November 2024

The Canadian Angus Association Board of Directors met Wednesday, November 6 and Thursday, November 7 in Edmonton, Alberta allowing the entire board to attend the Canadian Angus National Show on Friday, November 8 at the 50^th anniversary edition of Farmfair International.

Highlights include:

Last fall, the board of directors suspended the spot test program for one year. The board reviewed that decision and have decided to extend the suspension for another year. They will review the decision again at the fall 2025 meeting.

CEO Myles Immerkar reported to the board that the Canadian Angus Association is in a very strong position both financially and in terms of core activity, defined as memberships, registrations and transfer activity. Registrations as of the end of October are above the previous two years. There are more Canadian Angus Association members at this point in the year than all of 2023.

The board reviewed the financial statements and budget, and spent considerable time brainstorming fiscally responsible ways to invest surplus revenue in future programs and activities that will benefit the membership.

Click here to view all the meeting highlights

In response to member frustration about lab turnaround time, the Canadian Angus Association has been making changes to improve genomic testing service. These changes began in April when members began sending their DNA samples to the CAA office for quality assurance and quality control, a process previously completed at the lab. This change has had a positive impact on turnaround time because we have eliminated previous delays caused when the lab had to contact CAA and wait for us to reach members to rectify unfit and unlabelled samples, to request missing paperwork, etc. The lab now receives bundles of Canadian Angus samples ready for immediate testing.

The implementation of a new software program for parentage verification results has not been as smooth as we had hoped it would be and some results have been delayed. We are confident that the software is now working as it should and staff are working as quickly as possible to clear the backlog. While we are aware of the short-term challenges that came with this change and onboarding a new system, we are confident of the long-term benefits that will result from this change that will provide the CAA with greater cost control over these services, testing insights and new business opportunities. We look forward to showcasing these benefits in the near future.

CAA members attending Agribition can drop off their properly labelled and packaged DNA samples with a CAA staff member or Saskatchewan Angus Association representative at the Saskatchewan Angus Association booth. Samples must be handed to a staff member at the booth; no drop box is available. Members who have other paperwork or items to send to the CAA office can also leave those items with staff. CAA will not be liable for any samples or paperwork left if the booth is unattended.

Hair cards will also be available for pickup.

If you are expecting certificates or other items that CAA is holding pending the resumption of mail service, they will be available for pick up at the SAA booth.

Canada Post received strike notices from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), for both Urban and RSMC (Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers) bargaining units, and as of 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, November 15, 2024, Canada Post workers are on strike and there will be no mail or package delivery.

For the duration of the strike by Canada Post workers, the Canadian Angus Association will continue to process work for members. Every attempt will be made to prevent the mail disruption from affecting your registration and transfer fees for non-electronic submissions.

DNA samples for genomic testing are required to continue being sent to our office. During regular office hours, they can be dropped off in person at the front desk or sent by courier. Outside of regular office hours, samples can be left in the marked box to the right of the main doors inside the patio gate. Please ensure your samples are in an envelope or box and labelled with animal tattoo or registration number and CAA member ID. Please do not drop loose samples. Samples will be collected and logged the next regular business day.

For members submitting registrations, transfers, and other requests for service through the mail:

Fees will be assessed based on the postmark date after mail service resumes. If the postmark date is within three working days from the date mail service resumes, fees will be assessed using November 15 as the postmark date. We will also make the same allowances for pending calf registrations that are delayed because DNA samples cannot reach us.

Registrations and transfers can be submitted online through AngusNOW as usual. If you are not already an AngusNOW user, please send an email to [email protected] with your membership number and the email address you use for CAA communication.

Weights and traits can be submitted via email to [email protected] using the CAA worksheet templates found on our website at www.cdnangus.ca/forms.

If your paperwork cannot be returned by email, we will send it by courier at your expense. Please note that couriers cannot deliver to PO Box or Rural Route addresses. If you do not have a street address, you may be able to make arrangements with a business in your nearest town to accept the delivery on your behalf. The courier also requires a phone number.

The Association’s policy of requiring that payment accompany work is still in place. Please ensure that you provide a credit card number with your submissions or send an e-transfer if a credit card number is not already on file.

December 1 is the enrollment deadline for ACE 2025. The voluntary ACE program gives breeders the option to pay an annual fee of $65/cow enrolled to gain access to a full suite of member services provided at no extra cost. If you wish to participate in the ACE program in 2025, your completed female exposure and disposal sheets must be received at the Canadian Angus Association office by December 1 along with your completed ACE enrollment form.

Not sure if ACE is right for you? Click here for more details about who will benefit most by joining ACE.

Female Exposure Worksheets were sent on September  1. If you did not receive yours, please call 1-888-571-3580 or email [email protected]. These worksheets are used to keep track of all females that were exposed to bulls either through natural breeding or artificial insemination and the dates of their exposures. Female exposure worksheets are your opportunity to ensure all females that are not active in your purebred herd are disposed of. This is extremely important for members on the ACE program as ACE enrollment fees are assessed based on active cows in your herd inventory.

