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Highlights from the 2007 Herd Sire Edition
• • •
Kurt Gilmore
This summer marks the completion of the 37th year that I have had the privilege of working with Canadian registered Hereford breeders to assist them in the promotion of their cattle. At this time, we are seeing some very encouraging signs specific to our breed.
As of December 31, 2006, and for the first time since 1997, Canadian Hereford breeders sold more registered stock by public auction in the current year than in the year previous and the cattle traded for the third highest average price as recorded over that ten-year period.
Depending on geography and local markets, sales seasons in Canada generally run September to December and February through April. Over the past few years there has been a growing trend to move some of the privately held yearling bull sales away from the fall and host them in February and March. Many of these sales precede the onset of the consignment bull sale season and they are meeting with great success.
That is not to say that the fall events haven’t been strong as well and there is certainly a lot to be said for getting the cattle sold at a younger age. But in the interest of service to the customer, most fall sales offer to winter the bulls for buyers at a nominal fee. Those who sell in the spring, in part, believe that since they are keeping the bulls over anyway, they may attract more buyers in the early spring.
I am not making any recommendations but it is good to see more breeders finding new ways to market their cattle and create initiatives that work for them.
Speaking of new initiatives, breeders may want to consider pulling hair from their cows and herd bulls this fall in order to have them classified for the mutated Leptin hormone (obese gene). Major tests at western Canadian feedlots have revealed significant efficiencies in feeder cattle that are classified ct and tt. These same feedlots are encouraging commercial cattlemen to use only bulls designated as tt. Because this trait will likely affect our commercial customers directly, it may only be a short time before purebred and commercial cattlemen will demand that all of their purchased replacements be tested. A detailed story explaining this program is featured in this issue.
This past year has seen an increase in “private treaty” sales for the first time in several years and some breeders even schedule a special day when perspective customers can come, learn about the programs and services offered, select the bulls or females of their choice within their budget and return home with the satisfaction of knowing business was done on their terms.
A significant number of breeders are continuing to market “Hereford Beef” from their own farms and the CHA is finding new ways to support their efforts.
I have said before that I could see a growth developing in the sale of Hereford bulls to work in black cowherds. Over the past 12 months, that trend has continued to expand and we have seen a few exceptional examples of commercial cattlemen paying a high premium to use the best available bulls in changing the direction of their programs. Polled and Horned Hereford bulls alike are filling this demand and discussions with cattlemen across the country indicate that this market will grow substantially over the next few years.
Larger than normal crowds at all the major shows this past year are also a good indication of the growing interest in registered Hereford cattle. Young people continue to support their provincial shows as well as Bonanza with a large number of participants and entries.
I look forward to another year of expanding markets for Hereford cattle throughout Canada and wish all breeders success in return for their labor and investment.
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back to topTesting Your Herd For The Leptin Gene
By Kurt Gilmore
Since the inception of performance records some decades ago, registered Hereford breeders have continued to strive to provide their bull buyers with additional information in order to satisfy their requests for certain selection data. Things like scrotal circumference, weight per day of age, birth weight, actual weight at all stages of an animal’s growth and more recently, EPDs for a variety of genetic traits and, even more recently, ultra sound carcass data.
Today, there is a rapidly growing need for genetic information in regard to whether or not an animal’s DNA makeup includes a mutated version of the Leptin Gene. According to University of Saskatchewan Genetic Research, cattle with normal Leptin (designated cc) do not have the enhanced advantage for feed efficiency and carcass merit as do those cattle who carry a mutated form of the Leptin Gene, either in a combined form (designated ct) or as a homozygous mutated gene (tt). In fact, normal Leptin can work against an animal’s ability to feed more efficiently and lay on fat. The normal hormone actually depresses an animal’s appetite as the percentage of fat on an animal increases. Cattle with the mutated form of Leptin have slower metabolism and tend to eat more.
All this information has been well documented for some time, but recent feedlot tests indicate that some pens of cattle can have a nearly 30-day advantage in going to slaughter if they come from bulls carrying the tt Leptin Gene. Decreased death loss, feed and labour costs and faster cash flow mean that this trait is going to be extremely important to the feedlot industry and, in fact, many of those lots are currently offering a premium for calves that can be guaranteed to be sired by tt bulls.
Commercial cattlemen are rapidly going to become interested in purchasing bulls that have been tested for this gene and it is imperative that registered breeders be prepared to offer that information and the sooner the better. Quantum Genetics Canada Inc. (QGC) is making available Leptin testing kits to commercial and purebred cattle producers at an introductory rate of $15 per head until February 2008. Commercial cattlemen will more than likely be testing their bulls as soon as it becomes obvious that some major feedlots this fall will be willing to pay more for calves carrying the tt genetic advantage. At this introductory rate, purebred breeders would be wise to test all of their cattle. By pulling hair on the cows and herd bulls, as well as those bulls offered for sale, a breeder will very quickly gain the advantage of making selected mating decisions to enhance the value of their cattle and provide information to their customers that will result in a distinct and positive economic influence for all those involved……
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back to topSiegle Cattle Company - A Vertically Integrated Ranch
Susan and Calvin Siegle had time during one of the
“drought years” to build this “waterscape” complete with waterfall, rock garden and fish pond. Susan has an excellent imagination in the planning of her garden projects.
