Caring for show livestock in the winter definitely has its advantages. Hair typically grows better. You don’t have to wait until late at night to turn out due to the heat. Flies are not a nuisance. However, there is a small, wingless creature that can have a significant impact on cattle, sheep, goats and pigs […]
Tag: Tips
Tips for Winter Skin and Hair Care
Keeping your show cattle looking good in the winter should be a snap, right? Turn them out in the cold, and let their hair grow. However, the bitter cold combined with the harsh winds sucks the moisture from the animals’ hide, leading to unhealthy skin and dried out hair, if not properly cared for. Especially if you are exhibiting […]
Winter Management: Controlling Stress in Varying Temperatures
As we move into winter, it is hard to know what the temperatures are going to be like. You might be bundled up tight for morning chores, but by noon are ready to start shedding layers as the sun warms us up. Imagine being a haired up show animal during this same time frame, except they can’t […]
Through the Judge’s Eyes: Scotten Sticks with the Basics, Looks for Animals to be 12 o’clock
Spencer Scotten knows what it takes to make a champion. And his criteria for a champion market goat or breeding doe probably aren’t too much different than any other judges since he’s looking for a balance of width, muscle, boldness, balance and structure. However, when an exhibitor hits the ring, his or her goat best be dialed […]
Through the Judge’s Eyes: Schaake Looks for Good First Impression
Trends can change with a blink of an eye when it comes to showing lambs, especially when it comes to chasing extremes. However, Scott Schaake prefers to stick to the basics when evaluating lambs and keep things “in the middle of the road.” “I’m not the norm when it comes to sheep because I’ve never […]
Through the Judge’s Eyes: Hoge Evaluates all Angles, Looks for Eye of a Tiger
Growing up, showing your own livestock and being the child of a distinguished livestock evaluator isn’t always easy. Just ask Mark Hoge. However, because he “suffered from the randomness of being Dan Hoge’s son,” he decided early on, if he was ever afforded the chance to judge a show, he would be positive and do what he believes in. “I always told myself if I ever got the […]