Ian Thackeray Box 1002 Weyburn SK S4H 2L0 306-861-7687
tgfis@sasktel.net
Secretary
Kimberly Little Box 116 Hazlet SK S0N 1E0 306-671-0009
mansaskgelbvieh@gmail.com
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The Gelbvieh Guide is mailed out to purchasers of Gelbvieh cattle when registration certificates are transfered; the seller of the animal for a registration certificate when you purchase a Gelbvieh animal.
To be added to our mailing list contact the CGA office. Domestic subscription is $26.25 and International subscription is $50.00.
Canadian Gelbvieh Association gelbvieh@gelbvieh.ca 403-250-8640
President’s Message
Eddie
Marsman
Happy New Year everyone!
Another year has come and gone. All in all 2025 was an interesting year, to say the least. Cattle prices remained high, even though we saw a small drop during the fall run, every indication is that raising cattle will remain profitable in the foreseeable future.
However, there will be a number of challenges to go along with this. One of those challenges likely to make life more difficult is the new rules that CFIA is contemplating to impose on us. I am referring to the new rules applying to moving livestock, recording births and deaths and everything else that goes along with raising livestock within 7 days on their website. This would create a whole lot more work for the producer. My first reaction was to think that this is total overreach on the government end of things. Today it still seems like overkill to me, but the question is how important is this to remain competitive in our export markets. Time will tell, but it seems like CFIA has put this plan on hold for now due to severe producer pushback.
This fall’s show and sale season was another successful one for our breed. I was able to attend the Gelbvieh show at Farmfair, and the Supreme at Agribition. I have to tell you, the Gelbvieh Grand Champions looked awesome in the ring at the Supreme in Regina. Kudos to everyone involved.
Now it is time to move on to bull sale season. Selecting the right bull for your operation’s need is a critically important investment for a successful calfcrop in 2027. I would encourage all the commercial breeders interested in utilizing Gelbvieh genetics to contact the breeder of the bull of your choice and ask all the questions you need answered. If at all possible, visit that breeder, have a look at the bulls and possibly the mother cows of those bulls. It’ll make the decision making process that much easier and fun.
The Gelbvieh breeders will be more than happy to help you along in this process and get you set up with the bull you need for your operation and witness for yourself what Gelbvieh can do for your herd.
Until next time, breed ‘em Gelbvieh!
Bar GR Gelbvieh Sponsors
Junior Registration Credit
Ron & Gail Anderson of Bar GR Gelbvieh have generously sponsored one $40 registration fee for each junior member registering cattle in 2026. This $40 credit will be applied to each junior account when herd assessments are processed on March 1.
Gail said “We’ve retired but we sure love supporting our Juniors!”
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Office Report
Sarah Van Schothorst, BSc
Happy New Year.
The Canadian Gelbvieh Association has made some big changes moving from 2025 into 2026. The biggest is probably our active participation in the Canadian Beef Improvement Network and the repatriation of our DNA testing services to the Global Institute For Food Security (GIFS). Over the past 6 months the CGA has been actively working to help them build their genotyping services to provide high throughput DNA testing within Canada for the beef industry. Change is usually hard and there have been bumps in the road, but the customer service and willingness of all partners to make this work for the Canadian Gelbvieh Association members and Canadian beef producers as a whole has been refreshing. Please don’t wait until the last minute to send in your DNA samples. The sooner the better. As the year goes on, if you are thinking of flushing a cow, if you are thinking of drawing a bull please do the necessary DNA work at that time, do not wait until the genetics are being sold. Everything takes time.
All DNA samples, must be taken as a TSU, and sent directly to Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS)
If you have questions about TSU sampling, or making DNA requests please visit gelbvieh.ca and look under Performance, DNA testing. Or please contact the office.
We continue to work with 701X to correct and work through any issues in the registry system. If you are having issues or noticing inaccuracies, please let me know. I can often correct individual cases, but the underlying problems have to be corrected by the programmers at 701X, and your patience is appreciated.
The monthly E-newsletters are sent at the end of every month. Please make sure you take the time to read them. Important changes, events, industry information, and association news are included. They are sent through a free service called Brevo, so please make sure they aren’t going to your junk folder.
Member engagement is going to be crucial for some of the initiatives the CGA is taking on. One being the podcast channel. We are nearing the end of the Junior episodes and Season 2 is set to start in February. Follow the channel, spread the word, make suggestions, and submit questions for the appropriate episodes.
Please submit your member connection profile to be posted on the CGA social media pages if you haven’t already done so.
I wish everyone all the best during calving season and into the Spring of 2026.
Gelbvieh Association of AB/BC News
Olivia Koziak, GAABC President
As I sit down to write about this past year, I am reminded what a great year it was for the cattle business. Bull sales were strong, and it was great to hear so many breeders had new Gelbvieh buyers purchasing bulls and looking forward to the 2026 calf crops starting to hit the ground. Throughout the summer, Gelbvieh was a highlight as well in the show rings, tales of Gelbvieh growing to have their classes at multiple shows, and the vast amount of Gelbvieh being displayed at 4-H shows was very exciting! Heading into the fall, female sales continued to excite buyers and sellers, sustaining momentum for the Gelbvieh market. I would like to congratulate all our breeders for a great year of promoting, selling and producing Gelbvieh genetics. Your hard work year-round makes our breed succeed!
Farm Fair International was a great display of Gelbvieh genetics throughout the entire barn. We had the stands filled and many viewers online. We would like to thank Bryan MacKenzie for a job well done in evaluating the cattle brought to town. Bryan was consistent, constructive and practical in his assessment, and we appreciate him taking the time to judge our show. A congratulations goes out to BNH Livestock and Pin to Point Gelbvieh for our champions on the balancer side and Royal Western Gelbvieh and Twin View Livestock on the purebred side, representing us in the Supreme.
Another successful event of the year was our annual Wish List Sale, held in conjunction with the People’s Choice Bull Futurity in Stettler. This year was one for the books, with a top-notch offering and a strong display of both females and bulls. The barns were filled throughout the weekend, and many connections for future plans were made. We look forward to seeing those plans in the years to come! The joining of the Bull Futurity and Wish List sale has proven to make this event a can’t-miss weekend. Thank you to all those who helped in execution and joined throughout the weekend. Congratulations to Pearson Farms and Jen-Ty Gelbvieh for having our high-selling bred heifer and high-selling heifer calf. Congratulations to Milne’s Gelbvieh for being the People’s Choice winner. We would also like to say a huge Thank you to Twin View Livestock for supplying our donation heifer, who helped raise $14,730 for the association.
I would like to thank Tom Kulak and Darrell Hickman for their past 6 years of hard work and dedication to the association on the board; we appreciate all your time and insight as we move forward. The hard work and time our members put into serving on the board is second to none, and I look forward to working with our newest elected directors, Brad Hollman and Keri Labrenz.
I would like to wish everyone a great year ahead, smooth calving seasons, successful bull sales, and successful shopping for your next herd addition!
2025 board (L to R): Olivia Koziak (President), Malory Parrish, Amber Paulencu, Drew MacDonell, Darrell Hickman, Tom Kulak, Cody Girling.
