Fall 2023 Charolais Connection

THANK

The Charolais Connection

124 Shannon Road

Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 5B1

Ph 306-584-7937 • Fax 306-546-3942

Home Page: http://www.charolaisbanner.com

Email: charolaisbanner@gmail.com

ISSN 0824-1767

Manager/Publisher

Helge By

Managing Editor Candace By charolaisbanner@gmail.com

306-536-3374 @ByCandace

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FIELDMEN

Helge By Fax 306-546-3942

T 306-584-7937 C 306-536-4261 charolaisbanner@gmail.com @CharolaisBanner

Robbie Chomik

780-336-6424 charolaisbanner3@gmail.com

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The Charolais Connection is mailed to over 8,000 cattlemen nationwide. Those cattlemen include all purebred Charolais breeders, buyers of purebred Charolais bulls from the past six years and all subscribers to the Charolais Banner.

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Published by the Charolais Banner, Regina, SK (3 times per year - February, March and Fall)

I am writing this after spending a week in Ontario touring, picturing and videoing and it sure looks good there. Growing conditions there have been great overall with plenty of feed available. In some cases, there has been too much rain and they would gladly share it with the parts of the west that need it. Saying that, the moisture across the western provinces has been spotty with the drought area not as big as last year, but if you have been missing the rains, it is still troublesome to get enough feed gathered.

There will be some more cows and bulls going to town this fall because of feed shortages, but the last Statistics Canada report shows numbers aren’t down as far in Canada as I thought they could be. Statistics Canada has estimated the number of cattle and calves on farms as of July 1 at 12.155 million head, down 180,000 head or 1.5% during the past year, falling for a second year and the lowest number reported since 1988. The number of head fell by 11,300 on dairy operations to 1.853 million, the lowest in three years, while the number on beef operations fell by 168,700 head on beef operations to 10.302 million head.

By province, the number of cattle on beef operations rose by 8,300 head in Ontario to 935,300 head, fell by 6,600 head on beef operations in Manitoba, fell by 23,300 head in Saskatchewan, by 128,600 head in Alberta and by 3,900 head in British

Columbia. The largest drop seen in Alberta results in estimated cattle on beef operations at 5.0783 million head, 49.3% of the national herd while the lowest reported in six years.

The number of beef cows on cowcalf operations fell by 57,500 head, or 1.8%, during the past year to 3.112 million head as of July 1, the lowest reported in available data back to 2000. The number of replacement heifers reported fell by 12,900 head, or 2.5%, during the same period.

In comparison, the last report from the US shows us that this year’s calf crop is estimated to be down 664,000 from 2022 at 33.8 million head. The beef cow numbers are also showing a two percent drop of about 800,000 from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, to 38.8 million. Replacement heifer numbers are also down 100,000 to 5.050 million head from the previous year.

One analysis I read stated the U.S. cow-calf producers tend to have one year of historically high prices before beginning to expand the cowherd. So, if they start rebuilding the herd next fall, those heifer calves will be bred in 2025, calve in 2026, with no more meat hitting the market until well into 2027. This should be a good run with predictions of new record highs of fed and feeder cattle expected during the spring of 2024. This is what is driving the calf market this fall. From July 1 cattle on feed numbers will be their lowest since 2017 for the rest of the year and even lower in 2024.

The USDA is also predicting a nearly 2.5 million lb drop in beef production in 2024 vs 2023.

Also in August in the US, beef 90s, the primary ingredient in hamburgers reached a new all-time

FROM DANS NOS CHAMPS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

êtes nombreux à se rejoindre à nous. Vous pouvez également consulter les catalogues de vente sur le site de Charolais Banner. Si vous avez des

questions, veuillez contacter Robbie Chomik ou moi et nous vous aiderons dans votre achat dans la mesure du possible.

weekly high at $305.31/cwt. This mostly comes from the cow slaughter, which will decrease in 2024. This will cause the 90s prices to be higher. This will support some of the poorer fed cattle cuts, such as the bottom and inside round, the knuckle and clod.

At the retail level, stores feature beef when supplies are plentiful and when supplies are scarce, they raise retail prices and features are uncommon. This is what is happening now. There is always the potential for a decrease in beef demand with the higher prices, but it hasn’t appeared yet.

In this issue, there is an article on a large, exceptional farming operation in Hungary that Candace and I had the pleasure of spending time with this April. We have become friends with the family on some World Charolais Congresses and were invited to their place after the World Charolais Technical Conference in the Czech Republic. We hope you will find it as interesting as we did.

Also, in this issue you will see breeders showing their appreciation to you, the commercial bull buyers, for your support. You will also see some of the female sales happening this fall. There are great opportunities for new purebred Charolais breeders right across the country even though we are seeing many new ones join. You can also check out the sale catalogues on the Charolais Banner website. If you have any questions, please contact Robbie Chomik or me and we will help you with your purchasing whenever possible.

Here’s to a profitable future in the cattle business.

Until next time, Helge

Voilà pour un avenir rentable dans le secteur du bétail.

À la prochaine fois, Helge

Don’t sell your cows if you can help it. The next few years could be exciting.

Dans nos champs

Helge By

Si possible, ne vendez pas vos vaches.

Les prochaines années pourraient être passionnantes. J’écris ceci après avoir passé une semaine en Ontario à faire des tournées, à photographier et à filmer et ça promet là-bas. Les conditions de croissance ont été globalement excellentes avec beaucoup de fourrage disponible. Dans certains endroits, il y a eu trop de pluie et les producteurs seraient heureux de partager les averses avec les régions de l’Ouest qui en ont besoin. Cela dit, l’humidité dans les provinces de l’ouest a été inégale et la zone de sécheresse n’est pas aussi grande que l’année dernière, mais sans pluie, il est toujours difficile de récolter suffisamment de fourrage.

Il y aura encore des vaches et des taureaux qui iront à l’encan cet automne en raison des pénuries de foins et de grains mais le dernier rapport de Statistique Canada démontre que les données ne sont pas aussi basses au Canada que je le pensais. Statistique Canada a estimé le nombre de bovins et de veaux dans les fermes au 1er juillet à 12,155 millions de têtes, en baisse de 180 000 têtes ou 1,5% au cours de la dernière année, en baisse pour une deuxième année consécutive et le nombre le plus bas enregistré depuis 1988. Une baisse de 11,300 dans les exploitations laitières qui s’affiche maintenant à 1,853 million, le plus bas depuis trois ans, tandis que le nombre dans les exploitations bovines a diminué de 168,700 têtes dans les exploitations bovines à 10,302 millions de têtes.

Par province, le nombre de bovins dans les exploitations bovines a augmenté de 8,300 têtes en Ontario pour atteindre 935 300 têtes, a diminué de 6,600 têtes dans les exploitations bovines au Manitoba, a diminué de 23,300 têtes en Saskatchewan, de

128,600 têtes en Alberta et de 3,900 têtes en Colombie-Britannique. La plus forte baisse observée en Alberta se traduit par une estimation du nombre de bovins dans les exploitations de boucherie à 5,0783 millions de têtes, soit 49,3 % du troupeau national, le plus bas enregistré en six ans. Le nombre de vaches de boucherie dans les exploitations de vaches-veaux a diminué de 57 500 têtes, soit 1,8%, au cours de l’année écoulée pour atteindre 3,112 millions de têtes en date du 1er juillet, le plus bas rapport dans les données disponibles remontant à l’an 2000. Le nombre de génisses de remplacement déclaré a diminué de 12,900 têtes, soit 2,5%, durant la même période.

En comparaison, le dernier rapport des États-Unis nous montre que la récolte de veaux de cette année est estimée en baisse de 664,000 par rapport à 2022, soit 33,8 millions de têtes. Le nombre de vaches de boucherie montre également une baisse de 2%, soit environ 800,000 entre le 1er juillet 2022 et le 1er juillet 2023, pour atteindre 38,8 millions. Le nombre de génisses de remplacement est également en baisse de 100,000 à 5,050 millions de têtes par rapport à l’année précédente.

Une analyse que j’ai lue indique que les producteurs américains de vachesveaux ont tendance à connaître une année de prix historiquement élevés avant de commencer à agrandir leur troupeau. Ainsi, s’ils commencent à reconstituer le troupeau l’automne prochain, ces génisses seront saillies en 2025, vêleront en 2026 et aucune viande n’arrivera sur le marché avant une bonne partie de 2027. Cela devrait être une bonne période avec les prévisions de nouveaux records de bovins d’élevage et des bovins d’engraissement attendus au printemps 2024. C’est ce qui anime le marché des veaux cet automne. À partir du 1er juillet, le nombre de bovins engraissés

sera le plus bas depuis 2017 pour le reste de l’année et encore plus bas en 2024. L’USDA prévoit également une baisse de près de 2,5 millions de livres dans la production de bœuf en 2024 par rapport à 2023.

Aux États-Unis également, en août, le bœuf 90, l’ingrédient principal des hamburgers, a atteint un nouveau record hebdomadaire à 305,31$/cwt (cent livres). Cela vient principalement des abattages de vaches, qui diminueront en 2024. Cela entraînera une hausse des prix pour ce produit. Cela permettra de soutenir certaines des coupes de bovins les plus maigre, comme la partie inférieure et intérieure, le jarret et la ronde. Au niveau du commerce de détail, les magasins proposent du bœuf lorsque les stocks sont abondants et lorsque les stocks sont rares, ils augmentent les prix de détail et les spéciaux sont rares. C’est ce qui se passe actuellement. Il existe toujours un risque de diminution de la demande de viande bovine en raison de la hausse des prix, mais ce phénomène n’est pas encore apparu.

