Weight Range at your fairs

We just got notice that our county RAISED the weight requirements for this coming year fair.  Instead of being 1050-1400 it's now 1100-1400.  To me this is just wrong.  Especially when Colorado State fair lower limit is only 1000lbs.  Last year was our first year and my son's steer did just barely make weight - so from being a first time show steer parent, I understand the stress of that minimum weight.  We didn't know what we were doing and our leaders didn't help much.  This year, we will probably be pushing the upper limit with our steer so not as worried and this really won't affect us this year.  But from what I understand, the steer numbers are done by about 1/2 from what they have been.  In my mind, this will just cause even less kids to show.  I guess I see this as just weeding out more kids and over all hurting the kids rather than helping them.  Personally, I'm of the mind if the kid has done their project, shows up to fair and shows, then they should be allowed to sell - at least in the junior levels.  That's how they build that drive to keep going.

So what are your county weight ranges and how do they compare to your state weight ranges?  Trying to get some number put together to go back to the fair board and get them to at least reset their numbers to last year if not set them to the state numbers.

One more thing I wanted to ask, who sets your weights - Fair board or the 4-H extension office.  Here the extension office recommended the State Fair weights but fair board did their own thing.

I re-read my post and sounds like I'm calling no fair.  Really my interest is in making fair be a great experience for the kids.  I am a leader - though not for beef - and I just want to see all my kids get a chance to really experience the entire project.  And it's a small county.  So there really is no need to weed out some of the calves from selling.  I'm just trying to figure out if this is a trend or even worth trying to get changed.

my county says they dont have a rule on that. but you must weigh 450 at tag in. with no top end. BUT the catch is. you have to gain 2 lbs a day. so technicly you have to weigh 900 at the show (tag in to show is like 225 days). so we have 900 - infinity. we actually had a major left over steer weigh in at 1680 at the fair. back to your rule. i agree with you. they should be in it to allow more kids to show and that rule is restricting that. fair board makes or rules. and that surely isnt a trend down here at least

Our fair doesn't have a limit, but the weight dictates where they show and if they can sell.   I think they have to be over 900 to show as a market and sell.  Under 900, they show as a feeder and therefore cannot be sold thru the auction or put on the truck.   There is no upper limit on showing a market but to sell they have to weigh less than 1600??   The reason is because the slaughter house where they go cannot handle a carcass over a certain size.  

kanshow said:

The reason is because the slaughter house where they go cannot handle a carcass over a certain size.  

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This makes sense to me for the weight limit.  There is a physical reason and not someone setting some arbitrary number.

I should clarify that they can show their steers regardless of weight.  It's just being able to sell at the auction.  And face it - that's really the end of the project for most of these kids. And for a lot, if they don't get their money out of this years steer - there may not be a next year steer.  Especially in these economic times.

Our fat steers show by shoulder height. The weight minimum is 1000 and there is no max. We have a premium sale and the calves have a buy back bid. The big buyer puts the buy back on them. We weigh in in January and they are tagged with a computer tag. We have rate of gain contest but no requirement for show.
We have a feeder show and this will be our first year 2011 for a market heifer show.

I may be a little harsh by saying this, as I have personally dealt with the making weight issue, but I  see them wanting to up the minimum to 1100. When you have a minimum of 1,000, alot of times at the county level you will have a bunch of kids come in with unfinished steers, but they weigh that 1,000 pounds so everything is good. I guess it falls back on the 4H leaders helping the kids, but if this is the kids endpoint and market for the calves I see no problem with an 1100 pound minimum.

For my county fair the weight range is from 1050-1450 I think. The main reason why they made the weight range was because kids were bringing in unfinished or over finished steers. Another big reason for the weight range was since the economy is pretty bad the prices for the sale animals was dropping dramatically so they are trying to get less animals to sell so the prices stay up.

we also have 2 sales.premium and freezer. top 33% sell in premium and middle 33% sell in freezer. and the bottom steers go home.. it moderates thouse prices in the sale as said before. the huge calf got last overall so he went home. but the judges lastyear kept the sale numbers between 1200 and 1370. i can actually see both sides to this problem

Ours is 850 min. and 1400 max........anything under or over can show but not sale. We have a class just for them that the judge looks for quality..soundness..build..ect and gives more advice to the individuals so they can do better next year. People will just take these animals to local auction.

Thanks for the replies.  Love hearing what other places have.

And I can understand the unfinished business - our calf made weigh in last year barely but was unfinished.  But it was a our first year and my son was only 9. And him getting to sell was the only reason he is doing the project again this year - he was done and didn't want to do another one - mean steer and just not any fun.  But that check from sale changed his mind and this year we have one really nice steer and one that probably won't make weight - smaller hereford.