Calvin and Susan Siegle, owners of Siegle Cattle Co. at Maple Creek, SK, maintain a herd of 160 top commercial cows, including 100 straight bred Hereford cows. In this part of the country, that is not unusual. What does make this operation unique is that they also background 1,000 to 1,400 calves every winter for clients in Ontario who use these cattle to fill a niche market for heavy carcasses.
Calvin’s grandparents came from Russia to North Dakota in 1911 where they stayed one winter before establishing a homestead north west of Maple Creek. His father was the youngest of six and he took over the operation in 1952. He was more of a farmer than a cattleman but he did purchase five heifers in the spring of 1955 when he got married, which was the beginning of their cow herd.
Calvin came along a year later and by 1977, when he purchased his first land, he and his father were maintaining close to 100 cows. Calvin bought out the land in 1985, married Susan in 1997 and together they now manage 25 quarter sections of land, all but one of which is deeded.
Because his father was more involved as a farmer, most of the original land has been reseeded to tame grass which produces very well in those years when they receive some rain in August or early September. While most of the cattle in south west Saskatchewan and south east Alberta run almost exclusively on native pasture, Calvin and Susan have adapted their land out of necessity and their cowherd is maintained in excellent shape throughout the year.
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back to topCCA Monthly Report - Canada Receives Controlled Risk Rating From OIE
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is pleased that the World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE), at its 75th General Session in Paris, France, officially categorized Canada as a controlled risk country for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Canada was one of six countries (including the United States, Switzerland, Taipei-China, Chile and Brazil) to receive this rating.
The OIE’s science-based categorization system provides the framework for fair and standardized international trade based on the safeguards that trading partners have implemented. The OIE has three categories of risk: negligible, controlled and undetermined. Controlled risk means the country has implemented safeguards to effectively control BSE according to the OIE international guidelines.
This status clearly recognizes the effectiveness of Canada’s interlocking, multi-layered safeguards and acknowledges the work done by all levels of government, the cattle industry, veterinarians, and producers to effectively manage and eradicate BSE in Canada, and shows the rest of the world that Canada is a safe trading partner of quality beef.
The CCA is encouraging Canadian government officials to utilize the new OIE designation as an opportunity to renew expanded market access for Canadian beef and cattle exports. In particular, we hope it will help reestablish trade with Taiwan, South Korea and China and improve the existing partial access to the United States, Mexico, Hong Kong and Japan. A recent report from Taiwan indicated that based on the OIE designation, the risk of BSE from Canadian beef is very low and if officials agree, Taiwan’s ban on Canadian beef may be lifted very soon. Although Japan has not indicated its intentions, we are hopeful that a recently completed multi-year study in which Japanese researchers attempted unsuccessfully to introduce BSE in mice may result in Japanese officials reconsidering their current limitation of allowing imported beef only from animals under 21 months of age.
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back to topMaple Creek Beef Breeders Mark Their 50th Anniversary
PIONEERS: Left to right, Harold and Brenda (Peter and Cora’s daughter) Moorehead have been check-out people for years; Peter and Cora Retterath, original contributers; Herb and Ida Peters, a contributor for many years, Herb was official bull selector; Edith Braniff (top) clerked the sale for many years; and Rhoda Bertram, secretary for more than 25 years.
On March 30 and 31, the Maple Creek Beef Breeders celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Maple Creek Bull Show and Sale. It is one of the last remaining events of this kind that still hosts a banquet, following the show, on the evening prior to the sale. At that social this year, a great many artefacts, photographs, and all the sale catalogues over the previous 50 years were on display and visitors spent some time delving into the history of this major southwest Saskatchewan agricultural event.
As researched by Laurie Bertram of Piapot, (who for several years now has acted as the secretary-manager for the sale), the Maple Creek Beef Breeders organized fall sales from 1946 to 1957. They were basically commercial calf sales with a few bulls offered each year. However, in the spring of 1957 on May 23, the first organized Spring Bull Sale was held at the Foster Logan Auction Barn. The first auctioneers were Archie Boyce of Calgary, AB, assisted by Jim Wilson from Maple Creek. Jim Wilson later went on to become the lead auctioneer and sold the Maple Creek Bull Sale for more than 25 years.
At the first sale, 33 bulls, of which 20 were yearlings, sold at the excellent average of $426. Judge for the event was Alex Hall and for his champion at that first sale he selected an entry of L.H. Sanderson from Piapot, who consigned Meadow G Wetmore 19L. He was a son of Wetmore Halflight and was also the top selling bull that day when he brought $750 and was purchased by Bill Caton of Maple Creek. Peter Retterath and his wife Cora, who were in attendance at this year’s bull sale, exhibited the reserve grand champion bull with an April yearling, Southland Supreme Lad 8M, purchased by Walter Scott of Piapot.
At that time there was also a show for herd bulls as well as females. L.H. Sanderson had the champion herd bull with Wetmore Halflight WHF 26J and the reserve champion bull from Fleming Farm was Caerleon Royal Dandy 23E. Hector Schneider and his wife Vi, also in attendance this year, are another of the original consignors and they exhibited the grand champion female, while the reserve banner went to L.H. Sanderson. Over the next 18 years, until 1975, Hector Schneider went on to exhibit ten grand champions and three reserve grand champion bulls at Maple Creek and in 1965 and 1975, both champions came from his string.
