In Canada, the market for sheep is only around 40 per cent filled.
And Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board Executive Director, Gord Schroeder, with the 2017 Grasslands Sheep Exhibition wanted to highlight that at their weekend long show at the Humboldt Uniplex July 21-23.
“There’s a real optimistic atmosphere in the barns,” he said, with demonstrations and workshops regarding sheep handling and care and also information sessions from companies demonstrating their equipment.
With so few producers compared to the cattle industry, Schroeder says there is plenty of space for new producers. The exhibition is about getting producers together to promote that potential.
“There’s a lot of people here that don’t have sheep, they’re thinking of getting into it. It’s kind of a tire kicker event,” says Schroeder.
Prices and demand are strong with production at about 40 per cent. The demand within Saskatchewan is not at national levels and Schroeder says they are shipping a lot of product to the Toronto or Vancouver areas.
Schroeder says that 100,000 lambs are raised every year with around 75 per cent being exported out.
“There’s good money in it if it is done right,” says Schroeder so producers are in a good spot right now.
Sheep were also on display with a best in show competition for producers from both in and outside Saskatchewan with judge Brian Greaves.
Schroeder says there were around 150 sheep being shown and awarded before the auction on July 23.
Cliff Wiens of Wiens Livestock in Drake brought in four animals from his 80 head pure breed ewe production to show taking home some hardware.
Wiens started with sheep back when he was still in school, saying it was really easy just to buy two sheep and make some money on it.
It is a family business for Matt Govan out of Englefeld who was at the exhibition with his wife and children. With Govan away working off the farm, bringing sheep into their production meant his wife could easily handle care of their 120 head herd compared to if they had cattle.
“If they bump into you, you’re not going to fall over.”
Govan brought six animals to show, also taking home some hardware.
Schroeder says they were expecting prices to be strong with the best selling lot being a ram at $1,000. On average, rams went for $750-1,000 while the average ram lambs going for $450-900 while ewe lambs were going for around $300-500.
The wool industry has been expanding as well, Schroeder says this year they added a wool and fibre show with crafters putting their wool works on display, with everything from tapestries to clothing items.
“That’s brought a lot of people in. A lot of things are working well and we’re excited about this opportunity.”
