Coyote Flats Charolais Ltd.Farms & Ranches in Lethbridge County, Alberta

Farms & Ranches in Lethbridge County, Alberta

Coyote Flats Charolais Ltd. is a multigenerational family agricultural operation located in Lethbridge County, Alberta. The business combines four main divisions: a purebred Charolais cattle operation, feedlot, butcher shop, and farm. Together, these divisions create an integrated agricultural operation focused on quality cattle genetics, livestock production, locally raised beef, crop production, and long term relationships with cattle producers.

The family's agricultural history in Canada dates back to 1956, when Hank and Mary Lohues arrived from Holland in search of new opportunities. After years of farm labour and rented farmland, the family purchased a farm in the Chin area in 1969. The operation continued to grow as new generations joined the business and expanded its farming and livestock activities.

The purebred Charolais division began in 1990 with the purchase of nine cows. Through retained heifers and strategic herd acquisitions, the operation has grown to approximately 275 purebred females. Coyote Flats Charolais produces both yearling and two year old bulls and holds an annual bull sale in December.

Today, the farm, purebred Charolais herd, feedlot, and butcher shop complement one another by sharing resources, labour, equipment, crops, livestock knowledge, and generations of agricultural experience. The operation also incorporates irrigation efficiency, precision agriculture, regenerative agricultural practices, and other modern farming technologies to support productivity and soil health.

Purebred Charolais Cattle

Coyote Flats Charolais operates an established purebred Charolais breeding program focused on producing quality cattle for commercial and purebred cattle producers. The breeding program dates back to 1990 and has developed into a substantial herd of purebred females.

Purebred Charolais Bulls

One of the core products at Coyote Flats Charolais is purebred Charolais breeding bulls. Bulls are developed from the operation's breeding program with consideration given to genetics, structure, performance, maternal characteristics, and their potential contribution to commercial cattle operations.

Yearling Charolais Bulls

Coyote Flats Charolais offers yearling bulls from the portion of its cow herd that calves primarily from January through early March. These younger breeding bulls provide cattle producers with access to Coyote Flats genetics for their own breeding programs.

Two Year Old Charolais Bulls

The operation also produces two year old Charolais bulls. These bulls originate from a separate calving group that calves primarily between mid April and June, allowing Coyote Flats to provide both yearling and two year old options to bull buyers.

Annual Charolais Bull Sale

Coyote Flats Charolais conducts an annual bull sale on the second Friday of December. The sale gives commercial and purebred cattle producers an opportunity to evaluate and purchase genetics developed through the Coyote Flats breeding program.

The official website currently lists the 12th Annual Bull Sale for December 11, 2026.

Bull Sale Catalogues and Information

Coyote Flats provides detailed information about its annual bull offering, including sale catalogues and individual animal information. This helps prospective buyers research available cattle before making purchasing decisions.

Bull Videos

Videos of sale bulls are made available as part of the annual sale information. These videos allow prospective buyers to evaluate individual animals and better understand the offering before the sale.

Herd Sire Program

Coyote Flats maintains a group of carefully selected walking herd sires as part of its breeding strategy. Herd sires are selected to contribute desirable characteristics and genetics to future generations of Coyote Flats cattle.

Artificial Insemination Genetics

Artificial insemination is another component of the Coyote Flats breeding program. The operation uses selected AI sires to introduce specific genetics and bloodlines into its herd.

The AI program includes genetics chosen for characteristics such as performance, structure, length, muscle, calving ease, maternal qualities, and overall cattle quality.

Outcross Genetics

Coyote Flats uses selected outcross genetics within its AI program to introduce different pedigrees into the herd. This approach helps broaden genetic options while pursuing cattle with the characteristics desired by the operation.

Calving Ease Genetics

The breeding program includes sires recognized by Coyote Flats for calving ease characteristics. These genetics can be valuable when developing cattle intended to combine practical calving characteristics with quality and performance.

Performance Genetics

Performance is an important consideration within the Coyote Flats cattle program. The operation uses herd sires and AI genetics selected in part for their ability to add growth, length, muscle, structure, and performance to their progeny.

Maternal Genetics

The operation also values maternal traits within its cow herd. Its breeding program includes genetics associated with productive females and milk production, helping support the development of future generations of cattle.

Purebred Female Herd

Coyote Flats maintains approximately 275 purebred Charolais females. This female base forms the foundation of the breeding program and supports the production of both yearling and two year old bulls.

Two Group Calving Program

The purebred cow herd is managed in two separate calving groups. One calves primarily from January through early March to produce yearling sale bulls, while the second calves from approximately mid April through June to produce two year old bulls.

This system allows the operation to offer producers bulls at different ages while maintaining a structured breeding and development program.

Win Win Program

Coyote Flats offers its signature Win Win Program in connection with its bull sales. According to the company, every bull sold comes with a bid on the buyer's calves in the fall.

The program connects the purebred breeding operation directly with the feedlot and creates an ongoing relationship between Coyote Flats and its bull customers.

Calf Purchasing

Through the Win Win Program, Coyote Flats purchases calves for entry into its feedlot. The program provides participating cattle producers with another marketing opportunity for calves produced using Coyote Flats bulls.

Summer Calf Contracting

Coyote Flats states that it can also offer calf contracts during the summer months. This gives participating producers an opportunity to establish arrangements for their calves ahead of fall marketing.

Flexible Calf Delivery

The Win Win Program includes flexibility regarding calf delivery dates and times. This can help producers coordinate weaning and transportation according to the requirements of their cattle operation.

Government Inspected Weighing

Coyote Flats has a government inspected scale at its feedlot. Calves entering the program are weighed on the truck, with shrink determined according to a sliding scale based on the distance travelled to the feedlot.

