The Canadian Bison Association annual national sale went ahead online Dec. 5 with 43 animals on offer through Jack Auction Group.
Brennin Jack said this was the first completely virtual sale for bison breeding stock. His company sells bison monthly via webcasts and he said it was clear the CBA sale was well supported by buyers registered from six provinces and 11 states. He described the event as “electric.”
Topping the sale was a $13,250 two-year-old bull from Justin and Shaelyn Dorey of Irish Creek Bison in Vermilion, Alta., going to North Star Bison in Wisconsin.
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That price was just $250 off last year’s high seller.
The two-year-olds averaged $8,421 compared to $7,031 in 2019.
Yearlings averaged $6,775, up from $4,275 last year. The high-seller, consigned by Mark Silzer and Cec Stumborg of Wolverine Bison Co. at Humboldt, Sask., went for $9,700 to Scott and Jared Cowie of Mankota, Sask.
Females offered in pens of two bred heifers averaged $4,321, with the top pair from Cole and Shelby Haubrich at Borderland Agriculture of Hodgeville, Sask., selling for $5,600 each to Shale Creek Bison at Russell, Man. The average was up just slightly from last year’s $4,150.
Open replacements, in pens of three, averaged $2,650. Amanda Schwitzer of Melville, Sask., consigned the top lot, which sold for $2,800 each to the Johnson family at Westbrook Farms of Elkhorn, Man.
Show sale chair Keegan Kitzul said the sale exceeded expectation.
“There is clearly strong demand for top quality genetics,” he said, adding that eight animals went to the U.S. to boost herds there.
Jack agreed that the industry remains confident in quality Canadian genetics as producers focus on animals that perform on grass and as finished animals.
“The industry is in a bit of a tight spot, with some plant capacity issues, and dealing with the ongoing issues with COVID,” he said, referring to the loss of robust restaurant trade.
However, he said consumer demand remains strong.
“Once folks get back on their feet and the economy gets rolling again I strongly feel that bison will be an industry that will be stronger than ever before,” Jack said.
Meanwhile, long-time bison producer Les Kroeger of Hanley, Sask., was re-elected president of the CBA for a second term at the organization’s Dec. 8 meeting. He said one of his priorities is to address industry challenges related to COVID-19.
He will also chair the international bison conference coming to Saskatoon in 2022.
Steven Lunty from Alberta is vice-chair.
The CBA has 550 members across Canada.