Semen Lots for Sale: please inquire on availability
LJSA T- MACK 570P ET. Polled. Calving ease and extremely nice females. OZZ IDEAL DIRECTION 8N. Black and Polled. Trait leader for milk and outcross pedigree
JRI HEAVY EQUIPMENT 125M3. Homo polled calving ease female maker. Past National Champion. RUP RUPPLE YUKON 301P. Great balanced EPDs, a trait leader in many carcass traits.
DRJ FULL EXPOSURE 013N
Plus numerous past championships embryos for sale
ManSask Gelbvieh Association News
Kimberly Little
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
As some of you will be in full swing of calving, and excited to see the results of new genetics. Hope the weather cooperates, what a December we have had. The fall sales went well, the cattle market is holding steady, as we hope to see some strong bull sales this spring.
2025 was a great year. The Gelbvieh National Show returned to Regina for the Man/Sask Gelbvieh’s 50th Anniversary and it was a huge success. We saw 52 plus entries of Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle for this year’s Canadian Western Agribition. 10 exhibitors from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The show was judged by Lee & Dawn Wilson.
Congratulations to the exhibitors of the Champion Gelbvieh Female: Royal Western Gelbvieh, Keston Hollman - RWG Goodnight L415. Champion Gelbvieh Bull: Royal Western Gelbvieh & CDC Farms - RWG Loaded L418. Champion Balancer/PC Female: Maple Grove Gelbvieh - HL Rosebud 61L, Champion Balancer Bull: Maple Grove Gelbvieh (Brooklyn Wirgau) - BPW Never Give Up 122N.
Thank you to Blair Bentz, our barn boss, all the sponsors, volunteers, exhibitors, and spectators for making the show a success!
Congratulations to the Purebred Breeder of the year - Davidson Gelbvieh (Vern & Eileen Davidson) and to the Commercial Breeder of the year - Red Willow Ranch ( Jesse & Gail Sonntag).
Our AGM was held in Moose Jaw on December 13. It was well attended. Thank you to Neil Overby for his 3 years on the board and Cynthia Wirgau for her past 6 years on the board. As well to Kirk Hurlburt for filling in the vacant position this past year.
A fun evening was had with the fun auction and donation heifer raffle. Thank you to all that supported the donation heifer auction and to Diamond Z Livestock, the Zalinko family, for donating the heifer, which was won by Mckenzie Perras and Twin Springs Farm Ltd. $11460 was raised for the Man/ Sask Gebvieh Association.
Wishing everyone a great year, smooth calving and a great bull sale season, and a great spring and summer show season.
50th Anniversary celebrations at Agribition. Left
Ian Thackeray, Eileen Davidson, Cynthia Wirgau, Kimberly Little, Neil Overby, Braylen Blake Right: (left to right): Glen Little, Ian Thackeray
Left to Right: Ian Thackeray (President & Treasurer), Kimberly Little (Secretary), Eileen Davidson (Director), Maureen Tubman (Director). Missing Braylen Blake (Vice President)
Davidson Gelbvieh receiving their Purebred Breeder of the Year Award. Left to Right: Flynn, Ross, Ash, Eileen, Vernon, Tyler, Cameron, Jaime, Tara Davidson.
(left to right):
Thank you
THACKERAY LAND & CATTLE LTD, WADE DAVIDSON, FIR RIVER LIVESTOCK, OBERG AUCTION SERVICE, MAPLE GROVE GELBVIEH, TWIN VIEW LIVESTOCK, RPS GELBVIEH, BLUFF ISLAND STOCK FARM, JONUS CATTLE , LONESOME DOVE RANCH, OVERBY STOCK FARM, P & R CATTLE CO,
LCF Gelbvieh Livestock, Memory Farm Gelbvieh, PGA, Fladeland Livestock, Cowlick Ranch, Hurlburt Livestock, Selin’s Gelbvieh, Bar GR Cattle, RY Trail Veterinary Services
Major Show Sponsors
“CBBC is looking for breeder input on how their business has been impacted by the EU regulations for sending embryos from Canada; we welcome anonymous input from both breeders in Canada and the EU countries. This data will be complied as general stats for privacy and used for market access advocacy.
If you’d be willing to speak more on the topic and help us build our story with the grassroots narrative, there is an option at the end to share your contact so we can follow-up by phone.”
Macy Liebreich, CEO of CBBC
Rebuilding the Family Farm with Gelbvieh
Words by Joe Barnett
It is no secret the demographic of Canadian farmers and ranchers has shifted over the past number of decades. Farm size is growing, the number of farms is shrinking and the average age of agricultural producers has increased to 56 years. It has become extremely difficult for first generation producers to get started and fewer young people are returning to the farm. At Goodsoil, Saskatchewan, Jesse and Gail Sonntag are bucking the trends and have recently been named the 2025 Man/SK Gelbvieh Commercial Breeder of the Year.
Jesse and Gail operate Red Willow Ranch with their two year old daughter Briar. Their growing family is the next generation to take over the family farm from Jesse’s parents. They each grew up on a family farm in separate provinces and drastically different landscapes.
Gail grew up at Lomond, Alberta. Her family operated Twin Bridge Farms, a purebred Gelbvieh seedstock operation and mixed farm. She always had a keen interest in the cattle side of the operation and was active in 4-H and Junior Gelbvieh programming as well as being a talented hockey player. She chose to pursue an Ag Business diploma from Lakeland following high school.
Jesse grew up on the family farm at Goodsoil where the
couple currently resides. He was in 4-H for seven years and played every sport offered in the small community. Jesse’s true passion was for the 1,800 acre crop side of the farm. The family also had 250 commercial Angus and Hereford cows as well as 80 bison and many hogs. They backgrounded their calves until February and also brought in additional calves each fall to feed through the winter.
When Jesse was 14, his dad, Jim, was in a serious ATV accident while moving cows which left him as a paraplegic and in a wheelchair. Out of necessity, the cowherd was quickly sold down to about 25 cows and all the grain land was rented out in addition to the sale of seven quarters.
“Dad was determined to keep all his pasture which is why he kept those 25 cows. My brother, Steven, and I hayed about 400 acres in the summer and sold the hay. That was our summer job,” shared Jesse.
Gail and Jesse both went to Lakeland College in 2016. They quickly realized they had similar goals and interests and formed a connection that would last well past the doors of Lakeland. When they graduated, Gail returned home to Lomond and Jesse to Goodsoil. Before long, however, Gail made the move to Goodsoil and the two set up shop together in town. They started out small.
Gail had a lifetime of experience with the Gelbvieh breed but Jesse’s first exposure came in 2018 when he attended her family’s bull sale. He needed a bull for the small cowherd. He now admits he had some other motivating factors in buying that first bull since it was from Gail’s family.
“When Gail came to the farm, Dad helped me to buy 20 heifers and I worked as a mechanic in town. Gail stayed home and did chores which included Dad’s remaining 30 cows but then also spent a lot of time helping Mom take care of Dad.”
In 2020, Gail and Jesse officially took over the farm when his parents moved into Goodsoil. The two couples switched houses and the young couple began making Red Willow Ranch even more their own. Their first priorities were to fix fence and rebuild the cowherd by taking back the land which had been rented out. “And get rid of the last 20 buffalo,” laughed Jesse. “From 2020 to 2023 we gradually took back the land Dad had rented out.”
It wasn’t easy. “We had a lot of land that wasn’t being utilized. The bush and tree growth made a lot of the fences unusable. Jesse’s mom and dad worked hard to keep the pasture land intact but it needed work,” explained Gail. “We had so much to do and the cost of posts and wire was huge. We used a lot of electric fence to get around that.”
