At the event, 102 Hereford bulls averaged $8,772 and four Angus bulls averaged $6,950; grand champion sold for $25,000
This year’s Calgary Bull Sale may have had fewer offerings than past years, but the March 2-3 event drew impressive prices and a large crowd.
After 116 years at the Calgary Stampede grounds, the sale has moved to Century Downs, a newly opened casino and racetrack northeast of Calgary.
The 102 Hereford bulls averaged $8,772 and four Angus bulls averaged $6,950. Twelve horses averaged $9,413.
The grand champion was from the Henderson family, owners of Little Poplar Grove Herefords of Forestburg, Alta.
The bull, named LPG Don Red Lad 35B, was the entry of Gordon Henderson and sold for $25,000 to Rogers Hereford Ranch of Long Island, Kansas. Henderson died a few days earlier at the age of 80. The sale opened with a tribute to the long-time Hereford breeder who has won five grand championships at the Calgary event, the most recent in 2013.
Read Also
The Western Producer Livestock Report: July 17, 2025
U.S. hogs averaged $106.69 on a carcass basis July 11, down from $110.21 July 4.
The Henderson farm has been in business for more than 100 years, and grandson Travis Henderson, 20, is the fourth generation to work the land and raise Herefords.
The reserve champion was from Nels and Terri Nixdorff, owners of YV Ranch at Airdrie, Alta. It sold for $10,500 to Raymond White and XTC Ranches Ltd. of Coaldale, Alta.
The high seller of the sale came from the consignment of Scott and Rob Nixdorff of SNS Herefords at Airdrie. It sold for $40,000 to Pahl Livestock of Medicine Hat, Alta.
“We bought the sire from him five years earlier. He has been unbelievable,” said Rob Nixdorff, who was shaking his head in disbelief after selling a string of seven bulls for an average of $17,642.
SNS Herefords is located east of Airdrie and runs an extensive commercial cattle grazing program in the foothills. The cattle are Hereford-Red Angus cross. His son, Chad, 19, has returned to the farm after starting a career in welding. That industry has seen a downturn, so he now prepares the bulls for sale.
At the ranch horse sale, the high seller went for $12,250. Consigned by Lorne Davey of Wilkie, Sask., the palomino gelding was born in 2009.
First Calgary sale (1900)
- Consigned bulls: 64
- Entry fee: $1 per head
- Freight charge: $2 per head
- Sale average: $90
Contact barbara.duckworth@producer.com
