Purebred Beef Spotlight
Exhibitor News
- Prairie Cove Charolais and Cays Cattle were over the moon with the performance of Brche Berkly Ann 8507ET, who was named Supreme Champion Female at Farmfair. Here’s Prairie Cove’s post, and here’s the one from Cays. Congratulations came all the way from Australia!
- Carpathian Land and Livestock had a great time at Farmfair.
- Greenwood Limousin & Angus looked back at a very busy Farmfair and looked ahead to Agribition.
- McAleer Ranching had a strong Speckle Park showing at Farmfair and is getting ready for an open house on Dec. 4.
- Pearson Farms had a year to remember at Farmfair, partly because of a strong showing at the Gelbvieh show but largely because of old friends and new.
- Robertson West Livestock was thrilled with its showing at Farmfair.
- Rustic Lily Angus was excited to get back in the ring at Farmfair.
- Tierra Sol Cattle celebrated the best Farmfair yet.
Sales and Shows
- Nov. 15-19: Subasta a Beneficio de la Asociación Angus Mexicana, A.C
- Nov. 16-17: Mcleod Livestock Red Tag Online Production Sale
- Nov. 17: Allstar Classic Shorthorn Sale
- Nov. 17: Chittick Family Farms Fall Female Production Sale
- Nov. 19-20: Futures One Online Simmental Sale
- Nov. 20: Northern Select Angus 43rd Annual Sale
- Nov. 22-27: Canadian Western Agribition in Regina
- Nov. 24: The World Maine-Anjou Sale
- Nov. 28-30: Benchmark Angus 25th Annual Makin’ the Grade Bull Sale
- Dec. 5: 4’s Company 40th Annual Shorthorn Production Sale
- Dec. 4: Gelbvieh Wish List Sale
- Dec. 5: Integrity Speckle Park Female Sale
- Dec. 8: Double Bar D “Sharing the Herd” Genetic Sale
- Dec. 11: Alberta Charolais Select Female Sale
- Dec. 14: Ladies of the West Black & Red Angus Bred Female Sale
- Dec. 18: Checkers Simmental Sale
- Dec. 19: Superstar Charolais Sale
Beef News
- A partnership led by the Canadian Beef Improvement Network plans to create a unified digital platform for the genetic data. Sandy Russell of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council called the move “exciting and transformational for the industry.” Eight breed associations are participating in the first phase: the Canadian Angus Association, the Canadian Blonde d’Aquitaine Association, the Canadian Charolais Association, the Canadian Gelbvieh Association, the Canadian Hereford Association, the Canadian Limousin Association, the Canadian Simmental Association, and the Canadian Speckle Park Association. The project is funded by a $640,000 investment from Results Driven Agriculture Research.
- Members of the Charolais Society of Australia finally got to mark the 50th anniversary of the breed in Australia after the pandemic interfered with previous attempts to mark the occasion. “Without critical selection, preparedness to take the hard knocks and willingness to reset the course, the enterprise would not have lasted,” Graham Blanch of Charnelle Charolais said at the ceremony honour builders of the breed.
- The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association called for more investment in research and its implementation to reduce methane emissions in light of Canada’s support for the Global Methane Pledge. The beef industry decreased the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions by 15% from 1981 to 2011, and it has a goal to reduce it by 33% over the next 10 years, Brenna Grant of Canfax Research Services told CBC. The CCA’s Fawn Jackson shared more about the beef industry’s take on COP26 on Real Agriculture.
- Some ranchers are heading into winter dangerously low on feed and water, Bob Lowe of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association told the Canadian Press. “I’m hearing stories from auction markets about herds of cattle coming up for sale that just haven’t been up for sale before,” he said.
- TrustBIX announced that its subsidiary ViewTrak has successfully commercialized three modules to modernize the display boards at sales rings to display all of the attributes of the animals up for sale. Brian Danard from Calgary Stockyards Strathmore and Mark Daines from Innisfail Auction Market spoke highly of the technology.
- Livestock Gentec spoke to fifth-generation rancher Sean McGrath, who raises Angus cattle at Round Rock Ranching, about the importance of genomics.
Ag News
- Chris Lane, CEO of Canadian Western Agribition, spoke to CTV Morning Live Regina about the show’s 50th anniversary and its return from a pandemic-induced break.
- The pandemic has made bison meat more widely available,but the drought and rising feed costs will likely decrease the herd, the head of the Canadian Bison Association told Alberta Farmer. “The difference between the cattle and the bison industry is there is more liquidity in the cattle industry,” said Terry Kremeniuk. “There is always a home for the animals people want to slaughter. That is not necessarily the case for the bison industry.”
- Hubert Lau of TrustBIX spoke to InvestorIntel about how his company’s blockchain-based solution “allows food processors, retailers, and consumers to individually validate brand promises and claims,” which creates a win-win for everyone from farmers to retailers.
- The new Ag Tech Centre at Lakeland College seems to be a hit. “I really do think that this program is going to set all the students involved in the program up for success in the future no matter what field they enter, student Courtney Wallace told Alberta Farmer. “Last year when I heard about this opportunity I knew I wanted to continue my education so that when I complete this degree I’ll be able to go back to my hometown and start bringing in a better influence on how to create a more sustainable future within the livestock industry.”
- Alberta’s new agriculture minister, Nate Horner, plans to continue Alberta’s Rural Engagement Survey, an engagement tour he started as associate minister in charge of rural economic development. He earned an ag business diploma from Olds College and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Lethbridge from a family with a deep history in Alberta politics.
- The Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth pointed to UK Farming’s response to climate change, published in time for COP26. The RASC has also launched a newsletter.
- Agricultural Shows Australia released its five-year strategy plan.
Other Events
- Nov. 16-18: Summit on Canadian Soil Health
- Nov. 17: Feeding Through the Winter on Limited Feed Supplies
- Nov. 17: Basics of Backgrounding – Veterinary & Expert Insights Across Canada
- Nov. 17: Student Career Fair at Olds College
- Nov. 19: Living Labs: Practical Agricultural Innovation – Producer Input Meeting
- Nov. 21-22: 38th Annual Canadian Bison Association National Convention
- Nov. 22-23: Advancing Women Conference
- Nov. 23: 2021 John Waters Zoonotic Diseases Workshop
- Nov. 24-26: Agricultural Excellence Conference
- Nov. 30: Your Role in Farm Transition: Whose Job is it Anyway?
- Nov. 30-Dec. 2: GrowCanada Conference
- Dec. 4: Professional Bull Riders Winter Classic
- Dec. 7: FCC Forum featuring Peter Mansbridge & Dr. Jody Carrington
- Dec. 7-9: Farm Forum Event 2021
- Jan. 25-26: FarmTech – early-bird tickets available until Dec. 1
Opportunities and Invitations
- Applications are open until Dec. 8 for the 4-H Alberta Grassroots Fund from the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, which offers up to $500 to 4-H clubs on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is looking for beef producers to participate in the National Beef Sustainability Assessment survey. The deadline is Jan. 7.
- Alberta Beef Producers is looking for producers to provide input to its Living Laboratories Initiative with Alberta Barley, Alberta Wheat, and other industry organizations to identify and test innovative management practices or technologies on the farm.
- Livestock Gentec is looking for samples from 10,000 crossbred cattle for a new trial to showcase genomic tools and help develop new ones. Participating producers will get direct access to genetic tools in exchange for herd DNA samples. Parentage testing at a steep discount is also available.
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