Canadian Angus Association Staff
Doug Fee
Chief Executive Officer
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Michael Latimer
Assistant General Manager
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Linda Anne Seville
Office Manager
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Joanelle Fuellbrandt
Receptionist
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Kajal Devani
Breed Development
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Cheryl Hazenberg
CACP Co-ordinator
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Sharmayne Byrgesen
Chief Registrar
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Shirley Anderson
Assistant Registrar
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Kailey Walker
Assistant Registrar
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Wendy Newton
Educational Support
(403) 668-5251
Tina Zakowsky
Member Communications
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Brian Good
Commercial Fieldman
(403) 391-4037
John Duivenvoorden
Eastern Fieldman (Ontario)
(705) 431-0319
Wayne Gallup
Eastern Fieldman
(Quebec & Maritimes)
(819) 826-3026
Announcements
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Register for the 2010 annual general meeting in Halifax before May 15 and save $25. Visit our website for details and registration information.
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The deadline for the 2010 Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador competition is April 30. For information on the award, please visit the Canadian Angus Foundation website.
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Don't forget to check out our blog, updated at least every Friday: http://cdnangus.blogspot.com
Very limited quantities of WAF merchandise are available. This is your final opportunity to purchase memorabilia at blowout prices. Contact Joanelle (1-888-571-3580) for availability and to purchase.
Men's Shirts
Beige long sleeve houndstooth shirt—$25
Beige or blue Harvie & Crosbie Oxford wrinkle-resistant long sleeve shirt—$20
Fairway green golf shirt—$20
Long sleeve denim—$20
White short sleeve show shirt—$20
French blue or white luxury cotton wrinkle free long sleeve shirt—$30
Women's Shirts
Khaki green, pink, brown, white, yellow, gray, mint green or black T-shirts—$10
Yellow short sleeve shirt—$25
Black or lime green golf shirt—$25
Yellow or green cotton golf shirt—$20
Black, navy or brick Stormtech short sleeve shirt—$30
Lavender or green long sleeve luxury cotton shirt—$35
Long sleeve denim—$20
White short sleeve show shirt—$20
Miscellaneous
Brown, pink, dark or light orange youth T-shirts—$10
Baby bibs—$5
Aprons (red)—$20
Visors (black and gray)—$10
Baseball caps, youth and adult (black)—$10
Straw cowboy hats—$10
Limited quantities of small and large WAF prints also available
Have you Transferred the Papers to your Buyers?
We occasionally receive calls from bull buyers looking for transferred papers. Sometimes the animal they purchased, which has been identified by the seller as purebred Angus, isn’t registered. This is illegal under the Animal Pedigree Act.
If you are purchasing Angus animals, be sure to look for the registration number. You can use the registration number to look up the animal's pedigree on our website. Commercial producers require the registration certificate from purebred bulls, transferred into their name, to purchase Angus tags and qualify their cattle for Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed participating beef programs.
Please remember to transfer the papers promptly whenever you sell an Angus animal.
It's Not Too Late to Record Ultrasound Data
Scan data can be recorded on bulls until they are 440 days of age and on heifers until 460 days of age. The minimum age is 320 days. Contact Cheryl if you have any questions about the Centralized Ultrasound Processing (CUP) program.
Sponsor Cowboy Carter's Team for Cystic Fibrosis
Each year at the end of May, the Hipkin family walks in the Great Strides walk to try to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Darren and Stacey's son Carter has Cystic Fibrosis.
Stacey says: "We sincerely appreciate your previous support and we hope that you will be able to support us again this year. Together we will work towards a cure for Carter and everyone else who has this terrible disease."
You can help support Carter by making a secure online donation using your credit card. Your privacy is protected: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2503504
All credit card donations will receive an automatic e-receipt. For more information on how you can participate in Great Strides 2010, please visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides.
Have you Submitted all 2009 Data?
Performance data for 2009 calves, including weaning weights and yearling weights, must be submitted by May 15 to remain compliant on the Canadian Angus Performance Program. Please contact Kajal if you have any questions in regards to what data to submit or the performance program.
Effective January 1, 2011, some of the calf registration fees will change as per the February Board meeting. The good news is that after January 1, 2011, if animals are registered when they are under 4 months old, they will still cost only $15. It is a real incentive to get the paperwork in order while things are still fresh in your mind and records are still at your fingertips!
