The Angus Edge - Spring 2017 by saskangus

The ngus

Edge

Official Publication of the Saskatchewan Angus Association

Spring 2017

Publications Mail Agreement #40019886

Saskatchewan Angus Commercial Producer of the Year D & N Livestock, Peebles, SK D & N Livestock was formed in 2003 when Dave and Terri Rajotte and their now three boys joined Terri's parents, Neil and Agnes Kerslake on their farm three miles south of Peebles. Dave and Terri had been working on the family farm (Green Belt Acres) where he had grown up at Wainwright, Alberta. Green Belt had a large dairy, poultry, beef cows, crop land and a feed mill. Dave was looking for land of his own though, and in 2002 an opportunity came up by his in-laws for three quarters of pasture land. So in 2003 the family moved to Peebles Saskatchewan, bringing 300 ewes to add to Neil and Agnes’ mixed farm. The sheep flock grew to 700 head before being dispersed in 2007. They have continued to expand their land base to a current 9400 acres, with around 1000 acres in corn for grazing, 1600 acres in canola and cereals and the balance in hay and pasture. With this much land D & N are committed to improving it, working with Ducks Unlimited developing water and creating wetlands to encourage more diversity in the pastures.

They have taken the initial herd of 175 crossbred cows to 850 high percentage Angus cows. They are bred straight AI to highly proven Angus bulls in the first cycle and the last few years have used sexed heifer semen to develop even more females. Micheal Wheeler, SAA President with Terri, Dave and boys The cow herd and bred heifers are heavily influenced by EXT, Sitz 14 Angus herd bulls are then turned in Alliance, Net Worth, Density, Chisum for 45 days. At preg check time 93% and Final Answer. All cows get an were in calf, but on review it was Estrous Alert sticker on day one and noticed that half the opens were cows until day five – about 45 head are bred AI’ed on day 10. So with more walking per day. On day six, all remaining cows bulls next year, Dave feels he could are given estramate, and the peak of reduce his opens by a couple of percent. breeding usually happens on day 10 Continued on page 8 with 244 bred that day in 2016.

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Saskatchewan Angus Association - 2017 Board of Directors President Michael Wheeler

Saskatoon, SK 306-382-9324 wheelers_stock_farm@hotmail.com

1st Vice-President Sheldon Kyle Redvers, SK 306-452-7545 sheldon@kenrayranch.com

2nd Vice-President Trent Liebreich Radville, SK 306-869-7207 tjlmerit@sasktel.net

Executive Director Gord Roger Balgonie, SK 306-771-2305 valleylodge@sasktel.net

Past President Mike Howe Moose Jaw, SK 306-691-5011 dlmhowe@xplornet.net

Directors

Kodie Doetzel Junior Director Lipton, SK 306-336-2245 kdnuhorizon@gmail.com

Sarah Davidson-Coward Swift Current, SK 306-741-0081 sarahdavidson@sasktel.net

David Johnson Canadian Director Peebles, SK 306-224-4341 daj@sasktel.net

Geoff Anderson Bethune, SK 306-731-7921 geoffanderson1@hotmail.com

Glen Gabel Regina, SK 306-536-1927 glengabel@sasktel.net

Tracey Willms Canadian Director Dundurn, SK 306-492-2161 traceywillms@gmail.com

Robin Hogberg Langenburg, SK 306-743-2840 rthogberg@sasktel.net Chad Hollinger Neudorf, SK 396-331-0302 hollingerlandandcattle@gmail.com Michelle Potapinski Hodgeville, SK 306-677-7540 windy.willows@sasktel.net

Dale Easton Canadian Director Wawota, SK 306-739-2805 eastondale.angus@sasktel.net

Honourary President Grant Crossman Rosetown, SK

Kristine Sauter Wawota, SK 306-435-2240 bridgewayfarms@hotmail.com

ANGUS EDGE The

Published by: Saskatchewan Angus Association Box 3771, Regina, SK S4P 3N8 Phone: 306-757-6133 Fax: 306-525-5852 office@saskatchewanangus.com

www.saskatchewanangus.com

Spring 2017 Distributed to approximately 750 Angus Breedersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and 2000+ Commercial Producers in Saskatchewan. 3 Issues per year Summer deadline - May 15 Fall deadline - October 1 Spring deadline - January 15 Page 4

Belinda Wagner, General Manager Ruth Watch, Office Assistant 2nd Floor, Canada Centre Building, Evraz Place, Regina, SK Phone 306-757-6133 Fax 306-525-5852 Office Hours - 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Publications Mail Agreement #40019886 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Saskatchewan Angus Association Box 3771, Regina, SK S4P 3N8 Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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Commerical Producer of the Year... The main cow herd of 850 cows grazes year around. They begin calving April 20th, at which time they bale graze and run on left over grass. Moving into the tame pastures around June 1, they

rotate through quarters until they arrive near home for an 11 day AI period near the end of June. In the fall they graze on their own stubble as well they have agreements with several neighbours to graze theirs, often into December. After that the cows go into 250 acres of corn, where they stay until April 1. D & N feed costs per cow last year worked out to $560 per weaned calf, including vaccinations, health, mineral, and all land costs. The most cost effective days were the stubble grazing at $.35 per day and the corn grazing at $.86 per day. Between the costs of AI and walking bulls Dave feels his breeding costs are $100 per weaned calf, making total costs $660 per weaned calf, although that doesn't include a cow payment or interest. In south east Saskatchewan moisture hasn't been a issue for a long time. However there have been dry years

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in the past, and D & N try to be ready for those years. With that many cows to feed, a dry year could cripple any cattle operation. To ensure that doesn't happen, they keep at least a year and a half worth of corn silage in the pit. This year they bred 450 heifers AI in a modified heat detection 11 day period. Top end Angus bulls are then run for 45 days and the heifers ultrasounded in early September. About half the bred heifers are marketed as breds, with D & N offering to buy back all future heifer calves out of those heifers. D & N will pay steer price on all future heifer calves providing acceptable straight Angus bulls are used. Steer calves are backgrounded until early spring and then sold in semi load lots. They feel that being able to sell all steers in two large weigh groups has added a lot of value to their sales. With often 400 steers, all bred the same way, looking the same, it really attracts a lot of interest at sale time.

continued from the cover fit, and going into the future D & N looks forward to having all the indexes and data that purebred breeders have had available to them. D & N markets several hundred bred heifers each year, and now every heifer comes with a 2-3 generation Angus pedigree, so their new owners know exactly what they are getting. Although the farm takes much of their time, the family takes time to camp every summer and generally for a week of snow-boarding in the mountains in winter. The last several years they have enjoyed some seasonal help from New Zealand, so this January, they spent three weeks touring there. Congratulations on receiving the 2016 Saskatchewan Angus Commercial Producer of the Year Award! ď&#x201A;Ž

In 2016 D & N Livestock began participating in the Canadian Angus CAIPP program (Commercial Angus Identification and Performance Program). Dave has always kept detailed records on all his cows and believes that it is easier to improve if its recorded. The CAIPP program was a natural

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President’s Report ... Since our last issue of the Edge in October, a lot has come to pass. Our Gold and Junior Show in Lloydminster was once again a great success with excellent numbers exhibited and great quality. Fall female sales were very good including the Masterpiece and Power and Perfection sales at Agribition. The quality of cattle exhibited at Agribition was exceptional. One or more of the Grand or Reserve Champions in the First Lady Classic, First Lady Futurity, Presidents Classic, Junior Beef Extreme and RBC Supreme were all Angus. The traffic through the barns was good throughout the week and interest in the Stockman’s Exchange and commercial cattle was strong. Agribition recognises the importance of the social component of the show and would like to remind exhibitors that if we enjoy our time together responsibly we are all better off. We just wrapped up our Annual General Meeting in Regina. Elections

were held for the board of directors and I would like to congratulate Michelle Potapinski, Sarah DavidsonCoward, Glen Gabel and Gord Roger for being elected. As part of our AGM and the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, an SLA Honor Scroll was presented to Bob and Marjorie Blacklock of Saskatoon, who were nominated by the Saskatchewan Angus Association. I would also like to congratulate Parkwood Angus on being selected as Purebred Breeder of the Year. The breeder information sessions we hosted last fall were very well received. Those in attendance appreciated the laid back atmosphere that was conducive to lots of open discussion. The speakers were engaging and everyone left with useful information they could apply at home. We are planning another session in Saskatoon on April 20, that will be similar to the session we held last spring in Regina. Keep posted on our website, Facebook or through our e-blasts with more details to come. We would also welcome and encourage more of these sessions across the province. Contact us if you would be interested in hosting one in your area.

By Michael Wheeler

You may be aware that Showdown 2017, the National Junior Angus Show is being held in Lloydminster July 20-22. My hope is that this will be the biggest and best Showdown yet. I challenge all breeders to attend and show their support to our future breeders. If you are planning on taking your kids, awesome! To those people I challenge you to look at your kids friends, neighbours, 4-H club, even kids from other breeds, and bring them along with you. Pack the trailer full and come for a good time. The summer months will bring our annual summer tour which has become a major event for the association. There is interest in north west Saskatchewan to host the tour in August, so keep your calendar open. The Gold and Junior show will be held again in Lloydminster with the Stockade Roundup. Best of luck with calving and spring bull sales. Hopefully mother nature cooperates and we can all enjoy the prospect of all the new mating’s and breeding decisions that are arriving. See you down the road!

Want to learn more about CAB and the beef

we produce?

and Certified Angus Beef Plan to join the Canadian Angus Association The Saskatchewan Angus Association at the 2017 Carcass 101 Course in Alberta. RS! Send us a paragraph or two on has already booked a spot that could be YOU you could win your way there! why you would like to attend Carcass 101 and

entry to Deadline to apply is March 31 - email your office@saskatchewanangus.com -757-6133 Contact the SAA for more information at 306

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From The Director's Chair ... The meaning of this phrase can also be applied to our diverse and very busy business of breeding livestock today.

Robin with wife Michelle and son John Less is More... the notion that simplicity and clarity lead to good design’ While pondering on what to put on paper for this issue of our provincial magazine I have struggled with various topics. Reason being, as age creeps onto my reality screen I feel less and less qualified to speak on various topics. One phrase that does come to mind and can apply to the seed stock business would be “less is more”. It is taken out of the 19th century poem by Robert Browning and has been used to focus on the simple path in life and what that life has to offer.

Each year the Saskatchewan Angus Association is pleased to elect two Honourary Presidents. For 2016 the Saskatchewan Honourary President was Peggy Grant of Early Sunset Ranch, Edam, SK. Peggy was presented with her plaque at the Gold Show in Lloydminster in November. The Honourary Canadian President from Saskatchewan was Dennis Johnston of Johnston Angus, Conquest, Saskatchewan. Dennis was presented with his pin at his female sale in Swift Current in December.

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Years ago, one of my mentors, the late Edward Jupp told me that in the world of print advertising, one of the most successful campaigns was launched by the once infamous Wyoming Hereford Ranch. Edward would explain that they would buy one quarter page of advertising every month on the same page, and in the same format. It proved to be very effective. Edward would tell me “Robin my boy, you don’t need to buy a full page”. In 1990 the field man for the American Quarter Horse Association, Bill Bunce, shared with me the workings of the largest horse publication in North America. Bill said they were able to sell advertising for the magazine with a couple of people at home on the telephone. That was unheard of in those days, keep it simple and keep costs down.

By Robin Hogberg As aforementioned “less is more” could be applied to most areas of seed stock production. Feeding and fitting, selling and marketing, meetings and committees. The list goes on and on. I do admit that I have been guilty over the years of many things that would convict me of “overkill”. Allowing genetics to play out to their God given potential unhindered by intervention and adopting a “less is more” philosophy to dominate in the production of our product and also in the administration of our business might better serve the customer at every level. This thinking is very idealistic in theory, and can be argued unrealistic in reality, but in the end, it is all about choice. I was 18 years old when Bob Gordon told me “don’t paint the fences in your yard white, it’ll scare the commercial bull buyers away” sound advice…

Congratulations!

Peggy with son Jim and Michael Wheeler, SAA President

Dennis with Brian Good, CAA Business Developement Team

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New Director Profile - Michelle Potapinski

My name is Michelle Potapinski. I was raised on a mixed farming operation in southeast Saskatchewan, near the town of Alida. My parents were grain farmers and had a Hereford/ Simmental commercial herd, while raising six children. My whole family was involved in the farm and the community. As a family we were all active in the local 4-H clubs, with my Dad as General Leader of the Beef Club and my Mom as Project Leader of the Multiple Club. Several of the local Achievement Days were even hosted at our farm. I remember at the age of 14 or 15, our judge for Achievement Day was Dale Easton, who came ALL the way from Wawota. I am now honored to sit on the Saskatchewan Angus Board with Dale and continue to learn from him.

After graduating from High School I moved to Regina and took an Office Management/Secretarial Course. After different jobs in Regina, an opportunity opened up at the Canadian Angus Association headquarters in the Canada Centre Building. I was hired as Accountant and eventually served as Interim General Manager. I stayed with the Association through the hiring of a new General Manager, the relocating of the office to Calgary and the installation of our in-house registry and performance system. In 1999, I took on a totally different role when I moved to Hodgeville, in southwest Saskatchewan, where I am partnered with Collin Sauder operating Windy Willows Farms. Collin and I, along with our daughter Hillary and my stepchildren Whitney and Gavin raise 250 Black and 50 Red Purebred Angus cows. We host our Annual Git’R Done Bull & Female Sale the 1st Tuesday of April at our farm, along with our Charolais friends and partners Garner & Lori Deobald and family of Cedarlea Farms.

I am once again involved in 4-H as I am General Leader of the Ernfold Beef Club. As well, I serve on our Curling Club, Swimming Pool and Royal Purple Boards. I would like to thank Mike Howe for nominating me to the Board of the Saskatchewan Angus Association and consider it an honor to serve along side other Angus breeders. It truly is a pleasure! I believe this is a great time to be in the cattle industry and in particular the Angus breed. I am very grateful that our daughter Hillary has developed the same passion as Collin and I have for the industry and absolutely enjoy the connection it has given us with junior members across the country. I look forward to meeting new people, renewing friendships and working with the rest of the Board to further the Angus breed in Saskatchewan. 

New Director Profile - Sarah Davidson-Coward My name is Sarah DavidsonCoward. Along with my husband Russ we own and operate Wood Coulee Cattle company at Swift Current. We run a 140 cow purebred Red Angus operation with a primary focus on making quality Red Angus bulls to sell to our customers. We also run 140 commercial Red Angus cows that we have built over the years using our own bulls. Page 14

We have four children, Cole, Austin, Cassie and Morgan. They are all teenagers so we are very busy running them to all their activities throughout the year. They are members of the Herbert Grazers 4-H club and I am also a leader in the club. Three kids play hockey and one dances and they are all very helpful around the ranch.

enjoy using our horses working cattle on the ranch.

I grew up on a mixed farm north of Cabri where we raised mostly sheep but always had about 40-50 cows as well. My main focus was on my horses, which have always been a passion. I have been a member of the Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association for a number of years and now Russ and I and the kids

I look forward to being a part of the board for this organization and its commitment to growing our industry.

Over the past few years we have really enjoyed showing cattle and all that that entails. We have met some wonderful people in our industry that share our passions and we continue to learn and grow each year.

