and 14 cents per pound. The cost of shipping cattle from Manitoba to feedlot alley in Alberta is running over 5.5 cents per pound. These are substantial increases from last fall. My truckers tell me that increased fuel costs, along with maintenance and equipment replacement costs, have really gone up this past year. The other major obstacle is a shortage of experienced cattle haulers. The cattle transportation industry has lost a number of “bull haulers” over the past few years, and very few of the new truckers want to haul cattle. The erratic schedule, long hours and the dangers associated with handling the cattle are not selling points for recruiting new drivers. With fewer cattle trucks on the road, the demand for the remaining ones that provide good service has increased. The demand for Manitoba feeders is certainly found in the east this year. Cattle feeders from Ontario and Quebec have been the aggressive buyers on the market so far this fall. Both provinces report better than average crops and a surplus of cattle feed. Alberta is running a close second on volume but is lower on the price. Markets in Alberta have been consistently lower than Manitoba, making it hard to market local
RICK WRIGHT The Bottom Line cattle into Alberta. The US has been almost non-existent as feeder cattle buyers. Canadian feeders who will retain ownership in the finishing feedlots, own the majority of the cattle going south. The outlook for the feeder cattle looks as though late October and early November will see some volatility as numbers on offer are expected to be higher than normal. Pen space continues to be an issue, along with current transportation. If you don’t have trucks, you can’t buy calves, as the health will deteriorate very quickly when the fall weather starts to change. As you are aware, I have been a big supporter of the auction markets my entire life. The public auction of cattle is the true price discovery mechanism, “tried and true,” for decades. I have seen many changes in the marketing of cattle during my 40+ years in the business and not all of them have been good. I was the first market manager in Manitoba to introduce presort co-mingled sales. The intention was to deal with large numbers of cattle and manage shrink on the cattle being sold. In those days, we only weighed one day prior to the sale. I am starting to get some negative feedback on cattle being purchased out of the presort sales. The main concerns are health of the calves, poor delivery weights and inconsis-
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tent sorting. The health concerns are a result of the two-day weigh-ups on the calves. The calves that are rounded up three days prior to the sale, delivered two days prior to the sale and weighed up, stood for an additional day. They are sold on day number three and delivered the following day or days depending on the trip. Some of the calves purchased at these sales are almost a week post-sale by the time they arrive in Ontario and Quebec. The weight concerns are a result of, in some cases, the cattle being too crowded in the pens and not able to get access to enough feed and water to maintain their weights. Lastly, the sorts at times, do not do justice to the cattle. Too many owners, too wide of weight spreads, horns included, some bulls in the lighter packages, etc. Personally, I now prefer the show list method of selling the cattle. You have one-owner packages with some history of the health protocols, and the packages are smaller, so you get a good look at the cattle on offer. As a producer, your cattle sell on their own merit, and the shrink conditions are addressed. Even though I started the pre-sorts in Manitoba, they are not working as well as they once did, and producers and buyers are looking for alternative ways to market cattle. Some feedlots prefer ranch direct but are willing to purchase from the “show list sales.” For the privilege of supporting their sales as a cattle buyer, I pay the auctions between $2.50 and $3.50 per head for every animal that I purchase. For the larger firms, that is a sizeable amount of money at the end of the year! The auction markets are still very important to the success of the cattle industry, but if they are going to be sustainable, ‘some’ of them will have to do a better job in order to earn the fees they are charging. Until next time, Rick
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COMPLETE BLACK ANGUS DISPERSAL
Selling Females - Herdsires - Semen - Embryos
WI TH S E L E CT GRO UP O F RE D A N GUS & S I MM E N TAL FEM ALES
MAR MAC FARMS
Blair, Lois & Melissa McRae Blair: 204-729-5439 | Lois: 204-573-5192 MCRAE LAND & LIVESTOCK Brett & Chantel McRae 204-729-1018
n o i t a r e n e G New Fa tEt hM ALE SALE e farm, Brandon, Manitoba WATCH FOR UPDATES ONLINE AT
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A NNUAL BU L L SAL E M A RCH 9, 2022 www.mbbeef.ca
November 2021 CATTLE COUNTRY
9
