Cam Sparrow didn’t even bring an animal to Canadian Western Agribition and still managed to top the Charolais sale.
The long-time Charolais breeder, A. Sparrow Farms at Vanscoy, Sask., offered the pick of its cowherd at the sale, an all-female offering of 17 lots.
McCaw Livestock of Whitewood, Sask., and Graham Holdings of Estevan, Sask., paid $32,500 for that pick. It helped push the total sale to $157,450 and an average $9,262.
Sparrow called the experience fantastic.
“I didn’t have to bring anything, I just had to show up,” he said.
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He suggested the price went so high because his father was one of the first Canadian importers of Charolais cattle, and that history and success stands the farm in good stead.
The buyers must take by Jan. 1 any cow out of the 180-cow Sparrow breeding herd to fit their own breeding program. Sparrow said he will help them choose.
“They need a good cow,” he said. “That’s a lot of money and they need to get the best one.”
The Sparrows were long-time exhibitors at Agribition but have mostly retired from showing.
“We showed here for 40 years and then quit, and the only reason was because of my age,” he explained. “I just aged out and the new ones just aren’t ready to do it yet.”
He added he was pleased the cow will be in a relatively local operation.
Other breeders have also offered similar choices in their sales. Sparrow said it’s an easy way for breeders to be involved.
barbara.duckworth@producer.com
