Mock show pics

[hillsdown]

Our mock show was Sunday , Ace had not been worked with since before Christmas so we weren't sure how he was going to do . Worked him for a few hours last week and the final day things clicked and he finally got it . Show went well and Matt did a pretty good job , Ace did phenomenal . Learned a ton about many different things so it was a fantastic day .If was a horrible day weather wise , snowed and rained all day and a lot of the animals (people too) were grumpy . ;-)

The tie up , getting them used to people and other animals .

Taking him out , leading and learning how to stand and set the feet etc.

This is the donation steer, last years brought in $13,500.00 for the Ronald McDonald house in Red Deer.


One thing us moms do is always feed the kids and dads very well , so as usual there was quite the spread put out from them and these are some cute cup cakes that were supplied.

The show and sale is June 1st and 2nd , so Ace will be getting clipped this week and then I will just have to touch him up before show. I am buying a blower , clippers etc , figure I will need them next fall anyways so I can work with him throughout the next few weeks and keep him clean , get him used to being shampooed .

There were a ton of nice looking steers there, a really nice uniform group for the most part . We still have a long way to go , getting him to hold hos head up , walking aside not in front but hopefully they will both get it by show time . :cowboy:

 

[3waycross]

That's one real fine calf Wanda.

You should be proud of the program that produced him. He's better than a lot of bull I have seen this year including some of mine :tiphat:

 

[bigbull338]

tell your nephew great job and you to miss hd.now your nephew needs to walk him everyday before the show.he is a good looking steer.

 

[hillsdown]

Thanks guys ! :tiphat:
One thing I know for sure is that it takes a heck of a lot of expensive feed to get them to look like this . He is a pic of the yearling bull that was lucky enough to be with the steers and get full feed. The 2 year olds tried to kill him so I had to move him to the only place I had where there were no females .

13 months old in the pic and semen tested really well ,scrotal was 40 cm. Same sire as my late Precision bull .




Crappy pictures , sorry . I sold him for a crazy deal that I am kicking myself for now , but I just wanted him gone because he was costing me a fortune in feed . So far the 2 steers and 1 bull have eaten over 5 thousand in starter and finisher ration since the middle of November . :devil2:

 

[Aaron]

Nice steers. What are the clover shapes made of in the 4-H cupcakes?

 

[Nesikep]

Aaron, I was wondering that too!

I like that second bull you posted, he's my type! For a crazy deal I'd drive out to your place to pick him up :O

Hope the real show goes well for you!

 

[branguscowgirl]

Nice steer! It sure is good for the kids to be involved in all that!

 

[bigbull338]

miss hd i priced a custom mix show feed that i used to feed 35yrs ago.and it was $24.50/100 now.mind you it was real high 35yrs ago.did you get the show steer up 25lbs a day on feed.

 

[VCC]

Hillsdown, first calves look good, and kids look like they are having fun.
To get them used to keeping their head up, we tie the calves for an hour a day with their head up, just above where you want it to be when on the lead, there is nothing worse than a heavy headed calf, especially for younger kids, they can get plain tuckered out just trying to keep the head up the whole time.
As far as setting up, we tie the calves during the day the last 3 months, we keep them out of the sun and cooler to get some hair on them, the boys rinsed twice a day, once is fine, and soap them once a week, keeps from pulling all the oils out of their hair. We rinse to help grow hair but it also plays a big part in getting the hair to go the way you want it.
We do not get a lot of hair on our calves but the hair we have goes the right way and helps the calf look fresher, rinse then comb the hair forward at a 45% angle upward, then blow them out in the same direction. On the legs you comb and blow it upward. The leg hair gives the impression of a little more bone.
This is where the setting up comes in, at the end of the day just before the calves get turned loose for the night they have to set up, whether it takes 15 minutes or 2 seconds they have to set up and stand. The calves figure this out pretty quick, the sooner they do want you want the sooner they get turned loose. The key is getting them to step into setting up, instead of stopping them in a full stride you want to stop them in the middle of their stride so they are close to square when they stop. Some calves do not like their feet messed with that much so we also tell the kids close is good enough, more times than not if you try to get them perfect, they start fighting you and it gets worse not better.
I think the daily rinsing helps calm them down and get used to being messed with more than anything, it pays off big at the fair, calves that have a routine seem to adjust to the fair more than claves who are not worked with daily.
Kids look like they are doing a great job, keep it up.

 

[Limomike]

looks like a great time had by all. thanks for sharing!

 

[hillsdown]

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. :tiphat:

Nesi, I have saved 3 red bull calves from Precisions calf crop , will let you know how they look in the fall.

Big Bull they have been eating 34 pounds of 4H finisher a day since March .

VCC, thank you so much for all of the direction and suggestions . It is still really cold here , too much to rinse him daily as we do not have a barn but I will make sure we tie him so he gets used to his head up and love the idea about setting him . That will mean that Matt doesn't get to be done that day either until he gets him set up , more incentive for him to do it right the first time , and it will take time out of his TV watching . ;-) As soon as it warms up I will try to take the time to rinse and blow him out daily . I was also told to rinse them with vinegar water as it helps to restore the natural oils in them .

Aaron , the clovers are just green chocolate hearts , really easy to make .

 

[CKC1586]

Steer looks good , so does the young man! The more attention the steer gets from his handler the better he will respond. Also will build confidence in both. Lots of work but the satisfaction of a a job well done is a big reward. Best of luck and have fun.

 

[hillsdown]

Thanks CKC !

 

[chippie]

The mock show sounds like it was a very positive experience.
I hope that he does well, and has a good time.

I alway love seeing your photos. You have such nice livestock. Something to be proud of for sure : )

 

[hillsdown]

Thanks Chippie ! He is coming along , but dang that is one heavy head . Matthew has it easier than I do because of his height , I think hubby and I are too tall lead him and keep his head up so our arms ache after a few rounds :lol: I am full of regret every time I see Ace that I was so darn quick with the bander , he was definitely meant to be a bull .

Thank you all so very much for your guidance and advice and also all of the pm's we have received too with fantastic advice and tips for us newbies . It is greatly appreciated ! We will have to put up a big thank you sign to the good folks here on CT above Ace's show stall . :tiphat:

 

[chippie]

Your welcome!
Have you all tried tying the steers head up for quite a while to help teach him to lift it? We have had them like that, and standing tied everyday for an hour or two sure helped the steer or heifer learn to lift it's head when being lead. They would be tied high in the stall and in the trim chute while being groomed.

 

[hillsdown]

I bought some new clippers, a blower and a whole bunch of show supplies today , I figure I will need them anyways so I might as well have them on hand . Now to explain to my accountant for this ridiculous expenses .. :???:

Here are a few pics after his first wash and blow out.
Scrubbed clean , all knots out ( I used coconut oil ) then washed him well with Moroccan oil shampoo and conditioner .






Back in his home with his buddy Sal. He needs a few more blow outs and a wash or two before we do the final trim and fit for show.

Here is a pic of a yearling bull I sold out of Ace's grandma this year .

 

[branguscowgirl]

He looks good HD! And I bet he smells wonderful!

 

[bigbull338]

looking real good miss HD.youll need those show supplies for years to come.

 

[3waycross]

Nice calf Hillsdown. You're right you probably shoulda let him keep those family jewels.