Why your veterinarian doesn’t always need muck on their boots BY ANGELLA LOVELL The move to offer veterinary telemedicine may have been prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but veterinarian and livestock producers have quickly come to see the many benefits of treating animals virtually, such as faster diagnosis and treatment decisions, and reduced driving time. That means veterinarians can make better use of their time and resources, while producers have the convenience of being able to upload a picture or video to their smartphone. Although there are always going to be times when they have to physically examine an animal, Dr. Elizabeth Homerosky and Dr. Tommy Ware of Veterinary AgriHealth Services at Crossfield, Alberta have found all kinds of applications for telemedicine in their practice, and they shared a few examples at the virtual Canadian Beef Industry Conference in August. Triaging cases to prioritize those that need urgent care can be done by looking at images or videos the producer sends, and the same goes for diagnosing some common problems and recommending a treatment. Veterinarians have walked producers through performing a necropsy of animals that have died unexpectedly rather than having to drive out to the farm to do it themselves. Welfare issues can also be addressed, such as whether an animal is well enough to ship or should be culled. Remote herd monitoring A big part of the practice’s focus is on ongoing herd monitoring, something else that has moved online. “Our biggest focus is herd-wide and that comes along
with consultations with clients,” Ware said. “With social distancing, we have had to do a lot of our consulting online which has been great for our clients because it’s easy for them, and we’re only taking a small portion of the day, as well as saving driving time.” Examples include monitoring cows for body score conditioning and lice control, a question the veterinarians get all the time. Producer, Stephen Hughes of Chinook Ranch near Longview, Alberta, usually treats all his cows for lice when they go through the chute for processing and preg-checking in the fall because it’s the most convenient time to do it. When Homerosky raised concerns that the product might not remain effective by the time an outbreak was likely, generally around January of February, they decided to remotely monitor the herd via videos and phone images throughout the winterfeeding period, and only treat if they needed to. By January only about one per cent of the herd showed any evidence of lice and in the end, none of the cows had to be treated over the winter, saving time, cost and helping to protect the efficacy of the control product long-term. Hughes was more than happy with the telemedicine experiment. “(The veterinarian) pointed me in the direction of using a product when we needed, not when it was convenient, and being able to have feedback and work together through the winter, I wasn’t trying to make that decision alone,” Hughes said via phone. “For me, it was huge to have that guidance through the process. Doing it remotely
worked great for both parties so it was a new step for us in our management and we were super happy with the results.” Homerosky also learned a lot from the experience. “It has a lot to do with (Hughes’) management. The cows graze stockpiled forage through the winter and are not in close proximity like they would be in a feed bunk or confined feeding scenario; they are scattered all over the hillside and that was key. Being able to understand that, and more about transmission, is going to help us provide more targeted advice for our clients about management, and suggest procedures based on the management at that operation.” News services to help with production and nutrition Telemedicine has also allowed the practice to continue to offer regular training and refreshers about protocols that they previously would have done in person, such as presentations on disease management and calving protocols, and to develop new services around production and nutrition management. “We offer production management and data analysis, and all our decisions we try to make data-driven and we have multiple platforms where we collect data from our clients,” Ware said. A recently added service is calving pasture management. Ware takes a
Google satellite image of the ranch and overlays all the fences and water sources of the pastures remotely. The idea is that to mitigate scours, they want to split up and move the pregnant cows every two weeks to new pastures, so they calve on clean, uncontaminated grass. Using an iPad, he shares the online aerial images with the producer and helps them strategically move cows across the pastures in the most efficient way. “Having an aerial view is more effective than being on foot at the farming operation and in the middle of a pasture, because you get the big picture,” Homerosky said. “Even when doing in-person consults we always have the iPad and bring it up on the screen because the technology facilitates a more effective discussion.” Homerosky and Ware are definitely sold on the technology and encourage other producers to give telemedicine a try, because it enhances capabilities at both the farm and clinic level. “You are going to miss more by not looking than not knowing, so when you are talking with your vet, send that picture or video; they add a tremendous amount more value and context, and you are going to get more targeted recommendations specific to you and your herd. We really encourage (producers) to utilize their veterinarian in some of these technologies moving forward in their operation.”
