RED DEER, Alta. – A bull who’s offspring wouldn’t be considered purebred south of the 49th parallel brought the highest price of any North American Charolais sold so far in 1995.
Granada’s Red Ace 17B, a dark red Charolais bull brought $110,000 at an auction last weekend. All eyes, and some ears, were on the nearly four-year-old bull, as the eighth annual Red Bonanza Charolais sale got under way in Red Deer.
Bidding was heavy, in person and by phone, as the bull went on the block. At $1,000 a minute the burnt sienna bull, oblivious to the attention being paid him, changed hands in less time than it takes to grill a steak.
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“In a triumph of ignorance, the AICA (American International Charolais Association) decided last February to return to pre-1990 rules that eliminate non-white cattle from the Charolais breed,” said Brant Laue, of Hanover, Kansas.
Learn a lesson
“They ought to be getting the message, when a red bull brings more than any white animal did this year,” said Laue, who was attending the Alberta sale.
“We’re very happy to have bought him. He will fit in well to our breeding plans,” said Ursula Corpataux, of Erskine, Alberta, who with husband George, purchased Red Ace and 4,000 straws of his semen included in the price for their newly purchased Sandan Charolais Farms.
“We’ll be registering our red cattle with the CCA (Canadian Charolais Association) … I have a market for the colored bulls and as long as I have that, I will need red Charolais,” said Laue.
The Canadian Charolais Association, unlike its American counterpart, does not discriminate against the colored cattle in the breed.
A trend against white haircoats and pink noses in commercial sales rings on both sides of the border has created a market for darker cattle in breeds that aren’t noted for them.
In recent years commercial producers looking to better their sale prices have created a market for black Simmentals and Limousines. Colored Charolais have followed the pattern. Buyers have also rediscovered the Angus breed, both black and red.
“Yield, performance and all. There is no difference between the red and white cattle. I have them both, more white than red. White commercial cattle feed just as well as the buckskin ones, but in the sale ring, the buckskin bring more money every time,” said long time Charolais breeder Leroy Martin, of Warburg, Alta.
Prices for the other 76 red animals at the sale were below average and several yearling bulls had to be pulled from the auction ring after they failed to generate enough interest. Cows and heifers performed better than males, but prices reflected lower numbers throughout the industry.
“The market is down all over. I’m not too disappointed in the price. It’s in keeping with all other sales this fall,” said Martin, who brought five females and two bulls to the sale.
“It makes me think things will turn around again when a bull will fetch a good price like this. It makes me optimistic about cattle,” said Martin.
