RED DEER — For dairy producers like Don Chalack, the Westerner Dairy Showcase in Red Deer is a dry run for the national spectacle, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.
“This show is a good gauge for those going to Toronto. They need to be in first or second place here to go,” Chalack said.
Cows that have performed well at this large western show have gone on to win the big awards in Toronto.
The Red Deer event includes a sale, which this year averaged $3,100 with 63 head.
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Chalack had the high seller with a 2007 female that sold for $7,600 to Simon Baumann of Kipling, Sask. The cow was owned in partnership with Dennis Reimer of Coaldale, Alta.
Sale offerings varied from calves barely two months old to more mature purebred animals. Producers seemed to be in a buying mood as they worked to remove old cows, rebuild herds with younger females and boost their on-farm milk production.
“Slaughter prices are exceptional so guys are not afraid to cull heavily,” said Chalack, who raises 50 purebred Holsteins on his Wendon Holsteins farm near Innisfail with his wife, Wendy, son, Logan, and son-in-law, Scot Hastie. It is a smaller than average herd, but they focus more on marketing genetics than relying on a milk cheque.
Chalack has twice been named a master breeder, which is based on points accumulated from raising superior bloodlines.
The drive to improve genetics is common across the industry, said Orville Schmidt, manager of the Red Deer sale and national director for Alberta with Holstein Canada.
“Demand for milk cows has been really good,” he said.
Commercial and purebred sales have been strong and exports of live animals are improving. The shaky world economy has not stalled orders for bred heifers. However, Schmidt said deals have been mostly by private treaty rather than governments buying shiploads of females.
He said Canadians can offer genetic power, and the analysis of genomics is the latest tool to upgrade cows.
The dairy industry has always maintained extensive records on a number of traits, so adding DNA information makes selection even more predictable, he added.
“It improves your odds,” he said. “DNA information can see which cows are on the high end and the low end.”
It is more common to see cows yield 45 kilograms of milk per day in their second or third lactation. Lots of herds are averaging 35 kg per day, which is a considerable improvement in the last decade.
“Genetics identify the cows that can do it with ease,” Schmidt said.
In addition, improved cow care and management have made it possible for cows to stay healthy longer.
As well, farmers are looking for higher producing cows.
Alberta Milk reports that although the province has been producing close to its to its monthly quota since January, total production in the province continues to fall short of the quota allocated at the farm level.
Schmidt said this has been a prairie-wide problem because of two years of poor growing weather. Cold, wet springs and delayed summers affected the feed quality and cows’ milk production dropped.
“The feed doesn’t have enough energy and the cows are not milking as well as they should,” he said.
Also, some farmers are just starting to remove older, lower producing cows.
Cull dairy cows were worth five cents a pound or less after the discovery of BSE in Canada in 2003 closed borders. Producers held onto them even though their production was falling behind.
Farmers are now looking for replacements to rebuild milk production.
“We want to fill our own milk demand,” Schmidt said. “People want to get their production up so we can look after our own market.”
SHOW RESULTS
Holstein grand champion: Crestomere Lou Victoria, bred and owned by Crestomere Holsteins of Ponoka, Alta.
The three-year old also won supreme champion of show, best udder and best bred and owned.
Holstein reserve champion: Donovan S S Sue, owned by Lampada Holsteins and B-town of Carlyle, Sask.
Grand champion Jersey: Lampada Senior Betty-Jo, owned by Lampada Jerseys of Carlyle.
Reserve champion Jersey: Marksview Raptor Freckles, owned by Mazylake Jerseys of Bashaw, Alta., and Ryan and Nancy Friesen of Drake, Sask.
Premier Holstein breeder and exhibitor: Crestomere Holsteins.
Premier Jersey breeder and exhibitor: Lone Pine Jerseys.
