Canadian Angus Foundation Update

The Canadian Angus Foundation has had one of its best years ever. We successfully raised $26,280 in the Baldy Fundraiser, half of which was donated to the ‘Kids with Cancer Society’. We also had a great turnout for the Junior Ambassador competition that featured some of the best youth that our Angus fraternity has to offer. Ultimately Austen Anderson of Swan River, Manitoba was selected as our ambassador for the upcoming year. Austen will travel to the World Angus Secretariat in Argentina as well as several shows and sales across Canada.

A few new opportunities for our Juniors include the chance for one CJAA member to have $500 of their travel paid to the GOAL conference in Regina this February. This is awarded through the Canadian Angus Memorial Fund and is open to members of the CJAA. To enter submit a paragraph stating ‘How you will benefit from attending GOAL’ to mlatimer@cdnangus.ca; be sure to include your contact information.

The inaugural Dick Turner Award will be presented at the 2012 Canadian Angus Association annual general meeting in Lethbridge. The criteria for the award will be announced early in 2012 so keep reading the Junior Connections newsletter and Angus World for more information.

The Canadian Angus Foundation functions to preserve and expand the Angus breed for future generations through education, youth development, scientific and market research, and historical restoration. More information about the Canadian Angus Foundation is available at http://www.canangusfoundation.ca/ or by email to mlatimer@cdnangus.ca.


Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: mlatimer@cdnangus.ca

Performance Program Deadline Extended to November 1

We understand that weaning and weighing calves before October 11 is difficult for many breeders. The Canadian Angus Association has worked very hard with the Associations that we cooperate with in genetic evaluations on your behalf to increase efficiencies. We are very pleased to inform you that we are able to extend the deadline for performance data to be included in the next National Cattle Evaluation to Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Our staff will do their best to still have the new EPDs available in early 2012 for sale catalogue and bull buying decisions.

The Canadian Angus Association staff value our members and the feedback that you provide. We will continue to work hard for you to provide you with tools and services that are useful and practical for your Angus operation.

Please contact the Registry Department (registry@cdnangus.ca) as soon as possible if you do not yet have the 205 day worksheet for your Spring 2011 born calves. If you received a Missing Data – Herd Inventory listing for Spring 2011, please complete it and return to us as soon as possible so we can generate the 205 day worksheet.

It is preferable that you mail the worksheet or submit your weights electronically or by HerdMaster to ensure accuracy.

Refer to the Breeder Handbook for assistance with completing the 205 day worksheet.

If you have any questions about weaning weights, online submission, the Canadian Performance Program or EPDs, please contact me.

Posted by Kajal Devani
Feedback: kajal1@cdnangus.ca

The Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Feeder Calf Listing Has Launched

Last week we told you about an exciting new initiative, the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Feeder Calf Listing. Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Tag customers can list upcoming lots of animals on offer by private sale, through an auction market or internet auction, and we will post the list on our website and send it to anyone interested in purchasing Angus influenced calves. The service is free for those using Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Tags.

The listing can be viewed on our website at www.cdnangus.ca/commercial/Angus_for_sale.htm. It is also sent by e-mail. Please help us spread the word about this new service. To subscribe to the e-mail, send an e-mail to chazenberg@cdnangus.ca.

To have your calves included, complete the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Feeder Calf Listing Information form and return it to the Association office. Please include as much information as possible, however, not including some information will not exclude you from participating.

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: chazenberg@cdnangus.ca

New Service: Canadian Angus Feeder Calf Listing

The Canadian Angus Association has created a new free service that will be available on September 16 to help you market your Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed tagged feeder calves. The Feeder Calf Listing will list upcoming lots of animals on offer by private sale, through an auction market or internet auction and will be distributed to anyone interested in purchasing Angus influenced calves. List with us and let buyers know when and where your Angus-tagged calves will be sold!

An email will be distributed each Friday listing new groups of available cattle. A complete list will be maintained on the Canadian Angus Association website. To have your calves included, complete the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Feeder Calf Listing Information form and return it to the Association office. Please include as much information as possible, however; not including some information will not exclude you from participating. Listings will be posted online within 1 business day and included in the next weekly email. This free service starts on September 16, but you can send us the information now to be included in the first distribution.

I encourage you to sell your calves through a Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Feeder Sale and calves selling at sales can still use this listing. This year there are 169 sales across the country at 67 different auction markets and a complete list of the 2011 sales dates is also available online. Contact your local auction market or any one of the Canadian Angus Association field staff for further information.

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: chazenberg@cdnangus.ca

Greek Burger Recipe for the Labour Day Weekend

What are your plans for this last long weekend of summer? We've talked to members who will be fishing, camping, soaking up the sun, playing in ball tournaments and barbecuing. Lots of Angus breeders will be trying to squeeze in a little bit of R&R between haying and silaging. A few will be showing cattle this weekend.

For many of us, a summer long weekend is a great excuse to gather friends for a back yard barbecue featuring Angus beef. If such a gathering is on your agenda for the weekend, consider trying these Greek burgers. The recipe comes to us from Chef Dez at Lepp Farm Market (a Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed licensed participant) in Abbotsford, BC.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 large egg
• 7 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 tbsp finely chopped fresh oregano
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Preparation:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and divide equally into four portions. Shape each portion into a hamburger patty.
2. Grill on a preheated barbecue, medium flame, until cooked through. (Burger temperature will be 160 degrees Fahrenheit when fully cooked.)
3. Serve with tzatziki sauce, lettuce and tomato on a hamburger bun. For a gluten-free or lower calorie option, wrap hamburger patty in a large lettuce leaf instead of using a bun.