Dans ce numéro, vous trouverez un article sur une grande exploitation agricole exceptionnelle en Hongrie avec laquelle Candace et moi avons eu le plaisir de visiter en avril dernier. Nous sommes devenus amis avec la famille lors de certains congrès mondiaux Charolais et avons été invités chez eux après la conférence technique mondiale charolaise en Tchéquie. Nous espérons que vous le trouverez aussi intéressant que nous. De plus, dans ce numéro, vous verrez des éleveurs vous remercier, vous, les acheteurs commerciaux de taureaux pour votre soutien. Vous verrez également certaines ventes de femelles cet automne. Il existe de grandes opportunités pour les nouveaux éleveurs de race charolaise pure partout au pays, même si vous ..continued on page 8

CANADIAN CHAROLAIS ASSOCIATION

2320, 41st Avenue NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6W8 403.250.9242 F 403.291.9324 www.charolais.com

@canCharolais www.facebook.com/cdncharolais

PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES:

ALBERTA

President: Stephen Cholak, Lamont

Secretary: Deb Cholak, Lamont

SASKATCHEWAN

President: Dale Weinbender, Canora

Secretary: Sarah Hordos, Raymore

MANITOBA

President: Michael Hunter, Roblin

Secretary: Rae Trimble, Portage la Prairie

ONTARIO

President: Jim Baker, Stayner

Secretary: Ashley Baker, Madoc

QUEBEC

President: Mark Frost, Kingsey Falls

Secretary: Chantal Raymond, Sainte-Eulalie

MARITIMES

President: Brett Francis, Crapaud, PEI

Secretary: Nancy Milton, Nine Mile Creek, PEI

STAFF:

General Manager: CRAIG SCOTT

Registry: LOIS CHIVILO

Registry/Member Services: CASSIDY MATTHEWS

French Membership: Bernard Dore 514-910-4935 • bernarddore@videotron.ca

EXECUTIVE:

PRESIDENT: SHAWN AIREY Box 639, Rivers, MB R0K 1X0 204.328.7704 C 204.724.8823 htacharolais@hotmail.com

1st VICE-PRESIDENT: RYAN NESBITT 17100 Cedardale Rd, Nestleton, ON L0B 1L0 905.242.2046 ryan@cedardalefarms.ca

2nd VICE-PRES: JOSH TAYLOR 1717 County Rd 36, Dunsford, ON K0M 1L0 705.793.2576 C 705.760.5054 joshua.r.taylor@hotmail.com

PAST PRESIDENT: KASEY PHILLIPS Box 420, Waskatenau, AB T0A 3P0 780.358.2360 C 780.656.6400 kphillips@mcsnet.ca

DIRECTORS:

DARWIN ROSSO

78 325 4th Ave SW, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 5V2 306.693.2384 rosso.c@sasktel.net

ARMAND ROY

98 Rang St-Andre, St-Bernard Lacolle, QC J0J 1V0 450.246.9799 C 514.895.0829 royalch@hotmail.com

JEFF CAVERS

Box 237, La Riviere, MB R0G 1A0 204.242.3467 C 204-242-4448 c2charolais@inethome.ca

ROD McLEOD

293113 Townshp Rd 263, Rocky View County, AB T4A 0N5 403.540.7986 rodmcl@telus.net

TRAVIS FOOT

Box 414, Esther, AB T0J 1H0 403.664.3167 C 406.664.0961 footprintfarms1@gmail.com

JOSH REDDEN

5239 Hwy 14 Windsor NS B0N 2T0 902.670.5919 • jhredden@nsac.ca

FROM THE CANADIAN CHAROLAIS ASSOCIATION

Where do EPD Come From – From Breeding to Birth of an EPD

There is a common misconception among many beef cattle breeders, that EPD are pulled from the air or based on some imaginary information. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. In this article we will attempt to explain (and in some cases vastly oversimplify) where EPD are derived from. Having a basic understanding of the process of development and some of the science behind an EPD can help us to appreciate how they work and that they do work. This understanding also demonstrates why it is important to provide data that is of as high a quality as we can collect.

The conception stages of an EPD should revolve around the concept of Economically Relevant Traits (ERT). An ERT is a trait that directly impacts the profitability of, in our case, a beef operation. This means the EPD should express genetic differences in traits that have a direct impact on costs or income. For example, if we market calves at weaning by the pound, then weaning weight is an ERT, since it produces income. We have EPD for traits that are not ERT and usually these are what we call indicator traits. These are often historic artifacts because we had the data to develop them before the technology to calculate the relevant ERT was available. Birth weight is a good example here. The technology to calculate genetic differences in birth weight was available before the technology to calculate what really costs money (Calving ease) was available. Or in other cases we use them because they are easier to measure than the trait that is the

Sean McGrath

actual ERT. For example, it is easier to measure mature cow size than feed intake of a cow on pasture.

Decisions on which EPD to pursue are usually based on collaboration between researchers and producers (often with breed associations acting as the middle man). For example, producers might indicate that they are concerned about, or need to work on knowledge of carcass characteristics in their cattle to better serve their customer base. The association may work to help them collect and pool carcass and ultrasound data and work with researchers to develop and deploy carcass EPD for various traits such as marbling or eye muscle area. Data collection is really, just a first step.

Secondarily, researchers and producers may identify areas of concern that are more difficult to measure or are novel traits. In this case research herds, such as those at Universities, Research Stations or Co-operator Herds may be used to build datasets. Probably a good recent example of this may be work done on PAP scoring for resistance to altitude sickness.

Once there is a data set established on the trait of interest, researchers will go to work understanding the data and what it means. This is anchored in biology and an understanding of how natural processes work and also in what expression of the trait will inform commercial selection decisions. A simple example could be weaning weight expressed in relative pounds of difference between offspring.

It is a big simplification, but there are any new analysis involves understanding the trait and how to express it, and understanding what the data is telling us about the genetics behind that trait. You

may hear terms like, “estimation of variance components” or “heritability estimates”. These are basically scientific terms for understanding data and how it is spread out across the population. We will use an oversimplified example of heritability to illustrate the point. Heritability can be thought of as a way of understanding how much variation in phenotypes for a trait, is due to the genetics for that trait. For traits with a high heritability, each phenotypic record contains a lot of information about the genetics involved. Traits with a low heritability are generally subject to a lot of environmental influence and so each record may contain slightly less genetic information.

Heritability is calculated using data. Again, in a vast oversimplification, we look at expected vs actual differences in the data and calculate heritability. There is a lot more to calculating heritability than what is shown, but this basic example of calculating a realized heritability for birth weight will hopefully shed some light on the idea behind the process.

If we have a population with an average birth weight of 80 pounds and we selected parents from that population with a birth weight of 70 pounds. We would expect the offspring of those parents to be 70 pounds or 10 pounds less than the average if birth weight was 100% due to genetic factors. Let’s say in our data set the average birth weight of the offspring was 77 pounds. The expected variation was a 10 pound decrease, but the realized difference was only 3 pounds. The realized heritability is the difference between the original population and the offspring of the selected parents divided by the difference between the average of the original population and the average of the selected parents.

Again, this is a very simplified example and does not show all of the processes behind the scenes, but it provides the general idea of some of the math behind determining genetic contribution to a trait and developing an EPD. When done on a large scale (several thousand records) and with clean data we can get a very good idea of what portion of observed differences are explained by the additive genetic component. These are our “variance components” mentioned earlier.

Correlations are also determined from data and an understanding of biology. Correlations do not “cause” a genetic result, but they do allow us to use data from other associated traits to improve our predictive capability. One of the best examples here is birth weight and calving ease. Heavier birth weights are associated with more difficult births, but they are not the only cause of difficult calving. Calf shape and maternal environment also play major roles. These traits are all “associated” with calving ease. By using information such as birth weight and calving difficulty scores, we can do a much better job of figuring out genetics for calving ease.

Once the background biology is done, and the math complete, an EPD can be calculated. This is the basic process of assigning contemporary groups and examining how the genetics of animals play out across groups with the same management and environmental history, and applying our new variance components to the data.

Part of the process of EPD development involves taking the models developed in the earlier stages and computing EPD on cattle, then comparing the actual performance of the cattle (data records) to see if the predictions are actually producing the expected results. It also includes the litmus test of providing trial results to breeders and seeing if they match up with what they are seeing on the ground and submitting the EPD to others in industry and the scientific community to scrutinize the

results and ask questions. Generally this process takes several iterations, and may even involve going back into the steps of understanding the data and the trait we are working on.

While this article has several glaring oversimplifications, this also serves to illustrate the point that as the science evolves and we gain better understanding of how a cow works and how she interacts with her environment we can garner more genetic information out of our existing phenotype and pedigree data. This is one of the biggest drivers behind changes in EPD over time. Our evaluation, software, hardware and even our data collection improves and thus our EPD can be made more predictive as well. Just like a calf that is born, the science of genetic evaluation continues to grow and evolve. Although outside the scope of this article, a good recent example of this would be the inclusion of DNA or genomic data into genetic evaluation. DNA technology has rapidly changed and enhanced our ability to calculate accurate genetic predictions and make better comparisons of potential seedstock.

A lot of work goes on in the background before an EPD ever sees the light of day. From assessing the traits of interest and ensuring they are in fact economically important, to collecting good data sets on traits of interest, to examining the relevant biology and evaluating the data to determine the genetic components of a trait, running a model and comparing expected results with actual on the ground performance, an EPD is based on science and is the most powerful selection tool available in the context of a targeted breeding objective. What is exciting about this for commercial users of Charolais genetics is that the new joint evaluation between CCA and AICA employs the latest in this area of science and creates a much larger dataset from which we can measure the genetic differences between animals. This means that the EPD

..continued on page 29

YOU!

to everyone who was part of our sale in 2023 from the on-farm visiters, to bidders and buyers!

We truly appreciate all of you!

• Rob & Carol Cooper (2)

• Jackson Bros. (2)

• George Poruchnek (2)

• Les Cook

• Bar Over Double E

• Brian Natress

• Eldon Roesler

• Alyssa & Vince Colven

• Kenny Sidener

• 9-9 Ranch (2)

• Anchor J Ranch

• Crossbar Ranch

• Ash Cooper

• Ken Morrison

• Myron Fawcett Holdings

• Kevin Steinhubel

• Thacker Ranch

• Island Lake Grazing Co-op

• Ferme Patry de Weedon

• Gilliland Bros. Charolais

• Diamond W Charolais

• Horseshoe E Charolais

• Fawcett Ranches Inc

• Charlite Farms

• Clarke Charolais (2)

• Be-Rich Farms

Hope to see you at our 8th Annual Bull Sale March 19th, 2024! at the Farm, Chauvin, Alberta

THJ 53J

Ferme Patry de Weedon, Weedon, QC

THJ 16J

Gilliland Bros. Charolais, Carievale, SK & Diamond W Charolais, Hudson Bay, SK

AHT 114J

Horseshoe E Charolais, Kenaston, SK

THJ 12J

George Poruchnek, Wainwright

THJ 43J

George Poruchnek, Wainwright

John & Kirsten Taylor & Family

T 780-858-2435 • C 780-806-3395

Chauvin, Alberta

jktaylor@telusplanet.net follow us on Facebook

DE LA CHAROLAIS ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE

D’où proviennent les ÉPD – De la conception à la naissance d’un ÉPD

CANADIAN CHAROLAIS ASSOCIATION

2320, 41st Avenue NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6W8 403.250.9242 F 403.291.9324 www.charolais.com

@canCharolais

www.facebook.com/cdncharolais

PROVINCIAUX REPRÉSENTANTS:

ALBERTA

President: Stephen Cholak, Lamont

Secretary: Deb Cholak, Lamont

SASKATCHEWAN

President: Dale Weinbender, Canora

Secretary: Sarah Hordos, Raymore

MANITOBA

President: Michael Hunter, Roblin

Secretary: Rae Trimble, Portage la Prairie

ONTARIO

President: Jim Baker, Stayner

Secretary: Ashley Baker, Madoc

QUEBEC

President: Mark Frost, Kingsey Falls

Secretary: Chantal Raymond, Sainte-Eulalie

MARITIMES

President: Brett Francis, Crapaud, PEI

Secretary: Nancy Milton, Nine Mile Creek, PEI

PERSONNEL:

