Opinion wanted on this 1/2 Simmental steer

[endbeef]

I would like an opinion on this steer. Would he make a good show prospect for someone?

He is 4 months old in this picture. The cow directly behind him is his mother, Simmental Cross cow. His daddy is JLo's Big Bud (Rendition x JF Reba 736 T JLo) full blooded simmental.

He looks even better at 5 months old and has a great hindquarter. He has nice hair, although muddy in this pic. Solid black with no white markings.

 

[shortyjock89]

I think he's going to have too much forward chest and is too deep from withers to chest floor to make a top show prospect. Also, in Illinois and most all of the Midwest, a 1/2 Simmental steer is probably going to need a little white on his face and a lot of bone to compete.  Beyond that, he looks powerful and easy doing. If he were purebred, he'd be a bit better.

 

[endbeef]

Thanks for the reply.

 

[RyanChandler]

How the heck can an animal be too deep from withers to chest floor?    If show steers were evaluated solely on functional characteristics, you'd have a great prospect. 

 

[shortyjock89]

Okay? Well the thing about that is, they're not. Show cattle haven't been evaluated solely on functional characteristics for over a century, probably even longer. There is always an emphasis put on aesthetic qualities that even the best feed lot animals cannot hope to embody. 

 

[endbeef]

We have a lot of 1/2 blood calves. We think the heifers are really nice. I have attached some photos of them.
The first picture was from a set of twins. She is super gentle and greets you by licking your face. Her twin died shortly after weaning, from an impaction.
The second heifer is a month older than the first. They are built a lot a like, and it's difficult to tell them apart.

 

[RyanChandler]

Okay? Well the thing about that is, they're not. Show cattle haven't been evaluated solely on functional characteristics for over a century, probably even longer. There is always an emphasis put on aesthetic qualities that even the best feed lot animals cannot hope to embody. 

I agree. I just feel the line should be drawn when more emphasis is placed on aesthetics than actual functional beef cattle characteristics.