Desired conformation for cattle?

Little Cow · Jan 3, 2007

Hi there,

A neighbor raises some Brahma crosses. He picks up steers for his daughter to compete with in 4-H. So, being the proud papa, he showed pictures of the animals she is preparing this year. The one he was the proudest of looked almost grotesque to me. This animal had the longest back I have ever seen. He was very well muscled forward and back, but I couldn't get past the elongated middle. He claims that "this is what folks are breeding for now". Could he be serious? Or, is this like comparing show dogs and show horses to family pets and working horses? Could this just be a strange local judge's opinion of beauty in a steer, or a trend with the 4-Hers? I was in 4-H myself, years ago, and our cattle always had a pleasing 'normal' look to them. This guy says he's aggressive with the growth hormones. Could that have caused the animal's shape? Thank you for your inputs.

backhoeboogie · Jan 3, 2007

It all depends. Long rib eye area is a plus.

IMHO show cattle are about "show". They are going to get over fed, pump full of growth stimulation, and pampered in an attempt to get the perfect "market" look. For a steer, it all seems to depend on what the judges think is a perfect market look.

When you go to the supermarket and buy steak, what do you look for? That is what a judge should be considering, IMHO. It can get political.

Good thing I am not a judge. I have been to many county fairs and often disagree with what is chosen as Grand Champion. Sometimes I get it right.

Little Cow · Jan 4, 2007

Thanks, Backhoe. I guess I'll just see the show cattle as a parallel universe. :shock:

My 4-H group must have been just a bunch of naive folks whose cattle looked like the animals from the ranch they came from. Of course, I am from out west, so maybe different rules apply than out here. I don't remember us using any kind of growth hormone. We fed the heck out of them, but they didn't have the Arnold Schwarznegger look to them. They just looked like better fed and well groomed versions of their brethen on the ranch.

dun · Jan 4, 2007

When our local fair started ultrasounding and making the ultrasound scores 60% of the final total for overall placements the calves started looking more like everyday cattle. It was starting to get over run with the club calf look. The first year they added ultrasound none of the clubby ones made the sale. That was the last of the club influence.

dun

Little Cow · Jan 4, 2007

Dun,

What were they looking for in the ultrasounds? Forgive me, it's been too many years since I've been around show cattle.

dun · Jan 4, 2007

Little Cow":1ua2xgpm said:
Dun,

What were they looking for in the ultrasounds? Forgive me, it's been too many years since I've been around show cattle.

They were graded on IMF, REA and backfat

dun