I don't understand

[Misty]

My son showed his steer at a very small show this evening. He won his class. His weight is 1320. He needs about 75# to be finished. The judge said, "this is the heaviest muscled, biggest topped, biggest stifled and biggest boned steer in the class. But at 1320, he is too big for industry standards".

how many other judges think that? By the way, our "real fair" is in exactly 3 weeks. He will be perfect by then. We will hold him the last couple of days to keep the weight at about 1370 or so.

 

[chippie]

What the judge meant is that the steer is larger than what would be desired from a commercial slaughter standpoint. He is too large to hang on the rail. When hung, he will probably be too long and be close to the floor and is much harder to harvest cuts from.

Very often at our progress shows and Fair, the Grand Champion usually comes out of the middle weight class.

 

[Misty]

I guess I should have worded it different. I know what he was implying, but since when is that too big?? He still judged it as a terminal show, not a progress show. The steer that won was great don't get me wrong, I am just curios as to other opinions as if that is indeed to big. When I drive down the road and look at cattle in feedlots, the finish pens have a majority of huge calves in them. There don't look to be a whole lot of 1200 and under calves in them.

 

[Avalon]

I agree with chippie. Just imagine how big he will be when he has the proper amount of finish. If a steer judge is looking at it properly it's all about economy efficiency and profitability. To some it would be like trying to build King ranch Trucks in a plant that is structured to build Ford escorts. Nothing fits right. Wether it be hanging, cutting on the table or boxing. Not sure if it is still that way but a few years ago I remeber hearing that a 13 inch ribeye was the pefect size that the bying public demanded. Seems like yours may have somewhere from a 16 to 18 inch ribeye. Most of my steer raising friends are going to great pains to down size their calf crops to accomadate the show ring as well as the feed lot.

 

[chippie]

Well part of the steer project is supposed to be growing the ideal market animal. If it is too big to process, then it isn't ideal.

Our kids used to participate in Livestock Judging contests. Many times in a steer class there would be this enormous awesome looking steer. He would be taller and heavier than the other 3. He usually was placed at the bottom of the class for being too big. When the official placings were announced with reasons why the classes were placed that way, it made sense and it was a good learning experience.

 

[Chris H]

At 1395, where you think he'll be finished, he is bumping the upper limits of the weight range. The judge may think he won't be properly finished by then, too.

Why don't you ask in the feedyard section what is considered the ideal weight at this time?

 

[Keren]

Does your steer show have weight specifications for the classes? Is there is maximum weight? Was he within the specifications?

If this steer was in the class specifications, then he shouldnt be discriminated against. If there is a certain weight that deems an animal unsuitable for the markets, then the cut off points for the classes should reflect this. If the show has a weight category for a 1320 lb steer, then one would think logically there would be a market for that beast.

In our steer shows, we have an upper and lower weight restriction. Only if they go above or below it, are they penalised in the show ring.

Similarly, I am running a goat carcase comp for early next year. The processor cannot process carcasses under 10kg, so if anything is under 26kg liveweight in the showring, it will get penalised. But it wont be penalised for being right on 26kg, because it is still within the limit and there is a market for it, even though the market for a 35kg wether is stronger and has more demand.

Does that make sense?

 

[Chris H]

I thought of this thread when the judge at our junior steer show yesterday picked a 1600 lb calf as the winner for his class. This show was divided by breed, not weight. He even commented about the carcass being outside the 600-900 lb desired carcass weight, but still picked him. Another class, he placed a 900 lb steer rather high and commented about it being near the bottom, but still within the desired carcass weight.
Bottom line, he's the judge, and he can say what he wants.

Overall I was not impressed with our judge, he was not consistent throughout the classes.

 

[Avalon]

I thought of this thread when the judge at our junior steer show yesterday picked a 1600 lb calf as the winner for his class. This show was divided by breed, not weight. He even commented about the carcass being outside the 600-900 lb desired carcass weight, but still picked him. Another class, he placed a 900 lb steer rather high and commented about it being near the bottom, but still within the desired carcass weight.
Bottom line, he's the judge, and he can say what he wants.

Overall I was not impressed with our judge, he was not consistent throughout the classes.

It's almost like the judge is saying, I what I should do but awe shucks I'm goin with the most stylish one....

 

[pdfangus]

Judges render OPINIONS

Opinions are like butt holes......

nearly everybody has one.

Most livestock judges simply render the current version of the conventional wisdom. conventional wisdom is migratory in nature.

if a 1320 lb steer is too big then we all need to get in the minature cattle business.
Or perhaps go ahead and transition to goats.

 

[Keren]

Judges render OPINIONS

Opinions are like butt holes......

nearly everybody has one.

Most livestock judges simply render the current version of the conventional wisdom. conventional wisdom is migratory in nature.

if a 1320 lb steer is too big then we all need to get in the minature cattle business.
Or perhaps go ahead and transition to goats.

Good idea pdf!!!

 

[Misty]

okay, the steer was weighed today and was still 1320 but he is putting on more cover. The magical number in our neck of the woods seems to be around 1350# . So we may not be skunked yet.

He is much smaller than last year's steer............what was that REA something like 19.97 or something. After holding he weighed in at 1438.
This steer is super heavy muscled.

 

[VCC]

What is the calf's hip height? If the calf is not overly tall and running at 1320 and only needs 75 pounds to be finished, you could easily weigh him in at 1325 finished.
You may just have had a judge who likes calves in 1250 range. Do you have a weigh back at your fair, if so what is the percentage?

You can get the calf to 1400 pounds and still weigh him in at 1325 with out hurting him at all. Start holding water back a couple days before the show, bucket water him with electrolytes and add a little water to his feed, hold water and feed on weigh day until after you weigh him. After you weigh him you start giving him a little water, a little feed and hay, every hour or so until he is full again.

Use the Cellarator Turbo Paste the day before you ship, the day you ship, and after you weigh the calf. This will help him keep his gut working properly.

You would not believe what many of your 1290 to 1320 pound champions' true weight really was.

 

[pdfangus]

What is the calf's hip height? If the calf is not overly tall and running at 1320 and only needs 75 pounds to be finished, you could easily weigh him in at 1325 finished.
You may just have had a judge who likes calves in 1250 range. Do you have a weigh back at your fair, if so what is the percentage?

You can get the calf to 1400 pounds and still weigh him in at 1325 with out hurting him at all. Start holding water back a couple days before the show, bucket water him with electrolytes and add a little water to his feed, hold water and feed on weigh day until after you weigh him. After you weigh him you start giving him a little water, a little feed and hay, every hour or so until he is full again.

Use the Cellarator Turbo Paste the day before you ship, the day you ship, and after you weigh the calf. This will help him keep his gut working properly.

You would not believe what many of your 1290 to 1320 pound champions' true weight really was.

Therein lies the problem with shows.

people will do all this to try to get around some "judge" who most likely has his head up his a$$ and has pre selected the winner based on who is on the halter.

 

[Misty]

we weighed in today at 1318. He has gained cover, looks good. We have two classes of 1300# range steers. (Only 4 and 5 in those classes.) He looks good.
Pray God is with us and his will is the same as ours!!!

 

[VCC]

Well, how did he do?

 

[Misty]

he won his class but needed a tad more....dang it. He looked good though. He goes to the feedlot today and we will get carcass results in October. Been busy with the state fair heifer and boer goat stuff.
Thanks for asking!!!

 

[show steer up]

:clap: :clap: Great Job :clap: :clap:

 

[VCC]

Great job, I hope He even does better next year; every year is a learning experience. Take what he learned this year and apply it to next year's project; you never know where you might end up.
When it comes down to the final drive, it is usually the person who knows how to feed them and meet their potential at the right time that wins.
Keep up the good work

 

[Misty]

Much to momma's dismay, he isn't showing next year. He likes to clip on the calves, but doesn't really care for the whole project. I can't make it my project, so I just sigh and move on. Pigs are his first love in the showring.
He has never shown a steer that hasn't won it's class, that would be 4 steers in 3 years. His goal is to qualify for the sale at state fair in the next couple of years with hogs and he would love to win showmanship. He only has 3 more years to do it and he's done.
Thanks, hope the show season was great to all and you have upcoming final shows it is great for you.
Misty