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High demand cattle shine at genetics sale

Some of the best milking cows in the world were up for sale last week.

Some of the best milking cows in the world were up for sale last week.

An auction was held over two days selling 300 of Morsan Farms finest Holstein cattle. The family-run operation set up shop in Ponoka in 1996 and got into the genetic business in 2000.

“We export a lot of embryos overseas,” explained Morris Thalen.

A special crew of fitters from Quebec was brought in to prepare cows for potential buyers.

While one cow was being auctioned, workers could be found in the barn getting the next animal ready for sale. Hair was trimmed and udders were given a special shine to entice buyers.

Demand for Morsan’s cattle is high.

Thalen expected some cattle to sell for $100,000 or more depending on the buyer.

There is a lot of expense involved in getting to the point where you make a sale.

“You’ve gotta make a lot of offspring to make those good ones,” he added.

Marketing is only one aspect of being recognized worldwide for quality Holsteins. The company identifies every cow and approximately 80 per cent of the herd is made up of registered Holsteins. The goal is to “have something special that the world wants.”

This is one of the bigger sales Morsan Farms has held. The Thalens started preparing for this sale in the spring; all the cattle had to be halter broken and 15 fitters have been at the farm 10 days prior to the sale.

“It takes a lot of work behind the scenes,” Thalen explained.

Morsan Farms milks approximately 1,500 cows in Ponoka and Rosthern, Sask. They have 250 dry cows and 2,500 head of young stock.