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CSA Contacts
 #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
Meghan Black
  
Simmental Country Sales Representative

YCSA Coordinator
 
Registry & Member Services

Reception & Member Services 

Administrative Assistant
Simmental Country
  
General Manager
Bruce Holmquist
(403) 988-8676

Programs Coordinator
(506) 324-4825   

Simmental Country Sales Representative
(780) 818-3452
 
Eastern Sales 
Consultant
Jane Crawford
(519) 317-5263
Board of Directors
  
President
Garth Rancier
First Vice-President
Blair McRae
Second Vice-President
  
Directors
Provincial
Association
Websites
  
  
 
Canadian Simmental Association Enewsletter
January 2017
In This Issue
REGISTRY

THE HERD LETTER FOR 2017 IS "E"

2017 Annual Membership Fees Will Be Invoiced in January
Payment is due upon receipt of invoice. For members with a credit card on file at the office, fees will be applied to your credit card.
 
Credit Card Authorization
Please contact the CSA office if your credit card information has changed (e.g. card number, expiry date, etc.) This will allow your registration and transfer papers to be processed and mailed without delay.

Online Simmental.com Accounts  
All users must have a credit card on file, or make arrangements with the CSA office to maintain a $500 credit balance on their account. For more information or to sign up with Online Simmental.com, please go to www.Simmental.com under Registry/Online Simmental.com.
 
Mandatory Identification
Under the Animal Pedigree Act, and per CSA by-laws, it is mandatory that all Simmental animals be identified with an ear tattoo in order to be eligible for registration in the CSA Herd Book. It is the responsibility of all CSA members to ensure that all Simmentals sold as registered animals are legibly tattooed and that the tattoo corresponds with the animal's registration paper. Any member who contravenes a By-law of the Association relating to the individual identification of animals may be expelled or suspended and in accordance with section 61 of the Animal Pedigree Act may be denied the right to have registered or to transfer the ownership of the cattle.
 
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. 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.)
 
Online Simmental.com Users: Entering Birth Information  
There are two ways in which you can enter calf records using the Online system. The examples below are assuming the Online user is entering 2017-born (E- year letter) calves.
 Option 1:
My Herd
My Inventory
My Posted Inventory - 2017
  • Using your mouse, click on the word "Calving" to the right of the Dam that is listed on your screen.  This will open the entry screen and populate the Dam Reg number field automatically.
  • After entering the birth details click on the "Save" button to save the calf record, hit the "Back" button located in the top-left area of your screen and continue with the next Dam.
Note: If you are entering multiple calf records (e.g. Twins, triplets, or embryos), you must use Option 2 below.
Option 2:
My Performance
My Calving (2017 Display Year)
  • Click the "Add" button to enter the calf information.  If you choose this method, you must enter the dam tattoo or 6-digit registration number in the entry-field.
  • Click the "Save" button to save the entered birth information.
If you require further explanation, please contact the Registry staff at 1 866 860 6051.


BREED IMPROVEMENT
 
Spring 2017 EPDs Released
Updated EPDs and indexes are now available on the CSA website. This evaluation ushers some new traits including the first multi-breed stayability, where EPDs are calculated on animals of all breeds and breed combinations. The new stayability analysis achieves multiple firsts for the Canadian Simmental Association and International Genetic Solutions (IGS). Our STAY EPD is the first "Single Step" EPD ever produced in the beef industry on a large database. Single Step refers to the analysis being performed by incorporating DNA markers directly into the genetic evaluation. 
 
This approach leverages DNA in the most effective way possible, yielding the most accurate EPDs possible. The STAY EPD is also the first ever published via the industry's most advanced genetic evaluation software, BOLT (Biometric Open Language Tools). Over time, CSA's full array of EPDs will be transitioned to BOLT, which will ensure that our members and their customers will have the most accurate EPDs available when making selection decisions.     
 
