The top-selling lot in the national Charolais sale at Canadian Western Agribition wasn’t even in the ring.
However, one of the South Dakota bull’s daughters did make an appearance to show what he can produce.
Bidding for the Canadian semen rights to TR Mr Fire Water 5792R ET was fast and furious.
Fire Water was the national champion bull in Kansas City in 2007. His dam was champion female in Denver in 2005, and his sire was a Denver champion in 2002.
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A syndicate of 10 Canadian breeders paid $18,500 for the semen rights, including 400 doses eligible for export to Canada.
Helge By of theCharolais Banner said Fire Water comes from champion genetics and has been producing them as well. One of his daughters was reserve national champion in Denver last spring.
“This fall in Kansas City, at their national sale, a yearling heifer (out of Fire Water) sold for $50,000,” By said.
“The bull’s never been used in Canada and so it was an opportunity for some breeders to buy into a proven bull out of the U.S. that was new up here.”
At about $50 per dose, By said the semen went for a standard price.
The purchasing breeders include Prairie Cove Charolais, D. Grant Farms, Clear Lake Charolais, Gerrard Cattle Co., Circle Cee Charolais and Future Farms, all of Alberta; Hunter Charolais and High Bluff Stock Farm from Manitoba; Serhienko Cattle Co. from Saskatchewan and Medonte Charolais in Ontario.
Each breeder will take 40 doses of semen and won’t use it all in one year, which By said eliminates the risk of there soon being too many Fire Water progeny on the ground.
The Canadian-based offspring will appear in show rings in the fall of 2012.
A Fire Water daughter, HF Mustang Sally 904 PLD, exhibited by Hansen Farms of Turton, South Dakota, was named junior champion and reserve grand champion behind the eventual female champion in the RBC Beef Supreme at Agribition, held Nov. 22-27 in Regina.
The Charolais sale averaged $4,919.35 on 15.5 lots.
The top seller next to the semen rights was a half-interest in PCC PLD Red Steel 45 X for $10,000. The interest was consigned by Clear Lake Charolais and sold to Hi-Flow Investments of Brooks, Alta.
