Brush, Brush, Brush... Why is this so important?

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Sambosu

Sambosu

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First let me say this is a serious question (some might consider it dumb) but it popped up due to so many people asking about growing hair on their show calves (I was one of them).  

I understand people use brushes to train their show calves hair but what is the big deal with using brushes constantly on show cattle?  The reason I am asking is the calves we purchase come straight off their mom and they are extremely hairy and this type of hair did not come from brushing.  If one is raising a calf under the same type of conditions (except for being fed grain, and being pampered) , shouldn't it grow the same type of hair without constant brushing?  I am sure it helps with the guard hair  but I would like to know why brushing seems to be the most important factor when it comes to growing hair.  

 
vc

vc

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How much hair did the cow that calf came off of have, this past summer, I bet she was slick.  Baby hair is what you are seeing on the calves, as the calves grow and put on fat there is less need to grow hair that is where the brushing comes in. Brushing stimulates the hair, keeps the hair and hide healthy and yes helps train the hair. Just rinsing and blowing will help grow hair but with out the brushing you will not get all the healthy hair you can.
If you want to have good hair there is only one way to get it, (as long as they have the genetics for hair) hard work and lots of brushing.
 
S

sackshowcattle

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To understand lets use human hair as an example. People with long hair still grow hair without all the work but it doesn't look good if not taken care of properly you can tell the different just by looking at the hair who takes care of it and who doesn't. That is why there are so many different products and also homemade concoctions people will put in there hair, and also the old adage 100 brush strokes a night for health hair. On cattle the brushing helps stimulate the hide and hair for growth, helps the hide breath by getting air to the hide, helps blood circulation, helps remove debris and dandriff, and helps distribute the natural occuring oils and also whatever you put on it throughout the whole length of the hair. The distribution of the natural and put on conditioners is probably the most important part since those are what helps keep the hair from being dry and damaged. Cattle can get dry brittle hair with split ends just like people. the training isn't the big part there are plent of products to hold hair in place unless its a blow and go.
 
RidinHeifer

RidinHeifer

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An even better idea for the stimulation would be getting a towel and massaging(very deep).  I did that on a horse that had some illness problems and it was amazing how much it did.  I haven't owned a horse with that much natural shine.  After about 2 weeks it became very noticeable!  Plus, it will prolly feel a lot better for the steer!
 
Telos

Telos

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There comes a point when brushing can be too time consuming and counter productive but it is necessary in helping train the direction you want the hair to grow and keeping the hide conditioned. Length and quality of hair is genetic and environment related. When the days become longer and hotter, cattle will usually slick their hair no matter how much you brush. IMO, excessive brushing might be overrated. But keeping calves cool and in a darker environment has positive benefits especially in prolonging their hair during the summer months. That said, the benefits of brushing will help you in connecting with your calf which is very important. It comes down to a healthy balance of time management.
 
Sambosu

Sambosu

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I wanted to bring this topic up because when I showed cattle back in the 90's, I combed my calves often and used a blower a lot.  During the winter months and once we got a cooler, my calves had great hair. Just wanted to see what all the hubbub was about using a brush since I never really used a brush.
 
S

sackshowcattle

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yes you can over brush but the reason it is stressed so much is some people want to brush for 10 to 15 minutes on the whole calf an that just doesn't cut it. if you want leg hair like the display bulls that the hair starts popping right at the hoof line it takes 2 hours a day brushing just legs. some people will probably say thats to long but break it down into morning and night so your down to an hour each time. now take it to 4 legs thats 15 minutes. now go eaven further down to inside, outside, front, and back, and you are down to 3 and a half to 4 minutes of training per section of each leg. It is stressed so much to get people to spend enough time on it. The legs are the hardest part to get worked and trained right and take a huge portion of the time brushing but with my routine its still 2 hours a day minimum just on legs.  
 
Sambosu

Sambosu

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Interesting comment sackshowcattle.  I will admit I have never been happy with how the leg hair on my cattle looked.  Just have never been able to make them fluffy with out glue.  I will start having my kids use the brush on the calves legs more.  What type of material should the brush have? The brush that we use is one we used to use on our horse.  Its' not very course, would consider it to have a synthetic material.
 
vc

vc

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The rice root brush, a very stiff bristled brush is what you need, I would get on for each kid, see who can wear one out first. ;)
 

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Sambosu

Sambosu

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vc, thanks for picture.  I have always thought that type of brush would pull out the hair, I guess I was wrong. 
 
vc

vc

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After seeing some of the thickets a cow will go in to intentionally I think it would be hard to pull out their hair with any kind of brush ;D.
 
H

heatherleblanc

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sackshowcattle said:
To understand lets use human hair as an example. People with long hair still grow hair without all the work but it doesn't look good if not taken care of properly you can tell the different just by looking at the hair who takes care of it and who doesn't. That is why there are so many different products and also homemade concoctions people will put in there hair, and also the old adage 100 brush strokes a night for health hair. On cattle the brushing helps stimulate the hide and hair for growth, helps the hide breath by getting air to the hide, helps blood circulation, helps remove debris and dandriff, and helps distribute the natural occuring oils and also whatever you put on it throughout the whole length of the hair. The distribution of the natural and put on conditioners is probably the most important part since those are what helps keep the hair from being dry and damaged. Cattle can get dry brittle hair with split ends just like people. the training isn't the big part there are plent of products to hold hair in place unless its a blow and go.
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Exactly. Brushing stimulates hair growth.  As well, it helps train the hair.  Just like when people brush their hair the same way everyday, it will fall that way more naturally.  Also, it works better if you brush the heck out of the hair when it is wet, and then blow it.
 
S

sackshowcattle

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vc is right rice root all the way. if you have a calf with sensitive skin or the brush has really stiff bristles you can soak it in a bucket of water and it will break it in some and soften it up.
 
G

Glorifying Pastures

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By the way, what is the proper way to train the leg hair? My family has got told so many different ways, I'm not sure anymore. Have not been happy with the leg hair since we started showing cattle, the body hair is pretty good, still learning.
 
tcf

tcf

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In our experience we have always trained cattle's hair up and forward, almost on a 45 degree angle. we brush, blow and comb this way including the legs. once hair is trained you can manipulate it to move wherever. straight up is straight up, i think its more natural up and forward.
with leg hair we also have found that a roto brush, sock (for tail) and Luster's Pink/Weavers pro pink work great. spray it in, work the hair, spray more in and then we finish off using a massage type brush. looks like a wash brush but has more space in the teeth. we have Herefords and need to work hair on the legs or there is not hope. Pink (tall can) is in my opinion a must need for any show box and hair breaking, you can almost not use too much. that's just what works for us.
 
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