The recipe is easily doubled, tripled, etc. if you are expecting a crowd.

Whatever you do this long weekend, enjoy the sunshine and drive safely. Our office will be closed on Monday to recognize Labour Day, but we'll reopen at 7:30 a.m. MDT on Tuesday.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky

Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Remembering Walt Browarny

Like many in the cattle industry, Angus breeders are deeply saddened by the loss of renowned livestock photographer Walt Browarny.

I did not grow up in the business and only met Walt a few years ago. He was not a large man but he made a big impression. The first picture that I purchased from Browarny Photographics is posted here. It remains a favourite among our staff.

My first impression of Walt was that he was a quiet man with an incredible amount of knowledge. It was fascinating for me, a newbie to the industry, to listen to him reminisce with then CEO Doug Fee. They had great stories about stubborn cattle and the lengths Walt sometimes had to go to in order to get a photo. When I saw Walt in action some time later, I realized that he wasn't quiet all the time. Walt was great at giving orders. He had a way of making everyone jump to obey him--cattle included.

Our commercial fieldman, Brian Good, grew up in the cattle business. He remembers Walt as the guy who first gave meaning to livestock photography. "In the days when exotic cattle first came to Canada," remembers Brian, "Walt took a lot of pictures for the sale catalogues. It was a new way of marketing cattle." He describes Walt as "as much of a marketer as he was a photographer."

CEO Rob Smith also grew up in the cattle business and with Walt's photography. "My family (Tracy, Brody, Tyson and I) grew up in Walt's pictures for over 30 years," Rob says. "He documented the passing of our Smith/Gardner family time in a most meaningful way. His name adorns the walls of our homes and is a constant daily reminder to his place in the seedstock sector and agriculture industry as well as our family business. His fair approach to all breeds and all people (and, as I would learn as I became an adult, all species and events) was the gold standard. We have truly lost a giant."

Walt was a well respected livestock photographer and a legend in the industry. It's been said that Walt never missed an industry event. The American Angus Association profiled to him in their popular I Am Angus television series http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvP-jskdVuw

On behalf of Canada's Angus breeders, we offer our sincerest condolences to Walt's wife Marie, his daughter Shannon, his son Allan, daughter-in-law Roxana and grandchildren Corbin and Sophia.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Canadian Angus Association Presents Eastern Canada Feedlot of the Year Award to Ferme d’Anjou et Fils

Left to right: Jerome Richard, Canadian Angus Association Director for Quebec; Wayne Gallup, Canadian Angus Association Fieldman; Jean Francois D'Anjou, Ferme d'Anjou et Fils; Guy D'Anjou, Ferme d’Anjou et Fils; John Donaldson, 2009 President Canadian Angus Association

Ferme d’Anjou et Fils of Quebec received the Canadian Angus Association’s Eastern Canada Feedlot of the Year award in recognition of their work feeding and promoting Angus and Angus cross cattle. Commercial Fieldman Brian Good presented the award at the Quebec Feedlot Society’s field day.

Ferme d’Anjou et Fils is located in Saint-Agapit, Quebec and is managed by Guy D’Anjou and his son Jean-François. The feedlot annually finishes between 4,000 and 5,000 head of mostly Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed tagged Angus and Angus-influence cattle for shipment to Ontario and American markets. Guy believes it is critical that the cattle he purchases are identified with an Angus tag that certifies the animal has at least 50% Angus genetics.

Ferme d’Anjou et Fils is a comprehensive enterprise. In addition to the feedlot, Guy operates a cattle transport company in cooperation with one of his sons, and operates Angus Zone restaurant and Les Viandes Chez Nous butcher shop with his family. Angus Zone and Les Viandes Chez Nous both offer Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed beef supplied by the Ferme d’Anjou et Fils feedlot.

The Canadian Angus Association introduced the Feedlot the Year award this year to recognize feedlots that promote Angus to their customers and that feed Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed tagged cattle. The award for Western Canada was presented to High Ridge Feeders and Shannondale Farm of Manitoba at our annual general meeting in June.


Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

International Livestock Congress 2011

The International Livestock Congress (ILC) was held Wednesday in Calgary as part of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Semi-Annual Meeting and Convention. It was an opportunity to interact with other industry partners as well as participate in a program which focused on trade opportunities, global trends and economic analysis in the beef industry.

A few key points were repeatedly emphasized throughout the day and paint a promising picture for the beef industry.

• Canada produces a very high quality beef product which will always be in demand by consumers and foreign markets.

• The Canadian dollar will remain strong.

• As the Canada-EU trade negotiations progress, there are many issues which as an industry need to be addressed.

• Consumers do want to purchase Canadian beef and they do look to the packaging to identify the origin of the beef prior to purchase.

The Canadian Angus Association was well represented at ILC with President David Bolduc, Brian, Michael, Kajal, Ciara, and Cheryl in attendance. Staff members have also been a part of the other aspects of the CCA’s Semi-Annual Meeting this week. By participating in events such as this it allows the Canadian Angus Association to strengthen its position as an industry leader and to be ready to seize the opportunities and face the challenges which encompass the Canadian beef industry.

Please contact anyone who was in attendance for more information on the conference or to find out how you can participate next year.


Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: chazenberg@cdnangus.ca