WESTLOCK – Spruce View Charolais, operated by Lorne Lakusta and family of Andrew, held its annual Northern Impact Bull Sale at North Central Livestock Exchange March 16, selling 34 two-year-old bulls for a total of $205,500 to bring an average of $6,044.
There were traditional whites, along with tans, reds, and even one black Charolais bull on offer. The sale was consistent throughout, with no real runaways in price.
Two of the high-selling bulls each brought $8,000 apiece. Lot 135J, a red Charolais, SVCH Jaywalker 135J, sired by JWX Governor 6823 G was purchased by Calvin, Devon and Lori Sales of Ardmore for $8,000. This March 30, 2021 bull had a birthweight of 92 pounds with a weaning weight of 790 pounds, and a sale weight of 1,690 pounds and a 41-centimetre scrotal measure.
The second $8,000 bull was also a red Charolais, SVCH Battle Cry 631J, also sired by JWX Governor 6823. He was purchased by Dakota Frankl of Raymore, Sask. This April 28, 2021 bull had a birthweight of 89 pounds, a weaning weight of 745 pounds and a sale weight of 1,720 pounds and a 31-centimetre scrotal measure.
Spruce View Charolais was established in 1984 with the purchase of six French-influenced cows. Over the years through heifer retention and acquiring females through dispersions and production sales, the numbers rapidly grew together with a small herd of commercial females.
Spruce View Charolais was one of the original Pembina Valley Charolais Breeders group of charolais breeders who held an annual bull sale and also a female sale for many years. Over the years, several have retired from the business of raising purebred charolais or quit the cattle industry altogether. Spruce View Charolais is the lone remaining producer of that group and continue to hold a live sale with bulls being shown and sold in the sale ring at North Central Livestock Exchange, one of very few bull sales held this way anymore.