2010 Farmfair a Success

On behalf of the Canadian Angus Association, I would like to commend the Angus exhibitors at Farmfair for their hard work in displaying a group of cattle that from top to bottom we can be proud of. Angus is the number one breed in Canada because of the quality of our cattle and the dedication of our breeders.

I would also like to thank the Farmfair organizers for their dedication in arranging for numerous international guests to attend the various breed shows along with a tour of several local producers, among whom Angus was a major influence. I think most people will agree that opening new markets and improving international relations is essential for the well being of not only our purebred industry, but also of Canadian agriculture in general.

If you would like more information about Farmfair or show results, visit the Farmfair website.

Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: michael1@cdnangus.ca

October a Great Month for Angus in Canada

In the words of Brian Good, October was "the best month I have seen since working for the Canadian Angus Association in the commercial sector."

Cattle prices at Innisfail were good, with all weights of cattle bringing $100-$150 better than last year. Angus tagged cattle topped the market at Burnt Lake Auction. Black Angus led at Swift Current. Very good Angus cattle brought excellent prices at Perlich Auction. Prices were also strong at Keady in Ontario who reported an excellent Angus sale.

The Southern Alberta Angus Club hosted a steak fry at Medicine Hat. Hern Ranches sold their calves for sale-topping prices. Jim Hern said that he couldn't believe more people aren't using Angus tags in their Angus influenced cattle. So producers, don't forget to promote the Angus tag program to your commercial customers and ensure that you transfer the registration certificate into your customer's name.

Mankota remains the only auction so far to host an all-Angus-tagged, all-age-verified sale. This year there were 2,700 head on offer and people came from all over Canada to attend. The prices topped all other sales so far this year.

We have also received compliments in Quebec for the ATQ Angus tag program. Producers from other beef breeds have taken notice of the Angus tag and are very complimentary about the program. ATQ Angus tag sales have been brisk and we are very pleased with the uptake from Quebec producers.

There are dozens of Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed sales left on the calendar for November and December. And it's not too late to get Angus tags for your cattle with at least one registered Angus parent.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Chickadee Dispersal Sale

Kajal Devani and I had the honour of attending this dispersal sale at the Innisfail Auction Mart on October 29. The sale brought a great number of buyers from the immediate community all the way through the United States. The turnout was tremendous, and all the animals were greatly appreciated by fellow breeders.

Leading off the sale was Red YY Dsgn King 522R. The crowd immediately showed their support for Chickadee, with the bull selling for $8,500 to Double Bar D. The next feature bull lot of Red Ter-Ron Wallace 142W brought another wave of support selling for $8,500 as well to Lauron. This bull was the high seller this past March at Ter-Ron’s bull sale, and many of the bred heifers in the sale carried his service.

With a herd mostly under 5 years old, this sale offered a great selection of red and black Angus genetics. 112 live lots grossed $490,350. The high selling cow was $10,000 with the average being $4,378.

Kajal and I are honoured to work with such an outstanding community of breeders. We’d really like the thank Jim and Laurel King & family of Chickadee Farms for extending the invitation to attend their dispersal sale.

Posted by Julia Lindsay, Intern
Feedback: julia1@cdnangus.ca

It's a Big Week for Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Sales

We're mid-way through October and the office is a flurry of activity. Today is the deadline for breeders to submit their weights for the next National Cattle Evaluation. The phones are busy and the mail--paper and electronic--is pouring in. Our field staff are also very busy as we're in the heart of the fall sale run.

We have three Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Sales taking place today, and three more tomorrow. In fact, between today and next Friday, there are 44 Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Sales! It's a very big, busy week for the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Sale program.

Our field staff are sending positive reports on the sales that have taken place so far. Prices are higher than last year and things look good for a successful fall sale run for the Angus breed. Good cattle continue to sell well and command good prices. Poor quality cattle don't do as well. And Angus tagged cattle continue to be in demand with buyers looking specifically for Angus tags.

Our field staff are often asked why anyone using Angus genetics wouldn't use Angus tags to visually and electronically identify their Angus influenced animals. Remember, all you need to purchase tags is one registered parent. We offer a number of ordering options and ship the tags direct to you.

If you're selling cattle with Angus genetics this fall, be sure to get Angus tags in their ears. And whether you're buying or selling, take the time to visit a Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Sale--there are lots to choose from and there's sure to be one near you. Don't forget to say hi to our field staff.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

My Summer in the Archives

I spent my summer down in the Canadian Angus Association basement sorting through old photos, trophies, microfilms, herd books, and outdated floppy disks. I’ve seen everything from the pedigrees of the first Canadian Angus cattle to photos of past board members and staff with awesome 80s haircuts. It was so interesting to see how Angus and their owners have changed over the years.

