A Montana couple spent their Thanksgiving holiday shopping in Regina at Canadian Western Agribition.
Max and Debby Porter of M Heart D Gelbvieh in Stevensville, Montana, bought the two top-selling animals in the breed’s show to boost the genetics in their operation.
“We want to put some more red in our program,” said Max Porter after buying bull calf Outlaw 6Y from Fladeland Livestock at Gladmar, Sask. for $6,250. “We’re about 50-50 now.”
The bull was the reserve grand champion, the first to enter the sale ring and brought the top price.
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The Porters also bought the second entry, a black female, Davidson Justadoll 26Y, who was at her mother’s side when Ms Jim 3S was named reserve grand champion female. She earned $6,000 for Davidson Gelbvieh at Ponteix, Sask.
“The black one, we’re familiar with that line,” Porter said. “She is a fine, fine animal and we will put her into production at our ranch.”
The Porters run 100 registered animals in southwestern Montana near the Idaho border. They’ve had Gelbvieh since the mid-1990s.
The ranch was Porter’s grandfather’s and is located in a heavily irrigated, mountainous area where winter weather isn’t too extreme and allows for January and February calving.
Porter, who is president of the Montana Gelbvieh Association, said he was interested to see the Canadian cattle and encourage participation in American shows such as the Northern International Livestock Exposition in Billings.
“We have a great core of breeders in Montana,” he said. “But we are strong, strong black. I get lots of calls for red bulls.”
The Davidsons had already entered Justadoll in the Denver Stock Show and will drop it at the Porter’s afterward.
Vern and Eileen Davidson showed the grand champion bull, DVE Davidson Jumpstart 44X, at Agribition.
Fladeland Livestock showed the grand champion female, Flad DJW Fine Wine 89W, with its calf, Flad Shiraz 59Y, at side.
The sale saw 10 lots sell for a total $45,400. One animal was also sold to a North Dakota buyer.