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10 CATTLE COUNTRY November 2021
Meet NCLE graduate student Hannah Keenes SUBMITTED BY THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LIVESTOCK AND THE ENVIRONMENT, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA Mining for treasure in the manure pile - Manure research provides vital insights into nutrient utilization including potential losses through greenhouse gas emissions. As a student pursuing her Master’s in animal science, Hannah Keenes is part of a research project that connects the dots between animal management decisions and the manure cows and calves leave behind. Keenes is co-supervised by two leading researchers involved with the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment: NCLE Director Kim Ominski from the Animal Science Department, and Soil Science professor Mario Tenuta, the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in 4R Nutrient Management. Together, the interdisciplinary team is determining how the nutrient and GHG composition of manure is
affected by how animals are fed and housed, as well as by how the manure is handled, stored and applied in the field. The end goal is to develop best management practices that producers can use. “A lot of it was dirty work, but I had a great time!” Keenes says. “I loved getting out to the farms and working with technicians on the road. When you see the diversity of locations and resources farmers are working with, it really gives you a sense of how different management decisions are made.” Keenes is also stoked by the opportunity to be working on one of the biggest sustainability issues faced by cattle producers. “I wanted to be part of that knowledge-building, particularly because of all the misinformation we see out there,” she said. “There’s a big need to disseminate science-
based, factual information about the sustainability of our industry.” Keenes has spent long hours digging around manure to collect samples for the project, but she’s also had plenty of opportunity to experience the less-messy, more-high-tech aspects of research. For example, she’s collecting GHG emission data using cutting-edge technology that uses infrared light to detect distinct molecular “fingerprints” of different gases. The technology can identify and quantify multiple gases at once, providing an efficient way to track GHG emission patterns over time. Course-wise, she’s been able to try her hand at some ag systems modeling work, creating simulations from the data she’s collected. Her favourite part of the project is working directly with producers, speaking with them one on one and understanding their passion for the work they do. As someone who didn’t grow up
Peter Frohlich joins the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment Team
In October 2021 Peter Frohlich joined the NCLE Team as the Research Development Coordinator. Peter has over twenty years of experience working in Canadian agriculture with activities focused on ingredient manufacturing, food product development and processing, nutrition, and communications. Peter has functioned both as a coordinator and project manager leading applied research initiatives supporting Canadian producers, researchers and industry with the overall goal of enhancing value and markets for Canadian agricultural commodities. As the newest team member with the NCLE, Peter is excited to work closely with the research community and the value chain to further the long term economic and environmental sustainability of integrated livestock and crop production systems and to advance Canada’s agriculture industry.
Hannah Keenes during her undergraduate research using GPS collars to monitor cattle behavior. (Photo credit: NCLE)
Specially designed chambers measure GHG emissions from a manure pile. (Photo credit: NCLE)
on a farm, Keenes had been itching to get that kind of field experience. So how does a lifelong city dweller end up knee-deep in manure? Like many agriculture students, Keenes was drawn to the work by her love of animals. Growing up in Winnipeg, she was immersed in the world of conformation dog shows. She originally aspired to a career in veterinary medicine when she joined the Animal Science Department. But once in the program, her eyes were opened to a wider range of possibili-
ties.
“I learned so much about the food system – the kind of stuff you don’t learn growing up in the city.” After graduation, she hopes to continue being involved in practical work in agricultural research or policy, or to work as a lab technician. Meanwhile, she’s exceling in her studies. While an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Keenes worked for researchers in both animal and soil science and won nu-
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NOV. 16 Come As U R - Rainbow River Simmental Production Sale - DVAuctions Nov. 19 Pembina Triangle Simmental Association 41st Annual Sale - Cypress River, Manitoba DEC. 5 Queens of the Heartland Production Sale - McAuley, Manitoba DEC. 6 Northern Light Simmentals & HBH Angus Production Sale - Virden, Manitoba DEC. 7 Keystone Konnection 42nd Annual Sale - Brandon, Manitoba DEC. 11 Transcon’s Season Wrap Up Sale - Neepawa, Manitoba DEC. 11 Shades Of The Prairies Simmental Sale - Brandon, Manitoba DEC. 12 Bonchuk Farms Female Production Sale - Virden, Manitoba DEC. 13 Mar Mac Farms New Generation Sale & Black Angus Dispersal - Brandon, Manitoba DEC. 14th Karsin Farms & Guests Bull & Female Sale - Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
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November 2021 CATTLE COUNTRY 11
Keep the chills at bay with a hearty bowl of chili this fall BY: TAMARA SARKISIAN, RD Is there anything better than a warm hearty bowl of chili on a cold day? As we get ready for the winter season, there’s no better time to start making a delicious bowl of chili to get you through the week or better yet, to serve while watching the big game! Chili is an excellent freezer friendly meal too, so make sure to cook double the amount for the weeks to come. We are using lean ground chuck in this recipe, but you can use regular or lean ground beef too. Ground beef is a great source of protein and packed with nutrients like iron, vitamin B12 and zinc.