One particular highlight of the summer was coming across a filing cabinet full of old letters and original bylaw amendments dating back as early as 1910! Another cool find was an album full of pictures from the Queen Mother’s visit at the 1985 World Angus Forum in Edmonton. It was also very interesting to see old photos of Junior members who have grown up and still raise Angus!

The Canadian Angus Association has come a long way since its incorporation in 1906. We have established good relationships with countries on nearly every continent; we have seen an impressive number of families reach the milestone of having raised Angus for 50 years; and we have implemented numerous programs to promote the Angus breed in Canada. All of this is plainly visible in the documents, photos, and artefacts we have stored in our basement!

At present, we are working towards having a large part of our archives preserved permanently at the Glenbow Museum & Archives in Calgary. That way, rather than sitting in boxes in our storage room, important pieces of our Association’s history will be organized and accessible to the public. On behalf of my colleagues at the office I would like to thank everyone who has sent us photos or newspaper clippings over the years that we still use today to help tell the story of our Association’s history.

Posted by Amanda Suhan
Feedback: amanda1@cdnangus.ca

Field Staff Training

On Tuesday, the Canadian Angus Association's part-time and seasonal field staff gathered in cold, wet and foggy Calgary for some training and to gear up for the fall sale run. Although some sales have already taken place, the run starts in earnest on October 4 and the field staff will be on the road for long stretches at a time.

Canadian Angus Association office staff took the opportunity to refresh our field staff on policies and procedures that they often receive questions about. We covered the Canadian Angus Association's commercial programs; the benefits of the Angus tag program along with which animals qualify for tags and ways to order; requirements to register cattle in the Canadian Angus Association herdbook; how to use EPDs; the Canadian Angus Association's genetic defect policy; and the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed program.

We encourage all of our members, both purebred and commercial, to attend at least one sale this fall. Look for the following representatives in your area:

Western Canada:
Brian Good 403-391-4037
Ken Cox 780-672-6860

British Columbia:
Jack Brown 604-888-0862

Manitoba
Blair McRae 204-728-3058

Ontario
John Duivenvoorden 705-431-0319

Quebec/Maritimes
Wayne Gallup 819-826-3026

These guys will be putting in lots of hours promoting the Angus breed and our programs over the fall sale season. Be sure to say hello when you see them.


Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Inaugural Feedlot Challenge

Michael Latimer and I represented the Canadian Angus Association at the Feedlot Challenge 2010 sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health. It was held at Easter Day Feedlot north of Coaldale, Alberta. This is a beautiful location with absolutely stunning scenery.

Ten teams of four competed in skill tests that involved vaccinating and implanting cattle in chutes. The teams also had to handle cattle from horseback and write a test. Three Pfizer veterinarians acted as judges. Prizes were awarded during the evening following a barbecue.

This was the first time this event was held and it was enjoyable. It looks like it took a lot of work to organize but it was worth it. This was a very good deal that promises to be bigger and better next year.


Posted by Brian Good
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Showing Angus at this Fall's Gold Shows?

The Canadian Angus Association 2010 Gold Show season started in July and continues through the end of November. The Gold Show program was developed in 1989 by the Canadian Angus Association to provide an incentive for breeders to move between regions to show cattle. Each year we present four awards: Black Show Bull of the Year; Red Show Bull of the Year; Black Show Female of the Year; Red Show Female of the Year.

If you plan to show animals that you have not yet registered, please contact the Registry department and start the registration process as soon as possible. We cannot make exceptions to our registration policies for Gold Show animals, so please ensure that you leave plenty of time for possible parentage spot tests, genetic defect testing requirements, and to provide missing information. All animals entered in Canadian Angus Association sponsored Gold Shows must be registered before the show.

You may want to mark your registration RUSH on the outside of your envelope or the cover page of your fax to ensure your animals will be registered in time for the show. Don't wait for the last minute to register your animals and risk not being able to participate!

In accordance with the Canadian Angus Association's Environmental Policy, the use of paint and colouring on animals in Association-sponsored shows is prohibited. The Board of Directors is responsible for checking all animals entering the show ring and refusing entry to any with paint or artificial colouring.