General Manager: CRAIG SCOTT

Registry: LOIS CHIVILO

Registry/Member Services: CASSIDY MATTHEWS

French Membership: Bernard Dore 514-910-4935 • bernarddore@videotron.ca

EXÉCUTIF:

PRÉSIDENT: SHAWN AIREY Box 639, Rivers, MB R0K 1X0 204.328.7704 C 204.724.8823 htacharolais@hotmail.com

1st VICE-PRÉSIDENT: RYAN NESBITT

17100 Cedardale Rd, Nestleton, ON L0B 1L0 905.242.2046 ryan@cedardalefarms.ca

2ndVICE-PRÉSIDENT: JOSH TAYLOR

1717 County Rd 36, Dunsford, ON K0M 1L0 705.793.2576 C 705.760.5054 joshua.r.taylor@hotmail.com

ANCIEN PRÉSIDENT: KASEY PHILLIPS

Box 420, Waskatenau, AB T0A 3P0 780.358.2360 C 780.656.6400 kphillips@mcsnet.ca

ADMINISTRATION:

DARWIN ROSSO

78 325 4th Ave SW, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 5V2 306.693.2384 rosso.c@sasktel.net

ARMAND ROY

98 Rang St-Andre, St-Bernard Lacolle, QC J0J 1V0 450.246.9799 C 514.895.0829 royalch@hotmail.com

JEFF CAVERS

Box 237, La Riviere, MB R0G 1A0 204.242.3467 C 204-242-4448 c2charolais@inethome.ca

ROD McLEOD

293113 Townshp Rd 263, Rocky View County, AB T4A 0N5 403.540.7986 rodmcl@telus.net

TRAVIS FOOT

Box 414, Esther, AB T0J 1H0 403.664.3167 C 406.664.0961 footprintfarms1@gmail.com

JOSH REDDEN

5239 Hwy 14 Windsor NS B0N 2T0 902.670.5919 • jhredden@nsac.ca

Il existe une idée fausse commune pour de nombreux éleveurs de bovins de boucherie à l’effet que les ÉPD sont extraits du ciel ou basés sur des informations imaginaires. En fait, rien n’est plus faux. Dans cet article, nous tenterons d’expliquer (et dans certains cas, de simplifier considérablement) d’où proviennent les ÉPD. En ayant une compréhension de base du processus de développement et de certaines des données scientifiques qui composent un ÉPD, cela peut nous aider à comprendre comment ils fonctionnent et ce qu’ils font pour nous. Cette compréhension implique également qu’il est important de fournir des données de la meilleure qualité possible.

Les étapes de la conception d’un ÉPD devraient s’articuler autour du principe des caractères d’importance économique (CIE). Un CIE est un caractère qui a une incidence directe sur la rentabilité d’une exploitation bovine. Cela veut dire qu’un ÉPD devrait exprimer des différences génétiques pour les caractères qui ont un impact direct sur les coûts ou les revenus. Par exemple, si nous vendons les veaux au sevrage en dollars par livre, le poids de sevrage est alors un CIE, car il engendre un revenu.

Il y a aussi des ÉPD pour des caractères qui ne sont pas des CIE et, généralement, ils sont ce que nous appelons des caractères indicateurs. Ceux-là sont souvent la résultante de produit passé car nous avions alors les données pour les développer avant que la technologie pour calculer le CIE pertinent ne soit disponible. Le poids à la naissance en est un bon exemple. La technologie permettant de calculer

Sean Magrath

les différences génétiques de poids à la naissance était disponible avant que la technologie permettant de calculer l’impact réel en termes de coûts (la facilité de vêlage) ne soit disponible. Ou bien dans d’autres cas, nous les utilisons parce qu’ils sont plus faciles à mesurer que le caractère qui est le CIE réel. Par exemple, il est plus facile de mesurer la taille des vaches à maturité que la consommation d’aliments d’une vache au pâturage.

Les choix des caractères pour lesquels on aura des ÉPD sont généralement décidés par une collaboration entre les chercheurs et les producteurs (et souvent avec les associations de races agissant comme intermédiaires). Par exemple, les producteurs pourraient indiquer qu’ils sont préoccupés par les informations touchant les caractéristiques des carcasses de leurs bovins ou bien que du travail est nécessaire sur ces caractéristiques pour mieux servir leur clientèle. L’association de race peut ainsi travailler pour les aider à collecter et mettre en commun les données sur les carcasses et les ultrasons et travailler avec les chercheurs pour développer et publier des ÉPD de divers caractères liés à la carcasse, tels que le persillage ou la surface de l’oeil-de-longe. La collecte de données n’est vraiment que la première étape.

Par la suite, les chercheurs et les producteurs peuvent identifier des sujets de préoccupation qui sont plus difficiles à mesurer ou qui deviennent de nouveaux caractères. À ce momentlà, les troupeaux de recherche, comme ceux des universités, des stations de recherche ou de troupeaux collaborateurs peuvent être utilisés pour assembler une base de données. Un bon exemple récent est probablement le travail effectué sur le score PAP pour la résistance

au mal de l’altitude (bovins en zone montagneuse).

Une fois qu’on a assemblé un groupe de données sur le caractère d’intérêt, les chercheurs se mettent au travail pour comprendre ces données et ce qu’elles signifient. Ceci est inscrit dans la biologie de l’animal et une meilleure compréhension de la façon dont les processus naturels fonctionnent et dans quelle expression du caractère viendra éclairer les décisions de sélection commerciale. Un exemple simple pourrait être le poids de sevrage exprimé en livres relatives de différence entre les descendants.

Je simplifie beaucoup, mais toute nouvelle analyse implique de comprendre le caractère et comment il s’exprime, et de comprendre ce que les données nous disent sur la génétique derrière ce caractère. Vous pouvez avoir entendu des termes comme « estimation des composantes de la variance » ou « estimations de l’héritabilité ». Ce sont essentiellement des termes scientifiques pour comprendre les données et leur répartition dans la population. Nous utiliserons un exemple très simplifié de l’héritabilité pour illustrer ce concept. L’héritabilité peut être considérée comme un moyen de comprendre combien la variation des phénotypes observés d’un caractère est due à la génétique de ce caractère. Pour les caractères ayant une forte héritabilité, chaque donnée phénotypique contient beaucoup d’informations sur la génétique impliquée. Les caractères à plus faible héritabilité sont généralement soumis à beaucoup d’influence environnementale et chaque donnée peut donc contenir un peu moins d’informations génétiques.

L’héritabilité est calculée à l’aide de données. Encore une fois, en simplifiant beaucoup, nous examinons les différences attendues par rapport aux différences réelles dans les données et nous pouvons calculer l’héritabilité. Il y a beaucoup plus de choses pour calculer l’héritabilité, mais cet exemple de base de calcul d’une héritabilité obtenue pour le poids de

naissance, nous l’espérons, jettera un peu de lumière sur l’idée derrière le processus de calcul.

Si nous avons une population avec un poids moyen à la naissance de 80 livres et que nous avons choisi des parents de cette population avec un poids à la naissance de 70 livres. Nous nous attendons à ce que la progéniture de ces parents soit de 70 livres ou encore 10 livres de moins que la moyenne si le poids à la naissance était dû à 100% à des facteurs génétiques. De plus, disons que dans notre ensemble de données, le poids moyen à la naissance de la progéniture était de 77 livres. La variation attendue était une diminution de 10 livres, mais la différence obtenue n’était que de 3 livres. L’héritabilité obtenue est la différence entre la population d’origine et la progéniture des parents sélectionnés divisée par la différence entre la moyenne de la population d’origine et la moyenne des parents sélectionnés.

données d’autres caractères associés pour améliorer notre capacité de prédiction. L’un des meilleurs exemples ici est le poids à la naissance et la facilité de vêlage. Des poids de naissance plus élevés sont associés à des naissances plus difficiles, mais ils ne sont pas la seule cause de vêlage difficile. La forme du veau et l’environnement maternel jouent également un rôle majeur. Ces caractères sont tous « associés » à la facilité de vêlage. En utilisant des informations telles que le poids à la naissance et les scores de difficulté de vêlage, nous pouvons faire un bien meilleur travail afin de comprendre la génétique pour la facilité de vêlage.

Une fois qu’on a terminé la biologie de base et que les calculs sont effectués, un ÉPD peut être calculé. Il s’agit du processus de base qui consiste à attribuer des groupes contemporains et à examiner la façon dont la génétique des animaux interfère entre les groupes ayant la même régie et le même historique environnemental et à appliquer nos nouvelles composantes de variance aux données.

Encore une fois, c’est un exemple très simplifié et il ne montre pas tous les processus effectués en arrière, mais il fournit l’idée générale de certains des calculs derrière la détermination de la contribution génétique à un caractère et le développement d’un ÉPD. Lorsqu’il est effectué à grande échelle (plusieurs milliers de données) et avec des données validées, nous pouvons avoir une très bonne idée de la partie des différences observées qui est expliquée par la composante génétique additive. Ce sont nos « composantes de la variance » mentionnées précédemment. Les corrélations sont également déterminées à partir de données et de notre compréhension de la biologie. Les corrélations ne « causent pas » un résultat génétique, mais elles nous permettent d’utiliser les

Une partie du processus de développement d’un ÉPD consiste à prendre les modèles développés aux étapes précédentes et à calculer les ÉPD sur les bovins, puis à comparer la performance réelle des bovins (selon les bases de données) pour voir si les prévisions produisent les résultats attendus. Il comprend également un test ultime consistant à fournir les résultats des essais aux éleveurs et à voir s’ils correspondent à ce qu’ils voient sur le terrain. Les ÉPD sont ensuite transmis à d’autres membres de l’industrie bovine et de la communauté scientifique pour examiner les résultats et poser des questions. Généralement, ce processus prend plusieurs itérations, et cela peut même impliquer de revenir aux étapes d’interprétation des données de base et du caractère même sur lequel nous travaillons.

Bien que cet article contienne plusieurs simplifications extrêmes, cela illustre également le fait qu’à

mesure que la science évolue et que nous comprenons mieux comment une vache fonctionne et comment elle interagit avec son environnement, nous pouvons recueillir plus d’information génétique à partir de nos données existantes sur le phénotype et la généalogie. C’est l’une des plus grandes raisons expliquant les changements dans les ÉPD au fil du temps. Notre évaluation, nos logiciels, nos ordinateurs et même notre collecte de données s’améliorent et notre ÉPD peut ainsi être rendu plus précis et prédictif. Tout comme un veau qui naît, la science de l’évaluation génétique continue de croître et d’évoluer. Bien que cela soit en dehors de la portée de cet article, un bon exemple récent serait l’inclusion de l’ADN ou des données génomiques dans l’évaluation génétique. La technologie de mesure de l’ADN a rapidement changé et amélioré notre capacité à calculer des

prédictions génétiques plus précises et à faire de meilleures comparaisons des candidats potentiels comme reproducteurs de race.