New EPD
HCE - Heifer Calving Ease - This trait is the Calving Ease (CE) EPD that CSA members have been using for several years, and is the same as the ASA CE EPD.  The change in the heading is simply to identify it from the new Cow Calving Ease (CCE) EPD. HCE reflects differences in unassisted calvings for a sire's calves when mated to first calf heifers. HCE can not be compared to CCE.
CCE - Cow Calving Ease - This is a new trait that reflects differences in unassisted calving when sire's are mated to mature cows. The range is much smaller than that of HCE due to significantly less difference in calving ease amongst mature cows. CCE can not be compared with HCE.
Stay - Stayability - This EPD reflects the likelihood that a sire's daughters will remain in the cowherd given that they become a dam. A higher value indicates a greater probability that a sire's daughters will still be in production at 6 years of age.
 
Breed Average
HCE
CCE
BW
WW
YW
MCE
Milk
MWW
STAY
CWT
REA
FAT
MARB
Current
5.8
1.4
3.7
65.7
94. 2
7.7
24.6
57.3
10.5
31.3
0.63
-0.060
-0.06
Sires
6.0
1.4
3.6
65.5
94.1
7.4
24.8
57.5
10.1
31.0
0.63
-0.057
-0.04
Dams
5.1
1.2
4.1
65.0
91.9
7.8
25.2
57.6
10.7
30.4
0.58
-0.061
-0.07
 
Detailed statistics and evaluation reports are available online at:
 

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SIMMENTAL IN CANADA!
 
It's hard to believe that it's been 50 years since the first Simmental bull,  Parisien, was imported to Canada. This was an event that created history and changed the Canadian Beef Industry. Since then the Simmental Breed has been a tremendous success story as it has progressed into becoming one of the most influential beef cattle breeds in North America.
 
Simmental breeders from across Canada are preparing to celebrate our 50th Anniversary these events. Be sure to mark your calendar and plan to join the excitement!
 
Ontario
OYCSA Trillium Classic
Lindsay, ON
July 21-23, 2017
New Brunswick
CSA Convention, AGM &
YCSA National Show
Fredericton, NB
August 10-13 2017
Prince Edward Island
Old Home Week
Charottetown, PEI
August 18-19, 2017
British Columbia
Armstrong Fair
Armstong, BC
August 30 - September 3, 2017
Nova Scotia
Heritage Beef Classic
Windsor, NS
September 23-24, 2017
Quebec
Exbo Boeuf
Victoriaville, QC
October 6-8, 2017
Manitoba
Ag-Ex
Brandon, MB
October 25-28, 2017
Alberta
Farmfair International
Edmonton, AB
November 8-11, 2017
Saskatchewan
Canadian Western Agribition & National Simmental Show
Regina, SK
November 20-24, 2017
 
More details to come in the upcoming months. For any questions please contact your Provincial Simmental Association or Rae-Lee Erickson at the CSA office 403.250.7979 or rerickson@simmental.com
SIMMENTAL COUNTRY NEWS

Spring Simmental Country Advertising Deadline  - April 1st!!!
Contact Ryan  or  Jane to reserve your spot today!!
 
**New For 2017
Within 2017 we will be combining the October/ November Issue of Simmental Country, and having a December Issue. Booking deadline for the October/November Issue will remain September 1st, and November 1st for the December Issue. For further information please contact your Simmental Country representatives!
 
Simmental Country Online
To view Simmental Country and Commercial Country issues online visit the Simmental Country website.  
 
Membership Announcements
Please send any membership announcements to  mblack@simmental.com .
 
What's Happening
If you'd like to have your sale or event listed in 'What's Happening' in Simmental Country and on the website please send to Meghan.
For a listing of Simmental events visit the Simmental Country website.
YOUNG CANADIAN SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION
 
YCSA Leadership Conference
Register Now! Deadline is January 25th.
For full schedule and to register go to http://www.simmental.com/ycsa.html


Facebook
Like us on Facebook under "Young Canadian Simmental Association and you can stay connected to the YCSA and follow us through the events and be up to date on opportunities that are available!
CSA OFFICE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
  
Office Holiday Schedule
The CSA office will be closed for the following 2017 holidays.
 
Family Day - Monday, February 20th 
Good Friday - Friday, April 14th  
Victoria Day - Monday, May 22nd
Canada Day (in lieu) - Monday, July 3rd 
Civic Holiday - Monday, August 7th
Labour Day - Monday, September 4th
Thanksgiving - Monday, October 9th
Christmas - Monday, December 25th
In lieu of Remembrance Day - Tuesday, December 26th