The couple worked on a tight budget and were careful to take steps that would give them the greatest return. “We were able to use a lot of the equipment Dad had which was a huge help,” said Jesse.
“We were both fresh out of school and we were broke college students. We had to find ways to make cash flow. We had a huge leg up compared to many because of Jesse’s family though.”
One of the first things they did with the cowherd was incorporate more Gelbvieh bulls to the Angus and Simmental cow base.
“We measured our success by seeing the cowherd progress and being able to retain heifers that we wanted to and not simply because we had to have the numbers. We attribute so much of that to the Gelbvieh bulls we were using,” shared Gail.
This spring the couple will calve 165 cows. The three way cross has proven very effective and they work to retain the half Gelbvieh heifers as replacements for the herd. Calving begins on March 10 and wraps up early in May just in time to start seeding their 700 acres of crop. The bull battery is 75% Gelbvieh with a Simmental and Angus bull used in rotation on certain cows.
“When we started using Gelbvieh bulls on the cowherd, very few people around us had any understanding of the breed. Now we have so many people asking about the breed and some have made the move into incorporating Gelbvieh bulls for themselves. A lot are becoming more interested in
making the switch from Angus to Gelbvieh, especially on their heifers,” said Gail.
Jesse added, “We wean steers over 700 pounds in October and that has really made them believers.”
They focus heavily on trouble free cattle since the bulk of their pasture is forest or bush land often not easily accessed. They also focus on incorporating highly productive and maternal cow families through their bull acquisitions.
The Sonntags work hard to get the most out of their land as possible. They use rotational grazing and electric fences. “We’ve gotten away with quite a few cows on a small number of acres. Fall grazing on stubble fields is essential and it’s an efficient way to put organic matter back onto the soil,” explained Jesse.
One strategy they use during winter months to add organic matter and to reduce fuel costs and time inputs is bale grazing. Land surrounding the yard is used for calving in the spring and they rotate through row crop, hay and pasture stands. Through the winter, they often start the tractor only twice a week. They have found it helps them to run a lot of cows on a smaller piece of land but more importantly it helps to regenerate older pasture stands with affordable fertilizer. In the spring they run a harrow over the bale grazing areas to level it out and the soil rebounds quickly. Utilizing the manure to fertilize rather than spending a bunch of money on fertilizer has been an effective cost saving measure for Gail and Jesse.
Difficult weather in 2023 presented an opportunity for the couple to experiment with wrapping silage bales. Excessive rain made dry hay next to impossible. They wrapped oat bales the first year then moved to barley and barley underseeded to hay. Today, the bulk of their winter feed is silage bales. “We moved away from oat silage because it seemed like there was more waste.”
Over time and as they were able to make best use of more acres, Jesse and Gail have been able to increase cow numbers. Purchasing the quality of females they want to add to the herd hasn’t been easy but with some creativity and positive relationships they have found effective ways of doing so.
One of the first opportunities came when aging neighbors wanted to slow down a little bit. An agreement was created on calf shares for Gail and Jesse to winter and calve the cows. “We provide the feed and the bulls. It got us into larger cow numbers without going into any debt. They give us full control of the herd which opened up a lot of doors for us to reinvest money back into the cattle infrastructure like bale feeders and calf shelters.”
A second opportunity came in a unique way. When that accident left Jesse’s dad unable to farm independently, the community rallied. Ray and Leona Murphy of Bonneville, Alberta heard the story because it turned out Ray had very similar injuries to Jim thanks to a run in with a cow. The two men developed a friendship and shared notes about being ranchers with life changing injuries. When Ray heard that Jesse was back on the farm full time, he reached out. Ray approached them about buying 60 head of his first and second
calving Charolais and Red Angus cross females. “We wouldn’t be where we are if it weren’t for Ray and Leona Murphy. They financed us and helped us buy 80 of their females in two years to build our program. They were a huge help for us in getting our cowherd again.”
That’s one piece of advice they freely share. Be open to all possibilities and surround yourself with community. “Take help when you need it because there’s no shame in that,” Jesse observed.
“Hard work and dedication go a hell of a lot farther than money ever will. Build relationships in your community to reach out. That community will help when you need it if they know they can expect the same from you. From a tractor to panels, we’re fortunate to have great neighbors and family who are always a phone call away.”
Giving back to the local community is extremely important to Jesse and Gail. He volunteers with the nearby fire department and she restarted a 4-H beef club which had been inactive for many years. What began as two families and four Cloverbuds grew to nearly 20 members in two years.
“We are really fortunate to have close connections with all generations in our community. We are surrounded by farm families and we share that bond.”
Despite the challenges they have faced in recreating the once thriving family farm, Gail and Jesse are excited and optimistic for the future. As Briar develops an interest in the farm and with another baby on the way, they are eager to continue pursuing their passion together. They credit each other for their success.
“We both love both sides of the farm but Jesse leans more to the grain side and I to the cattle. But everything is a conversation. The longer we do this, the more even the playing field is. Because we each had slightly different passions we were able to build both sides at the same time,” explained Gail.
“The entire farming operation seems like a huge improvement each year. As we’ve improved infrastructure and improved equipment and the cowherd, the job is more enjoyable and easier to manage. The first couple years were awesome and it was what we wanted to do but it wasn’t always really enjoyable. That’s gotten so much better for us.”
By recognizing their progress and improvements, Jesse and Gail Sonntag are well equipped to take on the challenges facing all producers. As young producers charting their own path, they are deserving recipients of the Commercial Breeder of the Year award.
By Carolina Siemens. Ruminant Nutritionist BSc. MSc.
When we talk about cattle performance in Southern Alberta, we’re looking at the combined influence of management practices and environmental conditions. Among the most critical factors are pen density, rapid weather swings, including strong winds reaching 90 to 110 km/hr, and rumen stress. These elements can significantly affect feed intake, growth rates, and overall animal health, making precise management essential for maintaining performance in feedlot operations.
Pen density, defined as the number of animals per unit of pen area, has a direct impact on welfare, feeding behavior, and gain efficiency. When cattle are stocked too tightly, competition for feed and water intensifies, stress levels rise, and disease transmission becomes more likely. Research indicates that increasing density by just 10 to 20 percent above recommended levels can reduce average daily gain by 0.2 to 0.3 kg (0.4 to 0.7 lb) per day in finishing cattle (Cole et al., 2006). In Southern Alberta’s open-lot systems, where cattle are exposed to fluctuating weather and limited shelter, maintaining adequate space is critical for both comfort and feed access.
A good guideline is to provide about 27 to 32 square feet of pen space per 1,100 lb animal, along with roughly 10 to 12 inches of bunk space per head to ensure all cattle can eat at once during peak feeding periods. Proper pen and bunk allocation reduces competition, promotes uniform feed intake, and supports steady growth even under variable environmental stressors.
Weather variability adds another layer of complexity. Alberta’s abrupt temperature shifts, especially in fall and early winter, challenge cattle to maintain thermal balance. High winds amplify stress by increasing convective heat loss, which can raise maintenance energy requirements by 10 to 15 percent. If diets are not adjusted accordingly, growth performance can quickly decline. Wind also increases dust and pen dryness, irritating the respiratory tract and reducing feed intake. Effective windbreaks, bedding management, and shelter design can substantially lower energy expenditure and respiratory stress, preserving both animal comfort and performance.
