Welcome to the
Canadian Charolais Association (CCA) Breeders’ Manual. This Manual has been designed as a single
source reference for all Charolais programs, procedures, involvement and
activities. It is our hope this material will answer all your questions or
refresh your memory, and in general, facilitate the breeding of superior
cattle, and the development of enthusiastic, informed and dedicated
breeders. Please call or write should
you require more in depth information or wish to discuss the material herein.
We urge you to
take some time to familiarise yourself with the contents and to use it as an
everyday reference as you conduct your day to day Charolais activities. Please note that all fees and prices noted
throughout include GST,
Registration #R 106844301.
We would also
encourage you to tell us of any other information that you wish to have
included. It is our goal to provide timely updates and additions to this
Manual.
We have attempted to refer to specific Association By-Laws wherever possible in an effort to assist you to become fully conversant with the rules under which the Association operates.
This Manual has
been developed by the staff of the Canadian Charolais Association, with special
thanks to consultants Milt Weiss and
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The purebred industry has traditionally
attracted independent and innovative thinking people. Since most people enjoy associating with
people of high character, the purebred livestock industry can be and generally
is an enjoyable, exciting and satisfying business.
The purebred business can be very rewarding
as you form and mold highly predictable genetic packages of breed improving
material into superior animals. Self
satisfaction comes through the accomplishment of producing genetically superior
animals made possible through wise breeding decisions. To top it off, there is the satisfaction of
working through your association with people of integrity who have similar
interests, ambitions and goals.
Pedigrees are a valuable tool in livestock
breeding because ancestral records provide knowledge necessary for predicting
progeny performance. Value is added by recording performance records of each
individual and its progeny - each animal has traits that are of economic
value. These and other traits are
heritable and can be improved through selection. A permanent record of ancestors and their
comparative production traits are indispensable tools if breeders are to make
wise breeding decisions leading to improved production and efficiency.
Pedigrees are of value to all segments of
the industry. Commercial producers purchasing seedstock will dramatically
decrease chance of error if they include pedigree and progeny of proofs in
their selection decisions. Breeding
programs can be directed toward goals by selecting seedstock excelling in
traits for which the herd needs improvement.
Information contained as part of a
registration certificate consists of individual animal identification, parentage
and performance. With that knowledge and
previous information stored in our data bank, a pedigree is produced for the
breeder. The breeder provides every
piece of raw data used in production of pedigrees and records, bringing to the
surface the importance of breeder integrity.
Few, if any, industries are more dependent upon individual integrity
than the pedigreed livestock industry.
A pedigree is an ancestral record
(registration certificate) of an individual animal. A pedigree has value because it is a
recording of knowledge. This knowledge
can be promoted into additional value because it contributes to the earning
power of future progeny from an individual animal.