January - Did You Know?

CAA wants to recognize membership for their highlights in the industry. By doing so, we will share a monthly blog about our membership entitled "Did You Know." We back tracked to the summer of 2011 for our first "Did You Know" blog. It can be found at Feel free to submit "Did You Know" postings about yourself or others to Rob Smith at rsmith@cdnangus.ca

· Darren & Joanne Unger and family, U-2 Ranch at Coaldale, Alberta, were featured on the cover of the July 2011 Alberta Beef magazine with a great feature article. Read more at http://www.u2ranch.ca/pdf/Alberta%20beef%20magazine%20article.pdf

· Retired CEO Doug Fee has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Canadian Western Agribition.

· AgriDigest has given effective coverage to our presentation of the Eastern Feedlot of the Year Award. Please see http://agridigestonline.advancedpublishing.com/DigitalAnywhere/viewer.aspx?id=9&pageId=1 and go to page 9 for the story.

· Wynne Chisholm, a Calgary Stampede Director, is featured as the cover story for Alberta Beef’s August 2011 issue. Wynne’s W.A. Ranches, north of Cochrane, has more than 700 Angus-based cows on 12,000 acres. W.A. Ranches is where the University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine students receive their ‘hands-on’ training.

· Chelsey Carruthers, who presented at the Technical Conference of the 2009 World Angus Forum, has been published. Her “Comparison of Angus cattle populations using gene variants and microsatellites” appears on pages 81 – 85 of the March 2011 Canadian Journal of Animal Science. http://pubs.aic.ca/action/showMultipleAbstracts

· Kajal Devani, our Breed Development Specialist, has been named to the International Industry & Scientific Advisory Committee (IISAC). http://www.livestockgentec.com/

· Mar Mac Farms - Blair, Lois, Brett and Melissa McRae - were featured in the July GrainNews and August Cattleman for their enrollment in the Verified Beef Program. Way to go, McRae family!

· The 2011 SEMEX Beef photo contest winner is from Quebec and is of black Angus cattle. The winner of the 2^nd Annual Semex Alliance Beef Photo Contest is Francis Gagnon of Chénéville. http://www.ciaq.com/news/news-items/2011/2011-semex-beef-photo-contest-winner-from-quebec.html

· The post-Agribition edition of The Western Producer is chockfull of interesting Angus news, from the headline “Angus, Charolais reign supreme” on the cover adjacent to Bernadette Legaarden’s picture with the Charolais Supreme Champion Bull to the Farm Living article on Page 75 talking about the Herbert/Loree family at Nanton and their grass-fed ranch-raised beef program using Angus bulls. In between there are pictures and articles talking up our success and that of our people including the Kehler Stauffer Water Awareness advertising feature and the feature article on Danny & Conna Warrilow’s $67,000 –half interest bull calf selling in the Masterpiece. It is quite heartwarming to read that this sale at Agribition 2011 is, “… the highlight of the Warrilow’s career…” http://www.producer.com/issue/december-1-2011-the-western-producer/

· Sheldon Kyle, Kenray Ranch adorns the cover of the December Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Connection as “The New Face of the Cattle Industry”. http://www.saskbeef.com/images/stories/2011/PDF/PROOF_LR_CattleConnection.pdf.

· Most media have been showcasing Christoph & Erika Weder, Spirit View Ranch, recipients of Alberta Beef Producer’s 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award. The Weder’s also own one of our marquee Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed programs, Heritage Angus Beef (HAB). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYe0dQGZm2g

· Arleta Bowhay, 19, is Miss Rodeo Canada for 2012. A high profile, former 4-Her, Arleta hails from an Angus / Simmental cross cow/calf operation near Sundre, AB. Arleta is the daughter of Jim & Nola Bowhay. http://www.missrodeocanada.ca/

· Page 18 & 19 of Atlantic Beef’s Winter 2011 edition features a story on Maritimes Angus Association President Trevor Welch and his family’s grass-fed beef program. Trevor, his father Frederick and son Taylor operate Garvie Mountain Angus near Glassville, New Brunswick.

· The Reserve Grand Champion of the Carcass Competition at the 2011 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Ontario was an Angus/Piedmontese from Dave & Rose Stewart of Winchester, ON. This event bills itself as “Canada’s Largest Agricultural Trade Show” with 723 exhibitors and 42,600 attendees.

· The November Alberta Beef features a cover story on Westman Farms, an intergenerational farm at Vermilion with 700 Angus/Simmental cows. Westman Farms have factored prominently in the ‘winner’s circle’ at the Farmfair and Agribition commercial pen shows in recent years.

