Slick Shear Show

[j3cattleco]

I guess I didn't make myself very clear.  I think haired  shows are won at home and not the day of the show so I don't care who's pulling legs and running tops if the hair isn't right then it won't matter.  Now this is where the families with the calves at the jocks place or the hired man to rinse calves blow it I think, but I'm way more concerned with teaching my kids the responsibility and work ethic needed to be successful than I am winning a banner.  That work ethic will transcend the show ring where a banner will end up catching dust in a closet.

 

[eskie]

How this all got started is a judge last year at this fair picked a heifer to be grand champion and a few people were upset so now they want to do a slick show. Try working with the fair board to get better judges!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CJC]

A friend of mine told me today that he was mad when they went to slick shear, but now he likes it. He said instead of to 2-3 hrs now it's 2-3 mins. Like my friend said the ones that were winning the hair shows are still winning the slick shows.

When I showed it was hair 80's and my daughter showed this year slick shear and it was so nice not to worry with it after a long day with our heifer show.

 

[chambero]

I guess I like it the way it is now.  We started doing more winning when they went slick - my sister had the Champion Maine steer the first year they did in Houston (93).  We've raised a couple of breed champions at Houston since then.

Jeff is right - there are more people using fitters now than there ever used to be - I know I will on a good one even though I can do pretty good myself.  Used to, only a few folks used them and they pretty much worked for those families full time.  Nowadays, most traders are involved in helping out with those calves all the way.  It doesn't bother me, but my kids are learning to do it themselves also.  My boys are learning how to do it in a hurry.  My ten year old is getting big enough to start doing a little gluing.  One thing about slick shear shows - its a great way to get them started on clipping.  You can let a young kid have it - practice clipping them normal and then let them slick them off all the way when they are done.  My boy spent about four hours messing with one with a pair of clippers last Sunday.

For any of you northern folks thinking about slick shows - DO NOT DO IT if you have late fall or winter shows (which you probably don't).  Cold weather is hard on these calves after they are slicked.  I hope Fort Worth stays hair for that reason. 

 

[STX108]

I prefer slick shear shows simply because what you see is what you get...the animal is judged phenotypically...carcass merit...you cannot eat hair...granted clipping is an art & a skill....our slick shows start late January, however, some of the haired calves we feed are clipped for prospect shows from October to early January. With slick shows..."you gotta beat 'em with the feed bucket."

 

[cdcccfite]

It is called a Steer SHOW.  If it was not a show I would think you could hang them on the rail and get a much clearer picture as to the most marketable animal.  No hair, no fitters, no extra work just find out who has the best genetics and can feed.  I am an old school haired guy because that is how cattle are supposed to be shown.  Everytime I slick one of ours he seems to be ashamed at the way he looks with out hair.