Breed History

The Aberdeen Angus Breed has a tradition in Canada going back over 130 years. Today all Angus registration papers are processed through the Canadian Angus Association office in Calgary, Alberta. All animals registered in the Canadian Angus Association Herdbook are 100 percent purebred.

The Canadian Angus Association registers both red and black Angus. Both colours offer the same traits, but Canadian registration papers easily indicate the colour of the animal.

Angus can be found throughout all provinces and territories in Canada, meaning access to cattle is excellent. Strong commercial demand ensures the basic traits of mothering, muscling and marbling are kept in the forefront. Along with the polled factor, natural to Angus, these traits have often been imitated but never duplicated by other breeds.

Canadian Angus has seen dramatic growth in the past few years, and international interest in our genetics continues to grow. Canadian Angus have been exported with great success to all five continents and are generally regarded to be of superior quality in global genetic circles.

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Breed History

Angus animals arrived in Montreal, Quebec by 1860 and some landed in Victoria, BC in 1874. The first recorded importation was in 1859 by Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson Bay Company. No progeny was recorded, therefore credit for the first productive importation was given to Professor Wm. Brown at the Ontario Experimental Farm in Guelph, Ontario.

“The first of the breed born in North America” is commemorated on a bronze plaque in Guelph recognizing the birth of Eye Bright 2nd on January 12, 1877 sired by the bull Gladiolus.

In 1882 there were 323 Angus imported from Scotland. The Hon. M.H. Cochrane had his headquarters in Montreal and a ranch in Alberta. He purchased ten animals from Scotland in 1881 for the tremendous sum of $9,975. These were the days when top bulls were selling for $300. The town of Cochrane, just west of the city of Calgary, received its name from this early booster of Aberdeen Angus cattle.

By 1884 the Dominion Polled Angus Herd registry was established in Toronto. An unfortunate fire in 1894 destroyed all Aberdeen Angus manuscripts. Circulars were sent to all breeders in an attempt to reconstruct the records. A large number were secured and sent in, but many others were lost.

In 1905 the records were nationalized and the recording office moved from Toronto to Ottawa. Breeders decided to form the Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association to be incorporated under the Dominion Act respecting Livestock Records Association.

The Association chose not to recognize the Old Herd Register but to register all living animals. All animals to be registered had to pass a standard inspection by an authorized inspector, Mr. James Bowman of Guelph, Ontario. Expenses were paid by the Department of Agriculture. He reviewed the records and pedigrees of all Angus cattle in Canada and provided the data for the first Canadian Aberdeen Angus Herd Book published in 1908.

The Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association

Our Association had a rocky start when two factions, one in the east and the other in the west disagreed on the need for a Canadian Association. The same situation affected other breeds and was resolved only when a suggestion was approved to have one organization formed where all breeds could register. Canadian National Livestock Records was formed and located in Ottawa. Our Registry remained in Ottawa for 90 years until 1996 when the Association assumed responsibility and transferred the records to its office in Calgary.

When the Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association was formed, all officials and directors were from Western Canada and the breed office was established in Winnipeg. The Constitution and Bylaws were approved at a meeting in Brandon, Manitoba on March 1, 1906, and formally accepted by the Minister of Agriculture in Ottawa on July 11, 1906. The “Canadian Aberdeen Angus Breeders Association” was incorporated May 4, 1906. The first Annual Meeting was held in Winnipeg, July, 1906, with the first President, Hon. W. Clifford, of Manitoba.

The head office of the Association did not remain in Winnipeg. It moved to Brandon in 1911, Calgary in 1947, then to Guelph in 1964, to Regina in 1988 and back to Calgary in 1995. In 2013, the Association moved into its first member-owned building in Rocky View County, Alberta, about 10 minutes north of Calgary.

The Canadian Association registers both black and red Angus. The first herdbook specifically excluded males red in color, but red females were permitted. However in 1921 the bylaws were amended to exclude all red animals. Red animals kept occurring in herds and several breeders sought to have them included in the herd book established in 1954 by the Red Angus Association of America.

The Annual Meeting of the Association in 1967 approved a motion that red animals be eligible for registration. This was officially approved by the Minister of Agriculture of Canada on April 3, 1968.

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  • Feb 28, 2020

    1859 – Angus Importation

    First recorded importation by Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1877 – Angus Born

    First of the breed born in North America at the Ontario Experimental Farm, Guelph, Ontario.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1881 – First Angus Auction

    The first auction sale of purebred Aberdeen-Angus in North America was held at the Ontario Experimental Farm in Guelph where professor William Brown held an auction sale. Bulls are recorded as having sold in prices ranges of $116-134 and heifers selling at $306. Two years later the prices of bulls would increase by five times.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1883 – Founding Members in US & Canada

    John Geary of Geary Bros at Bothwell, ON was a founding member of the American organization and is so designated on their “Petition for Charter”.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1884 – Dominion Registry

    Dominion Polled Angus Herd Registry established in Toronto.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1886 – Productive Importation

    323 Angus imported from Scotland to Canada’s Ontario Experimental Farm in Guelph, Ontario.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1894 – Records Destroyed

    All breeding records were destroyed by fire and breeders were asked to contribute information to replace lost records.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    April 19, 1905 – Government Recognition

