I need some help.....

I know there are people on this site who know how to make a calf look "spot-on" at the appropriate time, most everytime.  I don't know how to do it, and I think that lack of knowledge has cost my little girl at a couple of shows this year.  I know a lot of this type of stuff will come from experience, but it's really frustrating.  I don't know the tricks necessary to make her calf eat and drink at the appropriate times, in order for him to have the "full" look that he needs at showtime.  Our calf isn't a world beater by any stretch of the imagination, but he's good enough to be competetive within his breed.  If anybody can share some tips with me on how to manipulate him to eat & drink at the appropriate times, I'd really appreciate it.  Send it to me in a PM if you feel like you have to. 

Thanks in advance..... <beer>

As far as drinking we have to deal with shows that have sulphur water on tap.  We have tried various things.... you can hold them back a little bit until you need to get them to drink.  We have tried a 2 liter of cheap 7-up in a bucket of water and also went the Kool-Aid route.  Some calves took to it like a fat kid to a twinkie others it was harder.  I would say try to do the leg work at home while you are working your calf.  You could tie them up and treat it like it was show day.  Go through the same time schedule that you normally do and then try various things.  You can also add some rock salt/mineral to the feeding before the show.  This has worked for me to encourage drinking.  Once you get them to drink, be sure to watch them as they drink.  To much can be just as bad on some calves as none.    As far as grain..... molasses might help for that feeding where you really need them to eat.  I try to avoid many "treat" feedings.  It is hard for my daughter to feed at times if they are looking to push her around before she can get the grain dumped.  1000 lb plus heifers, even the dead broke ones, don't understand manners around 9 year old girls sometimes. 

There are many different things that you can do leading up to before and on the day of the show.  For me, I usually keep water intake consistent until the morning of the show.  If the show is in the morning, I will then hold of water until around a half an hour until I enter the ring.  If it's a later show, then allow the steer to drink little amounts earlier in the day.  Then let it drink around half an hour before the show.  That way the steer will look more full entering the show ring.  As far as what to feed it, try to feed it molasses or beet pulp.  The molasses will keep it wanting to eat more, while the beet pulp will expand its rib, helping it look more full and deeper ribbed.

sent you a (rambling) PM  ;D

molasses works great, it just doesn't fit our system very well so I just started wet feeding by soaking the feed mixture in water and have had very good results.

I suspect that many are pumped behind the curtain, but that's just my suspicious side 

I hold water and feed grain/pulp/hay an hour or two up to fitting.  Bring them from the chute and let them drink from a familiar container, then off to the ring.

Don't forget to let them see and eat/drink out of a feed pan and water bucket at home. We have tossed small salt licks in tie outs the night before, don't give them a huge amount of hay, wake up really early and get them rinsed, fed and laid down. Don't feed a full feeding- just a scoop- make them hungry. Feed and water again before fitting. Also helps make them more content and more willing to let the boys get their job done in the chute.

If you notice them going off feed at a show, if you are there for more than a few days, barter with someone else. We go to our friends and borrow some of their feed. I don't know about you, but would you like to eat the exact same thing every day, your whole life. Would get pretty boring.

Good luck!