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 #13, 4101-19th St. NE 
Calgary, AB T2E 7C4
Tel: 1 (866) 860-6051
Tel: (403) 250-7979
Fax: (403) 250-5121
  
General Manager
  
Office Manager

Programs Coordinator

YCSA Coordinator
 
Registry & Member Services

Reception & Office Administration 

Administrative Assistant
Simmental Country
  
General Manager
Bruce Holmquist
(639) 314-4613

Programs Coordinator
(403) 793-0409
Board of Directors
  
Roger Deeg
First Vice-President
Second Vice-President
 
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Canadian Simmental Association Enewsletter

November 2020
In This Issue
REGISTRY

THE HERD LETTER FOR 2020 IS "H"
 
TOTAL HERD ENROLLMENT (THE) DEADLINES   
 
To prevent late enrollment and incurring any late fees, 2021 Total Herd Enrollment (THE) must be submitted by December 15, 2020. All active females in your herd will need to be enrolled.

THE herds enrolled by this date pay $22.00 per female. Online Simmental.com users benefit by saving $2/head when enrolling online by December 15th.
Members enrolling their herds by December 15, 2020 will be invoiced in two equal installments: the first on April 1st, 2021 and the second October 1st, 2021.
Enrollments received between December 16th, 2020 and February 15th, 2021 will be charged a $27.00/head enrollment fee, payable in full April 1st, 2021.
Enrollments received after February 15th, 2021 will be charged $38.00/head, payable in full on April 1st or at time of submission. Applicable taxes will be added to all prices.
 
Fees are not refundable, except for 1st calf heifers, providing complete performance and disposal information and written request for refund is submitted. For all other females that are disposed of between installment billings, the second installment is due and payable by the member who enrolled the female.

PERCENTAGE OF SIMMENTAL REQUIRED FOR PUREBRED STATUS IN CANADA

Producers purchasing bulls from the United States or semen from American bulls should be aware of differences that exist between Canada and the United States in the percentage of Simmental required to qualify for purebred status.

In accordance with CSA by-laws which are approved by Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, the Canadian Simmental Association requires a male to be 15/16 Simmental to reach purebred status while the American Simmental Association accepts males who are 7/8 Simmental or less by Canadian standards as purebred. As is regulated by the Federal government through the Animal Pedigree Act, it is the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure that these bulls meet the requirement of being 15/16 Simmental if they wish to register that animal in the Canadian Simmental herd book as a purebred. 

Please see our website under CSA Bylaws for our Upgrade Table (Determination of Simmental Fractions.)

CREDIT CARD USERS
 
Please ensure your credit card information is current in the office. If your card expires or has changed numbers, please contact the office so your work can be processed with no delays. Online.Simmental.com users are required to keep a valid working credit card on file with the CSA.

CSA FEE SCHEDULE 

The CSA has implemented a fee for DNA hair and blood cards
To see the full Fee Schedule click here

GENETIC CONDTION RESULTS THROUGH CSA OFFICE

The CSA Office can send genetic condition results (polled/horned and color) from other accredited labs which staff will then enter manually.  These results will be published on the website's animal pedigree search.

BREED IMPROVEMENT 

WHAT BREEDERS CAN DO TO IMPROVE ACCURACY OF EPDS

At the end of the day it's important to know where your cattle stand to make a profit. As seed-stock producers we are responsible for genetic improvements of the beef industry, and data collection and reporting is a key part of that process. 

Click here to read the full article on the importance of accurate EPDS.

COMPLETE REPORTING AND CONTEMPORARY GROUPS

Members are reminded that weaning information should be reported on all calves in a contemporary group. Failing to report all calves can negatively impact the results on our best calves. To watch a video seminar on the importance of complete reporting, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9zzOZnnDS4&feature=youtu.be If you have already submitted weaning information on your calf crop and you know that there are calves missing, please go to the online system and add the data.
 
ULTRASOUND

Now is a good time to start planning the ultrasounding of your yearlings. Ultrasound is a proven technology that can help to determine the relative differences for carcass rib-eye area, fat thickness and marbling between seedstock. It may be worth considering an investment, particularly in terms of scanning of replacement heifers. This provides a carcass record for the evaluation and also helps to build records in the background of your own herd. For more information about ultrasound and a list of available technicians, please visit: http://ultrasoundbeef.com/
 
ENROLMENT

Enrolment time is one of the key points where we identify the reproductive merit of females in the Simmental breed. For breeders reporting on pregnancy test results, please remember to report all of your heifers if you are participating. You are not required to enrol open heifers, however this information is vital to identifying animals that conceived/were open or those that were removed from the herd for other reasons.
CSA UPGRADE TABLE INFORMATION

In September, the Canadian Simmental Association (CSA) discovered an error in an upgrade calculation used by our registry system. This affects a limited number of animals and involves the mating of a 7/8 sire to a ½ female resulting in the progeny incorrectly being calculated as ¾.
 
The CSA registry system has been changed to be in accordance with the upgrade table that was approved by Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC) and calculates a 7/8 sire x ½ female mating to result in ½ blood calves.  This change affects animals that were registered from the above mating combination over the last 3 years as well as their progeny, and corrections are being made to the fraction status of those animals affected. It is important to recognize that during the last by-law and upgrading table change, the CSA and its membership requested that 3/4 blood status be given to this specific mating however that was rejected by AAFC officials.
 
If you have a current CSA registration certificate for an animal that is a result of this mating combination, and that is affected by this revision, please return it to the CSA office so we may send you an updated version. If you have left the registration on a "hold print" online status there is nothing further that is required.

A copy of the Upgrade Table is on the CSA website - www.simmental.com
 
Please feel free to contact CSA General Manager Bruce Holmquist at 1 (639) 314-4613 with any questions or comments you may have. 
HALL OF FAME AWARD 

The CSA is pleased to recognize individuals who have contributed to the expansion and achievements of the Simmental Association in Canada. To be considered for the Canadian Simmental Hall of Fame, individuals will be recognized by their fellow breeders as leaders in promoting the Simmental breed, for their involvement in their provincial association and their contributions to the CSA board. These individuals are considered leaders in their communities and in the beef industry.  Know a Simmental breeder who is deserving of this award send in a nomination form.
 

DNA Testing At A Reduced Price!
 
TAG THEM BLUE!
YOUNG CANADIAN SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION 

YCSA FACEBOOK AUCTION WILL BE BACK IN EARLY DECEMBER! 

If you are interested in donating an item please contact Kelsey Manske at kmanske@simmental.com.
SIMMENTAL COUNTRY NEWS

SIMMENTAL COUNTRY PHONE NUMBER CHANGE 

Please note that the Simmental Country phone line is no longer in service. Please use the CSA office phone number for all future calls 1.403.250.7979

JANUARY 2021- ISSUE DEADLINES


Did someone get married or have a baby? Let us know and
send any membership announcements to:sgiles@simmental.com
CSA HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS 
  
 
MONTHLY COWBOY QUIP
  
 
2020 CSA OFFICE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 
   
Closed- Wednesday, November 11th - Remembrance Day 
Closed- Thursday, December 24th 
Closed- Friday, December 25th - Christmas Day 
Closed- Monday, December 28th 
Closed- Friday, January 1st - New Years Day