Showing cattle

[baileybear4]

I've never done it before but it is something I'm very interested in. I plan to go to an auction not this Thursday but the next and I have my heart set on purchasing a calf. I know that the calves at auctions usually aren't show material but I'm going to do this anyways. Please don't let the extensive list of questions turn you off...

1. Can you show any breed of cattle?
2. Can you show any sex?
3. Do you have to have papers on the animal?
4. Are there age limits? As in, can I show my cow throughout its entire life or only up to a certain age?
5. Where do I find out about shows?
6. Can adults show the animals?
7. How much do show cattle typically cost?
8. Are there different classes? (dairy, meat, etc)
9. If I were to purchase a calf at an auction could I show it?
10. Can you keep just one cow by itself?

 

[TigerLilly]

The only one of these I can answer is #10--cows are herd animals & as such do better with at least another cow.
As for the rest of your questions, I'm waiting to hear the answers as well!

 

[baileybear4]

Well even better. I'd like two calves

 

[TigerLilly]

Well even better. I'd like two calves

Sounds like a good reason to have more than one if you ask me! (That's the excuse I use for having more than one...or 2 or 4...and you cant have an odd # because one will feel left out!
I'm glad you posted this question--although I do not have time to show at this stage of my life, I'm thinking that it might be fun to do when I retire!

 

[WildRoseBeef]

I've never done it before but it is something I'm very interested in. I plan to go to an auction not this Thursday but the next and I have my heart set on purchasing a calf. I know that the calves at auctions usually aren't show material but I'm going to do this anyways. Please don't let the extensive list of questions turn you off...

1. Can you show any breed of cattle?
As far as I know, yes, you can even show crossbreds especially in a beef show-steer class. My cousin showed a charolais-hereford-cross steer in the local 4H (we don't have the FFA up here) and I think he either got first or second place in his class. But I don't think there's a commercial show for crossbred cows or bulls, they have to be purebred in order to be shown.
2. Can you show any sex?
That just depends on what class you're showing in. In most cases, yes.
3. Do you have to have papers on the animal?
Only if you're competing in a show with purebreds. You have to have proof that the animal you're showing IS pure and not straightbred or some mutt that looks like a certain breed but DNA tests show otherwise.
4. Are there age limits? As in, can I show my cow throughout its entire life or only up to a certain age?
For show steers, there's a certain age when you have to start training it for show up to the time when it is shown then slaughtered. Same with heifers. With cows and bulls, you can show at any age as long as they have the conformation that makes them competitive for the show ring. If they're too old they can miss out due to certain conformational flaws like a broken down udder, bad teeth, etc.
5. Where do I find out about shows?
Contact your local 4H or FFA chapter for information. Usually there's advertisements in a local newspaper or agricultural newspaper or magazine, or even asking at the feed store for anything.
6. Can adults show the animals?
You will have to check with your local 4H or FFA chapter. 4H and FFA only allow kids up to 18 years old to show livestock. Adults can show cattle if they have a registered herd they want to show off at the show ring.
7. How much do show cattle typically cost?
Can be any price. An animal isn't a show animal until you train it to be a show animal. Don't buy an animal that is too cheap, because you may get what you paid for. Don't try to look for something the most pricey because sometimes you could just get ripped off at the high price and the animal isn't as much of a show-winner as you thought he/she would be when you bought him.
8. Are there different classes? (dairy, meat, etc)
Yes. There are dairy and beef classes, purebred classes, cow-calf, bull and heifer classes, etc.
9. If I were to purchase a calf at an auction could I show it?
I would be really leery of buying ANYTHING at an auction. There's a reason animals are being sold through an auction and 9 times out of 10 they're culls, not animals suitable for show. Sure you can show it, but chances are you may not get any ribbons from it, not like if you went to a farm to look at and choose the animals there. Animals go through really quick at a salebarn (or auction) and simply will not give you enough time to analyze an animal for conformation, temperament, breed, or anything. You won't get any papers from an auction-bought animal either.
10. Can you keep just one cow by itself?

You could, but there's nothing wrong with keeping more than one. Cattle are herd animals and thrive best if with company of their own kind.

So what class are you interested in showing in, beef or dairy?

 

[jhm47]

Do a Google search for Lautner Farms, or a search for show cattle. You will find hundreds of sources and information.

 

[baileybear4]

I've never done it before but it is something I'm very interested in. I plan to go to an auction not this Thursday but the next and I have my heart set on purchasing a calf. I know that the calves at auctions usually aren't show material but I'm going to do this anyways. Please don't let the extensive list of questions turn you off...