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Committe Reports... The Saskatchewan Angus Association annual meeting was held January 25 in Regina. The following Committee Reports were provided. Show and Sale Committee Report ... The Angus breed had another extremely successful year in the show and sale arenas. Our provincial Gold and Junior shows were held in Lloydminster again this year. They have been exemplary hosts and we wish to thank all involved in producing such a successful event. 153 head were shown in the Black division, while 56 Reds were exhibited. 35 juniors exhibited 64 head in our designated junior show. Angus dominated the interbreed competitions, winning the Little Lady Classic and King of the Ring Bull Calf Futurity. At Agribition, there were 78 Black Angus exhibitors with 271 head, while 116 Red Angus were shown by 31 exhibitors. A total of 48 Angus were entered in the Junior Beef Extreme where we swept both the Futurity and overall Championships.13 Angus pens were displayed in the Bull Pen Alley where we also had the Supreme Champion pen. In the commercial show both the Champion pens of 5 and 10 bred heifers were Angus sired. Both the First Lady Classic Champion and Futurity Champion were Angus, while Angus swept the RBC Supreme Challenge winning both Supreme Bull and Female. Two very successful sales were also hosted at Agribition. The Masterpiece averaged $4546 on 27 live and 20 embryo lots, while the Power and Perfection averaged $7440 on 25 live and 22 semen, embryo, and flush lots. Your Show and Sale Committee implemented a couple new initiatives for 2016. First exhibitors were surveyed with regard to show placing protocol and the results were overwhelmingly in favor of continuing with the top three system. Judge nomination forms and ballots were distributed and collected during Agribition as well. There was a tremendous response and we hope to continue this process in the future. Thanks to Robin Hogberg for spearheading and executing this project. I would like to thank the Show and Sale committee for their input and efforts in helping to make these shows the huge success they are. I would also like to thank the army of willing volunteers behind the scenes that are essential to hosting these first class events. Thanks also to all the sponsors for their contributions and also the exhibitors for their patience and cooperation. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Belinda and her staff for their patience, guidance, and ultimate execution of the plans we as a committee put in place. Respectfully Submitted, Trent Liebreich, Chair Page 16

SAA - Promotion Committee Report ... The major addition to the promotions portfolio in 2016 was the creation of what we call Breeder Information Sessions. These sessions featured speakers and presentations on topics ranging from genetics to customer service. Our hope is that purebred and commercial breeders can attend local sessions that provide an informative experience as well as a chance to network with fellow producers. Sessions in 2016 were held in Regina, Carlyle (White Bear), Lloydminster and Moose Jaw. We continued to run two ads in the “Beef Business” magazine. One in the spring and one in the fall. We have felt that we want to maintain some kind of print presence without spending a significant amount of money. We have continued to work on expanding our social media presence and are continuing to develop our Facebook page. We have close to 1400 followers and hope to grow that number in the future. Kristine Sauter has taken over managing the page and she has done a fantastic job. The Edge continues to be one of our major projects. Adding full color has added to the quality of the magazine and has also made production easier. The majority of ads are now sent camera ready which saves on design time. We are constantly looking for editorial content that is of interest to the readership and are open to suggestions. We have discussed the idea of hiring writers to help us create local Angus stories. The SAA booth made its rounds attending several field days and conferences including the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Conference, WBDC Termuende Field Day, Edam Fall Fair, and Agribition. We offer several awards throughout the year as well to our membership. Hollinger Land & Cattle was named Purebred Breeder of the Year and D&N Livestock was named Commercial Producer of the Year. At the Gold Show in Lloydminster a Heritage Award was presented to the MacDonald family and at Agribition, Heritage Awards were presented to Jim & Bob Easton and families. SAA also sponsored several events this past year including the T Bar C Invitational Golf Tournament, and the social at the Agribition Commercial Cattle Show. We continued sponsorship of our Junior Association’s and members, including providing travel assistance for Saskatchewan Juniors to attend national events such as the GOAL conference, as well as youth events including the Lloydminster, Regina, Saskatoon and Yorkton Spring Steer and Heifer Shows and the Young Ranchmen’s Competition in Swift Current. Continued on page 18 Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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Committe Reports... Continued from page 16 The SAA is always open to input from its membership so we can continue to promote our great breed of cattle. Respectfully Submitted, Michael Wheeler, Chair SAA Commercial Committee Report ... The strong demand for quality Angus influenced cattle was more than evident again this fall. Angus cattle were very well represented during the fall calf run and at the various fall pen shows. As breeders we need to ensure that we do not become complacent about this demand. We need to be honest with ourselves and the product that we are producing. Bull sales were well attended in the spring as the commercial cattle producers continue to recognize the numerous benefits of owning Angus herd sires. The Angus breed has the genetic diversity to check any box on the commercial buyers wish list, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let them forget this! Every cook knows when a proven recipe is working in the kitchen you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change the key ingredients to keep pace with fads, trends or other folks opinions. Keep your eye on where you are headed and only make the necessary adjustments that will get you there. This fall the SAA committed to providing opportunities for our membership and their customers to develop a better

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understanding of some of the various genetic selection, management practices and consumer demands that are facing the Canadian beef industry. We have already hosted a series of breeder information sessions around the province and will be planning more for this upcoming year. If you are personally interested in attending or hosting a session make sure to contact any of your SAA directors. During CWA the Stock Exchange was the place to be. There continued to be a waiting list of cattle producers wanting to exhibit cattle in the commercial show and the Yards pens. Angus influenced cattle dominated the commercial cattle pens and the Yards displays. Angus females remain the gold standard of beef production in Canada as such they have often been replicated but never successfully duplicated. We recognized the exhibitors of Angus Influenced Champions with jackets and presented sale credits towards Angus genetics from any member of the SAA. I have enjoyed serving the membership of the SAA over the last year. If you ever have an idea on how we can better engage with commercial cattle producers I would truly enjoy the conversation. Respectfully Submitted, Sheldon Kyle, Chair

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Saskatchewan Angus Association Mentorship Program... Our Mentorship Program is well underway. We would like to tell you a bit about our participants with Lacey Demmans mentored by Neil Carruthers, Erika Easton mentored by Tara Mulhern Davidson, Krysten Hepburn mentored by Wes Olynyk, Josee Monvoisin mentored by Anne & Barry Wasko and Shane Roger mentored by Lee Wilson. Our mentees have had a wide variety of experiences so far, such as assisting at the Angus Gold shows at Lloydminster Stockade Roundup and at Agribition in Regina and helping to man our Saskatchewan Angus display. They attended Saskatchewan Angus Breeder Information Sessions in White Bear, Lloydminster and Moose Jaw in the fall and the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference and the Saskatchewan Angus Association annual general meeting in January. They have spent time with their mentors, both on the phone and in person; at industry events, and at the mentors homes. We know they are looking forward to many more great experiences over the next six months, such as attending and assisting at their mentors sales this spring; attending the GOAL conference in Edmonton, the Canadian Angus Convention in Brandon, Carcass 101 in Alberta as well as the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Calgary and of course our Saskatchewan Angus Tour that will be held this summer. We are also having board workshops with media, governance and advocacy training in April that both the mentees and mentors are invited to attend as well as additional Breeder Information Sessions. We plan to work on continuing this program in the coming years and encourage young breeders to consider applying to become a mentee. Watch for more details in the Summer issue of our newsletter and on-line. Profiles follow for Lacey & Neil, Krysten & Wes and Shane & Lee. See our Fall 2016 newsletter for the profiles on Erika & Tara and Josee, Anne & Barry. veterinary clinic. I went traveling to Mongolia and Croatia in the fall of 2016 for five weeks after taking July and August off for haying season. Combining my passion for travel and agriculture will continue to pull me to many different countries for years to come.

Lacey Demmans My name is Lacey Demmans and I am from Meadow Lake. I started being involved in the cattle industry at a young age growing up on my family’s ranch, Nesset Lake Angus. I joined the 4-H program at the age of eight and continued in it for 10 years. I pursued my passion for cattle after high school, attending the University of Alberta for a degree in Animal Health. I was a member of the Agriculture Club and Ceres Women’s Fraternity, holding executive positions in both. I worked on various research projects at the U of A and the Vet Med Faculty at the U of C during my summers. After graduating in June of 2015, I moved back to Meadow Lake and covered a maternity leave at the local Page 20

At Nesset Lake Angus we calve about 300 head; 200 purebreds and 100 commercial. I’m slowly growing my own herd and enjoy working on the ranch as much as possible. I’ve taken a position at Meadow Lake Livestock Sales clerking three days per week. This is allowing me to be more involved at the ranch as there’s no shortage of work to be done! I took my AI course last spring, so I’m looking forward to being more involved with the breeding aspect of our program. We AI about 70 heifers and 50 cows depending on the year. We also have an annual bull sale in March. Since moving back to Meadow Lake, it has enabled me to help a lot more with the clipping and catalogue write-ups for the sale. I am looking forward to this upcoming year in the mentorship program. I am

excited to learn from my mentor Neil Carruthers. He has been in the animal pharmaceutical field for many years and I know he has a wealth of knowledge to share. I hope to network with lots of new people and gain more knowledge on how to run a successful purebred operation. My overall goal is to be at home on the ranch full-time, but in the mean time I would like to begin a career in pharmaceuticals as I believe this will allow me the flexibility to also have purebred cattle.

Neil Carruthers Over the last 25 years, Neil’s career has been focused in the animal health industry. Currently, Neil leads a team that is responsible for the country’s largest sales territory within Merck Animal Health. Angus Edge - Spring 2017

During high school and university, Neil always had a passion for Angus cattle. Neil served as a board member with the Saskatchewan Angus Association and was also elected to the Canadian Angus Board of Directors. The accomplishment Neil is most proud of during his term on the Canadian board was his hand in the establishment of the Canadian Junior Angus Association. Neil believes that if you give young people the opportunity and a little guidance, then let them run with it, great things can happen and the Canadian Junior Angus Association has grown into a wonderful organization. Neil is currently the Vice-President of Synergy Credit Union, where he chairs the Corporate Governance Committee. Neil and Gail, along with their daughters Amy & Laura, own Carruthers Holdings which is a stocker operation near Frenchman Butte, SK, and they also maintain a small herd of purebred cows. Neil looks forward to working as a mentor with Lacey Demmans from Meadow Lake, SK. After meeting Lacey in November at the Lloydminster Stockade Roundup to discuss her ideas for her future, Neil detected Lacey’s great passion for the cattle industry. Neil believes it will be both fun and exciting to work with Lacey as a mentor. It’s always great to run ideas by others, as the collaboration can often lead to very interesting results. Neil’s looking forward to his next meeting with Lacey on her family farm this spring. Neil has the utmost respect for people who earn a living in the agriculture industry, especially those in primary production.

the Saskatchewan Angus Association. I’m excited for my adventure with my mentor, Wes Olynyk of Crescent Creek Angus, and to get to know my fellow mentees! I think I can say for all of us, that this is going to be an exciting and enriching year of learning about the beef, particularly the Angus, industry!

Krysten Hepburn My name is Krysten Hepburn and I live on a farm south of Moosomin, SK. I’m a 2013 Homeschool Graduate, and I’m currently pursuing the Office Administration Certificate program through Sask Polytechnic. My uncle, David Hepburn, and my dad, Kevin Hepburn, own and operate 3H Angus. I am involved in looking after approximately one hundred head of purebred Black Angus and Black Angus/ Simmental commercial cattle. I myself own three Black Angus/Texas Longhorn females, and I am looking forward to expanding! My family had made the transition from town to farm nine years ago, and we started out with a Black Angus x Simmental x Brown Swiss cow and a group of six Texas Longhorns. It was then, as well as being a member of the Fairmede 4-H Beef Club for six years, that my love and appreciation for cattle took root. Four years ago, Dad sold the Longhorns, and we joined up with Uncle David after he had a herd reduction where he kept a handful of purebreds and commercials. Dad also purchased twelve purebred Black Angus heifers last year, which will be calving this year. Now as an adult, I’m looking forward to pursuing an agriculture lifestyle. At “The Heart of the South Angus Tour’’ back in August, I first heard of this mentorship program and decided to give it a whirl. So needless to say, this is my first year being directly involved with

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Wes Olynyk Hi, my name is Wes Olynyk and I feel very privileged to have the chance to be part of the youth mentorship program. I applaud both the Saskatchewan Angus Association and the Canadian Angus Association for recognizing the importance of our youth and their role in our beef industry. I believe it is very important to help out as breeders and leaders for our youth in their endeavor to become the future of our industry. Whether they remain on the farm or ranch or not, we can help in guiding them to become better leaders and contribute in a way that will make a difference in whatever they choose to do. I came from an era where, other then 4-H, there was no support for our youth on an association level. The only guidance came from family and others who had an interest in helping out. It brings great joy to see the youth of today participating at shows, both purebred and commercial, as well as at meetings and conventions. Perhaps the best experience is to actually sit down and have a conversation with the youth and listen to their interest in how Continued on page 26 Page 21

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SAA Mentorship Program... our industry should evolve. They are the future generations that will lead us on, and they have the communication savvy to do it. As breeders we are all mentors and should never hesitate to lend a helping hand, answer a question or offer support. Our family farm represents fifth generation farmers in Canada and Crescent Creek Angus, established in 1954, represents third generation Angus breeders. I could not think of a better lifestyle. I always remember the help I received and truly believe those people had the future in mind when they offered assistance.

Shane Roger Hi there, my name is Shane Roger. I was born and raised on a purebred Black Angus cow/calf operation north of Balgonie, SK. Along with my family; Gordon, Jackie, and Megan, we run a small purebred Angus operation. Growing up in the industry I have had the opportunity to be part of both the Saskatchewan Junior Angus Association as well as the Canadian Junior Angus Association as a Saskatchewan representative. Furthermore, I was involved in the Valley View 4-H beef club for thirteen years. I am currently finishing my fourth and final year of university at the University of Regina where I am going to be obtaining my Marketing Degree. Upon graduating this spring, I will be entering the world of Grain Marketing. Alongside working in the Grain Marketing sector, Page 26

Continued from page 21 I plan on looking at obtaining a Marketing Master’s in International Business or Digital Marketing Relations. By furthering my education, I hope to be able to have my own marketing consulting business, focusing primarily on the agriculture sector, where I can help promote and further brand the industry. Of course, I also plan to remain involved as a breeder of Angus cattle. What I hope most to get out of the Mentorship Program is an increased knowledge of the current marketing strategies both nationally and internationally, that beef growers are implementing. Furthermore, I hope to expand my knowledge in the current policy/regulations sector of the beef industry. I am honoured to be part of the 2016/2017 Mentorship Program, and to be working with an influential Angus producer: Lee Wilson.

structure and ease of fleshing. They feel these traits are the foundation for longevity in any good cow herd. Lee has judged cattle shows across Canada as well as internationally. He has served on various committees and boards including the Alberta Angus Association and has spent 30 years working with the Bashaw Ag Society on their All Breeds Heifer Show. Lee is pleased to be working with Shane as part of the mentorship program.

HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING OUR E-BLASTS? Lee Wilson Lee, along with his wife Dawn and family raise Black and Red Angus five miles west of Bashaw, Alberta. Miller Wilson Angus is well known nationally and internationally. The Miller Wilson nucleus of donor cows and semen sires have supplied genetics and produced national champions in 29 countries. They sell their bulls and replacement females by private treaty.

KEEP UP TO DATE ON THE SAA NEWS! If you haven’t been receiving the Saskatchewan Angus Association E-Blasts and wish to, send an email to: office@saskatchewanangus.com

At Miller Wilson the breeding philosophy is simple: fertility, udder quality, foot Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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Out and about in Saskatchewan...

H e l l o F e l l o w A n g u s Enthusiasts I’m eight months into my position as Director of Business Development for Saskatchewan/ Manitoba with the Canadian Angus Association (CAA) and it has been a busy time as well as something of a learning experience. The fall found me travelling to auction marts in both provinces attending Angus Influence Feeder Sales. I took along a booth and answered questions and passed out information about our tag program and CAIPP. One comment that was pretty consistent from mart to mart, and mostly from non tag users was “Why should I use them because the calves all get mixed anyhow”. My reply to that was if we could get more tags out there then the auction marts would have a better chance of being able to put together tagged groups and therefore maybe add value with groups that would qualify for Angus Tagged Programs. Some shrugged it off, some agreed, but like anything, how will you know if you don’t give it a chance? One thing that I think would really help with this is having all of our purebred producers on side and having them promote tags to their customers. To those of you already doing this, Thank You, keep it up. For those of you who are not, why? There are market opportunities out there. I did find the auction marts to be very interesting places to be. Getting the perspective of manager, order buyers, and producers about where our industry is at and where they hope to see it going gave me lots of food for thought. Watching the buyers sorting through Page 34

Bob Toner CAA Director Business of Development

pens, sorting through weights, on the phone prior to and during the sales, really put into perspective that this is more than just some guys spinning cattle.

and attending these sessions I was also happy to help the SAA with their Gold Shows at Lloydminster and CWA and the Manitoba Angus Association with their shows at Harding and Brandon.

Another thing I did while attending feeder sales and later commercial replacement heifer sales, was report on Twitter and Facebook what the prices were doing. I originally started this just as a way of letting people know what was going on, however, as fall went on I began meeting people and getting calls or texts, who were actually following the messages and using them as a basis for some of the marketing they were doing. They were very appreciative and it was a nice surprise, knowing it was being put to use.

The CAA has started a “First Contact Program”. What this is, in new breeder packages the new member is asked if they would like a visit or direct contact with one of the Field Staff. Hopefully new members will take advantage of this as a means of one on one discussion to learn more about CAA programs and opportunities. However this does not have to be only for new members. If anyone out there would like a visit or thinks there is someone who should be contacted, purebred or commercial, let us know and we will work to fit it in to our schedule.

A few years ago Laird Senft started an Angus division at Yorkton Harvest Showdown in which he presented prizes as well as tag vouchers to the champion and reserve champion in the female divisions. This was well received so this fall we expanded this to include Edam Fall Fair as well as the CWA Commercial Show. If the champion or reserve champion pen of females was Angus influenced, they received tag vouchers sponsored by the CAA and the Saskatchewan Angus Association (SAA). We do realize these all won’t get used but if we can get a few more started into the tag program every year I think it is a good promotion. The SAA undertook a new venture this year offering Breeder Information Sessions. Three were held this fall at Bear Claw Casino, Lloydminster Stockade Round Up, and Moose Jaw. These were well attended and gave producers an opportunity to ask some of the CAA Staff questions about various programs. At each session there was also a guest speaker or two to present on various topics. I found the sessions very informative and a great venue for the exchange of ideas and information. Along with helping

The CAA has also started an internal audit in which Julia Engel, Tina Zakowsky and myself will be reviewing all forms, notes and member touch points to determine optimal wording. In short this means a review, and if there are points which seem unclear in their wording, simplify it. We will also be looking at our registry system, papers, web-site, etc. and attempt to make them more user friendly. Next on my schedule are Ag Days in Brandon, SBIC in Regina, and the Manitoba Beef Producers Conference in Brandon as well. I look at these as excellent opportunities to meet with other Ag and Beef Associations for an exchange of ideas and experiences. If you as producers have time to attend any of these events I believe they are worthwhile and you will see me there. This spring I will be attending bull sales and continuing to meet producers as well as doing some farm visits as time allows. In closing I hope everyone has a successful calving season and a prosperous 2017.  Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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How do we better tell the positive story of ag production? In late January the National Western Stock Show finished its annual 16-day run near downtown Denver, CO. I spent a good amount of time in beef industry meetings and talking with young ag producers that were showing their animals and working in the ag booths designed to help 650,000 visiting urbanites better understand food production. One common theme in conversations and meeting topics was how families in production agriculture raising animals and crops can better tell their story. How can they reach the masses in the big cities with their positive ag production stories? Many young producers are fully engaged in social media, blogging, taking pictures, making videos and posting material every day. Yet it seems to most that something more must be done to reach the large urban populations. There’s so much social media content now that its effect is highly diluted. We need to make our own documentaries There are plenty of examples of documentaries about food production that are slanted to promote the agenda of the group that funded it. Food Inc. is one example of that. It makes me wonder, why don’t the beef, pork and poultry industries all have their own documentaries in the works? If people can be effectively reached through this medium, why aren’t we spending some time and money to reach them? Sell the sizzle, not the steak Early in my meat selling career, I was taught to sell the features and benefits of the protein and not the actual box of meat itself. One of my early mentors took me with him on many sales calls with chefs and distributors where I heard him talk about everything positive that boxed steaks would do. It wasn’t just a box of steaks, it was a couple celebrating their 10th anniversary, a company rewarding their staff to a nice dinner, or a restaurant owner serving the best quality steaks with great pride to his patrons and profiting from satisfied repeat customers.

