Soundness

How much are judges this year discounting animals that can't walk? Seems like I've seen a bunch of cattle lately that look really good when they're standing still, but when you get them on the move, they are FAR from fluid in their movement. It's almost like they see a big butt and pretty neck, and ignore how they travel. Just wondering.

Soundness and movement is important but a lot of beef cattle judges seem to overlook or not be able to evaluate movement.
How are judges selected at most of the shows?

Seems like anymore the unsound cattle way out number the sound ones so there is not much choice sometimes.

at our prospect shows. if you cant walk or if you pop the hocks at 700. you generally find yourself in last place. but at some of the market shows they dont care. its crazy the calf at my county that was grand. the most bowlegged and shortstrided calf ever. but got grand. we took my ft worth steer to the salebarn because he understepped and we always got murdered at the propect shows.. . . like the previous poster said. it has something to do with the quality of other cattle in the rings these days

The decline in emphasis on soundness has direct correlation with the continually increasing popularity of club calves.

I truly believe there are very few people that truly know what a sound one looks like anymore.

All you have to do is look at the animals in the Agribition Beef Supreme. Not to knock anyone that had animals in there, but I'm aware of more than one animal that had to be tranq'd just so they could walk "somewhat" smoother, without dragging their feet, rocking, etc. Granted, most of those animals deserved to be there; howerver there were quite a few that were very unsound, which may have had something to do with being grossly overconditioned as well.

It is always good when you hear a judge giving his reasons and he mentions the way the animal gets out and moves and/or their correctness, etc.

3dfarms said:

It is always good when you hear a judge giving his reasons and he mentions the way the animal gets out and moves and/or their correctness, etc.

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Assuming the judge knows a structurally sound one when they see it---not always the case.  This at least as frustrating as judges that don't emphasize soundness, IMO.

Very true, not all judges are on the same level or know their stuff like they should to be placing cattle in the ring, even if it is on the county fair level...