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CSA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
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The Canadian
Simmental Association Annual General Meeting is being held
in Regina, SK, Thursday, November 27th, in conjunction with
the Grand Finale of the 40th Anniversary of Simmentals in
Canada Celebrations, and Agribition. Please see
CSA AGM Schedule for further details.
CSA members will be receiving their CSA AGM Information
packages, by post, in the next few weeks. If you are not able
to attend the AGM, please note that
Proxy Forms will be available in the Simmental Country, on
our CSA website, and in this package.
The Saskatchewan
Simmental Association has reserved a block of hotel rooms at
the Sandman Hotel and the Days Inn. Call Carolyn at
306-697-2945 before October 25, 2008 to reserve a room!” |
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NEW FACE OF THE CSA |
Check out the new
look of the CSA, including our new CSA and Simmental Country
websites, and our new promotional wear at
www.simmental.com.
CSA Gift Certificates for the new promotional wear are also
available.
Please
send us your comments, updates and thoughts. |
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BEEF IMPROVEMENT
INFORMATION |
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Please note the
following breed improvement information:
Fall Evaluation Schedule:
Heading into
the fall members are strongly encouraged to complete
information on the weaning performance of their calf crops. As
well members can submit information on heifer exposures, cow
weights and temperament scores. Information on these traits
will be used in future genetic evaluation projects including
analysis of heifer pregnancy, mature size (cowherd maintenance
costs) and docility evaluation. These are all traits that
significantly impact the bottom line of commercial producers
and may be strengths within the Simmental breed. Data deadline
is October 15th.
Ultrasound and Carcass Rebate
Program: Funding is still
available under this program. Fall calving herds are reminded
that ultrasound rebates are paid on cattle in valid
contemporary groups. Cattle must be scanned between 320 and
430 days of age.
Fall Cow Data:
Members are strongly encouraged to
submit data on their cowherds this fall. Items of particular
importance include cow weights and body condition scores, and
pregnancy reporting of the cow herd.
CSA is working to
build a dataset that will help members analyze and market the
maternal aspects of the breed to the commercial industry.
DNA Samples:
Members are strongly encouraged to collect DNA samples on
their cowherds during fall processing. DNA collection is as
simple as pulling 15-25 tail hairs (be sure to get the roots)
and placing them in a clean envelope with the cows' tattoo or
eartag on the envelope. Be sure to wipe your hands between
cows to prevent cross contamination of samples. Samples are
eligible for the CSA program that covers the cost of DNA
storage and extraction at the lab.
Fall BIC
Meeting: The fall board meetings are coming up
and with them the Breed Improvement Committee meeting. The BIC
is a technical committee composed of breeders that give
guidance to the board on technical matters of genetic
improvement programs. If you have ideas or suggestions
regarding breed improvement programs for the committee, please
do not hesitate to contact a committee or staff member for
inclusion in the agenda.
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REGISTRY INFORMATION |
Total Herd Enrollment -2nd Installment Billing
For those CSA
members that have a signed credit card authorization on file
with the association, we will be invoicing the membership for
the 2nd installment of the 2008 THE fee – on Wednesday,
October 1, 2008. Upon completing the billing process, we will
use your credit card to settle the balance owing on your CSA
account(s).
For those members without credit cards on
file, we will be mailing out the invoices detailing the 2nd
installment billing. Please note that the 2nd installment
billing is payable upon receiving your invoice in the mail.
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Fall EPD Evaluation Deadline
We urge all members
that have not submitted their 2008 weaning performance – to do
so in the next couple of weeks. The deadline for submissions
is – Wednesday, October 15, 2008. If your information is not
received by this date we cannot guarantee that your
performance will be included in the next file that is
submitted for the evaluation. Thank you for your prompt
attention to this request. |
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SCHOLARSHIPS |
The deadline for the Dr. Allan A. Dixon Memorial Scholarship
and the Trevor Vance Memorial Scholarship is October 1, 2008.
These scholarships are for members (or children of members) of
the Canadian Simmental Association. Please see
website for details and application form.
