Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Manitoba Branch Holstein Association of Canada

As of July 2000, the Manitoba Branch of the Holstein Association of Canada had a total membership of 414. The Branch serves as a close liaison between the National Office and its Manitoba members and maintains a close affiliation with each of the four Regional Holstein Dairy Clubs by having a representative from each Club on the Branch’s Board of Directors.

Continued support from agribusiness organizations combined with a solid membership base and a dedicated fieldman have all contributed to the Manitoba Branch’s success in providing quality field services to its members and having a strong voice at the National level.

For the first time in the history of the Holstein Association of Canada, the Annual National Holstein Convention was hosted by the Manitoba Branch in 1997. By all accounts the Convention Committee did an outstanding job in organizing this event and by doing so it attracted the attention of national and international breeders to Manitoba.

The Branch is actively involved in a number of noteable activities including the Annual Manitoba Holstein Convention, judging clinics, classification clinics, shows, sales and the publication of the Manitoba Breeders Directory. The sixth edition of the Manitoba Breeders Directory is currently available, providing a complete listing of all Manitoba Holstein breeders. The Manitoba Branch with support from the Manitoba Government and in conjunction with the Manitoba Forage Council annually organizes and staffs a booth at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. 

For the past five years, as part of the National Livestock Identification Program (NLID), the Manitoba Branch has aggressively promoted to all Manitoba producers the benefits and importance of positively identifying all animals with EZE-IR tags. While European member countries are implementing a standardized, mandatory animal ID and tracking system by January 2000, Canada has legislation in place that will allow only tagged animals to be moved or transported after December 31, 2000. Manitoba statistics currently reveal that about 68% of all dairy animals are tagged.