Beaucoup de travail se fait en arrière-plan avant qu’un ÉPD ne voie le jour. À partir de l’évaluation des caractères d’intérêt et de leur importance économique, à la collecte de bonnes séries de données sur ces caractères, à l’examen de la biologie pertinente et à l’évaluation des données pour déterminer les composants génétiques d’un caractère, l’exécution d’un modèle et la comparaison des résultats attendus avec la performance réelle sur le terrain, un ÉPD est basé sur la science

au Canada de la race (Septembre 2023)

et est l’outil de sélection le plus puissant disponible dans le contexte d’un objectif de sélection visé.

Ce qui est excitant pour les utilisateurs commerciaux de la génétique charolaise, c’est que la nouvelle évaluation conjointe entre l’ACC et l’AICA utilise les plus récentes données scientifiques et elle inclue un ensemble de données beaucoup plus large à partir duquel nous pouvons mesurer les différences génétiques entre les animaux. Cela signifie que les ÉPD disponibles pour les éleveurs Charolais et leurs clients nous informent davantage et fournissent une meilleure description de la génétique que jamais auparavant.

ÉPD moyen

Canadian Cattle Association President’s Report

Nathan Phinney

The return of Parliament and fall run is just around the corner. The summer months did not see our team at the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) slow down on the advocacy front. We continued to push on key policy files and activities during Parliament’s summer recess to keep our asks top of mind going into the Fall session.

Top of mind is the uncertainty due to adverse weather conditions that continues to plague farmers and ranchers across Canada. CCA is monitoring the situation along with our provincial member associations to better understand the impacts on cattle producers and support needed. Since Minister MacAulay’s return to the agriculture portfolio, we have communicated regularly with him on the need for impacted cattle producers to have timely access to the Livestock Tax Deferral (LTD) provision as well as support through AgriRecovery. As I type this, the Government of Saskatchewan has stepped up with their AgriRecovery announcement. I hope by the time this is being read, that a finalized AgriRecovery response has rolled out from British Columbia (B.C.) to Manitoba.

In late August, Minister MacAulay announced the initial regions eligible for the LTD provision. This announcement was welcome news to producers in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. We are aware from conversations around our board table and with provincial member associations that some impacted areas were not included in the preliminary list. If your region was not included in the preliminary list and has been impacted by extreme weather conditions, please contact your provincial cattle association

to let them know. In turn, CCA will communicate this information to Minister MacAulay’s office to help ensure all impacted producers are eligible.

The trade file has been a hot one for most of the summer with our team engaging Parliamentarians and their staff on key priorities. On Bill C-282: An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management), we continue to emphasize the ramifications this bill could have on our economy and cattle producers with Senators and will carry this message through the fall session.

CCA has ramped up advocacy efforts on trade with the United Kingdom (UK), particularly with the announcement of the UK accession into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP).

In early September, CCA in partnership with the National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA) and the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) launched a campaign called “Say No to a Bad Deal” so grassroots producers and industry partners could tell our federal government that Canada needs to delay the UK joining the CPTPP until our barriers into the UK market can be addressed.

We are not saying no to trade. We are saying no to a bad deal that puts Canadian farmers and ranchers at an unfair disadvantage. Supporting the UK accession to the CPTPP weakens the agreement as the trade barriers to the UK for Canadian beef and pork have not been addressed.

The UK continues to have unfettered access to the Canadian market for their meat products, while Canada is unable to get our high-quality meat products into their

market. We are asking for reciprocal access for Canadian meat into the UK’s market. We are proud of the progressive trading standards and science-based rules established through CPTPP which ensures fair market access for participating countries. We do not think those standards should be set aside for the UK accession.

We urge you to stand up for a fair trade deal for Canada by sharing your concerns with your Member of Parliament. Please show your support by visiting SayNoToABadDeal.ca and sending in your letter.

What drives much of our motivation to keep pushing on our key policy priorities as a board is the desire to leave a vibrant industry for our next generation of cattle producers. Despite the uncertainty facing cattle producers, I’m very optimistic when we see the caliber of our up-andcoming leaders.

This was especially evident during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC) in August, where activities throughout the week shone a spotlight on our young leaders who are poised to make a difference in our industry. We saw 24 hopefuls vying for a spot in the next class of the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) program through insightful discussions on important industry topics during the Selections process.

We also celebrated and congratulated this year’s CYL graduates at the opening reception of the conference. It was great to see so many mentors attend to recognize the dedication, hard work, and potential of their mentees. I’d like to personally thank this year’s mentors for the important role they play in the success of our leadership program and in the development of our young leaders.

The CYL graduation ceremony

also saw the unveiling of the Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award by the Canadian Cattle Foundation and the Schellenberg family. This award will be presented annually to recognize the exceptional qualities and contributions of a CYL graduate, who embodies the same dedication and leadership for the Canadian beef sector that Reg displayed. The award includes a belt buckle donated by the Schellenberg family ranch, Perrin Ranching 1990

Ltd, and a travel bursary to attend the 2024 Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference.

Congratulations to Carling Matejka from Ponoka, Alberta, for being named the first recipient of this award. We know that Reg would be so proud of this year’s graduating class.

Lastly, it was great to participate in the Canadian Cattle Youth Council annual general meeting (AGM) at CBIC. We appreciate the ideas

FROM THE CANADIAN CHAROLAIS ASSOCIATION, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

available to Charolais breeders and their customers are more informative and provide a better description of the genetics than ever before.

and perspectives that are brought forward by the Council to policy discussions at our various committee meetings and at the board table. I’d like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions made by Charlene Yungblut (Ontario) during her term as the Council’s President and welcome Scott Gerbrandt (Saskatchewan), who was elected President of the Council at the AGM.

Congratulations to the both of you!

A Brief Look at Hungarian Farming

Helge By

The World Charolais Technical Conference was held April 20th to 25th in the Czech Republic. I won’t go into detail about it but we thought producers would be interested in how the cattle in their National Show in Brno looked.

Champion Young Cow, EMA Z MOKRÝŠOVA, Leoš Slavík

Champion 12 – 24 Month Female, CHARITA Z TÝNIŠTE, TFARMA

Champion Calf, CHURCHIL AGROCHYT, Agrochyt

Champion 25 - 36 Month Female, SUZY, REDU, 2,163 lb at 30 months

The best part of World Charolais events is the people we befriend. Following the conference, one such family offered to take us to their place in southwest Hungary and show us around their area, their operation and to visit other cattle producers. What an interesting and fabulous time we were shown. I didn’t have any preconceived ideas of what farming in Hungary was like, since we had last toured it in 2008 during a World Charolais Congress.

Szabolcs and Eszter Szentpétery and their children Eszter, Zita and Miklós are a wonderful family and were excellent hosts who went out of their way to make our stay the best it could be. Szabolcs and Eszter both have agricultural degrees and have gone all-in to produce the best crops they can. This is a large farm with 4500 ha of hunting area (2400 ha of crop, 300 ha of grass and 600 ha of forest land). This year they have 1200 ha (2640 acres) of fall planted wheat and 800 ha (1760 acres) of fall planted rapeseed along with some spring planted corn and soybeans. At present they have 380 ha (840 acres) of irrigation, but were just approved for a huge, new technology, irrigation project to cover 2000 ha of crop and grassland. They estimate this will nearly triple their production. The Dráva, a large river, is less than 1 km from the start of their land.

Efficiency is Szabolcs’s first priority and the steps he

takes to be more efficient are evident. In total, they have 40 employees and there is always something going on and new building projects underway. To be more efficient in his grain handling system, he is erecting four 100,000-bushel Westeel grain bins with drying systems and at the end of this year they are erecting six more. By starting to combine earlier and drying down to the desired moisture level, he isn’t losing money on the over dry grain that happens as harvest continues.

They market their rapeseed to Slovenia, Austria and Germany, their wheat to Croatia, Italy and Hungary and corn to Hungary and Italy. The rapeseed is used mainly to produce biofuel. The seed and fertilizer are all transported in tote bags. I asked why that way and not bins and bulk like many in Canada do? He said, “I am a chemist and will use for example 5 different types of nitrogen in one field to get maximum yields.”

On the cattle side, he is running over 200 females that are mainly commercial Limousin. He has been selling the calves after weaning but is constructing a large building that will partly be used as an equipment shop and the rest will be used to feed and finish his calves and others that he will buy. He is also converting some other buildings to handle more of the feeding that he plans to do.

Champion 13 – 15 Month Bull, CHLAPÁK Z MZIBORÍ P, Hatlák Farm

Champion Mature Bull and Overall Champion of the Show, POP ROCK, REDU 3,597 lb at 49 months

Champion Breeders Group, Leoš Slavík

Champion Younger Bull, TRIATLON, Zemedelská Mecholupská

A large grain cart he got for ½ price from a company that went broke in the Ukraine

Szabolcs in his office. Hunting is really part of their culture

45 cubic metre wagon with attachments that can make it a trailer, a manure spreader or a grain cart

The Szentpétery office

THANK YOU TO ALL

who bid and purchased in our bull and female sale

• Tomda Farms (2)

• Culbert Farms (2)

• Laurier Grazing

• AJ Hutton Farms

• Glen Jackson, MB

• Red Thorn Ranch

• Ron Coffey (3)

• Rutten Cattle Co.

• Erixon Charolais, MB

• Kevin Wilson

• Greg Freitag

• Mutrie Farms (3)

GBR

HVA Harco 11H son to CK Stock Farm

GBR

Cedarlea Hilton 204H son to Terry Sliworsky, MB

• Christian Schlienger

• Coyote Coullee Cattle Co.

• Kevin Kerr, ON

• Paul Pachkowski, MB

• Trevor Neuls

• Chopper K Red Angus (2)

Plan to attend our Annual Bull Sale in April 2024, featuring sons of

• Double H Farms, MB

• EK Cattle Co.

• Calvin Lamport

• Tanner Rutten

• Percyview Farms Ltd. (3)

• Bronco Farms Ltd. (2)

6K

82K

GBR 85K

Cedarlea Hilton 204H son to North of 50 Charolais, MB

GBR 20K

HVA Harco 11H son to Palmer Charolais

GBR 162K

Cedarlea Hilton 204H son to Darrell Petterson

Tracy, William & Wyatt Brimner

Anderson Bred Heifers 10th Annual Sale

Monday, December 4th, 11:00 AM, at Innisfail Auction Market

Approximately 450 head of Red/Black/Tan heifers

Bred Red Angus, Black Angus and Charolais

Calving dates of January 1-12 and February/March

Anderson Bred Heifers Red & Black Heifer pairs with Charolais sired calves at foot will be on offer

February 21, 2024, in conjunction with the McLeod Livestock Charolais Bull Sale at Olds, Alberta

Tillage equipment that allows them to work down to 35 cm

Szabolcs checking a field of rapeseed

40 foot Väderstad seeder. The largest they make for Europe

Part of their commercial Limousin herd

1000 cubic metre liquid fertilizer storage bag that holds 1300 tonnes of nitrogen

Hunting blinds are used when harvesting the fields to shoot wild boars. They have harvested up to 40 hogs in a 100 ha (220 acres) field.

