WAGYU NEWS

December 2000

In this issue:

• GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT
• DIRECTOR'S REPORT
• PRESIDENT'S REPORT

GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT
By: Wilma Gust

Since the last newsletter I have registered another 23 animals, bringing the total registrations to 384 animals. Keep those registrations coming in. We are getting significant inquiries from our website. When dealing with other countries, it appears important to them that the animals are registered.

The 2000 Annual General Meeting for the Canadian Wagyu Association is scheduled for 10 a.m., January 19, 2001, in Camrose, Alberta. It will be held in conjunction with the Canadian Bull Congress January 19 & 20, 2001, in Camrose. Two of our Board of Directors’, Larry Brodersen and Ken Kurosawatsu, terms are up and elections for these two positions will be held at the AGM. Bylaws are in the process of being revamped for presentation to the membership.

We will have a booth at the Bull Congress and are in urgent need of volunteers to man the booth on either day. This is a great opportunity to promote the Wagyu breed.

We once again are entered in the "All Breed Steak Challenge" to be held Friday night. This is a fun night. The categories to be judged are the following:

• Best Beef - flavour, moisture, and tenderness
• Best Marketing Approach/Distribution - product knowledge, decorum, sales approach
• Best Dressed for Occasion/Assignment - breed identity, colour, suitability
• Sportsmanship - enthusiasm and congeniality
• People’s Choice Award - public makes a private cash vote with the proceeds going to STARS. This is a new category.

In the past, we have been successful in winning several of these categories. If you have any ideas and would like to help by donating meats or funds, setting up, cooking, and so on, please let us know.

Trey Kirkpatrick, executive director of the American Wagyu Association, resigned April 1, 2000, and with that comes the following changes:

Dr. Charlie Gaskins of Washington State University and the AWA Board of Directors will now be processing all of the registrations and transfers for the USA. Here how the system will work:

Registrations or transfers should be mailed to:

Vic Luneborg, Secretary/Treasurer
American Wagyu Association
307 N North Street Washington, C.H. OH 43160
Ph: (740) 335-8716 Fax: (740) 335-7131

Registrations will then be forwarded for processing to:

Charles Gaskins, Ph.D.
American Wagyu Association
116 Clark Hall, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6310
Ph: (509) 335-6416 Fax: (509) 335-1082

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DIRECTOR'S REPORT
By: Joanne Vang

On the Western Front, more and more Wagyu influence is being observed. My husband is a livestock hauler and thus gets loads at many ranches and feedlots in Alberta and is recognizing more and more Wagyu cattle in both environs.

We desperately need to improve our image. These cattle are definitely a preferred cross for commercial cattlemen yet they are reluctant to admit to the Wagyu cross. This admission is only forthcoming after my husband explains that we raise purebred Wagyu and "those cows sure wouldn’t be out of place in our herd."

Conversations with feedlot operators trying Wagyu for the first time also present many reservations which seem to be allayed when my husband relates the benefits we have experienced with the Wagyu.

A grazing co-op in Saskatchewan is running Wagyu influenced bulls on the cow herds pastured there. Conception rates have been good and the resulting calves have averaged in the top prices in this fall’s calf sales.

We have a good product so let’s stop hiding it.

Funds continue to be in short supply and we continue to ask for fundraiser ideas and support for implemented ideas. Your input is greatly appreciated.

The Annual General Meeting is again scheduled in conjunction with the Canadian Bull Congress, January 19th and 20th in Camrose, Alberta.

Once again we are entered in the "All Breed Steak Challenge." Come and support your breed. We always appreciate help at the Wagyu booth. Volunteer and market your cattle as well as promote a superior beef.

See you in Camrose come January!

Amidst hiccups and other assorted glitches regarding, the rewritten Canadian Wagyu Association bylaws have been forwarded to Canadian Livestock Records for perusal and input. Hopefully we will have their stamp of approval in time for the annual general meeting and the general membership will get their chance to yea or nay the bylaw committee’s recommendations.

Reserve Champion Steer Carcass

Congratulations to Lloyd and Shirley Kuntz of Formosa, Ontario, on their wins at the Toronto Royal Winter Fair’s beef carcass class. The Kuntz’s sired the Reserve Champion steer carcass.

The Kuntz’s entry of two steer and one heifer gleaned the previously mentioned Reserve Champion steer, dressing AAA, a fifth to the heifer class again dressing AAA, and a sixth place in the steer category with AA.

Again, congratulations to the Kuntz’s, our fellow Wagyu breeder in Ontario.

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PRESIDENT'S REPORT
By: Patrick McCarthy

The Wagyu breed has come a long way in Canada in the last year. I think we should all be proud of our hard work and commitment to making our product successful.

The Board of Directors is proud to announce Dr. Charles Gaskins as the feature keynote speaker at the AGM. He will be speaking about Wagyu Beef Production around the World. We look forward to his presentation and hope you will enjoy it, too. It is very important that all interested people attend the AGM because we will be reviewing the CWA bylaws.

I would like to extend a thank you to all volunteers who have worked so hard for the Wagyu Association this year. I also wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Season’s greetings!
Wishing you a festive and joyous season ...
May you and yours have a Merry Christmas filled with hope, joy, and love ...
Wishing you a safe and prosperous New Year.

Good luck in all your future endeavors!
From the Board of Directors ...

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Wagyu News is published by the Canadian Wagyu Association.
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Standard, Alberta  T0J 3G0
Phone: 403 644-2287 Fax: 644-2299
E-mail: admin@canadianwagyu.ca

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From everyone here at the CWA, have a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.