A return to better beef prices has helped Steve and Judy Kyrylchuk regain their optimism.
A price of $1.29 per pound for their grand champion pen of five background steers made the trip to Canadian Western Agribition, which was held Nov. 22-27 in Regina, well worth their while. The total pen weight was 3,332 lb.
The Kyrylchuks own Krazy K’s Red Angus at Francis, Sask., and have attended Agribition for six years. This was their first grand champion at Agribition’s commercial cattle show.
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They selected the solid red, meaty steers with Simmental sires at the end of October and felt confident in their entry. The show requires extra health treatments and vaccinations, so a win that includes cash and prizes made for a sweet day.
“The last few years a guy hasn’t seen a bonus compared to what you can get at the auction,” Steve said.
However, there are also other benefits.
“We come to socialize and see how everybody is doing,” Judy said.
A recovering industry could fill the barns again, said Gary Rairdon, manager of cattle operations at the Remington Land and Cattle Co.
The large scale operation, with bases at Del Bonita, Alta., and Morse, Sask., had the supreme champion in the bull pen alley for the second year.
The three black Simmentals, born April 18 and May 24 last year each demonstrated consistency, thick muscling and body depth.
The operation also won reserve champion bull at the purebred Simmental show with Rairdon at the halter.
The ranch is a familiar sight at Agribition’s trade area but only started seriously showing cattle in the rings a few years ago. It draws show cattle from its herds of Angus and Simmental.
The company was encouraged to show breeding cattle as another approach to marketing.
“We were told if we had more profile, we would do better selling them, and we have,” Rairdon said.
Other commercial results:
• Grand champion and reserve grand champion pen of backgrounder steers: Krazy K’s Red Angus of Francis, Sask.; Stoney Ridge Cattle Co. of Southey, Sask.
• Champion and reserve pen of five feeder heifers: Bar Crossroads Ranch of Edam, Sask.; Horsehill Land and Cattle of Edam;
• Champion and reserve champion pen of 10 backgrounder steers: Stoney Ridge Cattle Co.;
• Champion and reserve champion pen of 10 feeder heifers: Bar Crossroads Ranch;
• Champion and reserve champion pen of 20 feeder heifers: Reed Andrew of Regina;
• Champion and reserve pen of five bred replacement heifers: Derek Westman of Vermilion, Alta.; Gordon and Sandy Gerrard of Southey, Sask.;
• Champion and reserve champion pen of 10 bred replacement heifers: Murray Westman of Vermilion, Alta.; Mebs Ranch of Broadview, Sask.
