Saskatchewan 4-H Event Report

I had the honour and pleasure of talking to Saskatchewan 4-H members and some of their parents after the 2011 Regina Bull Sale and Show. The show itself was great. It was judged by Wade Beck and it showcased some great Angus animals. Some of our junior members competed for Showmanship recognition and I would like to congratulate Erika Easton, Kristina Ginter and Lexi Hicks for being recognized as superior showmen (or women).

The afternoon planned by Jackie Medvid, the Regional Specialist for the Saskatchewan 4-H Council and Melodi Howkesford-Lee, the South East Regional Specialist, was engaging for me, parents and 4-H members alike. We all learned how to ultrasound animals, how to phenotypically evaluate animals, how Angus animals are evaluated genetically, and how EPDs are calculated and best used. The 4-H members were enthusiastic to learn more about the animals that they spend so much time with, and their passion for beef cattle was certainly contagious. I felt very honoured to be a part of their learning weekend.

The Saskatchewan 4-H council did a fabulous job of organizing a great event. Thank you for all your hard work to put on such a great event.

Posted by Kajal Devani
Feedback: kajal1@cdnangus.ca

Now available: Angus A-Tags!

This year Allflex launched the new highly versatile A-Tag and it now comes in an Angus version. In the signature lime green colour which Angus is known for, this one-piece dangle tag is designed for long-term identification.

Benefits of the A-Tag:

• easy one-piece application
• self piercing pinhole tip reduces animal stress with faster healing after application
• longer tag anchor means higher retention in animals with thicker ears
• requires the Allflex one-piece applicator or a Zee tag applicator for quick and easy application

A-Tags are available in bags of 25 in either a cow size (3” x 4.5”) or calf size (2.5” x 3.875”). The cost of the cow size tags is $30/bag and the calf size is $25/bag. Tags can be custom numbered and prices will vary. Contact Cheryl or Julia for more information.

The standard two piece dangle tag is still available and you can view all of our tag products in the catalogue. Tags can be ordered by sending the order form to the office, ordering online or by calling 1-888-571-3580.

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: mailto:chazenberg@cdnangus.ca

Canadian Angus at the Glenbow!

Six months after having emerged from the basement archives, I can now proudly announce that the Canadian Angus Association archival records have been catalogued and safely stored at the Glenbow Museum & Archives in Calgary, Alberta. The records are open to the public for viewing and our members are encouraged to stop by the Glenbow whenever they’re in town to check out the Association’s bylaw amendments, official correspondence, publications, and other fascinating historical documents.

The Glenbow Museum and Archives have posted an online Finding Aid to assist anyone interested in our history in identifying and locating individual items.

If you go to the Photographs section of the finding aid you can see some of the photos scanned by the Glenbow. This collection includes pictures of important figures in the history of the breed including early proponents of the breed, past board members, and the iconic image of Old Grannie, the first recorded Aberdeen-Angus cow.

This project has been a success so far, but it is by no means complete. As we continue to move forward as a superior beef breed in Canada, we need to continue accumulating and preserving mementos of our progress and growth. It is important to remember that the work we do today in improving and expanding the Angus breed is history in the making.

Posted by Amanda Suhan
Feedback: amanda1@cdnangus.ca

2011 GOAL Conference Outstanding

The 2011 GOAL (Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders) Conference was held February 19-21 in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan Director Laird Senft and I attended the conference with 36 Juniors and Belinda Wagner, the CJAA coordinator and Shelly Easton.

Thursday featured keynote speaker Dr. Scott Vernon of Cal Poly-San Luis Obisp California. His seminar covered communication, motivation and leadership. The evening included dinner at the Western Development Museum followed by a tour and then the attendees presented skits.

Tom Blacklock spoke about Staying Creative in Agriculture on Friday morning, sharing his experiences of retailing his own beef through farmers markets during the BSE crisis.

The Juniors had a full and busy weekend. Bella Spur Innovative Media Inc. gave a marketing presentation and Gordon Roger from Intervet gave a presentation on Opportunities for Youth in Agriculture. The formal banquet was held Saturday night and featured a presentation from Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Erika Easton. I presented the Association's highlights of 2010.

Belinda deserves a lot of credit and recognition for her hard work. She does a great job and did a lot of work to put on a great conference.

It was great to see the Juniors focus on their future in the Angus breed and make new friends. I am also happy to report that after my presentation, several Juniors have "friended" me and "like" the Canadian Angus Association on Facebook.


Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: michael1@cdnangus.ca

World Angus Secretariat Meeting in Argentina

This October, Argentina will host the World Angus Secretariat Technical Meeting in Buenos Aires. The Canadian Angus Association is putting together an official delegation of Canadian Angus breeders to represent us.

