2 minute read
From the Field
It is the third week of July and we just got back from the World Charolais Congress in the United Kingdom. In-depth coverage of this biennial event is further back in this issue. Canada is hosting this event in 2024 and the breeders from around the world expressing interest in attending was excellent. It will be a great event covering four provinces, with opportunities for all breeders to participate.
June saw some national and provincial association events, starting with the CCA AGM in Russell, Manitoba.
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It was a very fun event with a tremendous inaugural Friends of Canadian Charolais Foundation Sale. Unfortunately, the attendance was not where it should have been considering the program and the importance of helping direct your association with your participation.
The Saskatchewan Association changed their AGM, which included golfing and an internet sale at Dakota Dunes, south of Saskatoon. It was a great event with breeders networking from across the prairies and having fun together.
The Alberta Summer Tour saw good participation as well, for this day long southern swing. Several good herds were visited, and great hospitality was provided at all the farms, as well as on the buses. All these events are affordable and a place to meet breeders you don’t know, share ideas, and hopefully find new customers along the way.
What a difference a year makes, with the drought ending in most places. Unfortunately, some areas have had too much moisture and some storm damage this spring and summer. Hay and pastures are improved and the cost of winter feed, outside of grain, will be down to more manageable prices, if purchasing is needed.
Beef numbers around the world are down and prices are up in several countries, and we should see an improved calf market this fall as well. With the cost of everything increasing, the price of cattle does need to improve to keep this industry profitable. The Dutch farmers that have been holding a country wide protest to the government’s plan to lower the use of fertilizer will hopefully deter other countries from implementing similar policies. The unrest around the world will increase, as there will be food shortages if farmers are restricted in how they can be more efficient and produce more food.
A tip of the hat to all the cattlemen organizations from across Canada for lobbying the government and Health Canada to not put a misleading warning label on Canadian ground beef. Because of this they reversed their decision to put a warning label on ground beef, an important, nutritious staple in households across the country.
The marketing tip this month is to pull hair when you wean and process your bull calves this fall. It will enable you to send it into the labs in plenty of time. Last year with them running behind, many didn’t receive the results of their 100K for enhanced EPDs, including Homo polled tests, before cataloguing for their bull sales. It is also a good practise to pull hair on the cows you are culling and store it, in case you need it in the future.
Until next time, Helge
