Welcome To “Canada’s Bulls” BULL SALE
“was it all... just a dream” every year at this time I get to reflect on the “year it’s been” as I put together this little introduction to our bull book. Our sale theme “was it all...just a dream” seems appropriate. The great “payback years” of ‘14 and ‘15 are behind us; it all seems so short and fleeting, it does just kind of feel like a dream. Cattle folks were rewarded for their tenacity, foresight and perseverance. We all deserved it and I am sure we all enjoyed it; I know we sure did. Now, what to make of this fall? keep in mind it is the third highest price for calves we have ever seen. Last year was great for the cow calf sector but turned into a nightmare for the feeding sector, as they sustained huge losses on a year of high feed costs and no way to hedge the price. This year they are more cautious... can you blame them? In reality this year’s prices are very good; a well designed cow operation is still very profitable at current prices. Feed costs are 30 to 40% less than last year; the fundamentals are solid for all sectors of the industry. There is tremendous confidence in the market. Prices have rebounded for calves and bred cattle as we neared the end of the year. Good bred cows and heifers in our country traded from $2500 to $3000 in December, now that’s confidence! And it’s from long term, stable cattlemen. Think for a moment... in 2003 or even 2010, would you have thought that bred commercial females would trade for $3000! This business is pretty darn good and it certainly isn’t the time to lose faith. We’re only getting started! As I write this, the evening of December 16, we have just come through a week of bitterly cold, windy weather here at Lloydminster (-25 to -30 with wind chills to -45). We shot our bull video Monday in the coldest conditions ever; as you view the video you can appreciate the conditions. But those thick, hairy, fleshy bulls just “bucked, kicked” and even seemed to enjoy it. They are more adapted to our climate than the men! Our summer was as “sweet as it gets” for a grass and cows operation. A little rain and a little sun and we grew lots of grass. Then came October (the month from hell), winter came on October 7 snowing under our neighbors crops and compromising our grazing. The snow was wet and heavy and it froze. Those old cows did their best for a couple of weeks but just couldn’t get enough nutrition in some places. We pulled some home, early weaned and in other places, just hoped it would melt. We bred 1100 females this summer and thankfully our pastures were spread out; it helped to deal with the weather and snow. No one would have thought that the combines would roll in November to December but they did and November’s mild weather helped our grazing as well. We still have some cows out rustling at press time. The rest are on corn or swaths and are doing well. Our cow herd at the home ranch now calves in May and June, on stockpile grass. They go from the calving pastures to summer grazing and breeding, make a short stop at the home ranch for weaning, then on to the standing corn. Corn to grass, grass to corn and on it goes with no supplemental feeding and no hauling feed or manure. I just believe that as soon as you put machinery or diesel fuel between a cow’s mouth and what she eats, it does nothing but cost money. On the personal side, our lives are blessed. Pat and I enjoy (most days at least) a very active life still running our ranch. Time is starting to tell us to slow up and “smell the roses a little” and enjoy life as we go along. We try to travel a little when time permits but really are both very lucky to be able to enjoy the ranch we have built and the people we have around us. Our kids (not really any more but we still call them that) are taking an increasing role in our family operation. Cody is with the ranch full time and has established his own yard site on the Saskatchewan side of the ranch. Last spring he purchased the Murphy Charolais cows to add home bred white bulls to our program. He knows this little cowherd inside out. Funny what ownership does... Lee is in his second year of a Masters Degree in Ranch Management Program at Texas A&M university in kingsville, Texas. Lee is intimately involved in our marketing program. He runs our internet and social media promotional work. He is very valuable to us all year, especially at sale time. We couldn’t do it without him. Robin and Mark, granddaughter Hannah and grandson Grayson live in Calgary. Mark has a career with Conoco.Phillips; Robin does all our cattle records from Calgary; it works very well. She’s always finding new and better ways to do things to our ranch records and is a very, very busy girl with a four year-old Hannah and one year old Grayson. Special thanks to son-in-law Mark for his help sale week. Our sale is a real “family effort;” this huge contribution our “kids” make makes my job easier. Our ranch staff, Rick knorr, Ross Maxwell, Dave Conrad and Cody all make a significant contribution to the ranch. Individually, they bring different talents to the table but work together as a cohesive team. We have the best long term staff there is and I know it. I have a habit of “biting off absolutely all we can chew” from a work standpoint and these guys “bail me out” and make it all happen every day. A special thanks also to Shane Conrad (Dave’s son) who helped us all summer, Shane is competent way beyond his years. Also our many thanks to Deb Lundquist who helps in the office and at sale time. Our cooperators; the Telliers, Roachs and Norhiems are a genuine pleasure to work with; we count on you all as good friends. Our thanks to our friends who have given their help, advice and assistance all year and to all the fine people who help Pat and I during the sale week; our thanks in advance. We really do appreciate everything you do to help us and nothing would be possible without you. Our sale is an “experience” and we’d love to have you come. We’ll be ready with lots of fellowship, good food and lots of great cattle. See you on Saturday, January 28, 2017. Yours truly Mac Creech Pat Creech
Please come up and introduce yourselves sale day -we would like to meet you
View our website at www.canadasbulls.com for more information and updates
nearly 11,400 bulls sold...48 bull sales...
Call Mac... 1-800-561-BULL 2 2
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View hundred’s of bull photos and the video www.canadasbulls.com
28/12/2016 9:07:02 AM