From the Field

I looked back at my editorial from the March 2020 issue of the Charolais Connection written in the middle of February and wow. Who knew what the next 12 months would bring turning the world upside down? As I have said before, we are so fortunate that we are in agriculture and that most of us have been able to continue life with some minimal interruptions. People still must eat, and we still have to be the primary producers to make that happen.

One thing that has been amazing is the demand for beef through all of this. The packers have had the upper hand since the slow downs in production due to Covid in the packing plant lines, but through it all, the demand has been strong. The packer profits have been the highest in history for January, at the expense of the feeders.

I was looking at some data from the USA and the last week of January 2021 had the third highest choice boxed beef cutout price in history. The two other higher years were because of small fed cattle slaughters, but this is demand driven, as record beef production is put through the system. Boxed beef prices are at an unprecedented high for this time of year. Beef demand is so spectacular the large kills have been absorbed with ease. When the feeders can start getting the upper hand over the packers, I think the prices for fat cattle and feeder cattle will be extremely positive in the next few years.

We have been through scores and scores of bull pens and taken 1,000s and 1,000s of pictures and videos for advertising and sale catalogues for these spring bull sales. There is a great offering of Charolais bulls for both your cows and heifers on offer this spring. There have been a number of sales that have already happened. You can go to our website to see the averages and highlights and follow the sales as they happen.

As we get into more bull sales, if Robbie Chomik, Jon Wright, or I can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are always happy to help in any way we can. Most of the Charolais sale catalogues are on our website and a reminder too, that all our Charolais Banner and Charolais Connection magazines are online for free at charolaisbanner.com. If you want to go back to past issues or show your neighbours past articles, please do. We also try to keep the sale news very current on our homepage, so you can check the latest results, usually within a day of the sale.

So here is wishing everyone a great calving season with nice weather and may the moisture conditions this summer be favourable.

Until next time, Helge

Helge By

Three of the six Homozygous Polled bulls heading to the McTavish Farms and Guest 10th Annual Bull Sale March 26

Charla Moore Custom Made 13H DOB 01/28/20 BW 103, 205 DW 773, 365DW 1410 A power house of a bull backed by a top end cow Charla Moore North 57H DOB 02/9/20 BW 97, 205 DW 718, 365DW 1377 Long bodied, good haired bull that will sire those top dollar tan steers Charla Moore North 103H DOB 03/21/20 BW 92, 205 DW 709, 365DW 1487 A calving ease dream that won’t sacrifice weaning weights

11th Annual Bull Sale • 1:30 pm • at the Farm thursday, March 25th, 2021

Performance, Power, Punch - the Total Package Breeding to meet the needs of our Customers

ELDER’S HOULIO 4H • Homo Pld

SKW Expedition 89C x Steppler Prince George 43A BW 98 Adj 205 762 Adj 365 1540

45 Yearling Bulls On Offer

Attention: Commercial Breeders “Bulls Built for the Long Haul”

ELDER’S cOmpaDRE 13H • Homo Pld

Elder’s Amigo 98E x Grant’s Playboy 3X BW 92 Adj 205 777 Adj 365 1458

ELDER’S HERcULES 17H • Homo Pld

Elder’s Vexour 8042F x HBSF Red River 61Z BW 80 Twin Sept 27 WW 863 Jan 2 YW 1370

ELDER’S HOOpER 37H • Homo Pld

Elder’s Blackjack 788B x Elder’s Hercules 149A BW 82 Adj 205 662 Adj 365 1451 • Many Homo Polled • Some Red Factor • Guaranteed • Free Delivery up to 200 km before May 1 or take them home Sale Day and deduct $100.00 from your Total purchase

Call for a catalogue or view it and videos of the bulls online at www.eldercharolais.com

Sale broadcast live at

www.bylivestock.com

ELDER’S RamBO 77H • Homo Pld

HVA Falcon 250F x Elder’s Blackjack 788B BW 107 Adj 205 794 Adj 365 1640

ELDER’S HIawatHa 83H • 3rd Gen Pld

HVA Falcon 250F x Elder’s Blackjack 788B BW 84 Adj 205 736 Adj 365 1512 Coffee is On Feel Free to stop and view the Bulls

Sale Manager: Helge By 306-536-4261 Jon Wright 306-807-8424 charolaisbanner@gmail.com

Ron & Donna Elder 306.267.4986 C 306.267.7693 • relder@sasktel.net Mike & Judy Elder C 306.267.7730 Box 37, Coronach, SK S0H 0Z0 @ElderElderly www.eldercharolais.com