CSA May 2015 Enewsletter

The Ontario Simmental Association is proud to be hosting this year's CSA Annual Convention from July 31st to August 2nd, in Lindsay, Ontario at the Lindsay Exhibition. There are many exciting events being planned for this weekend including the CSA AGM, YCSA National Classic and FCSF Foundation Auction.

Registration

For Registration forms click here.

Registration discount before June 15th, 2015!

For more information please visit

Schedule of Events

Click here for a full schedule of events for CSA 2015 Convention.

Thursday July 30, 2015

Golf Tournament
Kawartha's Tour
Wine & Cheese Reception

Friday July 31, 2015

YCSA Events
Simmental Innovations Day
Boat Cruise

Saturday August 1, 2015

YCSA National Classic Showmanship
CSA Annual General Meeting
CSA AGM Banquet & Friends of Canadian Simmental Foundation Auction
Live Entertainment by the band "Flashback"

Sunday August 2, 2015

Friends of Canadian Simmental Association AGM
YCSA National Classic Confirmation
YCSA Awards Ceremony

Lodging

Days Inn & Suites in Lindsay will be opening spring 2015. They're now taking bookings under the group code: CSA Convention, for July 31st to August 2nd UNTIL July 1st.

Room Rates Available in the Block

50 Classic Queen Suites - 2 queen size beds. Group rate $129.95/night after July 1st $159.95
40 Queen Suites - 2 queen size beds and a pullout couch. Group rate $139.95 after July 1st $189.95

11 Commerce Road, Lindsay, Ontario | Canada

Reservations by e-mailing [email protected]

Reservations by phone (705) 328-0100.

www.daysinnlindsay.com

REGISTRY INFORMATION

THE HERD LETTER FOR 2015 IS "C"

Percentage required for purebred status
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.

CSA Upgrading Table

Maternal Upgrade Registration Requests

This is just a friendly reminder for those members that require the CSA staff to enter Non-Simmental bulls into our Herd Book.

The steps involved are as follows:
1. Please fax (or email) the Registration ID for the bull(s) that need to be entered.
2. To avoid delays in the staff returning the unique CSA identification for these bulls, please ensure that you also include the Breeder Copy/DNA certificate showing the current DNA results for the animal being entered. ** Important Note: If you were not the member that originally submitted the hair sample for the bull in question, you will have to obtain permission from those parties in order to obtain the results. Otherwise, we will be unable to complete the pedigree entry.
3. For more information pertaining to Simmental fractions, please go to www.simmental.com and look under - Resources | Upgrade Table

Requirements to Register Imports from Overseas:

To register overseas imported animals, semen and embryos in Canada, the importer shall be the applicant for registration. The application must be accompanied by the certificate of registration showing four (4) generations of ancestry from the originating country. Letters from the original European registries stating that all animals which were imported into Canada were, in fact, fullblood must be retained on file for any imported animals for which parentage is missing in its five generation pedigree in the Herd Book as of November 3, 1990. For import application forms and more information on importing, go to www.simmental.com - Registry - Import Application Form and Registration of Imports.

BREED IMPROVEMENT

Genetic Evaluation Deadline for Total Herd Enrollment (THE) Herds:
In order for performance data (birth, weaning and yearling weights) to be included in CSA genetic EPD evaluations, it must be received by the CSA office no later than MAY 15^th for the Fall Evaluation and NOVEMBER 1st for the Spring Evaluation.

Current Averages and Percentiles

We would like to remind breeders that the CSA has re-aligned our EPD's with those of the ASA through our joint North American evaluation. Simmental EPDs are now directly comparable between countries.

Click here to view CSA Spring 2015 EPDs.

NEWS FROM THE ASA

New Red Coat Variant

This spring the American Simmental Association started investigating a possible new red coat color variant. Remington Lock N Load, 2503661, and some of his progeny, appear to carry a red coat color gene that is currently not recognized by the coat color test. In other words, the current coat color test is not able to detect the red coat color gene in animals in this lineage. As a result some animals were called homozygous black but have red progeny.

The inheritance and functionality of this gene is likely the same as the existing red coat allele. Animals that are heterozygous for this new variant will pass the red allele to progeny 50% of the time. After mating two heterozygous animals, you can expect 25% homozygous black, 50% heterozygous, and 25% homozygous red calves. The only difference in this case is we are unable to detect this red variant in the current coat color test.

The ASA is working with Dr. Clare Gill at Texas A&M to find a marker for the new red variant. If a new variant is discovered, this DNA sequence will be included on the commercially available coat color test. If you know of animals that may carry this red coat color variant, please contact Jackie Atkins at [email protected] with information. The more samples sent to Dr. Gill, the faster we can develop a test for the new variant.

