wisconsin state fair does actually have unregistered dairy steers. those steers cannot go in the sale and they are usually there for the performance steer contest, which is based on rate of gain, carcass, show, and theres a couple more things i think that i don't remember. ONLY the Breed champions, Crossbred Champion, and Registered Dairy Champion, and Grand and Reserve Overall are eligible for the sale, so the Breed reserves do not sell unless the champion is selected and the judge sees that they are fit for the sale. that did not happen this year. champion was Brock Mays Chi steer and Reserve was Brocks Crossbred, congrats to the May family on having a great state fair. lauren also had the reserve champion Maine and was champion showman for the 12 yr olds.
as for that 8th overall it is not overall, it is just picking sale order. the champion dairy steer, is almost always purchased by american foods. and as to good and finished dairy steers down there. not many are actually where they need to be. and same as most counties. Dairy especially holstein steers that are normal holstein size NEED to be 1600-1700 pounds before american foods will buy them out of a sale barn, under that they are not finished enough, or grading where they should. but those steers that are in that range will have a good size ribeye, as good as any beef and they almost always WILL be prime.
in this state, i live in wisconsin and in prolly one of the most competitive dairy counties in the state. if anyone knows anything about dairy, we have Siemers, and De Bruijn's home farm, as well as some other awesome herds. the dairy steers overtake most of the fairs. our county the steers actually aren't as many as some, but the couple families that do have dairy steers usually have really good finished steers. and our fair also has a overall competition. the champion beef steer, market heifer, dairy beef cross steer, and dairy steer go against each other for champion and reserve overall, it has always gone to the beef steer. except for 2009 the grand champion was my market heifer and last year the reserve was the market heifer.
as to that steer in specific and the county he's from. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME dairy steer. and i went to waupaca counties show last year to support a friend for the beef show, he was showing a bred and owned maine angus. and a lot of the dairy steers weren't finished as most aren't they are not cheap to feed by any means, not efficient, and they gotta get big, and corn isn't cheap and it's not gonna get any cheaper anytime soon, not with this drought. but their were a few that were really really outstanding. i don't remember who showed those few. but they were nice and finished and the one for sure was grading prime at 1600+.
and yes holstien association does register steers obviously they'd have to, if they steers for state fair have to have papers. everybeef association does right? why would they be any different?