Beef + Water = Confusion

According to the Waterfootprint.org website, the water footprint created by producing 1 kg (2.2 lbs.) of beef is 16,000 litres (4,225 US gallons) - a water footprint is intended to measure how much water is used directly and indirectly. This beef example has recently been featured in The Toronto Star and online suggesting that eating less meat as a way to shrink your water footprint, as water has been dubbed the "oil of the 21st century." It goes on to say that according to the World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report, Canada has the world's 12th largest water footprint. The report says Canadians each use 5,400 litres of water a day, the equivalent of running a tap for more than 10 hours a day or flushing a toilet nearly 1,000 times daily. Comments on the story vary, from those who believe becoming a vegetarian is the answer to one brave beef farmer who asked for these figures to be substantiated as "cows are land animals, not fish." [Reference link]

A quick Google search found dozens more articles claiming it takes anywhere from 100 to 2500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. A UN Chronicle article Water for All states that 1 ton of beef requires 15,000 tons of water, while it only requires 1,000 tons of water for a ton of grain.
The following is from the Beef From Pasture to Plate website's "Beef Myths and Facts".
Myth: Amount of water needed to produce 1 pound of beef: 2,500 gallons.
Fact: Considering all factors in beef cattle production including direct consumption, irrigation of pastures and crops, and carcass processing, it takes 435 gallons of water to produce a pound of boneless beef (that's 3,623 litres per kg), according to the Council for Agricultural Science & Technology 1999 Animal Agriculture and Global Food Supply Report. [Reference link]

Two recent articles from the UK show just how much of a concern water vs food production has become and outline some the challenges ahead for the agriculture industry. See Food needs 'fundamental rethink' from the BBC News and The challenges for agriculture from WalesOnline. This concern is definitely something that needs monitoring and more education. If anyone out there has access to the actual facts concerning beef and water, please pass on the info.

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Manitoba Angus Association Annual Meeting Report

Submitted by Lois McRae

Our Manitoba Angus Annual Meeting was held on January 3, 2009 at the Royal Oak Inn in Brandon, The meetings are held along with the 4 other Beef Breeds and we all join up at supper time for a banquet and entertainment.
An enthusiastic group of Angus Breeders attended the meeting and along with the various reports a Roundtable discussion on Green Tags, and World Angus Forum were held. This brought out many new ideas for the new board to work on. The Association continues to spend a large amount of their budget on Promotion and advertising in the newsletter, newspapers, radio and website www.mbangus.ca.
Canadian Angus President, Bob Switzer of Aneroid, SK and Past President, Barry Young of Carievale,SK gave a detailed report on the happenings at the Canadian Angus Association, informing us that the Canadian Registrations had another record year with over 62,000 registrations, McDonalds Angus Burger, very popular and it is important to get the Angus Green tags in your Angus Calves for marketability. The World Angus Forum in July 2009 at Spruce Meadows, Alberta was discussed in detail and Bob and Barry hope many will plan to attend this unique event, and be part of the ANGUS BREED.

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Directors for the 2009 year are:
Terms for 2 three year directors are: Ryan Shearer, Wawanesa and Doug Stamler, Stonewall were elected.
Terms for 3 one year directors are Alana Van Steelandt, Melita; Dallas Johnson, Brookdale; and Allan Nykoliation of Crandall were elected.
Junior Director - Jarret Pernarowski, Dauphin.
Other directors still on the board are: Tim Baker, Neepawa, Kent Topham Grandview and Shawn Birmingham, Brandon.
Canadian Director - Lois McRae of Brandon.
Honorary President – Floyd and Joan Darling of Treherne.
Commercial Producers – Tribar Ranching Co. (Ken and Judy Hoff Family) of Moosehorn, MB.
Purebred Producers for 2008 are Hamco Red Angus, (David, Alberta and Glen Hamilton and Families of Glenboro and Morden, MB).
Vice President Tim Baker thanked our Retiring Director: Lyall Edgerton for all his efforts over the years and his dedication to the Angus Breed. He will be missed by the Angus Association and he was presented with a World Angus Forum shirt.
The new Board for 2009 was elected with Shawn Birmingham of Brandon as President; Tim Baker of Neepawa as Vice-President. Arlene Kirkpatrick will continue as Secretary- Treasurer.
Thanks to all of our sponsors for their generous donations to help put these meetings on.

