A Canadian Gelbvieh bull lived up to its name in Denver recently, delivering a powerhouse cheque and prestige to his owners.
DVE Davidson Powerhouse 13U was selected from among 16 bulls as the top young Gelbvieh sire during voting in the Breeder’s Choice Bull Futurity.
Only 62 breeders are eligible to vote in the event held during the National Western Stock Show.
Vern and Eileen Davidson of Ponteix, Sask., took home $27,000 U.S., which represents 80 percent of the futurity funds.
Eileen Davidson said the selection of a Canadian bull was “a really nice welcome back from U.S. breeders.”
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The Davidsons have been attending the stock show for 20 years and took cattle with them most years until BSE closed the border in 2003. This was the first year they took cattle south again.
Powerhouse, born Jan. 30, 2008, was named bull calf champion and reserve grand champion at Farmfair International in Edmonton last fall. At the Canadian National Gelbvieh Show during Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, it was also the bull calf champion and stood with its dam while it was named the female grand champion.
“He is an easy fleshing, long spined bull with adequate testicular development, temperament and eye appeal,” Davidson said.
“His dam has those feminine merits that mark her as ideal.”
The bull is homozygous black and homozygous polled, which Davidson said caught the eye of American breeders looking for new genetics.
As the futurity winner, the bull sold first in the sale. Net proceeds are given to a randomly selected breeder member through a “last-man-standing” draw.
The futurity began 12 years ago and the Davidsons have bought one of the 61 memberships each year.
The fee is $500 annually; it costs an additional $100 to enter a bull.
The futurity also features the auction of the 62nd membership while in Denver.
This year it went for $4,900 and, coincidentally, Davidson said that member was the last name left in the draw and received the $10,000 sale proceeds.
Thorstenson Cattle of Selby, South Dakota, bought Powerhouse.
The Davidsons retain a half semen interest.
Each breeder member is also entitled to 20 units of semen, available over the next two years.
Davidson said that will give the members an advantage in the market.
“It wasn’t especially hard to leave him,” she added. “He’s going to do well.”
Other bulls participating in the futurity were from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Texas and Colorado.
