April 2024

As of April 16, 2024, your Canadian Angus Association is taking responsibility for collecting and preparing DNA samples for genomic testing. After submitting your genomic test requests (parentage, Angus GS, etc.), you can begin sending your properly collected and stored DNA samples (hair, TSU, blood cards, semen) to the office immediately.

MAIL YOUR DNA SAMPLES TO THE CANADIAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION OFFICE

Genomic Services
Canadian Angus Association
292140 Wagon Wheel Blvd
Rocky View County, AB  T4A 0E2

In addition, members who live near or will travel to the Canadian Angus Association office area will be able to drop off their properly collected and stored DNA samples during regular business hours (7:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday).

From our office, Canadian Angus Association staff will prepare DNA samples for genomic testing, log them for tracking purposes, ship them directly to the lab for testing, and will receive and process the genomic test results.

Samples that are already in transit to the lab facility in Edmonton will be processed as usual; the samples will not be returned to you. Effective immediately, do not send samples to Neogen in Edmonton; mail your DNA samples to the Canadian Angus Association office.

We look forward to working with our members to provide this enhanced customer service throughout the genomic testing process.

As many of you have seen and will see in today’s edition of the Angus Advisor, we have advised members of a logistical change to our DNA service with the goal of improving service and creating new opportunities.

I have heard from a number of you over the past day with a range of feedback including excitement and concern about why we are changing the process. I certainly appreciate your feedback and I would like to shed a bit more light on why this decision has been made.

The improvement of our DNA services has long been a common request and concern from CAA membership to the CAA board, and it has been discussed on numerous occasions over the past 5 years. Today, DNA services is our number 1 operational cost and an area we need to explore how we can create new improvements, control costs and improve efficiencies in the service that we provide.

The change to how we initially handle DNA samples will provide us the flexibility to explore a wide array of new business opportunities, maintain leverage over our key business operations, protect the data and develop an array of new services currently not available.

This was a long thought-out decision discussed over numerous board meetings that creates substantial benefits and opportunities for the Canadian Angus Association and membership that I look forward to being able to showcase in the near future.

Feel free to contact me with your questions and concerns at any time at 403-571-3581 or [email protected].

Myles Immerkar

The Canadian Angus Association will receive $3.8M to increase Canadian cattle producers’ ability to make data-driven decisions based on genomics to economically benefit their commercial livestock operations. The investment will be used to develop a genetic selection tool to equip producers with breeding data to select the best replacement heifers to improve their herds.

Using the selection tool, producers will have access to reliable genetic data to select for desired traits such as growth and fertility. This will improve the overall genetic potential of Canadian cattle herds, which has the potential to translate into increased profits across the value chain and more exports.

RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research) facilitated a contribution of $978,000, through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership — funded by the governments of Alberta and Canada. The Canadian Angus and Hereford Associations, together with TELUS Agriculture, contributed to the balance of the $3.8M.

Using the selection tool, producers will have access to reliable genetic data and replacement female information at the same depth that has been available for breeding bulls. By expanding access to heifer genetic information, the industry can improve animal health outcomes while reducing producer input costs.

Dr. Latimer’s team is working to develop an easy-to-use animal record management system and training staff to help on-farm with DNA sampling and data recording.

Click here to learn more about RDAR projects

We are saddened to share news of the recent passing of past Canadian Angus Foundation Chair (2004–2007) Elizabeth Peto.

Obituary:
Elizabeth Peto currently of Blind Bay, British Columbia passed away peacefully on March 30, 2024 surrounded by her family after a long battle with diabetes.

She was born to John and Eleanor Lynch on July 19, 1944 in St. John’s Newfoundland. She married Howard Peto on June 30, 1970. She leaves behind her husband Howard, two children, John and Susan, her step-daughter Christie and seven devoted grandchildren.

Elizabeth was deeply engaged in the communities in which she lived. She taught in Delta for a number of years as well as was an active farmer with Howard, raising Angus cattle. She was very involved in the BC and Canadian Angus Associations. Equally she was extremely active in her church, both in Delta and in Sorrento.

She was a loving wife, mother and friend. She will be deeply missed.

