Feb 2018 charolais connection web by Charolais Banner

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

contents

The Charolais Connection 124 Shannon Road Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 5B1 Ph. (306) 584-7937 • Fax (306) 546-3942 Home Page: http://www.charolaisbanner.com charolaisbanner@gmail.com ISSN 0824-1767 Manager/Publisher Helge By Managing Editor Candace By charolaisbanner@gmail.com @ByCandace

FEBRUARY 2018 • VOL. XXXV, NO. 1

Production/Graphic Design Susan Penner charolais.susan@sasktel.net Web Design Dalyse Robertson pdmrobertson@gmail.com

From the Field ..........................................................................................8 du champ ................................................................................................10 Canadian Charolais Association ............................................................14

FIELDMEN: Alberta & British Columbia

De L’Association de Charolais Canadien ................................................16

Craig Scott 14 Keown Close, Olds, AB T4H 0E7 Res. (403) 507-2258 Fax (403) 507-2268 Cell (403) 651-9441 sbanner@telusplanet.net @craigscott222

Profile – Schaus Land & Cattle Ltd. ........................................................21 BIXS Launches the New Improved Version ..........................................44 Charolais Success ....................................................................................50 CCYA News ..............................................................................................56

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, USA & Eastern Canada Helge By 124 Shannon Road, Regina, SK S4S 5B1 (306) 584-7937 Fax (306) 546-3942 Cell (306) 536-4261 charolaisbanner@gmail.com @CharolaisBanner

Herd Health ............................................................................................58 Dealing with Broken Bones in Calves ....................................................60 Bonding Issues ........................................................................................66 Twins – A Bonus or Double Trouble? ....................................................70 Calendar of Events ..................................................................................81 Index of Advertisers ................................................................................86

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $9.45 per year $25.20 – 3 years (Prices include 5% GST) The Charolais Connection is mailed to over 13,000 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. No material contained in the Charolais Connection may be reprinted without the permission of the Charolais Banner. The publishers reserve the right to refuse any advertisements. The material produced in this publication is done so with the highest integrity, however, we assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. We are responsible for only the value of the advertisement. Animals in the photographs in the Connection have not been altered by computer enhancement or mechanical methods according to the knowledge of the publisher.

Printed by Print West, Regina, Saskatchewan Publications Mail Agreement No. 40047726 Postage paid at Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

On the cover… Bulls at Palmer Charolais envjoying a break in the cold weather. Photo: Helge By Design: Susan Penner

Postmaster: Please return undeliverable publications (covers only) to: Charolais Banner, 124 Shannon Road, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 5B1, Canada. Published by the Charolais Banner, Regina, SK (3 times per year - February, March and Fall)

Charolais Connection • February 2018

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

POINTS TO PONDER

From the Field Helge By

By the time you read this, most of you will have marketed your 2017 calf crop and whether you sell them in the fall calf run, or into the early new year sales, you found a better market than last year. In many cases, the producers I talked to saw a sizeable increase in the dollars they received. With the cost of everything else going up, it was a necessary increase, and may it continue. A very good commercial producer from Western Ontario, who sells in the Keady Beef week of sales the end of October, gave me his average prices from the last four years, which I found very interesting and want to share with you. These are fully vaccinated tan Charcross calves. Steers Ave Wt Price 2017 2016 2015 2014

614 lb 600 lb 575 lb 574 lb

$1,538 $1,158 $1,846 $1,790

Heifers Ave Wt Price 600 lb $1,380 556 lb $956 557 lb $1,599 566 lb $1,581

A bit of a roller coaster ride from 2014 to 2017. Every auction market manager I talked to said the premium paid for

the Charcross calves was as big as it ever has been. One manager even went so far as to say a 20-cent premium in certain weight ranges. Pounds also paid the bills and the identifiable Charcross calves were sought after, whether it be tans, silvers or whites. Historically, and I can’t see why it will change, you will never be disappointed selling Charcross feeder cattle at any level. I must qualify here too, that it wasn’t just the colour but the quality. Quality calves of any breed saw a premium and no matter what your preference you still need quality. Don’t skimp on the quality of the bull you purchase, for that bull will do your program a lot of good or bad. In the long run your investment will be returned to you, good or bad. In this issue you will see advertising for many of the early bull sales and the quality of the Charolais bulls available this spring looks excellent. The breeders really are striving to produce bulls that will go out and cover a lot of ground, service the cows, then calve well and give you the identifiable added performance. Cow numbers in the United States are up and there will be more beef going through the system this year. The numbers in Canada haven’t

moved much but we are in a North American market. The fat market has been stronger through the end of the year, even with more cattle and the packers have been profitable so they have been harvesting more numbers and the meat is disappearing off the shelves and into the export market. A news article I saw is good news for the beef industry, as well as the pork and poultry industries. The U.S. is set to produce a record amount of total protein this year. But the average U.S. consumer will eat 222.2 pounds of red meat and poultry in 2018 according to the USDA, surpassing the former record set in 2004. Many consumers are choosing protein over carbohydrates as a calorie source. As we get into the bull sales, if Craig Scott or I can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are always happy to help in any way we can. All our Charolais Banner and Charolais Connection magazines are online for free at charolaisbanner.com if you want to go back to past issues. We also try and keep the sale news very current on our homepage so check it out. Until next time, Helge

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Charolais Connection • February 2018

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

POINT A SURVEILLER

Du champ Helge By

Lorsque vous lirez ces quelques lignes, la plupart d’entre vous aurez déjà envoyé vos veaux et bouvillons de 2017 à l’encan ou au parc d’engraissement. Dans ces deux cas vous avez sûrement eu un meilleur prix que l’année précédente. En jasant avec d’autres producteurs, la plupart d’entre eux avaient eu une meilleure moyenne de vente. Avec les coûts opérationnels que les fermes subissent, cette hausse est non seulemen nécessaire mais aussi nous souhaitons tous qu’elle y reste. Voici des statistiques qui m’ont été fournies par un producteur commercial, dan l’ouest Ontarien, qui fourni la compagnie Keady Beef. Ces chiffres représentent de ventes vers la fin du mois d’octobre, depuis les quatre dernières années. Les donnée représentent des têtes vaccinées, de couleur beige, croisées Charolais. Bouvillons

2017 2016 2015 2014

Taures

Moyenne de poids lb

Prix

Moyenne de poids lb

Prix

614 lb 600 lb 575 lb 574 lb

$1,538 $1,158 $1,846 $1,790

600 lb 556 lb 557 lb 566 lb

$1,380 $956 $1,599 $1,581

Vous remarquerez qu’il y a eu un effet yo-yo depuis 2014. Chaque gérant de chaque point de vente donc j’ai discuté, reconnaissent que les

acheteurs sont prêts à débourse une prime pour des bouvillons ou taures croisées Charolais. Un certain gérant es même convaincu que cette prime est de .20 cents dans certaines classes de poids. Quelle montée pour notre race! Les blancs, les gris et les beiges croisés Charolais étaient en demande. Peut-être pourrions nous adaptez le slogan Charolais pour Casholais? Que ce soit dans le passé ou à l’avenir, un croisement Charolais n’a jamais déçu dans tous les niveaux de finition. Il faut préciser que n’importe la couleur de ces veaux, nous y retrouvons tout de même une prime pour une carcasse de qualité, recherchée par tous les commerçants, Charolais ou non. Il sera toujours primordial d’investir dans un taureau qui a une bonne conformation et qui saura remonter votre troupeau. En bout de ligne, ce sera cet investissement qui fera la différence au prochain encan. Dans la revue de ce mois-ci, vous y trouverez plusieurs annonces de ventes de taureaux pour l’arrivée du printemps. La qualité de ceux-ci promet. Les producteurs perfectionnent leur progéniture avec des taureaux qui pourront saillir plusieurs femelles avec une facilité de vêlage. Le nombre de bétail est à la hausse aux États-Unis et la tendance du marché prévoit une autre augmentation dans l’inventaire. Les données du Canada n’ont pas vraiment changées mais je crois

qu’elles reflètent notre appartenance au marché américain. Le marché s’est renforcé dans le dernier quartier de 2017 ce qui reflètent la demande en exportation et un profit à la hausse pour les usines d’emballage. Il y a un article paru récemment qui estime que les États-Unis ont comme but de surpasser leur record de production de protéines. Cela est une bonne nouvelle pour tous les producteurs de boeuf, porc et volaille. Selon les statistiques du département de l’agriculture des ÉtatsUnis(USDA), celui-ci estime que le consommateur augmentera sa consommation de viande rouge à 222.2 lb en 2018. Cette statistique vient fracassé le record de 2004. Le consommateur choisi encore une fois la priorité pour une protéine avant un glucide dans leur assiette. Avec la saison des ventes de taureaux qui débutera bientôt, Craig Scott et moi offrons notre assistance en tout temps. N’hésitez pas à nous contacter, il nous fera plaisir de vous aider. Il est possible de consulter les revues déjà parues du Charolais Banner et de Charolais Connection en ligne en tout temps. Voici notre site web: www.charolaisbanner.com. Nous aurons aussi toutes les informations des ventes qui auront bientôt lieu. À la prochaine, Helge

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Charolais Connection • February 2018