Did you know that 100 g of beef offers 20 g of protein? That covers approximately 1/3 of your protein needs for the day! In addition, the protein rich beef helps to increase the absorption of iron from the beans and other plant sources by a whole 150%. If you’re looking for a delicious bowl of chili, you must try my recipe with a secret touch of mushrooms. It’s a complete game changer! I like to serve my chili with a side of quinoa or wild rice and love to top it off with some shredded cheese, plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream) and green onions. See accompanying recipe:
Hearty Beef chili Ingredients
1.5 kg lean ground chuck (you can also use lean ground beef) One tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper One onion, diced Four cloves garlic, crushed One tsp cumin One tsp coriander One Tbsp chili powder 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper One cup mushrooms, diced Two bell peppers (red and green) One can crushed tomatoes Four to five Tbsp tomato paste Two ½ cups low sodium beef broth One bay leaf One can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed Chopped green onion, shredded cheese, and plain Greek yogurt for garnish
Directions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Cook ground meat over medium-high heat in Dutch oven with salt and pepper, breaking up with wooden spoon until browned and cooked through. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 min. Add the cumin, coriander, chili powder and cayenne pepper stirring for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and green peppers and sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth and bay leaf. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Stir in the kidney beans and increase heat to medium to bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf and adjust seasoning to taste. Top each serving with chopped green onion, shredded cheese, and a dollop of plain Greek yogurt if desired.
BRED HEIFERS FOR SALE!
www.ediecreekangus.com www.mbbeef.ca
12 CATTLE COUNTRY November 2021
WORKING TOWARDS TRACEABILITY TOGETHER
Courtesy of Staden Farms
Courtesy of Ian Thorleifson
canadaid.ca
CCIA
CANADIAN CATTLE IDENTIFICATION AGENCY
Courtesy of Jody Scheirlinck
Courtesy of Tracy Lamb
Courtesy of Canadian Sheep Federation
Led by representation from 15 livestock organizations from across Canada, the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, CCIA, is the responsible administrator for beef cattle, bison, sheep and pending regulation cervids and goats in Canada (with some exemptions in Quebec).
WHAT’S NEW IN THE WEBSTORE
FOR ALL THINGS TRACEABILITY
SHEARWELL RFID — An innovative steel wrap-around beef tag, the first of its kind. The microchip is overmolded in a plastic insert so readability and read range of the transponder are never compromised. DESTRON DMR RFID — Upgraded version of the Destron eTag. Improvements include a fully molded outer tag housing for better durability and water resistance and an enhanced locking mechanism for greater retention.
canadaid.ca — your source for who we are and what we do.
clts.canadaid.ca — Canadian Livestock Tracking System
(CLTS), is CCIA’s database where essential traceability information is captured and serves as the first line of defence in the event of a traceback. support.canadaid.ca — your “how to” destination. tags.canadaid.ca — tags and tag accessories when you need them, 24/7.
UHF | NEW POSSIBILITIES CCIA is exploring the introduction of Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID tags into the existing system in a cost-efficient manner that augments the approved CCIA tag and supplies benefits of the technology to on-farm data collection. Data integrity is enhanced, and data capture is more efficient by pairing an UHF tag number with a CCIA tag number and storing the cross reference in the CLTS.
WE ARE ON THE MOVE We have had a longstanding goal of owning our own building consisting of both office and warehouse space under one roof in Calgary. The CCIA Board’s vision is now a reality offering the potential to increase our in-house services and become more self-reliant in order to better serve the industry as we move forward.
To get to know us better and learn more about how we are working towards traceability together, visit www.canadaid.ca | info@canadaid.ca | 1-877-909-2333 www.mbbeef.ca
CCIA
CANADIAN CATTLE IDENTIFICATION AGENCY