Recent content by iowabeef

We brush Legs-up Body-45 degrees up & forward Top-forward Butt-from center out Bottom of Belly-straight down if depth is needed.

We do not cooler room on the babies we are selling.  Simply rinsing and fans.  Have seen more health issues with young calves that have been cooler roomed too soon. 

Tallcool is spot on.  A little daylight doesn't hurt.  Rinsing once a day works fine but when it really gets warmer and closer to end show, twice a day will add that extra.  Brush, Brush, brush and then when you are tire of brushing, brush some more.  You will be happy with the results.

Good hair comes from a combination 1-Dark 2-Daily rinsing 3-Daily riceroot brushing 4-Cool temp (doesn't have to be frigid) 5-Genetics Very important to start raising the temp slowly of the cool room about a week before an event where the calves will be in a barn for a few days like a fair. ...

Corn itself is a GMO so I guess we shouldn't feed any corn to cattle to appease those who are uninformed.

Another way to put it.....one pays for the other. Commercial cattle are a "bread and butter" business.  They give you a living.  Show cattle are more of a hobby field, way to spend amazing travel time with family and friends. 

We usually dye calves a week before the show.  However, we only use the cheapest dye we find a the Dollar store.  Has always seemed to work well.

We had 2 Dakota Golds this year....a steer and a heifer.  Both were VERY docile.  In fact, the steer was one of the calmest calves we have ever had.  I would say an unpleasant trait I noticed with many Dakota Golds isn't their demeanor but rather their  structure.  I have seen so many of them...

Weavers actually make a number of varied colors that you might find to work....or a blending of a couple of them.

I have information (check in times, judges, cost, etc.) posted for the following shows on our facebook page Mitchell Family Show Cattle Sun. Sept. 18th Cattle Congress in Waterloo Sat. Oct. 15th  Blake Sievers Memorial in Tipton Sun. Oct. 16th Kirkwood Hoof and Horn in Cedar Rapids Then a...

We bought an experienced donkey from our cousin and it was the best purchase we have ever made.  He is super gentle but firm.  We usually hook a calf to them for about 3 hours and the calf is then halter broke for us.  There will be times when the calf needs a swat from behind but generally they...

Completely agree with Olson Family and GoWyo.  You don't need a professional photographer.  We sell all of our calves through a Facebook page with me taking the pics on my cell phone.  We make sure they are on level ground and sometimes will have a little clip job on them and sometimes not.  We...

I find this comment interesting.  I haven't seen anyone ask for a "fluffed and puffed" picture.  It is obvious this picture is not a good representation of an animal.  So asking for a better picture is only logical and I wouldn't begrudge anyone asking to see a better shot if you are truly...

Most of the show cattle mags have maps of the breeders by regions and states....show circut, show times, livestock plus.  These mags probably also have websites.

There are a number of them coming up. Iowa State Fair Aug. 13th Franklin County(Hampton Iowa) Aug. 28th Big Four Fair (Nashua Iowa) Sept. 5th Blake Sievers (Tipton Iowa) Oct. 15th Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids Iowa) Oct. 16th. Details on the Franklin Co. and Big 4 Fair can be found...