The Sheep and Goat Industries Launch a Collaborative Project For Improving and Integrating Genetic Improvement Services in Canada.
Read more here: LINK
Les secteurs ovin et caprin lancent un projet collaboratif pour améliorer et intégrer les services d’amélioration génétique au Canada.
Lire la suite ici : LIEN
The Canadian National Goat Federation has provided a winter update, summarizing their activities in 2021.
The revised fee schedule for 2022 has been posted.
The January 2022 Newsletter is now available HERE.
Year end stats!We are STOKED!
Today, January 4th CLRC forwarded tables of information on registry work they processed in 2021!We accessed 2020 stats and did some comparisons!Here is how CGS activity looked year over year!
Units of work processed: Virtually the same in both years, a tiny .25 of 1% increase in 2021.
Registrations down 6% There was quite a bit of catch up work on registrations, in particular, in early 2020, work submitted late in 2019. The 2021 total would therefore be more normal.Actual Difference was less than 225 registrations!
Transfers: UP 12.7% Almost 300 higher!
Memberships: Brilliant at 621, the highest in 19 years, since 2002! UP 64 or 11.5% from 2020!
New memberships:142, a 15.4% increase over 2020!
Registrations of herd names and tattoo combinations were up 9.4% over 2020!
In general terms this was a year of consolidating growth!Very exciting!
Thanks to EVERYONE who was part of this inspiring progress!
#ONWARD
This meeting took the form of a virtual zoom call with the following board members: Sandy Howell, President; Callum McLeod; Susan Frazer and Arnie Steeves and staff member Russell Gammon present. Regrets were received from Ed Cavanagh; Catherine Lord and Karen Cavanagh.
Here are highlights from the meeting regarding topics discussed and any decisions made:
-More work will be done to inform members of the Heritage Livestock Canada/CGS joint project to gather information on the genetic diversity in the breed populations CGS is involved with. Breed coordinators will make efforts to collect hair samples to meet targets of 50 head from a variety of female lines per breed. A detailed article will appear in CGS publications and on the CGS Facebook page and website.
-Planning continues on effective onboarding for new board members in February.
-A motion was carried to further expand CGS investments by moving money from savings and chequing accounts to investment tools that will garner a higher interest rate. Sufficient funds will be left in the accounts to promptly address incoming charges.
-Classification service will return in 2022. The Board has been investigating all possible options to ensure a cost-effective program and top quality service.
-The Board approved a minor adjustment in CGS show rules and policies to state that any US registered animals showing at CGS National Shows must be registered in the CGS herd book.
-Extensive discussion took place on Judges Licensing Conferences for 2022 and forward planning for both standards for CGS supported JLCs and additional JLCs in 2024 and beyond. This forward planning related to caps on levels of CGS funding for CGS supported JLCs and means of expanding the number of licensed judges in Canada. The Board expressed appreciation for the dedication of Licensed judges. Deadline for applications for JLCs for 2022 is January 31, 2022. If interest is sufficient an Angora-specific JLC will be held in 2022.
-The next Annual Meeting of CGS will be held Saturday, February 19, 2022. The format will be virtual via Zoom. The meeting will commence at 12:00 noon in the Eastern Time Zone. All members who with 2022 paid memberships shortly in advance of the meeting will be eligible to participate. Official notice will appear in an upcoming newsletter.
-Work on selection of a company to conduct the review of 2021 financial performance is almost complete.
-An extensive discussion was held once again on the future of provision of registry services to CGS members. CGS is working with other industry partners on the following topics:
-Costs from registry service providers to CGS. This cost has a direct impact on fees charges to members for registrations, transfers, memberships, etc.
-Turnaround time for wok with the current system
-Finding a new registry service that is effective, easy to use and mobile device-friendly.
-Input to CGS from our members has proven to be very helpful in this effort.
-CLRC has given notice of an increase in their per unit charges effective January 1,2022. Therefore the CGS fee schedule, other than membership fees, will be adjusted by 40 cents per unit. Increases will be based on the number of unit charges at CLRC each piece of processing creates.
-The Board approved a motion to send a letter of intent to withdraw from our relationship with CLRC effective December 31, 2022. This motion can be rescinded at any time but does open the door for options for provision of registry service.
-The Board continues to work on amendments to the CGS by-laws following a meeting with Agriculture and Agrifood Canada’s Animal Registration Officer and his feedback on proposed by-law amendments received during that meeting.
Copied from: http://cangoats.com/update-cfia-changes-to-small-ruminant-import-policy/
CNGF has contacted CFIA’s Senior Veterinary Office, the Senior Staff Veterinarian of the Domestic Disease Control Section and the Director General of the Animal Health Directorate regarding the fact that Option 2C for the import of male small ruminants from any premises in the US was under review and has been put on hold until further notice (Requirements for Small Ruminants Imported From the United States for Breeding, Domestic or Captive Purposes-TAHD-DSAT-IE-2007-5-6).
We expressed our concern that this decision was made without adequate industry consultation and requested that they outline the reasoning behind the suspension of Option 2C, an approximate timeline for the review process and alternative options for producers.
In addition, we reminded them that several rarer breeds of goats in Canada rely on the importation of new genetics, particularly from the United States, where, for endangered breeds like Angora and Oberhasli, very few breeders are on the American Scrapie program. Canadian producers have invested in enrollment in the Scrapie program in Canada in order to import these genetics to keep the breeds alive, but despite significant expense and effort are becoming discouraged with the stringent rules in place limiting which animals they can import.
In response, CFIA has assured CNGF that they value and welcome input and will include CNGF in discussions during the policy review, which they hope to have completed within the next 3 months.