Manitoba Honorary Presidents 2008
Hugh and Sandy Margetts, Buck Valley Ranch, Minto, MB

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Manitoba President, Lyall Edgerton presented the honorary President Pin from the Canadian Angus Association at the Keystone Klassic sale, Brandon to Hughie and Sandy Margetts.
In 1986, the Margetts purchased their first red bred heifer from Charlie and Ruby Simpson and the next year a group of bred heifers from Ron Drinnan.
Hughie served as a director on the Manitoba Angus Board, worked on the 1995 annual Meeting and served one the sponsorship committee for the 2005 Centennial Angus meeting in Brandon. Hughie is always there to help at the Manitoba Livestock Expo or any Angus event.
Buck Valley have been active in Douglas Bull test, Southwest Bull Development Center and Red Power Angus Breeders (for 14 years).
In 2004 they moved selling their bulls to Blair and Lois McRae’s Bull Sale on the farm and in the fall of 2006 Mar Mac Farms purchased the heart of the Buck Valley herd.
Hughie and Sandy are still maintain a small herd of Red Angus Cows as they are winding down their career in the Cattle Business.
Congratulations to the Margetts of Minto, MB as the 2008 Manitoba Angus Honorary Presidents.

Manitoba Angus Association Commercial Producer 2009
Tribar Ranching - Ken and Judy Hoff and Family

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Tribar Ranching Co. (derived from the brand of a Triangle Bar) is a partnership owned by Ken and Judy Hoff, son Kelvin and family, son-in-law Arid Nottveit and family, of Moosehorn, Manitoba.
The Cows pasture on native grass and swamp land, then are wintered on wild hay. Only when forced to buy feed do they get the luxury of tame hay.
They maintain around 30 purebred Black Angus in their battery of breeding bulls. When possible, they like to see the dams of the bulls, they purchase, ideally just after calving. Any animal that is wild or aggressive, or bad uddered, is not considered. Tribar look for easy fleshing cattle, but don’t believe they have to go small to achieve that. They also need some leg to be able to travel and those short legged cows cause trouble for new-borns to start sucking. Tribar pays attention to EPD’s and ultrasound, but first they have to look like an Angus.
For the past 40 years, the Hoff Family has ranched in Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba purchasing Hereford, Charolais , Red Angus and Black Angus Bulls. Each has their turn at bringing a premium on the market. At the present time, they market their calves at the Angus influence sale in Ashern. These calves are green tagged and sell in big packages usually topping the market and are a feature at the Angus Sales.
Their son-in-law, Ed Seibert (the mechanic) and his family are now part of the operation, so the cows must support four families. The cows are working at it and the Hoff’s wish the markets would cooperate.
Congratulations to the Hoff Family of Tribar Ranching for their achievements in the Angus business as Manitoba’s Commercial Producers of the Year 2009.

U.S. COOL successful at disrupting beef and cattle flow
Foreign-produced product destined for the food service industry

COOL has been successful in giving U.S. beef a marketed advantage over foreign product despite not being it's publicly-perceived intent, according to Chandler Keys, JBS Swift and Company government and industry relations director, Fort Collins, Colorado. In a speech at the Montana Stockgrowers Association’s 124th convention in Billings, Montana, Keys stated that 95% of beef sold in grocery stores will be marked U.S. beef, with foreign product destined for the food service industry. Highlights of the address follow:

Though other packers have balked at it, Keys said JBS will follow the Country of Origin Labeling law to the letter, as required.
“COOL is the law of the land,” he said. “Mark my words, 95 percent of the beef sold in grocery markets will be marked U.S. beef. A small minority of the beef will be labeled of mixed origin.”
However, meat sold to food service will not be labeled, making it the destination for foreign-produced meat, said Keys.
Contrary to popular belief, Keys said the purpose of the Country of Origin Labeling law was not to inform the customers, but to give U.S. beef a marketed advantage over foreign beef.
“The consumer isn't asking for it,” he said. “In its proponents - to disrupt the cattle and beef flow from Canada and Mexico - it has been successful. We are going to follow it to the letter of the law as packers - even though it will cost us money to sort out the cattle and pigs.”
JBS and other packers fought against the development of the Country of Origin Labeling law.
“It was a long, hard fought battle, but we'll do what we have to do,” said Keys.