Please visit the Gold Show page on our website for more information.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Fall Feeder Sales Start Next Week

It's hard to believe that September is already here. At the office in Calgary, the staff are still wondering when summer will arrive on our doorstep while Eastern Canada is once again in the grips of a heat wave and Maritimers are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Earl. But a sure sign that summer is over is the arrival of the fall Angus sales, which start on Friday, September 10 at Winnipeg Livestock Sales and continue through Thursday, December 9 at Sekura Auctions Ltd. in Drayton Valley. We even have a few spring sales in March and April. All the sale dates are listed on our events calendar on our website.


The Canadian Angus Association has worked hard to develop relationships with auction markets and offer Angus sales across the country. In just 10 years, we have gone from 5 sales to 157! Check the list of sale dates and you are sure to find one near you.


These sales are an excellent market for your Angus-tagged cattle. We are the only beef breed with a tag that guarantees breed genetics. Only Angus tags qualify your commercial cattle for Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed beef programs. Licensed participants will be present at this fall's Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed sales seeking Angus-tagged cattle for their beef programs.


The Canadian Angus Association will also have field representatives at nearly all sales. When you attend a sale, be sure to say hello.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

New Canadian Angus Performance Program Deadline: October 10, 2010

The deadline to submit all performance data for the Spring 2011 National Cattle Evaluation has been changed to October 10, 2010. In order to have your performance data included in the November NCE, all data must be in the office by October 10; data can be submitted online or by mail.

However, most pastures are very green this year and many Canadian Angus Performance Program members were planning on leaving their cattle out as long as possible. If you do not submit your data by October 10th, you should still submit it as soon as possible. Data that gets submitted after the deadline will be used to calculate Interim EPDs (P+) for members until it is used in the next NCE in June 2011. Interim EPDs consist of Parental Averages (P) and the trait information that is submitted.

If your Herd Inventory and Application for Registration has been processed and you received an RFI (Request for Information) sheet from us, please provide your corrections or changes in writing and return it to the office by fax or mail. To ensure accuracy, we cannot accept revisions by telephone. The registration fee for an animal on which an RFI has been issued will be held for 90 days, but we strongly recommend that you respond to an RFI as soon as possible. If you have received a Missing Data-Herd Inventory sheet, please update it and return it to us as soon as possible. Once your inventory is complete, 205-day worksheets will be generated for you.

We realize that deadlines are sometimes difficult to meet when so much of our business is dependent on variables like the weather, however, data that is submitted shortly after it is taken is much more accurate and leaves more time to complete everything.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions at all.

Regards,
Kajal Devani
Feedback: kajal1@cdnangus.ca

Dick Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund

The recent loss of Angus legend Dick Turner and the creation of a memorial scholarship fund in his name has brought the Canadian Angus Foundation to people's minds and conversations. We have received a number of donations in Dick's memory, and the Canadian Angus Foundation is grateful for your support.

Some people have asked if they can make a donation without using the donation envelopes that were distributed earlier this year. The answer is yes, of course. You can send a cheque made payable to the Canadian Angus Foundation and write "Dick Turner Memorial Scholarship" on the memo line. You can also contact us in writing with your Visa or Mastercard number if you prefer to pay with your credit card. We also accept credit cards by phone; please call our toll-free line at 1-888-571-3580 and ask for me or Michael Latimer.

There is no deadline for contributions to the Dick Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund. Donations can be made at any time. Donations can also be made in memory of any deceased Angus breeder to the Canadian Angus Foundation Memorial Scholarship Fund established earlier this year. All donations, whether for scholarships, research, archives, education, youth development or a special project of your choosing, are welcome at any time. Donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt and are graciously acknowledged on our website and in our annual report.

To learn more about what the Canadian Angus Foundation does, please visit the website. The Canadian Angus Foundation thanks you for your support.


Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Help an international visitor learn

Canada has a special visitor for the next several months. Jessica Denning, the Senior Aberdeen-Angus Ambassador from the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society in Scotland, is visiting Canada until the end of November. Jessica plans to work her way across Canada learning about Angus production practices in Canada.

Jessica arrived in Canada just in time for Showdown. After a few days of extreme heat and humidity, she arrived in Calgary just in time for unseasonably cold temperatures and rain and hail. Our weather extremes have not scared her away, although she is seeking more agreeable weather conditions and the opportunity to visit more areas of Canada.

If you would like to show Jessica some Canadian hospitality and could use an extra set of hands helping out over the next few months, please contact the Canadian Angus Association office.

Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: michael1@cdnangus.ca

Updating our member handbook

Staff at the Canadian Angus Association are working on updates to the member handbook. We have received some feedback from members since the handbook was distributed in 2006 and are working to incorporate suggestions for improvement. So now is a good time to ask if there are ideas that haven't made it to us.

Do you have any suggestions for improving your handbook? Is there anything that you think is missing or that could be better explained? What do you most often use your handbook for? How can we make it more useful for you?

Please send your comments and suggestions to tina1@cdnangus.ca.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky

2010 International Livestock Identification Association Conference

Calgary hosted the annual International Livestock Identification Association (ILIA) conference this past week. I had the opportunity to represent the Canadian Angus Association along with Doug Fee. We, along with participants from Australia, Canada, the United States and Mexico discussed topics around the theme of livestock traceability in North America. Over the two days at Spruce Meadows, focus was specifically on animal health, the economics of traceability, how consumer demand affects traceability and the deployment of such systems. The conference concluded Wednesday with a tour of Western Feedlots and the Highwood Auction Market in High River.

Canada was recognized repeatedly as a world leader during these discussions along with Australia, Brazil, Uruguay and New Zealand. Consumer trust was also repeatedly discussed as it is vital to maintain and grow domestic meat markets. Traceability is a method by which this can be achieved. It also allows for a quick and easy investigation when an animal health concern which threatens our export markets arises. By developing these systems the opportunities for market re-entry after a closure are enhanced as we can prove the safety of our product.

All in all an educational and informative few days. I encourage all producers to continue age verifying their animals and invest some time to learn what CCIA and the governments are doing to assist and move Canadian traceability forward.

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: cheryl1@cdnangus.ca

Showdown 2010

The Canadian Junior Angus Association's Showdown 2010 was held in Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, from July 8 to 11. This was an excellent event in which the Juniors were able to participate in a wide range of events including Print Marketing, Sales Talk, Showmanship, Judging, Team Judging, Team Grooming, Photography, Literature, Art, Scrapbook, Graphic Design, Public Speaking, Cook-off, Herdsman, Spirit of Youth and even showing cattle.

The Friday barbecue was held at Ranch Angus Noiseux which is owned by Guy Noiseux. At the recent Canadian Angus Association annual general meeting, Guy's brother Luc was presented with an honourary president pin. Ranch Angus Noiseux was also the site of the cook-off.

The conformation show was held Saturday with a good turnout of cattle. Although the cattle were primarily from Quebec and Ontario, 65 Juniors from across Canada attended the event.

At the Saturday evening awards banquet, Belinda Wagner and Laurie Noiseux were greeted with a standing ovation for their tremendous efforts in organizing Showdown.

Two international competitors also participated in Showdown this year: Jess Denning, the Aberdeen Angus Senior Ambassador from the UK, and Tennessee's Montgomery Dempsey who is part of an exchange program with the Red Angus Association of America.

Congratulations to all the competitors who attended Showdown. And kudos to all who helped the event run smoothly. This is a phenomenal event that all members should be proud of.

Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Deadlines and Reminders

It seems like it's always a busy time of year for Angus breeders, and for almost anyone involved in agriculture. We would like to remind you of some upcoming deadlines to ensure they aren't forgotten:

If you are an authorized user and register your animals online, July 15 is the deadline to register your Spring 2010-born calves online for $15 regardless of age. If you are not yet an authorized user but want to take advantage of these savings, you need to contact us (registry@cdnangus.ca) very soon to be set up as an authorized user.

If you are on the Canadian Angus Performance Program, your 2010 spring born calf records should be submitted to us by July 15 to allow us adequate time to process your 205 day worksheets.

Showdown is currently underway and the first Gold Show is only a couple weeks away. Please submit your show animal registrations as soon as possible and mark them rush. We will do our best to work with you to accommodate your deadlines but please keep in mind the possibility of parentage spot tests, genetic defect testing requirements, and possible missing information. All animals entered in Canadian Angus Association sponsored Gold Shows must be registered before the show. Don't wait for the last minute to register your animals and risk not being able to participate.

We'll have an update from Showdown for you next week.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Barbecuing Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Beef

There's something about Canada Day that makes people want to barbecue. It sometimes seems like almost every community across the country is having a barbecue as part of their Canada Day celebrations. This is good news for the beef industry as there will be lots of burgers and steaks on grills in backyards and communities from coast to coast.

