REGINA – Elk made a strong impression in their debut sale at Canadian Western Agribition.
Thirteen animals sold for $196,800. The top seller was a female consigned by Northern Genetics Ltd. of Yellow Grass, Sask. It was purchased by Doug Wilson of Morse, Sask., for $19,600.
The presence of elk at Agribition led up to this year’s sale. Two years ago the Saskatchewan Elk Breeders Association had a booth in the trade show. Then, last year they had a live calf on display.
This year the association held the sale Nov. 30, and members hope it will become a permanent event at Agribition, like the bison sale.
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Barry Haubrich, co-chair of Agribition’s elk committee, says the cattle industry shouldn’t worry about game animals taking over the show. “The industry is so strong right now that (elk) are a drawing card for Agribition.”
He also said elk are not bred for the meat market. Their antler velvet is exported mainly for the medicinal market in Asia.
The elk sale was one of two to be broadcast by satellite during Agribition, which ended Dec. 1, with seven of the 13 animals eligible for export, Haubrich said the timing was right. Two animals were sold to satellite viewers.
The elk breeding industry in Sask-atchewan is young but growing, Haubrich said. There are as many as 200 breeders in Saskatchewan who own about 8,000 animals. Females sell for higher prices than males because breeding stock is in demand.