By Gregory Bloom

Meat proteins and fats contain vital nutrition. Without them, our blood lacks iron, our brains are deprived of needed healthy fat, our tissues won’t have their required proteins as building blocks, our cell functions are diminished, and our bodies will eventually resort to stripping proteins from our own muscles in a desperate attempt to nourish our critical systems. Yes, It’s possible to be malnourished even when you’re taking in plenty of calories. That’s why a diet rich in healthy meat so satiates us. It makes us feel fuller, for longer. When you catch yourself saying, “I need to eat something that’ll stick to my ribs,” what do your common sense instincts tell you to do in response? “I need to eat some meat!” Being satisfied with a good portion of meat actually ends up causing us to eat less while the nutrient density of it provides us with better health. A high protein meal is well known to ‘brighten the eyes’ and enhance concentration by nourishing the brain. Meat is good for the body, and what’s good for the body is good for the soul. What food could put a more contented grin on a face than a tasty tenderloin? Happy is the human who knows how to enjoy real protein. Let’s work on ways as an industry to better tell the under told and undersold nutritional story of meat. How can we best do this? What other ways can we tell our story?  Gregory Bloom shares over two decades of industry experiences working in six USDA inspected meat plants, selling meat, developing value added items and training chefs, retail meat cutters and food service sales people about meat.

Meat is the most under-told story in pop culture We need to better sell the sizzle, too. So let’s focus on the nutritional facts: Meat is protein rich. It’s composed of essential amino acids and nutritional factors that are found in no other foods (sorry vegans). In the right proportion, even meat fats are good for you! Page 42

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EDWARDS ANGUS Selling 12 Bulls March 13, 2017 Johnstone Auction Mart Moose Jaw, SK At the

South Sask Angus & Simmental Bull Sale

Edwards Resourse 72D

S: S A V Resource 1441

MGS: Hillfire Legacy 422

Edwards Resourse 392D

S: S A V Resource 1441 MGS: Royal Predestined DRCC 6036S

Edwards South Dakota 469D

S: Mohnen South Dakota 402 MGS: Stevenson Moneymaker R185

Laird Edwards Box 300, Craik, SK S0G 0V0 306-567-7456 lredwards@sasktel.net Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Edwards Banknote 271D S: Brooking Bank Note 4040 MGS: HF Swagger 75W

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CEO Report ...

By Rob Smith, CEO Canadian Angus Association

Good day, Canadian Angus member and partner! Let’s celebrate the year that was 2016 and look forward to 2017 and all we can possibly hope it will offer. This time of the year always makes me contemplative and reflective. I look back at ‘the year that was’ and think ahead to ‘the year that will be’. And I totally recognize that, as far as the outcomes of the year past as well as that which is ahead of me, I know that I largely control the circumstances by which I will measure success and failure, so I must take responsibility for and possession of that. And for those affectations over which I have no or limited control, I still ‘own’ my reaction to them, so that is still ownership. 2016 has been another great year for your Canadian Angus Association. And I think it has been a great year for our industry.

Canada cattle and beef value chain. So when we complain about $1.65 -

I know there has been much concern and negativity over the commercial prices our commodities have faced for the past few months. I’m a little surprised and even disappointed by a number of folks’ reaction to lower calf prices. The fall of 2016 still saw the 3rd or 4th highest feeder calf prices ever paid. Yes, it’s less than 2014 and the early part of 2015 and, perhaps, some weeks in comparison to 2013 as well. But if we were able to continue our businesses with calves selling at $1.05 to $1.20 (on the great days) a scant 4 to 5 years ago, I think our margins should still be positive at the prices paid this fall. And with feed relatively plentiful (after a frustratingly long harvest, I realize) with a lower price for feeders, it appears our feedlot sector will be able to create positive margins as well, something they struggled with tremendously all of last year. I often talk about being “better off when we’re ALL better off” (and I’ll be referring to this later in my message), and this is certainly true in every link of our

Through last fall, since the launch of information about the Angus Cow Enrollment (ACE) program, my CAA staff team and I have had dozens of conversations with members about a variety of topics. We now estimate that we have been engaged by 265 individual members regarding ACE since early October. We have heard a lot of thoughts and received significant input. And it hasn’t all been about ACE. The ACE dialogue has expanded member thoughts and reflections to our CAA operations. And we appreciate each and every one of these conversations. Honestly, we have probably appreciated the conversations MORE when the member has been reasonable and measured in their approach. And we have loved the conversations where the member was constructive and solution-oriented. Sometimes, the best of times, members even asked for clarification on various topics and practices. Honestly, the situations where certain members have engaged my team in a way that can only

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$1.85 / lb. for feeder calf price, I think it’s important to remember our feeder friends and partners. So, in keeping with this concern I’ve heard expressed by many members and partners this fall, I’m taking a different approach to my year end message. I’ve always done lists (I love lists!) of ‘bests’ for the preceding year. This year, I want to focus on something different.

be referred to as “confrontational”, we haven’t enjoyed those. You may think we deserve to have those, and are obliged to do so, and I will tell you that we are NOT. And, also honestly, those people are far less likely to have an impact on us with their input, even if they have rationalized the rude engagement as “blunt” or “being a straight shooter”. Mean is mean, bombastic is bombastic and ugly is ugly; nothing good comes of any of these engagements, I’m sorry to say. But, again, we have had far more amazing conversations and engagements than the latter that I just described. Far more. And we have appreciated and learned from them. So, regardless of whether ACE was the stimulus this past fall, please always know you are invited to share your thoughts and criticisms. My team’s 100% reason to exist is to serve our Canadian Angus Association membership and that means each and every one of you. And we also heard some things that prove some members are not fully aware of what is going on in your Association. So I aim to explain to you the reason behind why some things are the way they are and what the ‘real story’ is in cases where we heard multiple times from members whose information is not accurate. So, I am going to share my “Immutable Truths” from this past year. And many of them are true each and every day of each and every year. Some of you may read this list and feel I’m being defensive; maybe that’s true. I suppose every parent thinks their child is being ‘defensive’ when they are explaining themselves. And I suppose the reason for the difference between “explanation” and “defensiveness” lies in the ‘gap’ between the expectations Continued on Page 48 Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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CEO Report ... of each the parent and child. So perhaps you believe some of my truths below are ‘defensive’; I will assure you that my intention is that they are EXPLANATIONS. Or, in this case: TRUTHS. So... here are the Immutable Truths According to your Canadian Angus CEO: The current CAA market share is greater than any breed in Canadian history. And it is not presently decreasing. In recent years, the number of annual registrations within the Canadian Angus Association exceeds that of all other breeds combined. So, for more than a decade now, the number of annual registrations represents 4851% of all beef cattle registrations in Canada. I have heard from certain members about the ‘growth’ of other breed associations. I hate to argue but, honestly, this is just not an accurate statement. Simmental has floated between 13% and 16% of domestic purebred market share in the past 10 years, reaching its peak for the past three years. Hereford has fluctuated from 10% to 14% in that same time, hitting its highest market share in 2008 and 2010. Charolais floats from 11% to 13%, sitting at 12% for the past three years. NO ONE is overtaking Angus anytime soon. Our commercial market share evaluation from Canfax remains unrivaled at 67% of all cattle sold at auction marts in Canada continuing to be Angus or Angus-influence. And this does NOT mean we should be complacent. It means the exact opposite: we need to do more, be more, create more and optimize opportunities that only CAA can grasp because of the size of our national cow herd. Our Value Proposition focuses on industry partners and connections as well. The current CAA financial position is very strong. Your CAA, operating in Page 48

Year 1 of our current 5 year business plan entitled “Enhanced Member Services: Building Our Future - Yes We Can!” in 2015, posted annual net revenue of $315,020. Last year, 2016, Year 2 of the plan, as of November 30th our net revenue was $313,671. We didn’t finish the year with that balance (our month end has not been closed as of Alberta Angus press time), but it will be another positive financial year for your CAA. There is no need for your Association to change anything to generate more revenue to offset current operating expense; we are exceeding our expectations based on your increased annual investment that started January 1st, 2015. In the operating years 2008 - 2010, your CAA amassed a deficit of $500,000. For the operating years 2010 - 2015, our net is $352,574. We turned back the challenges of those three years in mid 2011 and have enjoyed an enviable past six years. CAA has a specific focus on our relationship with other breed associations and they have never been better. Canadian Angus has, in your Board’s opinion, a responsibility to provide leadership within our sector and, in fact, our industry. To this end, we are proud to have been a significant part of working with Canada’s other breed associations in discussing mutually beneficial outcomes to situations that affect us all. When it comes to Canada’s beef breed associations, that old saying is absolutely true: that which unites us is far greater than that which divides us. And, to this end, my whole team works with other breed associations to make all of us better. I know we have some members who believe Canadian Angus has ‘won’ when we are the only breed remaining and all the rest are gone; I honestly do not agree with nor can support this statement. I believe that we are all better off when we are ALL better off! And Canadian Angus is committed to working with

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our competitors; Charolais, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Limousin, Simmental and every other breed, to create opportunity for all of us. I am very proud of this form of ‘coop-etition’ and believe we all progress as a result. CAA maintains a strong focus on relationship with industry partners. From auction marts to pharmaceutical companies to exhibition associations, Canadian Angus seeks to create synergy and opportunity with all of these for your eventual benefit. And if ever you have a suggestion as to a focus we should have that you believe we don’t, please make it. And if we explain to you that we are already focused on building the very relationship you are referring, please understand that we are “explaining” what we are doing, not being “defensive” against your idea. Chances are, if you feel passionately, we may ask for your assistance to move our current initiative forward or to create a new one. CAA maintains a strong focus on relationship with industry organizations. The CAA Board’s priority of responsibility for leadership within our sector, as mentioned above, is extended to our industry as well. We are very proud of our involvement and relationships enjoyed with every national cattle and beef organizational body, including the inaugural Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC) last August. I am extremely proud that Tammi Ribey, our CAA Board Past President, is the new CBIC Vice Chair for 2017. And we have many Canadian Angus staff members actively participating on organizational committees for 2017 and 2018, when CBIC moves to Ontario. We will continue to work with industry leadership because we know such engagement is in the best interest of our producers, on the whole. Continued on Page 52 Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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CEO Report ... CAA has a focus on international marketing. If we do not maintain this focus, we will lose opportunity to other breeds. And the cost of international Trade Missions we participate in is offset through government grants. Canadian Angus genetics are in demand around the world. And Angus is the most popular breed in the world, but there are more countries that do NOT use Angus than actually use our breed. So, provided our breed and genetics can work there, I want to see Angus grow market share in those countries. And, per the federal government Growing Forward program, and sometimes from various province’s agriculture / economic development ministries, we receive funding to participate in these Trade Missions. No CAA Board or staff team member have participated in an international trade mission or initiative (including World Angus Forums and Secretariats) in my time with Canadian Angus in which the government has not reimbursed CAA for at least 50% of the cost associated with the event. We have ‘opened doors’ and helped the federal government negotiate entry into countries like Azerbaijan and Turkey, and have played a significant role in Kazakhstan as well. Some of you suggest that such development should be left to the export companies. We are very proud to work with any export company that maintains membership in the Canadian Beef Breeds Council but, please, remember this: export companies do not promote a breed... they SELL THEIR products and services. If a country does not ask for “Angus”, no export company is going to suggest “Angus” to them. Export companies work to supply what is asked for and if a country doesn’t ask for “Angus”, they won’t get it. So that is why it is important we are there, to sell the virtues of “Angus” as a breed, and of the Canadian Angus genetic value proposition, specifically. I traveled this past October with my awesome and honorable colleague, Page 52

Stephen Scott, of the Canadian Hereford Association. And his voice, had it been the only one there, would have been much more focused on the value of Canadian Hereford cattle than it would have been about Canadian Angus, and understandably so. As it was, there was not a single engagement in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan or Georgia that did not learn of the value and benefit of Canadian Angus genetics. The number of staff on our CAA team is exactly representative of my goals to create CAA member value based on what you tell me are your priorities. If you have questions about the Business Development Team’s role across Canada, or of the New Generation Breeder Development program or of Member Engagement, please ask me. If you question the value of ACTV, please ask me. Or if you wonder why Registry has four staff and Breed Development now has two, please contact me. I love talking about my staff team because they are so MAD talented and create what I believe is highly significant member value. There is not a ‘throwaway’ employment position within CAA and I am fully committed to explaining this to you. And I am also fully committed to hearing why you may not share my definition of ‘value’ and priorities created based on that. But as a wise current member of the CAA Board of Directors said to me a few years ago, “There is a difference between being heard and having your way. People often don’t understand this difference.” I will certainly listen to reasonable criticism of my staff team, but our conversation may not result in you “getting your way”. Please know that does not mean that I have not necessarily heard you. My monthly message in “The Angus Word” is important. I have heard about the ACE program being “slipped out in a side note to the CAA membership in the monthly e-newsletter”. ACE

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was announced in MY message in the September edition of “The Angus Word”, our electronic and printed monthly newsletter that goes to EVERY member of the Association. And I will assure you, in my opinion, if you only read one part of the newsletter, it should be mine! At the risk of sounding immodest, don’t you think that, in an organization’s official communication mechanism, the information from the organization’s CEO is a priority? Well, with the Canadian Angus Association, it is. So if something is released in my message, please know that this means it is important. Our CAA membership’s definition of “Member Value” is subjective, just like phenotypic analysis of cattle can be. The member consultations we worked through regarding the ACE program in Toronto, Moose Jaw and right here at Angus Central on December 17th, 19th and 21st were incredibly valuable. Couple the input from these sessions with that which we’ve received all fall and one of the things we know very clearly is that people view “Member Value” VERY differently. Some members believe our relationship with Canada’s auction barns is the most important thing we do annually while others believe it is a waste of time. Some members believe we should exist only to produce a physical registration certificate while others believe that marketing and relationship building is core to Angus success. This leads me to a thought that has puzzled me for some time. We tend to believe that the phenotype of a cow or bull is ‘absolute’; you can’t argue phenotype because it is actual: it’s right there, in front of your eyes. And yet, from time to time, even in my own family, we will debate which is the “stoutest bull in the pen”, or the “most balanced heifer” or how we rank the udders that lack perfection in favour of functionality. I can’t believe Continued on Page 54 Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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CEO Report ... that my nephew, my niece, my Mom and I can all have different opinions on what is clearly right there, in front of our eyes. And yet, we do. And so it is with Member Value. Some members ‘hate’ field services, and others do not. Some ‘hate’ all forms of member communication, while others think it’s the most important thing we do. We can ‘debate’ our thoughts on Member Value; I actually encourage that conversation. But just ‘damning’ an entire division of the Canadian Angus Association because it’s not meaningful to you does not mean it’s not meaningful to not only a fellow member but, in every case, a significant number of members. So this debate will continue. Always. That is the truth. An immutable truth. EPDs are loved... and hated. And they are here to stay. We have a challenging task in creating Member Value for our 2,800 members. With that many members, there is little we can do that appeals to everyone. So we have to create programs and opportunities that work for the majority of our members. We are most fortunate that our Canadian Angus Performance Program (CAPP) has more information than most such programs in the world. And we hope to include more information in the future. And we have members who ‘live and die’ by their EPD evaluations. And they are constantly pushing us to create more categories of measure. And we are constantly working on this. These folks adopt and demand technology so quickly that we will likely never be able to satisfy them because we just can’t get a new measure done accurately as quickly as they want it. And I know that there are some of you out there who scoff at EPDs, and pass judgement on those who use them either as a management or marketing tool. Some of this group believe that any investment we make into research leading to EPDs, and even the actual evaluations we purchase from our great friends, American Angus Association Page 54

and Red Angus Association of America, is a waste of time and money. And I wish we could get members who abide these two extremes to just accept that the tools exist and CAA must provide them. They have significant international marketing value, typically absolutely so. It’s perfectly fine if you don’t believe in EPDs; that is your prerogative. If you question their validity, I encourage, even implore, you to work with us to make them better. Automatic scepticism and criticism of them is only YOUR opinion and if you want your Association to embrace your opinion... you will be disappointed. EPDs are here to stay. And they will only become more accurate and comprehensive over time. And you don’t have to like this. But please don’t criticize the fact they exist because you don’t believe in them. If you don’t understand them but feel like it’s finally time to learn - contact your Director of Breed Development and get in the know! Parentage Verification is one of the most important things we can do. And having that genetic material in storage has tremendous value, too. We are increasing the amount of parent verification being done every year, and this is a great thing. I believe most of our membership do not realize how often pedigrees are recorded incorrectly; this is an immutable truth. Members tend to think of sires as the only variable in parentage; I will assure you that the dam is frequently a variable as well. Angus cows switch calves; it is a fact. And so for the pedigree to be correct, for the investment you are making in that pedigree, to have it ensured is the same to me as having it insured. So the CAA Board of Directors suggested including parentage verification as part of a comprehensive cow-based enrollment fee. They know the importance of this validation, including as a risk mitigation tool. And the membership has spoken and I believe

