Despite the ravages that BSE has wrought on cattle prices from feeding to breeding stock, some specialty breeders say they have not felt the pinching of producer pennies.
Brown Swiss breeders in Manitoba say the strong demand for their cattle and the limited supply have helped keep prices up even without export demand.
Saskatoon’s Western Canadian Livestock Expo held April 20 and 21 was home to a new Brown Swiss show.
“It gave us a chance to get our breed in front of more dairy producers. The Saskatoon area is home to a lot of dairy farmers and this event was natural for us to have a show,” said Armin Deuck of Four Oak Farms near Kleefeld, Man.
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Deuck said the price of Brown Swiss cattle, averaging about $2,500 for a three-year-old milker, and the slow but steady expansion of the breed in Canada will result in more shows. He hopes more producers are “considering a switch from Holstein.”
Deuck himself made the change about eight years ago. He said the breed delivers high levels of milk components.
Rejean Mathys of Swiss Dream Farms in Wawanesa, Man., said for his family operation the Brown Swiss breed provides more fats and proteins in the same amount of fluid milk.
“We pay for the trucking and get paid on the components (in the milk). From a Brown Swiss we get more of what we get paid for in every litre. It means they are more efficient that way,” he said.
The small number of herds, 16 in Manitoba, 10 in Alberta and three in Saskatchewan, has meant that the demand for animals outstrips supply.
Mathys, who milks 65 cows and keeps a herd of 200, said despite the border being closed, he still receives calls from the United States and Mexico looking for stock.
“Often they want that 500 head or so. That is a number that we simply can’t supply, but when the border is open, we do sell into that market,” he said.
Deuck said the domestic demand, mainly in Alberta, has kept up with supply.
“Mostly these are just current milk producers looking for something that is just a little more efficient. Maybe a little different from what they have,” he said.
Genetics demand has also been good business for Brown Swiss breeders.
Mathys has supplied embryos to “Iran, Iraq, most of Europe and right now we have something going in France. Canadian cattle are popular.”
The new show produced winners for Mathys, who had both the grand and reserve champion cows as well as premier exhibitor and breeder titles in the Brown Swiss show.
Junior champion and reserve went to Osler, Sask., breeder May Farm.
