World Agriculture Directory: the home of the world's largest agriculture database. Fastest way to find events, farms and agribusiness that suit your needs. Agriculture Event Directory

Cattlemen Hall of FameBeef cattle barons, cowboys, breeders and builders from around the world

Cattle Breeders and Breed Pioneers

Bob Prestage of Wicklow Angus: Progeny Testing and Cattle Exports

An Alberta Angus breeder who tested bulls on their calves and sold genetics worldwide.

Who is Bob Prestage?

Bob Prestage is a Camrose, Alberta, Angus breeder who has worked in beef cattle breeding and genetic programs for more than 50 years. The Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame profile says he was inducted in 2016 for developing the beef cattle progeny test program and for founding Wicklow Angus.

He is also a former reeve of Camrose County and has contributed to youth and community organizations.

What is the beef progeny test program?

Progeny testing evaluates a bull by the performance of his calves rather than by his own looks. The Alberta profile says Prestage developed the program and that it improved the genetic quality of Canada's cattle industry. The Western Producer report on the 2016 inductees says he helped develop progeny testing programs for beef cattle.

The two sources word his role slightly differently, one saying developed and the other helped develop, so his exact share of the program is best read as a lead role in a wider effort.

What is Wicklow Angus?

Wicklow Angus is the Camrose breeding operation Prestage founded. The Alberta profile says it helped raise the profile of Angus beef in Canada and abroad. Details like acreage and herd size are not given in the sources, so they are left out.

His Angus background connects him to the breed's Alberta institutions, which is why the Alberta Angus Association named him a Breed Builder, an honor for ranches and breeders who shaped the breed in the province.

How did Prestage build an export trade?

He selected, processed and exported thousands of cattle to more than 20 countries, according to Alberta. He also shared his marketing expertise, hosted international delegations and judged cattle shows internationally.

After BSE was discovered in a Canadian-born cow and many countries banned Canadian beef and cattle, he marketed the first cattle sent to Russia, which the profile says helped Alberta's cattle industry recover.

The profile does not give dates or counts for individual shipments, so the scale is described only as thousands of cattle sent to more than 20 countries. It also does not name the buyers, which keeps this account to what the record states.

The Key to Prestage's Success

Prestage's work shows that genetics and marketing have to move together. A tested bull is only valuable if buyers hear about him, and Prestage did both parts for decades.

He also credits his family for their support, saying he could not have done it without them.

  • He built and used a progeny test program to measure bulls by their calves.
  • He founded Wicklow Angus as a base for breeding and selling seedstock.
  • He exported thousands of cattle to more than 20 countries.
  • He sent the first cattle to Russia after the BSE-related bans.
  • He hosted foreign delegations and judged cattle shows abroad to build relationships.

Honors

Besides the 2016 Alberta hall induction, Prestage was named Purebred Breeder of the Year in 2007 according to the Alberta Angus Association honors page. He is also in the association's Hall of Fame as a Breed Builder.

For more cattle breeding stories, see farm.FM's ranching pages or a farm.FM story about cattle genetics.

Timeline

  1. Early careerBegins work in Alberta beef breeding and genetic programs
  2. LaterDevelops the beef cattle progeny test program
  3. LaterFounds Wicklow Angus in Camrose
  4. 2007Named Purebred Breeder of the Year by the Alberta Angus Association
  5. After BSE bansMarkets the first cattle sent to Russia
  6. 2016Inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame

Frequently asked questions

Who is Bob Prestage?

Bob Prestage is a Camrose, Alberta, Angus breeder who founded Wicklow Angus and developed the beef progeny test program. He has more than 50 years in beef genetics and exported cattle to over 20 countries.

What is Wicklow Angus?

Wicklow Angus is Bob Prestage's Angus operation in Camrose, Alberta. According to the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame, it helped raise the profile of Angus beef in Canada and abroad.

What did Bob Prestage do after BSE?

After BSE led many countries to ban Canadian cattle, Prestage marketed the first cattle sent to Russia, which the Alberta hall of fame says helped the province's cattle industry recover.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

More from the hall