New to cows and showing.

[Jessie]

Hi there!

My uncle has offered to give me a calf for my birthday this March. He wants me to show it through High School (4-H and FFA). Can anyone tell me about showing cows? I've done halter classes with horses, is it anything like that? How different are show cows than horses to take care of? My uncle is going to help me with the training, and hopefully I'll be able to pick out a real young one. How old do the cows have to be before you start showing? If I pick one out, raise and train it over the summer would it be ready to show come next Fall? Or when are showing seasons? Thanks!

 

[Miss Daisy]

First off I am so happy for you! Showing an interest in cattle is awesome! Cattle are very different than horses to show, but its a similar idea. Having shown horses will give you a stronger start though. We buy our calves as 500-600lb weanlings in Novemberish. Pre-show is the last Saturday in March. Our final fair is the first of September. The calves are sold for slaughter and then we start over the next year. The calvf must be worked with everyday, first breaking him to lead and then into more "advanced" things. Has your uncle shown cattle? What county will you be showing in?



Feel free to email me [email protected]

 

[Miss Daisy]

Good Websites

General:
http://www.steerplanet.com/component/op ... /Itemid,1/
http://suwanneeriveryouthfair.org - Scroll down to the beef handbook and click away!
http://www.myshowbarn.com/home.php
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/
http://www.njaa.info/index.html
http://www.nalf.org/programs/juniors.html
http://www.jrhereford.org/tailored.aspx

On Feeding, Fitting, and Showing:
http://beef.osu.edu/library/show.html
http://dallas.tamu.edu/fitandshow/
http://www.sullivansupply.com
http://www.blueribbonshowsupply.com/

I am posting this assuming you will be showing beef. If not then disregard most of these. These are a few of my archived websites. Some of them I visit often and some I would have found very helpful as a beginner. I also recommend visiting YOUR fairs website and soaking up as much info as possible. Talk to EVERYONE in your town that shows or has to do with show cattle. Especially your ag advisor and 4H leaders.

Edited for incorrect spelling of website.

 

[Jessie]

Thanks for the information!

I don't think I could bear to send a calf off to slaughter after show season...can you show adult cows too? I'd like to keep one cow throughout my whole high school career (well...I'm already a sophomore).

Is it okay to start off a calf a few weeks after it's born? Like go ahead and start halter training and getting it used to being touched and bathed?

My uncle has not shown cattle but he raises them. My ag teacher would be helping me with showing and I also know 1 guy in my Lit class that shows cows, so I can talk to him.

Yes, I will be showing beef.

What do you mean by pre-show the last weekend in March? That's right before the show season?

Thanks!
Jessica

 

[shortstuff]

Thanks for the information!

I don't think I could bear to send a calf off to slaughter after show season...can you show adult cows too? I'd like to keep one cow throughout my whole high school career (well...I'm already a sophomore).

Is it okay to start off a calf a few weeks after it's born? Like go ahead and start halter training and getting it used to being touched and bathed?

My uncle has not shown cattle but he raises them. My ag teacher would be helping me with showing and I also know 1 guy in my Lit class that shows cows, so I can talk to him.

Yes, I will be showing beef.

What do you mean by pre-show the last weekend in March? That's right before the show season?

Thanks!
Jessica

Jessica,

My advice would be to pick a registered breed...

1st, you can buy heifer calves, raise them & then show them as a youth project (4H & FFA).

2nd, you can also show those calves at Open Breed Shows (Louisville, Denver, Kansas City, Houston, Billings, etc. & many State Fairs). Usually, you can show an animal until it is 3 or 4 years old at these shows & after that, you can show cow/calf pairs.

3rd, many breed associations also offer junior shows.

Of course, you can also show bulls at breed association shows.

There are many breeds to choose from, so do the research before just picking one.

Also, it may be advantageous to select a breed that offers a percentage registry (breed up program), that way you can cross & still register the calves. Just off the top of my head... Shorthorns, Maines & Lowlines are 3 breeds that register percentage cattle & have shows specifically for those percentage cattle.

I hope that helps.

 

[Miss Daisy]

Pre-show is where we weigh in and get the official ear tag for the fair. It also gives everyone a chance to get their calves out and introduce them to the show environment.

What kind of cattle does your uncle have (stock cows, feedlot, registered)? What breed? Do you only plan on showing through highschool? What do you plan on doing with your animal when you cannot show it anymore? Are you interested in heifers or bulls? It is possible to begin working with the calf very young but its not always neccesary. Its more of a personal preference. You would of course have to deal with the mother too thats why we start our calves after weaning so they are by themselves. Everyone does it different though theres no perfect way. The more you tell us about your situation the more we can help you!

 

[cattleluvr18]

first i would learn how to tell the difference between heifers, steers, bulls and cows. you'll get alot further then calling them 'cows' and 'adult cows'. i dont mean to come off rude or anything but you'll find things to be alot easier.