Rumen health remains central to feed efficiency and nutrient
utilization. Stressors such as rapid ration changes, highconcentrate diets, and environmental pressures can upset rumen microbial stability, leading to sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) or other metabolic issues. Overcrowded pens and limited bunk access worsen this by creating uneven intake patterns, some cattle over consume while others are forced to wait, driving swings in rumen pH. Temperature fluctuations and strong winds can further alter feeding behavior by suppressing appetite and increasing maintenance demands.
Research shows that SARA can reduce feed efficiency, translating to slower gains and higher feed costs. In a region where barley- and corn-based diets dominate, consistent feed access, proper fiber inclusion, and controlled stepup programs are essential to maintaining rumen stability through Alberta’s volatile weather.
Nutritional support plays a key role in managing these variables. A nutritionist can monitor feed delivery patterns, assess manure consistency, and observe bunk behavior to identify early signs of acidosis, intake fluctuation, or digestive upset. They can also fine-tune rations based on current forage analysis, pen conditions, and performance targets to ensure optimal effective fiber and buffering capacity. Regular and accurate bunk calls are equally vital, as they help detect subtle changes in intake and allow timely feed adjustments before problems escalate. These daily data points, combined with professional interpretation, create a management feedback loop that keeps cattle performing efficiently.
Integrating these tools and management practices is crucial for maintaining resilience and profitability. In today’s market, where cattle prices remain historically high according to recent Canfax reports, even small management deviations can determine whether a pen turns a profit. With feeder and yearling values near record levels, every pound of gain and point of feed efficiency matters. Cattle entering the yard at
current purchase prices must perform near their genetic potential just to reach breakeven margins.
Precision in daily management, including consistent bunk calls, accurate feeding schedules, optimal pen spacing, and adaptive ration formulation is therefore non-negotiable. Minor lapses can erode profitability, while disciplined management protects both animal health and return on investment.
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB
PEOPLE’S CHOICE BULL FUTURITY
The 2025 Canadian Gelbvieh Bull Futurity featured 12 herd sire prospects from Canada and the USA. 50 Futurity members vied for the chance to win their pick of the bulls and draw down prizes. Memberships were purchased form across Canada, the USA and Australia.
Members voted both online and in person. The membership chose GCC MARSHAL 31M from Milne’s Gelbvieh to be the Champion. The Runner up was DL JEN-TY SIX PACK 20N from Jen-Ty Gelbvieh.
In an exciting draw down, Dusty Rose Cattle Co., was the last chip drawn and got to select their next herd sire from the line up. JLSL LEDGERWOOD NOBEL 531N ET from Ledgerwood Gelbvieh was the prospect Darren chose to be the 2025 Futurity selected bull.
The event continues to partner with the Gelbvieh Wishlist Sale in Stettler, AB and the two events remain very complimentary and well attended.
Aaron Birch
GCC Marshal 31M
Canadian Gelbvieh People’s Choice Champion
Jen-Ty Six Pack 20N
Canadian Gelbvieh People’s Choice Runner Up
JLSL Ledgerwood Nobel 531N ET
Canadian Gelbvieh Futurity Selected Bull
“Cattle will never win with their heads down, neither will you!”
Words by Gail Anderson
Photos Compliments of Royal Western Gelbvieh
16 year old Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Member, Keston Hollman, from Red Deer County, AB is in Grade 11 and plans to attend Olds College in a couple years for Agriculture. He believes “that the Gelbvieh breed has a lot of maternal traits, offers docility, and fertility with adequate growth and average daily gains, but most importantly they crossbreed really well!”
When asked what words of wisdom he could give to other junior members he shared
“Don’t ever stop chasing your dreams, make the biggest statement you can for yourself. Cattle will never win with their heads down, neither will you.”
Keston had a dream, so now lets follow that dream!
April 8, 2023, RWG Goodnight L415 was born. Sired by JRI Where’s the Beef 307H40 with RWG Goodnight E419 on the dam side, she was born to standout. By June, before cattle even hit pastures, Keston chose her from his parents, Rod and Tanya’s, herd for his 4-H project. That commitment later led to his part ownership and beginning of an amazing show career for Goodnight L415, himself and Royal Western Gelbvieh. He has shown her right from the beginning with great success and his impeccable taste earned him and Goodnight L415 with heifer calf at side, the coveted ORB Champion of the World ‘Miss World 2025’, as well as advancing to the 2nd round in the 2025 All Breeds World Supreme. This competition is a prestigious international virtual media-based livestock show which is judged by several experts from around the world. Breeders compete globally, showcasing their qualifying champion beef cattle in a conformation contest which celebrates breed excellence and superior genetics.
In the events at the Canadian National Junior Gelbvieh Shows Keston was part of the Champion & Reserve Team Grooming Teams in 2023, 2024 and 2025. In Stetter in 2024, Goodnight L415 became Champion Bred Heifer and later set a record as the first bred heifer to win the Canadian National Junior Gelbvieh Show. She went on to become overall Grand Champion Purebred Female, this also qualified her for the All Breeds Beef Supreme in Bashaw and the Junior Supreme Quest at Farmfair. Keston also won the 2024 Percentage/Balancer Champion Bred Heifer.
In the big shows, Goodnight L415 as a bred heifer really shone in 2024! At Farmfair she was National Champion Junior Bred Heifer and later became the Reserve National Champion Female overall, following behind his parents National Champion Female pair. At Agribition, in the Open Purebred Show, Goodnight was Reserve Purebred Yearling Heifer, followed by Champion Yearling Gelbvieh Female in the BMO Junior Beef Extreme.
In 2025, at the Junior Show in Swift Current, Goodnight was
ORB - Miss World
Keston at the halter of Goodnight L415 as a calf along with his Mom, Dad and younger brother, Chayse, holding the banners for Premier Breeder and Exhibitor at Agribition.
Reserve Champion 2-year old Cow/Calf Pair. It was a good day for Keston, as he also won Reserve Champion Bred Heifer and the 2-year old Goodnight L415 later hanging the Reserve Grand Champion Female honors.
At Farmfair in 2025, Goodnight L415 was Reserve Champion Gelbvieh Female in the open show with her calf at side, and later in the week, was given the honors of Grand Champion 2 year old Female in a competitive class of top end pairs at the Farmfair Junior Show. Agribition was the real ground breaker though, as she was crowned National Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female- thus, opening her door to the CWA Beef Supreme ring. She was the 4th Royal Western Gelbvieh female in a row to compete in the CWA Supreme!
Agribition’s Beef Supreme is an elite multi-breed competition which is judged by a panel of 5 judges. Grand and Supreme Champions from major livestock shows throughout the year and across North America are invited to join Agribition’s Grand Champion Bulls and Females to compete in this spectacular event. In Keston’s words
“It felt like a whole new world leading my cow into that ring. Standing beside and competing against all the other high-end cattle and champions from all the other shows and breeds. I was nervous for sure, but I was excited to have the opportunity to show off my hard work and part of my breeding program. All Goodnight and I needed to do was make a statement out there.”
Both Keston’s brothers share similar passions, successes and dreams as well. His older brother Wacey (one of our 2025 Junior Scholarship recipients) won the Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female in the 2025 BMO Junior Extreme this year with a bred heifer. His younger brother Chayse owns, in partnership,
the CWA Grand Champion from 2023 and also entered the CWA Supreme ring, and she is the leading donor at RWG with embryos in 3 countries. All three of these young men and their achievements and dreams definitely provide inspiration for our CJGA members.
