Strong prices and competitive bidding highlighted the 58th annual Lundar Bull Sale on April 4, with two bulls topping the event at $20,000 each and steady demand across all categories.
The donated heifer from the 58th annual Lundar Bull Sale was won by Raymond Bazinet
According to sale secretary Rayna Gleich, two-year-old bulls led the market with an average of $14,500, while yearling bulls averaged $10,673.08. Purebred heifers sold for an average of $6,437.50, and commercial heifers averaged $5,460.
“The sale was well attended and we saw good participation from both returning buyers and new faces,” Gleich said.
Sale president Jack Cruise said they saw record-breaking sale prices and averages, marking this year’s event as “the best we’ve ever had.”
He noted their excellent quality of animals and the current economic state of the cattle industry contributed to the success.
The first bull through the ring, consigned by Rawcliffe Grange Stock Farms, set the tone early, selling for $20,000 to Twin View Polled Herefords. Another top-selling bull from Acorn Ridge Polled Herefords also reached $20,000 and was purchased by Lundar’s Sigga and Steina Vigfusson.
Michael Vigfusson, Sigga and Steina’s father, said this was an easy purchase for them as it “checked all the boxes,” including ensuring the bull’s health and quality. He hopes their new addition fits in well with their current herd and remains healthy for a long time.
Kevin Funk of Acorn Ridge in Kleefeld said he was very grateful and humbled by this year’s Lundar Bull Sale.
“We are fairly new, this being our fourth consecutive year, and have always been treated very well by the staff and other consigners,” he said. “It’s a very welcoming atmosphere. They have done a really good job promoting the sale over the years, providing a fun and comfortable place to buy and sell cattle.”
He explained much goes into raising bulls, starting with artificial insemination for strong genetics and desirable traits. Selecting a calf to sell also comes with challenges, with Funk noting they must “show good growth, vigour and temperament from birth to the time they are sold.”
Phenotypically, he looks for bulls with a high degree of muscle, moderate birth weight and strong annual gains until they reach yearling stage, along with dark red colouring, good pigment around the eyes and a tall frame with long ribs and broad hips. Genotypically, he wants his bulls to have strong EPDs — Expected Progeny Difference, a genetic prediction of an animal’s ability to pass traits to its offspring.
He purchased his top-selling bull a few years ago from another high-selling bull at the Lundar Bull Sale.
“His dam is a beautiful Frontier 174E daughter and out of a very maternal cow family,” he said. “His temperament, I’m sure, was a huge selling feature — our daughter was constantly in the stall with the bulls at the sale. She was busy brushing and cleaning up after them.”
He added that forming good relationships and providing consistency within the cattle industry is also vital for success.
Gleich said volume buyers also played a key role in the sale’s success. Albert Russell and Keen Stock Farms led the way, each purchasing seven animals.
“Having strong support from repeat buyers, along with those buying multiple head, really helps build consistency in the market,” she said.
In addition to the sale itself, a longstanding fundraising tradition once again contributed to the event’s community impact.
Each year, a member of the bull sale committee donates a heifer, with raffle tickets sold for a chance to win the animal. Proceeds from the initiative support the local agricultural society.
“This has become a highlight of the sale,” Gleich said. “It’s a great way to give back while also creating some excitement.”
This year’s donated heifer was won by Raymond Bazinet, marking the third time he has taken home the prize.
Cruise said the fundraiser has been held for the past 11 years, raising funds for the facility built that same year. The building was constructed to host sales and provide space for the Lundar Fair and other community events. This year, approximately $16,500 was raised, with all funds going toward the loan originally taken out for the build.
“We are thankful to be able to have such a good community event,” Cruise added. “Our success comes from the volunteers, sellers and buyers who work hard to support us year after year.”
