EDMONTON – Cattle producers have brushed off lingering effects of BSE like a new snowfall.
“We’re back in business and things are strong,” said Leah Jones, the director responsible for agriculture at Farmfair International.
Cattle entries at this year’s livestock show are up to 2,172 from 1,900 last year. The number of exhibitors is also up to 586 from 495 last year.
The combination of good purses for winners and the presence of national and international shows has created a sense of excitement for the livestock event, said Jones.
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The number of entries in the Charolais show has tripled because Farmfair is hosting the Charolais World Congress, the breed’s international show.
It is expected to attract 200 visitors from 21 countries. Charolais cattle numbers are up to 354 from 123 last year and Charolais exhibitors are up to 77 this year from 27 last year.
Layne Evans of Kenaston, Sask., brought his Charolais cattle to Farmfair for the first time to be part of the World Charolais Congress.
“There’s more breeders, more interest and more enthusiasm about the whole breed,” said Evans, who hopes to make more contacts in the industry at the event.
Scott Bohrson, the herdsman for Wat-Cha farms of Mount Forest, Ont., travelled from Eastern Canada with 14 animals, his first time at the show.
“We knew all the major Charolais breeders would be here,” said Bohrson.
Before the show, about 50 international visitors stopped at their Ontario farm as part of a pre-tour. Since then, they have sold embryos to buyers from Europe and Australia.
Brian Hicks of Arthur, Ont., loaded seven cattle into a trailer the evening his events ended at Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and drove 40 hours to be at Farmfair Nov. 5 and part of the Charolais congress.
“There’s a good deal of excitement,” said Hicks, who is president of the Canadian Charolais Association.
It’s been 20 years since the World Charolais Congress was held in Canada. At that time Canadian Charolais were tall, leggy animals that generated little enthusiasm with international breeders, said Hicks.
“We can now demonstrate our new type of cattle,” he said.
The Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn national cattle shows are also part of Farmfair this year and have generated more entries.
Super Saturday, the show’s grand finale in which exhibitors can win $150,000 in cash and prizes, has created a buzz in the barns, said Jones. The prize money makes it one of the richest livestock shows in the country, which helps draw more breeders, she said.
Aaron Lo of Canton province in China said he is attending the show to generate contacts for a beef and grain farm in his country.
“I can see a big market opportunity in China for good quality beef,” said Lo.
“I’m an expert at eating beef.”
Lo said he won’t buy any animals at the show, but planned to gather contacts for his Chinese beef operation.
Farmfair International runs until Nov. 11 in Edmonton.