Read the full article "JBS Swift spokesman reassures cow-calf producers" from The Prairie Star.

In 2007 JBS Swift (owned by Wesley Batista & Family of Brazil) purchased Swift and Company, based in Fort Collins and recently purchased Smithfield Beef Group. The Smith-field purchase included the Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding company, which supply the Colorado-based packing plants and purchase feeder cattle from Montana and other states. JBS Swift is currently battling for the right to purchase National Beef Packing Company, the fourth largest beef packing company in the U.S. According to The Prairie Star, if the purchase goes through, it would give JBS, Tyson Foods and Cargill control of more than 80 percent of the U.S. beef packing industry.

Will you pay to watch auctions online?

Many Angus breeders have received an email and video from LiveAuctions.TV explaining their new security enhanced methods of registering to bid at an auction over the internet and the reasons behind implementation of a subscription service for viewing (video available HERE). Brad Fahrmeier details in the video that the subscription cost works out to about 50 cents an auction to watch sales regularly through their service ($50 fee divided by 100 auctions). LiveAuctions.TV chose the subscription method to spread increasing costs over their viewership rather than upping the seller's expenses, charging a buyer's premium or utilizing sponsorship.
Mark Shologan of Western Livestock Exchange in Canada states there are no plans to charge for viewing sales or bidding at WLEX.ca, as does the EdjeCast.com website in the U.S.
What are your thoughts on this? Answer our January Poll [HERE] and let us know!

The unofficial reason behind Mexico's halting US imports . . .

A UK newspaper has put in black and white what many have thought for years. An article in Farming UK states that according to sources in Mexico the ban on meat imports from the U.S. (see story Mexico halts meat imports from 30 US plants) is "government tit for tat" regarding COOL and more. Read the full column HERE. Very, very interesting!
Note: Many of the restrictions have since been lifted (see "Some imports resume in Mexico-US meat spat").

Believe it or Not: Burger King to market beef body spray

Quoted from the PEI Journal Pioneer:
OK, who in their right mind thinks the smell of beef could be remotely attractive to the opposite sex? Burger King, apparently. The fast food giant thinks men love the smell of their burgers so much, they’d be willing to fork over a few bucks to smell like a flame-broiled burger. Yes, Burger King will soon be selling a men’s body spray called “Flame”.
While there are men who salivate when they take in the aroma of a grilled burger or steak, few women find the scent of flame-broiled meat so seductive. Such a body spray or perfume would have been better aimed at women. It could well have been the next big male aphrodisiac. [Reference Link]

Understanding Genomics - a UK perspective on the Canadian trend

If you have wondered about genomics and how it is being used (or misused) in Canada, the US and around the world, this interesting article entitled "Uncovering the truth about genomics" in the UK's Farmers Guardian explains it in plain English. The dairy industry is used in this instance, but the details should relate to beef sires as well. Read the complete article HERE for a better understanding of the impact it could have on your next herdsire selection.
Interesting to note that while Canadians promote our traceability system, when compared to EU animal passports it seems we have a ways to go.

Just what the industry needs now - a tax on flatulence

Radio Owen Sound Farm Stories for Dec. 5 included this little tidbit that should make you hold your nose and gag:
"If it moves, it seems the government will tax it. Under a proposed new law, the US Environmental Protection Agency will tax belching and gaseous cows and hogs for polluting the air.
It's one of several proposals put forward by the agency after the US Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that greenhouse gases emitted by belching and flatulence amounts to air pollution. It would require farms or ranches with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs to pay an annual fee of about $175 for each dairy cow, $87.50 per head for beef cattle and $20 for each hog." [Reference Link]
Shouldn't all the bad odours created by politicians be taxed first? If this of proposal sees the light of day in Canada (if it hasn't already), get ready to sign the petition . . .

