Yesterday kicked off the Purebred Beef Events at Canadian Western Agribition.

There’s a lot of excitement on the grounds with the new International Business Centre fully open and home to 550 head of cattle along with the new Chevrolet GMC Arena.

Barry Young is on the Beef Committee and said yesterday was a big day in the arena with the First Lady Classic and Futurity and the President’s Classic.

"We've got 11 beef breeds involved in both sides of the ring, with over 100 entries on both sides. It's going to be a great show in a brand-new facility of course. A brand new show ring. The show is on the internet for anybody that might be interested. It really is a showcase, because it involves everybody in the barns. So it's a classic event for anybody who wants to evaluate cattle and the different breeds and how they appear."

Young said the shows features the best of the best in the cattle sector from all across Canada adding it’s a huge honor to win.

For 2017, beef numbers are on a five year high, with over 21 hundred head of cattle on the grounds.

"All the breeders need to be commended," said Young. "The strength of the cattle from end to end is phenomenal. They're just fantastic. It's a great example of the dedication that the purebred breeders have in this country to produce world-class livestock."