Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian Gelbvieh producers celebrated the 50th anniversary of the breed’s arrival in the country with their national show and a gala during Canadian Western Agribition held Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 in Regina.
Long-time Saskatchewan breeder Vernon Davidson from Ponteix, Sask., said the event was a natural choice.
“It’s the showcase of Canada, so we figured we might as well bring it to the best place to show off our cattle, bring in as many people and international people we possibly can to see what’s going on,” he said.
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Exhibitors included an international component with the return of Ledgerwood Gelbvieh from Clarkston, Washington.
“It’s kind of nice when you start to see American exhibitors come up here,” Davidson said. “They used to always go to Denver, but they say Canada is closer.”
International buyers included the president of the Gelbvieh association in Mexico.
Gelbvieh is one of the oldest German breeds, originating from three districts in Bavaria. According to the Canadian Gelbvieh Association, systematic breeding began in 1850. Red-yellow Franconian cattle were developed and further improved. In the 1960s, Red Danish cattle were added to improve milk production. The breed is known for combining maternal traits with carcass attributes.
Davidson said the breed has been good to him and his family.
“We bought our first cow in ’85 and from there they put us around the world,” he said. “We’ve sold genetics basically to every country there is out there.”
Show numbers were up in 2022 to about 80 head, compared to about 50 last year. Davidson said it’s hard to get some people back out on the circuit after the pandemic.
“But we’ve got quite a few new breeders coming in, which is nice to see, a lot of youth in the barn that is really excited about the program,” he said “That’s what we really need. There’s a lot of people falling out of the cattle industry and if we can keep on dragging new young people in, it’s pretty exciting.”
As part of those efforts, the Man-Sask Gelbvieh Association sponsored a junior show and $1,000 in prize money during Agribition.
The Gelbvieh sale this year was done by video during the gala banquet rather than on site.
“We only have a few lots and we’re trying to keep our expenses in line,” Davidson explained.
But he said with more frozen lots and picks offered in sales, and better technology, video-only sales may become more common.
The high-selling lot was a heifer calf, HL Miss Kelsey 207K, which sold for $10,000 to Foursquare Farms at Carstairs, Alta. Consignors were Kirk and Leigh Ann Hurlburt and Dean and Connie Hurlburt from Hurlburt Livestock at Saskatoon.
In the national show, Fladeland Livestock from Gladmar, Sask., showed the grand champion bull, Fladeland Hawkeye 2H. The reserve was RWG Horse Power 0311 exhibited by Royal Western Gelbvieh in Red Deer County, Alta.
Royal Western also showed the grand champion female, RWG Black Cat 0476 with calf at side, RWG Black Cat 2512. Ledgerwood Gelbvieh showed the reserve, JLSL Ledgerwood Kadence 216K.
The grand champion balancer or percentage bull was OSF Evolve 2J, from Overby Stock Farm at Ste. Rose du Lac, Man. Reserve honours went to BBG Tyson 1K, exhibited by Braylen Blake Gelbvieh of Glentworth, Sask.
The grand champion balancer or percentage female was BBG Deanna 2H with calf at side, BBG Deja 3K, from Braylen Blake Gelbvieh. Thackeray Land and Cattle at Weyburn, Sask., showed the reserve, Fir River Biene 800J.
– This article was originally published at The Western Producer.
