The Rural Voice, 1998-07, Page 11Scrap Book
Making the
perfect steak
A marriage of high-tech
genetic mapping to the subject-
iveness of a human taste panel
is part of a research project at
the University of Saskatchewan
designed to help farmers
produce the perfect steak.
The genetic makeup of the
diverse herd of 130 cattle in the
University's feedlot is being
painstakingly recorded to be
cross-referenced with data on
the meat that comes from each
animal after it is slaughtered.
Sheila Schmutz, project
manager and professor at the
University's department of
animal and poultry science, says
findings could eventually
provide cattle producers with
ways to manage their herd to
turn out mouth-watering beef.
There is mounting concern
about consumers' criticisms of
inconsistent beef. "You buy five
chickens and they all taste the
same. But you buy five steaks
for your barbecue on Saturday
night and you know yours tasted
great, but did your guests?" says
Schmutz.
Schmutz assembled a herd
with the right genetic character-
istics to lead the researchers
toward the tenderness holy grail.
She started with six sires and 18
dams from six breeds: Angus,
Charolais, Hereford, Limousin,
Simmental and Belgian Blue.
Fertilized embryos from these
parents, mostly cross breedings,
were transplanted in other cows.
"We really pulled them out of
the hat. We did every possible
combination," Schmutz said.
Meanwhile two geneticists
picked 155 genetic markers on
the caule genome. The markers
are reference points, like
landmarks on a map.
After slaughter the meat will
be subjected to both mechanical
testing and a taste panel.0
—Source: Western Producer
START YOUR RSP SAVINGS FOR
TAX -YEAR 1998 NOW.
IT'S
YOUR
MONEY
By Paul J. Rockel
Chairman, Regal Capital Planners Ltd.
(NC) — Jim, John and Jerry, (our mythical friends)
have been saving 52.400 per year into their RSP's for
the past 20 years.
They are now about to retire, and looking forward to
the day with glee. They each prided themselves (as
they should) on having the foresight to have saved that
$2.400 per year in their RSP's. True. each of them had
saved over 33°i° per year in taxes (5800 per year), so
the TRUE COST was only $1,600 per year ($133.33
per month).
"Just imagine" said Jim, "we now have the time to
look after our house repairs. do the things we've
always wanted with our time, and to travel and see the
world."
"And" replied Jerry, "we now have the income to do
all those things. again, thanks to those RSP savings. I
expect to take $3,500 per month from my Registered
Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) and expect to have
the dollars grow besides. That $350,000 in my RRSP
sure looks great."
1350,000!" shout both Jim and John. "We don't
have that amount in our RSP'st"
And so they discussed how they had saved their
$2,400 per year. It was discovered: JIM had saved his
52.400 per year in a savings institution where he had
averaged 10% (over the 20 -year period).
JOHN had put 52,400 per year into a mutual fund
that had averaged 150/0 per year.
JERRY had put $200 per month (52,400 per year)
into the same mutual fund as John had used,
averaging 15% per year. JIM was worth $151,200
(savings institution).
JOHN was worth 5282,000 (mutual fund).
JERRY was worth 5350,000 (same mutual fund).
All had invested exactly the same amount, 548.000
over the 20 years. But they had different dollar
amounts available now for their retirement.
Jim had saved his $2.400 per year, and his
important objective each year was to reduce his taxes.
He gave little or no thought to what his savings were
4 REGAL
CAPITAL
PLANNERS
LTD.
growing at. and so left it at the savings institution.
figuring a 10% average "was pretty good" (t is).
But both John and Jerry. while interested in the tax
savings also. looked for ways to achieve a better rate
of return. and found that some good mutual funds have
averages of 15% and better per year. if you look at
long-term results.
But, both of them used the same mutual fund. and
invested the same amount of monies each year. Why
does Jerry have over $50,000 more than John?
The answer is obvious. They both "earned the
same", but John put in 52.400 per year each February,
whereas Jerry contributed 5200 PER MONTH (using a
pre -authorized cheque plan whereby it automatically
was invested for him each month).
Let's use our calculator a bit. $2,400 per year X
10% (Jim) X 20 years = 5151.206.
JOHN: $2.400 per year X 15°%° X 20 years =
$282,744.
JERRY: 5200 per month X 15% (1.25 per month X
20 years (240 month) _ 5303.190.
Even the calculator tells us that Jerry (monthly
mutual fund saver) has double the amount of Jim
(institutional saver), and that he has 520,000 more
than John, who saved in the same mutual fund. The
reasons that Jerry saved MONTHLY.
But, by using equity funds, Jerry ends up with even
more gain, because something called dollar -cost -
averaging was working for him. By investing regularly
during both the ups and downs of the equity funds, he
was sometimes buying bargains, which gave him an
average.better rate of return than 15% despite the fact
that the fund "averaged" 15%.
Would you like more in retirement? Maybe you
should consider investing monthly, rather than just
once a year (as so many of us do.) Start next year's
monthly RSP contributions NOW.
If you have any questions on this article or want
help planning your financial future, call me or drop in at
our new office in Brussels.
Bus. (519) 887-2662
Res. (519) 347-2569
Maitland Valley Financial Consultants Ltd.
453 Turnberry St.,Brussels, ON NOG 1H0
Susan Carter, C.I.M.
Financial Consultant
"Rate of return or mathematical table is used only for the purpose of illustrating
the effects of the compound growth rate and is not intended to reflect future values
of the mutual fund or retums on investment in the mutual fund."
SOME OF OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Top Paying GICs, Tax Saving Strategies, Mutual Funds, Life & Disability Insurance, RRSPs, RRIFs and Annuities
(The above list represents only a few of the many financial services available
through your Regal Financial Centre.)
This is No. 1189 in a series of articles that have been appearing in newspapers and magazines
across Canada for more than 15 years. For Paul J. Rocket's book "WHY INVEST IN MUTUAL
FUNDS" contact your local book store or Regal Capital Planners Ltd.. telephone 291-1353
JULY 1998 7