Shay and Laurie Fries wanted top quality genetics for their goat herd and were willing to pay top price at Canadian Western Agribition to get them.
The couple from SLF Farms near Edgerton, Alta., paid $2,200 for the junior and grand champion buck in the Boer goat sale. That price boosted the sale total to $6,025 and an average of $502.08 on 12 lots.
Kerry O’Donnell consigned the buck, Kae Ronne Uberto 508U. She said meat demand is increasing and prices for quality breeding stock are returning to pre-BSE levels.
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“The Boer goat industry is seeing a dramatic upswing in demand for commercial meat goats and purebred stock,” she said.
“The price seen (at the sale) is reflective of the growth we’re seeing in the industry.”
This was the eighth year O’Donnell has attended Agribition. She said prices in the last three years have been encouraging.
As for Kae Ronne Uberto, O’Donnell said he’s well balanced and shows good breed characteristics.
“He shows good lift in the chest floor, muscling in the loin and hind quarters,” she said.
“He’s well developed for his age.”
The buck was born in April.
Shay Fries also had a list of qualities he could see in the buck, including his thickness.
Laurie Fries said they run 100 does on their farm and maintain a pen of eight to 10 breeding bucks. They were looking for genetic improvement and believe they found it in Regina.
The couple also bought three other goats during the sale and exhibited the senior and reserve grand champion purebred buck in the show.
North Eden Goats of Edenwold, Sask., took home several banners for junior and reserve grand champion doe, reserve junior champion doe, senor and grand champion doe and reserve junior champion buck.
Beatle’s Boers of Southey, Sask., along with Brenda Trithart and Karen Kolkman, showed the reserve senior champion doe.