Skip ahead to the 1995 Maple Creek Show and Sale held on April 4 and 5 when Rocky Haven Hereford Ranch of Admiral, SK, consigned the highest selling grand champion bull at this event. The entry from Terry and Danny Braun “created spirited bidding” from all areas at ringside and sold at $16,000 to River Bridge Ranch, owned by Don Mitchell and Family, Maidstone, SK. He was Standard Domino Lad RHHR 23C, a son of Riverbridge 35R Lad 24W. The auctioneers for the 1995 sale were Jim Wilson and Don Peacock. Don Peacock continues to sell the Maple Creek Bull Sale to this day. The man serving as judge, who selected the Rocky Haven entry, was Bruce Dixon, Val Marie, SK.
The occurrence of the all-time top selling bull came in 2005 when Carlrams Ranching Ltd. offered an exceptional yearling, Carlrams Roughneck 9P. Breeders from throughout western Canada were on hand to appraise him and some were partnered with American interests. But when the hammer fell on the sale of this son of C 15E Super Lad 145K, he was the property of the Hillsvale Colony of Cut Knife, who placed the final bid of $38,000.
Long time bull sale supporter and promoter, Eleanor Bowie paid special tribute to Rhoda Bertram of Piapot who served as the official secretary to the bull sale for fully half of its 50-year heritage.
All of the major businesses in the town of Maple Creek are huge supporters of the bull sale and special recognition was also given to Sam and Darlene Boychuk who, for many, many years lent sponsorship to the sale through their Commerical Hotel in downtown Maple Creek.
Since its very beginning, the Maple Creek Bull Sale has offered only Hereford bulls (both Horned and Polled) and in the year 2003 recorded the highest average for any consignment sale in Canada when 77 bulls brought an average of $3,899.
Many of those who sold bulls at this year’s sale are second and third generation breeders of families that have participated at Maple Creek. This year’s consignor list included Alkali Creek Herefords, Admiral; Ayrey Hereford Farms, Evesham; Bannerlane Herefords, Livelong; Bertram Hereford Ranch, Piapot; Bonaventure Herefords, Lanigan; Braun Hereford Ranch, Simmie; Carlrams Ranching Ltd., Cut Knife; Gillespie Hereford Ranch, Mankota; Greenore Herefords, Tompkins; Joint Creek Ranch, Eastend; Misty Valley Farms, Maidstone; Parkvista Hereford Farm, Parkside; PK Herefords, Canora; River Bridge Ranch, Maidstone; Rocking G Land & Cattle, Gull Lake; Rocky Haven Hereford Ranch, Admiral; Sky Track Ranch, Lloydminster; T Bar K Herefords, Wawota; Triple A Herefords, Moose Jaw; Wasden Cattle Co., Spiritwood; and the Wilson Ranch, Maple Creek.
The judge for the 2007 show was Rod Wegner, Ebenezer, SK. One of the unique features of the Maple Creek Bull Show is that all the group classes are shown first. This ensures that these classes are given the attention they are due. All too often crowds watching these shows get up and leave when the grand champion bull is selected and no one is left to properly appreciate the uniformity of the groups of bulls that are exhibited by the contributors.
The award for the best pair of bulls is sponsored by Bowie’s Ranch and was won by Rocky Haven Hereford Ranch. The best group of three bulls is sponsored by the Ward Bertram Memorial Trophy and it was awarded to the Braun Hereford Ranch. Hill Country Clothing of Maple Creek sponsor the trophy for the best group of four bulls from one establishment which was also won by Rocky Haven. Trophies are also made available to the second place winners in each of these group classes and they are sponsored by CIBC of Maple Creek, Duncan’s Pharmacy and Grasslands Animal Health Services.
For his Junior and Grand Champion Bull, Judge Wegner went to an entry from Braun Hereford Ranch. The champion was DBHR 159M Standard 84R, an April 9 son of DBHR 124J Standard 159M and out of Windimuir 5D Nettie 133J. His performance record revealed that he had the best 205 day weight and the top 365 day weight of any bull in the Braun string.
The Reserve Grand Champion Bull was the consignment of Clint and Meridee Kopelchuk of PK Herefords, Canora, SK. PK Ramblin Man 1R is a Feb. 23 son of RH 52G Britisher Lad 6L and out of PHF 53E Lady Justice 27L. He had been a favourite of the Kopelchuks since birth and was a member of their first place group of three bulls at Canadian Western Agribition last fall.
Certainly, the quality of the bulls offered at Maple Creek over the years has established national recognition but so too has the loyalty of its buyers been, in a large part, responsible for its longevity. Some of those long time patrons, who also purchased bulls in 2007 include Wood-Dale Ranch owned by Elwood Pituley of Rockglen; Blackhills Grazing Co-op; PFRA; Hay Creek Ranch, Maple Creek; Glass Ranch, Chaplin; Diamond K Cattle Co., Maple Creek; Hillsvale Colony, Cut Knife; Fred Landsdell, LeRoss; Kozlinski Ranch, Provost, AB; YT Bar Ranch, Consort, AB; Bierbach Ranch, Maple Creek; and Jim Hines Ranch, Dewberry, AB.
