Heifer Show turned into Fitting Contest...

herefordfootball said:

As for how calves are presented I thought that was what showmanship was for? Showmanship and fitting play a role in how you place on show day, but when they play a larger percent of how the calf is placed than what the actual animal quality is thats when you get problems.

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I wasn't there but when your showing cattle this early in the year, hair and clipping are a big driver in how cattle look. Especially at a show like HBC. Same could be said at any early jackpot.  Fitting influences animal quality. Really don't need to get upset, especially about a show this early. How many calves do good early and continue to? Sure, the real good ones do for sure but there's alot of fallout between now and next summer.

simtal said:

I wasn't there but when your showing cattle this early in the year, hair and clipping are a big driver in how cattle look. Especially at a show like HBC. Same could be said at any early jackpot.  Fitting influences animal quality. Really don't need to get upset, especially about a show this early. How many calves do good early and continue to? Sure, the real good ones do for sure but there's alot of fallout between now and next summer.

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You hit the nail on the head here simtal.  This time of year it always amazes me how the calves I rough out look so much better!  I've become fairly good at clipping over the years and this thread has made me think back to some of my first attempts at clipping.  Man, I really butchered some calves.  With as much hair as some of these calves have right now, you can really change the appearance....good and also bad.  Like Simtal said alot of these calves(not all) will fall off the face of the planet.  The more weight they gain structure problems start showing up or after all that nice hair gets shucked there really isn't that much softness or substance.  The list goes on.  Heck, you can have a calf get a 4th or 5th place at one of these shows and then kick butt all summer.  The only reason I go to these things is to get the calves out and give them some experience.  If I do well....great!  If I don't I don't lose any sleep!

People complain that a judge should be able to see through all of the smoke and mirrors but in all reality in a big class the judge is limited on the amount of time to analyze each calf.  Everybody will notice the highly fit heifers..it's just a fact.  I know that I was instructed to go with my first instinct when looking at close pairs when I was on a judging team.  I'm willing to bet the judges first instinct wasn't to go with a poorly fit/clipped calf.  When I was younger I used to think that jackpot shows were really cool.  Now, I think they are just a pain the @%$!  Too much work for too little gain.  Can you tell I'm gettin older? 

I often see people make a calf look worse by simply attempting to fit.

simtal said:

herefordfootball said:

As for how calves are presented I thought that was what showmanship was for? Showmanship and fitting play a role in how you place on show day, but when they play a larger percent of how the calf is placed than what the actual animal quality is thats when you get problems.

Click to expand...

I wasn't there but when your showing cattle this early in the year, hair and clipping are a big driver in how cattle look. Especially at a show like HBC. Same could be said at any early jackpot.  Fitting influences animal quality. Really don't need to get upset, especially about a show this early. How many calves do good early and continue to? Sure, the real good ones do for sure but there's alot of fallout between now and next summer.

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Well said simtal. Some of our middle of the class calves at HBC have gone to state fair the next summer, win their class, and beat the ones that won the class at HBC.

knabe said:

afhm said:

Who judged?

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who commented on the judge.  full name, address, phone number, email, etc.  it's not appropriate to continually bash judges when we aren't there.  people should become a judge if they are so concerned about all this crap and see what it's like on the other side.

this thread is no longer about being a fitting contest, it's now about a judge bashing contest.

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I was wanting to know who they judge was for future reference when he/she jusdges a show in my area I can make sure my animals are definately clipped to a T.  I have shown under some judges that the better the animal is clipped and fit the worse they do because the judge feels there are to many faults being hidden since they can't see theough the hair and glue.  There are some judges that can't see the animals for what they are so they just pick the ones that will take the best picture and make them look good in the magazines, hence the best clipped and fit ones win the show.  I wasn't asking who the judge was for bashing purposes just to know what they like.

afhm said:

knabe said:

afhm said:

Who judged?

Click to expand...

who commented on the judge.  full name, address, phone number, email, etc.  it's not appropriate to continually bash judges when we aren't there.  people should become a judge if they are so concerned about all this crap and see what it's like on the other side.

this thread is no longer about being a fitting contest, it's now about a judge bashing contest.

Click to expand...

I was wanting to know who they judge was for future reference when he/she jusdges a show in my area I can make sure my animals are definately clipped to a T.  I have shown under some judges that the better the animal is clipped and fit the worse they do because the judge feels there are to many faults being hidden since they can't see theough the hair and glue.  There are some judges that can't see the animals for what they are so they just pick the ones that will take the best picture and make them look good in the magazines, hence the best clipped and fit ones win the show.  I wasn't asking who the judge was for bashing purposes just to know what they like.

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Cant blame you there afhm. From now on when I go to one of his shows, I'm going to make sure everybody is well clipped.

afhm said:

knabe said:

afhm said:

Who judged?

Click to expand...

who commented on the judge.  full name, address, phone number, email, etc.  it's not appropriate to continually bash judges when we aren't there.  people should become a judge if they are so concerned about all this crap and see what it's like on the other side.

this thread is no longer about being a fitting contest, it's now about a judge bashing contest.

Click to expand...

I was wanting to know who they judge was for future reference when he/she jusdges a show in my area I can make sure my animals are definately clipped to a T.  I have shown under some judges that the better the animal is clipped and fit the worse they do because the judge feels there are to many faults being hidden since they can't see theough the hair and glue.  There are some judges that can't see the animals for what they are so they just pick the ones that will take the best picture and make them look good in the magazines, hence the best clipped and fit ones win the show.  I wasn't asking who the judge was for bashing purposes just to know what they like.

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fair enough.  just tired of the drum beat of judges bad.  i can't remember doing a lower quality job clipping for specific judges.  pretty much the only time i did something different was using smoke shaving cream on a fullblood chi colored ildeno steer.  i was really proud of the fact that the judge messed up both sides of his hair coat and was the only steer he touched.  yes, he did have a rag in his hand, but nothing came off.

I know. I'm against the whole bash the judges thing too, but I just think when the only thing thats wrong with the heifer is the clip job that tends to get some folks riled, myself included. Haha I dont think any of us has done a lower quality clip job for certain judges, but I think when people show under this one they better give themselves and extra half hour or so to do some final touch ups. We have all felt felt the last minute rush of fitting before your class.