Predicting the outcome of this spring’s bull sales has been almost impossible as prices range from disappointing to excellent.
“We can’t predict what things are going to do this year,” said sales manager Wayne Burgess of Venture Livestock, which handles Angus and Limousin sales.
“The good bulls are still bringing the good money. It’s encouraging to see they are not devaluing the good cattle.”
Sales in the eastern Prairies are likely stronger this spring because of the better moisture conditions there and the larger numbers of cows transferred there from drought-stricken parts of Alberta.
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“More cattle moved east so there are plenty of new cattle here to get bred,” he said.
Average prices have ranged between $2,500 and $3,000, said Bob James of Transcon Livestock Services in Okotoks, Alta.
“It depends to a large extent on whether the breeders had previous bull buyers who were looking for his bulls,” he said.
Alberta bull sales from Camrose north have been softer because many cows and bulls were sold last summer during the drought. James said it made good business sense to cull breeding stock rather than feed older bulls over the winter.
Assuming moisture conditions improve, demand could go up, but after last year’s poor harvest, some producers may need a year of good calf prices to regain what they lost.
“All our future is based on something we have no control over.”
Bev McCarty of the Alberta Limousin Association said many sales have been affected by last year’s drought.
Commercial breeders forced to sell large parts of their herds may still hold back on their bull replacement purchases until conditions improve.
There are some bright spots.
A first-time bull sale offering red and white Charolais in Whitewood, Sask., on March 20 posted a $6,000 average.
“It was our first time sale at the farm and everything just clicked,” said Cheryl Beutler.
She and husband Dale own Silver Stone Charolais.
Working with Belmont Polled Charolais, owned by Merv and Barb Schmidt of Lipton, Sask., they sold two red yearlings for $50,000 and $20,000.
An Alberta consortium paid $50,000 for a three-quarter interest and full possession of a bull owned by the Schmidts. It was champion of the annual Red Bonanza show in Red Deer last December.
A bull owned by the Beutlers went for $20,000 to Gilliland Brothers of Carnduff, Sask.
