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

World Angus Secretariat 2011 Technical Meeting in Argentina

As October draws to a close and the first snowfalls and snowstorms have hit, Canadians are already starting to think about warmer climates. Some Angus breeders are thinking about travelling to Argentina next year.

The 2011 World Angus Secretariat 2011 Technical Meeting is being held in Buenos Aires from October 8-15, 2011. The Canadian Angus Association plans to put together a tour for a Canadian delegation, similar to the delegation that went to Ireland in 2007. We will post details on our website soon. If you may be interested in attending and want to be added to a mailing list to receive information by email about the Canadian tour, send an email to cdnangus@cdnangus.ca and put Angus Argentina 2011 in the subject line.

The first Angus breeding cattle were imported to Argentina in 1879. Angus is recognized as Argentina's leading beef breed, with more than half of the 50 million head of bovine livestock identified as purebred Angus or predominantly Angus crossbreeds.

Buenos Aires is a beautiful and vibrant city known for its architecture and cultural life. The XXXIII National Angus Spring Meeting, the XII National Fair of Angus Calves and Angus-genetics Expo take place at the same time as the technical meeting. Argentina has also promised a fun social program that includes an opening cocktail party, trips to Angus breeding farms, the Liniers Cattle Market and an unforgettable closing Gala Dinner featuring a genetics auction.

For more details, visit the World Angus Secretariat 2011 Technical Meeting website at www.wasargentina2011.com.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Beef and Wine Tasting Events in BC

I was in BC on the weekend for a Canadian Angus Association first: we partnered with a BC winery and hosted two wine and beef tasting events in BC.

Beef and wine go together very well, and the Canadian Angus Association through the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed program has partnered with Cedar Creek Estate Winery to cross promote Canadian beef and wine to consumers. We will formally launch this partnership at Friday's Red Roundup gala event.

On Saturday, October 16, our first tasting event was held at Lepp Farm Market who have just become our newest licensed participant in the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed program. An estimated 1,250 people came out to enjoy the sunshine and samples of Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed beef and Cedar Creek Estate wine. It turned out to be the second-busiest day in Lepp Farm Market history, second only to Thanksgiving. On Sunday, October 17, we set up at the BC Liquor Store on 39th & Cambie in Vancouver and served an additional 300 interested consumers.

Consumers generally recognize the name Angus but don't really know what it is or why it is better. One on one is the best way to educate consumers. They want to know about the beef they are eating. The consumers at our tasting events wanted to know where the beef was from, what Angus is, and how Angus beef differs from "other" beef. They also asked for the recipes for the samples we were serving and wanted to know where they can purchase Angus beef. Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed beef is available across Canada; find a location serving it near you by visiting www.rancherendorsed.com.

Special thanks for the effort and help from everyone involved as it was a great weekend.

Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: michael1@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

EPD 101 Workshop in Manitoba

I travelled out to Brandon, Manitoba last Wednesday riveted by the beautiful fall colors and gorgeous scenery. I was welcomed by 11 Angus breeders and 2 commercial producers who took the time out of their very busy harvesting to attend a workshop on EPDs.

We discussed what EPDs are, how they are calculated and how they should best be used. This is the first of a series of workshops on EPDs that will be offered by the Association. The next workshop will describe the paperwork involved in participating on the Canadian Angus Performance Program. We will go through the paperwork that members receive and how to complete the worksheets. And, we will discuss the reports provided back to member explaining how to read and use these.

I’d like to thank Arlene Kirkpatrick for organizing the evening, and all the members who took the time to be there last Wednesday. It was a pleasure for me to meet so many enthusiastic breeders in person, and for me to be able to discuss genetic evaluations with them. In addition, it was greatly beneficial for us to have had the commercial customers’ perspective as well.

Everybody came away from the workshop having learnt something new and I encourage all breeders to take the time to come to the workshops as they are available in your area, or contact me to do it online.

EPDs are great selection tools that describe the additive genetics within our animals helping Angus breeders reach their breeding goals in a shorter time frame. I welcome you to contact me with any questions or comments that you might have.

Posted by Kajal Devani
Feedback: kajal1@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