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back to topHereford Health - By Roy Lewis DVM
The herd bull is often the most neglected part of most cattle operations. Great emphasis is put on them just before and during the breeding season but the rest of the year bulls are often not thought about. We must be ever mindful of not neglecting the huge genetic potential bulls have on our herds. Protect your investment and help maximize that genetic potential. I will outline health and management procedures on a yearly calendar assuming breeding season is in the spring.The easiest way is thinking of your herd bulls every time you process the cows and deciding then whether anything must be done to them. People often shy away from handling bulls as they are larger and can raise havoc with even sturdy corrals. There is also the issue of every time bulls are moved the fighting resumes and the pecking order must be re-established. This can be minimized with good facilities and having a large pen or pasture to return the bulls to. Exercise at all times of the year keeps the bull’s fitter and the feet and legs in much better shape.
Vaccinating of the bulls should correspond to what you do to your cows. All respiratory and reproductive vaccines as well as blackleg are good to give to bulls. Bulls could be the source or spread of disease especially the reproductive ones like vibrio, leptospirosis, or trichomoniasis if they are a problem in your area. The additional vaccination we recommend for bulls is the one for foot rot. A lame bull at breeding season is not desirable. This vaccine only protects for one cause of lameness in bulls but the foot rot organism can gain entry through cracks in the bull’s feet. A small investment considering the bull is half the breeding equation. This vaccine we administer at semen evaluations as the bulls are caught then and it is an ideal time to vaccinate. Deworming and delicing should be done in the fall with a pour on endectocide. Use the right dosage for the weight of the bull and don’t skimp. The bulls always are the sentinel animals when it comes to lice. Hair loss may indicate lice but often lots of scurf will lead to scratching especially on hot days.
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back to topRod And Krista Guilford Selected To Manitoba's 2007 Outstanding Young Farmers
Hereford enthusiasts Rod and Krista Guilford are the newest Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for Manitoba. The beef producers own and operate Guilford Farms, together with Rod’s parents Dave and Carol Guilford, near Rock Lake in southern Manitoba. As the 2007 winners, Rod and Krista will represent Manitoba at Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers national event later this year.
Rod and Krista are part of the rich family tradition on this farm. Rod is the fourth generation of Guilfords raising purebred Hereford cattle on this operation that’s been running for nearly 80 years. Today, Guilford Farms covers 2,500 acres with a herd of 1,000 purebred Hereford and commercial seed stock beef cattle.
As their herd has grown, the Guilfords have looked for ways to simplify and improve their feeding system. Most feed is harvested as silage, allowing them to produce higher quality feed that’s less dependent on weather and can be harvested more efficiently. About 10 years ago, they renovated their feedlot to accommodate fence line feeding, cutting feeding time in half. Today, they feed a total mixed ration, reducing feed waste, improving feed conversion, and saving time and money. Cows are wintered on range, utilizing crop residue and depositing their fertilizer right on the soil.
As Rod and Krista continue to build Guilford Farms, they are raising the next generation to carry on the Hereford tradition. Grayden (12) helps on the farm and is in the local 4-H club, Alexa (3) is taking her first pee wee calf to the fair this summer, and Jace (1) won’t be far behind.
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back to topThe B.C. Hereford Bull-Etin
Last year the West Coast Hereford Club held a very successful Field Day at Springford Farm in Nanoose Bay and the enthusiasm was so great that other area clubs were encouraged to do it this year. Here are reports of what has happened to date.Yellowhead Hereford Breeders Field Day
June 16th saw members and friends from Williams Lake to Smithers travel to Fraser Lake to Trevor and Janice Tapp’s Copper-T Ranch for a field day. The weather co-operated in the morning as the folks enjoyed a presentation by Graeme Johnstone (founding member of the Yellowhead Club) on the prevalence and prevention of invasive weeds in the northwest. Visitors were able to examine the weeds as Denise McLean from the Ministry of Agriculture in Prince George and summer student Amy brought and discussed the live display that is part of the Northwest Invasive Plant Council education program. After a hearty lunch and, between thunderstorms and rain showers, we headed off on a hayride to view some of the Copper-T cattle on pasture before traveling by mini-bus to Fort Fraser and Roland and Rosemary Beier’s Lone Fir Ranch. The bus kept us dry as we viewed the Beier’s well-bred straight Hereford commercial herd, and then it was another hayride to search for the Lone Fir yearling heifers. We were all duly impressed by Roland’s ability to back a tractor and trailer in reverse and quickly stop when a squall came up that tried unsuccessfully to dampen the spirits of the group. When the rain stopped, Roland gave us a demonstration of his sod to seed method of planting. The day ended back at Copper-T where Elsie Brigden of Quesnel was named the “top hand” at guessing the weights of a pen of yearling bulls. A barbecue and draws for prizes provided by our sponsors ended a day of socializing and fun for all who attended. As the visitors headed off on their long drives home, many folks talked about the need to make this an annual event.Janice Tapp, Secretary
Yellowhead Hereford Breeders
West Coast Hereford Club
The West Coast Hereford Club held another successful field day this year, with the site for the activities being Peter Herefords at Langley. Greg, Sandie and the whole family made everyone feel welcome. Some breeders had cattle on display and several brought bull and heifer calves for the judging. The weather co-operated long enough to complete the judging outside before driving people for cover in time for a short meeting. It was encouraging to see many visitors from other provinces and breeds attending the event. It was a good social and show with 16 calves in the heifer class and 15 bull calves. The judge was Lorne Webster, a Simmental breeder from Chilliwack and he had a difficult time placing the excellent quality presented. The grand champion female ribbon went to Triple Court Farm of Aldergrove with Murphy Ridge Farm of Abbotsford taking the reserve. Grand champion bull ribbon went to Coppertone Farms of Abbotsford with Peter Herefords taking the reserve.The West Coast Club are excited about hosting the 39th annual Evergreen Sale on Sept 29 and the directors urged support from all the members to make the change successful as the new sale date is a change from the first weekend in May. The club is expecting the fall sale will bring the buyers a selection of high quality animals from the Hereford and guest Angus breeders. With a prospect steer addition to the fall sale, the club is hoping to attract 4-H members who will come and pick out their project steers for 2008.
