Show Calves
Fall in the Midwest—it’s more than turning leaves and football. For those looking for their next set of show calves, it’s shopping at its finest. From Labor Day forward, there are pasture sales, online sales and private treaty sales daily. If you can’t find a show calf that meets your criteria, you probably need to start looking elsewhere.
But what should your criteria be? And when you get these show calves home, just exactly what are you going to do with them? Showing cattle is a fun and rewarding family project for many. Several of our Sure Champ® team grew up showing cattle. Now, we are teaching our kids, the next generation how the hard work at home pays off if they want to make it to the backdrop.
We’ll discuss more later how the nutritional supplements developed by Sure Champ can help you prep to win. However, if you are curious now, you can purchase them from our online store, take a look.
Selecting your Show Calf Prospect
Selecting your show calf prospect could potentially be the most enjoyable part of the project. First you and your parents or FFA advisor need to establish three key goals:
1. Know your endpoint and end goal.
If you are showing a steer, it might be a county or state fair you are aiming for. If it is a heifer, it might be a similar show scenario, or you might have different goals for her, different places to show like a breed junior national and breeding goals. Know why you are ultimately purchasing your animal and you will have a better direction on size, age, breed and other specifics to look for.
2. Know your budget.
Some people simply have more money than others. An established, realistic budget will help you decide where you can go and determine what type of animal you can buy. Have a budget established for your project that includes an expected cost for the calves, feed, bedding, entry fees, show supplies, and fencing/structural repairs.
3. Know the breeder/seller.
Who have you formed a good relationship with? Who will help with feeding/prep advice after the sale? Be sure you have a solid relationship built on trust with the person you would like to do business with.
Once you know your endpoint, set your budget and become familiar with a breeder or seller you trust, it is time to start looking for your show calves.
Selecting New Show Calves
As you start looking for a new show calf, it is important to keep in mind the priorities for both heifers and steers. The first priority for both steers and heifers should be structural correctness or soundness. Evaluate the future show calves from the ground up, starting with their structure. If your show calves can’t walk, they will likely not place very high.
Structural soundness should be evaluated from the ground up. First look at the animal’s foot size. Does the animal have a little, tiny foot on a small amount of bone? Or does it set down on a big, square foot and adequate bone? You want an animal that stands on a nice square foot, with a good set to its pastern and plenty of flexibility, which is why it is always important to watch them walk.
Moving up the skeleton, you want to make sure that the animal has a good set to its shoulder angle and knee; there should be a 45-degree angle to its shoulder and the knee should have the proper curvature of a banana or crescent shape.
Make sure the steer or heifer can get out and move with plenty of flexibility to its hip and hind leg. Finally, make sure the animal has natural, smooth joints as big joints indicate potential structural concerns which can lessen the long-term future and value of the animal.
Steering you in the Right Direction
When evaluating potential show steer prospects, after structure, you will want to look at muscle shape. You don’t need to pick out the heaviest-muscled, stoutest calf, but you do need to select one with indicators for future muscle development.
Some indicators of muscle are: width of the chest, width at the ground, added body and rib shape and a genuine shape or turn at the top side of his skeleton. All of these are good signs that as he grows and develops, he will continue to have some muscle as he reaches his desired endpoint.
Furthermore, you want to show calves that are balanced and eye-appealing. The parts of the steer’s body should be put together in a proportional package to give him a balanced, fat steer look.
Heifer Highlights
For show heifer prospects, you want to choose those that possess a productive and maternal look, after you evaluate their structural soundness. This entails having a good rib shape, curvature to her rib design, softness to her overall skeleton and power. The heifer needs to have long-tying muscle shape and dimension and not be just one-dimensional or flat.
Additional criteria are the heifer should look like a lady, with balance and a feminine shape to her head and neck and be clean through her throat. Other personal preferences for a heifer are breed and age.
Be sure to follow breed association guidelines to meet ownership rules if showing a registered heifer. And watch the ages, as some ages will only be able to show at a national show or state fair once in a show season or calendar year, depending on the rules.
Final Selection Criteria
You will likely want to ask the seller how past siblings and half-siblings to cattle you are interested in have performed. Perhaps this is your exhibitor’s first year with show calves, so disposition might be part of your selection criteria.
Although many online resources post photos and videos on the web, we highly recommend that you get a look at any animal you plan to purchase in person. If that simply isn’t possible, ask someone you trust completely to look at the animals you like in person.
Halter Breaking your Show Calves
Congratulations!
You studied the sales, and you have purchased your show calves for the new show season. Now it is time to get them acclimated to your barn and their new surroundings. One of the easiest ways to do that is to start the halter breaking process.
To succeed, you need to go slow with your cattle and make sure they get used to you, your sounds and your movements. Remember, working with show calves is like a relationship – it is all based on trust. First, start them in a smaller pen, and scratch them with a show stick or brush on them with a brush. Slowly work your way to putting their rope halter on them.
It’s important to tie your cattle each day, which eventually leads to daily rinsing and blowing. Once your calves are used to the halter and being tied, it is time to work on leading and showmanship. Showmanship practice between the exhibitor and the calf should be conducted each evening at home.
Practice leading, pulling in and setting the feet and legs with your show stick.
For a comprehensive guide on halter breaking, check out our blog discussing 6 steps to successfully break your calves.
Daily Hair Care
First impressions matter, and that is true for your show calves. That is why it is imperative to work hair and skin daily. Daily hair care is also a perfect time to build relationships between you and your calves while they are tied.
Tie your calves with their heads up, to limit movement. Rinse them from the top down. Make sure to rins their entire body, and cup their ears closed when rinsing their heads around their ears to avoid water from going in their ears. Once your calves are thoroughly rinsed, “squeegee” the water off of them with the back side or flat side of the scotch comb to remove excess water.
