TOFIELD, Alta. – Miles Buswell hopes strong prices and a growing number of animals will turn the Beaver Hill auction market into the premier market for sheep and goat sales.
“We’re certainly getting some of the best money and consistent money,” said Buswell as he watched sheep and goats being unloaded in the sales barn of the central Alberta auction.
As the auction’s manager of sheep and goat sales, Buswell believes communication is key to developing a strong livestock market that will attract both buyers and sellers.
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Before each sale he sends out a one-page fax of the kinds and numbers of sheep and goats that will be on offer. Prelisting the animals not only gives the larger feedlot owners an idea of the numbers of animals at the upcoming sale, but also helps smaller producers looking for specific animals.
“My main idea was not to be the only auction market for sheep and goats, but to let the buyers know what’s coming in advance.”
Sheep producer Keith Leitch of Kinsella, Alta., said he looks to the fax service to help him keep up to date with pricing and market activity. Because of the good market communication, he chose Beaver Hill to disperse his flock.
When Buswell became manager last August, there were 400 animals through the ring during an average sale. This August, the number jumped to 1,100 animals.
Last October, there were 800 animals sold during one of the sales. More than 1,800 animals were expected to sell during the Oct. 16 sale.
Roy Leitch, one of Canada’s largest sheep feedlot operators, said large auction sales make it easier for him to gather and assemble animals.
“We need thousands of lambs. The more numbers they have in the auction market makes it worthwhile,” said Leitch, who travelled from Brandon for the sale.
He and half dozen of the Prairies’ main sheep and goat buyers are regulars at the twice-monthly sales. Large numbers of animals bring the buyers and having buyers attracts larger animal numbers, said Buswell, who uses a crutch to hobble around the barns and the sales ring.
Buswell was scheduled to have a hip replacement, but cancelled his surgery because he didn’t want to take three months away from the growing
market.
“I’ve just put so much effort into it I don’t want to take time off,” said Buswell, who now has to wait another 18 months to get to the top of the hip replacement list again.
Jeff Tosh of Peace River brought a truckload of sheep from northern Alberta to the sale and hopes to return with a truckload of feedlot lambs. The larger sales make it easier to assemble a truckload of animals, he said.
Meryl Strambaugh of Tofield said Buswell has been her mentor since she bought her first flock of sheep earlier this year. She’s back again at this sale to look for two rams for her flock.
Buswell pointed out a couple prospects in the barns and gave her a suggested price range.
“He’s always got the time and he always calls me back. I can’t sing his praises loud enough,” she said.
Wendy Phillips left Smith, Alta., at 6 a.m. to bring 16 cull doe goats and five kid goats to sell at the auction. It’s Phillips’ first trip to the auction, but if the prices are strong, she’ll bring the rest of her kid goats, she said.