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there is no possibility the Board will include parentage verification in any ACE fee moving forward. But I would not be surprised if they try to further incentivize parentage testing. Trust me... parentage verification is very, very important. And it will continue to be, not only to Canadian Angus, but to our seedstock sector around the world. Mark my words. Finally, having the genetic sample ‘on file’ allows us to ‘turn on a dime’ with testing for anything that comes up. There is such value in this I struggle to explain all the opportunity and advantage that can come our way through a large genetic sample bank. If you feel like you don’t know what’s going on at your Association... Here are a few things you can do. 1. Attend Convention, 2. Contact your BDT team, 3. Call or come into Angus Central, 4. Read The Angus Word, watch AC-TV and read the Performance Program e-newsletter, 5. Attend a local Member Information Seminar, 6. Contact me! Your Board is smart, informed, committed and only make decisions based on their concern for you and your profitability through their vision of our future. I’ve heard lots of “did the Board consider...” and “The Board needs to focus on...” With rare exceptions, provided the input is rational, the Board has thought about and considered it. And they’ve made their decision factoring in exactly what you are thinking was not their consideration. When your elected Board of Directors gets together, they have one focus: what is best for the Angus breed in Canada and what is best for our fellow members. This influences every decision they make, because they know they are making decisions for members from British Columbia to the Maritimes and everyone in between. And they know of Canadian Angus’ leadership in the global Angus community so that factors in as well. They have an Angus Edge - Spring 2017

awesome responsibility, an immutable truth that very, very few actually understand, appreciate or respect. And I believe they do it extremely well. You are in great hands with your Board of Directors. And if you don’t think so, then vote them out; you have occasion to do so every three years. And if you really have strong feelings about how things should be, then run for the Board, and put yourself in the ‘shoes’ of the current (and every previous) CAA Board of Directors. We follow a democratic process and you are a key part of every step in that process. I’m not being defensive. I am explaining. And I should also share with you that I live by the 1/3rd rule: 1/3rd of ‘the people’ are going to be FOR you, no matter what; 1/3rd of ‘the people’ are going to be AGAINST you, no matter

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what; and the final 1/3rd represent the folks whose ‘hearts and minds’ are open to be changed, who largely ‘sit on the fence’ until a compelling argument is made to them or reason is given to them. The people who are always ‘for’ or ‘against’ you will generally believe that someone explaining someone is “being defensive”. But, for that final 1/3rd of people, I am explaining. And I suppose it’s largely for that group that this message is intended. And any message, for that matter. So those are my immutable CAA truths for 2016. They were probably the same last year. And likely will be a year from now, too. Thank you very much for your comments and questions in the Annual Member Satisfaction Survey. I will use the first few months of 2017 to try and address them, as I did last

year. And thank you for your 83% satisfaction level; we endeavor to raise that higher in 2017. As always, if you have a question about anything CAA related, please do not hesitate to contact any of us. While not all of us will be able to answer your question, we certainly know which of our team to get in touch with you. And you will always be our priority. Thanks very much, for your investment in 2016. And may your New Year in 2017 make your goals and dreams your reality. Cheers, Rob Smith Chief Executive Officer

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Angus Wishes... Chad Young moved with his parents to the family farm in 2002. They added cattle to their extensive grain farm and in 2009 Angus bulls became a permanent part of their breeding herd. Chad took a liking to the farm lifestyle and his interest in Angus cattle grew. He appreciated their calving ease, calf vigour and gain ability. In August 2015 when Chad was 16 he developed a fairly large tumour that extended from his tailbone into his left hip. He was diagnosed with a bone cancer called Osteosarcoma (the same form as Terry Fox). Chad underwent a series of tests and by September started chemotherapy. Through the whole fall he received treatments and in December traveled to Toronto for surgery. The surgeons removed everything the tumour had touched which required two surgeries at two different hospitals. The first surgery was to put rods in his back to support his spine. The second was to the remove the tumour which included his left leg and hip. A month later, and seventy pounds lighter, he was sent back to Saskatoon to finish his recovery and undergo another round of chemotherapy.

and the support of the agriculture community for making Chad’s wish come true. And Chad, welcome to the Angus business! 

Chad with his parents Dallas and Paula and his brother Ben.

During Chad’s recovery he applied to The Children’s Wish Foundation to receive a wish. Chad was accepted and was able to have his wish granted, to buy some cows! Chad had bought his first purebred Angus cow in December that gave him his first purebred heifer calf. He was anxious to expand his herd and The Children’s Wish Foundation was happy to grant his wish for a couple bred cows. Cows are not a common wish to be granted, but it is great to see a young man with a passion for the livestock industry. To h e l p C h a d expand his herd Johnson Livestock gave him a cow named JL Zara JL Zara Lisa 0669 Lisa 0669 and raffled her heifer calf at their 2016 fall female sale. The proceeds from the raffle were given to Chad to help him get started. The farming and Angus community stepped up in a big way to support the raffle purchasing over 500 tickets to raise over $10,000. Thanks to The Children’s Wish Foundation Page 58

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The Power of Networking...

Too often we find ourselves scrambling to find enough time in our busy schedules to accomplish all of the tasks that we have set out to complete. Daily chores, weaning of calves, picking bales, attending the Angus feature sale at the local auction market, moving the cows closer to the yard for calving season and the list goes on. Usually we end up focusing upon the most important and time sensitive commitment as our way of prioritizing these to-do lists. However I want to suggest that just maybe you make it a priority to set some time aside in your busy schedule to commit to continued learning, self-development and networking. You will quickly find that the rewards of these efforts will pay off in spades. The board of directors of the Saskatchewan Angus Association have been developing and hosting Angus Breeder Information Sessions for our membership across the province. The goal of these sessions is to engage our members and have these sessions be as informative and thought provoking as possible. Recently we hosted a series of breeder sessions across the province. These sessions have been well attended and involved a lot of open communication between our speakers and attendees. We have covered topics such as the Canadian Angus Identification & Performance Program (CAIPP), EPDs, Genomics, Canadian Angus Registry, Customer Service & The following is a brief report on the most recent information session, held December 19th in Moose Jaw, written by participant Dan Patterson, Patterson Angus, Moose Jaw, SK. A good crowd attended this event hosted by the Heart of the South Angus Tour Group and the Saskatchewan Angus Association at Johnstone Auction Mart. They enjoyed fellowship with Angus breeders and local beef cattle producers while benefiting from some interesting presentations: Kajal Devani - CAA Director of Breed Development “Genetic Selection Tools for Increased Sustainability and Profitability” Kajal explained the principles behind the performance analysis using the approach of estimated progeny differences (EPD's). She discussed the benefits of applying EPD's to your selection process and how to ensure Page 60

By Sheldon Kyle Marketing, the importance of becoming an active Advocate for Agriculture, and up-dates on the Cattle Market. The quality of the presentations and the discussions that they fostered were top notch. I believe every attendee left these sessions with a better understanding of topics that were discussed and maybe even took away a few new ideas to try working into their own operations. We also schedule enough time for attendees to socialize with fellow Angus breeders and enthusiasts. The Saskatchewan Angus Association is fully committed to hosting more of these Angus Breeder Sessions across the province and wants to see as many of our members and their customers in attendance as possible. These sessions do not happen on their own. We rely heavily upon volunteers and local champions like yourself to ensure the success of these events. You will be surprised at the response you will receive with a few quick phone calls and text messages as you invite people to attend one of these events. If you are at all interested in hosting a Saskatchewan Angus Breeder Information Session in your area please contact one of our dedicated board members or the office, we will gladly support you with speaker ideas, advertising and budget.

your evaluations are properly balanced taking into account the accuracy of data, heritability variations, herd environment and the clarity of your breeding objectives. Her presentation was very engaging and challenged us to utilize EPD's with both sophistication and practicality. We were encouraged not only to resource the information available on the CAA website but to contact her personally for clarification and assistance in using this powerful tool. Anne Wasko - Gateway Livestock Marketing Inc. “Cattle Market Trends & Marketing Options” Cattle market analyst Anne Wasko provided an interesting overview of the North American cattle market. She noted that herd expansion in the United States is influencing the current market and will have significant future implications. The Canadian beef cow herd is not expanding. Export

markets are facing some uncertainty with the advent of the new American administration with its protectionist inclinations. Trade agreements with Asia and Europe have positive potential for Canadian producers. Anne predicted somewhat stronger feeder prices over late winter and early spring but didn't see long term improvements. Her presentation was interesting for both the purebred breeders and the commercial cattle people attending. She left her audience concluding that indeed cattle markets are very complex and affected by many interests and factors. Marty Seymour - FCC Director, Industry and Stakeholder Relations “Public Trust in Agriculture” The attendees enjoyed the presentation by Marty on how important agriculture is to Canada and the role producers can play in promoting and explaining its Angus Edge - Spring 2017

diversity and contributions. He shared the video - Be Somebody - Be an Agvocate, along with many interesting facts/surveys related to agriculture. He discussed how important the public perception of agriculture will be moving forward. He encouraged us to speak out in a positive way about our lives in agriculture as farmers and ranchers enjoy a very high “public trust rating”. His background in managing the Canadian Western Agribition has equipped him well in his new

responsibilities at FCC. His dynamic communication skills will be an asset to our vast and varied agriculture industry. Thanks to the Heart of the South Angus Tour Group and the Saskatchewan Angus Association for organizing and hosting this event, the Johnstone Auction Mart for the venue and Bonnie Clubbe for the wonderful meal. It was gratifying to have commercial producers in attendance. Successful

And here is what some of the other participants had to say: I attended the session in Lloydminster and found it quite informative; I took home some new ideas for my program to help improve it. The session had a great format and I enjoyed the casual, open dialogue between participants and speakers and I thought there were a great variety of topics. Wayne Bone, Silver Willow Stock Farm, Paynton, SK I attended the seminar at Johnstone Auction Mart in December sponsored by the Saskatchewan Angus Association. I found it to be very informative and educational in regards to Association activities and rules pertaining to your purebred Angus herd or commercial operation. I found the staff to be very knowledgeable and friendly concerning all the programs of the Association and they answered all questions put forward. It was nice to have Rob Smith, the CEO of the Canadian Angus Association in attendance to offer advice and to get to know new breeders. I was impressed by the number of young people in attendance and many were new breeders as well. The guest speaker, Marty Seymour was very knowledgeable and entertaining and he covered his “Agvocate” topic thoroughly. I would recommend anyone attend any future seminar if they have the opportunity. John Willmott, Wilmo Angus Ranch, Pense, SK The Saskatchewan Angus Association and The Heart of the South Angus Tour group held an Information Day at Angus Edge - Spring 2017

events such as this will enhance the Saskatchewan Angus profile and create positive relationships with our producer customers.

Johnstone Auction Mart, in Moose Jaw on Monday December 19, 2016. The intent of the venture was to provide a source of useful information for purebred and commercial beef producers and allow an opportunity for participants to meet and interact with staff members or directors of the Saskatchewan and Canadian Angus Associations. It was also a great opportunity to socialize with our Angus friends and neighbours. The day began at 3:00 pm giving everyone an opportunity to finish their chores and make the trip to Moose Jaw in good time. The first speaker was Kajal Devani, Director of Breed Development with the Canadian Angus Association. Kajal spoke to the group about the basics of performance testing and the genetic tools offered by our Association to members and users of Angus genetics. The second presenter was the always entertaining and excellent speaker, Anne Wasko of Gateway Livestock Exchange who provided her analysis of current beef market conditions and gave us an insight as to what lies ahead for beef prices in the year ahead. After an excellent beef stew meal, Marty Seymour with FCC and former CEO of CWA, gave a very interesting presentation about marketing the food we produce, consumer demands and attitudes, and the role producers can play in meeting that demand and perhaps even shaping consumer attitudes. This short note doesn’t come close to describing how enlightening Marty’s talk was. The whole day was beyond our expectations! The information provided was extremely valuable and presented by speakers who were knowledgeable and entertaining. The meal was great and provided plenty of opportunity to visit with presenters, staff members and fellow producers. Michelle and I invited several of our commercial customers and it provided a wonderful opportunity to touch base with them and share what the Angus fraternity has to offer. Congratulations to the organizers! Collin Sauder, Windy Willows Farm, Hodgeville, SK Continued on page 64 Page 61

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The Power of Networking... I took over the cows from my mom and dad over the last number of years and am slowly learning the in’s and out’s. I have marketed my calves like many others through the local auction barns and was very curious about some of the other venues. I felt Anne Wasko’s talk on market options and outlooks was very informative and gave me information on these other options for me to look into and assess. I also felt the EPD talk was very well laid out and gives me one more tool when selecting my herd bulls. The final speaker of the night was also very interesting, telling us the power of our voice is very important in spreading the Ag story; another very important message for all in the agricultural industry. I thought the evening in Moose Jaw was extremely informative and I had a great time. I would encourage everyone to take part if one happens to come to your area. Myles Coughlin, Tuxford, SK

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We encourage you to join the over 150 members who have taken advantage of the opportunity to attend these events!

I was asked to give some feedback on the information night in Moose Jaw in December. I appreciated all of the hospitality (meal and refreshments). I am still relatively new to the purebred game, so it was great to meet and socialize with people. The speakers all did a great job. My wife Stacey and I especially enjoyed the session on public relations in agriculture. Thank you to everyone who organized the night. Kendall Gaboury, Spiritwood, SK I found the Moose Jaw session very informative. The presentation by Kajal Devani certainly strengthened my knowledge on EPD’s, and my value of them. Both Anne Wasko and Marty Seymour’s presentations were awesome. Thank you to the organizers for all their work putting the Moose Jaw session together and thanks to the Saskatchewan Angus Association for developing this program. Carla Dwernichuk, Double C Red Angus, Foam Lake, SK As a new purebred breeder I thought the information session at White Bear was well worth attending. The speakers were very knowledgeable and informative, especially about the importance of performance data and EPD’s. Shar Kaczmar, Longview Angus Grenfell, SK Page 64

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850,000 Records Say: Marbling Still Matters

Miranda Reiman, Industry Information, Certified Angus Beef LLC

Just missed it. Just missing a flight, a deadline for a major rebate, or watching your child’s winning shot at a ball game. The feeling is much the same. What if you knew you “just missed it” when it comes to cattle qualifying for the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand? For many cattle across the United States that’s the difference in a marbling score of 492 versus 500. Those commodity Choice carcasses are just a few fat flecks away from upper two-thirds Choice and their share of the $50 million that packers pay each year for cattle earning that high-quality designation. “I don’t think many producers know just how close they are to being ‘in the money’ so to speak,” says Justin Sexten, CAB director of supply development. “So many cattle sit right on that line and shifting that line ever so slightly is a big deal.” Take selecting for Angus bulls with breed average marbling expected progeny differences (EPDs), for example. At 0.56, just moving that up to 0.81 would suggest a 25-point improvement of marbling score, or a quarter of a score. That would move them from “just missed it” to “made it.” “That’s a potential 21% increase in supply to the CAB brand,” Sexten says. “For producers, that means thousands more cattle that could earn the average $40/head bonus.” That’s just one take-away from the brand’s 2016 study that looked at data on nearly 40% of the Angus-influenced, or “A-stamped,” carcasses in three, two-week periods. “It allows us to measure and monitor average characteristics on CABcertified carcasses over time,” says Clint Walenciak, CAB packing director. The analysis contains 850,000 records that include four of the brand’s 10 carcass measurements: ribeye area, hot carcass weight, fat thickness and marbling.

In each of five studies from 2008 to 2016, marbling easily rises to the top as the No. 1 reason cattle fail to qualify. In 2016, 92.6% of the A-stamped cattle that were kicked out had insufficient marbling. That’s compared to a high of 95% in 2012. “It’s improving,” Sexten says. That 492 average marbling score, or low Choice, was 472 nearly a decade ago on the 1,000-point scale. “But that’s the barrier to entry here.” Even though the average is very close to CAB’s marbling requirement of 500, the median is 20 points lower. “Producers hear us talking about 75% of the cattle grading Choice and Prime and they might think, ‘Mission accomplished,’ and move on to another trait. But more than half of the Angus cattle fall short of the brand’s marbling requirement,” he says. That’s why the focus continues on improvement through genetic selection and management. Some suggest the drive for quality has spurred the upward trend in hot carcass weight (HCW), Sexten says. “They’ll say, ‘If you make them big enough, they’re going to meet your specs,’” the animal scientist repeats. The data show even at a relatively light 650 lb. HCW “there are a whole pile of cattle that marble.” Continued on page 68

The team also uses that data to look at what keeps cattle from making CAB. “This information can then be passed along to producers as validation that they are still focusing in the right areas to produce CAB-qualifying cattle, or redirect if need be,” he says. Page 66

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CattleFax Market Presentation - NCBA Convention Each year CattleFax shares outlooks for what could come in the near and even distant future during the Cattle Industry Convention. For 2017, the success of the beef industry might hinge on a lack of packing capacity to meet the increasing amount of fed cattle. Pork and poultry production continue to grow domestically, so it will be vital to have more trade opportunities for beef going forward. Here are some of the facts and projections shared by CattleFax: • T h e c o w h e r d h a s e x p a n d e d approximately 2.1 million head since 2015. Much of this growth has been restocking in the Central Plains where the cow herd was culled heavily from drought. • Cow herd expansion looks like it will continue with an estimated 1.45 million added over the next two years. • An additional 1.5 million cattle were slaughtered in 2016 compared to 2015. Slaughter should be up 850,000 in 2017 and another 530,000 head in 2018. • Carcass weights look like they should pull back about 2 lb. thanks to the added fed cattle. Historically, carcass weights average a 5 lb. increase year-over-year.

