Bull prices dip at sale in Lloydminster

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Published: March 21, 2002

Consignment bull sale prices are down slightly as producers face

uncertain moisture conditions.

Producers buying bulls at the Lloydminster Pride of the Prairies Bull

Show and Sale March 10-12 said there were some good bargains on “some

really good bulls.”

However, they also said they faced “high prices for the best stuff.”

While average prices fell by $257 from last year, high sellers remained

near or exceeded 2001 numbers.

Dale Adamson of the Diamond J Cattle Company in Makwa, Sask., and his

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uncle Jim Adamson left Lloydminster with three bulls they felt were

good buys.

“I counted about 30 (horned Hereford) bulls being passed on this year,”

he said.

“I don’t think that is normal. This is just the uncertainty about the

weather this spring. Most producers need some moisture this year and if

they don’t get it they won’t be needing bulls.”

He said the Lloydminster sale doesn’t usually provide bargains

“Usually good bulls at fair prices. The buyers just weren’t out this

year.”

He said his uncle didn’t need the bulls, but will sell them locally

because “the price was right. Some (buyers) said they expect to sell a

few they bought in Lloyd later in the year when guys are pushed to get

one or two.”

Sale operator Mike Sidoryk said it was an odd sale, but added it’s also

an odd year.

“It seemed if bids went beyond ($1,700) then they went to ($2,500) and

then up. If they didn’t, they just sat or got passed.”

Prices averaged $2,801 for the nine breed classifications at the sale.

High-selling bulls were a Simmental for $9,000 from a lot of 143 head,

and a horned Hereford for $8,200 from a lot of 52.

Trevor and Keith Davies of LaCorey, Alta., bought Big Show, the top

selling Hereford bull. It is a long, wide-bodied two year old that was

formerly Agribition’s heaviest yearling bull.

“He cost a fair bit but that is the nature of the market right now,”

Trevor Davies said.

“Guys who have feed and water and a serious need for a herd sire … or

want the best will continue to pay. But it takes the pressure off a

consignment sale. It sounds the same as the results (at the Calgary

Bull Sale held March 3-5).”

The Calgary sale was down 14 percent from last year while Lloydminster

dropped 8.5 percent.

Weather at both sales played a role. Calgary received heavy snow while

Lloydminster was hit with snow and severe cold.

“Cold kept folks that were calving at home,” Sidoryk said.

Rhonda Davidson of the RRD Ranch in Maidstone, Sask., sold a dozen

black Angus bulls at Lloydminster, including the high-selling reserve

champion RRD Saugahatchee 27L. She said they were “pleasantly surprised

at prices considering how tough things are out there.

“We got good prices. It was a good sale for us. Not a good sale for

others …. What can you expect when most of the country doesn’t know

if they’ll have feed or water for this year?”

Ted Serhienko of Saskatoon’s

T Bar C Cattle Co. said a lack of moisture is putting pressure on the

bull sales.

He said drought, a trend to later calving and thus breeding dates, and

a market that has treated light-weight animals well the last couple of

years has meant “producers can afford to wait on their bull buying

(when necessary).”

He said other trends may also be affecting the bull market.

“Taller cattle are more difficult to sell. The feedlots want

easier-fleshing animals. Darker colours are doing better as well.”

Charolais and red Angus suffered the most at the sale, dropping their

averages by $612 and $453 respectively. Hereford averages dropped by

$300.

Charolais and Hereford averages also fell at the Calgary sale.

About the author

Michael Raine

Managing Editor, Saskatoon newsroom

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