This is our second year showing, and we took our first trip to State Fair with a 4-H Steer.
He ended up Reserve Champion Division 2 Crossbred, which we were more than happy with. I finally figured out how to post a picture, so I have posted a State Fair picture, a March picture, and an October picture....all of the same steer. I thought maybe someone might be interested to see his growth and development cycle.
With that said, Club Calf season is in full swing in the North, and I decided to re-post a response that I made to a young lady that was frustrated about not having the financial means to compete. Anyone that feels the same way might want to take a look at it. What is written in that response is exactly what we do. It is how we got this steer, and our County Fair Reserve Champion steer last year.
I understand exactly what you are getting at. You want to be competitive but you either don't want to or can't spend the kind of money it takes to buy the great one. I sympathize with you. It is a money game, no question about it.
There are some things that you can do to gain an edge.
1. Buy your calves LATE. Don't get out there and try to compete with the big money that is being thrown around during peak season. I know, you think that all of the good ones will be gone. They won't. I guarantee it. There are steers that are slow starters, there are steers that don't get paid for, and there are steers that traders pick up late. Wait until the very last possible moment that you can. Everyone will have bought their steers already. PLUS, you don't have to feed them during that interim 4 months. And the older the calves are, the less they change. Nobody talks about the $10,000 steer that never makes it to a show because he comes unwound when he hits 650#.
2. Don't be afraid of the "big name" steer traders. I understand that they sell $30,000 steers. I know all of that. But they also sell $2,500 steers, and A LOT of them. If you hit one of those guys late, and tell them what you have to spend, they will exceed your expectations. Some of these guys sell 400-500 show steers a year. When they "expire", the next stop is the sale barn. I don't know what part of the country you are in, but you will be surprised if you just call them.
3. Stay away from prospect type steers. The expensive steers are expensive because they can win as feeder calves, prospects, progress, and fat steers. They are the complete package. Buy fat steer types. They will be competitive enough at the early shows, and you can sneak up on someone late if you do a good job.
4. Buy genetically good haired steers. If you can put hair on a fat steer, you will have NO problem finding someone to help you clip that calf. Everyone loves to help on a good haired steer.
5. Feed your steer like a fat steer. Don't drag him all over 4 states to 20 shows. Take him out once or twice early, and maybe once about 60 days before your fat show. NOTHING covers up flaws like a nice even coat of fat cover. Add a little hair, clip a little "pretty" into him, and you will be surprised.
6. Buy an easy feeding steer. If you buy a big bellied, chubby steer, everything else will just kind of fall into place. You can get him fat early, and keep him that way all the way through. He will never have to be on a super "hot" ration so hair growth will come easier, and they are just cheaper to feed and maintain.
7. Buy one that can move. Make sure he is loose moving, and he has to fill his tracks when he weighs 800# or he absolutely will not when he weighs #1300. A super sound steer absolutely can beat a more powerful steer in a fat show, especially if you can put the hair on him.
8. WORK.
Just my opinion. Maybe some of this will help you. Hang in there.
He ended up Reserve Champion Division 2 Crossbred, which we were more than happy with. I finally figured out how to post a picture, so I have posted a State Fair picture, a March picture, and an October picture....all of the same steer. I thought maybe someone might be interested to see his growth and development cycle.
With that said, Club Calf season is in full swing in the North, and I decided to re-post a response that I made to a young lady that was frustrated about not having the financial means to compete. Anyone that feels the same way might want to take a look at it. What is written in that response is exactly what we do. It is how we got this steer, and our County Fair Reserve Champion steer last year.
I understand exactly what you are getting at. You want to be competitive but you either don't want to or can't spend the kind of money it takes to buy the great one. I sympathize with you. It is a money game, no question about it.
There are some things that you can do to gain an edge.
1. Buy your calves LATE. Don't get out there and try to compete with the big money that is being thrown around during peak season. I know, you think that all of the good ones will be gone. They won't. I guarantee it. There are steers that are slow starters, there are steers that don't get paid for, and there are steers that traders pick up late. Wait until the very last possible moment that you can. Everyone will have bought their steers already. PLUS, you don't have to feed them during that interim 4 months. And the older the calves are, the less they change. Nobody talks about the $10,000 steer that never makes it to a show because he comes unwound when he hits 650#.
2. Don't be afraid of the "big name" steer traders. I understand that they sell $30,000 steers. I know all of that. But they also sell $2,500 steers, and A LOT of them. If you hit one of those guys late, and tell them what you have to spend, they will exceed your expectations. Some of these guys sell 400-500 show steers a year. When they "expire", the next stop is the sale barn. I don't know what part of the country you are in, but you will be surprised if you just call them.
3. Stay away from prospect type steers. The expensive steers are expensive because they can win as feeder calves, prospects, progress, and fat steers. They are the complete package. Buy fat steer types. They will be competitive enough at the early shows, and you can sneak up on someone late if you do a good job.
4. Buy genetically good haired steers. If you can put hair on a fat steer, you will have NO problem finding someone to help you clip that calf. Everyone loves to help on a good haired steer.
5. Feed your steer like a fat steer. Don't drag him all over 4 states to 20 shows. Take him out once or twice early, and maybe once about 60 days before your fat show. NOTHING covers up flaws like a nice even coat of fat cover. Add a little hair, clip a little "pretty" into him, and you will be surprised.
6. Buy an easy feeding steer. If you buy a big bellied, chubby steer, everything else will just kind of fall into place. You can get him fat early, and keep him that way all the way through. He will never have to be on a super "hot" ration so hair growth will come easier, and they are just cheaper to feed and maintain.
7. Buy one that can move. Make sure he is loose moving, and he has to fill his tracks when he weighs 800# or he absolutely will not when he weighs #1300. A super sound steer absolutely can beat a more powerful steer in a fat show, especially if you can put the hair on him.
8. WORK.
Just my opinion. Maybe some of this will help you. Hang in there.
