Top of the Line cattle sale triples in size

Ken Johnston
Editor

The 4th Annual Top of the Line Cattle Sale was a huge success!
Organizer Kim Jo Bliss said that prices were solid, despite the market being weak, and the number of head was way up.
Since its inception, the Top of the Line sale was held with the intention of providing local people the opportunity to purchase high quality breeding stock. Bliss said that her view is to only hold the sale if there were 20 or more head to sell. Last year they had around 20 head, but this year that number more than tripled to 65. “We had no trouble getting 30 right off the start,” said Bliss who was very pleased as the numbers continued to grow.
The sales yard was opened to prospective buyers at 11 a.m. on Saturday for two hours. They could then give the cattle a good going over and talk to owners about the animals. At 1 p.m. auctioneer, Telford Advent started off the sale, which lasted about an hour.
“Everyone I have spoken to so far was pleased. We only had a few passed animals and everyone else got at least their reserved bid,” said Bliss Monday.
Top of the line sales take place all across the country, but generally they are breed specific. “We knew we would have to work together here,” explained Bliss noting that all breeds are welcomed at the Rainy River Cattlemen’s annual Top of the Line sale.
Despite fewer head of cattle the first few years, this year seemed to be the year that the concept caught on. “With only 30 head the first year and 20 last year I knew we would have to hang in there baby.” Apparently that was the right attitude as nearly all 65 head of top quality breeding stock sold Saturday.
The results were as follows:
Lot #1: 4 Red Angus/Simmental heifers from John Vandenbrand Jr. Two sold to Gary Teeple for $1,300 each and two were passed.
Lot #2: 5 Charolais/Simmental heifers from Wayne Flatt. Five sold to Todd Weir for $1,200 each.
Lot #3: 2 Hereford/Charolais heifers from Ken McKinnon. Both were passed.
Lot #4: 1 Purebred Hereford heifer (3 years old) from A.E.K. Polled Herefords. They were sold to Todd Weir for $1,220.
Lot #5: 1 Hereford/Red Angus heifer from Ross Stafford. It was passed.
Lot #6: 1 Purebred Simmental heifer from Todd McLean. It was sold to Ken Mason for $1,425.
Lot #7: 8 Charolais/Red Angus heifers from George Hyatt. 3 sold to Jim Galusha for $1,300 each, 2 to Jim Galusha for $1,240 each, 2 to Jim Galusha for $1,220 and 1 to Marvin Smith for $1,150.
Lot #8: 2 Hereford heifers form Ken McKinnon. Both were passed.
Lot #9: 3 Black Angus/Hereford heifers from Len Stafford. 1 sold to Bob Steele for $1,500 and another to him as well for $1,200. The other was passed on.
Lot #10: 1 Hereford/Shorthorn heifer from Glenn Stafford. It sold to Jim Galusha for $1,220.
Lot #11: 1 Simmental/Red Angus from Todd McLean. It sold to Keith Caul for $1,490.
Lot #12: 8 Charolais/Red Angus heifers from Circle H Farms. All sold to Ken Fisher for $1,280 each.
Lot #13: 4 Red Angus/Simmental heifers from John Vandenbrand Jr. 2 sold to Gary Teeple for $1,270 each and 2 to Paul Brown for $1,230 each.
Lot #14: 1 Limo/Hereford/Shorthorn heifer calf from Rodger Irvine. It was sold to Circle H. Farms for $825.
Lot #15: 20 straws of Bar 5 Mr. Ankony 518H (Simmental) from Jason Teeple sold to Todd McLean for $200.
Lot #16: 20 straws of Bar 5 Mr. Ankony 518H (Simmental) from Jason Teeple sold to Len Kuorikoski for $190.
Lot #17: 1 Hereford Cow from Ron Haver. It was passed.
Lot #18: 3 Charolais Cross Cows from Ron Haver. 2 sold to Marvin Smith for $1,000 each and 1 passed.
Lot #19: 4 Charolais Cross cows from Ron Haver. 4 sold to Marvin Smith for $900 each.
Lot #20: 1 Red Angus Cow from Ron Haver. It sold to Marvin Smith for $1,000.
Lot #21: 2 Red Angus Heifers from Bill Bascello. They sold to Jim Galusha for $1,460 and $1,360.
Lot #22: 2 Red Angus cows from Bill Bascello. 1 sold to Cal Stafford for $1,460 and the other to Jim Galusha for $1,300.
Lot #23: 4 Black Angus heifers from Hans Fuhr. They were all passed.
Lot #24: 1-3 year old Black Angus cow from Hans Fuhr. It was passed.
Average prices were as follows:
1 heifer calf: $825
34 heifers: $1,278 (12 passed)
1-3 year old for $1,220 (1 passed)
9 cows: $1,040 (2 passed)
40 straws of semen: $195 per 20 straws.