HISTORY

The roots of the Calgary Bull Sale go back to Canada’s big ranching era. Following the later winter calving in the favorable climate of the Alberta foothills, ranchers gathered in Calgary to trade livestock in March in preparation for the spring and summer cattle breeding season. The mild winters allowed Calgary-area cattlemen to calve their cows earlier, buy bulls sooner, and turn their cattle out to range pastures earlier – therefore the Calgary ranchers also got the distinction as pacesetters among their western Canadian counterparts.

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That trend-setting distinction continues 100 years later as the Calgary Bull Sale is the benchmark for other bull sales across the prairie provinces. The Calgary Bull Sale often stands alone as the largest sale in terms of volume sold. The sale attracts Alberta’s top quality bulls and offers bulls to meet all ranchers’ budgets.

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Some interesting facts…
 

1901
The first Calgary Bull Sale
There were 64 consigned bulls.
Entry Fee: $1.00/head
Freight Charge: $2.00/head
Sale Average: $90.00
 

1913
By 1913, the sale average had gone up to $200!
 

1918
In 1918 there were 792 bulls consigned!
Not a bad increase in entries in 18 years!
 

2016
The Calgary Bull Sale moved from the Calgary Stampede Grounds to

the Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.