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

FROM THE CANADIAN CHAROLAIS ASSOCIATION

The Power of Data 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: Jocelyn O’Neill, Innisfail SASKATCHEWAN President: Kelly Howe, Moose Jaw Secretary: Dave Blechinger, Rosetown MANITOBA President: Hans Myrhe, Dauphin Secretary: Rae Trimble, Portage la Prairie ONTARIO President: Ryan Nesbitt, Nestleton Secretary: Doris Aitken, Mount Forest QUEBEC President: Mathieu Palerme, Gatineau Secretary: Chantal Raymond, Sainte-Eulalie MARITIMES President: Ricky Milton, Cornwall, PE Secretary: Jennifer MacDonald, St. Mary’s, Kent Co., NB STAFF: General Manager: MEL REEKIE Registry Manager: LOIS CHIVILO Registry: JUDY CUMMER; PIPER WHELAN French Membership: Bernard Dore 514-910-4935 • bernarddore@videotron.ca EXECUTIVE: PRESIDENT: DARWIN ROSSO 78 325 4th Ave SW, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 5V2 • 306.693.2384 rosso.c@sasktel.net 1st VICE-PRESIDENT: ALLAN MARSHALL 35266 Rg Rd 33, Red Deer County, AB T4G 0N3 • 403.277.2594 C403.588.5282 allan@futurefarms.ca 2nd VICE-PRES: MIKE ELDER Box 216, Coronach, SK S0H 0Z0 306.267.5655 C306.267.7730 mjelder@sasktel.net PAST PRESIDENT: BRIAN COUGHLIN RR3 1012 Snake River Line, Cobden, ON K0J 1K0 • 613.646.9741 C613.312.0270 bh.cornerview@gmail.com DIRECTORS: BRENT SAUNDERS RR 3, Markdale, ON N0C 1H0 519.986.4165 C519-372-6196 F519.986.4273 saunders@bmts.com MATHIEU PALERME 814 Pink Rd., Gatineau, QC J9J 3N3 819.682.2723 C819.213.3143 matpalerme@yahoo.ca SHAWN AIREY Box 639, Rivers, MB R0K 1X0 204.328.7704 C 204.724.8823 htacharolais@hotmail.com JIM OLSON Box 882, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3C3 204.252.3115 C204.856.6357 lejcharolais@gmail.com KASEY PHILLIPS Box 420, Waskatenau, AB T0A 3P0 780.358.2360 C780.656.6400 kphillips@mcsnet.ca LORNE LAKUSTA Box 37, Andrew, AB T0B 0C0 780.365.2079 C780.719.0264 spruceviewcharolais@gmail.com

Mel Reekie, General Manager

2017 seemed to be the year of Charolais and 2018 is setting up to be no different, another successful year for our breed. Trust in the Charolais advantage; use a Charolais bull for it’s power and growth. Don’t leave money on the table and give your calves the advantages to capitalize on profit. With no tag required, Charolais progeny offers a consistent, quality product. The Canadian Charolais Association (CCA) has been and continues to be led by progressive cattlemen that remain engaged in the best interests and progress of the breed. In doing so, you can’t improve upon what you don’t measure. With over 1 Million performance records backing our genetic evaluation, the CCA supports and encourages the use of EPDs as part of your selection process. Over the years, birth weights have dropped, while calving ease, weaning and yearling weights have all improved. When the data is pooled together and evaluated, we have a scientifically sound and very powerful selection tool for use; a tool available to help producers reach their potential. If you’re not sure about the use of EPDs consider this statement from Sean McGrath of Ranching Systems and consultant with the CCA: “As with all breeds, the cattle are built by the breeders and their decisions. The current EPD are the result of a long evolution and they will continue to evolve and improve. Certainly, there can be arguments made about the direction breeders have chosen over time but there can be no argument about the effectiveness of EPD for ranking animals for a trait of interest. The biggest number often gets confused with the best number which is unfortunate, but the EPD ranking tool is still nine times more effective than an in-herd index or adjusted weight for determining the correct genetic placing of animals for a trait.” Collecting the data for the evaluation is necessary but it’s also imperative to keep relevant, adjust and adapt when required.

As such, the CCA is pleased to announce a change to the expression of our Calving Ease EPD. As Sean McGrath explains, the CE EPD expresses differences in calving difficulty between calves born to first calf heifers. When comparing two sires, the larger value indicates fewer potential calving difficulties when used on first calf heifers. The new presentation will help to provide more separation and describe differences among animals that are at the ends of the CE distribution. Only the expression of CE has been changed in order to better describe the genetics for CE in first calf heifers when bred to Charolais bulls. The EPD model remains unchanged and is calculated using calving ease scores from first calf heifers, birth weights from heifers and cows, and gestation length information from AI breedings. It is important to note that the EPD is based on calving difficulty in first calf heifers and that bulls with average or slightly below average CE EPD may be effectively and safely used in many situations with mature cows. Current Calves – Spring 2018 Evaluation CE EPD Max

17.9

Top 25%

6.4

Avg

4.0

Top 75%

1.6

Min

-16.9

The CE EPD is expressed as the expected difference in assisted calvings when sires are used on first calf heifers. A larger value indicates MORE calving ease or fewer assisted births. Before upgrading your bull battery this spring, discuss your needs with your fellow breeders, your neighbours, and check out the prices in the auction yards for those buckskins and smokies. Find what fits your program, there’s something for everyone.

www.charolais.com Charolais Connection • February 2018

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

DE LA CHAROLAIS ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE

La puissance des données 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 Président: Stephen Cholak, Lamont Secrétaire: Jocelyn O’Neill, Innisfail SASKATCHEWAN Président: Kelly Howe, Moose Jaw Secrétaire: Dave Blechinger, Rosetown MANITOBA Président: Hans Myrhe, Dauphin Secrétaire: Rae Trimble, Portage la Prairie ONTARIO Président: Ryan Nesbitt, Nestleton Secrétaire: Doris Aitken, Mount Forest QUEBEC Président: Mathieu Palerme, Gatineau Secrétaire: Chantal Raymond, Sainte-Eulalie MARITIMES Président: Ricky Milton, Cornwall, PE Secrétaire: Jennifer MacDonald, St. Mary’s, Kent Co., NB PERSONNEL: Directeur général: MEL REEKIE Registry Manager: LOIS CHIVILO Registry: JUDY CUMMER; PIPER WHELAN Composition française: BERNARD DORE bernarddore@videotron.ca EXÉCUTIF: PRÉSIDENT: DARWIN ROSSO 78 325 4th Ave SW, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 5V2 • 306.693.2384 rosso.c@sasktel.net 1er VICE- PRÉSIDENT: ALLAN MARSHALL 35266 Rg Rd 33, Red Deer County, AB T4G 0N3 • 403.277.2594 C403.588.5282 allan@futurefarms.ca 2e VICE- PRÉSIDENT: MIKE ELDER Box 216, Coronach, SK S0H 0Z0 306.267.5655 C306.267.7730 mjelder@sasktel.net ANCIEN PRÉSIDENT: BRIAN COUGHLIN RR3 1012 Snake River Line, Cobden, ON K0J 1K0 • 613.646.9741 C613.312.0270 bh.cornerview@gmail.com ADMINISTRATION: BRENT SAUNDERS RR 3, Markdale, ON N0C 1H0 519.986.4165 C519-372-6196 F519.986.4273 saunders@bmts.com MATHIEU PALERME 814 Pink Rd., Gatineau, QC J9J 3N3 819.682.2723 C819.213.3143 matpalerme@yahoo.ca SHAWN AIREY Box 639, Rivers, MB R0K 1X0 204.328.7704 C 204.724.8823 htacharolais@hotmail.com JIM OLSON Box 882, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3C3 204.252.3115 C204.856.6357 lejcharolais@gmail.com KASEY PHILLIPS Box 420, Waskatenau, AB T0A 3P0 780.358.2360 C780.656.6400 kphillips@mcsnet.ca LORNE LAKUSTA Box 37, Andrew, AB T0B 0C0 780.365.2079 C780.719.0264 spruceviewcharolais@gmail.com

Mel Reekie, directeur général

Il semble que 2017 a été l’année du Charolais et 2018 s’en ligne de la même façon pour notre race. Faites confiance à l’avantage duCharolais; Utilisez un taureau Charolais pour le gain et la performance. Tirez avantage des bénéfices avec une marge de profit additionnelle provenant de vos veaux. Le Charolais est identifiable par la production constante de progéniture de qualité et non pas par une étiquette d’oreille. L’Association canadienne Charolais (ACC) a été conçue et continue d’être dirigée par des éleveurs de bovins progressives qui ont les meilleurs intérêts pour la race et son progrès. Ce faisant, on ne peut pas améliorer ce qui n’est pas mesuré. Avec plus de 1 million de données de performances soutenant notre évaluation génétique, la ACC appuie et encourage l’utilisation de valeurs EPD dans le cadre de votre processus de sélection. Au cours des années, les poids à la naissance ont chuté, tandis que la facilité de vêlage, les poids au sevrage et à un anse sont tous améliorés. L’évaluation des données regroupées crée un outil de sélection scientifiquement très puissant qui peut aider les producteurs à atteindre leur plein potentiel. Si vous n’êtes pas convaincus au sujet de l’utilisation des valeurs EPD, prenez la peine de réfléchir sur la déclaration suivante faite par Sean McGrath, un consultant auprès de l’ACC: comme pour toutes les races, les bovins sont modifiés par l’entremise desdécisions prises par les éleveurs. Les EPD actuels sont le résultat d’une longue évolution et ils vont continuer à évoluer et à s’améliorer. Certes, on peut questionner certaines directions que les éleveurs ont choisies au fil du temps, mais on ne peut pas disputer l’efficacité des EPD pour le classementdes animaux pour un certain caractère en particulier. Les plus groschiffres sont souvent confondus avec le meilleur chiffre, ce qui est regrettable, mais l’outil de classement EPD reste neuf fois plus efficace qu’un indicede troupeau ou l’utilisation des poids ajustés pour la détermination correcte du rang d’un animal pour un caractère de sélection. La collecte des données pour l’évaluation est nécessaire, mais il est également impératif de rester pertinents, d’ajuster et

d’adapter au besoin. Pour ce faire, l’ACC est fière d’annoncer un changement au niveau de l’expression du EPD pour la facilite au vêlage. Comme l'explique Sean McGrath, l’EPD FV exprime les différences de difficulté à la naissance pour la progéniture des taures au premier vêlage. Quand on compare deux taureaux, la plus grande valeur indique potentiellement moins de difficultés au vêlage lorsqu’il est utilisé chez des taures. La nouvelle présentation démontrera plus d’écart pour mieux différencier les animaux qui sont aux extrémités de la distribution pour la facilite au vêlage. Seule l’expression de la facilite au vêlage a été modifiée afin de mieux définir la génétique lorsqu’un taureau Charolais est utilisé chez des taures au premier veau. Le modèle de l’EPD reste inchangé et il est toujours calculé selon les scores de facilité au vêlage chez les taures, les poids à la naissance des veaux de taures et de vaches et les informations recueillies pour la longueur de gestation pour toutes saillies par insémination. Il est important de noter que le EPD est basé sur des difficultés de vêlage chez les taures au premier veau et que les taureaux avec un EPD moyen ou légèrement sous la moyenne de la race peuvent-être utilisés efficacement et en toute sécurité dans de nombreuses situations chez des vaches matures. Veaux de l’année courante – Évaluations printemps 2018 EPD FV Max 17.9 Top 25% 6.4 Moyenne 4.0 Top 75% 1.6 Min -16.9 L’EPD FV est exprimé étant la différence prévue entre les taureaux lorsqu’ils sont utilisés chez les taure au premier veau. Une valeur supérieure indique une meilleure facilité de vêlage ou moins de naissances assistées. Avant de faire vos choix de taureaux ce printemps, prenez le temps de discuter de vos besoins avec vos collègues éleveurs, vos voisins et informez-vousdes prix aux encans pour les veaux beiges et les gris. Vous trouverez certainement ce qui convient à votre programme, il y en a pour tous les goûts.

