Sandy Bar Angus Ranch :: News

Sandy Bar Angus cattle sent to Russia
Aneroid, Saskatchewan
October 2007

A special thanks to Alta Exports - Gary Smith, Kate Kolstad and Bob Prestage for selecting a large group of bred heifers to go to Russia from the herds at Sandy Bar Ranch and Valley Blossom Ranch.

On October 23, 2007, Beau Switzer, Dr. Blaine Pickard, DVM and 24 Philipinos set sail from Trois Rivieres, Quebec to Russia. On board the "Shorthorn Express" were 2217 head of cattle. There were 1000 Black Angus bred heifers, 50 Black Angus bulls, 340 bred Polled Hereford heifers, 10 Polled Hereford bulls, 800 open Holstein heifers and 17 Holstein bulls on board.

The trip was originally going to be a 10 day journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Russia via the Mediterranean Sea, but because of bad weather and mechanical difficulties the trip ended up lasting 27 days.

The cattle for this sale were selected from all across Canada. The cattle had to be quarantined 21 days prior to delivery to Trois Rivieres, Quebec. The quarantine for our cattle was at the Cattle Creek Ranch, owned by Dave Flundra near Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. While they were there, CFIA tested the cattle for the health protocol, all tattoos were checked, RFID numbers read and then the Russian's selected the animals they wanted.

The western cattle were trucked to Lindsay, Ontario where they were quarantined, fed and rested then reloaded on the same trucks and hauled to the ship.

Feed, hay, pellets and bedding were loaded over 4 days, with the cattle loaded last prior to setting sail. The rest ... is history!