Option 2c was only ever supposed to be a temporary measure and its intention was to give enough time for more herds (including rare breeds) in the US to enroll on the Scrapie Flock Certification Program so that Canadian importers could import animals of known and negligible risk for Scrapie. However, while this option was still available a number of non-compliances were brought to CFIA’s attention. As part of their protecting the health of the national small ruminant herd, it was necessary to put Option 2c on hold.
In the upcoming weeks CFIA will be providing more information and seeking more input through their policy review. Individual producers should share their concerns with their association’s representative on the CNGF board (http://cangoats.com/directors/) so they can be brought forward in a cohesive manner during these discussions with CFIA.
Next Tuesday and Thursday (November 30th and December 2nd) the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is hosting a series of workshops focused on the Basics of Goat Nutrition for both dairy and meat goat producers. The sessions are free and open to any interested producers or industry representatives. The webinars will be hosted on Zoom with an audio-only call-in option available.
Registration is required to receive connection details and links to access the webinar recordings.
Register via Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/basics-of-goat-nutrition-webinars-tickets-208195256617) or by calling the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300.
Topics will include:
Session 1: Managing Herd Nutrition
Tuesday November 30th, 2021 10:30am – 12:00pm
Speakers: Dr. Paul Luimes, University of Guelph; Dr. Marlene Paibomesai, OMAFRA
Session 2: Feeding a Productive Herd
Thursday December 2nd, 2021 10:30am – 12:00pm
Speakers: Dr. Paul Luimes, University of Guelph; Anita Heeg, OMAFRA
Attending:
Sandy Howell, President; Susan Frazer; Ed Cavanagh; Arnie Steeves; Callum McLeod.
Staff: Russell Gammon.
Regrets:
Catherine Lord; Karen Cavanagh.
President Howell called the meeting to order.
After the agenda and minutes of the previous meeting were approved the following topics were discussed as flowing from the minutes of the previous meeting and recent discussions:
Onboarding new Board members; CGS cooperation with Heritage Livestock Canada on the genetic diversity within breed populations project and the need to stimulate more action on this initiative; thanks to Karen Cavanagh for her report on the September meeting; how important it is for members; staff and board members, everyone involved with the Society to make public comments that are informative; helpful; encouraging and constructive and professional as opposed to hurtful and demeaning and standards of acceptability.
Ed Cavanagh will wordsmith wording for a motion regarding registry status of foreign animals exhibited in CGS National Shows.
CGS will gladly send a letter in support of the Alberta Goat Association’s bid to host the 2026 International Goat Association Conference in Alberta. This bid will be made in 2022.
The Secretary-Manager’s report included a lengthy, and ever growing, listing of projects in process at CGS. Financial performance continues to be well ahead of projections based on solid income at CLRC re registry processing and strict controls on cost of actions. A reserve fund, newly established in 2021 remains untouched and balances in both chequing and savings accounts are sufficient to support ongoing actions with a buffer zone over and above.
The next annual meeting will be held on Saturday, February 19, 2022 in virtual format by zoom. Notice of meeting will appear in a newsletter to be distributed in December 2021.
Work is ongoing re revisions to the CGS by-laws, CGS participation in a fast-moving project to integrate small ruminant databases for genetics and related topics.
Some discussion ensured re CGS approved Judges Licensing conferences for 2022 since they did not occur in 2021. The target is to hold two CGS approved conferences, one in Eastern Canada and one in Western Canada. Deadline for applications to host a conference will be due by January 31, 2022. Work in ongoing on adjusting documentation re bid applications.
The Board also invested time discussing CGS registry service and how improvements can be integrated.
Next Board meeting will take place in the latter part of November 2021.
Meeting adjourned two hours and fifteen minutes after commencement.
CGS wants to ensure that all members are aware of this change in policy at CFIA with regard to Scrapie regulations.
We have contacted Scrapie Canada, The Canadian National Goat Federation, Canadian Meat Goat Association and the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association re effective lobbying actions.
Already some of our members who have made the significant investment in being on the program have contacted CFIA.
This a very serious matter regarding the importation of new genetics to Canada and expanding and refreshing genetic bases. We are in definite action on this topic and will not relent!
The release below is from CNGF. Yes, this is firstly an animal health issue but it has significant ramifications for genetic diversity and progress. Onward to find solutions!
RE: CFIA changes to small ruminant import policy
Last week CNGF was made aware that Option 2C for the import of male small ruminants from any premises in the USA, which requires the importing premises to be enrolled in the Scrapie flock certification program (SFCP), was under review by CFIA and has been put on hold until further notice.
(Requirements for Small Ruminants Imported From the United States for Breeding, Domestic or Captive Purposes-TAHD-DSAT-IE-2007-5-6)
CNGF has contacted Scrapie Canada and is currently seeking further information. According to Scrapie Canada, “the issue stems from instances where animals are imported under Option 2C and importers subsequently left the SFCP, were removed from the program due to non-compliance or sold imported animals without necessary permits. Scrapie Canada has met its obligation to report such instances to the CFIA, which has left the CFIA having to conduct post-import follow-up. This is a significant grey area between import requirements and program requirements, one that is now under review.”
Scrapie Canada is concerned that this decision was made unilaterally and without industry consultation and have contacted: CFIA’s Senior Veterinary Office, the Senior Staff Veterinarian of the Domestic Disease Control Section and the Director General of the Animal Health Directorate.
Individuals who have questions have been directed by CFIA to contact their local animal health district office: https://inspection.canada.ca/about-cfia/contact-us/eng/1546627816321/1546627838025
CNGF is continuing to investigate and plans to be involved in the review process to identify additional import opportunities.