The meeting takes place October 8-15. The XXXIII National Angus Spring Meeting, the XII National Fair of Angus Calves and Angus Genetics Expo will take place at the same time. The program includes visits to Angus breeding farms, the Liniers Cattle Market and a closing gala dinner that will feature a genetics auction.

Buenos Aires is a beautiful, dynamic and radiant city that features stunning architecture and a vibrant cultural life. There will be time for touring and shopping.

The official Canadian Angus delegation is set to depart from Canada on Tuesday, October 4 and return on Sunday, October 16. Full tour details and pricing will be available by the end of February.

If you are interested in being part of the official Canadian delegation, please contact me to be given priority placement on the information list.

For more information about the Secretariat meeting, please visit the World Angus Secreatariat Argentina website at http://www.wasargentina2011.com/index1.php



Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Report on January Industry Events

Thank you to everyone who has come out and visited with Julia or myself at recent industry events across the county. Tag sales have been fantastic these last few weeks, and we have received a great response at all the events we have been to. New dates are still being added for March and will be posted very soon, but the Calgary Bull Sale, March 2 and 3, 2011, is confirmed.

In addition to attending Ag Days in Brandon and the Feeder Association of Alberta’s annual Convention in Red Deer, I had the privilege to speak at this year’s Ottawa Valley Annual General Meeting. I was delighted to see the turn out and to hear the positive comments not only about the industry but what the Association is doing. I am very grateful for the opportunity and the invitation to attend.

Ag Days in Brandon is a wonderful event and I am sorry that I have never had the chance to attend until this year. With a huge showcase of everything agricultural related, I was pleased to be able to add Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Tags to that list. The people that I spoke with over those two days were from diverse backgrounds and very interesting; from producers to consumers every step along the way was represented. Thanks to the Manitoba Angus Association for working with me and helping make that event a success.

Julia made the trip to Camrose, Alberta this year for the Bull Congress and we had fantastic tag sales there. Alberta producers have embraced the Angus Tag Program and are taking full advantage of the Alberta Government’s Age Verification Incentive Program. AVIP is in year two now and producers who applied last year are eligible to apply again. Anyone who didn’t apply last year can still maximize their returns on a 2011 tag purchase.

Expect to see us out and about in March and again this fall. And as always you can mail or fax in your tag order, complete it online or call us at the office. Remember it takes a couple of days to ship tags, so order early.

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: cheryl1@cdnangus.ca

How a Geneprob Herd Analysis Can Help You

The Canadian Angus Association can provide for its members a Geneprob herd analysis. This report will identify any animals in your herd that might have a probability of inheriting a recessive gene that causes either AM, NH, OS, MA or CA. The report can help members identify which animals to test for the genes, so that testing is focused in the most economical way possible.

Here are some comments from members who have used the Geneprob herd analysis:

“I thought that I was going to have to test all my animals for OS, but the Geneprob report showed me that if I tested just one sire and he came back free of the gene, then I would not need to test any other animals at all”.

“I didn’t think that NH was an issue in my herd, I am very particular about the pedigree that I use. But I got the herd analysis anyways. I was surprised to see that a few of the cows I had bought were out of a carrier bull, and had 50% probability of having the NH gene. I was happy to find out now and be able to get the tests done right away. I’d rather know now than later down the road”.

“I didn’t quite understand this whole genetics thing until I got my herd analysis and went through it with Kajal. It’s worth the $15 to really see what you have or don’t have”.

To request a Geneprob herd analysis contact, me by email or at 1-888-571-3580.

Posted by Kajal Devani
Feedback: kajal1@cdnangus.ca

2011 off to a Good Start for the Angus Breed

It's been a busy month in the Canadian Angus office:

• 50 new members joined our Association.
• Membership renewals have been arriving daily in the mail.
• Registrations and tag sales are up as compared to January 2010.
• Our new member handbook was posted on our website.
• Staff representatives attended provincial annual general meetings in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario
• Herd inventories were mailed.
• Staff representatives attended industry events to answer questions about the Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Tag Program.

We are currently running about 10 days behind the mail, so if you submit work to the office and require it urgently, please mark RUSH on the oustide of your envelope or the cover page of your fax. Rush charges will apply.

In short, there is much for Angus breeders to feel good about: a busy office staff is a sign that the breed is enjoying success. We've also heard many reports of calving going well, despite the sometimes horrific weather conditions. Spring may be just around the corner if you believe the groundhogs' predictions. Either way, things are looking good for Angus.


Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca