For my school district's FFA show, all our animals come from one breeder & are picked at a selection. I'm pretty sure there'll be only a 30 minute pre-viewing before everyone goes in the order they were assigned for another 5 or 10 minutes of viewing and selecting. There will be garenteed something wrong with these animals (most breeders around here are pretty hardcore. Best being kept as stock and the rest sold) cow hocks, knocked knees, doesnt gain very fast, lazy, aggressive, messy front, and so on. Our school district isnt too huge on FFA and even less with steers due to price. I expect since this year the price increased 50%, that about 60 people will buy meaning about 100 calves will be there. What should I prioritize in that short of a time? My current steer is a wide and moderately (closer to heavy vs light) boned heavyweight. Through feeding, exercise and his genetics I put more pure meat on him than what is considered good even for commercial stock. This time around I was going to focus the most on length, lighter boned, then consider width. Any structural problems I wont be able to hide in the show ring, I wont consider that steer.
I'm also considering one for the county show on the condition my steer makes enough money. This calf will be more for first hand experience rather than winning show, but it'd be nice to make it to auction! If he does, I know where I'm going to get the calf but will only have about 5 months (the show is this October) What age is best for show? I'll have a range of 4 month olds to 1+ years if need be. I can even request a 3 month old to be weaned (he lets the cows do it but will cut them off at 7 months or on request) When I got my current steer, I was told 18 months is prime so I bought him last April as a 6 month old. I want to stick with a younger calf to again have a lighter steer but more allowance on bones and body but still focusing on length & structure.
Ideas or tips? The guy with the calves I want for county isnt as hardcore as others. Doesnt show but breeds for it. Though he doesnt creep or feed show feeds. That means they're pretty small but have good bull blood like Monopoly and Yellow Jacket. Should I be ready for a growth explosion once they go on full feed, hay and minerals?
I'm also considering one for the county show on the condition my steer makes enough money. This calf will be more for first hand experience rather than winning show, but it'd be nice to make it to auction! If he does, I know where I'm going to get the calf but will only have about 5 months (the show is this October) What age is best for show? I'll have a range of 4 month olds to 1+ years if need be. I can even request a 3 month old to be weaned (he lets the cows do it but will cut them off at 7 months or on request) When I got my current steer, I was told 18 months is prime so I bought him last April as a 6 month old. I want to stick with a younger calf to again have a lighter steer but more allowance on bones and body but still focusing on length & structure.
Ideas or tips? The guy with the calves I want for county isnt as hardcore as others. Doesnt show but breeds for it. Though he doesnt creep or feed show feeds. That means they're pretty small but have good bull blood like Monopoly and Yellow Jacket. Should I be ready for a growth explosion once they go on full feed, hay and minerals?