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CSA RECEIVES $250,000 GIFT |
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CSA Receives $250,000 Gift for Genetic Improvement and
Provides Matching Funding - Garth Sweet Simmental Foundation
Created
CSA President Murray
Jacobson, Judy Sweet and CSA Board Member Stewart Ainsworth
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November 8th was a
monumental day for The Canadian Simmental Association (CSA)
as it received the largest individual gift in its 40-year
history in Canada.
Judy Sweet, of 4 S Simmental in Drayton Valley, Alberta
presented a cheque to CSA President Murray Jacobson for
$250,000 in memory of her late husband, Garth Sweet. The
presentation took place at the National Simmental Show and
Sale at Northlands. The Sweets have been CSA members since
1982.
Mrs. Sweet requested that the gift be used for research and
development in the Simmental breed with a primary focus on
genetic improvement. At its recent meeting, the CSA Board
agreed to match the gift, bringing the total to $500,000.
“The Simmental breed and pedigrees were Garth’s love and I
am honored to do this on his behalf,” says Mrs. Sweet. “This
was a way for me to see the breed go further, keep his name
alive and also encourage others to contribute to the
Foundation for the betterment of the breed.”
With today’s announcement, the CSA renamed its recently
established CSA Foundation to the Garth Sweet Simmental
Foundation. The foundation was announced as part of the
Association’s 40th Anniversary celebrations launched at its
Annual General Meeting this past August in Ottawa.
The Foundation will administer funds from various
fundraising initiatives in three main areas: genetic
research and development; the Dr. Dixon Scholarship program;
and youth development through the Youth Canadian Simmental
Association.
“We are honoured and overwhelmed at Mrs. Sweet’s generosity
and her focus on the future of the Simmental breed,
particularly as the CSA celebrates its 40th Anniversary,”
says Jacobson. “We will ensure this gift and the matching
funds from the CSA are used to secure Simmental’s continued
place as the breed of choice and Garth Sweet’s legacy in the
purebred beef community.”
Dr. Bob Kemp of RAK Genetic Consulting Ltd. based in
Lethbridge, AB, a genetics consultant who has worked
extensively with the CSA, will oversee the funds and
research projects.
“This is an outstanding gift that will create significant
opportunities to move genetic improvement programs for the
breed and the purebred industry to the next level,” says
Kemp. “My aim will also be to find additional project
partners and I think it is realistic to predict the total
pool of funding could top $1 million.”
If you have any questions about the announcement or the
Foundation, please contact: Bruce Holmquist, Industry/Member
Liaison
Canadian Simmental Association
Cell: (403) 988-8676
bholmquist@simmental.com |
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CSA HOLDS FIRST FOUNDATION AUCTION |
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 November
7th was the inaugural CSA Foundation Charity Auction (the
foundation was later renamed the Garth Sweet CSA
Foundation). Auction proceeds will be used to support
initiatives such as the YCSA.
Thank you to all donors and all winners! A total of $10,000
was raised!
Click here for a
list of donors and buyers! |
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INDUSTRY/MEMBER LIAISON REPORT |
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Since our last
e-newsletter, the CSA board and staff have been very busy!
We had very successful board and committee meetings in
October in Calgary, as well as a daylong board
retreat/brainstorming session.
I also attended many fall shows and events over the past
month, including Brandon Ag-Ex, the Toronto Royal, the
Canadian National Show at Edmonton Northlands, Saskatoon
Fall-Fair and Agribition in Regina. Some of the highlights
were the generous bequest to CSA from Mrs. Judy Sweet and
the development of the Garth Sweet Simmental Foundation, the
Foundation fundraising auction, as well as the quality of
Simmental cattle on display at all events. Congratulations
to everyone across this country who exhibited and attended!
Your support in promoting Simmental at every level is
appreciated.
Another highlight was the continuing acceptance of Simmental
within the commercial marketplace with the high selling pens
of bred commercial heifers at Agribition once again being
Simm-cross!
If there is anything you need information on please don't
hesitate to contact me.
Bruce Holmquist
Cell:
(403) 988-8676
E-mail:
bholmquist@simmental.com |
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DEADLINE FOR SIMMENTAL COUNTRY-
BIGGEST ISSUE EVER!! |
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The copy deadline
for the January Commercial Country is Dec 4th. It will be
the biggest issue we have produced. Contact Darryl Snider to
place your ad.