Female exposure and disposal data is also used to calculate EPDs for traits like Stayability and Heifer Pregnancy (HPG). These traits are of economic importance so please take the time to submit this data. In addition, submitting your exposure information makes things easier at registration time, as the potential sires of your calves are already recorded for you.

Whether or not you choose to enroll in the ACE program, please ensure your 2025 female inventory on AngusNOW and your Canadian Angus Calving Book App is accurate by completing your 2024 Female Exposure and Disposal Worksheet by December 15, 2024.

For guidance on completing the worksheet, go to www.cdnangus.ca/adding-value/how-to-complete-female-exposure-worksheet

Angus Life podcast host Tina Zakowsky sat down with CAA board executive President Ronnie Ford, Past President Tom deWaal and President Elect Greg Pugh after the fall board meeting and on the eve of the national show to go through meeting highlights and discuss their experiences serving on the board. This episode is a bit longer with a run time of 32 minutes. Listen at www.cdnangus.ca/wp-content/uploads/The-Executive-Episode.mp3 or via your preferred podcast platform.

Christmas shopping? The 2024 Canadian Angus Christmas ornament makes a great gift! Only $13 plus tax – order yours today; supply is limited.

Angus HD (Angus High Density) is a CAA-branded enhanced genomic test. Angus HD is directly comparable to other high density genomic tests available such as Angus GS and the HD50K test. Like Angus GS and HD50K tests, Angus HD includes parentage verification.

The name Angus HD reflects the aim of the test to give Angus breeders and their customers a tool designed to guide whole-herd selection, mating management and breed-improvement decisions, as well as denoting the value of seedstock cattle. Ordering the Angus HD test is exactly the same process as ordering any other genomic test.

It’s important to plan ahead for when you will want your Angus HD test results to avoid frustration. Learn more about available genomic tests at www.cdnangus.ca/adding-value/dna-test-requests

Click here to request Angus HD tests

The Canadian Angus Association office will be closed for several days throughout the holidays. If you need pedigree extracts, registration assistance, or access to AngusNOW, please ensure you reach out before December 23.

Be sure to plan ahead and allow sufficient time for parentage verification, Angus HD and other genomic test results to be received.

As our year end approaches, please contact the office by email or at 1-888-571-3580 to clear any outstanding balances on your account by credit card, send an e-transfer, or make payments through AngusNOW. We encourage all members to pay their outstanding balances by the end of the year.

If you are updating your credit card information, please ensure that you also let us know if the credit card is to be used for multiple accounts, such as parents, children, and linked herds to avoid late charges resulting from missed updates.

In 2021, the Canadian Angus Association created a process to openly and consistently manage requests to assist with nominations to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame and provincial halls of fame. We will accept suggestions and consider working with a group of members to submit a formal nomination of a CAA member once every three years. We are currently accepting recommendations for nomination in 2025.

All members are invited to submit names for consideration. If you know a worthy candidate, please email Tina the name of the CAA member and a 500-word summary of their accomplishments and why you believe they deserve to be nominated to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame (or a specified provincial hall of fame) by Friday, January 17. CAA will review all submissions and make a decision about submitting a nomination after reviewing all submissions.

CAA will provide the candidate endorsement and the financial responsibility of the supported application. Nominators will be responsible for the formal application to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame with support from CAA as required.

Whether you prefer to use Angus RFID tags, matched sets or TSUs, plan ahead for calving season and consider placing your order for the 2025 calving season now through the CCIA Webstore.

Please consider supporting Canadian Junior Angus scholarships and bursaries by supporting the Dutch auction of Red JJL Miss Deal 417M on Friday, November 29 at the All Star Angus Sale at Agribition. Thank you to JJL Livestock – Jarret, Jenna, Ava and Cade Loveridge of Melville, Saskatchewan for their generous donation!

The deadline to apply for GOAL travel bursaries is January 1. Up to $1,000 will be awarded to help with costs. Visit www.cdnangus.ca/foundation/scholarships-bursaries-and-awards for details and to apply.

Looking for a Christmas gift for a young cattle producer in your life? Give the gift of GOAL registration! Contact CJA Coordinator Belinda Wagner at 306-537-1518 or [email protected] to arrange your gift.

2024 Brian Good Memorial Scholarship Recipients

The Canadian Angus Foundation is awarding two scholarships totalling $5,000 to Maartje van Lindert of Spallumcheen, BC, who placed first and receives $3,000 and Kasen Wilson of Drumheller, AB, who placed second and receives $2,000.

First-place recipient Maartje van Lindert of Spallumcheen, BC and second-place recipient Kasen Wilson of Drumheller, Alberta

Read the press release

Visit www.cdnangus.ca/foundation/scholarships-bursaries-and-awards to apply for a self-directed travel bursary and to see the complete list of scholarships, awards, bursaries and opportunities that juniors can apply for.