Battle River Bull Sale

[jaimiediamond]

Hi, new member here, Just FYI, we are hoping to bring a couple heifers and maybe a bull into southeast MN from the Batte River sale.

That's really exciting I really enjoyed looking through the Crooked Post heifers very strong offering! Of course I look forward to seeing the other heifer consignments Saturday  <beer>

 

[thunderdownunder]

Just in case I don't get another chance, I want to wish all consignors a successful sale (you can pass on my message Jaimie ). I know there's some quality cattle in the offering, so I hope everyone is rewarded.  <beer>

 

[Okotoks]

I thought the sale went very well, interest both purebred and commercial. It was a beautiful warm day and there was lots of people there.
27 bulls averaged $3130 and 10 yearling heifers averaged $1950.
High seller was Lot 10 Crooked Post Gauge 26Y by Crooked Post Grissom 24T. He sold to Shadybrook for $7600.A good looking bull with great EPD's and a really good scan. A very complete bull (thumbsup)
2nd high seller was Lot 6 at $6000.
I was really pleased our Lot 21 bull went to Langco "Silverwillow Shorthorns". They also have an Angus herd. They have some really nice females and the Lehne Transformer 8T bulls they had in the sale were pretty impressive, one going to SK for $5000.
Lot 21 was 11 generations of our breeding on the bottom side.

Lot 1 $3000
Lot 2 $3000
Lot 3 $2800
Lot 4 $3600
Lot 5 $3750
Lot 6 $6000
Lot 7 $3000
Lot 8 $2500
Lot 9 $1700
Lot 10 $7600
Lot 11 $2300
Lot 13 $2450
Lot 15 $2400
Lot 16 $2550
Lot 21 $3700
Lot 22 $2200
Lot 23 $5000
Lot 24 $3100
Lot 25 $3500
Lot 26 $2900
Lot 27 2600
Lot 28 $3500
Lot 29 $2150
Lot 30 $1750
Lot 31 $1900
Lot 32 $2900
Lot 33 $2900
Lot 34 $850
Lot 36 $1550
Lot 37 $$1500
Lot 38 $2000
Lot 39 $2200
Lot 40 $2000
Lot 41 $2600
Lot 42 $2400
Lot 43 $3950

 

[thunderdownunder]

Well done guys  <beer>

 

[Mark H]

I hate to be a troll but we need a reality check here.  To see what other bull sales in Western Canada are doing go to: http://www.charolaisbanner.com/news
and to: http://www.buyagro.com/news.html.
A $ 3,100 average is nothing to brag about in today's market conditions.

 

[sue]

Mark  H ... I  agree. When I was up there weaned bull calves at matlocks' averaged $3200. .... if you're in a high percentage Continental  cross cow base ... well then a shorthorn or angus bull makes sense? Perhaps this sale was not in a area looking for a british sired bull to turn out?

 

[Mark H]

Sue,

In Central Alberta the average commercial cow likely is half continental (likely Fleck influenced Simmental or Charolais) with the other half being Angus (Red Angus being popular) or Horned Hereford.  This half continental cow is then usually bred to a Charolais bull.
The Shorthorn is in tough h numerically being less popular than even the Limousin among commercial cattlemen.  The Alta Cedar bull sale will likely be the highest average sale for Shorthorns in Canada.
Look here for their catalog: http://www.altacedar.com/showcase-bull-sale.html
Buffalo Lake is primarily a Charolais outfit but they do sell a few Shorthorn bulls: http://www.charolaisbanner.com/cat12/buffalolake/index.htm
For the rest of the sales with with out catalogs online go to:
http://www.saskshorthorns.com/calendar.html
http://albertashorthorn.com/upcoming-events
People in Alberta will pay good money to breed commercial cows  to both British and Continental bulls. The vast majority of bulls in the sales linked to are going on commercial cows.  The problem for the shorthorn people is that they are not on the radar of serious commercial cow calf people.  They must give commercial people a reason to use shorthorn bulls in the same way the Charolais people did in the 1960' and 1970's.

 

[sue]

So you would use a Alta Cedar bred bull instead?  Dont care just asking?

 

[thunderdownunder]

I hate to be a troll

Don't be then...

 

[irishshorthorns]

Congratulations to the motivators behind the sale, the consignors and the purchasers. They have all collectively made this sale one of the highlights of the spring bull sale season.
In time, please God, it can only continue to grow and be more successful with the support of all of the aforementioned. Well done guys.

 

[Mark H]

Sue,

I don't think a knee jerk reaction to select a bull from the highest priced bull sale in the country is proper selection procedure for a herdsire.  You select a bull based on the traits you  feel he will improve -not price.  That said bulls that improve for the most people will be worth the most money.
The ability to select cattle that have merit that are overlooked and not not worth the highest dollar( not name brand cattle) at the time is one of the traits of  good stockmen;  it is how they make money and survive when others don't.
Alta Cedar and Sask valley have some nice bulls in their sale but with only 23 bulls it would be tough for every breeder that wants one to get one!

