REGINA – It may take show judges awhile to get accustomed to the new look of Bar 5 Simmentals, but in the sale barn, buyers know what they like.
South African Simmental genetics from Bar 5 have been spicing up sales this fall where Canadian and American breeders have been competing to own some of the new style beef lines.
Bar 5 Simmentals came to Canadian Western Agribition with two crowd-pleasing animals and walked away with the high selling bull at $38,000.
The long yearling red and white Fleckvieh bull sold to the genetics company Semex of Guelph, Ont.
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Bar 5 also had the high selling female at $21,000, which went to Dollar Diamond D Simmental in Russellville, Arkansas. Another Fleckvieh type, it is horned and ready for breeding.
Owner Ron Nolan said he has been importing Simmental genetics in embryo form from South Africa for about four years.
“We were looking to bring in different genetics and we are getting quite choosy,” he said.
The Canadian farm owns 25 head in South Africa, where it has flushed cows and implanted embryos at its Ontario farm.
Bar 5 is prohibited from exporting semen or live cattle from Africa because of health considerations. Embryos are put through a special wash and rinsed 10 times to eliminate potential health risks.
The South Africans started importing Simmental genetics from Europe 100 years ago and have developed a big, beefy type offering different outcross potential.
“They are growing the type of animal we are looking for here,” said Nolan in an interview at Agribition.
There was some concern the African cattle would have trouble adapting to Canadian conditions, but Nolan said they have grown good hair coats and have thrived at the Markham, Ont., farm.
Bringing these cattle to Agribition in November showed they were ready for all conditions and more than acceptable to bidders at the national sale. Originally located in Manitoba, the Bar 5 Ranch was purchased by Ron and Greg Nolan and moved to Markham, Ont., 13 years ago. They run about 450 Simmental cows with a heavy Fleckvieh influence. Fleckvieh cattle trace directly back to Swiss Simmentals.
The Nolans have not placed all their bets on South Africa and have also travelled throughout Germany, Switzerland and France checking herds.
Most recently they added a few Red Angus cattle and will decide later how these fit into their program.
Overall, the Simmental sale performed well with 41 lots grossing $172,950, to average $4,218.
The grand champion female was entered by Czech-Mate Livestock owned by Jim and Gwen Smith of Carstairs, Alta.
New Trend Cattle Co. of Strathmore, Alta., had the grand champion Simmental bull.