This magazine also notes that Alberta’s new Agricultural Minister, Evan Berger, raises 130 Angus-cross cows. http://magazine.albertabeef.ca/2011-11/pageflip.html

· The December 8^th edition of The Western Producer features a great story on the Wilson family of Miller Wilson on Page 76. I learned something; I didn’t know Ty was a massage therapist! http://www.producer.com/issue/december-8-2011-the-western-producer/

· The January, 2012 Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Connection features an article on young entrepreneur Cody Napper who raises 250 Angus-cross cows at Lashburn, SK as well as a Young Adult Profile on outstanding junior, Brittany Hunt, who raises Red Angus at Rose Valley. http://www.saskbeef.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=21&Itemid=66

· The January 2012 Beef Illustrated features an interesting story entitled “Build beef quality, profit” on pages 16 and 19 citing Charlie Fullerton from Pincher Creek, SK “who uses Angus bulls on black and black baldy cows…” and feeds out his cattle at Western Feedlot. According to Charlie, his improvement in grade from 50 percent AAA to 75 percent AAA is based partly on “…adding more Angus genetics.”

· In the January 2012 Alberta Beef Associate Publisher Lee Gunderson focuses his article on attending Brian & Judy Sutter’s Atlasta Angus sale last December. The cover story of this same issue features Phil & Pam Rowland from High River / Longview area who run “a few hundred” Angus cross cows on the Rowland Ranch or Box R. This ranch has been in the Rowland family since 1883. Finally this magazine includes a feature article on Becky Domolewski, one of our outstanding Canadian Junior Angus members from Taber, AB, where her Red Angus operation also features parents Doug & Cheryl and older sister Stacey. http://www.albertabeef.ca/advertising/abeef/

· The first Cattlemen magazine of 2012 informs us that Bill Pryor, a 50+ year CAA member from Williamstown, Centreville was inducted into the New Brunswick Hall of Fame last November. http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/

· We must be proud of our Canadians who definitely represented our nation well at the recent National Western Stock Show in Denver. Six Mile Red Angus, Lazy MC Angus, Blairs.Ag, Northline, Hamilton Farms, Justamere, Soo Line, Miller Wilson and Gilchrist Farms totally did us proud both on the ‘Hill’ and in the “Yards’! http://www.angus.org/show/ShowResults.aspx

· Here is a YouTube link of the “Ranchos de Hoy’ program. The video is in Spanish since it was presented on Mexican Television but we certainly know the people participating on this program: Hector Robles, the owner of the ranch “El Troje” in Jalisco, with Black Angus cattle, and Bill Estrada, president of the Angus Association of Mexico participates on this TV program as well. Remember they are hosting us in 2015 for the World Angus Secretariat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0guvAIefXB0&feature=digest_wed

· Further, if you missed the Rick Mercer Report feature on Agribition on the CBC network Tuesday, December 6^th, 2011, it is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBJoFheEYuA. It does nothing to promote Angus, but it’s kind of cute; a pleasant five-minute diversion. And it does feature some of our people!

· The CAA hosted over 100 people at our annual Christmas Open House, featuring
representatives from all of the following:

Canada Beef Inc.; Alberta Beef Producers; Canadian Beef Grading Agency; Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA); Livestock Gentec; Canadian Simmental Association; Canadian Limousin Association;

Canadian Beef Breeds Council; Canadian Cattlemen Magazine; Alberta Beef magazine; Alta Exports International; Browarny Photographics; Ad Farm; Allflex

Posted by Rob Smith Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Herd Inventory Packets

Over the weekend, association staff members (and some special younger helpers) completed one of the biggest tasks of the year. The Spring 2012 Herd Inventory mailing was prepared and will be in the mail today. These envelopes are prepared manually and there is one for each member (or family as we try to combine as many as we can). It was a very successful day; we finished in record time and even had fewer paper cuts than normal.

These packages contain your Herd Inventory and Application for Registration worksheets, Heifer Exposure worksheets (performance herds only) and some very important information regarding programs and services offered by the association. Members who are set up to receive Worksheets electronically only will still receive a package to ensure all members get the information. 2012 Fall Inventories will be prepared and mailed in July for animals expected to calve after June 1. If you have purchased a female who does not appear on your preprinted inventory, it may be because the transfer was not completed as of the date the inventory was prepared. You can check online to see if the transfer has been complete then add any of those females to your inventory. Please take the time to read through the packet and contact us if you have any questions.

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Hitting the Consumer Target

This week Michael, Brian, David, CAA president, and a few other Angus seedstock producers attended a session sponsored by Certified Angus Beef called Hitting the Consumer Target. The event was held in Lethbridge and was targeted to feedlot operators. There were well over 120 people in attendance which shows there is incredible interest in Angus from our commercial sector. Several of the speakers spoke to what consumers are demanding. They are looking for a higher quality product, essentially product graded AAA. It was also shown that feedlots would still prefer to implant animals with various growth promotants, which may cause animals to grade lower. In order for feedlots to realize premiums for quality grade they need to start with genetics that allow them to implant the animals, and even in the event they lose marbling, they will still achieve a AAA quality grade. As more Canadian consumers and retailers look for a higher graded product, it will cause the demand to strengthen and increase the premiums paid for that product. This puts Angus producers in a great position. Consumers not only recognize the name Angus as being of high quality, but they are also looking for the product that Angus delivers.

Lethbridge Herald posted a news release about the conference:

http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/local-news/cattle-producers-have-wide-eyes-for-japan-12712.html

Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

At the National Western Stock Show in Denver

The 2012 Red Angus Show at the National Western Stock Show in Denver must be one of the largestwith just a few shy of 300 head. The quality and presentation is tremendous! It is very exciting to watch our Canadians be so competitive and to see how profoundly our genetics are impacting our American friends.

It has been an amazing day for Canadian Red Angus breeders. Here's how it broke down, from start to incredible finish:

The Spring Heifer Calf Champion is Red Six Mile Marta 300Y and Reserve Champion is Red Wildman Chieftess 115Y. Congratulations to the Gibson family from Fir Mountain in their champion and Brett, Tracy and Paige on breeding the Reserve for Wildcat Creek.

Red Six Mile Countess 105Y is the Junior Calf Champion--way to go Gibson family.

Northline Angus has the Reserve Intermediate Champion Female with Red Northline Cream Soda. Congratulations to the Schneider family of Ardrossen, AB.

Six Mile Red Angus has the American National Red Angus Champion Female--Red Six Mile Countess 105Y is the Denver NWSS Grand Champion! Congratulations to the Gibson family from Fir Mountain, SK.

Also, the Reserve National Champion Red Angus Female was sired by Red Lazy MC Cowboy Cut 26U, a bull born to the Morasch family of Bassano who was co-owned by the Longshores of Bar-E-L at Stettler, AB. The runner-up in that division is sired by Red Ter-Ron RealDeal 01W, the 2011 Canadian Angus Association Show Bull of the Year.

In the Junior Bull Calf Division, the Champion is Red Six Mile Smokin Gun 133Y and the Reserve is Red Lazy MC Trooper 21Y. Both of these bulls factored into the CAA Gold Show champions as, respectively, the calf on the Gold Show Champion Female of the Year for Six Mile and a Top Five finish for Lazy MC.

Red Northline Chuck Norris is the Champion Intermediate Bull for the Schneiders and Doug and Cheryl Domolewski and girls from Taber, AB, and Red Northline Jesse James is the Reserve Senior Bull for Howard and Wendy Schneider and family.

Congratulations to Brylor Ranch and Wraz Red Angus on Red Brylor Makn Waves 39X being named the Reserve Junior Champion Bull along with their American partners.

For the first time in their history, Six Mile Red Angus from Fir Mountain, SK is the Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor of the American National Red Angus Show! What an amazing... and deserved... accomplishment for Clayton, Corinne, Callie, Cade and Coy Gibson.

The first bull division champion is Red Lazy MC Eye Spy 64Y. Way to go, Clint, Angela, Laurie and Layne of Lazy MC Red Angus at Bassano, AB.

Holy Smokes! Both Grand and Reserve Champion Bulls are Canadian! Red Lazy MC Eye Spy 64Y from Clint, Angela, Laurie and Layne Morasch of Bassano, AB is the American National Champion Red Angus Bull and the calf on our Gold and National Champion Red Angus Female, Red Six Mile Smokin Gun 133Y, is the Reserve! Congratulations to the Gibson family, especially Coy who claims Smokin Gun as his own.

Additionally, Laurie Del Morasch was named the Champion Junior Herdsman earlier today. Way to be Laurie!

Our Canadian Red Angus breeders have done us so very proud! What an amazing day in Denver!


Posted by Rob Smith
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

2011 Gold Show Results

The Canadian Angus Association Gold Show program was once again a success in 2011. We are pleased to announce the winners:

• Black Show Bull of the Year is DMM Creed 75W
  
• Black Show Female of the Year is DMM Miss Essence 37T
• Red Show Bull of the Year is Red Ter-Ron RealDeal 01W
• Red Show Female of the Year is Red Six Mile Gloria 746W

(Click on the links to view each animal's pedigree in our online herdbook.)

The top Red Angus females are:

1. Red Six Mile Gloria 746W
2. Red Ter-Ron Alice 31Y
3. Red Ter-Ron Rebecca 21W
4. Red McRae's Reba Lee 53W
5. Red Lazy MC CC Sparkle 3X

The top Black Angus females are:

1. DMM Miss Essence 37T
2. Six Mile Real Beauty 803U
3. Young Dale Peg 77P
4. Belvin Lady Blossom 14'09
5. Belvin Echo 211'10

The top Red Angus bulls are:

1. Red Ter-Ron RealDeal 01W
2. Red Rock of Spittalburn 101Y
3. Red DMM Glesbar Barndance 35X
4. Red Lazy MC Trooper 21Y
5. Red Ter-Ron Excalibre 40Y

The top Black Angus bulls are:

1. DMM Creed 75W
2. HF Hemi 176W
3. Just Enuff New Edition Edgar
4. Justamere 1036 Iron Will 732W
5. Harvest R Major 1 Y

We also introduced a new feature of the Gold Show program this year, the All Star Team.

The Black Angus All Stars are:

• Heifer Calf Champion: Harvest R Blackbird 3Y
• Junior Champion Female: Belvin Echo 211'10
• Senior Champion Female: DMM Miss Essence 37T
• Bull Calf Champion: Harvest R Major 1 Y
• Junior Champion Bull: Just Enuff New Edition Edgar
• Senior Champion Bull: DMM Creed 75W

The Red Angus All Stars are:

• Heifer Calf Champion: Red Ter-Ron Alice 31Y
• Junior Champion Female: Red Lazy MC CC Sparkle 3X
• Senior Champion Female: Red Six Mile Gloria 746W
• Bull Calf Champion: Red Rock of Spittalburn 101Y
• Junior Champion Bull: Red DMM Glesbar Barndance 35X
• Senior Champion Bull: Red Ter-Ron RealDeal 01W

Congratulations to everyone who helped make the 2011 Gold Show program a success! Photos of the winners can be viewed on our website at www.cdnangus.ca/members/goldshow.htm

Information on the 2012 Gold Show program will be posted soon.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Report on 2011 Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Sales

The Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Fall Sales are now over. The last sale was held yesterday, although we do have two spring sales coming up in 2012.

Canadian Angus Association commercial field staff put on a lot of miles this fall; we only missed attending 3 locations.

Our field staff report that sales have been good right across Canada. The demand has been strong for Angus cattle in every weight division, both heifers and steers. Prices have also been strong. When good quality cattle were identified with Angus tags, they sold at the top of the sale. Demand for Angus tagged cattle was strong across the country throughout the fall run. Demand for Angus tagged cattle has increased over last year and commercial field staff received lots of questions from customers and feedlot staff about the tag program.

There is also lots of demand for red and black bred Angus cattle. People have even been willing to pay a little more for solid coloured cattle this fall.

This year was the first year for our Feedlot of the Year Awards. Wherever I went in Western Canada, people had heard about the awards and commented about them. I also talked to a lot of people about our Auction Market of the Year Award. Once again, I'd like to congratulate Ferme d'Anjou et Fils, winner of our Eastern Canada Feedlot of the Year Award; High Ridge Feeders and Shannondale Farm, winner of our Western Canada Feedlot of the Year Award; and to Assiniboia Livestock Auction, winner of our Auction Market of the Year Award.

Angus breeders should be very happy. This is the best fall I've ever seen in the beef cattle industry. Several of the old timers I've talked to have had the same thing. The best part is that there's enough of a shortage of cattle that prices should remain strong into next year.



Posted by Brian Good
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Share your opinions!

Every member of the Canadian Angus Association was recently mailed their 2012 membership renewal and a member survey. The survey was developed through the direction of your elected Board of Directors. To those who have already taken the time to fill in the survey, THANK YOU. If you have not submitted your survey yet, the deadline is December 15.

Each member household was mailed a copy of the survey. The survey can also be filled in online. Please note that you will need to submit your membership number when completing the survey online, but your responses will remain anonymous.

This is the first comprehensive survey of Canadian Angus Association members for several years and does require that you spend some time answering the questions. As an incentive, the Board will draw one membership number from all the completed surveys received and that member will win their choice of an iPad or Blackberry Playbook.

Please take the time to share your opinions with the Board and help shape the future direction of the Canadian Angus Association.


Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Saturday at Agribition

Saturday at Agribition brings excitement for everyone. The commercial sale is underway and going well. There are a lot of fantastic Angus influenced animals on offer here in the Stockman’s arena. Later today the Supreme Champion will be named, that show get underway at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. Good luck to all participants and we will see if an Angus animal takes the prize this year. Our breed is very well represented. There have been many comments this week about the quality of all the Angus cattle in the barns this year.

Angus tags have been selling like hotcakes over the past couple of days but there is still time to pick up some from me or place your order. The weather is beautiful, the crowds are great and there is lots to see on the last day of the show.

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: chazenberg@cdnangus.ca