Ash is a by-product used as fertilizer. 1 tonne of ash contains 20 kg Calcium, 50 kg Potassium and 25 kg Phosphorus

A sample of the commercial herd quality

One of the Szentpétery’s teams

Hungarian developed draft breed that Szentpéterys raise Eszter with a Hungarian mare

From the area

We also went to a neighbouring village to see a local butcher Gyuri. He has a small hog barn, an abattoir, and a smoker right in the village. He also makes many varieties of Pálinka.

Mistletoe grows as a parasite on the branches of trees

Bee hives are transported and housed on trailers

Net fishing in the Dráva River

Gyuri’s meat boutique

We got to sample some of Gyuri’s meats

And some of Gyuri’s Pálinka Croatian border

We toured a Charolais commercial herd owned by the Bisztricz family. Once again, we were served some great sausage, vegetables and of course Pálinka

Szabolcs wanted to buy a couple Charolais bulls, so we went to visit a friend of ours, Márton Bujdosó’s farm. He is maybe the largest Charolais breeder in Hungary with 500 Charolais cows and then another 120 Hungarian Greys. Márton started in Charolais in 1977 and was a stop on the World Charolais Congress in 2008. He has attended many congresses over the years as well and built a polled base in his herd from many Canadian genetics. He is developing a breed that he is calling Chargrey, which is using homozygous polled Charolais bulls on the Hungarian Grey females. The Hungarian Grey are an ancient hardy breed that have excellent feet and legs.

Márton & Szabolcs checking out some bulls

5-year old Smokester grandson Márton was getting ready to take to a show

Hungarian Grey cows

Chargrey cow

The Szentpétery family dressed up to take us to the opera

The Hungarian parliament building in Budapest

We ended this fabulous week in Budapest.

A Market Expert Weighs In

Robert Thomas,

Dr Jared G Carlberg is an agricultural economics professor with the University of Manitoba who has spent a majority of his academic career looking into cattle and beef pricing.

He has written numerous reports on the economics of the cattle industry and been hired a s a consultant to do research and give an opinion regarding mergers within the meat packing sector. Dr Carlberg spend close to an hour speaking to MJ Independent on the phone about the industry, its problems and what might be the solutions.

He has co-authored such works with Rude, J., D. Harrison, and J. Carlberg. “Market Power in Canadian Beef Packing.” Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 59(2011): 321-336. Which looked at the market influence fewer and larger packing firms had on the beef industry.

Dr Carlberg said the concentration of too few players is a double edged sword. The larger but fewer megaplants are suppose to be more efficient but at the same time large firms can use their influence in the marketplace to eliminate competitiveness to maximize profit.

“That’s the concern,” he said about too few players operating processing facilities and thereby exerting too much competitive control.

Professor Carlberg said he had recently visited his PhD advisor Dr. Clem Ward who in 1988 literally wrote the book - “Meatpacking Competition and Pricing” - which looked extensively into the industry pricing who concurred about the skewed cattle markets. And the concerns are warranted.

He called the beef processing industry an oligopoly.

An oligopoly is where there are

only a few players in an industry and because of that they control pricing and supply almost as a monopoly would.

It leads to the lack of competitive pricing and a lack of information about the actual market, Professor Carlberg said.

The opportunity for too few players in the marketplace to exert major

a change from a lot of firms to a few firms to have a great impact on the degree of competitiveness,” he said.

The consolidation of the industry may have seen the development of efficiencies through economies of scale but at the same time the fewer and now larger players have put pressure on smaller processors.

“With a really considerable concentration in the federally inspected beef packing sector with the struggles there are to succeed as provincially inspected packer because if is so difficult to compete with the big boys especially internationally.”

Asked for his opinion on the market forces given there were 57 processing plants in 1974 processed 88 percent of the beef, to the three plants of today which process 85 percent of the federally inspected beef, Carlberg said it points to a lack of competitive forces.

pressure to skew the laws of supply and demand as well as potential collusion amongst players is a concern in markets which are an oligopoly, he said.

“Approximately 20 years, or maybe a little bit before that, they brought in mandatory price reporting in the US because they had these concerns for many years.”

Professor Carlberg said the consolidation in the processing industry has had a major impact on the competitiveness and pricing at the slaughter, processor and packing level.

“There is an old saying in industrial organization (the field of economics which studies competition, or lack thereof in industry) which says when it comes to competition four (firms) are few and six (firms) are many. The point of that it does not take much of

“That is really, really what you would call it on the surface really strong on the surface or circumstantial evidence (of decreasing competition),” he said.

Professor Carlberg pointed to problems in ascertaining the true nature of the markets because there is some raw reporting of costs to Statistics Canada but the data itself is incomplete, no firms are identified and the way it is stored and catalogued makes it difficult to draw accurate conclusions.

“It is always a very gross complicated process because the data isn’t very good that there is nothing going on but we all know there really is.”

He compared the way the beef processors set prices similar to what is happening in the retail gasoline sector where there is allegedly competition but in reality that marketplace is not and all filling stations have the same price.

Moose Jaw Independent reprinted with permission from Moose Jaw Independent

“It’s true it is long overdue there should be a study of the functioning of the sector in Canada and how that is effected by international trade flows,”

–Professor Jared G Carlberg University of Manitoba

to all our Bull Buyers at the Prairie Distinction Bull Sale and Privately for a SOLD OUT bull pen again this year.

• Munro Farms

• Adrien Jacques (2)

• Peter Bilyk

• Denbow Family Farms

• Triple Oak Farms

• Les Olmstead Farms Ltd.

• William Alexander

• Barry Houghton

• Cathy Taylor

• Andreychuk Farms Ltd.

• Donovan Penner (2)

• Evenson Farms

• S.R.A. Enterprises Ltd.

• Bruce & Valerie Swanson

• Harmon Charolais

• Bernie Dueck

• Robert McCaskill

• Macksymchuk Farms

• Kelly Livingstone

• White Rock Charolais

• S & K Buchanan Ltd.

• Ty Bannister

“It is suppose to be competitive but surprise, surprise gasoline prices go up every long weekend.”

Professor Carlberg agrees there needs to be an investigation into the slaughter cattle/beef pricing sector.

“It’s true it is long overdue. There should be a study of the functioning of the sector in Canada and how that is affected by international trade flows,” he said, adding the cattle markets in Eastern Canada were not the same as in Western Canada because the trade does not flow east and west but rather north and south.

“You can talk about Canada as a whole but really it is an international market.”

Where Canada exports and imports beef originate - Statistics Canada

but it would be very difficult for any logical conclusion to be made that there are not anti-competitive aspects due to the highly concentrated sector,” he said.

Asked if the highly concentrated nature of the packing industry does not give Canadian beef better international market access than if more firms were marketing internationally Professor Carlberg said no.

“I don’t think it would necessarily matter,” he said.

“I don’t think it creates greater access for us in the US because those products can go south through a series of smaller packers. I think it is a real question as to subsidizing or making it more attractive to smaller packers to be successful.”

Mergers and consolidation in the meat packing industry is argued for by industry players as a means to take advantage of economies of scale.

Economies of scale are where larger firms can produce something cheaper by being more efficient. Efficiencies can be found in the meat packing industry through moving production lines and added automation.

“What the Competition Bureau has been doing is allowed mergers because there are greater efficiencies argument. A bigger firm we clearly know can produce something at a lower cost per unit,” he said, adding “that is the positives. We get higher levels of concentration with few large firms and costs go down.”

The problems arise when firms take advantage of the oligopoly situation they are in.

to such things as food recalls, he said.

“But I think there is such an interest these days in the traceability of food and locally supporting producers in your province and area that there could be a case there is an opportunity there without having to just export everything.”

“I think there is probably an opportunity for some specialized product but I don’t think there has been a huge amount of research done on it,” he said.

Asked about the US marketplace being the most important export market for Canadian cattle and thus the US’s share of the market in fact sets prices north of the border Dr Carlberg said that is not always true.

“I think we are one component of a big beef and cattle market. I don’t think it is safe to say we are only off of the US market. There is a single (North American) market that US largely comprises. Prices are based from futures markets, which in turn is a function of expected supply and demand for not only cattle, but inputs for cattle.”

Despite the US being the world’s number one beef producer of beef20.5 percent of the world’s production in 2020 - and Canada being number 11 on the list of top beef producers world-wide, he said the Canadian market itself is large enough to have an effect on the market.

In 2020, Canada exported 937 million pounds of beef or 47.4 percent of the total beef cattle in Canada. Canada imported 417 million pounds of beef in 2020.

At the present time the Biden Administration is taking action to help encourage the development of smaller regional packing plants and thus more competitive pricing in the industry.

Additionally President Joe Biden has met with American cattle producers and ranchers going on to state the beef pricing market from the concentration of slaughter/packing facilities gives the few players to much market control.

“It is an interesting case for sure

“In theory they can pass those cost savings on to consumers. The problem is obviously the more market power you have, the greater opportunity to there is to restrain supply and effect prices. And so you have those two balancing factors going on,” Professor Carlberg said.

Dr Carlberg saw the opposite of the 1976 Commission of Inquiry into beef and veal pricing that larger plants were seen as more hygienic than smaller plants. The issue comes down to a change in attitude when it comes

On a net basis, 33 percent of Canada’s beef and cattle production was exported. The total value of exports is estimated to be $3,26 billion in 2020.

Asked if the beef processing industry needed “the Standard Oil treatment” where the oligopoly is broken up by government intervention and legislation he said such action today is unlikely.

In 1906, the US government took anti-trust action against Standard Oil - due to its near monopoly positionand forced its breakup in 1911.

John Dybuk, MB

Howe Red Angus, SK

Deven Dybyk, MB

Lynn Cattle Company, SK (8)

CK Sparrow Farms Ltd., SK

Kirby Kleiboer, SK (2)

Alkali Lake Ranching Ltd., AB (7)

Taylor Tulman, MB

Robert Sime, MB

Lorne/Curtis Herndier, SK (2)

4 Eggie Farms, MB (2)

Tara & Garry Shinkewski, SK

Logan Abrahamson, SK (3)

Ronald Radchuk, SK

Dennis Waslyniuk, SK

Barry Zawislak, MB

Charlie Vannes, SK

Dennis & Cody Kolochuk, MB (2)

Jim Todosichuk, MB (2)

Lester Burghart, MB

Paul Pachkowski, MB

DMG Charolais, MB

Murray Townsend, SK

Don Abrahamson, SK

Ken Merkl, SK

Bell Canyon Farms, MB

Kwasney Farms, SK (2)

Byron Johnson, SK

Hans Keller, MB

CY Ranch Ltd., AB

MSBar Ranch, MB

Burback Farms, SK

Kevin & Lynne Wenzel, MB

High Seller by K-Cow Harlem 3E to White Cap Charolais

2nd High Seller by Circle Cee Legend to Circle Cee Charolais, AB

“I think in those days there would be far less ability of those companies to tie that plan up in a long legal process. So I don’t think in general specifically for the beef sector that it is a large enough problem affecting enough people in a significant amount, in a way the government would take significant anti-trust action like that.”