Feedlot Operations

The feedlot is one of the four primary divisions of Coyote Flats Charolais. It works in conjunction with the purebred cattle and farming operations, allowing the business to follow cattle beyond the breeding stage.

Cattle Performance Tracking

The integrated feedlot allows Coyote Flats to track the performance of different bloodlines from weaning through slaughter. This provides the operation with practical information about how genetics perform farther along the beef production chain.

Cattle Health Feedback

Coyote Flats can provide producers participating in its program with feedback regarding the performance and health of their calves. This information can help customers better understand how their cattle performed after entering the feedlot.

Vaccination Management Support

The Win Win Program also allows Coyote Flats to work with cattle producers on vaccination decisions. Coordinating vaccination protocols can help calves arrive at the feedlot with health management that aligns with the feedlot's program.

Locally Raised Beef

Coyote Flats Charolais operates a licensed butcher shop offering locally raised beef. This division allows customers to purchase beef produced through the agricultural operation and have it prepared according to their specifications.

Whole Beef

Customers can purchase a whole animal through the Coyote Flats Butcher Shop. The butcher shop handles the aging, cutting, and wrapping process for the purchased beef.

Half Beef

Half animal purchases are available for customers who want a substantial quantity of locally raised beef without purchasing a complete animal.

Quarter Beef

Quarter animal purchases provide another option for households interested in buying locally raised beef in bulk while requiring less freezer capacity than a whole or half animal.

Beef Aging

According to the company's butcher shop information, beef is aged for 10 days before being cut and wrapped. Aging is part of the processing procedure used before the customer's order is prepared.

Custom Beef Cutting

Customers can have their purchased beef cut according to their specifications. This provides flexibility in deciding how the animal is divided into steaks, roasts, ground beef, and other cuts.

Beef Wrapping

After aging and cutting, Coyote Flats prepares and wraps the beef for the customer. This provides customers with packaged products ready to take home and store.

Premium Steaks

A whole beef order can include a selection of steaks as part of the customer's total beef package. This gives customers access to premium cuts alongside ground beef and other products from the same animal.

Beef Roasts

Roasts are another product available as part of bulk beef purchases. Customers can specify how they would like their beef prepared during the custom cutting process.

Beef Ribs

Bulk beef processing can include rib cuts, providing customers with another variety of locally raised beef from their purchased animal.

Brisket

Brisket can be included as part of the cuts produced from a whole animal, depending on the customer's cutting instructions.

Ground Beef

A significant portion of a processed animal can be prepared as ground beef. Customers can include ground beef in their customized bulk beef order alongside steaks, roasts, and other cuts.

Stew Meat

Stew meat can be included in the cutting and processing of locally raised beef, providing customers with convenient portions for slow cooking, soups, stews, and other meals.

Soup Bones

Customers purchasing bulk beef can also receive soup bones as part of the animal processing options.

Beef Patties

Beef patties are available as an additional processing option through the butcher shop. Additional costs may apply for this service.

Sausages

Customers can request sausages as an additional option when their beef is processed. According to the company, this service is available for an additional cost.

Farm Production

The farm division plays an important role in the overall Coyote Flats operation. Crops grown on the farm support both cash crop production and the livestock divisions.

Edible Bean Production

Coyote Flats produces edible beans as a cash crop. Edible bean production is one of the primary crop activities identified by the farm.

Wheat Production

Wheat is grown as part of the farm's crop rotation and agricultural production.

Barley Production

Coyote Flats grows barley, which also plays a role in supporting the operation's livestock activities.

Hybrid Rye Production

Hybrid rye is included among the crops produced on the farm and contributes to the diversity of the overall farming operation.

Oat Production

Oats are another crop grown by Coyote Flats as part of its integrated agricultural system.

Alfalfa Production

Coyote Flats grows alfalfa, an important forage crop that helps support its livestock operations.

Livestock Feed Production

Several of the crops grown by Coyote Flats play an important role in supporting the cattle and feedlot divisions. Integrating crop and livestock production allows resources from the farm to contribute directly to the livestock operation.

Irrigated Agriculture

Irrigation has played an important role in the development of the Coyote Flats farming operation. The business continues to place emphasis on irrigation efficiency as part of its modern agricultural practices.

Precision Agriculture

Coyote Flats incorporates precision agriculture technologies into its farm operation. Precision agriculture can help improve the management and efficiency of crop production by allowing farming decisions to be based on more detailed field information and technology.

Regenerative Agricultural Practices

The farm incorporates regenerative agricultural practices intended to protect and improve its soil. This reflects the operation's focus on maintaining productive farmland for future generations.

Integrated Crop and Livestock Farming

A defining characteristic of Coyote Flats is the integration of its farm, feedlot, purebred cattle herd, and butcher shop. These divisions share resources, labour, equipment, crops, livestock knowledge, and infrastructure.

This integrated structure allows the business to participate in multiple stages of agricultural production, beginning with crop and cattle production and extending through cattle feeding and locally raised beef.

Coyote Flats Charolais Ltd. represents an integrated Alberta agricultural operation built around family, cattle, farming, and long term industry relationships. Located in Lethbridge County, the business combines purebred Charolais breeding, annual bull sales, feedlot operations, locally raised beef, butcher services, and crop production within one multigenerational farming organization.

From developing Charolais genetics and producing yearling and two year old bulls to purchasing calves through the Win Win Program, tracking cattle performance, growing livestock feed, and offering locally raised beef through its licensed butcher shop, Coyote Flats participates in multiple stages of the beef and agricultural production process.

Its combination of established cattle genetics, practical feedlot experience, crop production, modern agricultural technology, and direct beef sales makes Coyote Flats Charolais Ltd. a distinctive agricultural business in Lethbridge County and Southern Alberta.