• Beef production is projected to reach 26.3 billion lb. in 2017, a 3.9% rise in output. • Overall protein production from red meat and poultry is up 5.5 billion lb. the past two years. That’s a jump of more than 6%. • Per capita meet consumption continues to trend up from 2014’s 22 year low point. Last year American’s ate 212.4 lb. of meat. Next year it is expected to rise another 3.7 lb. followed by a 2.2 lb. increase in 2018. • Quality grades are on reaching alltime highs. In 2016, 75.7% of cattle graded Prime or Choice. Ten years ago that number was just 54.3%. • Trade is important for beef profitability with exports accounting for $333 in per head value for 2015. USDA estimates 2016 will finish at $304 in value and projects $320 for per head trade in 2017. • Beef exports are expected to go up 6%, while imports should drop 7%. By 2018 the U.S. should be a net beef exporter. For 2017 cattle prices are projected to average: • Fed Cattle $110/cwt ($98-124) • 750-Feeder Steer $130/cwt ($120-140)

850,000 Records Say: Marbling Still Matters At the same time, there are a great many Select grade carcasses with heavyweight discounts. “Carcass weight is certainly an indicator,” Sexten says, “but it’s not a perfect relationship.”

Randy Blach CEO of CattleFax

• 550-Steer Calf $150/cwt ($135-165) • Utility Cow $65/cwt ($55-75) Closing thoughts from CattleFax CEO Randy Blach: • “ F o r t h o s e i n t h e s t o c k e r o r backgrounding business you have to see profitability for the cattle feeder if you are going to see stability in your markets.” • “These markets are so much more liquid than what they’ve been in the past.” • “Price discovery is not free. We are going to have to make some investments in price discovery in our industry.” • “Commodity market prices have declined 45-60% from the early decade highs.” . • “Until we have more plants or access to more workers that is going to be a limitation. That is a real bottleneck.” • “The way the markets move with momentum is something to keep in mind.” “There will be some leaner years as we get to the end of this decade.” lb. in 2017, a 3.9% rise in output.

Continued from page 66

few (.4%) fall short of the threshold, but more than a tenth (11.2%) of those cattle have ribeyes greater than the 16-inch cap.

In 2014, CAB moved to include up to 1,050-lb. carcasses, a 50-lb. increase from its prior specification, but Sexten says that was just to “to keep the brand relevant to all stakeholders.”

“That’s really a concern for our foodservice partners, when it comes to portion control and plating, so we try to address variability with that specification,” Sexten says. Only 3.5% of the records were above the 1-inch back fat limit.

Indeed, 9.1% of Angus-type animals now fail to qualify because of carcasses too heavy (though some would also fail to make CAB for lack of marbling). That’s compared to just 2.6% of them in 2008, when the brand’s limit was 1,000 lb.

“Even during these times of record high grading, the fact is lack of marbling is still by far the leading obstacle that keeps cattle from our brand,” Walenciak says. “That’s been true historically and it is today.”

“As cattle have gotten bigger, so have ribeyes,” he notes. CAB requires a 10- to 16-square-inch ribeye, and very

For more information on how to aim for high-quality beef production, please visit www.CABpartners.com.

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NESSET LAKE & ISLAND-HILL ANGUS Invites You To The 12th Annual

BLACK ANGUS BULL SALE Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. At Meadow Lake Livestock Sales

Nesset Lake Tour of Duty 25D

Nesset Lake Powder River 66D

Nesset Lake Sequal 109D

Island-Hill Cedar Ridge 3D

Nesset Lake Logic 6D

Nesset Lake Substance 33D

Sires:

• HF Sequal 40Y • Benfield Substance 8506 • Thomas Powder River 9053 • Basin Payweight 107S • Nesset Lake Tiger 26Z •Nesset Lake Final Answer 90Z •Nesset Lake Tiger 30Z

•Nesset Lake Forte 123Z • Cedar Ridge 1V • RB Tour of Duty 177 • Sitz Logic Y46 • S A V Final Answer 035 • MAR Innovation 251

More pictures can be seen on our Facebook page : Nesset Lake Angus Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Ivan & Julie Demmans Phone: 306-236-6058 Cell: 306-236-8086 Sheldon & Lori Shkopich Phone : 306-236-6123 Cell : 306-240-5011 E-mail : nessetlakeangus@littleloon.ca Page 69

e h t t a g in l l e s s l l u b s u g n Hi Low A following events: 4th Annual Hi Low Online Sale

17 yearlings and 3 coming 2 year olds Closes Wednesday March 29th - 8 pm CST View bulls prior to sale anytime at your convenience Open House Tuesday March 28th 2 - 5 pm at the farm Sale hosted by www.dvauction.com

20th Annual Triple A Bull Sale Acquire the Angus Advantage

New sale date Saturday April 1st - 1 pm CST Johnstone Auction Mart Moose Jaw, SK Live sale broadcast by www.dlms.ca

Hi Low Bulls sired by: • Musgrave Boulder • Cole Creek Cedar Ridge • Mohnen South Dakota • Whitestone Armando • RB Tour of Duty

• Hi Low Tiger 12Y • Hi Low Tiger 1X • GGA Upward 23B • DLD New Elixir 66U

Dan, Erin and Cassidy Howell Lumsden, SK S0G 3C0 www.hilowangus.com Cell: 306-581-7606 Page 70

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

AKX 19D

Active Duty x Rainmaker 2154

75 lbs. BW: -0.4 WW: 54 YW: 97 M: 32 TM: 59

AKX 33D Brilliance x Windy 078

92 lbs. BW: 3.1 WW: 50 YW: 81 M: 26 TM: 51

Ten X x Windy 078

AKX 53D

82 lbs. BW: 2.1 WW: 60 YW: 108 M: 25 TM: 55

AKX 11D

Brilliance x HF Controller

85 lbs. BW: 0.7 WW: 51 YW: 89 M: 25 TM: 51

BULL SALE APRIL 7, 2017

Whitewood Livestock Whitewood, SK

Call to receive a catalogue

Upshot x Windy 078

AKX 27D

85 lbs. BW: 3.2 WW: 52 YW: 92 M: 26 TM: 52

View catalogue online at www.castlerockmarketing.com

SECTION 7 RANCH Alain, Karen & Alexis Decorby Box 268, Rocanville, SK 306.645.2019 306.435.7811 s7r@sasktel.net Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Active Duty x Ten X

AKX 5D

73 lbs. BW: 0.1 WW: 62 YW: 112 M: 29 TM: 60 Page 71

Here’s the Premium... Best or Worst of Times, Angus Cattle Hold Their Value was 45.7% less than in 2014, easing off nearly as much as the decline in feeder cattle futures. “Last fall’s Angus heifer premium was in the face of some very bearish prices for all heifers, as fewer producers were interested in buying replacements for breeding,” Suther said. “Also, this comes just two years after the highest Angus heifer premium ever recorded here, driven by rapid herd expansion.” While the cattle market fell from record highs in 2014 in a steep dive to last fall’s low, the relative demand for quality and premium bids for Angus calves fared better. “It pays to use Angus genetics in any market,” said Steve Suther, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) director of industry information. That’s what the 2016 “Here’s the Premium” (HTP) calf price tracking study found in the latest edition of a project started in 1999. Data has been analyzed by Iowa State University livestock economist Lee Schulz since the 2014 study. “The difference in calf prices between those two years is very wide,” he said, “but the rate of decrease in the Angus premium has been less than the overall feeder cattle price decrease.” Feeder cattle futures lost nearly half of their value in that time, with a 48.3% drop, Schulz said. The lighter, 5-weight calves targeted in HTP surveys fell more sharply, by nearly 56%. Angus steers held onto more value with a setback of just 32.2% in their premium over non-Angus steers in the same two years (see Figure 1). Auction prices for Angus heifers did not hold up as well as bids for their brothers. They still sold at a premium to non-Angus heifers, but that premium Page 72

Price projections for calves are part of the math used to calculate a maximum bid price when buying replacement heifers, Schulz noted. These are lower now than they were in the fall of 2015 and definitely the fall of 2014, and market psychology amid great uncertainty last fall likely affected bidders’ projections for prices down the road. “In 2014, I heard talk - and not just a little of it — of feedlots breeding heifers and selling them as replacements.,” the economist said. “Heifers at that time made up the smallest percentage of total cattle on feed we’ve seen in the history of the data going back to 1996.” In a market with such a demand for heifers, what a buyer is compelled to pay to meet goals is sometimes more than they are “willing to pay,” Schulz added. All of that contributed to the high heifer price and record Angus premium two years ago. Logically, the genetics and productive potential of those heifers improved by last fall, but fed cattle hit a low mark in October and bearish sentiments ruled. Bidders lowered their expectations to worst-case scenarios and Angus premiums returned to earlier trend lines. Angus heifers in the 2016 data brought a $3.75 per hundredweight (cwt.) premium over non-Angus. Although

that does not compare well with the record $6.89, Suther noted, it is only a couple of pennies less than the average Angus heifer premium for the 2008, 2010 and 2012 studies. Eleven auction markets across the country, from California to Kentucky and New Mexico to North Dakota, submitted data as part of the survey last fall that compared auction prices for more than 16,000 calves of known Angus vs. non-Angus genetics. Angus steers and heifers averaging 568 and 557 pounds, respectively, brought a combined average of $4.24/ cwt. premium over their non-Angus contemporaries with similar weights and condition, compared to nearly $7/cwt. in the historically high cattle market. The analysis model adjusts for variance and range of weights to identify Angus premiums independent of weight. In all, 330,530 cattle in 15,346 lots have been a part of this ongoing project in 22 surveys since its inception in 1999, running both spring and fall for the first eight years with 700-lb. cattle reported in the spring. The premium since 2008 and every other fall has averaged $5.98/ cwt. for Angus steer calves and $4.24/ cwt. for Angus heifers. Over the years, participating auction markets were asked to submit sale data on cattle known to be Angus vs. non-Angus spanning four different sale dates. Other items noted included whether cattle were weaned, vaccinated or preconditioned. Most of the markets from the original study in 1999 are still providing data for the ongoing HTP project, which has involved 15 reporting partners in all. Over the tenure of the study, California and Wyoming markets have consistently had the highest Angus Angus Edge - Spring 2017

By Natalie Anderson premiums and Missouri was among the top three states for Angus premiums last fall. Some auction market managers commented that each year of this study becomes more difficult for them to find non-Angus type cattle for which to report pricing data. That comes as no surprise, as the percentage of Angus cattle in the U.S. beef herd continues to rise. Some markets have stopped participating because of this lack of non-Angus comparisons, but the 2016 survey of 11 markets was the largest number of locations in a single survey year.ď&#x201A;Ž

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Figure 1

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n io it d a r T y il m a F n r u b y Fre Bull & Female Sale

April 21st @ 1:00 PM At the Farm - Oxbow, SK

He Sells

Freyburn Firin Up 48D Sire: Freyburn Firin Up 66B

He Sells

Freyburn Genesis 24D Sire: Merit Genesis 1077

On offer...

50 Black Angus yearling bulls 20 Purebred open yearling heifers

High Seller in 2016

Freyburn Genesis 50C Sire: Merit Genesis 1077

Freyburn Angus Farms

Jason & Melissa Frey Lucas & Kayla Frey 306.485.7230 306.485.8285 www.freyburnangus.com freyburnangusfarms@gmail.com Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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2017 Honor Scroll Recipients they helped create the “Mad about Beef” group to ensure a successful 4-H sale during the time of the BSE industry crisis. Bob served as board chair of the Clavet United Church and was a member of the Presidents Round table at Saskatchewan Government Insurance. Bob and Marjorie operated M Double B Livestock, Bob and Marjorie with Curt, Jamie, Colt a registered Angus and Waylon breeding operation and The Saskatchewan Livestock sale management company. Their Association was pleased to Angus herd included both Red acknowledge Bob & Marjorie and Black Angus and several Gold Blacklock for their contribution to Show Champions were produced, their community and to the livestock and numerous bulls were sold, to industry in Saskatchewan with a Scroll fellow Angus breeders as herd bulls. of Honour at the 2017 Saskatchewan Their beef operation partnered with Beef Industry Conference in Regina. Wilbar Farms to establish central Saskatchewan’s first Angus Bull Sale; Bob Blacklock was born March 5, Tools of the Trade Sale, which was and 1955 in Saskatoon, SK. He attended still is, one of the provinces top sales. elementary school in Saskatoon and M Double B Livestock sold females graduated from Clavet Composite in to several foreign countries including 1973. Marjorie Brown was born August Scotland, England and Austria. They 24, 1954 in Stettler, AB. She attended were founders of the Angus Connection school in Erskine and graduated from Club, an Angus promotional group for Stettler High School in 1972. Bob and Marjorie were married July 28, 1978 and have two children: Curt (Jamie) and Camille (Jon Scott) and four grandchildren Colt and Waylon Blacklock and Shelby and Bow Scott. Prior to marriage Bob was a partner in Maybelle Farm, a Polled Hereford operation and Marjorie worked in purebred sales management. Marjorie was also the first full time manager of the Alberta Angus Association. Bob and Marjorie were very active with their children’s activities in the community. They traveled many miles hauling cattle to 4-H functions and Junior Angus shows. While acting as leaders of the Saskatoon 4-H Beef Club, which they did for seven years, Page 76

Central Saskatchewan, that proved that successful Angus sales could be held in central Saskatchewan at a time when many breeders felt it could not be done. Bob is a past President of the Saskatchewan Angus Association and of the Saskatchewan Livestock Marketers. He was an active partner in the Saskatoon Auction Mart from 1979 to 1996 and from 1996 to 2007 Bob and Marjorie owned and operated the Saskatoon Auction Mart. They formed a partnership with Doug Howe and managed the Angus Pride Sale in Saskatoon that established numerous records for both Red and Black Angus. Bob and Marjorie were early partners with Farm Credit Canada on the Alliance Program and operated the Stockmen’s Assistance Finance Company from 2003 - 2014. Bob and Marjorie have been involved in the insurance industry since 1986 and they continue to operate Stockmen’s Insurance, a leading livestock insurance company. They also now enjoy camping, golfing, good food and traveling.

Congratulations also go out to Olive and Ted Perrin, Perrin Ranching and Bob and Janet Jackson, Bo-Jan Enterprises on receiving the 2017 Honour Scroll.

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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CCA Issues Management Monthly: The importance of relationship building From Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Action News... Welcome to the first installment of Issues Management Monthly for 2017. This monthly column highlights the work being done to address beef industry issues. By Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) staff, featuring Issues Manager Tom LynchStaunton. In past columns, I have talked about the importance of greater connectivity among industry groups for effective and efficient issues management. Connectivity among industry organizations will be important for communicating effectively to the public about how we produce beef and why we produce beef in certain ways. Presenting a united front provides more credence to our messaging and shows the public that we are sincere in our commitments to the environment and animal care and to building a sustainable beef industry. Demonstrating our shared values to the public will instill confidence in them that we are indeed doing the right things. The importance of relationship building is essential to building public trust. Simply getting to know each other starts to build that trust among one another and establish common ground. Once that trust is established and is strong, then meaningful debate, negotiation, and problem solving can occur. The CCA and other industry groups spend a tremendous amount of energy creating relationships with our federal and provincial governments, for example, which allows us to work together in respectful and professional ways. This has especially been the case when working with our largest trading partner, in both imports and exports, the U.S. Our respective beef industries have developed a strong and collaborative Page 78

relationship over the years. Even though the border was closed in 2003 for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the time it took to partially reopen the border to Canadian beef was only about three months, which in comparison to other similar situations around the world, was unprecedented at the time. Another example was the assistance of many allied U.S. national and state level organizations in support of CCA and the Government of Canada to repeal mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) legislation. Without that strong relationship, COOL repeal would likely have not yet occurred. With a new president in the U.S. giving rise to uncertainty with respect to Canada and trade, we are likely entering a period where our efforts into our relationships will be as important as ever. Not only is this obviously important for continued trade which benefits both of our industries, it is important for that continued cohesiveness or united front when dealing with similar consumer issues and concerns. For example, in the fall of 2015 when the International Agency on Research of Cancer (a division of the World Health Organization) released its analysis placing red meat in a possible carcinogen category, we worked very closely with the North American Meat Institute, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and other industry groups to strategize and share some common messaging around the healthfulness of meat and provide important context around the actual risk, which is very low. We believe the action of presenting factual information and necessary context from a united front helped to neutralize the story very quickly, which we considered a big accomplishment. In any good relationship, whether internal or external, good communication is essential. Making

By Tom Lynch-Staunton sure we continue to communicate with governments, as well as consumers, will be essential to maintaining that strong relationship. It remains to be seen what the Trump administration will do with respect to Canada and trade, but be sure that CCA will continue to work very hard at strengthening our relationship with the U.S., as well as other export markets around the world. It will be more important than ever to communicate how our trade, information sharing, and collaborative relationship has benefited both countries in many ways.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! for the Saskatchewan Angus

GOLD & JUNIOR SHOW

To be held in conjunction with the 2017 Stockade Roundup, Lloydminster, SK More coming in the Summer issue of “The Angus Edge” or email office@ saskatchewanangus.com for details

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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20 Yearling Red Angus 2 - 2 Year old Red Angus 30 Yearling Charolais 2 Yearling Black Angus

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Murray (c) 306-478-7088 (h) 306-478-2520 Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Shane (c) 306-301-9140 (h) 306-266-4870 Page 79

