EDMONTON – Low cattle prices kept some producers away from Farmfair International this year.
Gaylene Groeneveld, organizer of the Simmental show, said she knows at least five breeders who decided to save their money and keep their cattle home.
“If you take five and they take five to six cattle each, that’s 30 head that could have been here and it’s definitely because of the financial restraints,” she said.
“It costs a lot of money to be here to promote your breed and promote your particular program. Because calf prices are low they just can’t afford to be there.”
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It wasn’t just Simmental breeders who stayed at home. Cattle numbers at Farmfair are down 20 percent to 1,700 head from 2,100 last year.
Breeder numbers are about the same, but many chose to bring fewer animals to help cut costs.
Last year Kevin and Janice Wirsta of K-Cow Ranch brought 12 Charolais and Hereford animals to the show. This year they brought four Herefords.
Cost and a lack of help were the main reasons. At roughly $1,000 a head to be at the show, leaving cattle at home was the easiest way to cut costs, Kevin said.
Staying home wasn’t an option.
“If you’re out of the sale, you’re out of mind.”
Before the Hereford show a buyer came to his stall. Negotiations are now underway that could possibly result in the sale of three of the four animals he brought to Farmfair.
“They came specifically looking for us.”
Vern Pancoast, of Redcliff, Alta., the organizer of the Gelbvieh show, said it was encouraging to see the number of cattle producers who did come to the show, despite the troubled times.
“The show has carried on very well. We have very enthusiastic breeders. They have optimism, but that only carries so far.”
Ian Harvie estimated it costs about $1,000 a head to show cattle. He has 14 in Edmonton and will take 21 to the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.
Despite the costs, showing his Charolais and Hereford cattle at Farmfair has been a good marketing tool and pays off in cattle sales throughout the year, he said.
Wendy Schneider of Northline Angus said the farm has fewer cattle at the show than last year, but as purebred Angus breeders they can’t afford not to be there.
“We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t get a tremendous amount of business throughout the year,” she said. “If you don’t bring what you have to town, it’s hard to show off.”
