Alberta Beef Industry Conference-February 20-22, 2013

Canadian Beef Breeds Council and its members are participating in the Alberta Beef Industry Conference in Banff, Alberta. CBBC is being represented by Byron Templeton, President. A booth of information materials hosted by Canadian Angus Association, Canadian Charolais Association, Canadian Hereford Association, Canadian Limousin Association, and Canadian Simmental Association is present for the full event.

Beef Value Chain Roundtable Meetings in Calgary

Past President Allan Marshall and Executive Director Doug Fee attended the Beef Value Chain Roundtable Meetings in Calgary on February 13th and 14th. Doug gave the industry and government delegates an update on the status and plans for organizational change to the Council's governing structure and also used the opportunity to express appreciation to CCMDC and ALMA for assistance in the work developing our new organizational plan and the recently approved market development plan.

CBBC participates at NCBA

Canadian Beef Breeds Council was represented by Byron Templeton, President and David Bolduc, Vice President at the recent NCBA Conference in Tampa, Florida "It was a great conference", says Byron, "well attended by producers froma all across the US, Canada and South America. The trade show is very cutting edge, state of the art products for animal health and management. It was good to have a Canadian presence there; we were able to network with many other breeds and genetics suppliers as to what Canada has to offer. I would heartily recommend it to anyone who is interested for next year in Nashville."

BIXS Carcass Data Guide Now Available

February 6, 2013 Calgary, AB – The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is pleased to announce the release of an important tool in the interpretation of data flowing from the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS). The BIXS Carcass Data Guide helps BIXS users more fully understand how carcass data is collected and transmitted via BIXS along with specific information on what the data means. The guide explains the use of Computer Vision Systems (CVS) and the camera-derived carcass data linked to an individual animal Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) ID tag. Mark Klassen, Director of Technical Services with the CCA, worked with Canadian processing plants on enhancing their CVS systems to support data exchange with BIXS and developed the guide. The BIXS Carcass Data Guide is a key step in helping users tap the value of the data BIXS provides by helping them interpret the carcass information received, he said. “It’s this understanding that can enhance management decision making and ultimately enhance the profitability of the producer and the quality of beef he or she produces,” Klassen said. Additionally, BIXS participants now have the ability to generate BIXS Carcass Data Reports that provide information on individual animals as well as BIXS Carcass Benchmark Reports, which compare an individual participant’s cattle to all others in the database. The guide explains these reports and how to obtain them in a BIXS account. There’s also information on the Canadian Quality Grade criteria and a description of the specific carcass information measures BIXS can produce on each carcass along with examples. The BIXS Carcass Data Guide is available on the BIXS website home page as a PDF download as well as on the CCA home page and within the BIXS database portal to validated BIXS participants. To download the guide go to www.bixs.cattle.ca and click on the BIXS Carcass Data Guide button. BIXS is presently funded through AAFC’s Agricultural Flexibility Fund, as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. For further information, contact: Gina Teel Communications Manager Canadian Cattlemen’s Association 403-275-8558 x 406 | teelg@cattle.ca www.cattle.ca

Harper Government Invests in New Technology to Support Cattle Industry

Edmonton, Alberta, January 10, 2013 - An Alberta company will boost the value and use of genomics in the cattle industry with new trait identification tools. Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, and the Honourable Laurie Hawn, PC, CD, MP (Edmonton-Centre) announced today an investment in Delta Genomics Centre to provide genomics technology to the Canadian cattle sector in order to optimize productivity. "Our Government remains focused on the economy, and Canada's world-class beef industry relies on the latest technologies to increase their competitiveness and grow our economy," said PS Lemieux. "Using genomic tools for breeding and selection can help producers lower costs of production and deliver a better quality product to the market and boost their bottom lines." "The continued success of Canadian agriculture depends on the ability of our producers to remain at the top of the pack when it comes to innovation," said MP Hawn. "This investment shows that our Government is committed to the advancement of our agriculture innovation sector." The investment of more than $575,000 will help Delta Genomics Centre accelerate the adoption of new genetic profiling tools that are more accurate, less costly and less time-consuming than traditional DNA tools. Potential future benefits extend to feed lot owners and processors, who will use the technology to efficiently pinpoint animals with the right meat qualities. These innovative tools use genomics technology to give producers the chance to look "under the hide" and make improvements to their cattle. Genomics, the study of an animal's genetic composition (DNA) or "profile," can identify valuable traits like disease resistance, carcass quality, or feed efficiency. Using new technology, the tools identify SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) which are genetic markers that can be tracked between parents and their offspring. Trait selection for markers such as meat quality, animal health and feed efficiency can lead to a more consistent product in the marketplace. Similar technology is being implemented in other countries. The funding will help Delta Genomics Centre collect and analyze samples from the cattle sector for SNP testing. The samples and profile results will be catalogued for use by Canadian breed associations. "This project is an essential stepping stone to get the benefits of genomics into the hands of producers on the ground" said Colin Coros, VP Operations of Delta Genomics Centre. "It will allow our project partners to adopt a new sire identification tool, which is fundamental to using more in depth DNA profiles for genetic improvement of Canadian cattle." This project is supported through the Agricultural Innovation Program - a $50-million initiative announced as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan 2011 and part of the Government's commitment to help Canadian producers benefit from cutting-edge science and technology. The Program boosts the development and commercialization of innovative new products, technologies, and processes for the agricultural sector. For more information about this and other Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada programs, please visit www.agr.gc.ca. Additionally, the new Growing Forward 2 agreement signed by Ministers and AAFC last month will continue to drive innovation and long-term growth in Canada. Governments have agreed to invest more than $3 billion over five years in innovation, competitiveness and market development. For more information on GF2, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/growingforward2. For more information, media may contact: Media Relations Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ottawa, Ontario 613-773-7972 1-866-345-7972 Jeff English Press Secretary The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz 613-773-1059

