Are there dairy steers at your county or state fair?

you should have a "both" option in your poll.

RSA said:

you should have a "both" option in your poll.

Click to expand...

there is- you can submit two votes-- one for each...

We have diary cows, but havent see any steers

future 'dairy' steer?  Anyone need a fall born?

dutch pride said:

Dixie said:

Far too many dairy market steers as well as dairy feeders at our county fair in Michigan. They have far out numbered our Beef steers for many years. At the present time the buyers are very discouraged with the feeder program as they are expected to purchase all of these animals that they have virtually no use for. Comments this year from buyers were, "I thought this feeder program would be a project that young kids would get into for two to three years to build their confidence and then move onto a beef steer not make it a project from year one until the end." I am thinking that they may be making some changes in the future. I also have been to a number of other county fairs in the area all of which are feeling over run with the dairy feeder project.

Click to expand...

I agree that the dairy feered calf program should be limited to kids 12 and under be we were told that we could not do that due to age discrimination issues. I know the feeder calf project is a shorted / cheaper way to go but as stated above, those calves do not perform well in the feedlot after being babied for so long. If a shorter project is wanted / needed then there are sheep, hogs, market goats for the 4-Her to work with.

DLZ

Click to expand...

Virtually no use for???  If fed right, meaning a high enough TDN%, Holsteins will grade choice almost always... and in 12-13 months at that.  Id put a pen of 10 steins on a calf-fed finishing ration against a group of clubby calves sired by the latest and greatest any day of the week.  Of course holsteins fall off in a traditional feed lot, most feed lots want to have a TDN in the 50-60% range.  I went to Funk Farms Feedlot while at Shorthorn University and they were feeding steins a 55% TDN Ration about 30% roughage the same as the beef calves. And the tour guide wondered why it took 15 months to finish em  : .  I'd challenge you to put your money where your mouth is- buy a dairy steer, take away the roughage, and pour the WHOLE corn to him on a calf-fed ration and see if you're not impressed!

My county has a class offered but no one shows.  Last year one girl showed a bull and heifer bottle calves and they just put them in beef class because she's like the only dairy person to show in a long long time

I live in southeastern Wisconsin and they make up more than half of the animals shown at our county fair. I mean, we are the dairy state after all.

Most people show them because of the cost and the work involved. They can get a calf for $50, feed it straight whole corn, halter break it with the tractor 2 weeks before fair, sell it in the county fair auction at 1300+ pounds and make $2.30 a pound on it. Compared to what kind of work it takes to feed a beef calf (even if you don't do a hair program), it's more economical to go dairy if you're just in it for the money.

But I do think they are ugly and silly when shown as a "beef" animal, but then again, I don't show to make money....

Fulton county ,Ohio the dairy steers have their own show separate from the beef.