BNH Livestock Awarded GAABC Purebred Breeder of the Year in 2022

BNH Livestock was established in 2010, however this was not the start of their herd that exists today. Both Brad and Nicole grew up on farms and prior to getting married and starting BNH Livestock, they both had their own herds. Brad grew up showing and breeding purebred Black Angus cattle, which he sold in 2001 to purchase a house. Nicole grew up showing and raising purebred Gelbvieh cattle under her parent’s farm, Brittain Farms, since she was 10 years old. In 1998 Nicole purchased her first female from Mo-Roc Gelbvieh Farms, Otto and Marilyn Rauch. The female was OAR Mo-Roc Sunset 33H and she was part of their Farmfair show string. Otto was nice enough to let Nicole sort through his show pen and pick out this female to later go on to show in 4-H as well. This female started what many know as the prefix “NGC”, Nicole’s Gelbvieh Cattle. The herd was ran under the NGC prefix until 2018 when it was changed to match the herd name of BNH.

Brad and Nicole started showing cattle together at various shows, such as Farmfair, Agribition, Mountain View County Fair, The Westerner and various other junior shows throughout the years and have Championship banners, ribbons and fond memories of these events. It just so happened that Brad and Nicole met at one of these shows and that led to a marriage, four kids and a farm that we all know as BNH Livestock. Up until 2010, all animals were exhibited under Brittain Farms and still to this day you can trace many foundation females back to Brittain Farms breeding.

BNH Livestock and Brittain Farms continue to sell together at their annual Gelbvieh Advantage Bull Sale, which is currently held on the second Friday of March.

Throughout the years Nicole has grown up with the Gelbvieh breeders, anything from sitting at Con and Gail Winder’s kitchen table, being offered many treats and the adults enjoying some “Gelbvieh Cream”, to camping trips at The Westerner Days with the group of people that became regulars and the many memories walking around the fair grounds. The Severtson’s offering to let Nicole sell the first purebred female she produced in their annual female sale. Rodney Hollman and Nicole starting back up the Junior Gelbvieh Association (this is where Brad comes in). Otto & Marilyn Rauch being ever accommodating and allowing pick of their show pen for $1200 to get a young breeder started. The many years that Nicole attended Farmfair as Brittain Farms and Bev Milne recognized that Nicole was pregnant with her first son and had not yet told anyone else. This was then later followed by Brad & Nicole’s four boys, Colby, Kaden, Lincoln, and Austin taking on the role of showing and attending Farmfair and Agribition where again the Gelbvieh breeders were sure to watch out for the boys like they were their own. Don Okell is still recognized as “The guy who draws mustaches on us”.

BNH Livestock prides themselves on being a small family run operation and run approximately 50 purebred and balancer cow/calf pairs on 90 acres of intense pasture grazing in central Alberta. Along with the Gelbvieh cattle, they also raise purebred Nubian and LaMancha dairy goats, as well as purebred Kunekune grazing pigs. Visitors are always welcome to stop in and tour cattle or reminisce about the past and how far the Gelbvieh breed has come over the years. Check out the website at www.bnhlivestock.ca to learn more about BNH Livestock and to stay up to date on new livestock and events.