BIXS hits milestone with launch of carcass data reporting

The Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS) recently activated two reporting tools for registered producers to generate detailed carcass data reports on their cattle registered onto the BIXS database. The tools allow users to see detailed carcass data lists as well as a benchmark report on their carcass data. These and other recent developments represent milestones in the evolution and delivery of the BIXS to the Canadian beef industry. Currently the BIXS database houses approximately 1.5 million detailed carcass data records linked to Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) tag numbers. Cargill Foods and XL Beef are submitting these computer vision system camera-derived records retroactive to January 1, 2012. This data includes yield and quality grades, carcass measures such as marbling score, ribeye area, and fat depth. BIXS staff along with cooperating beef producers developed and tested the reporting tools that provide registered users with the carcass data lists and benchmark reports "We are grateful for the assistance of those beef producers who stepped up to help us develop and test these reporting functions," says BIXS program administrator Holly LaBrie. "It took us awhile to get it right but those producers, and others that have tapped into their individual animal carcass data thus far, have welcomed the new ability to see what kind of beef they produce from their cow-calf operations." The reporting functions within BIXS will continue to evolve to include more carcass data as well as feedlot data as development and testing continues. To complement the new tools, the CCA and BIXS teamed up with the CCIA to build an additional data tool that enables users to quickly import their tag ID and cattle birthdate data into the system. BIXS registered producers can simply click a button to import all their cattle tag ID and birthdate records from their CCIA – Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) account retroactive to January 1, 2010 and populate their BIXS cattle (tag ID) inventory. Once the information is in the system, users can generate carcass data reports using the newly launched carcass data report tools. Carcass records in the BIXS database are from Jan 1, 2012 onwards. However, it is possible that carcass data on cattle born from May 2010 onwards could be in the carcass data pool in BIXS , provided the cattle were slaughtered at Cargill or XL Beef. Registered BIXS users will find the CCIA data pull tool at the bottom of the 'Enter Your Data' birthdate event landing page. Each time a user 'pulls' data they see a log of events found/created and updated in their BIXS account from their CLTS account.

CCA Congratulate Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipients

CCA congratulates Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal recipients December 4, 2012 Calgary, AB – The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is pleased to announce that 38 Canadians will be awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for their significant contributions to the beef industry, their community and their country. Today, 19 Alberta-based recipients will be honoured during the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) Annual Meeting in Calgary. These recipients will receive their medals from CCA President Martin Unrau and Past President Travis Toews at a special ceremony during the ABP evening banquet. CCA President Martin Unrau said it is a special honour to be able to recognize the professional contributions of so many respected individuals in the industry that have worked hard to make a difference. “The cattle and beef industry is filled with individuals who are passionate about the industry and whose efforts have and continue to drive real change. The industry as a whole is better off due to their contributions,” Unrau said. The remaining 19 recipients will receive their medals over the next two months at events in their home province held in conjunction with the appropriate CCA provincial member association. Here is the full list of Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal recipients: Morrie Thomas, BC Rudy Johnson, BC Anne Dunford, AB Arno Doerksen, AB Ben Thorlakson, AB Bob Prestage, AB Brian Nilsson, AB Chris Mills, AB Cor Van Raay, AB Darcy Davis, AB Dave Plett, AB David Andrews, AB Dennis Laycraft, AB Eugene Janzen, Ph.D, AB Garnet Altwasser, AB Hugh Lynch-Staunton, AB John Stewart-Smith, AB Julie Stitt, AB Len Vogelaar, AB Steve Morgan-Jones, AB Mabel Hamilton, AB Tim McAllister, Ph.D, AB Brad Wildeman, SK Gary L. Jones, Sk John McKinnon, Ph.D, SK Neil Jahnke, SK (posthumously) Marlin Beever, MB Carolyn McDonell, ON Charlie Gracey, ON Graeme Hedley, ON Jock Buchanan-Smith, ON Margaret Jean Hutton,ON Stan Eby, ON W. Ronald Usborne, ON Henry Knight, NB Robert Acton,NB Charlie MacKenzie, NS Darlene Sanford, PEI The CCA congratulates all the recipients on their achievement. We would also like to recognize the following individuals who were nominated by other organizations (and supported by the CCA) who will be receiving medals for their significant contributions to Canada's beef cattle industry: Martin Unrau (MB); John Newman (ON); Harvey Dann (MB); Shirley McClellan (AB); and Red Williams (SK). For further information, contact: Gina Teel, Communications Manager Canadian Cattlemen’s Association 403-275-8558 x 406 | teelg@cattle.ca www.cattle.ca For media interested in attending the event, contact: Katelyn Laverdure, Public Affairs Manager Alberta Beef Producers 403-561-8578| KatelynL@albertabeef.org