We are proud of:
Deeg Simmentals all started when I missed college because of a late harvest. When I missed out on college, Dad told me to borrow some money to buy some cows and take an artificial insemination course (to get rid of me!). I borrowed $10,000 and bought 32 cows. I took the AI course, and my full-time entry into the cattle business began.
The first year I bred Simmental, Maine, Limo and had been using Charolais since the mid 60’s. After calving that first mixed bag, I settled on Simmental and have never second guessed my decision.
Dave came back to farm in the mid 70’s and we bought some females together, that is when our partnership began.
In my AI course, I learned how to pregnancy test. We became a pregnancy testing team serving local operations. Dave managed the head gate, and I did the preg-checking. We used the money we earned to finance the only holiday we went on for the year – the Canadian Western Agribition.
In 1975, we sold our first ½ blood bulls and have raised and sold bulls every year since.
-Roger Deeg
After observing the Calgary Bull Sale for most of our lives, we started consigning bulls in 1986. Over the next 18 consecutive years, the Calgary Bull Sale was very good for us.
- Four Grand Champions
- Six Reserve Grand Champions
- Only breeders to outsell Hereford in 100 years
- In the last 10 years, we had seven consecutive high-sellers and 9/10 years we had the High Selling Bull.
In 2003, we felt the need to sell more bulls by public auction so we approached Westway Farms to hold a joint bull sale in 2004. We had 17 consecutive successful sales in Olds, AB with Westway Farms.
Accomplishments
- Survived ups and downs of cattle business.
- Formed a long-lasting partnership with Westway Farms the past 17 years.
- Learned by paying attention.
- Worked hard and reinvested it all back in our operation.
- Learned to do business in a straightforward ethical manner. The cattle business is full of good people.
- We give back to our breed. Roger served as a Director and President of both provincial and national associations. Dave was a Director on Alberta Cattle Breeders for a number of years.
So here we are. We have grown our cow herd to nearly 200 cows and our grain farm to 5,000 acres. Our family is grown – Jordan and Katie are at the helm and taking the operation to new highs. Their kids are the fifth generation to calve cows at the same location (if you don’t think Dane helps calve just ask him!)
So, I think the future of Deeg Simmental is in great hands.
-Roger Deeg
Our philosophy has always been:
