February 2025 Simmental E-News

REGISTRY

THE HERD LETTER FOR 2025 IS "N"

Annual membership and administration fees were billed on January 2, 2025. If you have not paid your annual fees, please do so prior to March 31 when all unpaid memberships will be placed in a non-member status in accordance with CSA bylaws. CSA accepts credit cards, cheques, cash and e-transfers.

E-TRANSFERS - Recipient is Canadian Simmental Association / email bjudd@simmental.com. INCLUDE your CSA account number AND SECURITY ANSWER in e-transfer message in order for us to accept and deposit into correct account.

Random Parentage Verification of Simmental Animals

In accordance with the CSA Bylaws and Office Policies, parentage verification of animals is required on a random basis. Random requests are to be completed within six months of the date of the letter sent to the member. If you are unable to submit the SNP sample on the random animal(s) before the 6-month period, please contact the CSA office so we may determine an alternate animal for parentage verification testing.

DNA REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS

It is your responsibility to ensure your animals have the appropriate tests on file with the CSA office:

Natural Services Sires require a 100K (minimum) Sire verified
AI Sires are required to be 100K (minimum) Parentage tested (confirmed to both sire and dam).
Dam must have SNP DNA on file prior to submitting SNP test on AI sire. If not, order a basic SNP test for dam and send samples together so lab can complete PV test on bull.
Donor Dams require a 100K (minimum) tested by GOF (Genotype on File).
Embryo Transplants require a basic SNP200 Parentage verified panel in order to register the animal. You may want to upgrade this to a High Density 100K if you are keeping your embryo calf in your herd as a bull or donor dam. By ordering the High Density 100K test, you will not have to remember to upgrade the test at a later date.
Basic SNP tests – animals which were tested by basic SNP200 will need to be tested again (with new sample) by 100K in order to qualify as an AI sire, herd sire, or donor cow.
If EPD's are critical in your operation, we recommend that you order the High Density 100K test as this tests for parentage and includes genomically enhanced EPDs.

It is your responsibility to ensure the bulls you purchase have DNA on file:

If your purchased bull becomes an AI Sire, make sure that his dam has DNA on file in advance, or that there is stored hair for full parentage verification. Without parentage verification to both Sire and Dam your bull will not qualify as an AI sire.
Please be aware that the office will test all samples to the fullest extent possible. This means if the animal’s sire and dam have DNA on file, the sample will be tested to the fullest parentage extent (PV – parentage verified).

Hair Card FYI

Once you have access to the Lab Application from your online system or from the office you will attach the Application with your hair card, mail, or courier your Lab Application and sample directly to the lab to prevent any delays.
Your hair sample will need to be placed in a hair card which the CSA has in stock they cost $1.00/card orders must be minimum 5 cards. For a supply of hair cards on hand, please contact the office to place your order.

Samples sent to the lab that are not attached within a hair card, but are loose in an envelope or zip lock bag will be charged $5.00 per sample. Please read instructions printed on hair card when sending in samples.

If you require additional assistance, we would be pleased to assist you either by email Cansim@simmental.com or call us at 403-250-7979!

Click here to read the CSA DNA Requirements

BREED IMPROVEMENT

FRIENDS OF CANADIAN SIMMENTAL FOUNDATION (FCSF)

2025 Foundation Fundraising Auction, Weyburn, Saskatchewan

If you are considering donating to this year's auction held in conjunction with the CSA Annual Convention and YCSA National Classic, please reach out to the office here or a member of the board.