 

[justintime]

Our Sun Country Bull Sale catalog will be finished in a couple days and can be viewed on our websites www.horseshoecreekfarms.com, or www.ulurushorthorns.com or www.poplarparkfarm.com, or www.anwendercattlecompany.com. We are offering 49 performance tested, ultrasound tested and breeding soundness tested bulls in this sale. I think they are an excellent set and come from a wide variety of bloodlines, many are complete outcross to most US bloodlines today. Our sale will be held on April 14th at Kisbey, SK and we will be again delivering bulls at cost to a midwest US location. Usually somewhere in the S Iowa- Illinois region, depending on where buyers are from.

The Battle River Bull group should be commended for this year's sale. This is their second sale and it takes some time to establish a bull sale. I think some major progress was achieved this year.

 

[uluru]

I concur with JIT.
We have had to work hard to get our Sun Country Sale going and it takes a while to become recognized.
Always more work to do every year.
I think the Battle River group have done well and the high sellers along with many others were excellent results.

 

[Shorthorn Newbie]

We were looking to get a couple heifers and maybe a bull. The 2 bulls we wanted most were the 2 high sellers and out of my price range. Lot 5 bull was  a good deal I think and if we hadn't been most interested in the heifers at this time we might have taken him home. Unfortunately the heifers went  ove what we hoped so we were only able to get one (Lot 42) but we are very happy with the purchase and look forward to seeing what she can do in our herd in Minnesota. Will look to the fall classic sale to hopefully get one to come down with her. We have a Bonanza xRider Eagle son as herdsire right now and a very nice fall born Saskvalley Pioneer grandson we are waiting to see develop. New to shorhorns and very excited about the possibilities!! Thanks to all for your input.

 

[Okotoks]

I hate to be a troll but we need a reality check here.  To see what other bull sales in Western Canada are doing go to: http://www.charolaisbanner.com/news
and to: http://www.buyagro.com/news.html.
A $ 3,100 average is nothing to brag about in today's market conditions.

Bull sales in western Canada are hot, no doubt. I've heard of several Angus and Simmental averaging $6000 to $8000. A lot of these were established annual on farm sales. In comparison the Battle River sale has a ways to go, no doubt, but with the interest I think it's a good start. I think comparing the price of 27 bulls to 4 calves in an established production sale last fall is comparing apples to oranges but some people look for lemon juice when they could make lemonade. Those commercial bull buyers will get some pretty good calves for their investment and most will be back. There were bulls with good marbling, above average rib eye and yields and they will produce both great steers plus replacement females.
As well as Who's Your Daddy, Alta Cedar, Eionmor, Lacombe Bull Sale and Sun Country there is also the Douglas Test Station Sale in Manitoba and a large consignment of bulls at the Yorkton Sale( Bender and Star P). I'm betting some of these will have some pretty good averages!
For sale dates and info
http://www.canadianshorthorn.com/events.htm

 

[jaimiediamond]

I showed the prices to a commercial breeder who had contacted us and actually purchased a 1/2 interest (we retained semen and share walking rights) in our 2 year old bull after seeing our yearlings in the catalogue before this sale.  This breeder said that he was impressed with the consistancy of the prices and that there will be a lot of happy costumers coming out of the sale.  To me that comment is the most important if your customer is not happy you end up shooting yourself in the foot.  <beer> Some food for thought these commercial guys might be getting more bang for their buck with a $3100 Shorthorn bull then an $8000 Angus . Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic offering I truly believe that both purebred and commercial customers a like will be pleased with their purchases.    

 

[thunderdownunder]

I showed the prices to a commercial breeder who had contacted us and actually purchased a 1/2 interest (we retained semen and share walking rights) in our 2 year old bull after seeing our yearlings in the catalogue before this sale.  This breeder said that he was impressed with the consistancy of the prices and that there will be a lot of happy costumers coming out of the sale.  To me that comment is the most important if your customer is not happy you end up shooting yourself in the foot.  <beer> Some food for thought these commercial guys might be getting more bang for their buck with a $3100 Shorthorn bull then an $8000 Angus . Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic offering I truly believe that both purebred and commercial customers a like will be pleased with their purchases.    

Amen sister!  <rock>

 

[Okotoks]

I showed the prices to a commercial breeder who had contacted us and actually purchased a 1/2 interest (we retained semen and share walking rights) in our 2 year old bull after seeing our yearlings in the catalogue before this sale.  This breeder said that he was impressed with the consistancy of the prices and that there will be a lot of happy costumers coming out of the sale.  To me that comment is the most important if your customer is not happy you end up shooting yourself in the foot.  <beer> Some food for thought these commercial guys might be getting more bang for their buck with a $3100 Shorthorn bull then an $8000 Angus . Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic offering I truly believe that both purebred and commercial customers a like will be pleased with their purchases.    

Amen sister!  <rock>