Keston was recently asked to attend and compete in the 2026 Cattlemen’s Congress National Gelbvieh and Balancer Bull and Open Female Show in Oklahoma City in January. He just added to his herd by purchasing a stunning black Balancer Female GHGF Nikia 200N from Green Hills Gelbvieh in North Carolina! Nikia, sired by GHGF Man O’War F825 and her Dam GHGF Two Step, was chosen from the Green Hills Gelbvieh sale catalog. In the Open Winter Heifer Calf Division they placed 2nd in a large, incredibly strong class of 9 females. Let’s anticipate seeing this beauty in 2026 at the Junior Gelbvieh Show, Farmfair and Agribition.
When asked about the future of the Gelbvieh breed Keston’s comment is
“To be successful in the beef industry, breeders need to stop worrying about being the best in the Gelbvieh breed and focus on being competitive in the beef industry!”
We as Gelbvieh Breeders need to support and commend our young CJGA members for showcasing Gelbvieh genetics in all of the events they attend. This summer July 23-25 they will be having their National Show in Stettler and they would love to have you there. Please support them, donate to their Scholarship Fund or just be there as they are the future of our breed!
Keston with Goodnight at Agribition
Keston with Goodnight L415 at halter. Mom giving Keston the fist bump for the big win as Reserve National Champion Female at Farmfair International.
A very happy Keston with the powerful yearling female Goodnight L415 at halter.
Another dream for Keston - black Balancer genetics coming into Canada GHGF Nikia 200N
Thursay, March 12, 2026
Live
“Ferappease” or “Cattle Zen” may be a fit in Your Purebred or Commercial Operation
By Roy Lewis, DVM
There are two new products on the market, which could have multiple uses on your cattle herd. I’ll go over the description of these product and I know a bunch have heard it and tried it so your opinion weighs in on this article. It is based on a bovine appeasing substance which when poured on in two places in cattle has a calming type response decreasing stress and the negative things it causes. The product is supposed to have effects for up to 14 days, which means in many situations on the farm it may last over two stressful events.
It works as a sort of pheromone effect being breathed in for the amount applied above the muzzle and gets absorbed into the glandular area from behind the poll. It is really a combination of fatty acids, which can be synthetically derived so production is not too limited and supply hopefully will be readily available. It is not a prescription product and because it is like a nutraceutical has passed whatever licensing is needed in Canada.
Ferrapease comes in either 300 ml or 1000 ml bottles and with the total dose for animals just over 400 pounds and up being 10 ml, each bottle will do 30 or 100 head. 5 cc are applied above the nose and 5cc are applied above the poll.
Cattle Zen is twice the concentration, only 5 cc is applied above the nose. The cost per dose is about the same for both products. As a still practicing veterinarian I see this product as a real benefit in many ways that I will list. The good news here is the calming effect these products have should be visible in your cattle, so you all can be the judge on how its working.
Ask your herd veterinarian what they think or their experiences are and if they don’t know they can find out. Ferrapease not being prescription it is distributed in Canada by Kane veterinary supplies so is then readily available at all veterinary clinics but also participating feed mills farm stores UFA, and similar venues across Canada. Cattle Zen is actually manufactured right in Canada so a Canadian product but is available only through the veterinary clinics.
If one thinks about what this product does than any
improvement in stress reduction should lead to a positive thing for the cattle and also a positive thing for the people handling them, transporting them, working them etc.
Talk to fellow producers that have used it and assess their experiences with it. I believe it was initially developed to reduce stress at weaning so it could be incorporated right at vaccination time, just before or right at weaning. On severely stressed and high risk cattle such as smaller calves in Texas, cattle only required one treatment and the mortality rate went down by over 80%. This outcome is phenomenal but again extreme high risk calves in my opinion but even a 20 to 30 percent reduction in mortality would have been impressive.
In cattle production any painful procedure such as branding, castration, dehorning, long transport, weaning, and mixing of cattle, either as purebred bulls or heifers to get ready for breeding, ferappease may have a place. In the feedlot, health parameters were improved and weight gain was better and stayed that way.
Around calving I see its usage on any assisted cow to settle her down and allow for more milk let down. Plus these products should carry on making the bonding experience better. We all know how good maternal mothers can get possessive but if this settles them just a bit over a 14-day period it will definitely improve the interaction towards people working on them. I am hoping that going forward there will be a little more research focusing on the ways we raise cattle in Canada.
So will it decrease antimicrobial usage? Could purebred breeders raising bulls apply the product before semen testing? Would this improve semen testing results or make the bulls easier to handle? For any bulls needing to retest, the Ferappease or Cattle Zen, would still be on board for the retest time period. These are examples of situations where I think these products could be beneficial.
Time will tell but further studies have been completed in other countries looking at an improvement in slaughter weight and yield and a decrease in dark cutters. The cost of
this is roughly 3.5 to 4 dollars ahead so not cost prohibitive. I would suggest having some chute side to see how it works on the more nervous or aggressive mothers at calving which is why now is a good time to try it on your own operation.. Perhaps we will need less antimicrobials in the feedlot or in cases where cattle have had a long transport. All of these are good news subjects and time will tell how many of these the product will live up to or where additional uses will be found.
Proceed cautiously try it on a few and see the results for yourself. I prefer the smaller applicator and it comes out in a line. Applicators need to be purchased but they are
CJGA Report
Cam Davidson, CJGA President
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope everyone is excited for 2026. I think it should be a great year for the Gelbvieh breed and everyone involved. It’s getting to be the bull sale season, and I think this should be a highly anticipated season to buy bulls for many, especially those who also made out well in terms of the cattle market this fall. It is also really exciting to be a junior within the Gelbvieh breed with so many opportunities that the breed offers.
There are scholarships that will be given out this summer, so watch for more information. We are also really looking forward to seeing everyone at this year’s Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Show located in Stettler from July 22-25, 2026. The CGA AGM will also be held at the same time, it is a great time always, and we are so excited to see you there supporting our junior program!
Make sure to get your show prospects ready and looking good for the show road this summer and fall. I think it’s a great time to be a part of our industry and an even better time to be a part of our breed. Happy sale season, and see everyone soon!
Junior show accomodations include a block of rooms booked at the Ramada Stettler. Camping is available on site at the Stettler AG Society grounds. Powered sites available for $30/ day. Contact Olivia Koziak to reserve a powered site.
pretty robust and should last for years. I am really hoping this improves many outcomes on the farm and there is less antimicrobials used and more beef essentially produced with less grading losses such as dark cutters. Most times when products have enough positive research with statistical significance they don’t disappoint. Just to clarify I feel this is a very positive group of products to have in the cattle industry and have no gain personally but just want to share the difference they can make in cattle production. They even help show cattle calm down on their first ride into town. Have a great 2026 calving season everyone.
Queens of the Herd Gelbvieh continues to wear the crown of maternal excellence.
Written by Megan Underwood
Spring bull sale season has arrived and sale catalogs continue to fill the mailbox daily. As you flip through each new catalog that arrives in your mailbox, you will see everyone’s favorite sayings in their footnotes, “She’s the front pasture kind” or “She’s destined for the donor pen.” While these sayings ring true, shouldn’t beef producers raise every female with the goal to make it to the front pasture or donor pen?
