I agree...when in the show ring you should look at that animals purpose and judge based on the characteristics that are most important to that animal fulfilling that purpose. In a terminal steer show, such as the one in question at Denver, we are evaluating that animal to determine which one is most ready and most likely to hang the best carcass on the rail that day. Structural soundness is not the most important factor in determining that, to me the most important factors in a steer show are high cutability, with large amounts of high valued cuts, and having the correct finish. Of course in the show ring we want pretty, etc, and we can generally do that because the large numbers of high quality steers allow us to pick those. I do think there is a point where structural integrity has to be considered, a terribly unsound animal or lame animal is more likely to be stressed which could potentially cause a lower quality carcass. But I think a lot of what gets called un sound and poor structured is not really the case. As was stated earlier I think the steers that were truly unsound got moved to bottom in most cases, unless they just outpowered something to the point that they had to go over them. But the steers in the champion line up that many are saying could be more sound, I dont think had a soundness issue at all. Sure they were not as catty on the move as the Class 3 winner, but when you pack that amount of muscle and weight onto one they are gonna move slower, maybe waddle a little, and take a shorter stride. Its only natural, and if you go to the feedlots and see a bunch of steers that are finished and have a lot of product to them, you will see them moving exactly the same. Its just the difference in body composition, look at human athletes and take body builders and marathon runners, the body builders have much more mass, thus dont move as gracefully and cat like as many of the marathon runners. Does that mean that they are unsound or crippled or not in as good of shape? not at all, its simply a difference in body type.
I think we have to quit expecting judges to evaluate steers like the breeding stock, because they are not, thats not their purpose. Yes breeding stock needs to be much more sound, and frankly I think soundness is the #1 most important trait to consider when evaluating breeding stock. If you want them to make 13, 14, 15 yrs in the herd then they better be sound as babies, because if anything it will get worse with age, but not better. But steers only need to stay sound enough to get up and get to the feed bunk for a couple yrs tops, hopefully not even that long. We dont expect the longevity out of them because that is not their intention or purpose. If you are absolutely concerned that a judge always evaluate on structural integrity above all else, then stick to the heifer ring, that is the trait most important to their purpose. It is not however the most important trait to a steers purpose.