This gave Diane the chance to travel to meat processing facilities (of all sizes) across Canada. “It was the perfect opportunity to combine business trips with fact-finding missions to better understand farming and raising cattle for beef,” she says. “I grew to love Saskatchewan and Manitoba, even in January. The same goes for Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto.” In 2002, Beat Bischof passed away suddenly. Despite Diane’s busy career, she and her mother decided to continue farming. Cow numbers had recently been reduced and one of the farms leased out to lighten the workload, but Diane decided that leasing was not the right move. In 2005 they began looking for a new full-time herdsman to rebuild the farm. “I did not want it to be a large operation, but rather one we could be proud of – raising cattle that were functional and that we could enjoy as they grazed on pasture,” Diane says. With Diane’s business and personal commitments, 20 females is the ideal herd size for Bischof Farm. Heifer calves are retained and marketed off the farm as bred heifers. Because their local bull market is limited, only the best Bischof bulls are sent to the St-Martin Test Station in the Beauce region of Québec. Other bull calves are castrated and sold at auction in the fall. “This is a marketing plan that works well for us considering our farm location and limited local sale opportunities,” Diane says. Seventy lambing ewes were also added to the operation, a decision that just makes financial sense, according to Diane.
The cow herd remains full blood. “My dad would come back from beyond and chastise me if we ever had black animals on the farm. However, I relented last spring and we A.I.ed some of our better girls to a red bull. I hope Dad is OK with this!” Diane confesses. “We are very fortunate to have an extraordinary team at the farm to do the work, manage the herd and generally make my life effortless when it comes to farm
issues,” she acknowledges. “Phil and Amanda Dougherty live on our second farm and take care of everything for me. They love the farm and all that is involved, and I know the animals love them in return because there are never any complaints in the suggestion box in the barn!” Diane also credits Dave Grey of Greyledge Simmentals for his expertise and assistance. “I approached Dave a few years back when I wanted to bring the herd back up and he did not hesitate to help me in more ways than I can count. We may not always see eye to eye when it comes to color, but I do so value his friendship and words of wisdom.” Diane would like to extend her deepest gratitude to Dave, Phil, and Amanda. In 2008, the Smico business was wound down. To fill her “spare” time, Diane enrolled in the McGill University Bio-Resource Engineering program – the modern equivalent of agricultural engineering. Even with a breast cancer diagnosis in 2009, Diane persevered by commencing parttime studies in 2010. Despite the fact that her cancer came back in 2011 (it’s now being treated as a chronic illness) Diane still plans to complete her second degree by 2015. She hopes to obtain her PhD in this field and make agriculture research her retirement career – a perfect fit given her lifelong interest in science and acquired taste for farming.
“Life is unexpected and one needs to be flexible,” she says of her recent health challenges. “Still, plans can be made and every day is a new beginning. It is just that perspectives change a bit on what is important.” Diane offers the following words of encouragement to her fellow breeders: “Simmental bloodlines are tried and true. Over the last 40 years, they have proven to be herd builders throughout Canada. You can find their positive influence in basically all commercial herds across the country. Maternal traits make Simmental cattle’s greatest contribution in my opinion, and we need to promote the synergy created by our females and their bull progeny rather than emulate other breeds. There is always room for improvement and we are lucky to have a great group of younger breeders ready to take on the challenges of marketing our high quality product into the 21st century.” Diane has many fond memories of having Simmental cattle, including camaraderie with other breeders across the country, but she says her favorite memory remains “the winter mornings in the barn when the young calves are frolicking, the mothers are keeping a watchful eye over their offspring, and all is at peace with the world.” The Simmental breed is fortunate to have Diane Bischof as a staunch supporter. Simmental breeders from across the country wish you a healthy future, Diane!
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