While not every female can make it to the donor pen, every replacement female can make it to the pasture whether it’s the front pasture or the back pasture, every female needs to be producing to her maximum ability. The Gelbvieh female does just that. Whatever pasture she calls home, in any environment or zip code, she continues to excel in maternal ability, and the data continues to prove it.
The United States Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) located in Clay Center, Nebraska, is the home of the historic Germplasm Evaluation Project that has contributed data to the beef industry for more than 50 years. This project is designed to compare genetic change across beef breeds and their crosses, which allows producers to make the best genetic selection decisions in crossbreeding systems. The research goals are to identify complimentary breed utilization for traits that impact producer efficiency and cater to consumer preference, sustainability, and marketability.
USMARC Progress Report No. 22 data shows Gelbvieh fe-
males have the smallest mature cow size of the four major continental breeds. The Gelbvieh breed was the only breed in the study to reduce mature cow size – at an average of 1,382 pounds Gelbvieh-sired females had the lowest five-year-old cow weight.
This reduced mature cow-size allows for puberty to be reached at an earlier age, which leads to calving earlier in the season and producing a heavier calf at a younger age.
Gelbvieh females are the smallest mature cows however, their decreased size does not negatively influence their maternal influence, it continues to improve their efficiency and makes them the picture of sustainability.
Growth in your calf crop begins with the Gelbvieh female and the latest USMARC research proves this fact even more.
USMARC just released new research regarding breed-specific heterosis for growth and carcass traits in 18 United States cattle breeds, and Gelbvieh-sired females were the only Bos taurus females with a maternal weaning weight advantage.
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
The data revealed that Gelbvieh-influenced females had a maternal weaning weight advantage of 22.7 pounds. This increase in weaning weight is thought to be the result of maternal milking ability in Gelbvieh females as Gelbvieh is in the top two breeds for average maternal milk.
In today’s market, the increased 22.7 pounds of weaning weight has a significant impact on the beef producer’s bottom line. At a market price of $4.50 per pound on five-weight steers with a 22.7 pound weaning weight advantage, the Gelbvieh influence would equate to an additional $102.15 revenue per head. On a group of 100 steers, Gelbvieh-influenced females would generate $10,215 in additional calf crop revenue. Gelbvieh-influenced cowherds generate more pay weight which is more profit for the producer. Gelbvieh genetics grow more than just weaning weights, they grow your profitability.
The USMARC research projects continue to prove that Gelbvieh females are the queens of the herd and wear the crown of maternal excellence with honor. Gelbvieh females have the genetic capability to be the next donor dam and front pasture cow, but they really deserve to be the foundation females of the entire United States cowherd as Gelbvieh is the maternal breed of choice. (All $ are reported in USD)
BNH Tibbies Independence 9K ET
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB
RTG Rosebud L109
Rocky Top Gelbvieh, Bashaw AB
Farmfair International
November 6, 2025 Edmonton, AB
Balancer/Percentage Junior Heifer calf
Champion DRCC Ms Redline 5764N
Dusty Rose Cattle Co., Dapp AB
Balancer/Percentage Intermediate Heifer calf
Champion JML Nightshade 8N
JML Farms, Lamont AB
Reserve BPR Nancy 30N
Black Poplar Ranch, Calmar AB
Balancer/Percentage Senior Heifer calf
Champion JNA Duchess 352N
Pearson Farms, Calmar AB
Reserve DL Jen-Ty Oreo 190N
Shelby Horn, Thorsby AB
Balancer/Percentage Junior Bred Heifer
Champion BNH Made Right Lou 7M
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB
Reserve JML Moneypenny 19M
Chase Loren, Lamont AB
Balancer/Percentage 2 Year Old Cow/Calf Pair
Champion RTG Rosebud L109 (Reserve Champion)
Rocky Top Gelbvieh, Bashaw AB
Reserve GAC Golden Evangeline L112
Green Acres Cattle Company, Andrew AB
Balancer/Percentage Mature Cow/Calf Pair
Champion BNH Tibbies Independence 9K ET (Grand Champion)
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB
Balancer/Percentage Intermediate Bull Calf
Champion AKS Nitro 49N
AKS Ranch, Hay Lakes AB
Balancer/Percentage Senior Bull Calf
Champion JML New Boot Goofin’ 4N (Reserve Champion) JML Farms, Lamont AB
Balancer/Percentage Junior Yearling Bull
Champion JAB Michigan 1M (Grand Champion)
Pin To Point Gelbvieh, Foothills AB
Purebred Junior Heifer Calf
Champion AWB Twin View Sugar 122N
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Reserve BNH Not Just A Dream 28N
To Point Gelbvieh, Foothills AB
Farms, Lamont AB JAB Michigan 1M
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB
Purebred Intermediate Heifer Calf
Champion BNH Nellie Lou 2N
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB
Reserve GAC Zuzanna N202
Green Acres Cattle Company, Andrew AB
Purebred Senior Heifer Calf
Champion DVE Davidson Ms Optimist 69N
Davidson Gelbvieh, Ponteix SK
Reserve AWB Twin View Rebecca 55N
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Additional owner: Chloe Wagner, Consul SK
Purebred Junior Bred Heifer
Champion Fladeland Marion 63M
RBPR Cattle Co. - Ruby Fehlauer, Calmar AB
Reserve RWG Parkland M320
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Purebred Senior Bred Heifer
Champion RTG Miss Crush M126
Rocky Top Gelbvieh, Bashaw AB Reserve RTG Tansy M141
Additional owner: Beamish Land & Cattle, Jarvie AB Reserve RWG Goodnight L415 (Reserve Champion)
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Additional owner: Keston Hollman, Red Deer County AB
Purebred Mature Cow/Calf Pair
Champion JML Kala 4K
JML Farms, Lamont AB
Purebred Junior Bull Calf
Champion BNH Nashville 26N
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB Reserve BNH Dreamer 22N
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB
Purebred Intermediate Bull Calf
Champion GAC Nile N201
Green Acres Cattle Company, Andrew AB Reserve DRT Lonesome Unlock 393N
Lonesome Dove Ranch, Ponteix SK
Purebred Senior Bull Calf
Champion TIP BLT Timbit 002N
Mackenzie Perras & Twin Springs Farm Ltd., Lloydminster SK
Additional Owner: Thackeray Land & Cattle, Weyburn SK
Reserve DVE Davidson Gent 30N
Davidson Gelbvieh, Ponteix SK
Purebred Junior Yearling Bull
Champion BNH Dream Come True 24M ET
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB
Reserve RWG Canadian Money M330 ET
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Purebred Senior Yearling Bull
Champion RTG Midnight Red M253 ET
Rocky Top Gelbvieh, Bashaw AB
Purebred 2 Year Old Bull
Champion RWG Loaded 3418 (Grand Champion)
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Additional owner: CDC Farms, Bashaw AB
Reserve IFG Ivers Alpine L351 ET (Reserve Champion)
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Purebred Get Of Sire
Champion JRI Wheres The Beef 307H40
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Reserve CIBS Dunbar 3962L
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Purebred Progeny of Dam
AWB Twin View Sugar 26F
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Purebred Breeder’s Herd
1- Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
2 -Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Premier Breeder & Exhibitor
BNH Livestock, Red Deer County AB
AWB Twin View Lexxus 58L
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Beamish Land & Cattle, Jarvie AB
RWG Goodnight L415
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Keston Hollman, Red Deer County AB
RWG Loaded 3418
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
CDC Farms, Bashaw AB
IFG Ivers Alpine L351 ET
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Juniors At Agribition
Cynthia Wirgau
12 juniors participated in a variety of events at Agribition.
