Show Steer Finish -- When is he at "12 O'clock?"

How do you know when a show steer's finish is just right?  How should the calf feel?  How should the calf look?  Is there a way to measure this with, for example, calipers?  Any info would be appreciated.  Thanks.

It is a feel, and appearance thing: for appearancethe, calf will have fat deposits at the tail head, some fat in the brisket and still have a fresh look. The feel part will be when you run your hands down the side of the calf it will be smooth all the way over the twelfth rib, the ribs are there but your hand will slide smoothly across the animal. it the animal is to lean and your hand will go over the ribs like a boat over wakes, to fat and your hand will go over the animal like you are pushing it through foam rubber.

vc said:

It is a feel, and appearance thing: for appearancethe, calf will have fat deposits at the tail head, some fat in the brisket and still have a fresh look. The feel part will be when you run your hands down the side of the calf it will be smooth all the way over the twelfth rib, the ribs are there but your hand will slide smoothly across the animal. it the animal is to lean and your hand will go over the ribs like a boat over wakes, to fat and your hand will go over the animal like you are pushing it through foam rubber.

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what do you mean by a "fresh look"?

Still looks young, full, head up and alert, they do not look stale or wrung out. Some calves look as good in the ring at the end their class as they did when they entered the ring, others look like they just traveled 5 miles in the heat to get to water.

If you could find an FFA instructor or Extension agent to come look at you project it would be very helpful... have them go over the points mentioned above so you can begin to get what proper feel and look are... also, at your show listen to the judge and then put you hands on the top calves in the class as well as the champions...you will not find very many that are ''to fat'' ...G-Luck

feeling steers is bogus...there is so much variation in hide thickness

simtal said:

feeling steers is bogus...there is so much variation in hide thickness

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Are you for REAL!

ROMAX said:

simtal said:

feeling steers is bogus...there is so much variation in hide thickness

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Are you for REAL!

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I have to agree with ROMAX!!!

half the top end calves probably feel like a ballon , maybe little too much air pumped into them

for a fat show your going to want that even cover over the ribs and if they get to fat they look stale
simtal you dont know wat your really talkingh about

BDCO said:

ROMAX said:

simtal said:

feeling steers is bogus...there is so much variation in hide thickness

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Are you for REAL!

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I have to agree with ROMAX!!!

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Yes I'm for real.  IMO, This handle that everyone thinks is important is just entertainment/pass time during the show...

I agree with saskman. Even if the hide is thicker on one calf than the next it won't make that a difference. If a calf has no fat he will feel hard, thick hide or not. Same goes for a fat steer, he's gonna be softer when you touch him.

simtal said:

BDCO said:

ROMAX said:

simtal said:

feeling steers is bogus...there is so much variation in hide thickness

Click to expand...

Are you for REAL!

Click to expand...

I have to agree with ROMAX!!!

Click to expand...

Yes I'm for real.  IMO, This handle that everyone thinks is important is just entertainment/pass time during the show...

Click to expand...

I am really starting to wonder about you!

simtal said:

BDCO said:

ROMAX said:

simtal said:

feeling steers is bogus...there is so much variation in hide thickness

Click to expand...

Are you for REAL!

Click to expand...

I have to agree with ROMAX!!!

Click to expand...

Yes I'm for real.  IMO, This handle that everyone thinks is important is just entertainment/pass time during the show...

Click to expand...

I don't mean to sound rude, but to be honest i think you might need to get your hands on a few more fat steers so you can feel the differences. I don't care if it's an exotic or an american, hide doesn't make a difference feeling cover.

If you look at enough animals live and follow them to the rail, you can accurately fat cover (within .1 or .2 inches) evaluate them using visual appraisal, without handling them.  Handling is to let the 4-Her know you gave their animal a really good look.  Feeling might be useful to estimate loin eye area.

That maybe correct in a feedlot, slick show, or at the wash rack but on these haired up show cattle you have to feel to know whats under all that hair.

Full cod sack

You are right zak the fat in the cod and up around the tail head and a little in the brisket is a great indicator but certainly not better than hands on a calf.  We were at a jackpot with a steer in the chute getting set to show.  I knowledgeable beef man sat looking at the calf.  I asked him if he had any questions.  He simply said that calf is way over done and on the way to stale.  I thanked him for his opinion and he then touched the calf and said he is really deceiving in his muscle and top shape.  So a respected cattle man and buyer was deceived with a calf. 

Zach said:

Full cod sack

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yes i agree that is definitely a good indicator, along with all the other external indicators. However, you still can't tell if a steer is uniform or patchy in his finish without putting hands on them.

You definitely need to get your hands on a calf to accurately evaluate them. On some calves the brisket can be deceiving just because some calves are cleaner and some are sloppy fronted from the get go. The cod and the tail head are the best places to look and see if that calf is finished.