Heifer Show Winners -- "The Look"

[GoWyo]

Watching some shows over the past month and perusing the show results, it appears to me that the judges are picking heifers that are more rectangular in their body shape rather than the wedge shape.  These heifers appear to me to be less feminine and plainer made than just a year or two ago.  Maybe the show world has passed me by.  Any thoughts from folks on the Planet?

 

[cowboy_nyk]

I know what you're saying.  The line between what I would call a Market Heifer and a Breeding Heifer are becoming blurred in some cases.  Certainly it seems to be more of an issue in Jackpot type shows where it's not clear which type is being chosen.  Typically in breed shows it's obvious that breeding type is preferred and the wedge shape females are still coming out on top.

 

[GoWyo]

This is an example of what I am seeing -- Reserve Champion Simmental Heifer

http://pulse.sullivansupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/kaitres.jpeg-copy.jpg

and this:

http://pulse.sullivansupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/res_comm_IMG_8356.jpg

versus this:

http://pulse.sullivansupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1ChShorthornPlusFLJS_6319.jpg

 

[CAB]

It's all about guts and volume! Sometimes that's not too pretty to look at. Just ask anyone that has to see me :-\

 

[shortyjock89]

This is an example of what I am seeing -- Reserve Champion Simmental Heifer

http://pulse.sullivansupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/kaitres.jpeg-copy.jpg

Well, the thing is, those first two suck, and the last one is quite good. I think we're still getting maternal, wedge shaped winners at the top end shows. Look at the sisters that won IL and IN. Pretty maternal and not at all boxy.

and this:

http://pulse.sullivansupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/res_comm_IMG_8356.jpg

versus this:

http://pulse.sullivansupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1ChShorthornPlusFLJS_6319.jpg

 

[cowboy_nyk]

The simmy is maybe a bad example. Leather up front doesn't mean she isn't a wedge shape; just not pretty.  That's just a more traditional breed trait.  The commercial heifer you posted looks like a perfect example though.  Market heifer written all over her.

 

[cowboy_nyk]

Well, the thing is, those first two suck, and the last one is quite good. I think we're still getting maternal, wedge shaped winners at the top end shows. Look at the sisters that won IL and IN. Pretty maternal and not at all boxy.

Good point.  Sometime a judge has limited options at the smaller shows.  Gotta work with what's out there.

 

[GoWyo]

Is Missouri State Fair small in the breed shows?  I saw same thing in other places with the rectangular steer looking females beating the broody types apparently more on muscle.  They were not overly muscled and had decent spring of rib, but had a little more muscle than the broody types and did not appear to be as feminine in my opinion (which no one was paying for).

 

[oakview]

The extreme depth in some of the Shorthorn winners has become more and more apparent in the past few years.  Photos of the winners from the recent Iowa State Fair really show it.  Some neighbors that came to watch the grandkids show commented about "how fat the winners look."  My response was that judges don't consider it fat, it's depth.  I can't even begin to count the number of products that are sold to provide "depth" for cattle, hogs, and sheep.  We took several very, very good heifers to the fair, but could not compete depth wise with the winners of the classes.  It was our bad luck to get in the same classes as the "masters" but April heifers are April heifers and September heifers are September heifers. 

 

[CAB]

JMO, if you really look at the numbers, this club calf / show calf / big money deal is dwindling down a bunch. There are not very big numbers at many of the State Fairs. You can easily figure that out by looking in the back grounds of the pictures that are taken and the number of calves per class in the printed class break downs at the various fairs. There are not many cattle at the shows or people in the stands watching the cattle shows any longer. That's part of the reason we are seeing some of the bigger outfits leaving the north and heading to Texas. To find a larger number of families that are willing to spend good coin for project calves. The mid level buyers are not there like they were 5 to 10 years ago. They just can't pay the money that they were paying for calves or afford the feed bills that they think are required to compete.

 

[oakview]

Numbers have dwindled, but I've really noticed that many cattle that are actually at the fair do not end up in the show ring after the class splits are made.  That happened in both of our classes at the state fair this year.  Lots of cattle are "weeded out" earlier in the week in the junior shows.  They got beat by so and so and assume they can't compete in the open show, so why stick around?  Both heifers that won our classes did likewise at the NJSS.  They will continue to lead the way in their classes this entire show year.  The second place heifers in our classes have been extremely competitive at national level shows as well.  One was 2nd at the NJSS.  I believe the other was the reserve champion in the 4-H show.  The two class winners were shown by the owners, the second place winners were purchased for what to me is a lot of money.  Should we have stayed home?  Our heifers looked very good in the ring, we had lots of compliments, the kids spent a lot of time working on them, had a lot of fun, and are already looking forward to next year.  There's more to it than just taking home a blue ribbon.

 

[ai er]

JMO, if you really look at the numbers, this club calf / show calf / big money deal is dwindling down a bunch. There are not very big numbers at many of the State Fairs. You can easily figure that out by looking in the back grounds of the pictures that are taken and the number of calves per class in the printed class break downs at the various fairs. There are not many cattle at the shows or people in the stands watching the cattle shows any longer. That's part of the reason we are seeing some of the bigger outfits leaving the north and heading to Texas. To find a larger number of families that are willing to spend good coin for project calves. The mid level buyers are not there like they were 5 to 10 years ago. They just can't pay the money that they were paying for calves or afford the feed bills that they think are required to compete.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.  I can remember 25 years ago when the Ohio State Fair had like over 400 steers there.  Now it's like 160 head.  Kinda sad.