Flynn Davidson showed in the Cloverbud Showmanship. Jaime and Cam Davidson participated in Intermediate Showmanship, Jaime came out of her split for the final drive.
A few members made rope halters. Thank you to Lane Robinson for instructing the juniors. They look forward to putting their halters to use.
Jaime Davidson won Junior Photography, while Raleigh Little won Senior Photography.
Juniors were split into teams for a Genetic Quiz. First went to Cam Davidson and Keston Hollman. 2nd place Jaime Davidson and Raleigh Little.
The week ended with the BMO Canadian Junior Beef Extreme. Champion Calf exhibited by Brayden Fladeland, Reserve
Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female exhibited by Wacey Hollman with RWG Parkland M320 while Reserve Champion shown by Brayden Fladeland with Fladeland Katie 36N ET.
Junior Grand Aggregrate was awarded to Jaime Davidson. Raleigh Little was awarded Senior Aggregrate. Keegan Little won a buckle for being the most enthusiastic junior.
Thank you to Davidson Gelbvieh for being the major sponsor for these junior events. Thank you to Bar GR Gelbvieh for sponsoring the photography section. It is great to see these juniors making new friendships, having fun and learning while at Agribition.
Additional owner: Beamish Land & Cattle, Jarvie AB
Purebred Junior Bull Calf
Champion RWG News Flash N491 ET
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Reserve Fladeland Ice Cube 28N
Fladeland Livestock, Gladmar SK
Purebred Intermediate Bull Calf
Champion DRT Lonesome Unlock 393N
Lonesome Dove Ranch, Ponteix SK
Reserve LCF Kings Legacy 118N
LCF Gelbvieh Livestock, Hazlet SK
Purebred Senior Bull Calf
Champion AWB Twin View FT Sedgwick 11N ET
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Reserve DVE Davidson Gent 30N
Davidson Gelbvieh, Ponteix SK
Purebred Yearling Bull
Champion TIP Marvel 310M
Thackeray Land & Cattle, Weyburn SK
Reserve BBG Maximus 36M
Braylen Blake Gelbvieh, Glentworth SK
Purebred 2 Year Old Bull
Champion RWG Loaded L418
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Additional owner: CDC Farms, Bashaw AB
Reserve IFG Ivers Apline L351 ET
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Progeny of Dam
Champion Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Reserve Braylen Blake Gelbvieh, Glentworth SK
Breeder’s Herd
Champion Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Additional Davidson Gelbvieh, Ponteix SK
Entries Lonesome Dove Ranch, Ponteix SK
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Get of Sire
Champion Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Reserve Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Premier Breeder & Exhibitor
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
Herdsman Award
Fladeland Livestock, Gladmar SK
RWG Goodnight L415
Royal Western Gelbvieh & Keston Hollman, Red Deer County AB
AWB Twin View Lexxus 58L
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK Beamish Land & Cattle, Jarvie AB
RWG Loaded L418
Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB CDC Farms, Bashaw AB
IFG Ivers Alpine L351 ET
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg SK
Sales Results
Function and Finesse 7.0 Sale Report
October 17th, 2025
Twin View Livestock, Parkbeg, SK
14 Heifer Calves averaged $8,820
15.5 Bred Females averaged $13,656
6 Embryos averaged $1,350
The high selling lot was the choice of either Lot 14A, half interest in AWB TWIN VIEW LEXXUS 58L, or Lot 14B, full interest in her heifer calf AWB TWIN VIEW LEXXUS 80N. Beamish Land and Cattle were the winning bidder at $25,000 and chose half interest in the cow. This pair went on to be Grand Champion Gelbvieh Female at Farmfair.
The high selling bred heifer was Lot 20, AWB TWIN VIEW MACY 84M. She was selected by Venture Livestock, Wayne and Anne Burgess, of Olds, Alberta for $15,500. Lot 28, AWB TWIN VIEW TRUFFLE 23M, sold for $15,000 to Goodview Gelbvieh. Unger Land and Livestock chose Lot 31, ZAL DIAMOND Z MY GIRL 48M, for $14,500.
In the heifer calves junior members were once again active bidders and the high seller was Lot 18, AWB TWIN VIEW BAHA 56N. She was selected by Kale Mackenzie for his developing Gelbvieh herd. Chloe Wagner made her first Gelbvieh purchase in Lot 7, AWB TWIN VIEW REBECCA 55N, for $13,000. Rebecca went on to be Reserve Senior Heifer Calf at both Farmfair and Agribition. Red Ridge Gelbvieh of Missouri purchased Lot 2, AWB JSJ/DJW/TVL GRACIE GAYLE 14N for $11,500. AKS Gelbvieh made the trip from Alberta to the sale and selected Lot 1, BLB GOODVIEW BROOK 544N for $11,000.
The Function and Finesse Sale group would like to thank everyone that supported the sale and invites them to Function and Finesse 8.0 on October 16th 2026.
Wish List Sale
December 6, 2025, Stettler AB
Heifer Calves - 8,900.00
Bred Heifers - 11,100.00
High-selling heifer calf, consigned by Jen-Ty Gelbvieh, was purchased by Shelby Horn for $24,000.
High-selling bred heifer, consigned by Pearson Farms, was purchased by Hillsdown Gelbvieh for $22,500.
Another fantastic Wish List weekend for the history books: from Friday afternoon festivities to the sale’s completion Saturday evening, the barn was filled with Gelbvieh enthusiasts, both purebred and commercial. This year’s donation heifer was donated by Twin View Livestock and raised over $14,700 for the association! Thank you VERY much, Aaron Birch and Joe Barnett at Twin View Livestock, for your support of the association.
We appreciate all the consignors, bidders and buyers who participate in the sale; without you and the strong lineup of females, we would not have the weekend that we all enjoy! See you all next year for the 2026 sale, Dec. 4-5.
The Gathering Sale
Dec 8, 2025
Red Deer County, AB
Hosted a large in person and large online crowd, with a high quality selection of Live Lots, Flush Opportunities, and Frozen Genetics. Selling Cattle to 3 Countries with a commanding $11,095.00 average.
With an expanded Jr. Incentive program giving back $4300.00 as we wish all the Juniors who purchased all the best in the 2026 show season.
The Destination Female Sale
November 19-20, 2025
Online with DLMS Farmgate Timed Auctions
Bred Heifers Averaged: $8826
Heifer Calves averaged: $6416
Embryos Averaged: $1250
High Selling bred heifer was Lot 7 - ULL MISS JEMMA 29M and she sold to Royal Western Gelbvieh for $14500
Another heifer that was liked by all that saw her was Lot 12 - FRSQ PRINCESS CARLA 24M and she sold to RPS Gelbvieh for $13500
Lot 1 -CLR Xanadu 20M ET was a fancy black bred that sold to Severtson Land & Cattle for $12500.
The Destination Sale group would like to say a big thank you to all those who bid and bought at the 3rd annual sale. We very much appreciate all the support each of our programs received. As well thank you to everyone who took the time to come see the cattle in person whether at the open house or the days leading up to the sale. We are already planning the 4th annual sale and are excited to offer more exciting Gelbvieh genetics in 2026!
