More than 130 premier bison to be auctioned Saturday at National Western Stock Show
Online bidding at Gold Trophy Sale gives extra opportunity for herd expansion
Bison producers looking to build their herds—and prospective producers interested in entering the growing business—will have an opportunity to bid on more than 130 head of the world’s top bison breeding stock at the National Bison Association’s Gold Trophy Sale at the National Western Stock Show Jan. 20.
The animals to be auctioned at 10:30 a.m. at the Stock Show Livestock Center Arena on Jan. 20 will include the Grand Champion Bull and Heifer as selected during the Gold Trophy Show on the Thursday and Friday prior to the sale. All bison in the sale represent premier breeding stock from 34 ranches throughout the United States and Canada.
In cooperation with liveauctions.tv, the National Bison Association will provide real-time online video streaming of the animals in the auction arena, and the ability to accept internet offers during the bidding. Bidders can simply visit www.liveauction.tv and select National Bison Association Gold Trophy Sale.
Dave Carter, executive director of the National Bison Association, said that the animals coming into the arena at the Gold Trophy Sale can provide a strong foundation for new and existing producers.
"Continued growing consumer demand for bison meat is underpinning the strength and profitability for bison ranchers today," Carter said. "There is a serious need for building herds, and the Gold Trophy Show and Sale is recognized as the premier event for buying quality breeding stock that will provide the foundation for existing producers and newcomers alike."
The consignment of animals scheduled at the Gold Trophy Sale includes nine 2-year-old bred heifers, 10 yearling heifers, 12 heifer calves, 12 2-year-old bulls, 23 yearling bulls and 15 bull calves. Also being auctioned on Saturday are seven pen-of-five "Ranch-Ready" yearling heifers, and four pen-of-five heifer calves.
Bison will begin arriving in The Yards at the Stock Show beginning Jan. 17. At 2 p.m. on Friday, the Bison Association’s Yard Crew will provide a demonstration on low stress-bison handling in the bison pens in The Yards. The Gold Trophy Show judges will provide remarks in The Yards at 8 a.m. on Saturday, prior to the sale.
The live animal sale will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Livestock Center Auction Arena in the National Western Yards. At 10 a.m., the association will auction 17 bison carcasses that were entered in the Market-Class competition.
"The live animal sale gives ranchers an opportunity to build their herds, and the market class competition is a great opportunity for local residents to bid on meat that can be cut and wrapped to their specification," Carter said.
Information on the annual Gold Trophy Show and Sale is available on the National Bison Association’s website, www.bisoncentral.com. Producers can also register for online bidding through the LiveAuction website at www.liveauction.tv.
