Steer Planet - Show Steers and Club Calves Forum

any emerging trends in what is winning steer shows phenotype wise other than thick, sound and fat?


a little bigger, smaller, cleaner fronted, more depth, less depth, bigger top, whale butt, less whale butt, color?

I do this for a living and I wish I knew the trends. As for fat steers I'd say whale butts are out. These cattle have to be beyond pretty from the side and move with ease. Thickest one doesn't win anymore. As far as state fairs go I saw those 1280-1330 calves being ideal over the last two years. To me they look really small, so pretty no butt and 1300, comes across as little. That being said we just had a freaky baby in Phoenix last week and he stuck him in the 3rd hole to get rid of him. Called him the one with the most potential. Explain that one to me. I also see these fall prospect shows going with those whale bellied calves which to me make them look plain. I still like them huge butted and pretty fronted so I am not going to stray to far from that.

My 2cents which probably isn't much. I would like to hear more from others on this.

Chris Cassidy sorted all the Jr cattle. I've been able to fallow Chris over recent years and actually think he may be one of the better collage guys.  But I found him harder to fallow this go in Phoenix. I will say those two champions had their hind wheels mowed down very tight. Kinda interesting in the way they were presented.

Quote from: Gargan on January 04, 2019, 01:22:48 AM

Lobatomy, who judged that show? I was surprised to see the champ lightweight steer as reserve overall. Hard to believe there wasnt one in heavy or middle weight to choose. And I agree, the pretty ones and great structured ones are getting it done nowadays. They certainly dont have to have a ton of product in them....

Gargan, I don�t know what that yellow steer weighed, but I�m guessing you were reading the Pulse like I was.  They just called him the champion �light cross�, but it meant he won the light colored division, not light weight. Light colored basically being white, grey or yellow with no white spots on their sides or top.

It�s confusing if you�re not familiar with Phoenix�s classification system.

Thanks for the clarification 
That sounds more logical now. I stand corrected.

Chris Cassidy sorted all the Jr cattle. I've been able to fallow Chris over recent years and actually think he may be one of the better collage guys.  But I found him harder to fallow this go in Phoenix. I will say those two champions had their hind wheels mowed down very tight. Kinda interesting in the way they were presented.

I noticed a couple years ago that the Bonham (Bobby Maddox on the Grady steer) crew was really peeling those legs tight...other than the 2017 American Royal champion steer...that thing had the big hair!  Horn's steers are clipped tight because they just aren't super good haired genetically. 

Either way, those guys really know how to put one together on show day! 

Real pretty,not much performance  and no butt? You guys have to be referring to whats happened to Shorthorns-The power they used to have has all but dissapeared I remember in 1995 or 6 at Louisville when the Shorthorn steers were in the loading pen an Angus guy said they were the most improved cattle in the country-Unfortunately they now seem to be the least