R Plus Simmentals purebred dispersal sale could be biggest in Canada

Dec 20, 2022

R Plus Simmentals has been a leader in purebred cattle for decades, but their time in the industry is nearing its end.

A dispersal sale on Dec. 21 and 22 at their farm west of Estevan will be for their entire purebred operation. A total of 950 live cattle will available. T Bar C Cattle Co. will be conducting the auction, and Chris Poley will be the auctioneer.

Marlin LeBlanc, who operates the farm with his wife Lucille, said they thought now was the time to retire.

"The purebred business is very demanding, and we just felt we wanted to slow down and maybe start to enjoy life a little bit," said Marlin LeBlanc. "We're 365 days a year, no days off, and it's demanding."

He expects it will be the biggest dispersal sale of its kind in Canada.

As a purebred operation, the LeBlancs face a lot of extra work. They have a lot of cattle on their land and having a purebred operation is even more time-consuming.

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Video: FLEECED! Sheep Shearer Hands Over Clippers!

It's sheep shearing day at Ewetopia Farms! ?? Our Dorset lambs and ewes are getting fleeced — and for the first time, our shearer hands over his clippers to a beginner. We finish shearing the last of our adult ewes and this year’s Dorset ewe lambs.

From moving the sheep between barns, loading them into chutes, and watching the wool come off, this is always one of the most satisfying days on the farm. But this video has a twist — we welcomed a new helper, Gian, who’s not only lending a hand but also learning how to shear! With guidance from our experienced shearer, he got a crash course in sheep shearing and even tried his hand at shearing a couple of lambs himself.

You’ll see firsthand how both teacher and student handled this unique challenge. Shearing is more than just removing wool — it’s about sheep health, comfort, and giving us a closer look at the flock. It’s always amazing to see the transformation from woolly sheep to freshly shorn ewes and lambs.