Business expense holiday with Cuba farm tour

If you feel the need to head to a warmer climate and are finances are not a problem, the Canada-Cuba Farmer to Farmer Project offers a holiday to a tropical climate combined with farm tours. The website FarmertoFarmer.ca gives all the details. Listed on their top 10 reasons to join a delegation is "You'll experience a culture where farmers are respected".

Canadian beef consumption increases

Last year, the beef industry contributed $25 billion to Canada's economy and exported 47 per cent of the overall beef and cattle produced.  Statistics Canada reports that 49.2 pounds of beef per person were consumed last year, an increase of 2.7 per cent from 2006.
- Bob Bjornerud, SK Minister of Agriculture, in a speech at the opening of Agribition

Angus Briefs . . .

CATTLE & BREEDER DISPLAYS MUST Book Space by Feb. 1, 2009
If your are planning a breeder display or will be showing cattle at the 2009 World Angus Forum, you must book your space by February 1. Forms are available on the WAF Website, complete with instructions. This form is for space in any of the 4 cattle barns and reserved for purebred or commercial breeders who will enter Forum shows or intend to display their operation, with or without cattle. Access to the special WAF Exhibitors Registration Package will be forwarded once your space is booked. There will be no charge to enter Forum show. For further information and forms CLICK HERE.

WAF ‘09 Encourages Junior Participation
For the first time ever a Junior component will be part of the 2009 World Angus Forum in Canada. Angus Juniors (age 13-21) can take advantage of special Junior pricing and activities created specifically for them. Included in the schedule will be technical sessions and speakers geared towards youth and different areas of the agricultural industry, a youth owned female show, marketing, judging and team problem solving competitions. Participants will have the opportunity to get to know other Juniors from around the world in their own ‘Adults by Invitation Only’ Lounge.
The Forum Youth Program offers a unique opportunity to foster Junior Angus involvement between countries and start life-long friendships. For complete details visit the WAF ‘09 website at WorldAngusForum.com Junior Program.
The World Angus Forum 2009 is scheduled for July 13-16, 2009 in Calgary with both pre and post Forum tours available. Complete details on all aspects of the Forum can be found on the WAF website or contact the Canadian Angus Association at 403-571-3580 for printed copies of schedules and registration forms.

Canadian angus foundation receives $10,500 in memory of Tom Jackson
The Canadian Angus Foundation, an organization dedicated to the promotion of junior Angus programs in Canada, received a major boost as a result of a donation from the Jackson family.
Bill Jackson had a heifer in the Ontario Angus Futurity Sale held on Saturday, December 6. After Tom’s funeral Thursday, Bill decided to offer the proceeds of the sale of the heifer and a matching donation to the Canadian Angus Foundation which supports Angus youth programs. As word spread, about 35 people in attendance pooled their donations and purchased the heifer for $4,000. The group put the heifer back up for sale. The heifer sold to John and Pat Duivenvoorden of Innisfil, Ontario, for an additional $2,500. The $2,500 was also donated to the Canadian Angus Foundation, bringing the total donation in memory of Tom Jackson to $10,500. Pictured with the heifer are April Jackson, Sylvia Jackson, John Duivenvoorden and Bill Jackson.
Bill is a third-generation Angus producer operating 110 cows at Tullamore Farms at Caledon East, Ontario. William Jackson, grandfather to Bill and father to Tom, started his Angus herd with Pride of Larkin 59th born in 1921, Lillian of S A 4th born in 1920, and Victoria Queen 2nd born in 1914. Victoria Queen’s calf, Lindsay 5th, became William’s first registered Angus animal in 1924. William Jackson operated under the herd names Maple Farm, Fairview, and Sunny Hill. In 1952, Tom Jackson purchased Tullamore Farms.
Tom served as President of the Canadian Angus Association Board of Directors in 1966. Bill followed in his father’s footsteps serving as President in 1992. Both were also heavily involved with the Ontario Angus Association.
The Canadian Angus Foundation is the charitable arm of the Canadian Angus Association. The Foundation was established in 1993 as a charitable organization under Revenue Canada guidelines. The main reason for the creation of the Foundation was to allow for tax-deductible support to be offered to the furtherance of the Angus breed within Canada. The Canadian Angus Foundation focuses on three main areas of development:
• education, particularly young Canadians
• research related to the Angus breed
• maintenance of an archives related to the history of the Angus breed in Canada
The Canadian Angus Association extends its deepest sympathies to the Jackson family on the loss of Tom Jackson, a true ambassador for the Angus breed in Canada.
- Canadian Angus Association

