STRATHMORE, Alta. – Tony Saretsky has been feeding cattle for more than 25 years and figures he knows a bit about what it takes to finish steers that make the grade.
He may be right.
He and partner Don Synder of Ponoka, Alta., own D & H Farms. They took the grand champion honours at the Alberta Fed Beef Expo held during this year’s Calgary Stampede.
“The trick to winning is to have cattle that are well finished and will grade to the highest level,” Saretsky said after hearing his pen of five steers earned first place with a score of 91.23 out of 100.
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He is confident in his cattle’s performance because he ships 200,000 head to Utah every year for slaughter. About 80 percent grade USDA Choice.
“We know these cattle will finish and grade well,” he said.
He attributes that ability to a good feeding program and improved genetics. His winning pen consisted of Angus cross steers that have been on feed since last fall at Cantriex Feedyards in Ponoka.
The expo was also a sweet payday for Brian and Teri McKinnon of Carseland, Alta.
This year was the first time they entered finished steers and heifers in the expo. They won the grand champion pen of heifers and came in third in the steer section against 23 other competitors. They feed 7,000 head at Kenwynn Farms at Carseland.
“I went into the pen and sorted off some cattle I thought would do well,” Brian shrugged.
Added his wife Teri: “That’s because he has a good eye.”
The grand champion pen of steers and heifers each received $4,000 in prize money.
The reserve pen of steers went to South Slope Feeders at Rainier, Alta., and the reserve pen of heifers was won by Barber Land and Cattle Co. at Strathmore, Alta. They each won $2,500. Third place finishers received $1,000.
The expo was started about 10 years ago by Soderglen Farms at Airdrie, Alta., to recognize high quality pens of finished steers and heifers.
Five judges score loose pens of fed steers and heifers to determine the grand and reserve champion pens. They are evaluated on a live basis only.
Each entry must represent two of four colours that include red, black, tan and white.
