REGINA — Testing of hybrid or crossbred bulls will begin this fall at the Saskatchewan Livestock Centre, despite opposition from some purebred breeders.
At last week’s annual meeting of the Saskatchewan Beef Cattle Performance Association, which operates the centre north of Regina, a motion to overturn last year’s decision to test crossbreds was defeated. Last year’s motion said the SLC would test crossbreds if they complied with specific criteria.
The criteria were set this spring, and crossbreds will be eligible to enter the test station this October. They can also sell in the annual SLC sale next spring.
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Bob Jackson, who represents the province’s Charolais association on the board, said his organization may pull its directorship over the issue.
Majority opposed
He said a phone poll was conducted earlier this summer, involving approximately 40 breeders who had Charolais bulls at the test station last year.
“Four could not be contacted, two said they didn’t care and the rest said they didn’t want crossbreds tested at this station,” Jackson said.
Several others suggested purebred breeders might not bring their bulls to the SLC if crossbreds are also being tested there.
“I’m more determined than ever that this is a major mistake,” said Grant Alexander, a board member from Weyburn, Sask. “I don’t think we can afford it. We’ll lose the support of every breed association.”
Layton Bezan, outgoing general manager of the centre, said the station would lose potential consignors if it turns away crossbreds. The centre is battling red ink, with associated activities like steer trials and a heifer development program subsidizing the bull testing.
“Even though the consignors constantly question the costs of testing a bull, and want them lowered, the bull test must be managed to break even or show a modest profit. It would seem that the most apparent and easiest method to accomplish both tasks would be to increase the number of bulls tested,” he said in a report to the board.
He added no purebred bulls will be denied space in favor of crossbreds.
Strict criteria
Raymond Prefontaine, who runs about 400 cattle in the province’s southwest and uses crossbreds, said the criteria set for crossbreds is strict.
“I would like to see that criteria voted in for purebred bulls.”
Bezan agreed the rules “may make it difficult for some of the people who want to put their crossbreds in the centre to participate.
The criteria state:
- Crossbreds must be blood-typed for sire identification and blood-typed to the sires reported.
- Requirements on the sire and dam have been set at a maximum of two breed crosses.
- Bulls require performance data from a recognized performance program including birth weight, birth date and weaning weights.
- Bulls must be tattooed with herd letters registered with a breed association or Canadian National Livestock records.
- Contemporary groups must consist of 12 bulls of similar genetic makeup.