Tricks to Grafting a Calf... Since the beginning of time a c o m m o n procedure in spring calving is crossgrafting calves onto surrogate mothers. It used to be calves were bought from dairies but you do run the risk of exposing your herd to infectious organisms not present on it such as scours. With a lot of the exotic breeds such as Maine Anjou, twinning can reach the 5 to 8% range with many cows twinning year after year. This leaves an ideal opportunity to steal one twin (provided both were born alive) and get it sucking on a foster mom. The cow is thus productive and most beef cows only have enough milk for one growthy calf anyway. The ideal time to graft is right at birth if the cow has not had the chance to lick her dead calf. Most producers will have the twins close at hand so they can immediately be thrown in with their new mother. It’s easiest to rub the afterbirth or fetal fluid of the cow all over the calf to change the scent and leave a large amount draped over the calf. This will usually fool even the wisest of cows. Heifers are generally easier to fool than the wise multiparous cow but placing the pair together in a small pen is helpful. Watch for the telltale signs of bunting or kicking indicating the match is not going well. Often mothers do not accept one twin as well so if you need to keep them together keep in a small area. Once turned out it is likely to be abandoned. Fortunately twins do get very inventive at stealing from other cows. They usually suck from behind while the cow’s own calf is nursing. Page 80

In cows which are hyper, or with young heifers, mothering can even be a problem with their own calf. This is where a few handfuls of grain placed over the calfs back or the use of a commercial product “CALF CLAIM” can come in handy. Some producers use a perfume like product over the calf and up and around the cows nose to trick their scent. One of the most common causes of death for young calves on large ranches is abandonment, especially if many are calving in a small area. It is easy for young heifers to get mixed up as to whose calf is theirs. I have seen hobbles used for several days to allow the grafted calf to suckle a hyper cow. If older calves die and grafting is desired the situation becomes more difficult. It is best then to skin the dead calf and tie the hide over the new calf. This extra effort in skinning usually makes the grafting procedure go smoothly. Take the largest piece of hide over the midsection of the calf. It is not necessary to skin out the legs and neck. After a few days the smell will become great, the hide will fall off and generally the grafting will be successful. Older calves can even be hog-tied for a short while. Their struggling and balling will attract the cow and may initiate bonding. Often producers will keep over a few cows which are really culls, but were pregnant when examined, especially if these cows were bred early. The opportunity may present itself to steal their calf and graft it on to a younger, more productive cow which has lost her calf. With twins, steal the calf the mother is not accepting as well, or if this appears equal, select the freemartin heifer in the case of mixed twins. If your success twinning is getting way ahead of you, several options are available. Bottle feeding until the opportunity arises, selling or leasing the calf to a neighbor, and having high

By Roy Lewis DVM

producing nurse cows around will all benefit you. Make sure the calf has had adequate colostrum as twins not receiving enough could be the start of many problems. The nurse cows usually need some dairy blood in them and they can often raise three or four calves quite easily. These cows will usually let anything suck so grafting multiple calves onto the same cow is not a problem. If possible it is nice to have them calving early with their own calf so they are heavily producing when you need them. Some producers will purchase three teaters or slow milkers from a dairy for this purpose. A big CAUTION here though, is make absolutely sure the management of the dairy fits in close to what you are doing and get the cows early before calving is initiated. Isolate the cow and her calves for two to three weeks to minimize the spread of any disease. Talk to your veterinarian if there is anything he/she would recommend testing for before bringing a dairy animal onto your premise. If purchasing a calf for grafting the same precautions apply. Make sure the management of the operation is similar to yours. Beef calves will return you a higher return the next fall. But be absolutely sure to isolate the pair for two weeks. The last thing you want to do is introduce scours into your herd with a calf purchase. Be absolutely sure the calf got a good suck of colostrum when first born. If at all possible try not to purchase calves off farm if you can possibly avoid it. Others may keep a cow milking in the hopes an extra twin will come along. All these strategies allow utilizing twins and making productive cows out of ones destined to be culled.

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Lamb’s Quarters Angus 28th Annual

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1 pm Saturday March 25, 2017 Heartland Livestock Swift Current, SK

50 Black Angus Yearling Bulls 100 Open Commercial Replacement Heifers Bull Financing Available

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Dave & Chris Lamb Angus Edge - Spring 2017

DNA-Leptin Tested Footrot Vaccinated

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Smaller Isn’t Always Better... There is no “one size fits all” in the cattle business. So it is with calving ease and birth weight, too, said Dan Shike, University of Illinois animal scientist. He presented on finding the optimums during an Angus University Workshop sponsored by Merck Animal Health Nov. 6 at the 2016 Angus Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Cow size, calf size and shape, and presentation all figure into calving season success. “We could approach and address calving-ease problems by making our cows bigger,” he said. “There’s probably not a lot of people interested in that as a primary approach.” That’s why, historically, there’s been such a major spotlight on birth weight. In the Angus breed, expected progeny differences (EPDs) for weaning and yearling weight have undergone a steady increase since the 1980s, but birth weight peaked in the mid-1990s and has gone down since. “Both genetics and environment can have an impact,” Shike said, noting factors like weather and nutrition. To gauge what breeders think is ideal, the animal scientist polled those in the room. About half of the attendees answered a series of questions via text message. “What birth weight do you consider excessive for cows?” Shike asked. In real-time results, the majority (56%) selected greater than 90 pounds (lb.),

By Miranda Reiman | Certified Angus Beef LLC

another 33% said greater than 100 pounds (lb.) and 6% said more than 110 lb. Only 6% selected “greater than 80 lb.,” until the question changed to the perspective of “your commercial customers.” Then 29% of the crowd said greater than 80 lb. was too big, indicating some selection pressure is based on customer preference. At 53%, the majority still said greater than 90 lb. “What is optimum? Can we make it too small?” Shike asked. The range was from less than 40 lb. to less than 70 lb., with about half of respondents saying either less than 50 lb. or less than 40 lb. is “too light.” The fear with short gestations and very small calves is not only that the animals won’t catch up on the growth curve, but also that their initial start won’t be ideal, Shike said. “They’re not going to get up; they’re not going to nurse. They’re not going to get their colostrum, which makes them susceptible to those early health challenges,” he said. “That’s going to stay with them through their whole life, and it’s going to have an impact on their performance. That’s the concern, and that’s why we’re talking about it.” Shike shared Illinois data on two different groups of fall-born steer calves sorted into thirds for low, average and high birth weight. The Charolais-Anguscross steers didn’t show a difference in number of treatments required, but death loss prior to weaning was 15% for the light onethird and just below 2% for the heavy one-third. “I don’t know if everyone realizes what portion of

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those that don’t make it are in the bottom third,” he said of its impact on the farm or ranch. On the data from Angus steers, there was a linear decrease in preweaning death loss, 14.4% to 8.6%, as birth weights increased. Numerically, carcass quality improved with larger calves, but it was not statistically significant. “What about gestation length? Is that a contributing factor?” Shike asked. Using artificial insemination (AI) records, he sorted those same CharolaisAngus calves on gestation length, into groups of less than 276 days, 277 to 280 days, and greater than 281 days. That classification also showed that as gestation length increased, death loss prior to weaning decreased, from 12.1% in the shortest gestation group to 7.5% for those over 281 days. Although there was an increase in hot carcass weight, the amount of time a calf spent in utero didn’t appear to impact carcass quality in this study. “I still think it probably could … in an extreme case,” Shike said, noting the fall-calving advantage during a nice September in southern Illinois. “Most people would argue the short gestation and lighter birth would be much more problematic where it was cold. Even though this short gestation might have made them more susceptible, they weren’t really challenged.” The take-home for breeders is simple, Shike said: “Focus on calving ease, not birth weight. Don’t keep driving birth weight down.” Also, be self-aware. “I’m not sure we all need to target the same calving ease,” he said, noting many herds have generations stacked with calving ease maternal. If environmental factors are favorable and there aren’t calving problems, “You probably don’t need those double-digit calving-ease bulls.”

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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Community and Industry Help Rancher Through TB Ordeal... This article is re-printed with permission from the Beef Business Magazine.

“Approximately five” of the remaining quarantines are in Saskatchewan, the agency said.

Brad Osadczuk is starting to breathe a little easier. Osadczuk is a rancher from Jenner, Alberta. He owns the herd at the centre of a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) investigation into a case of bovine tuberculosis discovered in September.

The CFIA’s general investigation area in Saskatchewan includes rural municipalities south of the South Saskatchewan River and west of Highway 4. Only premises that have been placed under quarantine by the CFIA are prevented from moving animals without permission. Producers in the general investigation area that have not been contacted by the CFIA are allowed to move animals (including sending cattle to auction markets and feedlots), but must comply with livestock identification requirements.

“Oh, it’s been a rough fall I guess you could say. It’s been a struggle,” he said just after Christmas. Osadczuk was informed on September 22 that a slaughter cow he had shipped to the US had tested positive for TB. He says it’s been nothing but bad news from that day on. “We just never knew anything like this could ever happen to us,” he said. “We always thought we knew what we were up against in this industry, but this one here was a real eye opener.” The early days of the investigation were exasperating for affected ranchers, as the CFIA went about its work without a lot of communication, Osadczuk says. “They were not really good communicators, and we were kind of just hanging in the balance waiting for the next phone call or next set of orders or whatever they needed from us. There was a lot of uncertainty and a lot of stress and anxiety just not knowing anything. And they were very vague. They didn’t tell us much off the bat, so it was tough.” “I can’t complain now. I guess you could say we got to the top and had some conversations and things are quite good now. But it took pretty much a shakeup for that to happen. A lot of people in the CFIA a long way up the ladder weren’t very happy with me and the rest of my neighbours, but it took that to get our lines of communication improved. And it’s good now.” The CFIA quarantined more than 50 premises after the outbreak was discovered. As of December 21, seven quarantines had been lifted. Page 84

A CFIA investigation looks at herds that have come into contact with the infected herd, and herds that have received animals from or provided animals to the infected herd in the last five years. All of these herds are placed under quarantine. According to a CFIA spokesperson, “The investigation uses both epidemiological information and testing to determine the disease risk of potentially infected herds.” In this particular investigation, the use of community pastures, with animals co-mingling while grazing, resulted in cattle from 18 premises being considered part of the infected herd. Animals who react to on-farm testing are ordered destroyed for further laboratory testing, the spokesperson said. Any herd that has a positive animal as a result of the laboratory testing is declared infected and the entire herd destroyed. If reactor animals test negative for bovine TB, the other animals on the farm are released from movement controls. Six animals have tested positive so far. The positive test from Osadczuk’s ranch means all of his animals will be destroyed by the first week of January, “so we’re starting from scratch,” he said. “There’s a period of time where we’ve got to assess the level of infection. We don’t know what

by Jeff Gaye

that looks like yet, we’ll hopefully get going on that in the new year and basically see what it’s going to take to get rolling and start repopulating our ranch. So that’s where we stand now. We’re going to be depopulated here by the by the end of next week. And then we have to start. But that’s what we do, so we’re going to get moving forward.” Osadczuk says the compensation process is underway. “We did quite a bit of dealing with the compensation department of the CFIA for the last part of December, and all of us in the community kind of work together with them,” he said. “We’re hopefully close to having compensation finished with, and hopefully we’ll get things moving along.” In the meantime, the beef industry and the community – including the bankers – have been supportive. “Our bankers have been more than helpful,” he said. “My banker was supportive and understanding and helpful right from day one. They came out to see me, and told us no matter what we’ll get through this.” Finance had been a worry for the affected ranchers, who would typically sell cattle in the fall to pay bills and minimize overwintering costs. “We’re still a little bit behind with getting our annual loans and stuff paid,” Osadczuk said. “But we’ll get ’er done here, and as we get compensated for these cattle they’ve destroyed we’ll get all that straightened out.” He said industry groups, particularly the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), were a big help. “Bob Lowe, the chairman of ABP, was probably one of the first guys I called, and I spoke with Bob pretty much every day, maybe three times a day for the first month. And we’d talk quite a few times a week all through the first few months. I still talk to Bob at least once a week,” he said. “I was a delegate with Alberta Beef Producers for the last three years. And without them and without my ties Angus Edge - Spring 2017

to our industry producer groups I don’t know what I would have done, to be honest with you.” So what advice would he have for producers dealing with a future outbreak? “I don’t know if I can say that anyone could ever be prepared for it,” Osadczuk said. “Biosecurity has always been something I’ve been fairly aware of and conscious of and kind of working toward, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that we would be talking about a tuberculosis outbreak, and the severity of it. It’s pretty overwhelming. It kind of feels like you’re in this by yourself, but it was good to know that we had the support of the industry. Hopefully, we can get through this and be better for it. I just want to thank everybody again, my fellow industry people and everybody, for their support and understanding,” he said.

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Bovine TB: Understanding the disease and how it is managed in Canada The Beef Cattle Research Council is conducting a webinar on Thursday, March 2 that will provide background information on bovine tuberculosis, including how the bacteria functions, how the disease spreads, and the testing process. Canada's surveillance program as well as some general biosecurity advice to minimize disease transmission to your operation will also be discussed. Interested but aren’t available that evening? Register anyway! This webinar will be recorded and posted online at a later date. All registrants will receive a link to the recording and additional learning resources. By attending the live event, you have the opportunity to interact and ask questions. For more information visit www.beefresearch.ca (webinars page).

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Saskatchewan Inductees to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame... Robert Switzer, Sandy Bar Ranch, Aneroid, SK with his portrait in the Hall. Robert Switzer makes big things happen in the Canadian beef industry and his community. He’s been doing it for decades as a distinguished Angus breed champion, judge, promoter, mentor and industry leader. Angus cattle are in Bob’s blood. He bought his first animal at age 12. The next year he followed up with his first registered Angus – a purchase that would grow into his Sandy Bar Ranch in Aneroid, Saskatchewan. Bob has spent his entire farming career as an advocate for the cattle industry in Saskatchewan and across Canada. He’s an ideas man, and was instrumental in the creation and support of many brands and events within the industry. In the late 1970s, Bob organized the first Angus feeder calf sale in southern Saskatchewan, working to link buyers and sellers across Canada. Their Short Grass Bull and Female Sale has been running for 38 years at Sandy Bar Ranch, creating strong North American markets for Saskatchewan livestock. Bob’s vision for a sustainable cattle business lead to a unique community project called Red Coat Feeders that has been feeding cattle and employing local people since 1998. Bob was founding director of the idea that worked to stop the exodus of cattle, grain and people from the region. Today, Read Coat Feeders runs 20,000 head of cattle, covers 13 quarter sections of land and employs 17 full-time staff. Sandy Bar Ranch – that Bob runs with his wife Gail – has bred great cattle that have started some of the most elite herds in the country. Sandy Bar bulls work in prestigious purebred and commercial herds. Cattle from Sandy Bar have been sold internationally to England, Ireland, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Japan, China, New Zealand, Russia and Kazakhstan. And Bob is a highly respected judge, who has judged every breed of beef cattle in shows across Canada. Bob’s ranch is also part of Prairie Heritage Beef – a brand built on 14 family ranches that raises uniquely branded beef to select retail chains in Ontario and British Columbia. Bob has served the Canadian livestock industry in leadership positions with the Canadian Angus Association, Saskatchewan Angus Association and Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association. He’s served on his local municipal council, is an active sponsor and mentor of 4-H, and credits the support of his family for many of his achievements. Bob and his late Page 86

wife Sandra were recognized as Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers in 1980. A dynamic and dedicated promoter of Angus cattle, Bob has helped keep Angus the number one breed in Canada. He continues to encourage, support and inspire younger producers to share his passion for Canadian agriculture. Portrait in the Hall of John Willmott, Wilmo Angus, Pense, SK John Willmott has served Canadian agriculture for decades as an effective leader who builds consensus and is respected for his insights and wisdom. His life work has brought changes and advances to countless agriculture organizations, especially his passion for agricultural shows. Born and raised in southern Ontario, John moved to Pense, Saskatchewan in the 1970s and began to dream as big as the prairie sky. His focus was the Canadian Western Agribition. He saw the opportunity to build the best beef show on the continent, and the largest in Canada, making Agribition a truly national and international show. He even took trips with then Canadian agriculture minister Eugene Whelan to solicit federal support to get the show off the ground. It’s a huge understatement to say that John has been an Agribition advocate. He’s been on the board for 29 years, with roles as director, committee chair, member, president and past president. As president, John promoted Canadian agriculture when he travelled to livestock shows in New Zealand, Scotland, Mexico, Australia, the United States and Canada. Today, Agribition is the best beef show and respected international marketplace to the world. But his work and dreams didn’t stop there. During those same Agribition decades, John was an integral part of the success of the current Canada’s Farm Progress Show – a premier event that showcases new products and innovations in crop and livestock technology. John has been a board member and shareholder of the Regina Exhibition Association for 40 years. Throughout his career and service to Canadian agriculture, John served as president, director and member of 19 ag-related organizations, including Agribition, Farm Progress Show, and the Canadian Angus Association as president and general manager. He was part of the history making that happened around boardroom tables where decisions were made that changed the rules and regulations in Canadian agriculture. Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Change Can Build Up

By Laura Conaway CAB Producer Communications Specialist

I saw my first cow pasture turn into a gas station this year here in Florida. My parents used to tell me the same stories: of hogs caught in woods where there are no longer woods, of cows grazed on what I’ve only ever known to be gravel parking lots. I took their word for it. I’m in my 20s and haven’t witnessed too much of the past. This was a first for me though, and if we’re being honest, I’ve struggled to find the good in that kind of growth. But time marches on. The only thing that stays the same is everything changes. Everything changes - that song plays over and over in my head. It’s a New Year, and as much as it’s cause to look ahead, we sometimes look back. So I’ve been thinking about time lately – what the world must look like to those older and wiser than me. Is there an appreciation for the new we create or more of a frustration with what seems an inability to leave what was as what is? I was standing in a sheep corral in California this summer when Dave Hamilton told me, “I don’t know what I’m going to see. I used to kid my mother that she went from horse and buggy to man on the moon in her lifetime.” Coins jingled in his pocket and his words lingered. A mechanic, a sheep herdsman, a widower, father and an Angus cattle producer, Dave is 83 and one of those people who looks at a sunrise like it’s a movie rather than a still photo. He knows there’s more to all of it.