SIMMENTAL COUNTRY NEWS

Summer Simmental Country Deadline - July 1st

Queens of the Pasture Advertising Special

Highlight the queens of your pasture in our Summer Issue of Simmental Country!

A half page, full color advertisement for $500 + tax!

Herd matriarchs, cow families, donor cows, show female, etc! Call now to reserve your space!

Queens of the Pasture Photo Contest

We are holding our annual photo contest again! Submit your photos by June 15th for your chance to win a full page, full color advertisement in the Summer Issue AND have your photo appear on the Front Cover of this issue.

Get out your cameras and send in those pictures!

Please be sure to send in high resolution photos. Photos must be 8.5 x 11 at 300dpi. All photos submitted will become the property of the Canadian Simmental Association.

Send photos by June 15th to mblack@simmental.

What's Happening

For a listing of Simmental Events visit our Simmental Country website.

Deadline for Summer Simmental Country - July 1st.

Contact Meghan or Jane to reserve your spot today.

YOUNG CANADIAN SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION NEWS

National Classic - Lindsay, ON

This year's National Classic will be held in Lindsay, Ontario July 30-August 2nd, in conjunction with the 2015 Canadian Simmental Association Convention. It is shaping up to be one of a kind event with new highlights this year for the members! Mark your calendars!

Schedule of Events

Registration & Entry Form

Cattle Entry Form, Competitions & Membership Form

Accommodations

Thank all sponsors to date for the 2015 YCSA National Classic. If you wish to become involved by being a sponsor please contact YCSA Coordinator Carla Schmitt at 306-221-7950 or YCSA President Sophie Wotten at 705-464-1713.

Provincial Junior Simmental Shows

Saskatchewan YCSA Show

- CANCELLED

Quebec Junior Beef Show

- July 2 - 5, 2015 Brome, PQ

Alberta YCSA Classic

- July 23 - 26, 2015 Lacombe, AB

Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up

- July 31 - August 2, 2015 Neepawa, MB

Maritime YCSA Classic

- September 25 - 27, 2015 Windsor, NS

Ontario Trillium Classic

- November 6 - 7, 2015 Toronto, ON

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!

T Bar C Invitational Golf Tournament

Over seven years T Bar C, along with their generous sponsors have raised nearly $300,000 providing exciting opportunities to a great number of youth. The T Bar C Invitational Golf tournament has supported the YCSA program to the amount of

$56, 406.32.

The T Bar Invitational was formed to help make a positive impact on the future of our youth. National Junior Associations representing over 2000 junior members are supplied with a large portions of their yearly funding towards their development and advancement.

Join them on June 23rd and 24th at Dakota Dunes Golf Links to be apart of the 8th Annual T Bar Invitational Golf Tournament!

Visit http://tbarinvitational.com/ to confirm your spot at this event!

FRIENDS OF CANADIAN SIMMENTAL FOUNDATION - FUNDRAISING AUCTION - August 1st, 2015

This year's Friends of Canadian Simmental Foundation Fundraising Auction will be held on the Saturday evening of the CSA 2015 Convention, August 1st at 7:30pm in conjunction with the CSA AGM Banquet in Lindsay Ontario.

Planning for the 2015 Friends of Canadian Simmental Foundation Auction to be held in Lindsay, Ontario is well underway. We are very excited about our lead off lot, the bred heifer donated by Elm Tree Farms. Everyone can have the opportunity to own her buy bidding on tickets. Each $20's bid gives you one ticket. There will be over 45 auction items. Including a Wrangler from New Holland, sports tickets, concert tickets to Taylor Swift, artwork, genetics from several of the top selling sires this spring, exclusive embryos and flushing opportunities. A complete list of items and the catalog will soon be available on the FCSF website at www.simmentalfoundation.com.

More information can also be found on our Facebook page. The proceeds from the auction will directly support the National YCS program and scholarships directed by the Foundation. If you are not able to be at the auction, you can participate by bidding online at www.DLMS.ca
If you would like to donate to the auction please contact Co-chairs Deanne Young at 780-696-3643 or Ron Nolan at 519-330-5299. Thank you to all of our donators and we look forward to seeing you in Ontario!

2015 NATIONAL SIMMENTAL SHOW - Expo Boeuf

This year the 2015 National Simmental Show will be hosted by the Quebec Simmental Association at Expo Boeuf, in Victoriaville, QC. Expo Boeuf will be taking place October 9th - 11th with the Simmental Show on the 10th.

For further details please watch the Quebec Simmental Association website, the Simmental Quebec Facebook Page, or contact Scott Matthews .