For the calendar year 2010, the fees remain the same. There is an incentive for electronic submission of Spring 2010 born calves. Registrations received electronically by July 15 for spring 2010 born calves will be priced at $15 per calf regardless of the age. To be set up as an electronic user if you haven’t already done so, please complete CAAFORM21–Electronic Registration Agreement.
Some Facts about Genetic Defects
Genetic defects are present in every beef breed. These are inherited conditions not diseases — they cannot be spread by contact or air.
Carrier animals look normal but have one normal gene and one gene that causes the condition.
In the past, breeders were only able to identify carrier animals when they bred two carrier animals that produced affected calves. Once a defect was identified in a particular bloodline breeders had no choice but to avoid all animals in that line. Today, non carrier animals from such pedigrees can be identified and used safely.
Breeding two carrier animals will result in affected calves only 1 out of 4 times. Affected calves are not seen often; in fact there have been very few reported cases in Canada. However, breeding carrier animals will pass the defect gene onto the next generation.
Today, there are DNA tests available to identify genes that cause conditions such as Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM), Neuropathic Hydrocephalous (NH), Osteopetrosis (OS) and Mannosidosis (MA). The DNA tests cost $26 each, and can be set up by completing the Genetic Defect Test Request Form.
These tests are tools to help breeders identify carrier animals and avoid breeding two carriers to each other.
Once an animal has been tested free the gene can no longer be passed on to future generations.
Test results are published on our website and on animal registration certificates as the specific defect followed by an F for Tested Free, or C for DNA tested and found to be a Carrier. For example, an animal with AMF behind its name would have been tested for the gene that causes AM and found to be free.
The most current and comprehensive information about specific genetic defects, the Canadian Angus Association genetic defect policy and which animals have been tested can be found on our website. Breeders and Angus genetics users are also welcome to contact Kajal at 1-888-571-3580 with any questions.
Collect Hair Samples for Parentage Testing Any Time
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If you are handling your animals, collect a hair sample using the recommended collection process, and store it in a clean unused envelope, clearly labelled with the tattoo of the animal. Collected samples can be stored in a cardboard box indefinitely. Do not freeze the samples; keep them dry and away from any moisture.
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The animal's age doesn’t matter. You can collect hair samples from your newborn calves for future parentage testing needs.
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Remember to always get the paperwork from us when you are DNA testing an animal at GenServe. Our paperwork should always accompany the hair sample.
Many Canadian Angus breeders have shared that their breeding goal this year is good legs and sound feet—these are genetic traits that can be selected for. Avoid knocked knees, sharp angles behind the knees and curled feet as these get passed on to future generations. Animals will only perform to their full potential if they can carry their weight and move without difficulty. Cheers to beautiful legs and shapely feet!
Roy A. Wallace Beef Improvement Federation Memorial Scholarship
The Roy A. Wallace BIF Memorial Fund was established to honour the life and career of Roy A. Wallace. Mr. Wallace worked for Select Sires for 40 years, serving as vice-president of beef programs, and devoted his life to beef cattle improvement. Two scholarships will be offered in the amount of $1250 each. One will be awarded to a student currently enrolled as an undergraduate and one will be awarded to a student currently enrolled in a Master of Science or Doctoral program. The application form is at www.beefimprovement.org
Sponsor a Steak for a Returning Soldier
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Alert Agri is seeking financial support in sponsoring a steak "for a returning soldier and their loved one” to show appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice these men and women have made. Click here for more information.
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The Danish Aberdeen-Angus Association is hosting the European Angus Forum 2010 September 1–5. Visit their website for more information.
Today was our sorting the cows into breeding groups and getting the bulls out to breed and the cycle starts again. Matings will come next so to make that job much easier. I would like to discuss th
e use of animal groups in your HerdMaster.
Any animal can belong to four different groups. Animal groups can be used for many things like breeding groups, family groups, ownership, etc. I use Group 1 to identify my breeding groups for the year.
You must first set up your desired groups by clicking on Setup/Animal Groups then add your desired groups — for breeding groups you could use the bull's name, the pen they are in or perhaps something like Heifer pen, AI pen, Pasture, etc. Whatever works for you.
Then after we have decided which dams are going where for breeding, I open the animals details for the dam and select the breeding group in Group1.
You can then create a filter for that breeding group and enter matings as required.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call Wendy at 403-668-5251 or via email wendy@herdmaster.ca
Good luck with your breeding.Wendy Newton
1-403-668-5251