Charolais Connection • February 2018

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INDUSTRY NEWS

BIXS Launches the New Improved Version Deborah Wilson, Sr. Vice President, BIXSco Inc.

The team at BIXSco Inc. is excited about the launch of the new BIXS, a web-based data management system that operates more efficiently than ever before. Ease of data-sharing and data entry are more important to producers and industry than ever before. With suggestions from producers, and a group of keen cattle producers as our beta testers that test drove the new system for close to a year, it is better than ever. It is intuitive and efficient, free for producers to use. We have dubbed it the “Cloud for Cows”. Your records are always available to you, even if your computer crashes. Just access your BIXS account from your new hardware and you will be back up and running. Producers can enter actions in any of the following ways – multiple actions on multiple animals, one action on multiple animals or multiple actions on one animal. The producer decides how to enter their data – directly, through CSV upload, or with data integration of management software or with a breed association. With the new regulations in place, the integration that BIXS has with CLTS will become more important, making it easier for producers to comply. BIXS’ management and programmers believe that a producer should only have to enter data one time, and be able to have that data flow to whatever system needs or requires it. The data flow only can happen with the permission of producers to protect privacy and business models. The new BIXS allows customization to suit multiple different situations, for example a purebred breeder could automatically import his/her calving data into BIXS – Tattoo, BW, Sex, Sire, Dam, Breed and simply attach the RFID number to each calf. Currently, this can only be done with a CSV import. Once the calving information is entered/imported/integrated into BIXS, and the RFID numbers are

attached, the data automatically flows to CLTS. The Canadian Beef Advantage is the future of our cattle industry – traceability, transparency and sustainability. This supports a socially responsible, environmentally sound and economically viable beef production system. Canada is the first country in the world to launch a producer framework to certify cattle operations and track chain of custody. To facilitate certification of operations and electronically track the cattle thru the production chain, Verified Beef Production Plus and BIXS have completed an integration which tracks cattle automatically. Once an animal is born on a VBP+ audited operation and sold, the VBP+ designation is attached to the animal’s history in BIXS, provided the producer has registered with BIXS. If it moves into a VBP+ grass operation, backgrounding lot or feedlot, the recognition of that production history carries with the animal via the RFID tag, again that operation must be registered on BIXS. When the animal reaches the harvest facility it is recognized as meeting all the requirements to be considered sustainably raised, which explains why chain of custody is so important. For processors and retailers, it is important that a neutral third-party, like BIXS, can track the movement of the animal through certified sustainable operations. The desire for sustainably raised animals is becoming more and more prevalent amongst consumers, in other food products, not just beef. Sustainable is not just a “feel good word”, sustainably-raised beef in Canada is defined by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, which is aligned with the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (www.GRSBeef.org), but customized specifically for Canada. This led to the revamping of Verified Beef Production, to add the modules it was lacking to meet the CRSB criteria – giving the

Charolais Connection • February 2018

industry VBP+. Consumers want to know that what they are eating, and feeding their families came from animals that were treated in an ethical, humane way, raised in an efficient and healthy way supported by science and did not harm the environment while respecting the rights of human beings. Seems like a tall order, but not to most of the producers I know. Canadian farmers and ranchers are already there, for the most part. All that is needed is an audit certifying that the operation is sustainable and the ability to attach that information to the animal through its lifetime. BIXS plans to support and advance a socially responsible, environmentally sound and economically viable beef production system, part of the Canadian Beef Advantage. We have the tools as producers to make our beef the most desirable in the world. High quality, sustainably raised with traceability and transparency. This is what will stifle our critics, and ensure Canadian beef is one of the proteins that consumers choose at the meat counter all over the world. BIXSco Inc. is a member of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and invites everyone to visit www.crsb.ca to understand more about sustainability, and BIXS www.bixsco.com about chain of custody. Visiting the new VBP+ website www.verifiedbeefproduction plus.ca can give you the information you need to successfully complete an audit which makes your cattle certified sustainable. Both BIXS and VBP+ were chosen to support the Canadian Beef Sustainability Acceleration pilot project, www.cbsapilot.ca. A project in which major retailers reward producers with financial credits for contributing to a fully certified sustainable beef program. The major retailers currently contributing and supporting this program are Swiss Chalet, Original Joes, McDonalds and Loblaws.

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

CHAROLAI S

Success

Supreme Female at Farmfair and Agribition PZC LILY 5013 ET (TR Mr Fire Water 5792ET) with her calf MISS PRAIRIE COVE 716E (Sparrows Kingston 136Y), exhibited by Tyler Bullick, Prairie Cove Charolais, Bashaw, Alberta, was named the Supreme Champion Female at Farmfair in Edmonton. The pair proceeded to win the Canadian Western Agribition RBC Beef Supreme Challenge.

CWA President’s Classic Champion

Charolais Wins Ranchers’ Choice

Elder’s Honcho 72E (Elder’s Blackjack 788B), Elder Charolais Farms, Coronach, was named the Canadian Western Agribition President’s Classic Champion

The Ranchers’ Choice Yearling Bull at the Medicine Hat Pen Show was won by Flat Valley Cattle Co., Hilda, with a son of JDJ Impression K894 ET.

Charolais Wins Medicine Hat Pen Show Supreme Pair of Bulls at Expo Boeuf Cornerview Charolais, Cobden, ON, won Supreme Pair of Bulls at Expo Boeuf, Victoriaville, QC, on October 8th. The pair were Cornerview Express 2E, sired by SVY Monument Pld 159Y and Cornerview Hemi 42E, sired by McTavish Hallelujah 79B.

Congratulations to Gilliland Bros. Charolais, Carievale, SK, on winning the Pen of 3 Bull Show at the Medicine Hat Pen Show. The pen was made up with two sons of Sparrows Escobar 429B and a son of HRJ Crowd Favorite 515C. There were 32 pens exhibited in this all breeds show. The other Charolais pens entered had a great showing as well there were five pens of Charolais bulls entered and they all advanced to the finals of 10 pens.

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CANADIAN CHAROLAIS YOUTH ASSOCIATION NEWS

Winter Meeting Highlights Aiden Jamieson, Treasurer

After a strong year for the Charolais youth, the National Board members of the Canadian Charolais Youth Association met in Saskatoon early in the New Year to discuss the continual success of the youth. With several new ideas on the horizon for CCYA, 2018 is on pace to be another successful year for the Charolais youth. The National Board wants to put out a reminder that the deadline CCYA NATIONAL BOARD charolaisyouth@gmail.com President: Shelby Evans sle379@mail.usask.ca Vice-President: Wyatt Ching w.ching476@gmail.com Treasurer: Aidan Jamieson awjamieson@gmail.com Secretary: Raelynne Rosso littlerosso@hotmail.ca

for the CCYA Genetics Program is coming to a close on February 15th. This is a program where current members have the eligibility to receive 2 free units of semen from selected Charolais bulls for one of their females. To learn more about this amazing opportunity, look for the Genetics Program Application on the CCYA website, youth.charolais.com. The winter meeting also included discussion about a new Travel Opportunity Scholarship that provides Director: Bret Marshall blm5012@cesd73.ca Director: Keegan Blehm keegb34@yahoo.ca Director: Tyson Black blackbern@hotmail.com Director: Bradley Fergus bradleyfergus3@gmail.com Ex-Officio: Shae-Lynn Evans evans32s@uregina.ca

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youth members with a chance to receive funds to attend an event involving the Charolais breed or cattle industry. Also, just a reminder about the Buy and Show initiative and the upcoming conference that will be held in Brandon Manitoba, July 25-28, 2018. Visit our website for more info on these programs! Keep your eyes posted on the CCYA website and Facebook page for further details from the National Board, and Happy New Year from CCYA. 2018 CCYA Conference & Show Exec. President: Lindsay Verwey Vice-President: Keegan Blehm Treasurer: Randi Verwey Secretary: Kiernan Olson CCYA Provincial Advisors SK: Suzanne Smyth | suzannetylersmyth@gmail.com ON: Karen Black | blackbern@hotmail.com MB: Donna Jackson | Jackson7@mymts.net AB: Kasey Phillips | kphillips@mcsnet.ca Youth Coordinator: Kirstin Sparrow kp.sparrow@hotmail.com

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HERD HEALTH

Some Different Thoughts on Calf Treatments in the Spring Roy Lewis, DVM

With the advent of less calving problems and more hands off handling during this time, treatments to calves has changed considerably over the years. Newer longer acting products as well as anti-inflammatory drugs help to get calves on their feet quicker and minimize any relapses. Although daily treatments may still have their place in the intensive care cases, the need has been reduced significantly. We all know sick calves are very easy to catch off guard the first time. It is the second, third and fourth treatments which become the issue and as they improve in health the stress created to catch calves often increases. A lot of the treatments I will be suggesting for calves are prescription products and as you all know you need a valid client-patient relationship with your herd veterinarian in order to obtain many of these products. Always ask their advice, show how the products are administered and get the tough cases examined. A “Pr” on the side of the bottle means it is a prescription product and these days most, if not all, new products on the market are prescription. As of next year by this time, all antibiotics including penicillin and tetracycline will need to be purchased through your herd veterinarian. We also have the complicating factor whereas with young calves they are a pre-ruminant, which means because they are on milk like a single stomached animal, the withdrawal times on the products may be altered. My argument as a practicing veterinarian has always been that slaughter is a long, long time off (many months to greater than a year) so withdrawal times become a bit irrelevant. At least the withdrawals for the mature cattle give us a guideline with which to work. The new products are sometimes not recommended for very young calves as they may take out the normal bacteria in the gut so drug

selection can become critical. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that vets refer to as “NSAIDs” are being used with greater frequency in most calf hood diseases. They make the calves feel better and get back on feed quicker so recovery is faster. The newest two are given either orally or poured on so major changes ahead as far as NSAIDs. Most NSAIDs are having efficacy for about two days. It was found in severe scours cases that calves appetite increased, and weight gains were better. Subtle things like gas pains with scours were also reduced. This was always given along with the standard electrolytes and antibiotics, which accompany scours treatments. These ancillary treatments have become an integral part in scours or most systemic illnesses of calves. On advice from their veterinarian most producers will carry one form of a NSAID with them in their treatment kit. Response times and recovery rates are greatly improved. The beauty with the young calves is the cost of treatment is very low because of their small body size. Watch where to administer as some are now oral or pour on and there is the injectable route. Producers are even talking about giving a painkiller when processing at birth. With tags (commonly two given), vaccines Se and Vit AD given as well as a castration ring (to commercial bull calves) they have a lot done to them. The use of painkillers could become more routine in the future as we try to increasingly address more moderately painful procedures. I have found that unless a calf is older or bigger, there is not much muscle on the neck and any intramuscular shots I give in the back leg muscles. I come in directly from behind. These are the semimembranous and semitendinous (back thigh) muscles are not the prime cuts and there is no risk here damaging the sciatic nerve, which can effect walking. This is the only time I give intramuscular shots in a location

other than the neck. Make sure you have product ready and the correct needle size and length. For most products in calves IM, I use an 18 or 20 gauge needle one inch in length. Subcutaneous administration you can get away with a ¾ inch needle or shorter. With calving later now a days, cattle are spread out over greater acreage so it is imperative most times to either treat with longer acting products or in severe cases to bring the cow calf pair in and treat daily. Calf catchers or good ropers work and it is beneficial if the calf doesn’t have to be caught again. One great trick on daily treatment is a producer left a light lariat tied over the calf. When tomorrow’s treatment was necessary, the end was driven over by a quad and the calf was caught with a very minimum of stress. Only issue is the lariat could get caught and I should qualify this was used in an open pasture. There are long acting products specifically for pneumonia and the macrolides such as Zuprevo or Draxxin may have a place at metaphylactically preventing pneumonia in the young calves. These are all prescription drugs and don’t have on the label for young calves so that is a conversation you must make with your consulting veterinarian. We must consider not overusing these products and that is where vaccination comes in. A lot of the previously effective scour treatment products have been removed from the market and because scour tablets end up in the rumen, most veterinarians lean towards the injectable products for quicker absorption and that is where cephalosporin’s, or potentiated sulphonamides can be used. With all these treatments, if there ever is a loss, an autopsy to determine the cause of death together with a culture and sensitivity will determine which antibiotic is best to use. continued on page 64

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MANAGEMENT

Dealing with Broken Bones in Calves Heather Smith Thomas

Occasionally cattle suffer fractures, and it’s generally a leg bone. Often it’s a young or newborn calf, and the fractured limb should be cast or splinted for proper healing. Dr. Matt Miesner, Clinical Ag Practices, Kansas State University, Veterinary Health Center, says some leg fractures occur when calves are pulled, if people use incorrect methods when applying chains to the legs. “What is nice today is that I am seeing fewer of these injuries because there is more awareness among producers about how to pull a calf correctly–such as spreading the pressure of the chains with two loops, one above and one below the fetlock joint, and proper use of calf jacks,” he says. “The one injury that we still see at calving is fractures of the femur when a backward calf is being pulled. This happens if the person pulling the calf pulls downward too soon, as the calf is just coming through the pelvis— before the back legs are fully out of the pelvis. Pulling down too soon wedges the calf’s legs in the cow’s pelvis and fractures the femurs—like putting a stick on your knee and breaking it.” This is the most common fracture he still sees at calving. “With any fracture, we always have to try to figure out where the leg is broken. A break below the carpus (knee or hock) generally has a great prognosis; they heal readily. But with a backward calf being pulled downward, we usually end up with a higher break, which is harder to repair and to deal with in general,” says Miesner. “Fractures of the lower leg tend to occur more commonly after calving, if the cow steps on the leg. These usually heal nicely. Cast material today is fairly inexpensive, strong, and easy to apply. We can splint the leg, but in most instances I recommend casting these, for better

stability,” he says. “If a splint is properly applied, it can work well, too. Things like PVC pipe are often used for splints. But if it is not applied all the way around the leg, or at least covering the side and either the front or back, it may not work. I’ve seen splints that actually created more of a fulcrum for the fracture, making it worse just because the splints were not properly affixed to the leg,” he explains. “Cast material, with the veterinarian’s help, generally works best because it form-fits to the leg. The young calves with breaks below the knee or hock will heal quickly and only need to wear the cast for 3 to 4 weeks. They are growing fast, creating new bone,” he says. The bones are growing so quickly that a person has to make sure the cast doesn’t get too tight. “We have to remember to remove it soon because the calf is growing so fast. I usually write on the cast in big letters the date we are supposed to check it and the date we need to remove it so the calf doesn’t outgrow the cast and create more problems.” Sometimes a person needs to slit the cast lengthwise in a couple weeks and let it expand a bit, and then tape around it to hold it together in a slightly larger size. “Another injury I often see below the hock or knee is a growth plate type fracture. It’s usually at the end of the cannon bone, above the fetlock joint. This is often a processing injury that happens when people are working cattle, maybe at branding time when the calves are several weeks to a couple months old. The leg is broken right at the growth plate, but if you catch it early this will generally heal nicely. We just slide the bone back into place, cast it for as little as 2 weeks, and it heals back together quickly because it is right at the growth plate,” he explains. “The location doesn’t affect overall growth of the leg after it heals. If

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people can recognize it, we can fix it. What we notice with that type of break is that the leg is not floppy. You will see a significant deviation in straightness of the limb but it’s just slid off the growth plate. It’s stiff, and really hard to get back into place, so the sooner it is recognized the better, so we can slide it back over. These usually require a cast because a splint just won’t be stiff enough to give adequate support,” says Miesner. “Most of the lower leg fractures do very well. The high ones are tougher, especially the femur in the hind leg (between the hip and stifle). A radius/ulna or tibia fracture (between the knee and the elbow, or between the hock and the stifle) usually requires a special type of splint called a Thomas-Schroeder splint. It looks like a crutch that goes beneath the armpit (in front) or the groin (in back) and is attached to the bottom part of the leg at the hoof. The limb is stretched out between the top and bottom; the crutch-type splint spans the whole leg,” he says. “I have several of these ThomasSchroeder splints made up in different sizes for different size calves. They can be created for as little as $20 to $30. It’s nice to have a few of them on hand so one can be applied very quickly if needed,” says Miesner. He’s had ranchers use these, and then keep them, and if they ever have

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another case the veterinarian can simply use the same splint again. “These are always re-usable.” Even a femur or humerus fracture will sometimes heal even though it can’t be cast or splinted. “In newborn calves, sometimes their bone is so thin that they won’t hold screws or pins. I have been really amazed at how often just stall rest (keeping the calf confined and inactive) will work to allow those fractures to mend themselves. We usually put the calf on painkillers and antibiotics for a while, and they do sometimes heal ok in spite of having no way to immobilize the leg. Timing of healing varies. We just have to make sure the welfare of the calf is addressed and monitored during that time. Not all of them heal, and humane euthanasia may be indicated at some point.” But as long as there is no bone sticking through the skin, and no risk for infection, and the calf remains comfortable, it has a good chance. “Compound fractures (bone pieces penetrating the skin) have a poorer prognosis. So we always want to know where the break is, how long ago it happened, and whether there is any bone outside the skin,” he says. He’s seen some cases where poorly applied splints created more issues because they didn’t give enough support and the fracture became compounded and infected. Dr. Andy Acton, (Deep South Animal Clinic, Ogema, Saskatchewan), says that if he gets a phone call from a producer worried about a possible fracture, he asks about the age of the calf, whether it’s a front leg or back, and location of the fracture (though some producers are not sure—they just know the calf is lame). “If it’s a newborn, we ask if it has nursed yet. If the fracture has perforated the skin, the prognosis is not as good. The end result may depend on how much the producer wants to commit to, regarding care and treatment, and the relative value of that calf. Is it a commercial calf, a purebred, or their daughter’s 4-H heifer project calf?” says Acton. “We may use radiographs to assess the fracture, depending on where it seems to be, and whether it’s close to

a joint. If it’s a low fracture we’ll use an x-ray to determine whether the joint is involved. This can also tell us what the outcome might be,” he says. “If it is a higher fracture, a radiograph might point us one direction or another in terms of how we might repair it. Sometimes it just needs a simple cast, if it’s a cannon bone fracture on a front or back leg. The cast must go high enough to immobilize the joint above (as well as below) the break.” There should be no chance for movement at the fracture site. “About 10% of fractures are higher up the leg—above the knee or hock-and we can’t use a normal cast. These are not as common as a fracture of the cannon bone, but veterinarians may try to repair them because we can do some things we couldn’t do, years ago, in terms of options for a good repair,” says Acton. If the rancher is a long ways from the veterinarian, it might be necessary to try to immobilize the break with a splint until the calf can be seen by the veterinarian. “For a temporary splint, one of the best things to put around the leg might be a thick magazine, secured with duct tape, or PVC pipe cut lengthwise, as long as there is enough padding around the leg, under the pipe or the magazine,” he explains. A towel or roll cotton can be wrapped around the leg to pad it. “The type of fracture that would be most worrisome would be a longangled break with a shard of bone that might perforate the skin. I’ve seen this happen when a producer tried to create a splint-–and a break that hadn’t perforated then perforated,” he says. “Regarding care at home, before you bring the calf in, the important thing with newborns is making sure they get adequate colostrum.” You may have to help the calf nurse its mother, or feed it colostrum that you milk from the cow. If necessary you could administer the colostrum via tube or esophageal feeder just to get the job done. “If it will be several hours before you can get that calf to the veterinarian, you need to get colostrum or a replacement product into that calf. If the calf arrives here

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without having colostrum, I prefer to address that problem even before I take care of the fracture,” says Acton. There are many options today for setting a broken bone, compared to earlier times when plaster casts were the main way to address these problems. “There are very few fractures in young calves that we can’t deal with in a fairly economical fashion. Fracture of the femur (between hip and stifle) and fracture of the humerus on the front leg (between shoulder and elbow) are very difficult, but if it’s the right calf, at the right age, it may heal. The humerus can sometimes be left to heal on its own, and in a few cases the femur can heal on its own—if the animal doesn’t have to travel much, and the muscling is thick enough to help hold that femur in place. This works best on an older calf; a newborn usually doesn’t have enough muscling. If the calf is older, and depending on where the break is on the femur, and how the fracture is lined up, it may heal. We can assess the fracture, and help the producer figure out what they want to do with that calf,” Acton says. “We can tell them what’s involved, and if there’s nothing we can do with a cast, or surgically, that will help, we can discuss what they’d need to do with the calf regarding home care (such as keeping it in a small area so it doesn’t have to travel,” he explains. The humerus often fractures in a spiral. “If that’s the case, as long as the calf had a good start, and has a calm temperament, it may heal. The temperament of the calf and the mother makes a big difference.” If the cow is wild or nervous and can’t tolerate being confined with her calf, it’s not going to work. “Temperament is a big factor, in handling the cow and her baby if you are dealing with a young calf, and also crucial when dealing with an older calf. I’ve dealt with fractures in 600 to 800 pound calves, and their temperament is a huge factor regarding whether we can proceed or not,” he says. Resolving cannon bone fractures is fairly simple. “We just use a fiberglass cast high enough (above the knee or continued on page 64

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hock) to immobilize it. On the tibia or radius (above the hock or the knee) if the fracture is too high up the bone, we use a version of the ThomasSchroeder splint,” says Acton. This splint looks like a crutch that goes beneath the armpit (for a front limb) or groin (for a hind leg) and is attached to the bottom part of the leg at the hoof. The limb is stretched out between the top and bottom; the crutch-type splint spans the whole leg. “Those used to be created by weaving them in place with tape but we’ve modified it to where we now use cast material supported by the splint. We’ve had better luck with this adaptation, and most of those calves do fine. We used to have a certain percentage in which the splint would either rub too much and cause problems, or shift and have to be redone more than twice. Now we have a pretty good way to support these fractures.” If the fracture is low enough on the radius or tibia, 2 pins can be driven horizontally into the bone above it, to create an anchoring site to hold a cast in place. “We make a cast that uses those two pins through the bone to stabilize the cast. Those two pins act as the joint above the break. We can’t stabilize the stifle joint or elbow joint with a cast because we can’t get high enough. But if we drive pins through the bone, we can cast from the foot up to those pins and go over the top of them; they are incorporated into the cast itself. We link them together on the outside of the cast material with acrylic ‘glue’. This becomes the joint above the fracture, and we’ve

anchored the joint below with a cast right down to the toe. We’ve had very good luck with those,” says Acton. “None of these methods work 100% of the time, and we prefer to work on cases with a high chance of success if things are done right. Open fractures have poor prognosis and we want the producer to know the odds are lower,” he explains. Those cases require diligent wound care, removing the cast periodically to treat the open wound. The important thing is for producers to follow guidelines for home care. The cast can be removed at the proper time, new padding put between it and the leg, and the shell of the cast put back on as a splint. It can be taped back together with duct tape. “This can continue to support the leg for another week or 10 days. The cast is weakened, however, which makes the leg itself take a little more weight, which helps the bone heal stronger, at that stage, while still giving some support,” explains Acton. This works better than having to use two full casts, two anesthetics and two sessions at the veterinary clinic. “If the producer has some help to hold and restrain the calf, they can just take that cast off, use it as a splint a bit longer, and then remove it completely after the leg has healed,” he says. “Padding at the right spots, but not too much, is very important, along with having the leg lined up correctly. You want a good outcome–instead of a crooked leg or a big knot on the bone. If someone is trying to make a splint at home without proper

padding and support at the joints, they run the risk of something that’s not as humane for the calf.” It takes longer to heal and is possibly always painful, and the end result may be a crippled or lame calf. “Cannon bone fractures are fairly simple on babies, but with larger animals it’s harder for them to deal with a cast all the way up the leg. In this situation we’ll use the pin cast method on a low cannon bone fracture. We can put two pins through part of the cannon bone and have a much shorter cast, making it easier for the animal to get around. We’ve done this with 600 to 1200 pound animals. We can also use a pin cast for an animal that needs a cast left on longer, because we are not as worried about sores. The hock or knee can bend normally, so they can get around on that leg fairly well.” He had an interesting case a few years ago. “She was a 1500-pound show heifer and we made her own Thomas splint, using 27 rolls of fiberglass cast material. She healed nicely and is still walking around today, and her owner is flushing embryos from her. The owners did an amazing job taking care of her at home while that leg healed; she needed a lot of good care. It was a team effort, with help from veterinarians who had done something like this before, with suggestions on how to get that big splint constructed, how long to leave it on, and how to manage it. I had done lots of Thomas splints with young calves, so this was just a bigger version – and figuring out what we’d have to do,” he says.

Many producers are using more intranasal vaccines to get protection against the respiratory viruses and bacteria as well as some of the scours organisms and it is worthy of a conversation if pneumonia or scours still are a problem for your herd. Even if cows are well vaccinated for scours exposure can increase as the calving season progresses and outbreaks can happen. It is nice to know these intranasal vaccines may be able to fill the gaps in immunity. Again best to talk to your veterinarian on which ones could help the

productivity in your herd. If treating coccidiosis the older generation sulfa drugs are still fairly effective. Coccidiosis will hit calves several weeks of age when the rumen is becoming developed so the sulfa tablets (either daily or long acting) work fairly well against this calfhood disease. Prevention is the best for the rest of the calves and veterinarians have tried many different methods to reduce the incidence including rumensin or deccox in creep feed. A product that has toltrazuril in it has

an indication against coccidia. Consult your veterinarian every spring for the latest treatment of scours and other neonatal diseases you could encounter on your farm. Death losses can be improved with prompt treatment and it is always extremely gratifying to see a calf you found early and treated in the spring live and go on to be a well doing weaned calf. A gratifying fringe benefit of ranching. Share your successes with others and have a great calving season.

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MANAGEMENT

Bonding Issues – Heifers that Don’t Mother Their Calves Heather Smith Thomas

Sometimes a heifer is confused or indifferent toward her newborn calf. She may continue to lie there and doesn’t get up to lick the calf, and when she does get up, she seems surprised to see this strange wiggling creature behind her. She may walk away, ignoring it, or kick the calf when he gets up and staggers toward her. Some heifers attack the calf if he tries to get up. If you had to pull a heifer’s calf, this may disrupt the normal bonding process. If you take a newborn calf to the barn to warm and dry it before his mother has a chance to lick it, this may also disrupt bonding. A heifer or cow may be indifferent toward her calf following a difficult birth or C-section surgery; pain responses in the body can temporarily hinder the maternal hormones. Dr. Joseph Stookey (Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), says the bonding process, as the cow identifies and learns to recognize her new calf, and commits to caring for that calf and protecting it, is a complex blend of hormonalinduced and learned behavior. Hormones initiate and drive most of what we perceive as maternal behavior, as the cow bonds with her newborn calf. “Some cows become receptive up to a week before they actually calve, and become interested in any newborn. Their hormone pump is already primed and those hormones are already reaching a level that makes them receptive to any new calf, even if it’s not theirs,” he says. An older cow already has the system primed, and when she starts showing interest in other cows’ calves, you know she will be calving soon. “At the other end of the spectrum are the cows that calve and don’t have proper hormone profile or levels, and they don’t want their calf. We see this most often in first-calf heifers, or in

some of the females we assist, or those that must be delivered by C-section. If it’s too much of a rodeo getting that cow in for assistance, or they undergo too much trauma, you can expect them to be a little less interested in the newborn calf. There may be other hormones overriding the whole system, due to stress, pain, and perhaps some of the drugs that were used during a C-section,” says Stookey. Tips to Encourage Bonding At one point in Stookey’s career, he managed the sheep unit at a research station (University of Illinois). “One year we lambed out 300 Texas ewes that were range-raised and very wild. When we tried to lamb them, there were a few that needed assistance. You’d corner the ewe, lay her down on her side and pull the lamb, but when you let her up, she’d take off and run over the hill and never look back. We learned that if you smear birth fluids over the muzzle, into the mouth and across the tongue, those ewes—even if they ran two hills over—they would start licking their lips and this would jump-start that hormonal process and they would come back looking for the lamb. I do this on cattle, also, when we have to

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do C-sections or handle dystocia. Before you let the cow out of the headcatch or get her up, drag some birth fluids across the muzzle and into her mouth,” he says. “The birth fluids seems like a turnon, when they lick that calf the first time. If the cow can start licking the calf, she will generally mother it. If a cow or heifer is slow to lick her calf, some people pour feed over the calf (something the cow would be interested in eating) to get her to sniff and lick around the calf and taste the birth fluids.” Usually after the calf has suckled the first time, the hormones of motherhood kick in, but some heifers that reject their calves need to be restrained for several nursing sessions or even days or weeks before they accept the calf. It’s always a case-bycase situation; what works well for one might not work for another. It usually helps to keep the pair in a small pen and have the cow/heifer hobbled so she can’t kick the calf, or have them in separate pens for a few days. You may not need to restrain her when you put them together, and simply supervise (and keep her from running off or butting the calf with

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her head). If it’s a small pen you could feed the heifer at nursing time so she will be more interested in eating than trying to avoid the calf, and he can nurse—and won’t be kicked because she is hobbled. Buddy Westphal, a Charolais breeder (Valley View Charolais Ranch, near Polson, Montana), has had many years’ experience dealing with the occasional problem heifer that is slow to accept motherhood. He says there are always a few heifers (and cows) in every breed that don’t accept a calf at first, because the hormones don’t “kick in” when they are supposed to. Sometimes a heifer that doesn’t bond with her calf right away can be a problem just because the optimum window for bonding goes past. “If the calf was born weak or a little premature and needs medical attention (and you take it away) she may not accept it when you bring it back to her,” he says. If a heifer is indifferent and not interested in her calf or won’t let it suckle, he helps the calf get to the udder. “For the past 20 years we’ve used a combination of administering a little tranquilizer to the heifer and some powder sprinkled on the calf— to entice the heifer to lick him We use the commercial product O-No-Mo (Orphan-No-More) that smells terrible. You have to follow the instructions, dampening the calf with a damp towel (if he’s already dry), sprinkling the powder on and massaging it into the hair. We also take a handful and smear it on the cow’s nose. It has a salty tang, but whatever it is, the cow wants to lick it off the calf,” he says. “To make sure she is receptive and won’t kick the calf, I give her a tiny bit of tranquilizer. I used to use Rompun (a tranquilizer used on horses) but another one called Tranquavet is better. Sometimes I dilute it with a little acepromazine. Any tranquilizer must be prescribed by a veterinarian, and only a partial dose is needed for the cow to become sleepy. You figure dosage by size/weight of the cow, and her attitude. If she is mellow it takes less than if she is excited and upset with a lot of adrenalin,” he says.

The proper dose makes the cow just sleepy enough that she doesn’t think about kicking. “She’ll let you work in the stall and quietly help the calf nurse without having to put her in a chute. You have time to do it and get the calf sucking, and this stimulates the proper hormones, without getting the cow upset,” he says. The key is being able to do it calmly. “This is when that combination of the O-No-Mo product and a sedative works so well. The last thing you want to do, however, is overdose the cow and make her want to lie down and go to sleep! If you do it right, it works very well,” says Westphal. “When the cow ‘wakes up’ the calf has already nursed (which stimulated oxytocin release in her body), and she’s a mother. With the product on the calf’s back, she wants to lick it. The calf is happy because he’s had dinner, and the cow is happy because she smells that stuff on him and wants to lick it. Giving her an additional injection of oxytocin can also help because it stimulates milk let-down and uterine contractions (to help shrink it down), which stimulates the cow’s own production of oxytocin. Your veterinarian can prescribe the oxytocin,” he says. Having cattle with good temperament that are easy to work with, without stirring them up, is part of the key, and the tranquilizer enables you to do more without having to restrain her. “For many years I helped the calf suck with his dam in a chute so he wouldn’t get kicked. After I learned that I could use a tranquilizer instead of having to restrain the cow, it was a lot easier, and easier on the cow. You can do this in a barn stall and then leave the pair together, right where the calf learned to suck. That’s much better than letting the cow run out of a chute, with the calf not knowing that was his mama.” Most heifers accept the calf after that first nursing, but a few still try to kick the calf and may need hobbles for a few days. “With some that are a little slow to accept the calf, we run the dog past them, and their protective instinct kicks in. The cow will generally look up that calf and want to protect it from the dog,” says Westphal.

Charolais Connection • February 2018

“Another test, to make sure she is mothering that calf is to move the pair from one place in the barn to another, to see if the cow is looking back and saying ‘Come on, baby!’ If she’s keeping track of the calf, you know they are bonded. If she just marches off and never looks back or isn’t worried about that calf at all, she’s not ready yet!” The Role of Oxytocin Changes in progesterone and estrogen levels initiate the birth process, but rising oxytocin levels are what trigger maternal behavior. Oxytocin is released in the cow’s brain during birth. “Its presence in the olfactory bulb of the brain helps explain the role of smell and the importance of odor in the bonding process; the cow recognizes her own calf by smell and is always able to pick her calf out of a group of calves,” Stookey says. “Cervical stimulation and release of hormones during the normal calving process play another significant role in initiating proper maternal behavior,” explains Stookey. Release of oxytocin is caused by stretching/stimulation of the cervix and birth canal. Studies show that cervical stimulation (gradual dilation of the cervix as the feet of the fetus push against it with each uterine contraction, and then passage of the fetus through cervix) is one of the triggers for oxytocin release. “If you do a C-section there isn’t much cervical stimulation, since the fetus doesn’t have to come through it. This could be another factor that plays a role when the cow doesn’t mother her calf as well. Analgesic drugs used during a C-section to block pain can also interfere with oxytocin release,” says Stookey. First-calf heifers produce less oxytocin than cows who’ve had previous calves–and this may be why heifers may be less motherly and more apt to reject or abandon their calves. “Giving birth seems to prime the system and allows for release of larger quantities of oxytocin with subsequent births. Heifers therefore have a disadvantage on two counts. They are less experienced than cows, and also have lower levels of continued on page 72

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MANAGEMENT

Twins–A Bonus or Double Trouble? Heather Smith Thomas

Twins are fairly common in cattle. Twinning is hereditary; some families of cows have a much higher rate of twinning than average. The cow's ovary contains thousands of tiny follicles, each of which contains a cell that has potential to mature and become an egg – if that follicle completes its development. During each heat cycle, one follicle becomes dominant and enlarges enough to ovulate and emit an egg, which moves into the oviduct to be fertilized if the cow has been bred. Usually just one follicle enlarges enough to ovulate, and one egg is released after each heat period. But double ovulations occur in about 4 to 5% of cows, and if fertilized, the cow will be carrying twins. The 2 eggs may be from the same ovary, or there may be one from each ovary with a calf developing in each horn of the uterus. Sometimes a fertilized egg will split and the result is two identical embryos--creating identical twins. If the twins are in the same uterine horn, their amniotic sacs (the membrane surrounding each calf) are adjacent. If there is a twin in each horn, only their allontoic sacs (the outer water bags) are adjacent. In most cases, bovine twins’ adjacent allontoic sacs grow together and the tissues between them break down, so they share the fluid in which their individual amniotic sacs float. They may still have their own "water bag" which precedes each twin through the birth canal, or there may be only one shared sac, depending on where the twins were lying in the uterus. Sometimes you might suspect twins if a cow gets very large in the belly before calving, but often you can't tell until she delivers them. A cow that produces twins once may do so again, or have daughters that give birth to twins, and this might make you suspicious that she might have twins. Other times, however, twins arrive

out of the blue and you are taken by surprise when you see two calves – unless the cow has difficulty delivering them and you discover twins while trying to help her calve. Many sets of twins are born without assistance. They may come one at a time, anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours apart, each with their own separate water bag, or they may share an outer water bag if they are in the same uterine horn. Even if both twins are in the same horn and they are very close together, one may be closer to the pelvic opening than the other and is born first – if it can get into proper position to start into the birth canal. Unless they are in abnormal position, twins are often born easily because they tend to be a little smaller than single calves. The cow may give birth quickly and easily and get up to start licking her new calf, and then have more contractions and lie back down to deliver the next one. In many cases, a cow will start intense straining again about 10 minutes after the birth of her first calf. Some cows may forget about the first calf—especially if it hasn’t gotten up yet when her next contractions begin—and wander off to find another place to lie down and deliver the second one. She may abandon the first one in her focus on taking care of the final twin. Or, she may have completely taken care of the first calf and it has been up and nursing, and then a few hours later the cow lies down again and gives birth to the second one. On occasion, however, a cow may just lie there and deliver one right after the other, with the second one heaped on top of the first; there may be risk of one or both of them suffocating if the water bags or amnion sacs do not break. Even if they do not come this closely together, the second calf usually has the best chance of surviving. Sometimes the first one is compromised by taking too long to get into proper position for birth. Sometimes twins need assistance to

Charolais Connection • February 2018

be born, especially if they both try to come into the birth canal at the same time, blocking the entrance. Sometimes one is head first and the other comes backward. Even if they are not both trying to come at the same time, the first one may be in the wrong position for birth, with head or legs turned back, due to lack of space in the uterus, or uterine inertia. When the uterus is stretched this much, contractions may be weaker than normal. The cow may have uterine inertia due to excessive stretching or the extra burden of two calves. Without strong uterine contractions, the calves may not position themselves for birth; they may not be stimulated enough to extend the head or legs. In this instance the cow does not progress to active labor-abdominal straining – even though the cervix is fully dilated. Unless you suspect a problem and check her, the placentas will eventually detach and the calves will die. If a cow is taking too long in early labor and you check her, you will discover that the cervix is open and you can reach into the uterus and find a calf, and pull it, if it's in proper position for birth. Sometimes the second twin is not discovered until after you've pulled the first one. If a calf seems a little smaller than it should be, or the cow gives you any reason for suspicion (such as uterine inertia or anything else being not quite right), it's a good idea to reach back in after delivering the calf, just to see if there's another calf in there. If so, the second calf will probably need to be pulled, too. It’s important to monitor the cow after both twins are delivered. Some cows will mother them both and do a good job of raising them both. Other cows may only be interested in one calf and reject the other. Some don’t have enough milk for two, and it’s better for the calves if you let her raise just one of them, and give the extra calf to another cow that lost her own calf.

