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

Agribition Report November 25

The Angus show yesterday was a great success. Congratulations to all the exhibitors. Congratulations to TNF Red Angus of Riviere Qui Barre, AB, exhibitor of the Grand Champion Female Red TNF Young Kassie 3Y and to Ter-Ron Farms of Forestburg, AB, exhibitor of the Grand Champion Bull Red Ter-Ron Real Deal 01W. Congratulations also to Soo Line Cattle Co. of Midale, SK, exhibitor of the Grand Champion Female Soo Line Annie K 1008 and to BAR-E-L Angus of Stettler, AB, exhibitor of the Grand Champion Bull Southland Two Fitty 250T.

A great crowd came out to view the show and was not disappointed. There is still lots to see at Agribition through the weekend. The Commercial Show is underway now and the sale will run tomorrow morning. The Power & Perfection Angus Sale is tonight at 7:00 p.m. and there is the Canadian Angus Association sponsored commercial appreciation dinner tonight at 5:00 p.m. The fog has rolled in but the weather is still wonderful.

I can be found in the Blairs.Ag booth in the Stockman’s Arena. I will be here tomorrow as well. There are still some Angus tags available but they are going quickly and you can place an order and have them shipped home.


Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: chazenberg@cdnangus.ca

Agribition Report

Our second full day at Agribiton has kicked off with both the red and black shows underway. There is a great turnout of cattle, exhibitors and spectators. Good luck to everyone participating.

Yesterday saw the Masterpiece sale being a success with a great turnout and lots of interest in the cattle on offer. We attended the International Reception last night and met with visitors from all over the world. Sixty different countries have representatives at Agribition this year.

We are lucky to have great weather this year with temperatures staying around the freezing mark. More updates to come as we move to the commercial show tomorrow. Look for me at the Blairs.Ag booth in the commercial barn Friday and Saturday.

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: chazenberg@cdnangus.ca