As the weather has warmed up, staff here at the Canadian Angus Association have been barbecuing and taste testing Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed products. We've looked up retail locations where we can find Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed beef and headed to the store to buy frozen burgers and fresh steaks.

As we've compared notes, we may disagree on who makes the best frozen burger or which type of steak is best, but we all agree that we are proud of our Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed program and the products under this label.

I encourage all Angus producers--purebred and commercial--to visit the retailers selling these products. Licensed participants are getting new packaging materials printed with the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed logo as they use up their existing supplies, so you may have to look for their name in some locations.

Try a Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed product and let us know what you think. They're buying your cattle so don't hesitate to support their product and programs. The Canadian Angus Association has proudly endorsed these products and we're sure that you'll not only enjoy them, but that you'll be proud that the box or the sign says "Angus".

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

More Annual Meeting Highlights

If you haven't visited the Angus News page on our website in the last few days, we encourage you to do so.

We have included a detailed summary of the annual general meeting in Halifax complete with lots of photos. You can read about the President's Reception on the tall Ship Silva, the lobster dinner at Murphy's on the Water (and see Doug Fee wearing a plastic bib!), the Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Competition... I could keep going, but you should just click here to read all the details for yourself.

Our hats are off once again to our hosts, the Maritime Angus Association. Job well done Betty Lou and crew!

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Canadian Angus Association 2010 Annual General Meeting

Any description of the 2010 Canadian Angus Association Annual General Meeting would be amiss if it did not begin by recognizing the warmth with which the Maritimers welcomed us into their city and province. Angus breeders from all across Canada travelled to Halifax to attend the event; industry partners and representatives from other associations were all present. And, we heard repeatedly, that it was worth the trip!

Halifax is a port filled with history and culture. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting Pier 21 where several breeders found their family names on the wall that recognizes immigrant families who first landed in Canada. Some of us found ourselves enraptured in the 1800 reenactment of Alexander Keith’s brewery establishment. Angus breeders had the opportunity to tour two wineries and a lobster pound – both excellent pairings with our delicious Angus beef. As guests at the President’s reception, we were whisked away on the Tall Ship Silva on which we sailed around the port. The harbour had a relaxed and rejuvenating effect on everyone who was present.

This was a wonderful setting for the Annual General Meeting where Angus breeders and industry partners came together to form strong relationships and a positive outlook for our industry in the coming year. Angus breeders are so pleased to welcome Kirk Wildman as our president for the next year, and congratulate David Bolduc on being nominated as the president elect.

We had the opportunity to travel with our Quebec and Maritime Fieldman Wayne Gallup to visit MacMaster Choice Meats in Antigonish, NS. MacMaster Choice Meats is owned and operated by Frank MacMaster and is currently the only Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed licensed participant in the Maritime region. Frank also joined us at the AGM by participating in the roundtable discussions and was very generous in supplying and donating Canadian Angus beef for the banquet.

The speech portion of the 2010-2011 Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Competition was carried out at Murphy’s restaurant along the waterfront in Halifax, NS. Erika Easton of Wawota, SK was declared the winner at the banquet. Erika will be an excellent representative of the Canadian Angus Foundation at many national and international events throughout the upcoming year.

This was the first Canadian Angus Association Annual General Meeting that we have attended as staff members of the Association and we were both grateful for your warm welcomes, and the encouragement that we both received from members. We were both so happy to see how passionate and committed all our members are to the Angus breed and the Association. We thank you all for travelling from far and wide to attend.


Posted by Kajal Devani and Michael Latimer
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Some fees are changing June 30

Some Canadian Angus Association fees will be changing on June 30. These fee changes result from decisions made at the February 2010 Board of Directors meeting.

At the meeting, the Finance Committee reported serious concern that our fee structure has not kept pace with inflation and explained that we have been able to keep registration and membership fees at the 1982 level only because of activity growth and access to grant programs.

The Board of Directors accepted the following changes to the fee schedule, effective June 30:

• Cost of providing mailing labels be $100 plus 3 cents per label

• An electronic download of member addresses be $250 for a one-time use

• Charge to register an imported animal be $50

• Charge of $25 for Geneprob reports, reduced to $15 if it can be provided electronically

• Cost to register a herd name be $25

• Cost to register tattoo letters be $25

All members will receive a revised fee schedule in the mail with their 2009 annual report by the end of the month. You can also download a printable PDF file by clicking here.

Changes to registration, transfer and membership fees will not occur until January 2011.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca