Argyle farmer Ian Smith saw a record payday when one of his Shorthorn bulls sold for nearly $7,700 at the Winnipeg Livestock Yards on Feb. 27.
Smith, who has been involved in the cattle industry for more than three decades, said it is the highest price he has ever received for one of his animals. He operates Armac Shorthorns, a farm he purchased from his parents in 1993.
The bull, officially registered as Muridale Gallagher, weighed in at 2,965 pounds the morning of the sale and sold for $2.59 per pound — setting a personal record for Smith and marking one of the highest prices for a culled bull at the Winnipeg Livestock Yards.
Smith said he wasn’t present when the bull sold, something he now says may have been for the best.
“I think I would have shed a tear or two,” he said with a laugh.
He originally purchased the bull seven years ago as a yearling for $4,000 from a breeder in Swift Current, Sask. Since then, the animal has been an important part of Smith’s herd, with semen collected for artificial insemination to improve genetics across his cattle.
While Smith expected a strong return due to the current cattle market, he said he was still surprised when he saw the final cheque.
“The prices are extreme right now with there being a beef shortage all over the world,” he said. “Cattle is a commodity and the prices are reflective of that.”
Smith doesn’t plan to hold onto his earnings for long, already having his eyes set on upgrading his equipment.
“Like most farmers, I spend the money as quickly as I make it,” he said. “A farmer never keeps his pockets full of money because we’re always investing it to make our lives easier.”
Smith plans to maintain a closed herd by relying on artificial insemination rather than purchasing new cattle, a practice he says helps limit the spread of disease.
However, he still has three bulls lined up for upcoming sales. Two will be sold at the Douglas Bull and Female Sale on March 28, with another heading to the Lundar Bull Sale on April 4. He hopes the current market conditions will bring strong prices there as well.
While Smith believes the market could remain strong for the next couple of years, he knows the industry can change quickly.
“All it takes is some major disease or disaster and everything could plummet,” he said.
Despite the uncertainty, Smith said he wouldn’t trade the farming lifestyle for anything.
“I can say I’ve never worked a day in my life because I enjoy what I do,” he said. “I love how I feel about farming and I’m proud of this lifestyle I’ve taken on — it’s in my blood.”
