Are there dairy steers at your county or state fair?

[cedarcurve]

Just curious- list your state too if you don't mind.

 

[DiamondMCattle]

I've only seen it once at county fair. It was a little girl's first year showing market and it was her bucket calf from the year before. It obviously didn't do very well, but man did she love that thing and it was extremely tame. It was nice to be reminded that there is a purpose more than winning in showing cattle. The lessons learned and the bonds made are far more important, and that is often forgotten.

 

[iowabeef]

Northeast Iowa has a number of them at county fairs.

 

[cattlefarmer]

The Wisconsin state fair did have a dairy steer show, don't know if they still do.

 

[Boot Jack Bulls]

The Wisconsin state fair did have a dairy steer show, don't know if they still do.

Yes they still do. They have divisions for registered and crossbred dairy  steers. There are often some pretty great ones, but unfortunately, they must compete against all the beef breed divisions in supreme row, so they often are picked last for overall standings. Also, most county fairs that I have ever been to in WI have a dairy steer division. Again, hard to be competitive, but since it was at one time a dairy state, it would really kill the steer numbers at most counties shows (especially in the NW of WI) if that division did not exist. I think that at the MN state fair the dairy steers have their own supreme and do not have to compete with the beef steers for overall awards, but I'm not positive.

 

[breyfarm]

We have a dairy steer division in Darke County, Ohio. I would say close to 20 participants a year, guess I didnt know most county fairs didnt have this?

 

[flyintale]

The dairy steers out numbered the beef steers in my county in Indiana this year.  At the state fair they have a dairy steer class and they've recently added a dairy feeder calf class.

And...if I'm allowed to brag a little,  Both Grand Champion and Reserve Dairy steer came from my farm! I fed the champ, and we sold the reserve to a family as a bottle calf.

 

[ChristaCheatham]

At my local fair we have classes for them during the steer show like any other breed. We also have a Champion/Reserve dairy steer. The grand dairy steer steer gets to compete in the grand drive as well. I live in Indiana.

 

[mick rems]

The Wisconsin state fair did have a dairy steer show, don't know if they still do.

Yes they still do. They have divisions for registered and crossbred dairy  steers. There are often some pretty great ones, but unfortunately, they must compete against all the beef breed divisions in supreme row, so they often are picked last for overall standings. Also, most county fairs that I have ever been to in WI have a dairy steer division. Again, hard to be competitive, but since it was at one time a dairy state, it would really kill the steer numbers at most counties shows (especially in the NW of WI) if that division did not exist. I think that at the MN state fair the dairy steers have their own supreme and do not have to compete with the beef steers for overall awards, but I'm not positive.

the registered dairy steer champion goes in the blue ribbon sale. but the unregistered dairy steers are uneligibly for sale at wisconsin state fair.
yeah a lot of our counties have dairy steer classes. manitiowoc even has a dairy beef cross one, which is pointless as there is no guidelines for how much dairy and beef have to be in the steers. for it being a huge dairy county we only really have about 4 dairy steers there, and we lose a couple more people for showing dairy steers. 3 of the exhibitors are in college now.  but i know that brown county and kewaunee counties steer show pretty much relies on the dairy steers. also waupaca county has some pretty good dairy steers.

 

[Doublecreek Farms]

We also have a dairy steer class and a dairy feeder class. they both out number our beef classes. There are probally close to 80  market dairy steers at our county. I live in mercer county ohio.

 

[wonderchic]

I live in Ohio and we have them in our local county fair.  I think they are kinda silly, as the beef judge always picks the crossbred calves that are thicker (even though they are supposed to be 100% dairy) so using the right kind gets you nowhere, but they are a shorter and somewhat cheaper project than a fat steer and much tamer for younger kids so I guess they have their place.

 

[Dixie]

Far too many dairy market steers as well as dairy feeders at our county fair in Michigan. They have far out numbered our Beef steers for many years. At the present time the buyers are very discouraged with the feeder program as they are expected to purchase all of these animals that they have virtually no use for. Comments this year from buyers were, "I thought this feeder program would be a project that young kids would get into for two to three years to build their confidence and then move onto a beef steer not make it a project from year one until the end." I am thinking that they may be making some changes in the future. I also have been to a number of other county fairs in the area all of which are feeling over run with the dairy feeder project.

 

[LindseysMaine_Angus]

Just curious- list your state too if you don't mind.

Yeah Ive shown Dairy feeders at my fair for 5 years we had 100+ this year out county fair.. Michigan.

 

[Freddy]

Are they using dairy steers because of less money involved in project ,you would think there  would be some dairy people wake up and start promoting this ....I'm sure it increases the price on those caloves some .......Does any one have a a carcass contest against the beef cattle, if fed correctly they proably will have outstanding carcass .......Had a restuant guy said if handled right and reach 1400 and are fat they demand the most money .....

 

[skeeter20]

The family that has had grand and reserve reg. dairy steer(a few times) at the Wisconsin state fair is in our county. They take great pride in thier feed program to make the dairy steer stout enough to make the sale at state fair. Correct me if I am wrong, last year it sold for $15,000. So why would one try to feed a dairy steer for the state fair?????????????

 

[cedarcurve]

I think the key to winning the dairy steer shows-- is these 'dual' type shorthorns.  I know someone with a milker papers that would be glad to fix anyone who wanted up with some...

 

[aj]

I was gonna say that the next great Holstein bull will be a son of heatwave. I do get tired of every winning steer from 15 different breeds looking exactly alike cept for color. Its kinda of a joke.

 

[startingover]

Our county show is over 50% dairy steers. They have there place as our county has a lot of dairy farmers. However the parents and a few showman of the dairy steers are the worst complainers about the judging I have ever seen. We usually have a judge for two years but the last one was not asked back because of all the complaints from the dairy families. I thought he did a really good job. (we didn't win and we shouldn't have) Little did they know he runs a large meat market/ slaughter house and is the most qualified judge for the dairy steers we have ever had. It is very difficult for a "beef" judge to try to judge dairy steers. They are almost a diffrent species from beef steers. There are always a few bad eggs to spoil the party for everyone.

 

[mainecattlemother]

I am from West Central Minnesota and we have a registered and crossbred dairy show at our state fair.  They have their own Supreme Champ and it gets very very competitve.  They are in the running for free use of a Featherlite trailer for one year and then you have the option to purchase the trailer at about half cost.  Also they are competing for a spot in the auction.  I believe the dairy steer champ and reserve usually go for between 8 and 10K.  I definately think it is great they have their own division and dont have to compete with the regular beef steers and market heifers as it is hard for them to compete but there is definately some quality in these steers and a place for them in the industry.

 

[dutch pride]

Far too many dairy market steers as well as dairy feeders at our county fair in Michigan. They have far out numbered our Beef steers for many years. At the present time the buyers are very discouraged with the feeder program as they are expected to purchase all of these animals that they have virtually no use for. Comments this year from buyers were, "I thought this feeder program would be a project that young kids would get into for two to three years to build their confidence and then move onto a beef steer not make it a project from year one until the end." I am thinking that they may be making some changes in the future. I also have been to a number of other county fairs in the area all of which are feeling over run with the dairy feeder project.

I agree that the dairy feered calf program should be limited to kids 12 and under be we were told that we could not do that due to age discrimination issues. I know the feeder calf project is a shorted / cheaper way to go but as stated above, those calves do not perform well in the feedlot after being babied for so long. If a shorter project is wanted / needed then there are sheep, hogs, market goats for the 4-Her to work with.

DLZ