Western Sales
Representative
Darryl Snider
e-mail:
sniderd@telus.net
cell – 403-803-6532
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GENETIC EVALUATION |
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CSA data has been
sent to the ASA and the genetic evaluation is currently
underway. Look for the new results early in the new year. |
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HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS |
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Please note
that the CSA office will be closed
December 24th to 26th for the holidays.
The office will be open regular hours
December 27th. |
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ULTRASOUND |
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The CSA rebate
program is still in effect for data collected and analyzed
through a UGC certified lab. The rebate is a $10 credit for
each scan record in valid contemporary group. Calves should
be between 320 and 430 days of age at scanning. |
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NEW RECEPTIONIST |
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The office has a
new receptionist: Lisa West. When calling in, please
make sure to introduce yourself to Lisa!
Her e-mail
is:
lwest@simmental.com |
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CHUTESIDE ULTRASOUND DATA |
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CSA is actively
working to assimilate records from chuteside ultrasound
scans. Members with records collected using chuteside
ultrasound technology are encouraged to forward them to the
CSA office. Chuteside ultrasound is not sent to a lab for
processing. Rather the technician returns the results
directly to the breeder. Work is being conducted on this
information to determine its suitability for genetic
evaluation. |
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ON-LINE INSTRUCTIONS: to HOLD, TRANSFER AND PRINT PAPERS |
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It is now possible to register an animal online and select a
Hold Paper option (on the Register Screen).
The animal will be assigned a registration number and the
breeder will be billed – but the paper will not print.
Breeders can then access the list of “held papers” from
their Online main web page under:
My Herd
My Held Papers Transfer or Print
From this list you can do one of 2 things:
1) Request a paper be printed
This will trigger a paper to print at a zero charge in the
CSA print Run and the animal will disappear from the list.
Or
2) Transfer the animal
If they do not know the Buyer’s CSA number for transfer
they can fill in a form on the transfer screen and have the
office staff provide them with the correct information.
These request emails will come in via the office email
account. |
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IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR THE (TOTAL HERD ENROLLMENT)
PARTICIPANTS |
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DEADLINE to
submit your 2008 total herd enrollment is December 15, 2007.
The fee for enrolments received by this date is $21.20/head
for Purebred and Fullblood, and $10.60/head for Percentage
females.
Enrolments received between December 16, 2007 and February
15, 2008 will be charged an additional $5.30/head enrollment
fee. Cost to enroll after February 15, 2008 is $40.28/head.
In order to simplify data collection and improve service,
breeders simply need to review their inventory and identify
those animals that have been disposed. All remaining females
on inventory will automatically be enrolled if a disposal
code is not included.
Online Simmental.com users – over 25% of CSA members use the
online computer system representing 45% plus of THE cows.
Online Simmental.com users also benefit by paying $18/head
for each cow enrolled online. Please note online users will
not receive female enrolment forms in this package. THE
participants using the online system are required to submit
enrolments by the above THE deadlines through the online
program. If you would prefer to enroll by paper method,
please contact the office immediately.
If you have any questions, please refer to the THE
instructions and letter that was mailed to you in early
October, or contact the office toll free number
1-866-860-6051 or
cansim@simmental.com |
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CARCASS DATA |
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Breeders interested
in placing a sire on the progeny test program or in
finishing offspring of sires are encouraged to contact the
CSA for details on carcass data collection and the progeny
test evaluation. |
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MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS SURVEY |
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The CSA has
developed an on-line survey to get members' feedback on our
current communication methods and your ideas for future
planning. We have already had a great response but we
want all members to take part!
We would greatly appreciate your feedback as
soon as possible. It takes about 5 minutes!
Click here to
start the survey |
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LOTS OF INTEREST IN SMARTAGS! |
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There has been lots of interest
and purchases made of SMARTags! Do you have yours? The SMARTag program provides an
effective marketing and management tool for purebred and
commercial cattle and beef producers at all levels of the
beef supply chain and in any breed. At present, the SMARTag
program offers ranchers/farmers who have ordered tags the
opportunity to profile calves for sale on-line. Call Program
Administrator Katelin Wildeman at 1-866-999-6385 (toll-free)
or visit the website at
www.smartagonline.com to order tags today. |
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH |
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“No shade, no shine, no butterflies,
no bees. No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds.
November!” ~ Thomas Hood |
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