Daryl Kirton
Sale ChairmanAnother Field Day is planned by the Thompson Valley Hereford Breeders at Finlay Farms in Armstrong on July 28. By the time you read this, it will be over but we will report on it in the next issue. It is encouraging to see the Hereford breeders of British Columbia become more active. Everyone always enjoys a field day and we need more of them.
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back to topThe Alberta Influence
Alberta Hereford Association members gathered in Olds on the weekend of June 15 – 17 for the AHA Annual General Meeting. The Alberta Junior Hereford members hosted their Annual Show at the same time. This is the fourth consecutive year that the two events have run concurrently. The cattle for the Junior Show arrived on Friday, June 15 and the AHA AGM went at 1:00 on Saturday, June 16. Some 40 Alberta members took in the meeting. We would certainly like to see more in attendance but we had a successful meeting in any case. Sean McGrath gave an informative presentation on the Performance Products and their role and usefulness in the industry.We would like to welcome ANDY SCHUEPBACH as our new AHA President. Our Vice President is BRAD DALLAS and Executive Director is TOM BASNETT. Andy will be doing double duty as the new AHA rep to the CHA Board. He joins Byron Templeton and Randy Radau who are already Alberta reps to the CHA board. We bid farewell to long time AHA directors Clark Huston, Jim Prichard and Dwayne Fulton. They will certainly be missed from the Alberta Board of Directors. Many thanks also to Blaine Brost, outgoing president, who will remain on the board as Past-President. We have three new AHA Directors. They include Allan Wilson of Rainy Creek Herefords, Bentley and, for the first time in the history of the AHA Board, two women have been elected to the Board. They are Kelly Butler of Lone Pine Ranch, New Norway and Jill Harvie of Harvie Ranching, Olds.
Following our meeting a joint barbecue with the Juniors took place and over 120 steaks were served. At this time the AHA honoured Hall of Fame inductees, Scott and Barb Nixdorff and Commercial Cattlemen of the Year, Gordon and Neal Church of Church Ranch, both of Airdrie. In addition, the CHA paid tribute to CHA Honour Roll inductees, Les and Marg Gilmour of Airdrie and 50 year members, Les and Lloyd Holmes of Bentley.
The 2007 Bull Lottery is underway. Remember to ask for your transfer to be automatically entered to win one of two $2,500 credits for the purchase of another Hereford bull. All bulls transferred between January 1 and December 31, 2007 have a chance to win.
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back to topSaskatchewan cow-man sense - Join us in November
Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to market your breeding program – nationally and internationally!
The Saskatchewan Hereford Association invites you to join us in November at Canadian Western Agribition November 19 - 24, 2007. Saskatchewan will host the Canadian National Hereford Show and what a great opportunity for you, as breeders, to showcase your breeding program to the world!Events kick off with the 2007 National Hereford Sale to be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 22. Nominations for the National Hereford Sale are open to entries across Canada and should be directed to T Bar C Cattle Co. All entries nominated for the sale must meet the sale management’s selection criteria, so contact them as soon as possible. The Herefords Today Reception will be held in conjunction with the sale on Thursday.
The Canadian National Hereford Show will start at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 23. The “Bulls of the Breed Classic” will take place after the judging of the female divisions. The show is open to a group of three 2007 Hereford bull calves and as an exhibitor your group of bull calves could be selected as Champion and you take home $2,500 in CASH. This is a great opportunity for you to market your bulls to the purebred and commercial cattle industry. Thanks to T Bar C Cattle Co. for your generous support of this event!
As well, the Commercial Cattle and Bull Pen Alley Shows at Agribition get underway on Friday, November 23 at 9:00 a.m. The Saskatchewan Hereford Association offers prize money in the commercial cattle show of $400 to divisional champion pens and $300 to divisional reserve champion pens as well as an additional $200 and $100 for overall Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion pens if you have declared Hereford-influence at the time of entry. In addition, the association will award $750 to the overall Grand Champion pen and $250 to the overall Reserve Grand Champion pen in the open replacement heifers
and bred replacement heifer classes, provided the animals are straight bred Hereford, declared at time of entry. The association will also be awarding a Champion Jacket to the Supreme Champion pen of Bulls, providing the winners are Hereford bulls in the Bull Pen Alley Show.