    Minister, the Honourable Sydney Fisher, the Dominion Department of Agriculture approves the covenant of our Association. Samuel Martin, John Turner, James Bowman, and F.J. Collyer were four members who signed on behalf of the Canadian Angus Association.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    March 9, 1906 – National Recording Office

    The Live Stock Record Association was incorporated in Ottawa.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    May 4, 1906 – Incorporated Association

    The constitution and bylaws of the “Canadian Aberdeen Angus Breeders Association” which today is the Canadian Angus Association were approved at a meeting in Brandon, MB on March 1. The Association was officially incorporated on May 4.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    July 1906 – Annual General Meeting

    Canadian Aberdeen Angus Breeders Association’s first Annual Meeting was in Winnipeg, MB, held with Hon. W. Clifford of Manitoba acting as President.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1908 – First Canadian Herdbook Published

    All living animals that passed an inspection were included in the published book.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1908 – Reds First Inclusion

    Canadian Aberdeen Angus herdbook published excludes red males but permits red females.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1911 – Office Moved

    Head Office moved to Brandon, Manitoba.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    December 1912 – First International Win

    James D. McGregor of Glencarnock won International Grand Champion Bull, 1st prize Mature Cow, 1st prize 2-year-old Heifer and 1st prize Graded Herd at the Chicago International Show.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    December 1920 – First Breed Publication

    Canadian Aberdeen-Angus Recorder, edited by Walter Crawford, first published.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    March 15, 1921 – Exclude all Reds

    Bylaws of the Association were amended to exclude all Red animals.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1922

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1941 – Registration of Herd Names Begins

    Breeders could register a herd name for their exclusive use for the first time.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    June 1, 1942 – Tattoos Become Mandatory

    Ear tattoos mandatory.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1947 – Office Moved West

    The headquarters moved to Calgary.

    Photo: 1949

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1964 – Office Moved East

    The head office moved back East but farther this time to Guelph, Ontario.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    April 3, 1968 – Red Angus Eligible for Registration

    The Minister of Agriculture of Canada officially approved that Red animals be eligible for registration.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1972

    Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society Founded

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1976 – First Canadian National Junior Angus Heifer Show

    Held at Bashaw, AB.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1985 – Canada Hosts Fifth World Angus Forum

    The Queen Mother was an honoured guest for this event held in Edmonton, Alberta.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1988 – Office Moved Back West

    The CAA relocated to Regina, Saskatchewan.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1993 – Canadian Angus Foundation Incorporated

    Registered charity formed to promote research, historical preservation, education and youth development.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1995 – Office Moves to Calgary

    The office again moved this time to Calgary, Alberta.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1989 – Gold Show Program

    Developed to provide incentive for breeders to move between regions to show cattle.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1996 – Registry Moves In-House

    After 90 years of registering animals through the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation, the Association assumed this responsibility. The Canadian Angus Performance Program was also launched.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1997 – Official Archives Created

    A significant donation of memorabilia in 1996 resulted in two custom display cabinets being commissioned and the first official archive display was created in 1997

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1998 – Long-Term Recognition

    Members recognized for 50 years or more of continuous membership.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1998 – CAA Goes Online

    The Association launched its website

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1998 – First Beef Breed to Use DNA Testing

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1999 – Angus Tags

    Angus-specific ear tags for animals with at least 50% Angus that meet national identification requirements.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1999 – Canada Hosts World Angus Secretariat

    Technical meeting.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    1999 – CJAA Formed

  • Feb 28, 2020

    2000 – Angus Feeder Sales

    Association-sponsored sales began for cattle with Angus indicators.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    2000 – First Showdown

    Canadian Junior Angus Association national show.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    2005 – Junior Ambassador Program Created

    Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Program created.

    First junior ambassador Catherine Colodey

  • Feb 28, 2020

    February 2006 – First GOAL Conference Held

    Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders conference arranged by CJAA and held in Calgary, Alberta.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    July, 2009 – Canada Hosts 11th World Angus Forum

    The first World Angus Forum to include an official youth program. International embryo project allowed other countries to showcase their best through 26 live calves. Over 1500 head stalled in the barns at Spruce Meadows, AB.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    2011 – New 75 and 100 Year Awards

    The long-term recognition program was expanded in 2011 to recognize members for 75 (Heritage) and 100 (Pioneer) years of continuous family membership.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    July, 2011 – Purchase of 2.696 Acres east of Balzac, AB

    The CAA Board decides to move forward with constructing the first CAA member-owned national headquarters, seeking to create unprecedented membership value.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    June, 2012 – First Building the Legacy Sale

    The first sale in support of the Canadian Angus Foundation is held, raising $40,470.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    September 24, 2012 – Breaking Ground: New National Headquarters

  • Feb 28, 2020

    2012 – Angus Registers More Cattle than All Other Breeds Combined

    Angus registrations surpass 50% of all purebred beef cattle registrations in Canada for the first time in recorded history.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    October, 2013 – Champion Youth Team Challenge

    The New Zealand-hosted World Angus Forum holds first Youth Programme competition in which Canadians bring home both the World Champion and Reserve Champion Team honours.

  • Feb 28, 2020

    December 11, 2013 – Angus Central Opens

    The first national headquarters owned by the Angus membership, Angus Central, has its Official Opening.