Of machinery, he says: “There’s more variety but it’s all basically the same as before my time. Some of the basics haven’t changed. Sure they’ve changed the paint color but a lot of the internal equipment is still built around the same theory today as it was during the horse and buggy days of the harvesters.” And that got me thinking about you, and this business and the good growth that’s happening in the Angus breed. You see all growth doesn't require the uprooting of the old to make room for the new. I’ve found that good growth often takes what was and builds on it, refines it to become what is. I mean, think about our cows. Don’t they have the same basic parts as 100 years ago? And yet look at what you have been able to refine from what was, into what becomes today. “Our heritage is really more of a legacy, a culmination of traditions, beliefs and values that an organization deems important,” John Stika said at the Certified Angus Beef ® brand’s Annual Conference. “They guide the organization, help shape our character as we remain authentic to one purpose: to supply the highest quality beef the Angus breed has to offer.” 2016 was a year of growth. We’ve added cattle and those cattle are bigger, more proven and genetically sound than ever before. We’ve also stayed true to who we are, who we’ve been: agriculturalists, environmentalists, families who love what we do and want the consumer to love what we produce.

Hall of Fame... Continued John was a respected beef judge in Canada and internationally, and an Angus breeder. He helped create the first regulations affecting artificial insemination and a standard Record of Performance for the Canadian beef industry. He held a strong belief that commercial and purebred producers must work together to move the entire industry forward. And he saw opportunities and encouraged producers to use the show ring as a marketing tool for their beef cattle. John’s service to the larger agricultural community has included volunteer work with the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan, the farm stress line and humane societies. Angus Edge - Spring 2017

John and his wife Marg received the Honour Roll of the Saskatchewan Livestock Association for contributions to the beef industry. He also received the Chris Sutter Builder Award for exemplary contributions to the development of Agribition, and is an inductee in both the Canadian Western Agribition Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame. John has a gift for seeing what needs to be done, cutting through the obstacles to bring people together and getting it done. Canadian agriculture has benefitted immensely from John’s gift. Page 87

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new history book and for the Canadian Angus Foundation. Please contact Belinda Wagner (bwagner@cdnangus. ca or 306-757-6133) or Tina Zakowsky (tzakowsky@cdnangus.ca or 1-888571-3580 ext 3584) to make a donation.

The Canadian Angus Foundation (CAF) is thrilled with the interest that our members are showing in the Canadian Angus Foundation’s new history book project. As we work on the new book, the 1985 history book

Congratulations Glen & Darlene Glessman of Glesbar Angus, Barrhead, AB. They won our early bird draw of the Wendy Risdale ‘Time Out’ print for having their story submitted by the December 9 deadline. The CAF is doing a draw a month in 2017 to help ‘perk up’ your interest. Congratulations to long time breeder and supporter, John Willmott of Wilmo Angus, Pense, SK who won the January draw of a bag of ANGUS RFID tags. You could be the lucky winner of the February draw produced by Lloyd Pickard is receiving - everyone needs those tags right now... new interest. The Canadian Angus Association would be grateful for any Don’t forget to share your Angus story! additional copies that members would Contact Tina at Angus Central (888like to donate. These books will be 571-3580) or submit your story online. auctioned to raise funds to produce the

2016 Saskatchewan Angus Heritage

Awards

Thank you for your perserverance, vision and dedication to the development of the Angus breed.

2J Angus James & Josephine Easton & Family Wawota, SK Kenosee Park Angus Bob & Margaret Easton & Family Wawota, SK

Roymac Angus Roy & Maureen McDonald & Family Cut Knife, SK Page 90

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Bulls for Sale by Private Treaty

Here’s a sample of bulls and sire groups available on the farm...

Red U6 Country 4D BW: 65 WW: 848 Sire: Red WRAZ Coleman 44Z

Red U6 Gingerbread 49D BW 83 WW: 789

Red U6 Major 37D BW 86 WW: 781 Sire: Red JJL Final Design 50Y

U6 Ignite 7D BW 83 WW: 798 Sire: PVF Insight 0129

Sire: Red Ter-Ron Parker 34A

Thanks to South View Ranch for their purchase of Red U6 Journeyman 17D at the Masterpiece Sale at Agribition - a 13B son.

Red U6 Jive 10D BW 98 lbs WW: 858 Sire: Red U6 Journey 13B

U6 LIVESTOCK

Garnet & Shirley Yewsiuk Evan & Brittany Yewsiuk & family 306-554-COWS(2697) • 306-554-8708 Wynyard, SK

www.u6livestock.com

u6livestock@hotmail.com Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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Genetics by Design

Offering 65 Two Year Old Red & Black Angus Bulls Private Treaty at the Ranch Bulls are pre-priced so you know your costs up front

XO Crowfoot 0102X Sons Sell

Every day is Sale day for your convenience! Red Triple V Yukon Jack 9Y Sons Sell

Forage-based genetics designed for your program. Utilizing low-input cattle for higher ranch profit.

Call for a weigh sheet - Dan, Alana & Matthew Van Steelandt Home: 204-665-2448 • Dan Cell: 204-522-0092 • Matt Cell: 204-264-0706 Box 968 Melita, MB R0M 1L0 - 1 mile W of Medora on Hwy # 3, 2 1/2 miles South on Road 144W

vvvranch@gmail.com • www.vvvranch.com

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

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Saskatchewan Junior Angus Association Board of Directors Tyra Fox - President Lloydminster, SK - 306-825-9624 tyrafox20@gmail.com Brianna Kimmel - Vice-President Lloydminster, SK - 780-214-3643 brianna@twistedsisterscattle.ca Alexis Frick - Secretary Neudorf, SK - 306-730-9913 northernviewangus@imagewireless.ca Kodie Doetzel - Junior Director Lipton, SK - 306-336-2245 kdnuhorizon@gmail.com Directors at Large Jennifer Jones Lloydminster, SK - 306-825-7253 jennifer.j.jarret@gmail.com Carson Liebreich Radville, SK - 306-815-7226 tjlmerit@sasktel.net Wade Olynyk Goodeve, SK - 306-876-4420 olynyk44@gmail.com Baxter Blair McLean, SK - 306-699-7211 baxteraiden@hotmail.com Ty Schwan Swift Current, SK - 306-774-4494 jschwan69@yahoo.ca Davis Schmidt Watrous, SK - 306-946-2616 davis.schmidt1@gmail.com

Saskatchewan Junior Angus Association

Box 3771, Regina, SK S4P 3N8 Phone 306-757-6133 Fax 306-525-5852

office@saskatchewanangus.com www.saskatchewanangus.com

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Saskatchewan Junior Angus... Well we’re into another year already and it’s time for us juniors to start planning the year ahead! The end of our 2016 was the annual meeting and fun day at Canadian Western Agribition. The annual meeting consisted of updating all the board positions and discussions on all the upcoming 2017 events. During the meeting our 2016 scholarship recipient was announced - congratulations to Jennifer Jones. She will receive $500 towards her secondary education. At the meeting we also planned what activities would take place at the fun day; there was a scavenger hunt, some games and the annual pizza party sponsored by the Saskatchewan Junior Angus Asociation. There was a great turnout with lots of younger members participating. It’s always nice for us junior board members to get an afternoon to spend with all the other juniors. Back in the fall of 2016 our annual Saskatchewan Junior Gold Show was held in Lloydminster, SK at the Stockade Round Up for the third year. There was another great turn out with many previous and new juniors in attendance. Activities available for juniors to participate in were print marketing, photography, literature, a costume class, team judging, grooming, showmanship and of course the conformation classes. I would like to thank all the judges, volunteers and sponsors that helped make our junior show a success. I would also like to congratulate and thank all the juniors that came and participated. Coming up very soon in February will be the 12th annual Canadian Junior Angus GOAL Conference. The conference this year will be held in Edmonton, AB at the West Edmonton Mall, February 18-20. Juniors will hear many interesting and informative speakers, get to meet many new juniors and have a weekend full of fun at the mall. GOAL is a great place to catch up with old Angus friends and

by Tyra Fox, President

meet many new juniors. It’s also a place where you will make life-long friends and connections. I look forward to seeing everyone there. Later in the year we will have the 18th annual Showdown. It will be held in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan this year from July 20-22. Showdown offers many activities for juniors who attend and it’s always a great time. The SJAA is very excitied that Showdown will be hosted in Saskatchewan this year. Be sure to watch for more Showdown updates. Into the fall we will also once again be hosting our Saskatchewan Junior Show at Stockade Roundup in conjunction with the Gold Show. I am very excited to be serving the SJAA another year as the president. I look forward to meeting many more juniors and if you ever have any questions feel free to contact me at any time!

JUNIORS, DID YOU KNOW? There are a multitude of opportunities and deadlines coming up over the next few months... Want to be named the Junior Angus Stockman of the Year (Nominate by April 15), or the Junior Angus Ambassador (Apply by April 30)? How about travel to the Red Angus Association of America's Junior Round-Up, or the National Junior Angus Association's LEAD (Apply by May 10)? Want to win a scholarship (May 15 for Dick Turner Memorial, June 15 for CJAA)? Want to win a travel bursary (ongoing)? You can attend national or international events thru this program including Showdown. You know you won't win if you don't apply!! Check the CAF, CJA and SAA web-sites for more information. Angus Edge - Spring 2017

SJA Director Profiles... My name is Baxter Blair. I live at McLean, Saskatchewan, and have my own purebred Red Angus genetics at Double B Angus. I have been involved in the Angus industry for as long as I remember, and strive every day to put my efforts towards bringing quality cattle into the Angus breed. I am involved in the Angus industry for many reasons, mostly for the amazing people I meet throughout. I am currently a Saskatchewan Junior Angus director, and I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for the Angus breed. Baxter Blair Hello, I am Kodie Doetzel of NuHorizon Angus and this will be my fifth year as a board member of the Saskatchewan Junior Angus Association and my second year as the junior director on the Saskatchewan Angus board. I have attended three Saskatchewan Junior Angus shows, eight Canadian Junior Angus “Showdown’s”, and will be attending GOAL for the fourth time this year on Family Day weekend. Each year I attend Agribition. I am also in 4-H with Valley View. We live on a farm north of Lipton, SK. With my parents, Deb and Kieran I raise purebred Red and Black Angus cattle as well as some commercial cattle. Between showing cattle in 4-H and Junior Angus shows, I am kept pretty busy. I am in grade 11 at Cupar School. In the winter I enjoy skiing, snowmobiling and hunting. In the summer I like quadding and playing baseball. If you like meeting new people, showing cattle, and having fun, give Junior Angus a try. I know you will like it! Kodie Doetzel Hello everyone, my name is Tyra Fox. I am 18 years old and in June of 2016 I graduated from the Lloydminster Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Comprehensive High School. I live just east of Lloydminster, SK, at my family farm Justamere Farms, where we run about 300 purebred Black Angus cattle, along with a small commercial and club calf herd. I started 4-H when I was nine years old; right now I am a member of the Alberta Bandits 4-H club. I am the president of the club, and I enjoy every part of 4-H. I am also in my 9th year of piano; I’m working on my 8th level playing exam and my level 4 theory exam. I work part time at Peavey Mart and I have been there for just over four years. I am starting school at the University or Regina this fall and have been very busy helping at the farm every day.

Livestock in Yorkton, the second Saturday in April. Since I was four years old I've played hockey and when I was able to join school sports I joined in volleyball, basketball, badminton and track & field and have been playing them all ever since! I am a part of the Goodeve Beef 4-H club and have been for eight years. I am currently president of the club and I enjoy everything about being part of this club and teaching the younger members what I have learned. This year I am very excited to be the Secretary of the Junior Angus board and meeting new breeders and members! Alexis Frick

Going to all the Angus shows and events is also something that I love to do. I have been to many shows in both Canada and the USA with my family and I look forward to all the events yet to come. I have taken part in many Saskatchewan Junior Angus events and I am looking forward to serving the board another year as the President and getting to know more juniors.

Hi! My name is Jennifer Jones and I am 20 years old. I live north of Lloydminster and along with my mom and brother, own Ponderosa Ranch. I enjoy breeding and showing cattle and being involved with the junior programs. I have participated in 4-H for many years as well as Junior Shows and I am excited to see where those skills will take me.

I am also excited to be one of the Saskatchewan directors on the Canadian Junior Angus board and can’t wait to host Showdown 2017 July 20 - 22 in Lloydminster! Tyra Fox

I am looking forward to the year coming and meeting new juniors and promoting the Angus Breed. I invite everyone to Lloydminster this summer and fall for some great Angus events! Jennifer Jones

Hi Everyone! My name is Alexis Frick and I'm honoured that I have been a member on the Saskatchewan Junior Angus board for the past two and a half years. I am 17 years old and I am currently in Grade 12 at Melville Comprehensive School. My farm, Northern View Angus, is located south of Duff, SK with purebred Black Angus cattle; we have 100 females. We participate in many Angus shows such as Agribition, Harvest Showdown, and many others. We also have our annual Blue Collar Bull Sale at Heartland

Hello, my name is Brianna Kimmel. I am 17 years old and in Grade 12. I am one of the sisters in Twisted Sisters Livestock. We raise purebred Angus and Simmental, and Sim-Angus cattle. I have been on the SJAA board for the past four years and am currently the Vice President. We have a great board and I have learned so much and hope to become a mentor just like the ones who mentored me. Continued on page 114 Page 113

Director Profiles... I love being involved in the cattle industry. It has provided me so many great opportunities, like attending the 2016 National Junior Angus Show in Grand Island, Nebraska. It was a great experience and I strongly encourage all interested youth to become involved in their local associations. I am pretty excited that Showdown 2017, the National Junior Angus Show, will be coming to my hometown of Lloydminster! It is going to be a great show and I hope to see all of you there. Brianna Kimmel Hello, my name is Carson Liebreich and I am 15 years old. I live at Radville, Saskatchewan where my family operates Merit Cattle Co. My parents are Trent and Janelle Liebreich, I have one sister Macy and one brother Garrett. My parents gave me a calendar year heifer calf the year I was born, Merit Countess 1017, and that is how I got my start in the Angus business. She produced for me until 12 years of age. All my females are descendants of her. I have been a 4H member for nine years. I participate in our Saskatchewan Junior events whenever I can and I have also been able to attend Showdown at Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Virden, Manitoba and Olds, Alberta. Last February I was also able to attend my first Canadian Junior Angus GOAL

Conference in Ottawa, which was a great experience, and I am looking forward to attending the 2017 GOAL Conference in Edmonton this month. I enjoy showing cattle, doing chores (most days) as well as playing hockey, hunting and riding my dirt bike. Carson Liebreich Hi. I am Wade Olynyk and I am director on the Saskatchewan Junior Angus board as well as one of the Saskatchewan directors on the Canadian Junior Angus board. I am 19 years old and currently in my first year of animal science at Lakeland College in Vermilion. I am from Goodeve, SK. We run a 200 head purebred Black Angus herd and are busy calving right now. Our annual bull sale for Crescent Creek Angus is April 1st this year, and no we are not fooling you on that! I still enjoy hockey as my pastime and watching football still also fills my weekends up. When I am not at school I try to make it home as much as I can to check on the farm and see what new things have happened since my last trip home. I will finish my two year diploma next year here at Lakeland College and then plan to go back to the family farm and start my farming career. Wade Olynyk

Continued from page 113 My name is Davis Schmidt. I’m currently a student at Lakeland College in Vermilion, AB, enrolled in the crop technology program. I’m also part of Mainstream Genetics where we run a herd of purebred Angus cattle at Watrous, SK. This will be my 3rd year with the Saskatchewan Junior Angus board. I am excited to be part of this program again, and can’t wait for the Canadian Junior show to come to Lloydminster this summer. Davis Schmidt My name is Ty Schwan. I am 19 years old and live on a ranch just outside of Swift Current, SK. My family and I operate Schwan Angus Ranch which consists of 100 purebred Black Angus cows and a herd of commercial cows. Since I have been six years old I have been involved in showing cattle. I have been a part of the Herbert Grazers 4-H club for 13 years. I attend many shows throughout the year and many of the Saskatchewan and Canadian Angus Junior shows. I look forward to my first year being a director on the Saskatchewan Angus board. Ty Schwan

A most valued virtue: grit. It's a short word with great power. Grit is tenacity, perseverance, stamina, sticking with the task at hand day in and day out, not just for the day or the month, but for as long as it takes. Grit is about passion and purpose and persistence. Grit is about living life as a marathon, not a sprint or a walk in the park. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, grit is defined as "firmness of character... an indomitable spirit." Those with grit know that everything will be alright in the end, and if it's not alright, it is not yet the end. It's easy to start, but it takes grit to finish. Page 114

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Thank you to the sponsors of the 2016 Junior Angus Show AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS: 20/20 Angus Breed Creek Ranch Castlerock Marketing Crescent Creek Angus CSI Angus Double F Cattle Co. Eastondale Angus Eldem Cattle Investments Family Ties Angus Forsyth Ranch GBT Angus

Gmack Oilfield Services Hill 70 Quantock Ranch Ivanhoe Angus JPM Farms Ltd. Justamere Farms Matlock Farms Ltd. Merit Cattle Co. Morland Acres Cattle Company Moving On Farms Nu-Horizon Angus RNR Flicek Black Angus

Champion Bull Justamere 3508 Solution 131D Jorja Fox

Grand Aggregates L-R Junior - Brynne Yoder Intermediate - Garrett Liebreich Senior - Katie Wright

See You Again in Lloydminster this summer for Showdown 2017 July 20 - 22 and our Saskatchewan Junior show in November during Stockade Roundup! Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Champion Open Female Merit Socialite 5024C Carson Liebreich