The 13th Annual Red Coat Classic is scheduled for Saturday morning, November 24. New this year for exhibitors, if you enter a bull calf by the entry deadline (October16, 2007) and you have included your entry fee, the SHA will give you one of your 3 Red Coat Classic Membership tickets that you are required to sell FREE. Your bull calf will also be profiled on our website prior to Agribition by going online at www.saskhereford.com. The majority of exhibitors will win class prize money and if your bull calf is selected by the membership ticket holder you take home $10,000 in CASH. If your calf is the Show Champion, as selected by the panel of judges, you take home $3,000 CASH and the Red Coat Classic Jacket.
Red Coat Classic Membership Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased for $100 by contacting the SHA office at 306-842-6149. Take advantage of the two Early Bird draws by purchasing your ticket by November 1. Sponsored draw prizes will be available only to those who purchase membership tickets and each ticket purchased gives you an opportunity to win a $10,000 Classic Bull Calf!
For information about any of these events at the Canadian National Hereford Show, please contact the SHA office at skhereford@sasktel.net. As an exhibitor, information will be included with your CWA Prize List that will be mailed to you in August.
Mark your calendars, book your reservations and we will see you in November!
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back to topOntario Hereford Happenings
2007 Ontario Hereford Association Annual MeetingThe West Central Hereford Zone hosted the 2007 Ontario Hereford Association Annual Meeting on Feb. 24, 2007 at Tim Horton’s Foundation, Onondaga Farms, St. George. Some of the Zone executive pictured are: Carol Kirby, Cathy Underhill, Dean Morrison and John Bosnjak. There were approximately 85 people in attendance with guest speaker Mr. Art Froehlich, Saskatchewan, partner in AdFarm, one of the North America’s largest agricultural marketing communications agencies.
PGA Polled Herefords, George & Pat Alexander, Beachville, receive recognition for their contribution to the promotion of Canadian Herefords and are inducted into the CHA Honour Roll. The Alexanders are pictured above with their family, CHA – OHA Directors and Zone Directors at the Ontario Association Annual Meeting.
The Ontario Canadian All-Star trophy winners for 2006 presented by Herefords Today: Lone Spruce Herefords & Medonte Highlands; Medonte Highlands Polled Herefords; Allin Ranch; Elmlodge & Jordan Cavanagh; Bar-J-M Farms. The presentation was made by Sarah Hill, at the OHA Annual Meeting.
Ontario Show Bull of the Year 2006 – John Mastine, Whitney, for GH Col Patton 20P presented by the Ontario Hereford Association.
Ontario Show Female of the Year 2006 – Medonte Highlands Polled Herefords, Orillia, for MHPH MS 69M Goldie 126P presented by the Ontario Hereford Association.
CHA-OHA representative, Wallace Pugh presenting Kevin Brown of K Bar C with his 25-year pin.
Gold Trophy Winners :
Wilgor 55K Northeastern OL 2N; Medonte Highlands, Wilgor Farms, Square D Polled Herefords
Star America BNMPHP SS MKS 68M; Medonte Highlands, BnC Polled Herefords & Star Lake Cattle Ranch
Bar J-M Rocky 120L; Bar-J-M Farm & Red Pine Polled HerefordsSilver Trophy Winners:
MHPH Spur 1015S; Medonte Highlands & Allin Ranch
BNMHPH 13P Heat 101S; Medonte Highlands, BnC Polled Herefords & Heat Syndicate
MHPH MS 68M Nita 1112R; Medonte Highlands Polled Herefords
MHPH MS 68M Dainty 116R; Medonte Highlands
MHPH MS 2N Page 122S; Medonte Highlands
Bar-J-M Gloria 9P; Bar-J-M Farm
Bar-J-M Kasey ET 4P; Bar-J-M Farm
GH Col Patton 20P; Bar-J-M Farm & Adams Hirsche Herefords• • •
Alberta Hereford Association Annual Meeting
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June 16, 2007 Olds, AB2007 Hall of Fame Inductee
Scott & Barb Nixdorff and FamilyAs far back as Scott Nixdorff can remember, there has always been a purebred Horned Hereford bull in their pasture. These bulls were usually purchased at the Calgary Bull Sale and used on commercial cows.
In 1977, the first calves were registered under S. Nixdorff and Sons at which time they joined the Canadian Hereford Association. In the years before joining the Hereford Association, they had been buying purebred heifers from Jones Hereford Ranch and Bushfield Farms, so by 1977 they owned about 20 purebred Horned Hereford cows. In the years following, Rob and Nels did a lot of artificial inseminating and some embryo transplanting and still do today. They also bought heifers privately and heifers and herd sires from production sales in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
In the early years, Nixdorffs sold some bulls to their neighbours and in 1984 sold bulls at the Lethbridge Bull Sale. In 1986, they sold in the Calgary Bull Sale for the first time and have been consigning bulls to that sale ever since.
After JoAnn and Jim Hole retired from the purebred business in 1987, Nixdorffs leased some of JoAnn’s cows. By 1997 their purebred herd had grown large enough to have their own production sale. They had become known as SNS Herefords and held a production sale every year until the BSE scare hit in 2003. They took a two year break and returned with sales in 2005 and 2006.
