CCA partners with ViewTrak Technologies to expand Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS)

December 8, 2014

Calgary, AB – The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) today announced that it is partnering with ViewTrak Technologies, a world-class technology and traceability company based in Edmonton, to enhance and expand the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS). Under the partnership, a new privately-held company will take ownership of BIXS, with the CCA and ViewTrak as initial shareholders. Hubert Lau, Executive Vice-President of ViewTrak, will lead the company as President and Chief Executive Officer and Ted Power, President of ViewTrak, will take on the role of Executive Vice-President.

“Partnering with industry to expand BIXS’ reach and potential has always been our vision,” said Rob McNabb, General Manager of the CCA. “ViewTrak has a solid track record in the livestock information technology industry. With their strong financials, international experience, and a worldwide network, the Viewtrak team has the expertise and resources to help CCA maximize the BIXS system for the benefit of the entire supply chain and consumers seeking information on beef production.”

The priorities of the new entity will be to increase the functionality of BIXS to allow producers to better track information and manage their businesses, continue to engage industry stakeholders in expanding BIXS’ role in supporting a strong and sustainable Canadian beef industry, and to improve the response to the growing demand by consumers and retailers for verifiable and sustainable beef products.

“The challenge and the opportunity for the Canadian cattle industry is to work together to create value by sharing information through the supply chain, so that everyone can realize the dream of increased profitability and competiveness,” said Lau. “Producers have to date largely been asked to shoulder the burden of change. But there is enormous value in collaborating while remaining fiercely competitive with one another—this is called “collaborative economics.” It’s a way to circle the wagons, to enhance the competitiveness of the industry, and create best practices that will allow the Canadian cattle industry and Canadian beef to dominate world markets,” Lau added. “This is the vision for the new BIXS we’re creating.”
Lau points to the recent statement by Loblaws, Canada’s largest food retailer, that it will begin selling sustainable beef, and supports efforts by McDonald’s to establish its sustainable beef program, as the direction industry is heading. “Collaborating for the benefit of everyone in the industry and meeting the demands of retailers and consumers is the only effective way forward,” he said.
ViewTrak produces China’s leading pork grading tool and is a partner in the Canadian Lamb Cooperative Grading Program. ViewTrak has also created a web-based software program for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture that allows enrolled producers to make specific marketing claims about the quality of their beef.

With 3 million detailed carcass records and 3.4 million animal birthdate records in the system BIXS is the largest database of its kind in Canada.

The CCA is the national voice of Canada’s 68,500 beef operations. Founded by producers and led by a producer-elected board of directors, CCA works to address issues that concern Canada’s beef producers.

Contact for Hubert Lau: Joni Avram 403-617-5496 or joni@causeeffect.ca
Contact for CCA’s Rob McNabb:

Gina Teel
Communications Manager
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
403-275-8558 x 306
403-875-3616 |
teelg@cattle.ca
www.cattle.ca

Three Inductees join Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2014

Toronto, ON    The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame selected three accomplished ambassadors for Canadian agriculture to join its prestigous ranks in 2014.  The late Walter Browarny, Charles Froebe and Lorne Hepworth will be formally inducted into the national Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Sunday, November 9, 2014 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario.

“Canadian agriculture thrives on a diverse group of individuals constantly pushing boundaries to drive our industry further”, says President Judy Shaw, Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association.  “This year’s inductees highlight the importance of taking an innovative approach – whether you are a farmer or a photographer – to make a lasting difference to our industry and our nation.”

The late Walter Browarny changed the face of livestock photography with his clean, simple approach to capturing Canada’s beef breeds.  His legacy as Canada’s cameraman of livestock lives on in the bank of more than 2 million images he created – setting the standard for his brand of authentic livestock photograhy that naturally features the best attributes of his subjects.  Walter was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and was nominated by the Canadian Beef Breeds Council.

Charles Froebe championed the creation of Canada’s national canola farmer association, improving marketing options and cash flow for farmers.  A farmer, early adopter and innovator, Charles and his brother were some of the first farmers to grow canola in Canada. He served as the first general manager of the Canadian Canola Growers Association and led important advances to Canada’s canola industry at provincial and national levels.  Charles Froebe lives in Carman, Manitoba and was nominated by the Canadian Canola Growers Association.