Which brings me to the question of the miniture breeds.  With higher weights, I worry about the kids with say the lowlines and the smaller breeds - which some of the younger kids pick to get them started.  I would think say a lowline would easily be finished in the 900-1100 pound range.  So that's going to exclude those from selling.  Out Grand and Reserve last year were lowlines if I remember right.

If we had tons and tons of steers selling - I like the limits just to keep the market up.  But seems like most kids here and in several counties where I know people are doing pigs instead.  Less work and more ROI.  It will truely be interesting to see if this new weight this year really does drive kids away like I think it will or not.

Our minimum is 900#s to show or sell, we sent one home last year .If I had my way, it would be higher.  I think the point should not be that any kid can show. We need to teach / train the kids that they need to bring a "finished" animal to the fair. In life you do not get paid just to show up to work, you must produce results! As to the "smaller breeds" if you know going in you need to be 1100#s minimum, then you do not choose a lowline for your project. In life, you do not get an associates degree for a job that requires a bachelors.

As to the issue of buyers, if you do not offer a good product, you will not get repeat buyers. Most of those buying do not know how to judge an animal on the hoof to determine how the finished product will
taste.

I know of one fair that does an ultrasound to help determine proper finish on their steers, I think I might like that idea rather than weight limits.

DLZ

If all your interested in is ROI then you should be taking a turkey, they always make the most money. Lets face the facts here, it was your first year, you and your son got your eyes opened, so learn from your mistakes. If you want to make your sons life hell for the rest of his show career go on and complain to the Fair Board, if its like ours those old boys have a long memory. Its just a fact of life.

Ours has a minimum of 1000- infinity. It is changed from 950 last year and going from shoulder to weight this year. to the guy with the young kid , just let him show this year and take everything easy , work that steer alot before the show so he ain't crazy . some kids like it , some don't. I love it . I'm twelve and betwwen me and my dad we have aquired 7 club calf producing females in 2 years and I clipping my friends steers.not bragging but adults watch me clip at the fair.

800 no upper limit.  anything under 8 shows feeder calf.  fair board sets rules, but superintendants have final say. 

Our fair has a minimum weight of 850 with no top.    We don't sell the actual calves but have a ribbon sale instead.  The only place weight really comes into play is in the carcass contest where carcasses over 900# get docked as they would by the packer and this can affect there placing.

kvhranch said:

Thanks for the replies.  Love hearing what other places have.

And I can understand the unfinished business - our calf made weigh in last year barely but was unfinished.  But it was a our first year and my son was only 9. And him getting to sell was the only reason he is doing the project again this year - he was done and didn't want to do another one - mean steer and just not any fun.  But that check from sale changed his mind and this year we have one really nice steer and one that probably won't make weight - smaller hereford.

Which brings me to the question of the miniture breeds.  With higher weights, I worry about the kids with say the lowlines and the smaller breeds - which some of the younger kids pick to get them started.  I would think say a lowline would easily be finished in the 900-1100 pound range.  So that's going to exclude those from selling.  Out Grand and Reserve last year were lowlines if I remember right.

If we had tons and tons of steers selling - I like the limits just to keep the market up.  But seems like most kids here and in several counties where I know people are doing pigs instead.  Less work and more ROI.  It will truely be interesting to see if this new weight this year really does drive kids away like I think it will or not.

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I am not a lowline breeder but I am sure one of them will jump in here. The breed standard is 1,297 lbs. in 2005 & 1,179 lbs. in 2006. if the appropriate age of steer is selected there is no reason with the proper instuction and feeding you can not make 1000#'s. It sounds like a stronger adviser would help this situation as well. When is your county fair and when is the official weigh in?

I am both a fair board member and parent.  We went to an 1100 lb minimun with no maximum.  There are very few cattle that are finished in today's industry at less that 1100.  We have no upper limit but they do not sell for more than 1500 lbs.  In my mind as a fairboard member you are providing a sale of premium livestock.  These are calves that are market ready and should grade choice or prime.  If you want to see a sale die have someone get a bad piece of meat.  That was the reason to have the weight limit.  We needed to raise the standard of the cattle. 

There actually are no weight limits at our county premium sale - steers just have to be nominated for the Oklahoma Youth Expo or the county performance contest.  I really don't think most people even realize that, though - in the fall at our county fair the break between prospects and markets is 900, and most folks just assume the spring show is the same.  One way or the other, there are usually just a few between 1000 and 1100, once in a great while one weighing in the upper 900's is shown. Same goes for the top end - occasionally one or two are over 1400, have seen 'em at 1600+, but it's been awhile. We show for the premium sale - only the 8 breed champions and reserves (Shorthorn, Hereford, Angus and cross) are automatically in, so the size deal pretty well polices itself.

Ours is just a bonus auction, btw. The animals don't actually sell.

The weights at my county fair are minimum 1000 and there isnt a maximum