1. Can you show any breed of cattle?
As far as I know, yes, you can even show crossbreds especially in a beef show-steer class. My cousin showed a charolais-hereford-cross steer in the local 4H (we don't have the FFA up here) and I think he either got first or second place in his class. But I don't think there's a commercial show for crossbred cows or bulls, they have to be purebred in order to be shown.
2. Can you show any sex?
That just depends on what class you're showing in. In most cases, yes.
3. Do you have to have papers on the animal?
Only if you're competing in a show with purebreds. You have to have proof that the animal you're showing IS pure and not straightbred or some mutt that looks like a certain breed but DNA tests show otherwise.
4. Are there age limits? As in, can I show my cow throughout its entire life or only up to a certain age?
For show steers, there's a certain age when you have to start training it for show up to the time when it is shown then slaughtered. Same with heifers. With cows and bulls, you can show at any age as long as they have the conformation that makes them competitive for the show ring. If they're too old they can miss out due to certain conformational flaws like a broken down udder, bad teeth, etc.
5. Where do I find out about shows?
Contact your local 4H or FFA chapter for information. Usually there's advertisements in a local newspaper or agricultural newspaper or magazine, or even asking at the feed store for anything.
6. Can adults show the animals?
You will have to check with your local 4H or FFA chapter. 4H and FFA only allow kids up to 18 years old to show livestock. Adults can show cattle if they have a registered herd they want to show off at the show ring.
7. How much do show cattle typically cost?
Can be any price. An animal isn't a show animal until you train it to be a show animal. Don't buy an animal that is too cheap, because you may get what you paid for. Don't try to look for something the most pricey because sometimes you could just get ripped off at the high price and the animal isn't as much of a show-winner as you thought he/she would be when you bought him.
8. Are there different classes? (dairy, meat, etc)
Yes. There are dairy and beef classes, purebred classes, cow-calf, bull and heifer classes, etc.
9. If I were to purchase a calf at an auction could I show it?
I would be really leery of buying ANYTHING at an auction. There's a reason animals are being sold through an auction and 9 times out of 10 they're culls, not animals suitable for show. Sure you can show it, but chances are you may not get any ribbons from it, not like if you went to a farm to look at and choose the animals there. Animals go through really quick at a salebarn (or auction) and simply will not give you enough time to analyze an animal for conformation, temperament, breed, or anything. You won't get any papers from an auction-bought animal either.
10. Can you keep just one cow by itself?

You could, but there's nothing wrong with keeping more than one. Cattle are herd animals and thrive best if with company of their own kind.

So what class are you interested in showing in, beef or dairy?

Thank you so so much for answering all of my questions. I know I should be leery of buying an animal at an auction but I feel its kind of like adopting an animal from a shelter. Maybe I'll get one from the auction as company for my show cow. That's sort of what I did with my goats. I just don't want to pay a ton of money for some fancy schmancy steer. I'm thinking beef. It seems to be simpler than dairy

 

[baileybear4]

Do a Google search for Lautner Farms, or a search for show cattle. You will find hundreds of sources and information.

Those are beautiful cows but jeeeeeeeezz those prices...

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Are you considering buying a beef steer or an actual cow like not the general term-cow but the mature-female-bovine cow? I'd be even more leery of buying a cow from an auction than what I mentioned above, even if it does seem to be adopting an animal from a shelter. But this is a show animal, not a family pet. You need to look for QUALITY, not something to adopt and care for. If you want to win, you need to be really careful in finding the animal that's best for the show ring. If not, and are simply trying to find something that gives you the experience of showing, caring for and owning an animal, well then that's a little different.

With steers, you will be hard-pressed to find a single steer that will be purchased for show. Most steers at the age/weight you need to start at to begin showing are sold in groups. That's why I say you're better off going to a farm or ranch (doesn't have to be a farm/ranch with a registered herd either) to look for a good animal to show than going through the auction.

Just remember that, if you buy a heifer instead of a steer, show heifers are the worse breeders. They often have way too much fat on them to be good enough to be used as a brood cow. Too much fat deposits in the udder and in and around the reproductive organs (vulva, vagina, ovaries, etc.) can make her have low fertility or a very poor milk producer. If you want to buy a heifer, get one for raising as a replacement ONLY for a starting cow-calf herd, not for show.

 

[baileybear4]

Are you considering buying a beef steer or an actual cow like not the general term-cow but the mature-female-bovine cow? I'd be even more leery of buying a cow from an auction than what I mentioned above, even if it does seem to be adopting an animal from a shelter. But this is a show animal, not a family pet. You need to look for QUALITY, not something to adopt and care for. If you want to win, you need to be really careful in finding the animal that's best for the show ring. If not, and are simply trying to find something that gives you the experience of showing, caring for and owning an animal, well then that's a little different.

With steers, you will be hard-pressed to find a single steer that will be purchased for show. Most steers at the age/weight you need to start at to begin showing are sold in groups. That's why I say you're better off going to a farm or ranch (doesn't have to be a farm/ranch with a registered herd either) to look for a good animal to show than going through the auction.

Just remember that, if you buy a heifer instead of a steer, show heifers are the worse breeders. They often have way too much fat on them to be good enough to be used as a brood cow. Too much fat deposits in the udder and in and around the reproductive organs (vulva, vagina, ovaries, etc.) can make her have low fertility or a very poor milk producer. If you want to buy a heifer, get one for raising as a replacement ONLY for a starting cow-calf herd, not for show.

I would get a beef steer not a mature female. I would rather get the cheaper animal and gain experience than spend the money on the quality animal just in case I don't like showing cows. I am notorious for trying something once and eagerly moving on to the next thing. If I decided not to continue showing after the first season then I would have a lovely animal but lots of wasted money (In my parent's eyes anyways).
It just seems more practical to get the best one I can at the auction for like 80 bucks and then have the rest of my funds to spend on the weigh ins, transportation, blood work, etc. As opposed to spending...a lot on a show animal and then not having enough left over to pay for all of the stuff I need to have done. I'm not really sure how much they are. I know a friend of mine has one thats worth 6000. I definitely can't afford that.
I know for sure that if I like it, I will definitely be making the investment in a show quality animal. I just want to be sure before I take the risk.
Do the steers have to be dehorned if they are going to be shown? What do you mean by "...get one for raising as a replacement ONLY for a starting cow-calf herd, not for show"?