Welcome to Ole Farms

Red & Black Angus breeders at Athabasca, Alberta, Canada

Cattle bred for the ability to ‘Graze through the Snow’. At Ole Farms we are focused on profit over production. Meaning our program is built on high fertility and calving ease cattle with good maternal merit.

We select and breed our cattle to be deep, thick and easy fleshing with sound feet and udders and then we subject them to tough ranch conditions.

Our cows are not pampered. They must work for themselves. We have built a herd of easy fleshing cattle that graze all winter and hold condition.

Currently, Ole Farms runs 250 Commercial females, and a 1,500 Registered Black and Red Angus breeding females, along with a 1200-head feedlot. Ole Farms also produces cereal, forage, and pasture crops. Ole Farms Ltd. is currently operated by Kelly and Anna Olson, and their son and his wife, Graham and Leslie Olson.
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Get in touch.
We would love to hear from you.

 
 

Breeding Philosophy

We commit to these values everyday at Ole Farms

  1. The two most important factors in Western Canadian beef production, are weaning percentage related to cows exposed to bulls and winter feeding costs.

  2. We select for high fertility, calving ease with good maternal merit and the ability to graze through the winter and get bred back.

  3. Our herd NEVER have their feet trimmed, and we do not trim sale bulls hair before our sale. We think it is important that you see them in their natural style.

  4. Our industry is far too focused on production, we are focused on profit.

  5. Our cattle are not pushed, pampered or picked over.

 
 

Annual Going to Grass Sale

Female Sale

December 6, 2024

Bull Sale

February 17, 2025

 

Keep up to Date!

Everything on the cattle industry, ranch management and breeding tips. Follow along with the Ole Farms Blog!

 
Blog
Why to Breed Your Own Heifers (And What Bull to Buy)
Why to Breed Your Own Heifers (And What Bull to Buy)

Fertility and longevity are arguably the two most important traits in a profitable cow herd.

When selecting a bull, keep in mind the maternal characteristics in genetics of the bull you purchase.

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Calving Ease Top Priority when Selecting Heifer Bulls
Calving Ease Top Priority when Selecting Heifer Bulls

When it’s time to choose a heifer bull, expected progeny difference for calving ease tops one beef producer’s list. The birth weight expected progeny difference…

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The Dollars and Sense of Artificial Insemination
The Dollars and Sense of Artificial Insemination

Ole Farms, Alberta’s largest purebred red and black Angus operation, sees huge benefit from AI’ing on the farm. This past spring, they AI’ed 1170 cows (about 400 of which were heifers)…

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Recipient of Northlands Farm Family Award
Recipient of Northlands Farm Family Award

Athabasca County’s Olson Family has been recognized with a 2018 BMO Farm Family Award. The award was presented at the Farm Fair in Edmonton on November 9, 2018.

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Culling Cattle for Drought
Culling Cattle for Drought

Ole Farms at Athabasca, Alta., says the general rule of thumb is to cull hardest in the classes of cattle that won’t hurt you in the long term.

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Cull or Keep? Factors to Consider when Culling Cows
Cull or Keep? Factors to Consider when Culling Cows

The biggest factor for Ole Farms, a seedstock and commercial cattle producer from Athabasca, Alta., is her profit potential.

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Heifer Selection is in the Eye of the Beholder
Heifer Selection is in the Eye of the Beholder

Olson of Ole Farms, Athabasca, Alta., has had a lot of experience selecting heifers. His ranch raises seedstock as well as commercial cattle from 1,000 registered Angus cows and 500 commercial cows.

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