Lorne Hepworth began his life-long career in Canadian agriculture as a veterinarian in rural Saskatchewan, moving into provincial politics and leaving his biggest legacy to Canada’s plant science industry.  A passionate advocate, Lorne championed advances in science and technology to help build a progressive Canadian agriculture and food industry.  From CropLife Canada to GrowCanada, Lorne’s prmotion of plant sciences has helped Canada remain internationally competitive.  Lorne Hepworth lives in London, Ontario and was nominated by CropLife Canada.

The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association (CAHFA) honours and celebrates Canadians for outstanding contributions to the agriculture and food industry.  Portraits are on display in the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Gallery located at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.  The CAHFA also publicizes the importance of inductee achivements to Canada.  The Association was organized in 1960 and is administered by 12 volunteer Board of Directors located across Canda.  www.cahfa.com

For more information, contact:

Judy Shaw

President, CAHFA

Tel:  902.675.4768

president@cahfa.com

CCA, CBI & CBBC hold 3rd Annual Canadian Cattle Industry AAA Golf Tournament

Heather Glen Golf Course near Calgary was the location of the 3rd Annual Canadian Cattle Industry AAA Golf Tournament on Monday, June 16th, 2014.

Forty Four golfers including CCA, CBI and CBBC members, industry colleagues and frie3nds participated.  The day was damp and breezy and the course was in great shape.

Michael Latimer, Executive Director, Canadian Beef Breeds Council extended special thanks to vital and committed tournament sponsors acknowledging how their support and donation of prizes is greatly appreciated.  They are detaied on the attached information.  Universal Ford, Agricultural Financial Services Corporation, Perma Insurance and Farm Credit Canada are each thanked for sponsoring hole-in-one prize opportunities.

Team 1 (Matt Eves, Rolland Lavallee, David Livingstone, James Dahl) tied with Team 11 (Don Hardie, Bob McCormick, John Crowley and Colin Coros) as the winners of the tournament with the fabulous aggregare total of 6 under.  Second Place was Team 3:  Rob Matthews, David Sibbald, Duane Kadey, and Brian Hanson.  Team 8 (Jim Harbridge, Spencer Higginson, Dave Kasko and Duane Ellard) and Team 9 (Shannon Warren, Deb Verbonac, Deb Boris and Barb Judd) tied for third place.

Winners of the skill prizes were:  Men’s Longest Drive:  Bob McCormick, Ladies Longest Drive:  Linda Adams;  Men’s Longest Putt:  Colin Coros; Women’s Longest Putt:  Stacy Price, Men’s Closest to Pin:  Spencer Higginson, Ladies Closest to Pin: Shannon Warren, Men’s Shortest Drive:  Duane Kadey, Ladies Shortest Drive:  Cheryl Hazenburg.

CBBC extends congratulations to all participants and thanks them for their participation and enthusiasm, which contributed to such a successful event.

Plans are already underway for the 4th Annual Golf Tournament in 2015.

Sponsors

Universal Ford Lincoln Sales- Hole in One – Ford Truck

AFSC – Hole in One – $10,000

Perma Insurance – Hole in One – $10,000

Farm Credit Canada – Hole in One – $10,000

Spionsors – Team Prizes

Alberta Beef Producers

Alberta Financial Services Centre

CIBC

Canadian Angus Association

Canadian Beef Breeds Council

Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

Canadian Charolais Association

Canadian Dexter Cattle Association

Canadian Galloway Association

Canadian Gelbvieh Association

Canadian Hereford Association

Canadian Limousin Association

Canadian Maine-Anjou Association

Canadian Simmental Association

Fourth Street Business Revitalization Zone

Geneseek

John Deere

Livestock Gentec

Merial Canada

Semex Alliance

Smithbilt Hats

Sun Life

Sponsors:  Skill and other Prizes

Active Accounting

AdFarm

Deerfoot Inn and Casino

Deerfoot Mall

Delta Airport Hotel

FBC Publishing

Gauchos Restaurant

JBS Global

Northlands

Port O Call Hotel

Dr. Bob Church receives Don Matthews Animal Health Award

Dr. Bob Church, owner of Lochend Luing Ranch and a purebred Luing breeder, received the Don Matthews Memorial Award for Excellence in Animal Health at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council held in Calgary, March 13, 2014.

