Age verification isn’t mandatory in Saskatchewan but all cattle coming into the commercial show at Canadian Western Agribition required their birth certificates when they arrived.
Ross Macdonald, chair of the commercial cattle events, said the committee had surveyed previous buyers and learned that they would like age-verified cattle in the sale ring.
“The commercial cattle committee thought it was important that if we’re a premier showcase of livestock for this show, that really we should be on top of the demand in the industry.”
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He said the requirement for a birth certificate was on the entry form but the committee arranged for ear tag scanner technology on the grounds just in case.
As well, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency staff were on hand.
“The equipment we’re using is part of one of Agriculture Canada’s studies but we’re just sort of using this as a small pilot project in conjunction with the show to identify what the challenges are with this type of show and this many different animals coming from different operations,” Macdonald said.
More than 650 commercial cattle were on the grounds during the show held in November in Regina. Most were from Saskatchewan operations.
Some expressed their concerns to the committee but were unwilling to talk to reporters.
One exhibitor said entries and prices were a bigger concern.
He said if entries in some classes didn’t pick up, there wouldn’t be much point in attending, and if producers weren’t rewarded for good cattle with strong prices, that would factor in his decision to attend next year.
Cattle in the top pens usually bring a premium price.
Total sales were $497,289.63.
Sale averages
•200 bred heifers averaged $1,378.13 each;
•open replacements, $746.92;
•60 feeder heifers, $1.1131 per lb;
•105 feeder steers, $1.1916 per lb.;
•30 backgrounder steers, $1.3392 per lb.