The
deadlines for the Alberta YCSA Jaron Arntzen Memorial
Scholarship and the Alberta YCSA Heifer Scholarship is October
1, 2008. Please see
website for qualification details and application forms.
The Alberta YCSA is holding a Scholarship Fundraiser.
Please see
attached for ticket details and how you can help the
Alberta YCSA raise money for this great cause. For further
information please contact Jamie Buba @ 780-818-6105 or Travis
Fisk @ 403-363-4126.
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CSA FOUNDATION AUCTIONS |
This year we
will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment
of Simmental cattle in North America and as one of our
projects we are pleased to announce the formation of the
Canadian Simmental Association (CSA) Foundation. The CSA
Foundation is an entity that will administer the funds it
raises for various projects, with the main beneficiary being
the Young Canadian Simmental Association (YCSA).
This
year we will be holding two auctions, one at the Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair, in Toronto, ON, and one at
Agribition, in Regina, SK, both in conjunction with our 40th
Anniversary Celebrations.
We would like to say Thank
You those companies, breeders, and individuals who have
donated auction items to these two events, and to those on the
Foundations Committees responsible for organizing these
auctions. Please see the following for some of the great items that
have been donated.
These items are subject to change.
These lists will be updated and posted on the
CSA website.
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair -
Auction Items
Agribition - Auction Items |
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HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS |
It is that time of
year again to think about your nominations for the CSA Hall of
Fame award. As in the past, we are accepting nominations from
the CSA membership and Provincial Associations.
Please
see attached for the
information on selection criteria and a nomination form.
The CSA board will be reviewing the applications in October,
so please have your nomination into the CSA office by October
15, 2008.
If you have any questions please feel free to
contact the CSA office or email:
mcartwright@simmental.com. |
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40TH ANNIVERSARY INFORMATION |
40th Anniversary Celebrations
Events celebrating the 40th anniversary of Simmental in
Canada are happening across the country this year. Contact
your local Provincial Association to find out what is
happening in your province.
- Quebec 40th Anniversary Celebration, Expo-Boeuf,
Victoriaville, Quebec, October 11-12th
- Manitoba 40th
Anniversary Celebration, Manitoba Livestock Expo, Brandon, MB,
November 6-9th
- Ontario 40th Anniversary Celebration, Royal Winter Fair,
Toronto, ON, November 7-8th
- CSA Annual General Meeting and
40th Anniversary Celebration, Agribition, Regina, SK, Nov
25-27th
Simmental In Canada History
Books
There are still some Simmental in Canada History Books for
sale from the CSA. They are priced at $25.00 + GST +
$3.70 Shipping & Handling. Please contact the CSA for
more information.
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YCSA NEWS |
YCSA Events
It was an event filled summer for the YCSA. Thank you to
all of the participants, sponsors and volunteers, who made the
events so enjoyable for the YCSA members. Please see the
YCSA website for a listing of winners at the different
events. |
Thank You to TBar and their
staff!
The first annual TBar Invitational Golf Tournament was an
overwhelming success. The CSA and YCSA would like to
thank TBar and their staff for organizing such a
tremendous event, and for their support of the YCSA.
This event raised $5,913.60 for our YCSA program. |
Thank You to Those Who
Participated in the 2009 YCSA
Calendar initiative!
Thank you to those
companies, breeders and individuals who have participated in
the YCSA Calendar Fundraiser. These calendars will be
distributed with the November/ December issue of the Simmental
Country.
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CSA MEMBERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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Please
send us your Membership Announcements to have them
included in the next Enews. |
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SIMMENTAL
COUNTRY 2008 DEADLINES |
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Please make sure to note the
following deadlines!
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ISSUE |
DEADLINE |
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October |
September 1st |
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November/December
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October 1st |
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February |
January 1st |
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March |
February 1st |
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April/May |
March 15th |
Issues for Commercial Country
are January and September. Deadlines are December 1st
for the January Issue and August 1st for the September
Issue. |
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
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Click here
for complete calendar of events |
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH |
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“Act as if what you do makes a
difference. It does."
... William James |
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