 

[BroncoFan]

JMO, if you really look at the numbers, this club calf / show calf / big money deal is dwindling down a bunch. There are not very big numbers at many of the State Fairs. You can easily figure that out by looking in the back grounds of the pictures that are taken and the number of calves per class in the printed class break downs at the various fairs. There are not many cattle at the shows or people in the stands watching the cattle shows any longer. That's part of the reason we are seeing some of the bigger outfits leaving the north and heading to Texas. To find a larger number of families that are willing to spend good coin for project calves. The mid level buyers are not there like they were 5 to 10 years ago. They just can't pay the money that they were paying for calves or afford the feed bills that they think are required to compete.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.  I can remember 25 years ago when the Ohio State Fair had like over 400 steers there.  Now it's like 160 head.  Kinda sad.

The question I wonder is are the kids making a profit or at least breaking even from jackpots or from the terminal fair? Might turn some away if they don't. I guess another challenge is bring in new blood once kids get too old to show 4H or FFA.

 

[shortyjock89]

And yet, there are national Jr heifer shows that are posting record attendences.

It still takes basically two full days to judge the heifer show at IL, and our steer show takes one huge day to get through.

I don't think all shows are dying out, but it's as important as ever to be able to find affordable calves that can compete. And I think 95% of families out there are too lazy to learn how to do that.

 

[BroncoFan]

And yet, there are national Jr heifer shows that are posting record attendences.

It still takes basically two full days to judge the heifer show at IL, and our steer show takes one huge day to get through.

I don't think all shows are dying out, but it's as important as ever to be able to find affordable calves that can compete. And I think 95% of families out there are too lazy to learn how to do that.

Amen! There are sleepers everywhere.

 

[Medium Rare]

Numbers have dwindled, but I've really noticed that many cattle that are actually at the fair do not end up in the show ring after the class splits are made.  That happened in both of our classes at the state fair this year.  Lots of cattle are "weeded out" earlier in the week in the junior shows.  They got beat by so and so and assume they can't compete in the open show, so why stick around?  Both heifers that won our classes did likewise at the NJSS.  They will continue to lead the way in their classes this entire show year.  The second place heifers in our classes have been extremely competitive at national level shows as well.  One was 2nd at the NJSS.  I believe the other was the reserve champion in the 4-H show.  The two class winners were shown by the owners, the second place winners were purchased for what to me is a lot of money.  Should we have stayed home?  Our heifers looked very good in the ring, we had lots of compliments, the kids spent a lot of time working on them, had a lot of fun, and are already looking forward to next year.  There's more to it than just taking home a blue ribbon.

I agree, there is way more to it than the ribbon. But many of these families have to look at it from the ROI stand point as there is no oil money floating around North Missouri. Even if there was, I'm not sure they'd be willing to spend it just to stroke their ego.

I'll speak locally as I understand its dynamics much better. My county fair is a shadow of its former self. It wasn't uncommon for 4-5 big dogs to battle it out every year and have a dozen pushing them hard with bargain sleeper calves while having the home raised classes do the same in their own way. Now there are 500 pigs and kids everywhere around them while there's only a dozen steers with nothing but a couple old cowmen watching and wondering how "those cattle" even relate to the real world. Half of them qualified as cripples in my book this year, and I'm not exaggerating one bit. It was hard for me to even watch. No one is willing to do the work to try to beat the 18k steer and the hired fitter to raise said steer anymore when they can just go buy a couple pigs and have some fun with them instead. When asked what to do about it, first thought was "start with making the steers bring more money than the pigs in the premium sale". The rest is a serious uphill climb if they want to get it back to where it once was.

I only found one family who had plans of taking their cattle to the state fair. That is the polar opposite of when I was showing. In comparison, I'd bet 3/4 of the pig barn was headed to the state fair with at least one of their pigs.

 

[rrblack78]

We have spent the last 5 years chasing "the look" in heifers and it seems we are always one step behind. We had a breakthrough year in 2015 with a heifer that was super fancy, super feminine, one judge said very ladylike. She had a fair amount of success in class but fell short against the "should have been a steer" females. Not enough volume, not enough power, not enough muscling. This year we jumped on the bandwagon and got an exotic steer sister and she is falling short against the ultra feminine heifers. Trends change from year to year. All we can do is roll with it

 

[simmyshower123]

So what do you think of this one then? https://www.flickr.com/photos/aijca/28053592292/in/album-72157670113065721/

 

[shortyjock89]

She's alright. A little coarse on both ends, but my main concern would be her teats. Other than that she looks like a very good cow prospect.

 

[cowboy_nyk]

She's alright. A little coarse on both ends, but my main concern would be her teats. Other than that she looks like a very good cow prospect.

Agreed.  No issue with her body type but with an udder like that she wouldn't make my replacement pen.