“The best we could maybe hope for is if there could be the incentivization of some smaller regional plants with more famer and rancher ownership.”

In the United Stated, the Biden Administration announced such a program in early 2022, whereas in Canada there is no dedicated program to encourage the development of regional beef processing plants.

He said there needs to be a greater amount of information flow to consumers about actual beef prices to build better confidence in the system.

“I think too, if there was greater transparency of price levels so there was better confidence (from consumers). For example if a steak was going to be AAA and $21 a pound there would be somebody to say yeah that steak is 21 bucks (per pound) but everything is a function of inflation, because of monetary policies but also corn is expensive, inputs are expensive, but even at $21 (a pound) packers aren’t making that much money it is within what we consider a reasonable rate of return on the capital invested.”

“Information is a very good thing. Firms of course they play a very straightforward game. They try to restrain the flow of information because information tends to illustrate yeah they do make money…but if firms use market power to make excessive amounts of profit at the cost to consumers especially now in high inflation times we do restrain the costs of other important consumer goods like chicken, eggs and dairy.”

In 1975, the National Farmers Union called for supply management in the beef industry but the request was soundly rejected by all other players in the industry - producers, packers and retailers.

Urges Move To Cooperatives

Professor Carlberg said he would like to see emphasis and efforts placed on smaller producer owned cooperatives to process and market beef as a way to put more money into producers’ hands.

“All I am pondering when it comes to food and when it comes to controlling the cost, if what we can do just stopping short of supply management, we could embrace increased scrutiny and transparency so we know exactly who is making money and where that might be a step in the right direction,” he said.

He spoke about smaller beef processing cooperatives that once existed in the United States and the impact they had on producers’ incomes.

“They were targeted to help farmers capture some of the downstream costs of their commodities. People look back on that time to 25 years in the rearview mirror and say ‘oh none of them worked’ and succeeded but when I talk about not solving it through supply management…but things like encouraging investment in beef processing so farmers can be ranchers and feedlots be the ones capturing some of the value. There are not particularly expensive things.”

He said there needs to be government assistance to get the ball rolling and see investment. It is the path the Biden Administration is now taking in the United States.

“Government could give direct incentives and capital investment to small regional plants but other things as well such as tax forgiveness to encourage the development of regional players.”

He said some in Canada might say that if investments in smaller regional plants received subsidies through tax credits concerns would likely be raised without realizing that “money might come back ten times over.”

“Governments always look at it and say ‘oh that is our money so how can we give up some revenue and why would we give a tax break we have got to have that money. Whereas they traditionally lack the ability to see

the bigger picture that those dollars would come back many times over by creating jobs and stimulating investment in local economies.”

Dr Carlberg sees governments helping out as a way to help bring more dollars into producers and small communities’ pockets.

“Certainly provincial and municipal governments should be doing everything they can to support and really bending over backwards with legislation and tax forgiveness to help keep people in local communities and help farmers capture a lot more of those dollars that are so important.”

Professor Carlberg is a three time Canadian beer brewing champion and as such used that industry as an example of how smaller - and less efficient plants - can produce a product that is more expensive to make but is of better quality and also has a large local or regional following.

“I remember when I was young every city had a brewery and it moved to where we can have these big breweries and have beer cheap and you can’t argue against the economies of scale. But then a funny thing happened. It happened with coffee first and then it happened with beer people took a greater interest in what they were drinking they didn’t just want to have that standard lager their dads and their grandpas had been drinking.”

The aspect of locally produced is something which could be used to attract local consumer loyalty and repeat purchases.

“Having those smaller plants certainly eliminates the efficiencies of scale, and it works against the idea of cheap food in this era of cheap food…but I do know if you go into the Carnduff Co-op or the Estevan Co-op and it is from a local farmer you might be willing to pay a little bit more for it. You might be a little bit less inclined to be upset with the prices given it was produced locally,” he said.

Another area with the rise of any local or regional packing plantalthough smaller - is there would be reduced costs for fuel.

In an era of concerns about global warming, the fact there would be less carbon produced by no shipping to a large plant and then shipping the finished product back could be a selling point, as it is in vegetables at local markets, he said.

“One way or another I think there is opportunity to eat local and consumers to pay a little extra and in that way get some more dollars back into farmer’s pockets.”

Professor Carlberg said he was aware of failures in trying to create local processing co-ops but what existed in the past - local abattoirs and butchers shops selling locally produced meat - is the way of the future for producers and not the past.

“I know there have been some expensive failures and some lessons learned so people are hesitant. So we have got to try to find the will to do something or just shake our heads and be happy with the way things are.”

It needs to be noted in 1976, the Federal Commission of Inquiry recommended moving towards consolidation and doing everything - including the cutting into prepared meat cuts (commonly known as boxed beef) - at large plants instead of at a retail butcher shop.

“The potential is there because the unintended consequence was of all these big plants and economies of scale and all of those savings mostly haven’t gone back to consumers,” he said, adding “they have gone to somebody in a board room somewhere. And that is what it is. They haven’t gone into consumers’ pockets. They haven’t gone into farmers’ pockets. So that only leaves one other party in the supply chain where those profits might be.”

He described the move back to an era of more plants as a “frightening prospect”.

“It is going to take some help. It is going to take some creativity and it

is going to take some will on part of ranchers, feedlots and governments and everybody else. But I would like to see something work there.”

He reiterated the concerns and difficulties starting up smaller regional processing cooperatives but said with the price of cattle not increasing to benefit producers while the price of beef is at record highs at the retail level what other choice is there.

“It might be difficult to start but you have to look at the situation now that is clearly not working for people in the industry. Somebody is making money, steaks are expensive…but boy oh boy I don’t think the increase in the price of cattle has kept up with the increase in the price of steak.”

Bloat in Today’s Cattle Production

Roy Lewis DVM

Bloat, which is the distension of the rumen, is probably seen much less frequently in cattle production with producers using total mixed rations, but they still occur and we must be ready to treat them. Frothy bloat can quickly turn from serious to death and yet timely treatment is generally very effective with no lingering consequences. Two incidences of bloat (one frothy and one free gas) on expensive purebred animals at a cattle show prompted this article.

All cattle producers can experience bloat on really any class of cattle at any stage in their production cycle. The lush second cut alfalfa hay is always a risk, but sometimes it may be the inability to eructate off the gas that leads to bloat. From tied show cattle, to cattle getting high centered on a hill, all can contribute to a case of bloat. As cattle producers, one must always be prepared to treat it if you see it.

From here it is important to differentiate from free gas and frothy bloat. Once treated appropriately one must determine if this is the tip of the iceberg and there may be others to treat in the same time frame, or is there something in management, or access to feed that can be changed to avoid these problems.

One must always consider your good fortune to recognize and be able to treat a frothy bloat in time. These bloats are recognizable by the large distension of the rumen on the left side. Pain and a reluctance to walk are very bad signs and one must act quickly. To see how much time one has, try to grab loose skin over the distended area. If you can get it to fold up, you have some time, but if it is drawstring tight, act as quick as you can.

I think every farm should equip themselves with a good stomach tube and a speculum. A stomach pump would be nice, but for the smaller operation a funnel can work to get the medication in. You put the speculum in the mouth first and run the tube through the inside of it. This is so cattle don’t chew on the tube collapsing it and worst-case scenario chew it off and swallow it. There have been multiple cases over the years of cattle chewing off and swallowing a length of hose. This may necessitate surgery to get the hose out, so use a speculum please. These two things can be acquired from your veterinary clinic or some farm supply stores. With bloats, the products that are out there are called things like anti-gas, bloat lax, or bloat ez and usually contain “dioctol” have a bit of a spearmint or other taste, and are very good at reducing a frothy bloat. It allows the bubbles to form free gas to be burped out. Mineral oil can also be used but I like to flavor it with something like anti-gas first. The bloat treatments are made to be able to drench a calf say and the individual doses come with a long necked container to be able to make it happen. I prefer to mix it with water, use the tube to get whatever gas you can off and then pump it in. If it is pretty pressured, you might get some gas off before pumping product in.

If really pressured up and life threatening, we may on occasion need to place a trocar in. I really like to use the medical approach if we can, but if you keep a 14 gauge 2” needle with you, there may be an occasion where placing just the needle into the top area of distension and holding it, you will get enough gas out so the condition isn’t life threatening. Once treated with the antigas, if it is truly a frothy bloat, improvement should come within fifteen minutes so the animal has to be watched closely in

case trocarization is necessary. If it doesn’t come down, you may have a free gas bloat, in which case with tubing you often will hit the pocket and it will come down like a balloon. Free gas bloats may just be where an animal may not be able to eructate the gas and generally they don’t get as tight, but I have seen some where they still go down and it becomes life threatening so treat all bloats very seriously.

There was a product called afla-sure that could be put in the water sources for those cattle pasturing heavy stands of alfalfa. It was essentially 100 percent effective but unfortunately, the product is no longer on the market.

There was research going on towards getting an alfalfa species that had low bloat potential but I think at the same time production was lessened considerably. There are also Rumensin CRC boluses that help reduce the incidence of bloat.

Changing rations too quickly can lead to bloat. A saying that has been around for a long time is we kill them with kindness, so let’s always watch how quickly we change rations, watch the level of alfalfa and other legumes in the diet.

If putting cattle onto a worrisome pasture, put them out full and preferably when the crop is courser and not in the morning if dew is on the leaves.

As producers, always keep equipment and product on hand to treat bloat. If treatment doesn’t work, it may be something else so work with your veterinarian on prevention if bloat incidence starts to rise. If distended on both sides, other problems may be the cause such as a torsion, intestional blockage from a hairball, or severe peritonitis. If it is a frothy bloat, bloat treatment should work very quickly in 15-30 minutes. Often it is the most

expensive growthy animal that bloats, so always be ready because this is one case where you can save a life just by being ready.

Bloat medicine is very cheap

insurance to have around and sometimes it is purely a show calf stealing from a neighbour, anything is possible in the cattle production world when it comes down to bloat.

When they are treated successfully it gives one a gratified feeling for sure. Keep the equipment and medicine accessible to everyone.

GENETIC MARKETER

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Meeting Consumers Where They’re At

Lynsay Beavers, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

The difference In building or breaking trust can come down to communication

Imagine you’re at the doctor seeking treatment and guidance for managing an illness. Instead of speaking to you like a patient, the doctor speaks to you as if you are a colleague, using advanced medical terminology and acronyms, as well as a hurried tone that makes you feel like you are one item on a long list of things they must deal with today. The doctor is not meeting you - the patient - where you’re at, likely instilling feelings of confusion and dismissiveness about your health and even fear for your future.

Now imagine the same scenario above, except this time the doctor leads with empathy. The doctor takes the time to listen to your concerns

and answers your questions using straightforward language.

They also point you to resources like reputable websites to further your learning and community groups for support. The doctor is understanding but honest, meeting you where you’re at.

