Belvin Angus once again had the grand champion bull at the Calgary Bull Sale.
Belvin X-Man 14’10 sold to Alta Genetics in Balzac, Alta., for $14,000. It was also the high selling Angus bull at the 111th sale held March 3.
The bull was bred and owned by Colton Hamilton, a partner in the family operation from Innisfail, Alta.
This is the seventh time the Gavin and Mabel Hamilton operation has won this honour since 2003.
The reserve grand champion Angus came from Scott Stock Farm at Crossfield, Alta.
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The red yearling sold for $5,000 to Longson Farms of Cayley, Alta.
The grand champion Hereford was the entry of Jenkins Ranche at Twin Butte, Alta., located near Waterton Lakes National Park.
This is the first time the 123-year-old ranch has won this award, said Jennifer Jenkins, who runs the 300 Hereford cow operation with her father, Bob.
The bull was also reserve grand champion at the 2010 Farmfair in Edmonton. The only entry from the ranch, the bull sold for $6,000 to Red Willow Colony of Stettler, Alta.
“It is a real honour to win at the Calgary Bull Sale. It is something I dreamed of when I came to the sale with Dad,” she said.
The reserve grand champion Here f o rd came from Brad Dallas of Bowden, Alta. It sold for $6,500 to Mrnak Herefords of Bowman, North Dakota.
The top seller of the day was a bull from the Schuepbach family of Lilybrook Herefords at Claresholm, Alta. It sold for $21,000 to Upstream Ranch of Taylor, Nebraska.
Andy Schuepbach figured the bull caught American interest because its breeding statistics were better than average.
“Our EPDs (expected progeny differences) are pretty good and that always attracts American buyers,” he said.
EPDs are a measure of calving ease and other production characteristics.
Schuepbach said the years since BSE halted trade have been difficult for purebred producers, but he sees some optimism returning.
“We all need a good calf crop to start and we need another calf crop to improve,” said the Swiss immigrant who has run the farm with his wife, Margaret, for almost 30 years.
The sale average on 175 lots was $4,285.
The average sale price among 123 Hereford bulls sold was $4,248 while the average sale price among 45 Angus was $4,593.
Four Charolais bulls were sold for a total $9,500 and averaged $2,375 each.
Three Gelbviehs were on offer for a total price of $6,600 to average $2,200.
