Pandemic forces Nappan bull sale online with good results
/by Heather Jones
A flurry of bids launched the Maritime Beef Testing Society’s 47th annual breeding stock sale on April 4. But unlike other years, there wasn’t a soul in the stands at the test station sales barn in Nappan, N.S. Instead, a crowd that swelled from 375 to 500 watched it unfold online.
Brad McCallum, executive director of the Agri-Commodity Management Association (which does office management for the test station), explained that laws enacted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 made it impossible for the testing station to host the event. “We looked at a number of online options, including doing it ourselves,” he said.
He said the board of directors chose to partner with LiveAuctions.TV of Oklahoma to hold the sale. “Though this was not an ideal situation, consignors and buyers responded positively,” said McCallum.
There were 130 potential buyers registered to bid online or by phone.
Jessy Milne-Smith of Ontario, who is the Canadian sales manager for LiveAuctions.TV, acted as the online sale’s auctioneer. “Bids are lighting up my screen like crazy!” she rejoiced, resetting her time clock. “Number 506, you’re in. Number 601, you’re out.” She sold the station’s 51 bulls for a total of $204,300. The average, $4,005.88, was slightly higher than last year’s $4,004.
Mark Trueman of Thunderbrook Farms in Truemanville, N.S., had the top seller. His 1,435-pound TBF 54U Venom 3G was described as a “powerful son of Remington Lock’N’Load” and “stout, thick, (and had the) biggest ribeye of all the Simmentals in the sale.”
Irwin Jewel of York, P.E.I., paid $7,100 for the bull. It had an average daily gain (ADG) of 3.24 pounds, weight per day of age (WDA) of 3.38 pounds, ribeye (RE) of 17.03 square inches, 1.03 percent marbling (MB), and a scrotal circumference (SC) of 39 centimetres.
Thirteen Simmentals sold for $59,100 and an average of $4,546.15.
When the sale ended, 18 bulls stayed in Nova Scotia, 27 headed to New Brunswick, four to P.E.I., and one each to Quebec and Newfoundland. But transportation was complicated by pandemic regulations.
“We were very pleased that we were able to work with buyers and truckers in each province to minimize the number of people who had to be on the road,” said McCallum. “In New Brunswick, we were able to partner with Jordan Anderson, Ed Crandlemire, and Luc Cormier – and Gary Noonan in P.E.I. – to get a good percentage of bulls to their homes. In Nova Scotia, Brendan MacKinnon helped to coordinate trucking to Cape Breton and Ryan McCarron helped coordinate trucking to Antigonish, while Eric Millen also delivered some bulls.”
McCallum said he was very pleased with the sale. On the LiveAuctions.TV website’s chatline he said, “It’s the same crowd as at the station. Thanks for the support.”
“And it’s way easier,” Scott Dixon of Atlantic Stockyards noted.
“Way easier!” Kenny Thompson concurred.
Sale information and results were streamed on the chatline all afternoon. Breeders were able to offer additional information on their bulls and thank their buyers. They also hotly debated issues such as what brand of beer was best during isolation … and with Cornflakes.
TOP SELLERS
Downeast Charolais of Belleisle Creek, N.B., had two bulls sell for $5,800. Claude Nowlan purchased the 1,418-pound Downeast Ghost 5G (ADG-3.95, WDA-3.32, RE-13.21, MB 2.24 percent, SC-39). And their 1,430-pound Downeast Gazoo 3G (ADG-4.22, WDA-3.32, RE-13.56, MB-1.37 percent, SC-38) went to Tim Thomsen.
Ten Charolais sold for $41,600 with an average of $4,160.
Melvern 10 Speed 35G was the top-selling F1 bull. The 1,483-pound Angus-Simmental cross (ADG-4.23, WDA-3.41, SC-41.5), consigned by Bill and Richard Armstrong of Melvern Square, N.S., was sold to Ferme Eric Gagne for $5,700.
Three F1s brought a total of $11,500 and an average of $3,833.33.
Linden Hill Cattle Co. of Antigonish, N.S., owned the highest-selling Angus. Its 1,455-pound Linden Hill Silver Winds 9G (ADG-3.15, WDA-3.41) went to Andrew Jessens for $5,500.
Ten Angus bulls realized a total of $43,500 with an average of $4,350.
“Thanks. Great bull. Merci!” Hugo Beland said on the sale’s chatline after purchasing Red Wheatley River Gunner 9G. He paid $4,300 for the 1,438-pound Red Angus bull (ADG-3.81, WDA-3.37, RE-13.09, MB-1.70 percent, SC-37) consigned by Wheatley River Farms of Oyster Bed, P.E.I.
Eight Red Angus bulls sold for a total of $27,800 and an average of $3,475.
The highest-selling Limousin was Othberg’s Floyd. The 1,515-pound bull (ADG-3.79, WDA-3.27, RE-14.62, MB-0.87 percent, SC-39) from Othberg’s Limousins of Summerfield, N.B., was sold to Carrondale Cattle Co. for $3,900.
Three Limousins yielded a total of $9,600 and an average of $3,200.
Rush Cove Farm paid $3,600 for the lone Hereford in the sale, Allen’s Goom Man 1G, a 1,335-pound bull (ADG-3.11, WDA-3.06, RE-10.38, MB-2.24 percent, SC-33) from Allen’s Herefords of Oxford, N.S.
Brian Walker of Lower Millstream, N.B., consigned the only Salers bull. His 1,260-pound Millstream Drum Grant 20G (ADG-3.13, WDA-3.03, RE-11.1, MB-1.58 percent, SC-37) was purchased by Anthony Alexander for $2,600.
Two Shorthorns sold for $2,500. The 1,350-pound Green Grove Red Precision 1G (ADG-3.52, WDA-3.11, SC-37) owned by Green Grove Shorthorns of Falmouth, N.S., went to S&S Dixon Farms.
M&J Shorthorns bought the 1,305-pound Ain’t U Fine General’s Lad 4G (ADG-3.57, WDA-3.06) consigned by Bill Angevine of Antigonish, N.S.
