CALGARY – Tough times in the cattle industry were evident at this year’s Calgary Bull Sale although prices were still respectable for the first of the spring bull sales.
Total sale volume was $1,462,225 on 486 head for an overall average of $3,008. In total, 216 bulls were not sold compared to 24 being passed out last year. The 1995 sale average was $3,641 on 586 bulls.
“Buyers were very selective this year and they certainly got very good value for their dollar,” said Garth Cutler.
A Hereford breeder at Lacombe, Alta., Cutler is chair of the Alberta Cattle Breeders Association which runs the sale each year.
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With temperatures at -25 C, some buyers may have decided to stay home and wait for another sale, said Cutler. However, good commercial producers still spent big dollars to get the cream of the bull crop.
Loyal supporters get value
“People that have traditionally bought at the Calgary Bull Sale were there supporting the sale. The bulls have worked for them in the past. There was very good value to be had,” said Cutler.
With falling calf prices as well as skyrocketing feed bills during a long, cold winter, people were tighter with dollars when buying new bulls for the herd.
“The attitude within the industry is slightly negative from calf prices. I try to tell people not to be too negative because an awful lot of money has been made over the past five years,” said Cutler.
Several loads of Canadian cattle went to the U.S. With an exchange rate of $1.35 for March 5 and 6, they got a good deal for their money.
The high seller at this year’s sale came from the JoNomn Hereford Ranch string from Clyde. A consortium of Alberta herds, Bar Pipe Farms, J Bar T, Doenz Ranches and Brabeth Herefords of Sardis, B.C. bought this two year old who was also grand champion.
JoNomn, owned by Norm and Joanne Parrent, had the best pair of bulls, best group of three, best group of five and best progeny from one sire in the show held March 4. The ranch also had the grand champion Hereford in 1995.
In total the Hereford sale saw 256 head go for $864,800 to average $3,378.
The Angus sale had 114 head sell for $299,850 to average $2,630. The grand champion came from Bernie Biever of Airdrie. He sold for $5,000 to Mangen Angus Ranch of Broadus, Mont.
The high-selling Angus was consigned by Gavin and Mabel Hamilton of Innisfail. He fetched $6,000 from Hugh Atkins of LaGlace, Alta.
On the Charolais side, 52 two-year-olds and yearlings were sold for $136,300 to average $2,621. The grand champion was from P & H Ranching Co. of Innisfail and sold for $3,500 to Echo Sand Ranching of Acme. The top-selling Charolais went for $7,100. Entered by Wolosuk Farms of Vauxhall, he will be going to Letniak Charolais of Consort.
Top Simmental
The Simmental breed offered 57 head for a sale total of $146,625 and average of $2,572. Grand champion was a black Simmental from McDougall Cattle Station of Breton. He was purchased by David Dutchik of Cochrane for $3,900.
The best-selling Simmental was from the herd of Sevcik Simmentals of Hussar and sold to James Hughes of Longview.
A string of seven Shorthorns were offered. Their sale totaled $14,650 and averaged $2,092. The grand champion, entered by Lazy H J Stock Farm of Mannville, was not sold. The high-selling Shorthorn brought $3,000 from M.R. Boake of Acme. He came from Albert Oram of Castor.