Finally, imagine an entirely different conversation, now between you - a beef farmer or rancher - and a consumer. The consumer is concerned about the use of hormones in beef cattle and the safety of the beef she feeds her family. Like the doctors in the scenarios above, you are the expert in this situation.

Think about whether you’d treat the consumer more like the doctor did in scenario one or scenario two.

The way we communicate can make or break trust.

The number of people directly involved in the beef industry is incredibly small relative to the number of people our industry feeds.

Consumers are also curious about how the beef they eat was produced, so we need communicators from all walks of the beef community to help earn, further build, and maintain consumer trust.

To help with this lofty goal, the Public and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) team at Canadian Cattle Association built Beef Advocacy Canada (BAC). BAC is a free and interactive online learning program designed to create impactful beef advocates. Through a series of selfguided modules, participants will learn about the main consumer concerns about beef, and will be equipped with key messages, tools and strategies to communicate in ways that resonate. There have been over 100 graduates of the program so far, which launched in 2021. The program is available at www. beefadvocacy.ca.

In addition to BAC, the PSE program leads an array of initiatives to support public trust in beef production in Canada including promotional campaigns, key messages and factsheets, short documentaries like Guardians of the Grasslands, and more. For more details on resources available, reach out to Lynsay Beavers, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist at CCA by emailing beaversl@cattle.ca.

BAKER FARMS JUSTIFIED 15J by CCC WC Resource 417 P won Supreme Champion Bull at the Barrie, Ontario, Fair. He is owned by Baker Farms, of Madoc.

Paisley Baron, Carberry, Manitoba, won the Carberry/Sidney Regional 4-H show on July 8th with her purebred Charolais steer, Rocket. Besides the champion banner she received the McBean Trophy which has been in circulation since 1947. Kolton McIntosh from Eriksdale sorted the 28 steers. Rocket weighed 1,400 lb and sold for $4.70/lb to Mid-Plains Implements, of Carberry.

A silver Charcross steer shown by Brayden Steppler, Miami, Manitoba, was Grand Champion of the Carman 4-H Regional show. 38 steers were judged by Paul and Madisyn Robertson. The steer sold for $4.97/lb to Bullseye Feeds.

Anna Wielgosz, Yellow Creek, Sask., had the Grand Champion Female at the Meskanaw-Ethelton 4-H Achievement Day judged by Tyler & Erin Libke and then won Reserve Champion Female at the Melfort 4-H Regional Show over 86 females with her two-year old cow/calf pair, SKW Lily 160J, a daughter of Winn Mans 780A and her calf by WDZ Kingsman 737 P.

Ava Wielgosz, Yellow Creek, Sask., had Grand Champion Steer at the Melfort 4-H Regional Show. Judge Toby Noble, Lloydminster chose her steer Clay over 83 other steers. He weighed 1,524 lb and sold for $6.75/lb to Ag Authority, Kinistino.

Kaylin

Watrous, won Grand Champion Steer at the Saskatoon (SK) Regional 4-H Show with 43 steers competing. Judged by Matt Hordos, Raymore, the steer weighed 1,243 lb and sold for $8.00/lb to Manitou Mainline Chrysler, Watrous.

Judge Naomi Best, of Harding, used Blake Airey’s (Rivers, Manitoba) heifer, HTA Delight 228K by HTA Spiderman 9103G, as Reserve Grand Champion Female. Blake’s steer, Bowser, was the Reserve Grand Champion Steer. He weighed 1,510 lb and sold for $3.25/lb to Neuhope Farms, Oak River.

Jorga Beck, Milestone, Sask., won Grand Champion Female at the Weyburn & District 4-H show held July 5th with Beck’s Dancer 30J by DC/KCM Marksman E1145 PET and her Sparrows Connelly 154J heifer calf at side. The show was judged by Aaron Birch & Joe Barnett, of Parkbeg

Chase Airey, Rivers, Manitoba, won Grand Champion Female at the Rivers & District 4-H Show, with HTA Icicle 259K by HTA Dutton 14H.

Keely Marshall, of the Bow-Inn (AB) 4-H Beef Club, had Grand Champion Steer at the June 4 and 5 Red Deer District 4-H show. Keely’s Charolais sired steer weighed 1,347 lb and sold for $7.70/lb to Brandt Agriculture & Tri S Fertilizer.

Bartel,

Madisyn Robertson, Neepawa, Manitoba, won both the Supreme Champion Female and overall Grand Champion Steer at the Neepawa & District 4-H show in Neepawa. Judges Danna & Brooke Collins from Darlingford, Manitoba, selected JMB Kirsten 212K by RPJ Diesel 802F from 28 other female entries. Habanero was chosen as Overall Champion Steer out of 21 other steer entries. He weighed 1,373 lb and sold to T.I.C. Parts & Service, Neepawa for $4.57 per lb.

Matthew Howe, Moose Jaw, Sask., won Grand Champion Cow/Calf pair at the Moose Jaw 4-H Regional Show, with HKS Ms Bluff 20J (Pleasant Dawn Connection 195G) Craig Wilgenbusch, Halbrite, was the judge.

Matthew also had Reserve Grand Champion Steer, which weighed 1,440 lb and sold for $4.00/lb to Great West Tire & Auto.

Elise Howe won Reserve Champion Female with HKS Ms Billie Jean 10K (Pleasant Dawn Connection 195G)

Kailee Murray, Marwayne, Alberta, won Grand Champion Market and Home Raised Steer at the St. Walburg Regional 4-H Show & Sale. Her silver steer, Smoke Show weighed 1,340 lb and was purchased by Diamond 7 Meats, Lloydminster. The 47 head steer show was judged by Steven Myer. Kailee also won Grand Champion Yearling and Home Raised Heifer and Grand Champion Two-Year Old Cow/Calf Pair. Her Two-Year Old Purebred Charolais Pair Elder’s Dalyse Rayel 178J (TR CAG Carbon Copy 7630E ET) also won Supreme Female, with her yearling heifer taking Reserve Supreme Female honours. Kailee also won first place Breeder’s Herd. Kacie Murray, Marwayne, won Reserve Grand Champion Market and Home Grown Steer. Kacie’s Charolais sired steer weighed 1,440 lb and was purchased by Tytan Land Services and Fare Connect Travel. Kacie also won Reserve Champion Home Grown and Yearling Heifer at the St. Walburg Regional Show.

Judges Riley Lefrentz & Kyle Yaremko at 4-H On Parade, Calgary, Alberta, selected Abigail Tilleman, of the Crossfield/ Madden (AB) 4-H Beef Club Overall Grand Champion Breeder’s Herd. Abigail’s Champion herd consisted of Nier Kataoke 1K (WC Milestone 5223 P), Nier Jolene 1J (WC Milestone 5223 P), with her calf Nier Lady 1L at side and Spruce View Halyna 4H (HTA Defender 846F) with twins Nier Lola 3L and Nier Luxembourg 4L at side.

Nattalie Kroetsch’s, Bawlf, Alberta, Charolais sired steer was selected Reserve Grand Champion by judge Dennis Mercier at the May 22 Rosalind 4-H Achievement day. Nattalie and her steer also won Reserve Grand Champion at the Camrose & District 4-H Show and Sale held June 6th in Bashaw. The 45 head show was judged by Bevin Hamilton. Nattalie’s steer weighed 1,377 lb and sold for $5.00/lb to Benchmark Commodities, Ponoka.

Taylor Chomik’s Charolais steer was selected Reserve Grand Champion by judge Wood at the Holden 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day. Taylors steer Doug weighed 1558lb and sold for $3,50/lb to Allen B. Olson Auction Service, Tofield.

Jayden Chomik, Bruce, Alberta, won Grand Champion Steer at the Holden 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day held in Holden. The 15 head steer show was judged by Carter Wood, Tofield. Jayden’s steer Stewie also won the Holden Club & Beaver District rate of gain with an avg of 3.64lb/day. Stewie weighed 1,502 lb and sold for $4.00/lb to Crop Management Network Inc., Holden.

Amy Gilliland, Carievale (SK) 4-H club had the Reserve Grand Champion Steer at the Alameda Regional 4-H show. This 85 head steer show was judged by Joe Barnett & Aaron Birch, Parkbeg. Tyrone weighed 1,335 lb and sold for $3.00/lb to Border Corner Meats, Carnduff.

Luke Brooke, Viking, Alberta, of the Viking 4H Beef Club won Grand Champion Steer at the Viking 4H Beef Club Achievement Day, judged by Randy McGowan, Killam. Luke’s steer Charles was then selected Reserve Grand Champion at the Beaver District Show & Sale in Holden. The 28 head show was judged by Will Bradford, Eckville. Charles weighed 1,362 lb and sold for $4.25/lb to Loves Custom Meats, Vegreville.

Brianna Lyster won Grand Champion Steer at the East Sounding Creek (AB) 4-H Beef Club Show. She also won Grand Champion Steer at the Hanna District 4-H Show and Sale. Her steer weighed 1,544 lb and sold for $5.35/lb to Hanna Motor Products. The 57 head show was held and judged by Russell Sevcik.

Sydney Romyn won Grand Champion Steer at the Rainy River District Fall Fair 4-H Show in Emo, Ontario, judged by Neil Carson. Her steer weighed 1,400 lb and sold to Cloverleaf Grocery for $7.90/lb and graded AAA Yield Grade 3.

Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer of this 31 head show was won by Georgia Romyn. Her steer weighed 1,482 lb and sold for $6.90 to Kaemingh Fuels Ltd. for $6.90/lb and graded AAA Yield Grade 2. The 31 steer sale average was $5.10/lb.

Danika Hodge, of the Readymade (AB) 4-H Multi Club, won Reserve Grand Champion Steer at the Lethbridge and District 4-H Show and Sale. Danika’s Charolais sired steer weighed 1,479 lb and sold for $4.35/lb to Coaldale Pharmasave.

CANADIAN CHAROLAIS YOUTH ASSOCIATION NEWS

CCYA Highlights

Justin Harcourt, President

Moving into the fall show run, we look forward to seeing members on the road competing and taking in all the events!

This year’s semen auction will be taking place at the National Sale in Brandon on October 26. All proceeds from our fundraising auctions go

CCYA NATIONAL BOARD

President: Justin Harcourt justin.harcourt02@gmail.com

Vice-Pres: Cassidi Elder cassidielder@icloud.com

Treasurer: Travis Saunders travissaunders17@gmail.com

Secretary: Payton Calwelll pccscaldwell@gmail.com

towards our scholarships and other programs offered to our members throughout the year!

Make sure to stay up to date on all things CCYA on our Facebook and Instagram pages!

Make sure to look into our Buy & Show Program where members can earn $125 for the purchase of a female this year.

