After nearly a quarter of a century in the auction business, Roy Rutledge would like some peace and quiet.
“I haven’t had a life for the last 25 years and I haven’t had a vacation in four years. I’d like to have more time for myself,” said Rutledge, who has owned and operated the Assiniboia Livestock Auction in Assiniboia, Sask., since 1986.
He had worked at other auction markets for 10 years before that. He also owns 12 sections of land, 300 cattle and a 1,000 head feedlot.
“That would keep most people busy,” he said.
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Earlier this fall, Rutledge went into partnership with Nilsson Bros. of Clyde, Alta.
Nilsson Bros. will buy the Assiniboia market over four years, while Rutledge will stay as manager. He said he will work with the company for at least four years.
The Nilssons have also bought 10 auction yards that made up Saskatchewan Wheat Pool’s Heartland Livestock Services.
The day-to-day operations remain the same, but the Nilssons have introduced their Cattlemen’s Financial Corp., which bankrolls bred cattle and feeders.
For Rutledge, the deal’s timing was perfect.
He said keeping up with the times is demanding for a man in his mid-50s. Although his two sons work with him, he needed outside partners to expand the business.
About 95,000 head go through Assiniboia each year, drawing cattle from across southern Saskatchewan. This year is no exception, with more than 5,300 calves showing up for each pre-sort feeder sale.
About 12,000 head have been sold each week this fall. Demand for sale spots has been so great that the company has had to turn cattle away.
Assiniboia also runs internet sales to bring more buyers and sellers together.
It specializes in pre-sort sales that systematically separate animals by type and size to give buyers a more consistent package. It has the capacity to handle 8,000 head at a time, but the sorting can suffer at those levels and Assiniboia usually doesn’t offer more than 6,000.
Rutledge has noticed a vast improvement in cattle quality over the years, especially in genetics and management. He said customers have learned that better cattle improve their paycheques.
“Most people we deal with are trying to improve their cattle,” he said.
“We get less junk now.”