The award is presented by the Board of Directors of the Council to individuals who have contributed exemplary service to the development of the Canadian purebred beef cattle industry in the field of animal health.  Dr. Bob Church has a lifetime experience in the livestock industry.  He is currently Profiessor Emeritus, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary.  He was a founding member of the Faculty of Medicine (1967) at the University of Calgary and the first Head of ther Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Subsequently he was the Associate Dean (Medical Research:  1981-1988).  He was a founding Member of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canadian Institute of Advanced Research, Co-Chair of the Premier’s Council, Science & Technology and founding Chair of the Alberta Science and Research Authority.  Dr. Church was a member of the Governor’s Committee for the Evaluation of the University of Texas system, Strategy Committee for Economic Development for Singapore, Technology Development Committee for Taiwan, and a guest of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.  He is a former Member of the Medical Research Council of Canada, Alberta Research Council, Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization, and Federal Advisory Committee on Biotechnology, Canadian Committee on Smart Regulations, and Canadian Advisory Committee on Rural Issues.  He is currently a Board Member of AVAC Ltd., CNA Diagnostics Inc. and advisor to the Board of Natural MA Ld and SGT Global.  Dr. Church was a former Board Member of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Instuture, the National Institute for Nanotechnology, PENCE (Protein Engineering Centres of Excellence) and AFMNet (Food and Materials Centers of Excellence).  He was a former Director of the Ciba-Geigy Inc., Connaught Laboratories Ltdl, Monsanto Inc., Biostar Inc., Alberta Livestock Transplants (AltaGenetics) Neurospheres Ltd., Continental Pharma Ltd., Vencap Equities Inc., Canadian Science & Technology Growth Fund Inc., CV Technologies (Afexa), and GangaGen Life Sciences Inc.  He is a Past President of the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede and President of Church Livestock Consultants.

Dr. Church is a member of the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence.  He has received many honors including induction into the Canadian and Alberta Agricultural Halls of Fame, the Alberta Bioindustry Hall of Fame, and the Olds College Alumni.  He was awarded the Distringuished Alumni Award, University of Alberta, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Lethbridge.  He is an honorary member of Academia Sinica, and the Luing Cattle Society.  Dr. Church was named “Chief Black Eagle” of the Treaty Seven Nation.

“Dr. Bob Church is a distringuished lobbyist for animal health and welfare and is recognized as a leading international spokesperson for the purebred cattle sector,” said David Bolduc, President of CBBC Board of Directors.

The Don Matthews Memorial Award for Excellence in Animal Health was instituted in the honour of the late Don Matthews, Angus breeder, and a past President and driving force behind the Canadian Beef Breeds Council.  Matthews had a passion for matters relating to animal health and international trade, foundational pillars of the Council.

CBBC’s vision is to provide a unified voice in support of the purebred genetics provided within the Canadian beef cattle industry.  Its mission is to ensure the continuity, growth and prosperity of the Canadian purebred cattle sector as an integral component of the Canadian beef cattle industry,

Its mandate is to support Canadian purebred cattle producers through service provision aimed at genetic improvement, animal health, extension services and information dissemination; promote Canadian beef cattle genetics both domestically and internationally by identifying market opportunities, facilitating access through timely intelligence and informing the commercial industry of the attributes of the Canadian beef advantage both at home and abroad; represent the purebred cattle sector to government by advocating effective policy, ensuring market access and enhancing competitiveness.

CBBC Holds its 20th Annual General Meeting

Canadian Beef Breeds Council’s  20th Annual General Meeting was held in the Alberta Beef Producers Board Room and was well attended by members, associates and guests.  President David Bolduc shared that “We have an improved board structure and have established a communication program that keeps all our members involved and informed.  We are working more effectively to promote the value of registered seedstock in Canada and abroad.”

The newly elected Board of Directors are:

David Bolduc – President
Garner Deobald – Vice President
Byron Templeton – Past President
Wendy Belcher – Director
Anne Brunet-Burgess – Director
Roger Peters – Director
Rod Remin – Director
Bruce Holmquist – Director

CBBC’s vision is to provide a unified voice in support of the purebred genetics provided within the Canadian beef cattle industry.  Its mission is to ensure the continuity, growth and prosperity of the Canadian purebred cattle sector as an integral component of the Canadian beef cattle industry.

Its mandate is to support Canadian purebred cattle producers through service provision aimed at genetic improvement, animal health, extension services and information dissemination; promote Canadian beef cattle genetics both domestically and internationally b identifying market opportunities, facilitating access through tinmely intelligence and informing the commercial industry of the attributes of the Canadian Beef Advantage both at home and abroad; represent the purebred cattle sector to government by advocating effective policy, ensuring market access and enhancing competitiveness.