Nels, Terri and their three boys, Hal, Adam and Coleman, left the partnership in 2005 and are now farming and ranching on their own. Their boys have been members of the Junior Hereford Association for the past few years and this spring Rob’s twins, Sarah and Jenna and son, Chad and Paul and Cheryl’s son, Brady and daughter, Elise, have all joined. All the girls and some of the boys are showing Hereford heifers this year.
What began as kind of a sideline in 1977 soon turned into an important and very enjoyable part of their business and personal lives. Scott and Barb Nixdorff have met so many interesting and wonderful people and traveled to many different places that they otherwise may not have seen. They value highly all the friends they have made along the way and their first choice in cattle will always be Herefords.The Alberta Hereford Association is pleased to induct Scott and Barb Nixdorff into the AHA Hall of Fame.
2007 Commercial Cattleman of the Year
Church RanchChurch Ranch was founded in 1900 by W.J. and Annie Church on a homestead at Balzac, AB. Over the years, the operation grew and was passed on to their son Bertram C. (Bert) Church, and then their grandson, Gordon. Bert originally raised commercial beef cattle using Hereford bulls purchased from Charlie Jones of Balzac. In the early 1950’s, a registered Horned Hereford herd was founded with females purchased primarily from Charlie Jones and Wilf Edgar.
In 1957, following his graduation from Olds College, Gordon purchased his first registered Hereford female and became involved in the operation with his father. Gordon furthered his education and graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc. in Agriculture in 1965, then returned to full-time management of the livestock and farm operation. In 1966 he married Rosemary, who also became very active in the management of the operation.
Bert sold his first purebred Hereford bull at the Calgary Bull Sale in 1953. Bert and Gordon continued to sell Hereford bulls at Calgary, as well as at other consignment sales and off the ranch until 1985. Some Calgary Bull Sale highlights included the high selling bull in 1969, Champion Group of Three in 1976, and Junior Champion in 1981. After Bert’s passing, a decision was made to concentrate on the commercial herd, and Gordon began a crossbreeding program designed to take advantage of hybrid vigor using their Hereford females as the foundation.
Today, Church Ranch continues to be operated by Gordon and Rosemary Church, based on the original homestead at Balzac. They have three married children: Laura (Paul Rechsteiner) and grandsons, Grayson and Langdon; Colleen (Robbie McDowall); Neal (Joelle) and grandsons, Hayden and Ethan. Laura and family reside in Toronto where she is a researcher doing contract work for the Federal Justice Department. Colleen is a vice-president of Osborn-Barr, a public relations and marketing firm in Kansas City, Missouri, and Neal is a surgeon in Calgary. All three children have been actively involved with the operation. Currently, Neal, despite his busy schedule, has full responsibility for management of the Hereford herd and sire selection for the crossbred herd as well as hands on participation in all other phases of livestock production.
At present, Church Ranch breeds 400 cows annually. Of these, about 130 are registered Herefords. All first calf heifers are bred to Red Angus bulls as well as half of the Hereford cows. To maintain the Hereford herd, the top half of the Hereford cows are bred back to purebred Hereford bulls selected for moderate birth weight, maternal traits, easy fleshing and, when available, carcass data. The 270 head commercial cow herd is made up of F1 Hereford/Red Angus cross females (red baldies), which are bred to Charolais bulls as a terminal cross.
Hereford females continue to serve as the base of the crossbreeding program as Gordon and Neal find their temperament, rustling ability and ease of fleshing to be essential attributes. The Red Angus provide low birth weights, maternal strength and marbling ability, while the Charolais traits of performance and “lean meat yield” contribute to carcass quality at slaughter.
Church Ranch has also operated a 1,000 head private feedlot in conjunction with their farming operation since 1969. Home-raised calves and purchased cattle have been fed to slaughter. These cattle were marketed through the Calgary Stockyards TEAM Auction which provided some carcass data in its initial operation, data which was very useful in sire selection.
Post BSE, marketing slaughter cattle from the farm-based feedlot became difficult due to lack of competitive bids for cattle from a smaller feedlot. In 2006 they made the transition to a backgrounding operation with cattle being finished at a custom feedlot that has access to a grid marketing system. This process has the advantage of generating carcass information that can be directly applied to sire selection. Gordon and Neal have been very pleased with the feedlot and carcass performance of their half British “buckskin” calves. Last year, these calves gained 4.2 lbs/day and netted $167 per head in the custom lot, due to their ability to meet the marbling and yield criteria of the grid.
Over the years, Gordon has been a delegate to the Alberta Cattle Commission, served as director of the Alberta Hereford Association, as president of the Calgary and District Hereford Club and as a director of the Calgary Central Cattle Breeders’ Association. Gordon also sat on the first Board of Governors of Olds College. He has been leader of the Balzac 4-H Beef Club on two separate occasions, and served on the 4-H on Parade Steer Committee for a number of years.
The Alberta Hereford Association recognizes the rich heritage of the Church Ranch and is proud to acknowledge them as the Commercial Breeder of the Year for 2007.
