Two strong sheep sales highlighted the final day of Canadian Western Agribition as the industry continues to benefit from high demand.
The Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders Association and the Saskatchewan Katahdin Sheep Association both held sales Nov. 26.
Kim MacDougall, president of the SSBA and an Agribition director, said producers are enjoying good prices at all sales after some lean years.
“Wow,” he said as the SSBA sale concluded. “We saw it at Drake (the association’s annual summer sale), and now at Agribition the trend has kept up.”
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Commercial ewes were selling for $300 to $400, and the high seller was the supreme champion ram. The purebred North Country Cheviot consigned by MacKid’s Sheep from Regina sold for $900 to Daryl Allemand of Frontier, Sask.
That was better than last year’s high seller by $75. Fewer lots were on offer, but prices were higher in all categories.
MacDougall said the industry is supplying only 42 percent of the lamb eaten in Canada, and prices should remain strong as long as that continues.
Saskatchewan flock numbers are up, which isn’t the case across the country, he said.
Growth is seen particularly in the country residential market where people purchase a quarter section with a house and then need to use the land.
“There is some money to be made,” MacDougall said. “Depending on where you are, you could keep 100 head on a quarter without too much trouble.”
In the Katahdin sale, the top price was $1,175 for Mish 4X, a ram lamb consigned by Jordan Mish of Glenavon, Sask., which sold to a buyer from Chinook, Alta., for $1,175.
While that pales in comparison to last year’s $2,100 paid for an older Mish Katahdins ram, the prices at the lower end were higher.
Janette Mish, vice-president of the Saskatchewan Katahdin Sheep Association, said females are selling particularly well but prices for even younger males were surprisingly high.
She said it is more expensive for new entrants in the industry or for those looking to expand.
“But these animals usually give you twins so you can recoup more quickly,” she said.
The Mish family took all titles in the national Katahdin show held during Agribition.
The grand and reserve champion ewes were JJCM 81Y and JJCM 521X, respectively, while on the ram side the winners were JJCM 796U “Silent Sam” and JJCM 713X.
In the SSBA Dorset show, Prairie Rose Dorsets of Drake, Sask., showed the grand and reserve champion ewes, Prairie Rose 12X and Prairie Rose 1T.
Furze Farm of Maryfield, Sask., showed the grand champion ram, Furze Yuck Fou, 27Y, while Prairie Rose 27Y was the reserve.
Rocking S from Nokomis, Sask., showed the grand champion Suffolk ewe, Jilly 1X. MacDougall had the reserve, Horton 2X.
In the ram class, Wade and Laurel Johnson from Grenfell, Sask., showed 7P Audie 15Y to a grand championship banner. The reserve ram was Ward 38Y from Ward Mortenson of Saltcoats, Sask.
Clinton Wiens of Drake showed the grand and reserve champion ewe of any other breed, Wiens C18Y and Wiens C43X.
Prairie Rose Dorsets and Wiens also showed the grand and reserve winners, respectively, in the purebred ewe pen class.
In the commercial ewe classes, Chance Jackson of Sedley, Sask., showed the grand champion individual and pen. Wiens had the reserve single ewe and Courtney and Peter MacDougall showed the reserve pen.
In the market lamb division, Sierra Viola of Russell, Man., and Tommy won grand champion while a Mortenson lamb was the reserve.
