I agree with AAOK and others. In rare exceptions involving positive drugs tests (which there aren't that many of by the way - I have a classmate who is the official vet for one of our majors in Texas and he sees the results from his show + attends formal meetings where they discuss the others), these things are never black and white unless you catch somebody that is just plain stupid. You are dealing with kids here and you just can't run around trying see who you can "beat up" or ban for life. Of course such a thing would never happen to your kid right. Barn gossip is so ridiculous and rumors catch like wildfire I still bet 90% of the "I know for sure" statements are just plain lies. Over the last couple of years plenty of you have talked about your kids being falsely accused of something that it should make you stop and think twice about wanting to run someone else's kid up the flagpole. Folks - this is a game and it isn't worth ruining a kid's future over it. As I've said many times, shows should enforce the rules and penalties they already have written and that should be the end of it.
Mentions of several issues have been brought up on this post I'd love to discuss. I think there are a lot of misconceptions and inaccurate statements that are thrown out that need discussing. I'm sticking my neck out here and painting a bullseye on myself, but let's please have a honest discussion without pouncing all over me. But, I'm feeling talkative today so here goes. A lot of you know more on this stuff than I do. Frankly, the discussions that pop up on cheating make things sound much worse than they are. So even though its taboo to admit what you know, any other takers? AND I WILL HONESTLY TELL YOU I HAVEN'T HAD ANY OF THIS DONE TO MY OWN KID'S CALVES SINCE THEY"VE STARTED SO DON'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS.
AIRING
I have never seen a calf show up at a show with air in him. I'm sure there are some, but they are few and far between. Airing has been around for at least the 20+ years I've been around showing. The theory behind is it to increase fat under the skin. It isn't typically done right before the show. I'll be honest and admit I've seen it done many times - as I'm sure a lot of others on this forum have. I lump it in the category of one of those things that really doesn't work. That being said, it isnt' horribly inhumane (washing them in cold weather bothers them more). The comparison between a steers hide and human skin just isn't accurate. We are pretty arbitrary on what we consider inhumane. I'll guarantee you cosmetic dehorning hurts them a whole lot worse and probably castration as well. Stop and think about it - if it was that painful how would you ever get a calf showed that had been hurt that bad? The most painful thing I've ever seen done to one was back in the days of the big balled tails. I remember being made to break my calf's tail on purpose so you could get the ball up higher. That hurt them. As far as long term "cruelty", I still think slick shearing steers like we do in Texas is pretty rough on them. We do it in February. We've learned how to mitigate it, but its not pleasant. All for the sake of making things more fair.
Airing is still widely used as a means to make cattle put on more fat. As I mentioned, I don't think it really works. If it did, feedlots would have gotten it approved because its just as fast and easy as the other things that are commonly done to cattle. People don't show up at the show with calves with air under their skin. They look ridiculous after they are first done (it goes completely away in 2-3 days) and sound even worse (the hollow drum reference previously brought up is accurate). Airing isn't harming the food supply in any way or injuring the animals. Again, I don't think it should be done and I don't think it works. Most rulebooks now explicitly ban it. My familiarity comes from the days years ago when it wasn't mentioned at all.
OTHER STUFF (OIL, GRAPHITE, ETC) UNDER THE SKIN
I don't know how someone can do this and not seriously harm the animal to the point that is counterproductive to the goal. I've never known anyone that did it, and I don't believe its ever been common at all. Unlike air, there is no way your not going to get caught.
CLENBUTEROL AND OTHER MUSCLE ENHANCERS
As most know, it was commonly used in the early 90s. The Feds decided to shut it down so it got shut down. Denver should be applauded for making a public stand on those caught. I think its a non-issue now as are most other unathorized muscle enhancers. My primary reason for this belief - there is plenty of legal, thoroughly tested stuff that works better. Also, most steers have plenty of muscle now naturally - its the structure and look that get you. I'm sure there are things out there I don't know about, but I don't see how they could be that helpful.
TRANQUILIZERS
I'll argue till I'm blue in the face that there isn't a thing wrong with using them as long they aren't still in the system when a calf is slaughtered. I'm sorry, but if its ok for a vet or embryo tech to use it on one to make their job easier then there is nothing inherently wrong with using it on a kid's calf for the same reason. It's not an advantage - your calf actually looks worse. But to help a little kid with a calf that is scared its first time out of the barn is not evil or harmful to anyone.
DIURETICS
Lasix is still commonly used at shows that don't have weigh-backs. It's too easy to get it out of their system for drug tests. Judges could stop this one easily if they would just do it. It's quite easy to tell the difference between a 12-1300 lb calf and a 15-1600 pounder. The good part is that because it does clear the system quickly, its not a residue threat for potential consumers.
I still find it humorous that nobody ever accuses the last place calves of cheating but the ones that win always do. There are probably people trying more stuff on marginal calves trying to just get them in a sale than the ones that know they are in the running and stand a high probability of getting tested. Our rules are pretty strict and its pretty hard not to get caught if you are doing something illegal.
I also find it utterly evil and distasteful to want to form a lynch mob against someone else's kid. Nobody's kids are perfect and no adults are perfect. You may follow every rule related to showing, but odds are you or your kids are going to stumble on something in life. I bet you would appreciate a little compassion and restraint from officials and the public if you find yourself in an unfortunate situation. Children that commit heinous violent crimes are afforded more legal protection than what many of you propose for kids involved in improper acts in showing. For no other reason than someone is p***d that their kid didn't win. People can fall back on the holier than thou defense all they want but its really that simple. I'll never understand why people assume that their own animals are so much better than someone else's that the only reason they could possibly be beat is because someone else cheated.
Folks need to learn (although I realize they never will) to do the best you can, follow the WRITTEN rules, and enjoy showing cattle for the sake of doing it. But those are generally the people that stick with it and have been doing it a long time and get accused of cheating. The reason those people win is because they are better at it - because they've spent years (or probably decades) learning how by taking care of their own, helping their own kids, and even their grandkids! It that simple. People can gripe and make fun of "40 year old 4-Hers", but to me that is the epitome of what the whole program is supposed to be! Spending time with your family on livestock.
