The market classes for our fair were held on Tuesday, as I watched the show from outside of the holding ring, we got to get a good look at all the animals before they went in to the ring. I would say that the overall quality of the animals has improved, there were quite a few calves who looked good standing, just disappointed on the move.
I think that most kids are feeding better and it shows, we have a market heifer division now and they are a little behind on feeding the heifers to get them right, quite a few fat balls at the tail heads that were more like doughnuts than balls.
I doubt there are more than 3 or 4 calves in our county that see a cooler, so most of the hair on the calves that have hair is genetics, luck and hard work. That being said:
The one thing I did notice is that a lot of these kids are lacking the knowledge or guidance to get an animal prep areared for the fair. I think it starts from not knowing about daily care, up to clipping.
I saw quite a few good haired calves, that were sun bleached or dead hair, there was a calf with tons of good hair that went ever which way but the right way, other calves with the long hair on the crest, or 6" sheath hair. I really believe if some of the kids had worked the hair on their animal they may have jumped a few places and a few would have made it to the second round quite easily if they had. I do not think is they do not want to put in the work, I think they do not know what to do.
I really believe that some think that the calves that have good hair just come that way, some would be surprised that they could have had that look with rinsing, a blower, Scotch comb, and a rice root brush.
After walking through the barn last night it looks like the breeder we use sent quite a few calves down here, I am going to see if they can either put a clinic on down here this fall after they have their sales or one at the ranch (down here would probably get more kids) I think that if the kids knew what to do most would, the competition would get a little tighter.
We had 70 head at the fair so if 20 to 30 kids would come and half of those took the lessons home and applied them it would be worth it. If we could get a few feed stores and or companies and other business to help sponsor the clinic i think ti would help the kids and wont hurt the breeder any either.
I think that most kids are feeding better and it shows, we have a market heifer division now and they are a little behind on feeding the heifers to get them right, quite a few fat balls at the tail heads that were more like doughnuts than balls.
I doubt there are more than 3 or 4 calves in our county that see a cooler, so most of the hair on the calves that have hair is genetics, luck and hard work. That being said:
The one thing I did notice is that a lot of these kids are lacking the knowledge or guidance to get an animal prep areared for the fair. I think it starts from not knowing about daily care, up to clipping.
I saw quite a few good haired calves, that were sun bleached or dead hair, there was a calf with tons of good hair that went ever which way but the right way, other calves with the long hair on the crest, or 6" sheath hair. I really believe if some of the kids had worked the hair on their animal they may have jumped a few places and a few would have made it to the second round quite easily if they had. I do not think is they do not want to put in the work, I think they do not know what to do.
I really believe that some think that the calves that have good hair just come that way, some would be surprised that they could have had that look with rinsing, a blower, Scotch comb, and a rice root brush.
After walking through the barn last night it looks like the breeder we use sent quite a few calves down here, I am going to see if they can either put a clinic on down here this fall after they have their sales or one at the ranch (down here would probably get more kids) I think that if the kids knew what to do most would, the competition would get a little tighter.
We had 70 head at the fair so if 20 to 30 kids would come and half of those took the lessons home and applied them it would be worth it. If we could get a few feed stores and or companies and other business to help sponsor the clinic i think ti would help the kids and wont hurt the breeder any either.