continued on page 72

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“Once in awhile a person might miss a twin if the calves are from two eggs and there’s one in each horn. Dr. Miller, who does my ultrasound pregnancy testing, used to miss a few that were in the other horn, but now he is picking up nearly all of them. Maybe he is checking both horns,” Westphal says. “This has been really helpful. We put all the cows that we know are carrying twins in a pasture with our bred heifers, so they can be watched more closely. They also have better nutrition than the rest of the cow herd.” This helps make sure the cow can do justice to the double pregnancy. “When we are watching the heifer pasture, if we see one of them lying down to calve, and it’s an older cow rather than a heifer, we know she’s having twins and we know we might need to help her, or that we should be looking for two calves instead of just one,” Westphal says. “After the cow has calved, we’ll let them both nurse and get some

colostrum. Then we take the strongest calf away and leave the weakest one with her. She can do a good job of raising that one, and we can graft the strong one onto another cow. It might be a bottle calf for awhile until we need it, but then we can give it to any cow that loses her own calf for some reason,” Westphal says. “As much as I would rather not have twin calves, it sure is a nice bonus. If you have a cow that loses a calf, this gives you a spare calf to put on her and she doesn’t waste her year.” If a cow is able to raise them both herself, this gives you twice as many pounds to sell in the fall from that cow. Some cows produce twins fairly regularly. “Last year I had 3 cows that gave birth to twins that are pregnant again with twins for this year. I asked Dr. Miller, the veterinarian who does my ultrasounding, how often this happens and he said it’s hard to tell, because most of his customers don’t keep that many records, but it doesn’t happen very often–to have twins two years in a row.

oxytocin. A few heifers seem indifferent to their newborn calves, and within 12 to 24 hours become more motherly. In some instances, a heifer may not have much milk at first, and then as her milk starts to come in, she becomes more interested. Oxytocin is the hormone associated with milk letdown, and is also very closely tied to maternal behavior. If a heifer is indifferent, or actively rejects her calf, if you can assist the calf in nursing, she generally becomes more receptive to motherhood. The act of suckling stimulates release of oxytocin. When you realize that mothering behavior is hormonally driven, you realize it won’t help to punish an unmotherly heifer with physical retribution, yet some people get very angry. “If the cow kicks or head-butts her calf, they want to hit her. Yet she is simply treating this calf like she’d treat any calf that wasn’t hers,” Stookey explains. She needs more oxytocin, the “mothering” hormone in mammals. The reason that a non-motherly cow

or heifer eventually accepts her calf is because she gets more of this hormone circulating after the calf nurses her, though in a few instances it may take several days. “We tend to think we might resolve the problem by just giving her a shot of oxytocin. It doesn’t work that way, however, because it doesn’t get to the brain. It goes to other places in the body, such as the cervix or the uterus to stimulate contractions, or to the mammary gland for milk let-down. It

needs to go to the brain. So if you restrain that heifer (so she can’t beat up on her calf) and let the calf start to suckle, this stimulation of the udder can cause milk let-down. That stimulation is coming from an oxytocin release in the brain, so over time some of these cows/heifers become more motherly after the calf has nursed a few times. Nursing stimulates the oxytocin production in the brain, which is where you need it,” he explains.

Charolais Connection • February 2018

It’s never a good idea to keep a heifer that was born twin to a bull calf however, since she is generally infertile. These heifers are called freemartins. When the two calves are developing in the uterus there is some fusion of blood vessels in the placentas between the fetuses. Testosterone from the male fetus affects the female twin’s development. There is also some mixing of certain cells that leads to the establishment of male and female cells in the blood of each twin. In many of these cases the female reproductive tract does not develop properly and the vagina ends in a short, closed tube with no cervix. Even though the external portion may look normal, the internal reproductive organs are not functional. One advantage to pregnancy testing with ultrasound is that you may discover two fetuses at that time. Buddy Westphal, Valley View Charolais at Polson, Montana says a good ultrasound operator can detect all the identical twins—the ones that are in the same horn of the uterus. BONDING, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 68

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

Services

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

GOOD ANCHOR CHAROLAIS HOME OF “GOOD” CATTLE! Don Good and Marion Smyth Box 3261, Vermilion, AB T9X 2B2 780.853.2220 • Don.marion.good@gmail.com

Alberta Breeders

Barry & Lee-Ann Kaiser & family 403.787.2489 Box 209, Hussar, AB T0J 1S0 Barry 403.334.2489 Lee-Ann 403.334.2155 kaiserbarry@gmail.com

Kasey, Arlana, Kord & Peri Phillips Box 420, Waskatenau, AB T0A 3P0

T 780.358.2360 • C 780.656.6400 • kphillips@mcsnet.ca KREATING KONFIDENCE

Charolais Connection • February 2018

British Columbia Breeders

Manitoba Breeders

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;˘ February 2018

Ontario Breeders 78

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

Quebec Breeders

Saskatchewan Breeders

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;¢ February 2018

USA Breeders

IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES IN OUR INDUSTRY

Calendar of Events February 10 Myhre Land & Cattle Co./Bar J Charolais Bull Sale (Denbie Ranch & Guests) Ste. Rose du Lac, MB

February 20 Rawes Ranches 35th Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the ranch, Strome, AB

February 15 Wilkie Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Stettler (AB) Auction Mart

February 21 McLeod Livestock & Kay-R Land & Livestock Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Olds (AB) Cow

February 16 “Muscle Up” at Stephen Charolais and Guests Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Whitewood (SK) Auction Mart

February 22 Prairie Cove Charolais Bull and Female Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the ranch, Bashaw, AB

February 17 P & H Ranching 6th Annual Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Innisfail (AB) Auction Mart

February 23 Maple Leaf Charolais & Guests 14th Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Ponoka (AB) Ag Events Centre

February 19 Tip the Scale Angus & Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Vikse Family Farm, Donalda, AB

February 23 HEJ Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Innisfail (AB) Auction Mart Charolais Connection • February 2018

February 24 Quebec Select Bull Sale, Danville, QC February 24 SanDan Charolais/Springside Farms 21st Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Erskine, AB February 25 Pro-Char and Guests 6th Annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Glenevis, AB February 28 Beck Farms & McCoy Cattle Co. Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., at the farm, Milestone, SK February 28 Saddleridge Charolais with Kaiser Cattle Co. Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Bow Slope Shipping, Brooks, AB March 2 M & L Cattle Company Bull & Female Sale, 6:30 p.m., at the farm, Indian River, ON March 2 37th Annual Select Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Innisfail (AB) Auction Mart March 3 High Country Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Pincher Creek (AB) Ag Grounds 82

March 3 Wrangler Made 6th Annual Bull Sale, 1:30 p.m., at the farm, Westlock, AB

March 6 RRTS Charolais Bull Sale, 12:30 p.m., BC Livestock Co-op, Kamloops, BC

March 3 Chomiak Charolais Bull & Female Sale, 1:00 p.m., Viking (AB) Auction Market

March 8 Buffalo Lake Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Stettler (AB) Auction Mart.

March 3 Ferme Louber Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Ste-Marie de Beauce, QC March 4 Legacy Charolais with guest Bob Charolais 1st Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Botha, AB March 4-5 99th Pride of the Prairies Bull Show & Sale, Lloydminster (SK) Exhibition Grounds

March 9 CK Sparrow Farms Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., at the farm, Vanscoy, SK March 9 Footprint Farms Charolais Power Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m, Dryland Cattle Trading Corp, Veteran, AB March 9 14th Annual Northern Classic Bull Sale, Grand Prairie, AB March 9 Three Choice Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Balog Auction, Lethbridge, AB

March 5 Coyote Flats Charolais 3rd Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Coaldale, AB

March 10 Horseshoe E Charolais Annual Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Johnstone Auction Mart, Moose Jaw, SK

March 6 Built Right Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Provost (AB) Livestock Exchange

March 10 Benchmark Charolais Bull Sale, 1:30 p.m., Renfrew Pontiac Livestock Facility, Cobden, ON

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;˘ February 2018

March 10 Source For Success Bull Sale, Elmlodge Herefords, Indian River, ON

March 16 Family Tradition Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Inglis, MB

March 11 Steppler Farms 7th Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Steppler Sale Barn, Miami, MB

March 16 Reese Cattle Co. Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Innisfail (AB) Auction Mart

March 12 Palmer Charolais 7th Annual Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., at the farm, Bladworth, SK March 13 McTavish Farms and Guest 7th Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Moosomin, SK

March 16-18 Cody Sibbald Legacy Classic Junior Show, Medicine Hat, AB March 17 Pleasant Dawn Charolais 16th Annual Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Heartland Livestock, Virden, MB

March 13 Harvie Ranching Bull Sale, at the ranch, Olds, AB

March 17 Rollin’ Acres/Whiskey Hollow & Guests 8th Annual Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Maple Hill Auctions, Hanover, ON

March 15 Creek’s Edge Land & Cattle Co. 1st Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Yellow Creek, SK

March 17 Ferme Palerme Charolais Bull Sale, Vinoy Test Station, 1:00 p.m., at Ferme Gagnon, Cheneville, QC

March 15 Lazy S Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., VJV Auction Mart, Beaverlodge, AB

March 17 Select Genetics Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at Forsyth Angus, Herbert, SK

March 15 McKeary Charolais Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Bow Slope Shipping , Brooks, AB

March 17 Northern Impact V Bull Sale, North Central Livestock Exchange, Clyde, AB Charolais Connection • February 2018

March 17 Canada’s Red, White & Black Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Johnstone Auction Mart, Moose Jaw, SK March 19 North West Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Kramer’s Big Bid Barn, North Battleford, SK March 19 Neilson Cattle Co. 28th Annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Willowbrook, SK March 20 Diamond W Charolais, Red & Black Angus 16th Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Minitonas, MB March 21 HTA Charolais & Guest Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Beautiful Plains Ag Complex, Neepawa, MB March 22 Elder Charolais 8th Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Coronach, SK March 23 Thistle Ridge Ranch Bull Sale, Taber (AB) Agriplex March 24 Impact Angus & Charolais Bull & Female Sale, 1:00 p.m., Saskatoon (SK) Livestock Sales 83

March 24 Borderland Cattle Company Bull Sale, 1:30 p.m., at the ranch, Rockglen, SK

March 26 Allanville Farms Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m, at the farm, Tisdale, SK

March 31 Candiac Choice Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Candiac (SK) Auction Mart

March 24 Cornerview Charolais Bull Sale, 1:30 p.m., at the farm, Cobden, ON

March 27 Prairie Distinction Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Beautiful Plains Ag Complex, Neepawa, MB

April 2 North of the 49th 15th Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at Wilgenbusch Charolais, Halbrite, SK

March 27 Poplar Bluff Stock Farm & Twin Anchor Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Dryland Trading Corp, Veteran, AB

April 3 Cedarlea Farms at Git ‘R Done Bull Sale, at Windy Willows Angus, Hodgeville, SK