Canadian Charolais Association

Social Media: Madisyn Robertson robertsonmadisyn@gmail.com

Director: Madison Saunders msaunder0609@gmail.com

Director: Logan Jamieson loganjamieson22@gmail.com

Director: Kim Turnbull lena15kim@gmail.com

Alumni Director: Haley Rosso hrosso25@gmail.com

Alumni Director: Keegan Blehm keegan.blehm13@gmail.com

2024 CCYA Conference & Show - July 24-27

Swift Current, SK

Chair: Cassidi Elder

Vice-Chair: Mason Beck

Treasurer: Morgan Debenham

Secretary: Jorja Beck

Scholarship deadlines are also coming up fast! The Dale Norheim Memorial Scholarship is worth $1,500 and two CCA scholarships are valued at $1,000 each. The deadline is October 31st and entry information can be found on our social media pages and the Canadian Charolais Association website.

CCYA Provincial Advisors

SK: Shae-Lynn Book | shaelynnevans03@gmail.com

ON/QC: Karen Black | blackbern@hotmail.com

MB: Dalyse Robertson pdmrobertson@gmail.com

AB: Megan McLeod | cowgirlcreative@outlook.com

Youth Coordinator: Cassidy Matthews charolaisyouth@gmail.com

Rebecca Porter of the Weldon (SK) 4-H Beef Club had the Reserve Grand Champion Female at the Prince Albert 4-H Regional show. The judge was Shannon Eaton of Lloydminster. Hanna Wilson, of the West Prince Albert 4-H Beef Club, had the Grand Champion Three-Year Old Female at the Prince Albert Regional Show.

Hanna Wilson, of the West Prince Albert 4-H Beef Club, had the Grand Champion Three-Year Old Female at the Prince Albert Regional Show.

IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES IN OUR INDUSTRY

Calendar of Events

October 1

Olds Fall Classic Charolais Show, Olds, AB (A BOSS Show)

October 9

Balamore Farms Shoreline Female Sale with guest Lobster Point Properties, 1 pm, Great Village, NS

October 13

Uppin’ the Ante Charolais Sale, 7 pm, Maple Hill Auction, Hanover, ON

October 14

Fall Feature Female Sale, 2:30 pm, Hoards Station, Campbellford, ON

October 21

Potter Charolais Online Dispersal Sale, DLMS Timed Online, Earlton, ON

October 26

Player’s Club Bull Show, 11 am, Manitoba Ag-Ex Brandon, MB

October 26

Canadian National Charolais Sale, 6 pm, Manitoba Ag-Ex Brandon, MB

October 27

Canadian National Charolais Show, 1 pm, Manitoba Ag-Ex, Brandon, MB (A BOSS Show)

October 28

Platinum Picks Female Sale, at DanG Charolais, Colborne, ON

November 3

Lloydminster (SK) Stockade Roundup Show (A BOSS Show)

November 3

Toronto Royal Charolais Show, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto, ON (A BOSS Show)

November 10

Farmfair International Charolais Show, Edmonton (AB) Ag Expo Centre (A BOSS Show)

November 15

Harvie Ranching Female & Genetics Sale, DLMS Farmgate Auction, Olds, AB

November 17

Effertz Key Ranch Online Sale, DV Online Auction, Velva, ND

November 23

Canadian Western Agribition Charolais Sale, 3 pm, Regina, SK

November 24

Canadian Western Agribition Charolais Show, 1:30 pm, Regina, SK (A BOSS Show)

November 25

Valanjou Charolais Bull Sale, DLMS Farmgate Auction, Clyde, AB

December 1

Gilliland Bros. Charolais Dispersal Sale, Alameda (SK) Auction Market

December 4

Anderson 10th Annual Bred Heifer Sale, 11 am, Innisfail (AB) Auction

Mart

December 5

No Borders Select 12th Annual Sale, 1 pm, Heartland Livestock, Virden, MB

December 6

Sterling Collection 44th Annual Sale, 2 pm, Horseshoe E Charolais, Kenaston, SK

December 7

Char-Maine Ranching Charolais Bull Sale, Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange, Fort MacLeod, AB

December 8

Alberta Charolais Association AGM & Awards Banquet, Westerner Park AgriCentre, Red Deer, AB

December 8

Alberta Select Individual Bull Show, Westerner Park AgriCentre, Red Deer, AB

December 9

Alberta Select Pen of 3 Bull Show & Alberta Select Female Sale, Westerner Park Agricentre, Red Deer, AB

December 11

Wilgenbusch Charolais Volume IV Female Sale, 1 pm, at the ranch, Halbrite, SK

December 11

Diamond K Cattle Co. Bred Heifer Sale, 2 pm, Bircham Ranch, Piapot, SK

December 13

Steppler Farms Female Sale, 1 pm, at the farm, Miami, MB

December 14

Chomiak Charolais Dispersal Sale, Viking (AB) Auction Market

December 15

HEJ Charolais Female Sale, at the Farm, Innisfail, AB

December 15

Coyote Flats Charolais Bull Sale, at the farm, Coaldale, AB

December 16

Transcon’s National Trust – On Ice Sale Red Deer, AB

December 16

Transcon’s White Gold Sale, Red Deer, AB

December 17

Superstar Charolais Sale, 2 pm, Saskatoon (SK) Livestock Sales

December 18

Diamond R Stock Farms Commercial Bred Heifer & Bull Sale, 2 pm, at the farm, Wawota, SK

December 30

Premier & Guests Fallsview Production Sale, 7 pm, Listowel, ON

2024

February 14

Steppler Farms 13th Annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Miami, MB

February 16

Springside Cattle Co. Bull Sale, Stettler Agri-Plex, Stettler, AB

February 20

Rawe Ranches 41st Bull Sale, 1 pm, at the ranch, Strome, AB

February 28

Beck Farms Bull Sale, at the farm, Milestone, SK

March 1

Nish Charolais 18th Annual Bull Sale, 6 pm, Perlich Bros. Auction Mart, Lethbridge, AB

March 2

Turnbull Charolais & Guests 4th Annual Bull Sale, 1 pm, at the farm, Pincher Creek, AB

March 8

CK Sparrow Farms Bull Sale, 2 pm, at the farm, Vanscoy, SK

March 11

Palmer Charolais 13th Annual Bull Sale, 2 pm, at the farm, Bladworth, SK

March 15

Scott Stock Farm 11th Annual Bull Sale, 1 pm, at the farm, Crossfield, AB

March 15

High Bluff Stock Farm Bull & Female Sale, at the farm, Inglis, MB

March 16

Sliding Hills Charolais 18th Annual Bull Sale, 1:30 pm, at the farm, Canora, SK

March 16

Pleasant Dawn Charolais 23rd Annual Bull Sale, 2 pm, at the farm, Oak Lake, MB

March 18

Flat Valley Cattle Co. & K Lazy T Cattle Co. & Guests Simple as Black & White Bull Sale, 1 pm, Medicine Hat (AB ) Feeding Company

March 18

Highway 21 Bull Sale, at the ranch, Hanna, AB

March 19

Poplar Bluff Stock Farm 8th Annual Bull Sale, 2 pm, at the farm, Chauvin, AB

March 19

Diamond W 22nd Annual Bull Sale, 1:30 pm, JTM Livestock, Minitonas, MB

March 20

HTA Charolais Bull Sale, at the farm, Rivers, MB

March 20

Cedarlea Farms Bull Sale, 1:30 pm, at the ranch, Hodgeville, SK

March 21

White Meadow Charolais Online

Bull Sale, Farm Gate Timed Online, Pipestone, MB

March 22

McTavish Farms 13th Annual Bull Sale, 1 pm, at the farm, Moosomin, SK

March 26

White Lake Colony Bull Sale, 1 pm, Balog Auctions, Lethbridge, AB

March 26

Prairie Distinction 10th Annual Bull Sale, 1 pm, Beautiful Plains Ag Complex, Neepawa, MB

March 28

Elder Charolais Farms 14th Annual Bull Sale, 1 pm, at the farm, Coronach, SK

March 28

C2 Charolais Bull Sale, 1 pm, at the farm, La Riviere, MB

April 1

21st Annual North of the 49th Bull Sale, 1 pm, at the ranch, Halbrite, SK

April 4

Hunter Charolais 13th Annual Bull Sale, 1:30 pm, at the farm, Roblin, MB

April 9

Top Cut 34th Annual Bull Sale, 2 pm, Stockman’s Weigh Co., Mankota, SK

April 13

Brimner Cattle Co. Bull Sale

1:30 pm, at the farm, Manor, SK

June 21-July 6

World Charolais Congress, Canada

July 24-27

Canadian Charolais Youth Association Conference & Show, Swift Current, SK www.charolaisbanner.com

Upcoming Sales

BALAMORE FARMS SHORELINE FEMALE SALE WITH GUEST LOBSTER POINT PROPERTIES

GREAT VILLAGE, NS | OCTOBER 9, 2023

NATIONAL CHAROLAIS SALE

BRANDON, MB | OCTOBER 26, 2023

CANADIAN WESTERN AGRIBITION

CHAROLAIS SALE

REGINA, SK | NOVEMBER 23, 2023

ALBERTA CHAROLAIS SELECT FEMALE SALE RED DEER, AB | DECEMBER 9, 2023

STEPPLER FARMS FEMALE SALE

MIAMI, MB | DECEMBER 13, 2023

HEJ CHAROLAIS FEMALE SALE

INNISFAIL, AB | DECEMBER 15, 2023

SUPERSTAR CHAROLAIS SALE

SASKATOON, SK | DECEMBER 17, 2023

PREMIER & GUESTS

FALLS VIEW PRODUCTION SALE

LISTOWEL, ON | DECEMBER 29, 2023

CHRIS POLEY

306-220-5006

SHANE MICHELSON

403-363-9973

BEN WRIGHT

519-374-3335

BOX 2330, WARMAN, SK S0K 4S0

P: 306-933-4200 F: 306-934-0744

INFO@TBARC.COM

Hunter Charolais

Box 569, Roblin, MB, R0L 1P0

Doug & Marianne Hunter T204-937-2531

C 204-937-7737 • huntchar@mymts.net

Jimmy Hunter 204-937-0219

Michael & Candace Hunter 204-247-0301

Hunter Charolais @HunterCharolais

www.huntercharolais.com

A Charolais family operation for over 40 years

We invite you to stop by anytime to view our bull pen for April 4, 2024.

We appreciate the continued support...

of those who attended, bid and purchased from our spring bull sale.

Wendt & Murray Farms Ltd., AB

Kevin & Lynne Wenzel*

Kreutner Farms Ltd.*

Terry Bartel*

Michael Momotiuk*

Craig Pihach, SK*

TD Saquet Farms Ltd.*

Travis Isaac

Buick Farms Ltd.*

Stephen Hinsburg

Kevin Kreutner*

Harolyn Farms, ON*

Keowen Land & Cattle*

Rudy Friesen*

Highland Feeders Ltd., AB*

Soura-Horan Farms Ltd.*

Michael& Marilyn Sveistrup

MrF Charolais, QC

Gary Wilgenbusch

BS Ranch, SK

Bennet Foster

Rick Zamonsk*

Momotiuk Farms*

Sheldon Sauser*

Harper Creek Charolais*

*denotes repeat buyer