Their presence at Cattlemen’s Congress has grown significantly from the third Congress to the fourth Congress- and producers who are cheerleaders for Speckle Park are excited about to tell fellow cattle producers about this relatively young breed. Cory Ducherer and Janice Harasymchuk are both from Saskatchewan Canada and are at Cattlemen’s Congress to support American producers who have brought almost twice as many animals this year as last. Ducherer is actually a Charter member of the American Speckle Park Association that was formed in early 2021. Cory and his family have been involved with the breed in Canada since 1995 and have always been major advocates for the merits and advancement of the breed. His ranch, River Hill, has been involved in the establishment and development of the breed in many countries all over the world, including the United States.
Janice Harasymchuk is the current President of the Canadian Speckle Park Association and is an “At large” board member for the ASPA. They both visited with Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays after the Speckle Park Junior and Open Show on New Year’s Day. Listen to that conversation by clicking on the Audio Button above.
Ducherer tells Hays that the breed originated from Canada and was bred from Black Angus, Shorthorn and British White Park bloodlines. Speckle Park has had a closed herd book since 2006 and that was when they were recognized as a Breed. Ducherer and other Canadians have spread the breed across their country and beyond- into Europe, the United States, Australia and even to South America.
While Speckle Park cattle are genetically black with varying amounts of white in specific patterns, the speckle pattern is preferred. Ducherer says Speckle Park is bred to produce a high quality end product. “The carcass is almost second to none- they are high marbling, easy doing, high yielding, very high feed conversion rates- you put less feed in and get more pounds out.”
Harasymchuk says the eye appeal of the breed got her family’s attention and “because they were a Canadian breed that was developed in Canada- we thought that was pretty cool, too. What we learned later is that they have a lot more to offer the beef industry- their maternal traits, their feed conversion, their docility- we just love everything about them.”
Cattlemen’s Congress is featuring 25 breeds of beef cattle in 2024 and is the largest beef cattle show in North America. Learn more about Cattlemen’s Congress- click here for their website.
And click here for the schedule of the show- the sales and more that continue through January 11, 2024.