March 29 Ran-A-Man Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Olds (AB) Auction Mart March 31 Tri-N Charolais Farms & Guests Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Heartland Livestock, Virden, MB

April 3 Gilliland Bros. Charolais 6th Annual Bull Sale, Alameda, SK

March 31 High Point Charolais Bull Sale, 6:00 p.m., at Sunrise Charolais, Stayner, ON

April 5 Hunter Charolais 6th Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Roblin, MB

March 31 Transcon’s 22nd Annual Advantage Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Saskatoon (SK) Livestock Sales

April 5 Ringuette Charolais Annual Bull Sale, 12 Noon, Atlantic Stock Yards, Truro, NS

March 24 Alameda Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Alameda (SK) Auction Mart March 24 Tee M Jay Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Ashern (MB) Auction Mart March 24 Lazy S Cattle Co. Limousin & Charolais Bull Sale, 6:00 p.m., VJV Auction Mart, Rimbey, AB March 24 K-Cow Ranch Bull Sale, 1:30 p.m., at the ranch, Elk Point, AB March 24 6th Annual “Thickness Sells” Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Atlantic Stockyards, Truro, NS March 25 Best of the Breeds Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Heartland Livestock, Yorkton, SK 84

Charolais Connection • February 2018

April 4 Howe Family Farm/Rosso Charolais Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at Howe Family Farm, Moose Jaw, SK

April 7 Vermilion Charolais Group 32nd Annual Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., North Central Livestock, Vermilion, AB April 7 Maritime Bull Test Station sale, at the test station, Nappan, NS April 7 Saunders Charolais 13th Annual Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Keady (ON) Livestock Market

April 10 Top Cut Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Stockmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Weigh Co., Mankota, SK April 12 Sliding Hills Charolais Bull Sale, 1:30 p.m., at the farm, Canora, SK April 14 Eastern Select Bull & Female Sale, 1:00 p.m., Hoards Station Sale Barn, Campbellford, ON

April 7 JTA Diamond Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Courval, SK

April 21 Brimner Cattle Co., at Cornerstone Bull Sale, 1:30 p.m., Whitewood (SK) Auction Mart

April 7 Acadia Ranching Charolais & Angus Bull Sale, 2:00 p.m., Bow Slope Shipping Association, Brooks, AB

April 21 Cedardale Charolais 15th Annual Bull & Select Female Sale, 1:00 p.m., at the farm, Nestleton, ON

April 9 Cattle Capital Bull Sale, 1:00 p.m., Ste. Rose (MB) Auction Mart

April 21 Lindskov-Thiel Bull Sale, at the ranch, Isabel, SD

June 8-10 Canadian Charolais Association Annual General Meeting, Collingwood, ON June 22-24 Think Outside the Fence, Charolais Banner Breeder School, Weyburn, SK June 29-July 7 World Charolais Congress, Sweden July 25- 28 Canadian Charolais Youth Association Conference and Show, Keystone Centre, Brandon, MB

LOOKING TO FIND SOMEONE?

Advertisers Index Alta Custom Programs .................................75 Amabec Charolais ........................................78 Annuroc Charolais........................................78 B Bar D Charolais..........................................78 Baker Farms ..................................................78 Balamore Farm Ltd.......................................85 Bar H Charolais ...................................26,27,79 Beck Farms..........................................42,43,79 Be Rich Farms ...............................................76 Big Johnson Charolais ..................................63 Blackbern Charolais ................................57,78 Bob Charolais .....................................48,49,76 Bo Jan Enterprises ........................................80 Borderland Cattle Co. .............................56,80 Bova Tech Ltd. ..............................................75 Bow Valley Genetics Ltd. .............................75 Bricney Stock Farms .....................................80 Bridor Charolais.......................................69,78 Brimner Cattle Company .............................80 Buffalo Lake Charolais ...........................61,76 By Livestock ...............6,7,9,11,20,23,26,29,39, 46 49,52 55,IBC,OBC Carey, Brent ..................................................75 Cedardale Charolais .....................................78 Cedarlea Farms..........................................7,80 Charla Moore Farms................................55,80 Char Maine Ranching ..................................76 Char Lew Ranching ......................................76 Charolais Journal..........................................75 Chartop Charolais ........................................80 Charworth Charolais Farms ....................33,76 Chomiak Charolais .................................65,76 Circle Cee Charolais Farms ...........................76 Circle G Simmentals & Angus ......................13 Cline Cattle Co..............................................77 Cockburn Farms............................................78 Cougar Hill Ranch ........................................77 Coyote Flats Charolais.............................39,76 Creeks Edge Land & Cattle Co. ...............11,80 C2 Charolais..................................................78 Davis Rairdan ...............................................75 Defoort Stock Farm ......................................78 Demarah Farms ............................................80 Diamond W Charolais .............................80,83 Dorran, Ryan ................................................75 Double P Stock Farms ..................................78 Dowell Charolais ..........................................76 DRD Charolais..........................................26,27 Dubuc Charolais ...........................................79 Dudgeon Snobelen Land & Cattle ..............78 Eaton Charolais ............................................81 Echo Spring Charolais .............................69,79 Edge, Dean ...................................................75 Elder Charolais Farms................................9,80 Ericson Livestock Services ............................75 Fergus Family Charolais ...............................79 Ferme Louber ...............................................45 Ferme Palerme .............................................79 Fischer Charolais...........................................76

Flat Valley Cattle Co.....................................76 Fleury, Michael .............................................75 Flewelling, Craig ..........................................75 Footprint Farms ......................................59,76 Future Farms............................................33,76 Gerrard Cattle Co. ........................................76 Gilliland Bros. Charolais ...............................80 Good Anchor Charolais................................76 H.S. Knill Company Ltd. ...............................75 Happy Haven Charolais................................78 Harcourt Charolais .......................................80 Hard Rock Land & Cattle Co. .......................78 Harvie Ranching ..........................................76 HEJ Charolais ..........................................25,76 Hicks Charolais .............................................79 High Bluff Stock Farm ...............................5,78 Holk Charolais ..............................................76 Hopewell Charolais ......................................80 Horseshoe E Charolais.............................51,80 Howe Family Farm .......................................80 HTA Charolais Farm ..................................3,78 Hunter Charolais ...................................78,IBC Jakes Butte Charolais ...................................12 JMB Charolais ..............................................78 Johnson Charolais ..............................34,35,76 Johnstone Auction .......................................75 June Rose Charolais .....................................80 Kaiser Cattle Co.......................................74,76 Kay R Land & Cattle Ltd.....................18,19,76 KCH Charolais ...............................................77 Kirlene Cattle ..........................................57,79 La Ferme Patry de Weedon .........................79 Land O Lakes Charolais ................................79 Langstaff Charolais ......................................79 Laurel Creek Ranch ......................................80 Leemar Charolais..........................................77 Legacy Charolais......................................46,47 LEJ Charolais.................................................78 Lindskov Thiel Charolais Ranch ...................81 M & L Cattle Co. ......................................29,79 Macks Charolais............................................79 Maple Leaf Charolais ..............................23,77 Martens Cattle Co. .......................................80 Martens Charolais ........................................78 McAvoy Charolais Farm ...............................80 McKay Charolais ...........................................78 McKeary Charolais .......................................77 McLeod Livestock ...............................18,19,75 McTavish Farms...................................54,55,80 Medonte Charolais.......................................79 Miller Land & Livestock................................79 Murphy Livestock .........................................77 Mutrie Farms ................................................80 Myhre Land and Cattle ................................78 Nahachewsky Charolais ...............................80 Nielson Land & Cattle Co. ............................20 Norheim Ranching .......................................75 P & H Ranching Co. .................................13,77 Packer Charolais ...........................................79

Charolais Connection â&#x20AC;˘ February 2018

Palmer Charolais .....................................20,80 Parklane Charolais .......................................77 Phillips Farms................................................80 Pine Bluff Charolais......................................67 Pleasant Dawn Charolais ..........................6,78 Potter Charolais............................................79 Prairie Cove Consulting ...............................75 Prairie Gold Charolais ..................................80 Pro Char Charolais .............................34,35,77 Qualman Charolais ......................................80 Raffan, Don ..................................................75 Rawes Ranches ........................................17,77 Rebuild with Steel ........................................75 Reeleder, Andrew.........................................75 Reese Cattle Co. ...........................................84 Rollinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Acres Charolais .................................79 Ross Lake Charolais .................................23,77 Rosso Charolais.............................................81 Royale Charolais ...........................................79 RRTS Charolais ..............................................77 Saddleridge Farming Co. ........................74,77 Samtia Angus ...............................................71 SanDan Charolais Farms ....................30,31,77 Saunders Charolais .......................................79 Scarth Cattle Co............................................78 Serhienko/Voegeli Cattle Co........................81 Sharodon Farms ...........................................79 Skeels, Danny ...............................................75 Sliding Hills Charolais...................................81 Southside Charolais.................................23,77 Southview Farms ..........................................79 CK Sparrow Farms .......................................IFC Springside Farms ................................30,31,77 Spruce View Charolais..................................77 Stephen Charolais Farm ..........................26,81 Steppler Farms Ltd. ...........................52,53,78 Stock, Mark...................................................75 Stockmens Insurance....................................76 Sugarloaf Charolais ......................................77 Sunrise Charolais .....................................69,79 T Bar C Cattle Co. ...........25,30,31,42,43,76,81 Temple Farms................................................81 Thistle Ridge Ranch......................................77 Transcon Livestock Corp..........................73,76 Triangle Stock Farm.................................34,35 Tri N Charolais ..............................................78 Turnbull Charolais ...................................41,77 Twin Anchor Charolais .................................77 Vikse Family Farm.........................................15 Wendt & Murray Farms Ltd. ........................82 Western Litho ...............................................76 Whiskey Hollow Cattle Company................79 White Lake Colony ..................................71,77 WhiteWater Livestock.............................57,79 Wilgenbusch Charolais ........................81,OBC Wilkie Charolais ...........................................12 Wilkie Ranch............................................12,77 Wood River Charolais ..................................81 Wrangler Charolais .................................37,77