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Sale Results
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Maple Creek Bull Sale
Total
72 bulls $234,550 $3,3258Peace Country Hereford Influence Sale
March 24 , 2007 Beaverlodge, AB
13 bulls $27,750 $2,135
3 females $3,175 $1,058
16 lots $30,925 $1,933
9 commercial open Hereford heifers averaged $703Bulls Eye Select Sale
March 27, 2007 Brooks, AB
36 bulls $126,550 $3,515
166 open yearling commercial heifers averaged $754Remitall Cattle Co. Large Ranch Bull Sale
March 28, 2007 Olds, AB
85 bulls $227,615 $2,680
123 Angus bulls averaged $2,660
77 open yearling commercial heifers averaged $910
S.E. Saskatchewan Breeders Annual Sale
April 3, 2007 Langbank, SK
7 bulls $18,750 2,679
20 Charolais bulls averaged $2,600Moccasin Flat Ranch
April 5, 2007 Torrington, AB
12 bulls $21,600 $1,800
22 cow/calf pairs $30,950 $1,407
34 lots $52,550 $1,546East Central Bull Sale
April 7, 2007 Oyen, AB
23 bulls $74,450 $3,237
32 open yearling commercial heifers averaged $847
Lacombe Bull Sale
April 10, 2007 Lacombe, AB
24 bulls $56,400 $2,35070 th Williams Lake Bull Sale
April 19-20, 2007 Williams Lake, BC
50 bulls $114,750 $2,295Ranch Ready Bull Sale
April 22, 2007 Mankota, SK
47 bulls $127,295 $2,708Cattleman’s Choice Sale
April 23, 2007 Swift Current, SK
29 bulls $67,400 $2,324
17 commercial heifers averaged $746• • •
Obituaries
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Arthur Wheeler (Bill) AndersonBill Anderson, Sceptre, SK passed away on April 26, 2007 at the age of 81. He was born on the family farm where he lived all his life except for the years he spent looking after the Anderson Ranch located deep in the great Sandhills. The day he was born, brother Gordon called him, “my brother Bill” and he was known by “Bill” the rest of his life.
He and his wife, Helen, would have been married 56 years this October. He saw his children, Bert and Jill grow up to be happy and successful. His grandchildren were his pride and joy. Bill enjoyed fishing and hunting and was very proud of his Hereford cattle. Bill’s kindness and quick wit remained with him until the end. He was a friend to all knew him and will be missed by all.
He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife Helen, son Bert (Heather) Anderson and their children, Ashley and Sarah of Sceptre; daughter Jill (Bob) Jensen and their son Tee of Leader; sisters Jean Turner and Lois (Doug) Moore; sisters-in-law Frances Anderson, Mina Anderson and Julia Campbell as well as many nieces and nephews and lifelong friends.
Raymond Earle Schrader
Raymond was born at Red Lodge, AB, west of Bowden, on Oct. 17, 1917 to parents Henry and Bertha Schrader. He attended White Creek School, worked on the family farm and for neighbours until World War II.
Raymond enlisted in the armed forces on Jan. 28, 1942. He joined the Calgary Highlanders in the United Kingdom and the Sixth Canadian Infantry in Europe as a Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineer.
Following discharge from the service on Dec. 1, 1945, he came home to the family farm.
In 1946, Raymond bought two registered Hereford heifers, which was the beginning of Schrader Herefords. In 1947, he married Marrion Calvert and in 1951 they sold their small commercial herd of cattle in order to make a down payment on a farm of their own and start a family. Over the years, Raymond and Marrion had five children, all of whom have benefited from, and remain connected to country life.
Raymond became a successful and respected Hereford breeder. His accomplishments included being a contributor to Calgary, Olds and other bull sales for many years. He took females to the Central Alberta Hereford Club’s fall sales, and won Grand Champion Female in 1962. He also sold cattle to buyers across western Canada, the US, Mexico, South America, Spain and Russia. Raymond was inducted into the Alberta Hereford Hall of Fame in 2000. He eventually turned over the reins of the farm to Richard, but stayed active and involved in the Hereford industry and the farm operation.
Lack of water was always a problem on the farm, so in the early 1970’s Raymond purchased a drilling rig for better wells. Interest from neighbours prompted Raymond to purchase a newer rig. He challenged the journeyman test, and became a licensed well driller, supplementing the farm income.
Raymond had many interests. He was an avid baseball player, enjoyed hunting and fishing, curling and spent many hours playing cribbage. He was also an accomplished horseshoe player and was member of several clubs playing in tournaments, including the World Horseshoe Championships in Red Deer. Raymond also enjoyed music and played a variety of instruments including the mouthorgan, guitar, violin and electric organ. He had a keen interest in politics and wrote an article about grafting calves to surrogate mothers, which was published in the “Cattleman” magazine.
Raymond was a dedicated 4-H leader, an early member and director of the Innisfail Co-op, and a life member of the Cottonwood/Gordon Ag Society. Raymond was a quiet, gentle and honest man. He worked hard, had strong ethics, high morals and a sense of humour which he maintained until his passing. His love of life, family and friends will be missed and remembered by all.
Raymond is survived by his children, Ann (Len), Louise, Richard ( Sandy), Bev, John (Tammy); grandchildren, Laura (Don), Mike, Vanessa (Wes), Stephanie (Don), Tyler and Jesse, five great grandchildren, brothers, Wilbur, Dennis (Barb), Dode, sisters, Neva, Elva (Chet), Norma, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Raymond was predeceased by his wife, Marrion, granddaughter, Cathy and brothers, Glen and Leonard.
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