The improved facilities at Canadian Western Agribition drew more people through the Stock Exchange this year, said the chair of the commercial cattle events.
Garth Neher of Southey, Sask., said there was more traffic in the barns as a result of better lighting and heating and the implementation of The Yards display space.
“In conversations I’ve had with people, they say traffic is up and that gives them more marketing opportunities,” he said.
Entries included 70 feeder steers, 95 open replacements, 185 bred heifers and 15 pens of bulls, which was comparable to the previous year.
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“We’re pleased to have a full barn,” Neher said.
The Yards space was sold out before the show with a waiting list.
Neher said those displays provided a way for purebred and commercial breeders, as well as the public, to see what each segment of the industry is about.
In the show ring, a pen of 10 Simmental-sired heifers from Doug Westman of Vermilion, Alta., was named the grand champion pen of bred heifers. They sold for $2,075 each during the sale.
The reserve grand champions were five Red Angus heifers from Blairswest Land and Cattle of Drake, Sask., which sold for $2,050 each.
A pen of five Simmental-Red Angus heifers from Mebs Ranch of Broadview, Sask., earned the top price of the sale at $2,275 each.
Gord and Sandy Gerrard of Southey showed the grand champion feeder steers. The Black Angus-Simmental pen of 10 weighed 8,320 pounds and sold for $1.35 a lb. to Weaver Ranching of Lloydminster, Sask.
The reserve grand champion feeder steer pen included five Charolais cross steers from Darryl and Maria Friesen of Carrot River, Sask. They sold for $1.405 per lb., also to Weaver Ranching, to total $5,808.27.
The Gerrards also showed the grand champion pen of open replacement heifers, while Sentes Farms of Raymore. Sask., had the reserve.
In Bull Pen Alley, a pen of Simmental bulls from McIntosh Livestock of Maymont, Sask., was named supreme champion.
The average price for feeder steers was $1.52 per lb., with an average weight of 699.91 lb.
Open replacement heifers averaged $1,063.16, and bred heifers averaged $1,706.76.
The sale grossed $491,153.66.
