Cattle exporter said he’s moved Hereford and Angus into Mexico, and that the cattle acclimated well
REGINA — The population of Speckle Park cattle in Mexico is set to grow after last week’s sale at Canadian Western Agribition.
There were just a handful of the Saskatchewan-developed breed in Mexico before the Nov. 22 sale. Now at least three are going south and another will likely contribute genetics in the future.
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“This is a new thing in Mexico,” said Rafael Ramirez, interpreting on behalf of buyer Victoriano Sanchez.
Sanchez operates Rancho Santo Domingo in Jalisco and spent $22,250 for three heifer calves, including one for each of his two young daughters, who were also at the sale.
“He likes the colour,” Ramirez said.
But the breed has a bright future in Mexico because the cattle are something different, he said.
Manuel Herrera, from San Miguel de Allende, bought the first heifer into the ring, spending $16,000 for half-interest in KFC Damaris 13L from KFC Farms, in Didsbury, Alta. The deal does not include possession.
Roger Peters, who operates Peterosa Exports and helps connect Mexican buyers with Canadian sellers, said Herrera bought three animals last year from Ravenworth Cattle of Middle Lake, Sask., and those are the only three in Mexico.
He said the cattle acclimated well to the Mexican weather.
“The heifers went in April and I saw them again in October and they had grown well,” Peters said.
Herrera also has other herds, including Hereford and Angus, and before Agribition he bought directly from breeders.
Peters said because Mexico doesn’t have a Speckle Park association the question now is how the cattle will be registered. It’s possible the Canadian association will register them as Canadian cattle.
Art Pruim, board member of the Canadian Speckle Park Association, said breeders are eager about the opportunities in Mexico and in the large American market.
Canadian breeders have sent a lot of genetics to Australia, particularly through the Agribition sale, since the breed began gaining popularity. This year, however, the sale featured only live animals.
Pruim said the board decided to have only live animals because too often the sales are focused on frozen genetics. The decision will be reviewed.
“We’ve heard mixed reaction from the membership and we have to take some of their input as well,” he said.
There is a strong emphasis on genetics as the relatively young breed keeps building. He said breeding is progressing rapidly through technology and the quality of live animals is evident.
“It’s probably the highest calibre of quality we’ve ever had at the show,” he said.
The decision may have left out some of the Australian buyers in attendance but with live animals selling to Mexico, the United States and across Canada, the numbers will grow.
“The live sale averaged almost $9,050 per lot and almost every animal sold is leaving the province of Saskatchewan,” Pruim said.
“It’s great to see Mexico jump on board now. I think there’s a lot of potential for some of these warm climate markets, whether it’s Mexico, Argentina, Brazil.”
Other buyers in the sale were from Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The high seller was a heifer calf, INC Centerfold 80L, from INC Cattle Co. in Saskatoon, which went for $17,000 to a buyer from Minnesota.
In the show ring, Colgan’s Kiss and Tell 27K, from Colgan’s Cattle Co. in Saskatoon, was named grand champion female. The reserve was INC Carnival Ride 67J, with calf at side INC Napoleon 111L.
The grand champion bull was Greenwood Coal Train 84J, exhibited by Greenwood and Ivery Downs of Lloydminster, Alta. The reserve was another from INC and co-owner Talladega Group, INC Talladega 11J. The Coal Train bull was a top 10 finalist in the Beef Supreme after also winning grand champion titles in Prince Albert, Lloydminster and Farmfair International in Edmonton, while Talladega 11J won the Supreme title at the Harding Agricultural Fair in Lenore, Man.
