The Citizen, 2015-01-22, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015. PAGE 11.
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending Jan.
15 were 2,238 cattle, 541 lambs and
goats. On Tuesday fed steers and
heifers sold on a strong active trade
at prices $4 higher. Fancy steers and
heifers sold $195 to $205. Choice
steers and heifers sold $186 to $195.
Second cut sold $180 to $186. Cows
sold on a strong active trade at prices
$3 to $5 higher. On Thursday veal
sold on a steady market with heavier
holstein calves selling barely steady.
Lambs, sheep and goats all sold
steady. On Friday all classes of cattle
sold on a strong active trade with
calves selling $3 to $5 higher and
yearlings fully steady.
Chris Smith of Brussels,
consigned 11 steers that averaged
1,654 lbs. and sold for an average
price of $194. One limousin steer
weighed 1,590 lbs. and sold to
Horizon Meat Packers for $205.
David Bowles of Brussels,
consigned five steers that averaged
1,611 lbs. and sold for an average
price of $189. One black steer
weighed 1,580 lbs. and sold to
Horizon Meat Packers for $192.
Costa Plenty Farms Ltd. of
Wingham, consigned 12 heifers that
averaged 1,492 lbs. and sold for an
average price of $196. One limousin
heifer weighed 1,445 lbs. and sold to
Cargill Meat Packers for $198.
Southlore Farms Inc. of Palmerston,
consigned 17 cattle that averaged
1,361 lbs. and sold for an average
price of $183. Two red heifers
weighed 1,425 lbs. and sold to Clark
Bros. Livestock for $191.25.
There were 275 cows on offer.
Export types sold $114 to $129 with
sales to $134; beef, $128 to $140
with sales to $149; D1 and D2, $85
to $90; D3, $75 to $85; D4, $70 to
$75. Les Falconer of Clinton,
consigned three cows that averaged
1,422 lbs. and sold for $147. One
black cow weighed 1,485 lbs., sold
to Cargill Meat Packers for $149.
There were seven bulls selling $82
to $145. Daetwyler Farms Ltd. of
Atwood, consigned three cattle that
averaged 1,238 lbs. and sold for an
average price of $132. One holstein
bull weighed 1,360 lbs. and sold to
Butch Clare for $144.
There were 175 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $185 to $235 with
sales to $261; good holsteins, $175
to $180 with sales to $190; medium
holsteins, $155 to $170; heavy
holsteins, $145 to $160. Lamar Frey
of Listowel, consigned two calves
that averaged 860 lbs. and sold for
an average price of $253. One
limousin steer weighed 870 lbs. and
sold for $261. John F. Martin of
Wallenstein, consigned four calves
that averaged 834 lbs. and sold for
$232. One gold heifer weighed 780
lbs. and sold for $250. Jonathan
Jantzi of Linwood, consigned nine
calves that averaged 831 lbs. and
sold for $244. One limousin heifer
weighed 860 lbs. and sold for $249.
Lambs, 50 - 64 lbs. sold $300 to
$332; 65 - 79 lbs., $287 to $325; 80
- 94 lbs., $261 to $287; 95 - 110 lbs.,
$252 to $260/lb.
Sheep sold $90 to $150.
Goats: kids sold $150 to $300 with
sales to $370; nannies, $80 to $130;
billies, $150 to $300/lb.
Top quality stocker steers, 400 -
499 lbs. sold $315 to $350; 500 - 599
lbs., $292 to $340; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$267 to $300; 700 - 799 lbs., $246 to
$280; 800 - 899 lbs., $237 to $265;
900 - 999 lbs., $245 to $258; 1,000
lbs. and over, $228 to $239.
Top quality stocker heifers, 400 -
499 lbs., sold $267 to $325; 500 -
599 lbs., $245 to $280; 600 - 699
lbs., $229 to $257; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$223 to $239; 800 - 899 lbs., $221 to
$229; 900 lbs. and over, $204 to
$228.
After several years of sales and “a
good run” the Huron County Beef
Producers have discontinued their
vaccinated sales.
Proving that there is no rainbow
without the rain, former Beef
Producers President and current
Beef Farmers of Ontario
representative for Huron Harvey
Hoggart said that extremely high
beef prices forced the vaccinated
sales program into folding last year.
The numbers simply weren’t
there to keep the program viable,
Hoggart told the group at its
annual meeting on Jan. 14,
held at the Brussels Legion.
“The prices have increased so
much that you can sell any calf for
an excellent price,” Hoggart said.
“Anything sells; it doesn’t matter if
it’s vaccinated.”