Manitoba Fund Raising heifer donated to juniors at Keystone Klassic
The 30th Annual Keystone Klassic Angus Sale was held in Brandon Manitoba on Dec. 6, 2008. A large crowd of Black and Red Angus enthusiasts gathered to view the top notch group of Black and Red Angus cattle on offer.
The Keystone Klassic Sale has always offered the top genetics in the province and been the main fund raiser for the Manitoba Angus Association. The 2008 Fund Raiser heifer was Botany Angus Rosebud 1U donated by Botany Angus, Souris and Leaning Spruce Stock Farm, Wawanesa. The female sold for $2,250 with the funds going to the Manitoba Angus Association for promoting Angus cattle in the province. The successful buyers were the Cattleman’s Connection Bull Sale (Mountain View Farms, Swan River and Brookmore Angus, Brookdale). They graciously donated the heifer to the Manitoba Junior Angus Association for a fund raiser for their Scholarship program and educational events.
Thanks to everyone who supported the Manitoba Angus Association fund raising project.
- Manitoba Angus Association

ALBERTA ANGUS HONOURS Hall of Fame inductees
At the Alberta Angus Annual Meeting held Dec. 6 in Crossfield, AB new members were inducted into the Alberta Angus Hall of Fame. Orrin Hart of Willabar Angus, Claresholm. AB and Peter & Maxine Schmaltz of Beiseker Red Angus, Beiseker, AB were honoured in the Breed Builder category. Contemporary Breeder recognition went to the Howard & Wendy Schneider Family of Northline Angus, Ardrossan, AB. Rounding out the awards was the Cecile Fleming "Spirit of Angus" trophy going to Mabel Hamilton of Belvin Angus, Innisfail, AB. Honourary President for the year is Wayne Sibbald of Triple S Red Angus. Elected to join current directors on the Board were incumbents Carol High, Colton Hamilton and Bob Hahn, joined by new directors Ricki Fleming, Clint Morasch and Camille Scott. Rob Smith was thanked for his leadership during his years as President. Unfortunately freezing rain was a factor in the number of people who could attend the meeting, but the turkey and beef dinner was excellent. Be sure to get your information in to the Alberta Angus office by January 1st if you wish to be included on the new Alberta Angus Breeders Map being produced in 2009.

UPDATE: UPDATED LIST OF AM CARRIERS/AF FREE AVAILABLE
An updated list of Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM - Curly Calf) carriers is available on the American Angus website. The AAA Board of Directors recently adopted a new policy and related set of rules governing the handling of genetic defects within the breed. In addition a specific policy relating to the registration status of potential and known carriers of AM has been adopted. The link also contain updates and answers to commonly asked questions.
Reference Link: www.angus.org

Have You Registered for the Forum Yet?
Registration for the World Angus Forum is now available. You can register online (secure website) or with a downloadable form. For full information (and there are a number of choices to consider) visit the WAF 2009 website. Complete registration details will also be published in the next issue of Angus World and provincial newsletters.
See you at Spruce Meadows in July 2009!

Burger King Haiku Site Praises the Angus "Steakburger"
Ever written an ode to Angus? If not, now could be the perfect time. Read the article "Burger King Poetry Honours Angus Beef" and you find there are many who consider Angus beef worth a sonnet or two, or to be exact, a haiku. Check out the entries so far and vote for your favourites - especially the ones that use the word "Angus" of course! Read the poetry HERE.