Celebration of Life
The church service will be at 11:00 am, Friday May 10 at St, Mary’s Anglican Church in Sorrento, BC, followed directly by a reception at the Sorrento Centre. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Elizabeth’s beloved places, the Sorrento Centre. Please use the ‘Donate Now’ link at www.sorrentocentre.ca and designate the gift in memory of Elizabeth Peto using the drop-down menu.

We continue to experience extraordinarily high call volumes. We understand the frustration of not being able to reach someone on the first ring, and we want to assure our members that we do our best to answer as many calls as possible. On average, our member service team answers 10 phone calls per hour with the average phone call lasting 3.35 minutes. We are currently answering more calls and spending more time on each call, which means more calls are going unanswered.

If we are unable to answer your call, instead of calling back, please:

• leave a voicemail in our secure and confidential system
• send an email to [email protected]
• text your inquiry to 587-439-3440

If your call goes to voicemail, please ensure that you leave your name, phone number with area code, membership number and the reason for your call to ensure we can assist you efficiently.

Staff answer and return calls during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 7:30-11:30 AM and 12:30-4:00 PM Mountain Time.

The Ontario Angus Association is pleased to share the schedule for Convention 2024 in Toronto. Click here to register now

Hotel Information

Host Hotel: Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites
CAA Convention rate: $219 per night
Last Day to Book: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Click here to book your room(s) at the Canadian Angus Association Conference June 2024 group rate

Click here to register for Convention

As you get ready for breeding season, we would like to remind our members that you can use the mating predictor tool to propose potential matings by selecting a bull and a female or group of females. The mating predictor determines EPDs for the progeny. The ability to draw on the huge amount of data available in our database is a powerful tool to assist in breeding decisions and making the most genetic improvement in your herd.

Important Deadlines:

U.S. Exchange Program, May 10
Represent Canadian Junior Angus in the United States! CJA and the National Junior Angus Association in the States are working together to have an ‘exchange’ between junior members and our leadership conferences and summer events. Opportunities such as attending LEAD Conference and the Junior Red Angus Round-Up are available. Check back in the spring for information on 2023 events. Click here for details and to apply.

Dick Turner Scholarship, May 15

The Dick Turner Memorial Scholarship was established after the passing of legendary Angus icon Dick Turner in July of 2010. Click here for details and to apply.

Registration is open for Showdown 2024 in Grassie, Ontario, July 18-20! Go to www.cdnangus.ca/canadian-junior-angus/showdown to complete the entry form, view the rules and regulations, and apply for Showdown Travel & Trucking Bursaries.

Certified Angus Beef Colvin Scholarship Awards

CJA members, check out the Certified Angus Beef Colvin Scholarship Awards and apply by April 30!

Certified Angus Beef plans to award $100,000 USD in scholarships this year, the most they have ever distributed in any given year. Eligibility has been opened up to Canadian students with interests aligned with those of the scholarship fund.

If you are a student interested in improving the agricultural industry, apply for one of the following scholarships:

• Colvin Production Agriculture Scholarship: career goal to go into production agriculture (working on a farm, ranch or feed yard).
• Colvin Undergraduate Scholarship: career goal to work in meat science, agricultural marketing or communications, agribusiness, other allied industry or continued education.
• Colvin Graduate Scholarship: career goal in industry research and higher education.

The top scholarship award for each category includes $7,500, with additional scholarships awarded. For more information, go to www.certifiedangusbeef.com/press/colvin/index.php

Have you seen the latest edition of CJA Connections? Check out the Spring 2024 edition

Scholarship Applications now open for the 2024 Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency Award

The Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency established a scholarship to encourage and support students pursuing post-secondary studies in the field of agriculture, agricultural research, or with an agriculture background pursuing studies in marketing. Preference will be given to applicants who are active beef producers or have a background in agriculture, but it is not a requirement.

For more information on the scholarship and to apply, click here.

Applications for the Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador competition are due April 30. Visit www.cdnangus.ca/foundation/scholarships-bursaries-and-awards for details or go to www.cdnangus.ca/wp-content/uploads/CAF-Robert-C.-McHaffie-Junior-Ambassador-Competition-3.pdf for application guidelines.

Thank you to all the generous donors who supported the Future 15 initiative this sale season. Your generosity is appreciated!

Contact Belinda Wagner at 306-537-1518 or [email protected]