Cattle call for 50th Ag Ex in Brandon

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This article was published 25/10/2023 (792 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There are cattle as far as the eye can see on the Keystone Centre grounds in Brandon for the largest all-breeds cattle show in the province — Manitoba Ag Ex, which starts today.

Move-in day on Tuesday had an air of excitement for the exhibitors as they unloaded their livestock, took them to the washing area and laid out the estimated feed they’ll need for the next four days of competition.

“This show matters in many ways,” said Lois McRae, whose family operates Mar Mac Farms in Brandon. The very first Ag Ex was held in Brandon in 1973, and she and her cattle were there.

“We’ve been here every year for 50 years showing cattle. Today, we have Red Angus and Simmental, and my son has some Black Angus,” McRae said.

“But we feel this is important for local people to come, walk around, talk to producers and see how well we take care of our cattle. I don’t think people understand what it takes to produce the beef that they’re eating.

“So, it’s very important for us to care for our cattle to produce an exceptional product that is Canadian made.”

Every breed has its advantages and disadvantages, added McRae. But they like the Red Angus because it crosses well with other breeds, and produces “beef for the counters that is going to be acceptable with marbling and tenderness,” she said.

There are 623 head of cattle registered this year, taking up five of the six barns on the Keystone grounds. The sixth barn will be home to the Manitoba Sheep Association for its show, said Ag Ex co-chair Dallas Johnston, who is thrilled that the 50th annual event will be recorded as one of the most popular in history.

“We’ve had a great turnout,” Johnston said. “It’s the first year in I don’t know how long that when entries closed, we were full. And I might have my blinders on, but I tell everybody, this is the best facility in Canada with everything in one location.”

As Kaitlyn Nykoliation, her husband and dad give their bulls and heifers the first wash of the show, she said that coming from Douglas to Ag Ex is part of their lives every year and has become a family affair.

“We have Black Angus, Limousin and Lim-Flex, which is a cross of Angus and Limousin. Our bull calf is in the Jackpot Bull Show, and the heifer calves are in the Angus Show.

“My girls are in Saturday’s junior competition, and then there’s the all-breed showmanship,” Nykoliation said as she washed Kimber, one of their heifers.

First-time exhibitors, the Wilkinson family from Komarno, situated about an hour north of Winnipeg, say their Scottish Highland cattle with their horns and long thick coats are already stopping people in their tracks.

There weren’t enough other entries of the same breed, so the cows and bull won’t be competing, but they will be on display, said Fran Wilkinson.

“We love them. They have nice personalities and they’re easy going,” Wilkinson said. “The horns on the male face forwards and downwards, while the female’s go up. They use them to pull down young trees and then eat the leaves.”

The Scottish Highland breed is becoming more popular, added Wilkinson. It’s known for having lean, yet marbled meat.

“We’ve got about 40 head right now and still growing. They’re becoming a very popular breed, but at the moment, we’re just selling our cattle to the States,” Wilkinson said.

Aside from the classes and competition for best heifer, bull, showmanship, and the finale which will be the Supreme Breed Extravaganza, Ag Ex is about networking, supporting — even promoting the beef industry, said Johnston.

“The cattle business is a good business, and not only is it just a good feeling to sit around with your friends and share some laughs at the end of a show day, but we want the public to come out and see the hard work and dedication it takes to raise a healthy herd,” Johnston said.

There is no cost to attend Ag Ex or the trade show, which runs from today until Sunday at the Ag Centre of Excellence.

Friday night features the first-ever “Party in the Dirt” social, from 9 p.m. to midnight with live music from Hicktown.

Tickets are $10 and available at the door. For advance tickets, visit provincialexhibition.com.

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