Prairie Gelbvieh Alliance
December 13, 2025 in Mosse Jaw, SK Auctioneer: Ryan Hurlburt Ringmen: Scott Johnstone and Will Rosso Blockman: Ian Thackeray
The Prairie Gelbvieh Alliance group celebrated 25 years in grand style in the city of Moose Jaw’s historic Grant Hall hotel. The weekend event started out on Friday with viewing of the cattle at the Exhibition grounds followed by pizza and networking.
Saturday was a busy day with lots of people viewing the strong offering of Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics. At 6:00 pm everyone enjoyed a great meal in the Grant Hall ballroom with the sale starting at 7:00 pm. Here are some of the high selling lots.
High selling bred heifers
Lot 4 consigned by Thackeray Land & Cattle sold to Unger Land & Livestock and Cowlick Ranch for $20,000.
Lot 5 consigned by Thackeray Land & Cattle selling to Davidson Gelbvieh for $14,000.
Lot 20 consigned by Jonus Cattle selling to Fir River Livestock for $13,000.
High selling open heifers
Lot 1 consigned by Thackeray Land & Cattle sold to Rocking Arrow Gelbvieh for $13,000.
Lot 2 consigned by Perras and Twin Spring Farm sold to Maple Grove Gelbvieh for $10,000.
Lot 9 consigned by Hurlburt Livestock sold to JenTy Gelbvieh for $9,000.
Thank you to the buyers and bidders from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the USA. We appreciate all your interest over the past 25 years and look forward to the next. Planning is already under way for our next sale, Saturday, December 12, 2026.
GAABC Junior Incentive
The Gelbvieh Association of AB/BC is extremely proud of the Junior Incentive program, which continues to bring in new juniors showing and promoting Gelbvieh each year! In 2025, we had 35 juniors enter the draw, with a total of 134 entries. The junior incentive breeder’s purse was a total of $2,500. Which was won by Kaden Hollman. Kaden purchased AKS Nevada 31N from AKS Ranch.
Thank you to our Breeders’ Purse contributors
$500 - Milne’s Gelbvieh
$300 - JenTy Gelbvieh, JML Farms
$250 - Koziak Land & Cattle, Silver Line Farm, Brittain Farms
$200 - Pearson Farms
$150 - Hilltop Gelbvieh
$100 - Limestone Stock Farms, Dusty Rose Cattle, BNH Livestock
If you are interested in contributing to the breeder’s purse or have a gelbvieh project and would like to enter, contact Olivia Koziak at koziaklandandcattle@gmail.com 780-835-0264.
Entries open for the 2026 draw on January 1st, 2026. Best of luck to all our Gelbvieh juniors. Keep up the hard work and promoting our breed! Don’t forget to send us your photos!
“I would like to thank all of the 2026 Junior Incentive sponsors for giving juniors, like myself, the opportunity to add new genetics to my herd at a more affordable price. I am excited to be able to add a heifer from AKS Ranch. AKS Nevada 31N goes back to one of the first bulls that my parents sold as BNH Livestock and I am excited to get some of these genetics back in my own herd.” ~ Kaden Hollman
Above: AKS Nevada 31N
Right: Kaden Hollman at the Wish List Sale, Stettler AB
Junior incentive entry board
AD Index
Alberta
Bar GR Gelbvieh ................................................................46
January 15 - RPS Gelbvieh Private Treaty Opening Day, Medstead SK
Feb 14 - Prairie Hills Gelbvieh Annual Bull Sale, At the Ranch, Dickinson ND
February 14-16 - Draft Picks Open House, At Royal Western Gelbvieh, Red Deer County AB
February 17 - Draft Picks 2026 Bull & Commercial Heifer Sale at 1PM MST
February 27-28 - Gelbvieh Advantage Bull Sale, DLMS Farmgate Timed Auction
March 1 - Herd Assessment Due
March 1 - Flatland Ranch Open House at Flatland Ranch, 10AM to Dusk, Hanna AB
March 2 - Severtson Land & Cattle 33rd Bull Sale, At the Ranch, Innisfail, AB
March 3-4 - Jen-Ty Gelbviehs Annual Bull Sale, DLMS Farmgate Timed Auction
March 4-5 - Flatland Ranch Online Gelbvieh Bull Sale, DLMS Farmgate Timed Auction
March 6 - Davidson Gelbvieh & Lonesome Dove Ranch 37th Annual Bull Sale at 1PM CST, Ponteix SK
March 8-9 - Fladeland Livestock Online Bull Sale, DLMS Farmgate Timed Auction
March 11 - Twin View Livestock Bull Sale, At the Ranch, Parkbeg SK
March 12 - Prairie Power Gelbvieh Bull Sale, Olds Cow Palace, Olds AB
March 13-14 - Nelson Gelbvieh & Pin To Point Bull Sale, DLMS Farmgate Timed Auction
March 18 - Milne’s 34th Annual Bull Sale, Private Treaty Opening Day, Fairview AB
March 19 - Koziak Land & Cattle Private Treaty Bull sale Opening Day at 1PM MST, Lamont AB
March 23-24 - Gelbvieh Logic Bull Sale, DLMS Farmgate Timed Auction
July 15 - Junior Scholarship application Deadline
July 23-25 - Canadian National Junior Gelbvieh Show, Stettler AG Society Grounds, Stettler AB
July 25 - Canadian Gelbvieh Association AGM, Stettler AG Society Grounds, Stettler AB
Canadian Gelbvieh Association Notice of Annual General Meeting
July 25th, 2026 at 9:00AM MST, Stettler AG Society Grounds, Stettler AB
A block of rooms is available at the Ramada Stettler under Canadian Junior Gelbvieh Show
1. The CGA Constitution may be amended at any General meeting of the Association by affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present, but no amendment shall be valid until approved by the Minister of Agriculture of Canada and filed at the Department of Agriculture of Canada.
2. Notice of all proposed amendments shall be signed by two members in good standing and submitted to the Association at least forty five days in advance of a General Meeting and they shall be included in the Notice calling such meeting, otherwise the meeting shall have no power to deal with the same.
3. The Meeting has only power to deal with the Article and selection as stated in the Notice calling such meeting.
Members wishing to submit amendments to the CGA by-laws are requested to forward them to the CGA office by June 10th including the names of the active member moving the said changes and the seconder. Copies of CGA bylaws are available on request and are published on the CGA website.
Advertising Content
The Gelbvieh Guide assumes no responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of submitted advertising copy, and has the right to refuse any ad copy or photos. Advertisers shall indemnify and hold harmless the Guide containing pedigrees or statements regarding performance must conform to records kept by the Canadian Gelbvieh Association. Copy deviating from official records may be changed as necessary without advertiser consent.
Editorial Polilcy
Opinions expressed are the writers and not necessarily those of the Gelbvieh Guide or Canadian Gelbvieh Association. Photos are welcome, but no responsibility is assumed during transit or while in the office.
Publisher’s Statement: All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claim as its own, and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.
United States
This Spot Could Be Yours $180 / Year
This Spot Could Be Yours $180 / Year
This Spot Could Be Yours $180 / Year
Photo Contest
Congratulations 2025 Winners
Winners will receive a $150 credit to an ad in any issue of their choosing in the Gelbvieh Guide
