RED DEER – The Legacy Classic Sale has become a gala event for llama lovers who come to buy, sell and chart this year’s price trends of alternative livestock.
This year’s sale banked more than $1.2 million on 62 lots averaging $19,840, up $3,000 over 1993.
The June sale draws more than 1,000 people who come to bid and sell. Along with the serious are the tire kickers and curious who want to see what lures people into this unusual type of fancy-priced livestock.
Prospective bidders enjoy a party atmosphere where they can nibble on hors d’oeuvres and sip wine as they size up the breeding stock coming down the runway. Successful bidders are rewarded with champagne.
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Sale co-ordinator Warren Fertig said after 15 years in the business he’s never seen it so stable.
“We’re living in a time of alternative livestock. It’s no longer a matter of whether we diversify. It’s become a necessity,” he said.
The five males sold for $196,000, for an average $39,200.
The top-selling male came from Fertigs and is a son of their herd sire, Magic Juan. Throughout the sale Magic Juan made his mark with his offspring earning some of the best money of the day. A son of Magic Juan called MJ V-Max was bought by Fred and Sharon Isayew of Prince Albert, Sask for $66,000.
The Isayews also bought Reclines Rapture consigned by Alf and Cathy Lyness of Okotoks. She went for $47,000 and was the top-selling female of the day. The light-colored female with shots of amber throughout her coat, is a sister to last year’s high seller, also consigned by the Lynesses.
The Isayews have only been in the llama business for a year. A full-time farmer, Fred Isayew switched his attention to llama breeding with a herd of 13. MJ V-Max is his first herd sire.
It was a good day for the Fertig family. Besides having the top-selling male, their other sale entry, a female named MJ Standing Ovation, also by Magic Juan, sold to Rick and Sue Klassen for $30,000.
A four-year-old herd sire caught the eye of Kutawa Farm owners from Punnichy, Sask. Named Saltspring Contender, he sold for $52,000 after some hectic bidding. He was the sale entry of Hans and Karin Buhrmann of Pincher Creek.
Record $78,000
Richard Wagner of Embrun, Ont. liked STL Lord Chancellor, a yearling entered by Crossfield breeder Frank Stewart. The first son of Nobility who sold for a record price of $78,000 at Red Deer two years ago, Chancellor fetched $33,000.
Bruce Rohl and Barb Stefanich of Calgary Llama Farm sold CLLF Prince of Thieves for $28,000 to LaRoya Llamas of Medicine Hat.
The good bone structure underneath lots of glossy fleece on Moondrift’s Triumph prompted Kevin and Carrie McGillivray to bid $18,000. The animal was consigned by Lewis and Roxanne Lewchuck of Mayerthorpe.
There were nine bred females on offer. They sold in the $20,000 range. In total there were 57 females whose average price was $18,140.
Eye-catching female
A yearling female named Riverside Velvet Pastel from Ernie and Jean Wiebe of Blackfalds caught the eye of a few llama enthusiasts. A Magic Juan daughter, she sold for $46,000 to Herman and Carol Bruin of Red Deer.
A few minutes later they bid $31,500 to own Deone Townsend’s entry of Perfection’s Obsession, another Magic Juan daughter.
Feni Fantasia, a yearling female tracing back to The Fudiciary on the sire side of her pedigree, went for $31,000. Consigned by Frank Stewart and Bob and Mary Ann Fenimore of Crossfield, she sold to Wanda Jeffers of Red Deer.
A Chilean five-eighths daughter named S.F. Miss Saigon will be leaving Louis and Elaine O’Neill’s Serenity Farms at Wetaskiwin. She sold for $31,000 to Bob and Carol Howard of Peers.