Then start working the hair up and forward with a rice root brush. Brush and brush and brush. Some will say you should brush until the animal is dry. Once you have brushed your animal, and the hair is laying in the direction you want it to lay, spray it with sheen. Brush the sheen in and start blowing it dry with your cattle blower.
Nutrition is Part of the Equation
Calf selection, halter breaking, showmanship practice and daily hair care are all important parts of taking care of show calves. Genetics are part of the equation when it comes time to prep to win. Selecting a structurally sound calf that has muscle and eye appeal is important, however, you need to optimize that phenotypic design with quality show cattle nutrition. That’s where supplements from Sure Champ can make a difference.
Sure Champ is a line of products that support the health and well-being of show livestock. Sure Champ products are powered by AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a research-proven prebiotic designed to enhance digestibility.
Since we know that 70% of the immune response starts in the digestive system, we know that a healthy gut leads to healthy animals, and healthier animals grow and perform better.
Let’s explore Sure Champ products designed especially for cattle:
Sure Champ Cattle
Sure Champ® Cattle is a pelleted, daily supplement with protein, vitamins and minerals for show livestock designed to support performance. It contains Amaferm, stimulates consistent appetite and ensures that cattle receive adequate vitamins and minerals.
Sure Champ Cattle Drench
Sure Champ® Cattle Drench is a drench for cattle designed to support digestive health before, during and after challenges. Formerly known as Vita Charge Cattle Drench, it contains enzymes that generate a more rapid digestive response. It also contains Amaferm and MOS (mannan oligosaccharides), which help normalize gut microflora and support the immune system.
More Sure Champ Products
Some Sure Champ products work on cattle and across species, like sheep, goats and pigs. Here’s a brief rundown. All of these, except Sure Champ® Joint Juice, contain Amaferm.
Sure Champ® Extreme with ClariFly®
Sure Champ Extreme with ClariFly is a pelleted, daily supplement for show livestock with ClariFly designed to support hoof health, hair coat, and performance when temperatures are above 70 degrees. Designed for all species, it contains Amaferm and MOS to help normalize gut microflora and support the immune system.
It also contains HEAT technology, a combination of essential oils and garlic, as well as ClariFly to support animals when heat and insects are a challenge.
Sure Champ® Liquid Boost®
Sure Champ Liquid Boost is a liquid for all livestock designed to provide immediate support to the animal’s digestive and immune systems. Formerly known as Vita Charge Liquid Boost, it contains both Amaferm and MOS and flavoring to help drive the intake of feed or water.
Sure Champ® Appetite Plus Gel
Sure Champ Appetite Plus Gel is a gel for all livestock designed to provide immediate support to the animal’s digestive and immune systems. Formerly known as Vita Charge Gel, it contains both Amaferm and MOS and works fast to support appetite and hydration.
Sure Champ® Climate Control Gel
Sure Champ Climate Control Gel is a gel for all livestock designed to support digestive health and recovery when temperatures are above 70 degrees. Formerly known as Vita Charge Climate Control, this gel contains Amaferm and HEAT technology, a combination of essential oils, to support animals when heat is a challenge. It promotes appetite and water intake.
Sure Champ® Clench Gel
Sure Champ Clench Gel is a gel for all livestock designed to support normal digestive function during occasional diarrhea/scours. Formerly known as Vita Charge Clench Gel, it includes Amaferm and MOS, and it contains electrolytes to support rehydration.
Sure Champ® Joint Juice
Sure Champ Joint Juice is a liquid product for livestock designed to support joint health utilizing patented technology. Joint Juice contains MHB3®, a patented high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid. It lubricates joints and supports mobility and soundness.
Show Day Prep
You’ve done your work at home—broken your show calves to lead and set up, worked hair and skin, and exercised daily. Show day is finally here! But so is a lot of final preparation in the fitting of your animal.
Sure Champ has compiled a show box checklist for your packing needs. That way, you never have to guess what you need to take when showing cattle.
- Wash your calf the morning of the show. You probably also have had your calf rough clipped out.
- Pay attention to the show order, speed and rhythm of the show judge and give yourself adequate time to fit or dress your calf prior to its class.
- Prior to your class, you will want to fit your calf. This can be done to varying degrees, depending on the show’s regulations and your experience levels. If the show is a “blow-and-go” or “no-fit show,” you will want to simply blow out your calf and go. If there are no specific fitting rules, you might want to fit the legs using clippers, adhesive and paint to make the leg bone look bigger.
- You will also want to ball the tail, fit the tailhead, clip the topline, head and neck. Whatever you choose to do, make sure your calf looks authentic. Judges will be able to tell the difference.
- It is important for your exhibitor to look as professional as its calf. Dark blue jeans with no holes are a must. A tucked-in shirt, preferably with a collar, gives the exhibitor a clean, crisp appearance. Ball caps should not be worn, and girls’ hair should be pulled out of their faces, so it is not a distraction.
The Final Word
Think back to that crisp fall day when you selected your show calves. It’s six months later at a state beef expo, where you just won your class! That hard work has definitely paid off.
Showing cattle, or any livestock for that matter, is a fun way to raise to raise kids. Young people should learn the responsibility of taking care of another being, and they should also learn the satisfaction of a job well done. Is it always easy? No. Is it always affordable? No.
Are you Prepped to Win?
Showing cattle is a fun endeavor. Breaking them to lead, the halter breaking, showmanship practice and hours on the wash rash all part of making your champion at home. We hope that part of your routine will include Sure Champ products.
You can get your Sure Champ products as easily as ordering online today.
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