Running Steady Ranch Six Mile Ranch T Bar K Ranch Twisted Sisters Cattle Co. Vee Tee Feeders Wagner Angus Windy Willows Farms Y Coulee Land & Cattle

Reserve Champion Bull Schwan First Cut 516C Ty Schwan

Reserve Champion Open Female Running Steady Gypsy 30C Drayce Robertson Photo Unavailable

Champion Owned Female Royal S Pride 42B Brianna Kimmel

Reserve Champion Owned Female Red Ter-Ron Alice 129D Keely Adams Page 115

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Thank you to the following Agribition Angus Show Sponsors... Deer Range Stock Farm Delorme Ranch Canadian Angus Association Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society Diamond C Liberty Angus Double F Cattle Co. Saskatchewan Angus Association Double V Stock Farm Dwajo Angus Gold Early Sunset Ranch Bandura Ranches EKW Red Angus Belvin Angus Eye Hill Stock Farm Blairs.Ag Cattle Co. Forsyth Ranch Bow Valley Genetics Freitag-Perrot Cattle Co. Box X Ranch Freyburn Angus Cudlobe Angus Gardien Red Angus Hamilton Farms Gerlei Angus Harvest Angus Glen Gabel Angus Lock Farms Ltd. Hall’s Cattle Company Poplar Meadows Angus Hextall Livestock Hi-Low Angus Silver Hollinger Land & Cattle ABC Cattle Co. & Bakers Angus Howe Family Farm Agritising Solutions Irving Angus Blue Collar Bull Sale Ivanhoe Angus Bohrson Marketing Services Ltd. J & S Cattle Co Castlerock Marketing J Square S Angus Crescent Creek Angus JAS Red Angus Flying K Ranch JJL Livestock Justamere Farms Johnson Livestock Merit Cattle Company JPM Farms Ltd. Running Steady Ranch KBJ Round Farms Six Mile Ranch Kenray Ranch Lamb’s Quarters Angus Bronze Lazy Creek Farms Ltd. Anderson Cattle Lazy MC Angus Atlasta Angus Mark Stock Ring Service Bar C R Angus McMillen Ranching Ltd. Black Ridge Angus Farm Midnight Fire Cattle Co. Blairs West Land & Cattle Miller Wilson Angus Blake’s Red Angus Breed Creek Angus Ranch Bridgeway Livestock Broken T Ranch Brooking Angus Ranch Bryces Bar B Ranch Ltd. Come As U R Simmentals & Black Angus Coulee Crossing Cattle Co. Creekview Angus

Platinum

Miry Creek Angus NCJ Cattle Co. Nielson Land & Cattle Northern View Angus Nu-Horizon Angus Paetsch Livestock Right Cross Ranch RNR Flicek Black Angus Rock Creek Ranching RSL Red Angus Running Steady Ranch Schwan Angus Section 7 Ranch Smart Farms Angus South View Ranch Stewart Cattle Co. Sunny Grove Angus T & S Farms Taylor Red Angus Ter-Ron Farms Thomason Angus Farms T-K Ranches Triple H Cattle Co. Ltd. Triple L Angus Twin Heritage Farms Valley Lodge Cattle Co. Ward’s Red Angus Wheelers Stock Farm Wilbar Cattle Co. Wil-Sel Red Angus Windy Ridge Ultrasounding Windy Willows Farms Wood Coulee Cattle Co. WRAZ Red Angus Wright Livestock

Your suppor t is appreciated!

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Angus Edge - Spring 2017

2016 Canadian Western Agribition Commercial Show Angus Champions

Grand Champion Pen of Five Open Replacement Heifers & Grand Champion Pen of Open Replacement Heifers Overall Blairswest Land & Cattle, Drake, SK

Grand Champion Pen of Ten Open Replacement Heifers Sentes Farms, Raymore, SK Sold for $1350 per head to Terry Young, Earl Grey, SK

Sold for $1700 per head to Robbie Garner, Simpson, SK

Grand Champion Pen of Five Bred Replacement Heifers & Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Bred Replacement Heifers Overall Rockin Lazy M Ranch, Moose Jaw, SK Sold for $2050 per head to Jerry Andries, LaFleche, SK • Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Ten Open Replacement Heifers Sentes Farms, Raymore, SK Sold for $1200 per head to Diamond K Ranch, Maple Creek, SK • Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Five Bred Heifers Derek Westman, Vermilion, AB Sold for $2700 to Rob Garner, Simpson, SK • Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Ten Bred Replacement Heifers Murray Westman, Vermilion, AB Sold for $2800 per head to Kevin Feske, Yellow Grass, SK

Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Grand Champion Pen of Ten Bred Replacement Heifers & Grand Champion Pen of Bred Replacement Heifers Overall Murray Westman, Vermilion, AB Sold for $2775 per head to Reed & Jeremy Andrew, Regina, SK

The Saskatchewan Angus Association is proud to sponsor the Commercial Cattle Show with jackets for each division Champion and Reserve, and again this year also provided sale credit vouchers of $1000 to the overall Champions and $500 to the Reserves. In 2016 we also partnered with Canadian Angus to provide ‘Angus Tag’ vouchers to the Angus winners.

Congratulations! Page 119

Coming Events... Feb 17......... Nordal Limousin & Angus Bull Sale, Saskatoon, SK Feb 18......... Diamond T Cattle Co. Bull Sale, Olds, AB Feb 18-20.... CJAA 2017 GOAL Conference, Edmonton, AB Feb 24......... Standard Hill Connection Bull Sale, Maidstone, SK Feb 25......... LCL Angus Bull Sale, Coronation, AB Mar 3........... Cattleman’s Connection Bull Sale, Brandon, MB Mar 4........... Ward’s Red Angus & Guests Bull Sale, Saskatoon, SK Mar 5........... R-Plus Simmental Bull Sale, Estevan, SK Mar 5 & 6..... 96th Annual Pride of the Prairies Bull Sale, .................... Lloydminster, SK/AB Mar 6........... Bar CR Angus Bull Sale, Swift Current, SK Mar 7........... Belvin Angus Bull Sale, Innisfail, AB Mar 9........... Spring Creek Simmentals/Red Rose Angus Bull Sale, .................... Moosomin, SK Mar 9........... Bar-E-L Bull & Female Sale, Stettler, AB Mar 11.......... Wheeler’s Stock Farm Bull & Female Sale, Saskatoon, SK Mar 11.......... LLB Angus Bull & Female Sale, Erskine, AB Mar 13......... Nielson Land & Cattle/Palmer Charolais Bull Sale, .................... Bladworth, SK Mar 13......... Equinox Angus Bull Sale, Weyburn, SK Mar 13......... South Sask Simmental & Angus Bull Sale, Moose Jaw, SK Mar 13......... Remitall Farms Bull & Female Sale, Olds, AB Mar 14......... McTavish Charolais & Red Angus Bull Sale, Moosomin, SK Mar 14......... On Target Bull Sale, Barrhead, AB Mar 14......... Leeuwenburgh Angus Bull Sale, Lethbridge, AB Mar 15......... Wilbar Cattle Co. Tools of the Trade Bull & Female Sale, .................... Dundurn, SK Mar 15......... Spruce View Angus Bull Sale, Killam, AB Mar 15-17.... GBT Angus Online Sale, Wawota, SK Mar 16......... Johnson Livestock Bull & Female Sale, Peebles, SK Mar 16......... Bowerman Bros./Nesset Lake Angus Bull Sale, .................... Meadow Lake, SK Mar 16......... Allencroft/Border Butte Bull Sale, Medicine Hat, AB Mar 18......... Select Genetics Sale, Herbert, SK Mar 20......... Brooking Angus Ranch Bull Sale, Radville, SK Mar 20......... Hollinger Land and Cattle Bull & Female Sale, Neudorf, SK Mar 21......... Ivanhoe Angus/City View Simmentals Bull & .................... Female Sale, Moose Jaw, SK Mar 21......... U-2 Ranch Bull Sale, High River, AB Mar 22......... Bar-H Land & Cattle Co. Bull Sale, Langenburg, SK Mar 23......... Minburn Angus Bull Sale, Minburn, AB Mar 24......... Mantei Farms Bull Sale, Alameda, SK Mar 24......... Top Cut Black Angus Bull Sale, Maple Creek, SK Mar 24......... Cowboys Angus Bull Sale, Virden, MB Mar 24......... Lakeland College Beef Day & Sale, Vermilion, AB Mar 24......... Thistle Ridge Bull Sale, Taber, AB Mar 25......... Working Stiffs Bull Sale, Moosomin, SK Mar 25......... Early Sunset Ranch Bull & Female Sale, Edam, SK Mar 25......... Impact Bull Sale, Saskatoon, SK Mar 25......... Lamb’s Quarters Bull Sale, Swift Current, SK Mar 25......... Stockman Select Bull Sale, Moose Jaw, SK Mar 25......... Kenray Ranch Open House, Redvers, SK Mar 25......... Northern Alliance Bull Sale, Vanderhoof, BC Mar 26......... Best of the Breeds Bull Sale, Yorkton, SK Mar 27......... Cockburn/Merit Bull Sale, Moose Jaw, SK Page 120

Mar 27......... Everblack Angus Bull Sale, Vermilion, AB Mar 28......... Double C Red Angus Bull Sale, Foam Lake, SK Mar 28-29.... Hi Low Angus Online Bull Sale, Lumsden, SK Mar 29......... Triple J Farms Bull Sale, Whitewood, SK Mar 29......... Hamilton Farms Bull & Female Sale, Cochrane, AB Mar 30......... Double F Cattle Co. Bull Sale, Prince Albert, SK Apr 1............ Crescent Creek Angus Bull & Female Sale, Goodeve, SK Apr 1............ Triple A Bull Sale, Moose Jaw, SK Apr 1............ Burnett Angus Bull & Female Sale, Swift Current, SK Apr 3............ Eastondale Angus Bull Sale, Wawota, SK Apr 4............ Windy Willow’s & Guest Bull Sale, Hodgeville, SK Apr 4............ Western Gateway Bull Sale, Roblin, MB Apr 5............ Whitecap/Rosso/Howe Bull Sale, Moose Jaw, SK Apr 5............ Peak Dot Ranch Ltd. Bull & Female Sale, .................... Wood Mountain, SK Apr 5............ Chopper K Red Angus Bull Sale, Alameda, SK Apr 5-6......... Kenray Ranch Online Bull Sale, Redvers, SK Apr 6............ Taylor’s Red Angus Bull Sale, Simmie, SK Apr 6............ T Bar K Ranch Bull Sale, Wawota, SK Apr 6............ Crittendon Bros Bull Sale, Imperial, SK Apr 7............ Northern Progress Red Angus Bull Sale, Saskatoon, SK Apr 7............ Section 7 Ranch Bull Sale, Whitewood, SK Apr 8............ Blue Collar Bull Sale, Yorkton, SK Apr 8............ Six Mile Ranch Bull Sale, Fir Mountain, SK Apr 8............ North Point Angus Bull Sale, Dawson Creek, BC Apr 10.......... Justamere Farms Bull Sale, Lloydminster, SK Apr 10.......... Spirit of the North Bull Sale, Spiritwood, SK Apr 10.......... Moose Creek Red Angus Bull Sale, Kisbey, SK Apr 11.......... Young Dale Angus Bull Sale, Alameda, SK Apr 11.......... Top Cut Red Angus & Charolais Bull Sale, Mankota, SK Apr 12.......... Flying K Ranch Bull Sale, Swift Current, SK Apr 12.......... Anderson Cattle Co. Bull Sale, Swan River, MB Apr 13 ......... South View Ranch Bull Sale, Ceylon, SK Apr 14.......... Your Choice Angus Bull Sale, Maple Creek, SK Apr 14.......... Johnston/Fertile Valley Bull Sale, Saskatoon, SK Apr 15.......... CAF Outstanding Young Angus Breeder Nomination .................... Deadline Apr 15.......... CAF Junior Angus Stockman Nomination Deadline Apr 15.......... Cornerstone Bull Sale, Whitewood, SK Apr 15.......... Shortgrass Bull & Female Sale, Aneroid, SK Apr 17.......... Right Cross Ranch Bull Sale, Kisbey, SK Apr 21.......... Fleury Cattle Co. Bull Sale, Saskatoon, SK Apr 21.......... Freyburn Angus Farms Family Tradition Bull & Female .................... Sale, Oxbow, SK Apr 30.......... CAF Junior Ambassador Application Deadline May 10......... CJAA U.S. Exchange Program Application Deadline May 15......... Deadline for Summer Angus Edge May 15......... CAF Dick Turner Scholarship Application Deadline Jun 1............ Deadline for Entries - Showdown 2017 Jun 8-11....... Canadian Angus Convention, Brandon, MB Jun 15.......... CJAA Scholarship Application Deadline Jun 20.......... Deadline for Late Entries - Showdown 2017 Jul 20-22...... Showdown 2017, Lloydminster, SK Aug 15-17.... Canadian Beef Industry Conference, Calgary, AB Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Business Directory GRANT ROLSTON Box 1562 Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0 Phone: 403-593-2217 grantspix@gmail.com www.grantspix.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Canadian ANGUS Association

1-888-571-3580

292140 Wagon Wheel Blvd. Rocky View County, AB T4A 0E2 www.cdnangus.ca cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

For all your printing needs

(306) 525-8796

November 20 - 25, 2017 Regina, SK www.agribition.com 306-565-0565

Terry, Stacey, Brittany, Tyler & Megan Hunt RMB RR #1, Rose Valley, SK S0E 1M0 Terry’s Cell: 306-322-7439 Email: terryandstacey@xplornet.ca www.tandsfarms.ca

Your Business Card Could Be Here! Call 306-757-6133 or email office@saskatchewanangus.com for details Angus Edge - Spring 2017

Index of Advertisers... Allencroft/Border Butte Angus Bull Sale �102 Airey Cattle Co. ��108 Anderson Cattle Co. �� 110 Bar CR Angus ��85 Bar-H Land & Cattle ��IFC Belvin Angus ��103 Black Ridge Angus Farm ��27 Blake’s Red Angus ��79 Blue Collar Bull Sale ��25 Border Butte Angus ��105 Bowerman Bros & Guests Bull Sale ��17 Brooking Angus Ranch ��67 Burnett Angus ��89 Castlerock Marketing ��9 Cattlemen’s Connection Bull Sale ��104 Chopper K Red Angus ��37 Cornerstone Bull Sale ��28 Cowboys Angus Bull Sale ��109 Crescent Creek Angus �� 11 Crittenden Brothers ��88 Delorme Ranch ��19 Double C Red Angus ��36 Double F Cattle Co. ��122 Early Sunset Ranch ��33 Eastondale Angus ��22 Edwards Angus ��45 Equinox Bull Sale ��83 Everblack Angus ��107 Fleury Cattle Co. ��23 Flying K Ranch ��57 Freyburn Angus Farms ��75 GBT Angus ��93 Hamilton Farms ��100 Hi Low Angus ��70 Hollinger Land & Cattle ��47 Howe Family Farm ��BC Impact Bull Sale ��32 Ivanhoe Angus ��IBC Johnson Livestock ��49 Johnston Angus/Fertile Valley ��15

Justamere Farms ��13 Kenray Ranch ��53 Lakeland College ��91 Lamb’s Quarters Angus ��81 Mantei Farms Angus ��40 McTavish Bull Sale ��94 Merit Cattle Co. ��51 Nesset Lake Angus ��69 Nordal Limousin & Angus ��56 On Target Bull Sale ��108 Optimal Bovines Inc. ��50 Palmer-Nielson Bull Sale ��44 Peak Dot Ranch ��6,7 Right Cross Ranch...............................77 Running Steady Ranch......................101 Section 7 Ranch...................................71 Select Genetics Bull Sale.....................24 Short Grass Bull & Female Sale...........38 Six Mile Ranch................................62,63 South Sask Simmental & Angus Bull Sale............................................41 South View Ranch..................................5 Spirit of the North Bull Sale..................55 Standard Hill Connection Bull Sale.........3 Still Meadow Farm..............................106 Stockman Select Bull Sale....................30 Stuart Cattle Station..............................31 T Bar K Ranch......................................29 Taylor’s Red Angus...............................91 Top Cut Bull Sale..................................73 Triple A Bull Sale...................................74 Triple J Farms.......................................92 Triple V Ranch.................................... 111 Twin Heritage Farms.............................95 U-6 Livestock........................................96 Wards Red Angus.................................59 Wheelers Stock Farm...........................39 Wilbar Cattle Co....................................65 Windy Willows Farms...........................35 Working Stiff’s Bull Sale........................43

Ho st or att en d a Br ee de r ! In fo rm ati on Se ss ion in yo ur ar ea

Saskatchewan Angus will entertain proposals from the membership for hosting sessions in various areas of the province over the next year. If you are interested in more information contact the office at 306-757-6133 or email office@saskatchewanangus.com

Mark Your Calendar for our upcoming April 20th session in Saskatoon. Stay tuned for an upcoming E-blast for more information. Watch the web and Facebook as well for more details. Page 121

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Ivanhoe Ambush 28C

Progeny are stamped with extra length of body and structural correctness

Ron & Marilyn Mountenay Box 23, Belle Plaine, SK S0G 0G0 Phone: (306) 345-2560 Ronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cell: (306) 630-5871

Ivanhoe Ambush 57C

Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - 1 PM â&#x20AC;˘ Johnstone Auction Mart, Moose Jaw, SK

7th Annual Cityview Simmentals, Sunnyside Simmentals & Ivanhoe Angus Bull Sale

Consigning 20 yearling bulls, 2 two year old bulls and 8 replacement heifers to the

IVANHOE ANGUS