Hoggart says there have also been
advances in the world of antibiotics,
so many producers will simply
administer antibiotics to their
animals to fight disease.
There are continuing concerns, he
said, with the animals developing a
resistance to antibiotics, whereas if
animals are vaccinated, that will be
passed down to calves being born.
There were also market
concerns, Hoggart said, with the
consistently successful Friday
sales at Brussels Livestock.
The Beef Producers had hoped to
piggyback onto those successful
sales in order to show their animals
to a larger group of buyers, but the
Beef Producers and Brussels
Livestock just couldn’t get on the
same page, he said.
With 2,100 head of cattle on offer
at a typical Friday sale, he said,
adding another 500 head of
vaccinated cattle would simply be
too much, he was told.
“We just couldn’t go on with the
numbers we had,” Hoggart said.
“We had a good run, but all good
things have to come to an end.”
A champion of the vaccination
Walton’s Matt Shortreed to lead Beef Producers
A new era
The Huron County Beef Producers ushered in a new era last week at their annual meeting,
held at the Brussels Legion, as Matt Shortreed, second from left, was named the
organization’s president for the next term. Shortreed will be taking over for Bob Bennett,
second from right, who was thanked for his service with the piece of art the two men are
holding. Also on the executive are Secretary/Treasurer Kittie MacGregor, right, and Harvey
Hoggart, left, the organization’s representative on the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO). (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
Walton’s Matt Shortreed was
named the President of the Huron
County Beef Producers (HCBP) at
the organization’s Jan. 7 meeting at
the Brussels Legion.
In an interview after the meeting,
Shortreed said he is excited to take
on the role after several years as the
vice-president for the organization.
“It’s exciting, that’s for sure,” he
said. “I’m not as big as some of the
other producers, but I think I’m
going to do a good job.”
Shortreed said that his family had
cattle until his father passed away
and the barn space was rented out.
However, in 2004, the family started
maintaining a herd once again.
“We have some of our own and
custom feed some other animals,” he
said. “We work with about 200
head and rent out space in other
barns.”
Shortreed said that stepping into
the position wasn’t a surprise
because he had been vice-president
for several years and said he didn’t
envision implementing a lot of
change under his tenure.
“I’m stepping in at a good time
here,” he said. “Prices are high and
the industry is as prosperous as it
has been in a long time.”
He said that he is looking forward
to representing the HCBP at the
Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO)
meetings in Toronto over the next
several years, but he said that, as an
organization, the HCBP is looking
forward to the International Plowing
Match in 2017, which is being
hosted just around the corner from
Shortreed’s Walton-area farm.
“We’re looking at getting geared
up for that and helping where we
can,” he said. “Aside from that, it
will be good to be at the BFO
meetings and be a voice for Huron
County.”
Bob Bennett of RR1, Gorrie,
outgoing president of the Huron
County Beef Producers, says he
enjoyed his three years at the head of
the organization and that he learned
a lot about the industry, as well as
life.
During his president’s report at the
Jan. 14 meeting at the Brussels
Legion, he said that 2014 had been a
very interesting year for beef
producers throughout Ontario and
all over Canada.
New markets in new countries had
opened up, he said, which were all
good news for beef producers in
Huron County, who are among the
best producers in the world.
“Demand is on the rise and that’s
thanks to the hard work of the
producers,” he said.
He said that while beef prices are
at their highest level in recent
memory, producers shouldn’t make
the mistake of thinking they can’t do
better still.
“I know we’ve reached a new
plateau, but even with this, there is
potential for growth and profit,” he
said.
Bennett thanked the group for the
privilege of serving as its president
for three years, saying he learned a
lot in that time.
Before ending his speech, Bennett
called for a moment of silence to
remember 41-year-old Dave
Johnston of Morris-Turnberry who
tragically died as the result of a
farming accident earlier that week.
A friend to many at the Legion that
night, Bennett said, he and his
family will be in his prayers.
To wrap up his report, Bennett
wished the best to incoming
president Matt Shortreed of Walton,
who had served the previous term as
first vice-president.
BP discontinue vaccinated sales
TUESDAYS
9:00 a.m.
Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows
THURSDAYS
8:00 a.m.Drop Calves
10:00 a.m.Veal
11:30 a.m. Lambs, Goats & Sheep
FRIDAYS
10:00 a.m. Stockers
Call us 519-887-6461
Visit our webpage at:
www.brusselslivestock.ca
email us at:
info@brusselslivestock.ca
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK
Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.
UPCOMING SALES
Agriculture
Brussels Livestock report
Fed steers, heifers sell on strong trade
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519-523-4244
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By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Continued on page 17