Excel Ranches (the Miller family) held their 36th annual bull sale of Limousin and Angus bulls at their sale barn at the ranch west of Westlock March 14 with another set of quality bulls on offer.
This year, a total of 41 Limousin and 14 Angus bulls were sold. Auctioneer Dan Skeels once again called the bids in front of a full sale barn of bidders and buyers, with the bulls shown on video, as are most bull sales these days. The bulls were nearby in marked pens to give buyers the opportunity to view them prior to the sale.
The high-selling bull of the sale was a Red Angus bull, lot 47, RED EXCEL LITHIUM 5L, a Jan 8, 2023 yearling with a moderate birthweight of 86 pounds and a weaning weight of 752 pounds. He had a sale weight of 1,470 lbs with a scrotal measure of 39.5 centimetres.
This bull sold to Pohl Land and Cattle Ltd. of Wetaskiwin for $10,000.
The second high-selling bull of the sale was a Limousin bull, Lot 6, EXCEL’S LEGENDARY 2L, a Jan 7, 2023 yearling with a very moderate birthweight of 71 pounds and a weaning weight of 716 pounds. His sale weight was 1,295 lbs with a 33-centimetre scrotal measure. This bull was heading east, purchase by Bee Zee Acres Limousin of Glencoe, Ont. for $9,500.
The third high-selling bull was another Red Angus bull, Lot 52, RED EXCEL LOREDO 37L, a Jan 23, 2023 yearling with a birthweight of 84 pounds and a weaning weight of 708 pounds. He had a sale weight of 1,330 lbs and a scrotal measure of 36 centimetres. This bull was sold locally to Lyndon and Sharon Morrow of Barrhead for $9,000.
The fourth high-selling bull was Lot 5, EXCEL POLLED LEO 12L, a Jan 14, 2023 yearling Limousin with a birthweight of 90 pounds and a weaning weight of 641 pounds. This bull had a sale weight of 1,330 lbs and a scrotal measure of 36 centimetres. This bull was sold to Bar 3R Limousin of Marengo, SK for $8,250.
Amy Miller said the overall sale average was $6,500, and they were happy with the results. She added this was the most bulls they have ever had in their sale, and noted, “We’ve never sold bulls to so many young people before,” indicating more young people are returning to the farm and the cattle business. “Prices are great and optimism is high,” she said.
