Hereford sale set to go on Saturday

As it turns out, last Saturday’s sale won’t be the final one at the Stratton sales barn in 2008.
The Rainy River Hereford Association is presenting the “Golden Opportunity ’O8 Sale” this coming Saturday (Nov 1). The barn will open at 11 a.m., with the sale starting at 1 p.m.

The sale will feature 22 head from seven Hereford breeders across the district: 10 bred cows, seven bred heifers, three heifer calves, one bull calf prospect, and one long yearling bull.
Jack Lewis, an old friend of the RRHA from Crystal City, Man., will be the auctioneer.
Organizer Aaron Kuorikoski noted Hereford breeders are making advances with the breed, with a focus on maternal instincts, a more moderate frame, and feed conversion efficiency.
Kuorikoski cited research which found that while the average feed conversion rate across all cattle breeds is five pounds of feed for one pound of gain, Herefords can gain a pound on 1.81 pounds of feed.
“That’s as efficient as feeding fish,” he remarked.
“Grain prices are going up. Feed efficiency will be coming out on top as a desirable trait,” he predicted.
“Herefords used to be a force in the ’80s but they lost a lot of ground to the Angus,” added Kuorikoski. “We recognize that the Angus breeders made a lot of moves to improve the breed and their position in the industry, and the Hereford breeders are planning to follow that.”
Kuorikoski noted the RRHA had the Canadian Hereford Association’s national market development manager for Eastern Canada up to look at their herds, who would like to see a Hereford influence feeder/calf sale going here.
“He told us that our association is the most tightly-knit and co-operative breeder association in Canada,” said Kuorikoski, suggesting that strong sense of co-operation puts them in a good position to move forward.
“Most of the breeders here have invested in their herds continuously by buying good-quality bulls and breeding stock from the west,” he noted.