Dr. Roger Davis Received Don Matthews Memorial Award

CALGARY, ALBERTA March 7, 2016 Dr. Roger Davis DVM has been selected to receive the Don Matthews Memorial Award at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (Council) to be held in Calgary, March 23, 2016.

The Don Matthews Memorial Award was instituted in honour of the late Don Matthews, a Past President of CBBC as well as many other accomplishments including the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. The award is presented by the Canadian Beef Breeds Council to an individual who exemplifies excellence and passion in the purebred beef cattle industry.

Dr. Roger Davis graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from WCVM at the University of Saskatchewan in 1979. After working in mixed practice in the Calgary area, he co-founded Davis-Rairdan Veterinary Services with Dr. Scott Rairdan in 1980. The practice was a large animal ambulatory practice with a bovine embryo transfer component. Embryo transfer became a larger part of the practice and in 1990 they co-founded Davis-Rairdan Embryo Transplants. Due to the untimely death of Dr. Rairdan in June 1995, Dr. Davis is now the sole principal and continues to direct the expansion and operations of the company.

Complementing his education is an extensive background in the beef cattle industry. Dr. Davis was raised near Wilcox, Saskatchewan in a family actively involved in the purebred and commercial cattle business. They raised registered Black Angus as well as being a managing partner in a large feedlot. From 1983 to 1989, Dr. Davis independently owned and managed a purebred beef cattle operation. He served as president of the Alberta Hereford Association in 1988 and has judged numerous major beef cattle shows in North America and abroad.

Dr. Davis has traveled extensively in Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, Colombia, China, Brazil, Sweden, Russia and Hungary.  Visits involved implanting Canadian embryos, in conjunction with training veterinarians in the field of embryo transfer and promoting Canadian beef cattle genetics and technology. Davis-Rairdan is well recognized internationally and domestically, in the beef cattle embryo transfer industry. The company has exported over 100,000 embryos to more than 35 countries.

Dr. Davis was a founding member of the Canadian Embryo Transfer Association and served as a director for 12 years, which included being President from 1997-1999. He is a member of the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) and is listed as a reviewing author of the 3rd Edition of the IETS Embryo Transfer Manual. He has served on numerous committees, including Chairman of the Calgary Stampede Steer Classic, CBBC Executive, and an advisory board to the Federal Minister of Agriculture. Dr. Davis is a member of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, and currently sits on the Animal Heath and Scientific Advancement committees.  “Dr. Davis is a passionate supporter of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, “says Council President David Bolduc.  “We appreciate his involvement and valued expertise.”

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.

For more information: 

Michael Latimer, Executive Director, Canadian Beef Breeds Council mlatimer@beefbreeds.ca  T: 403.730.0350