Wanted: Opinions on this steer!!!

[ChristaCheatham]

Hi! This is my first year showing a shorthorn and it's my first year of picking out my own calf! He is sired by Sin City and was born in February. Please give me your comments and advice!! They are wanted and needed!

 

[JTM]

Attractive calf with some rib shape and thickness. I'm not real crazy about his hip structure but it is hard to tell. The way his legs are set with his hip seems a little off to me. I think you have a nice show steer project there though. Good luck!

 

[ChristaCheatham]

What do you mean about his hip structure?? How should I set his legs in order to change that??

 

[JTM]

It's really hard to tell for sure with the small pictures, but it seems like his legs have a little too much curve too them in comparison to his hip set. In other words, his legs look like he would fall off from hooks to pins  but his hip is jacked up in the pins or tail head. I think he is set up about right in the first picture. I wouldn't worry about it too much, that is a good steer.

 

[twistedhshowstock]

I think he is a pretty nice calf.  Like JTM said he had pretty good thickness and rib shape. What I see in his back end is he looks as if he may have tad more set to those hocks compared to a lot of steers we are used to seeing, but I dont think its that bad.  Its not uncommon for a younger calf to have a little for set to the hock because most of them will straighten a little as they get older and grow. Thats why its really bad for one to be straight legged at an earlier age because it will often get worse as they grow and get older.  I think what may throw his hip off appearance wise is it looks like he has a kinda high tail head, or maybe just a little more pronounced or bigger around the tail head.  Do you know if he has a growth implant in his ear.  One of the negative effects of growth implants is they can make one be a little bigger or higher at the tail head and they can make them cresty in the neck.  If he has a growth implant this could be what causes him to look like that.  I wouldnt worry to much about. Work like crazy to grow hair and you can fill in some of that and change the appearance of the tail head when you clip him.  It should also smooth out some as he finishes and lays some fat cover down in that area.  Looks like a pretty good steer overall though.

 

[ChristaCheatham]

Ok so to make his hip "look better" should I bring in his back leg a little in more? I'm not for sure how to set him up according to his genetic makeup. And as far as I know he has not had any hormones. We asked the seller beforehand. He does have A LOT of hair in the tail head region so that may be it. I took this picture just after clipping his back/loin area and not the tail head so that may be it. Do you think the curve will go away as he gets older?? His first show is in December. Hopefully when I fit his leg it will cover it up immensely.

 

[JTM]

I think you are on the right track. I can't really say too much more because I'm getting out of my league. Steers really aren't my thing. I was being fairly critical of a good steer, you definitely should be happy with that guy. Good luck to you! 

 

[twistedhshowstock]

Well if he is high tail headed you are gonna want to clip his tail head pretty tight...i.e. if he is high tail headed you dont want to put a fin on him.  When you clip him just pull the hair up and clip his top line level...remember always find the highest points and clip there first(generally the shoulders and tail head)  I generally start with the shoulders. Clip them down as close as you can but leave enough to make sure they look smooth...then clip the tail head down, then clip the rest of the top line to be level with that.  You dont want to pull his legs under him as that just wont look natural.  If you can get really good hair on him...pull the hair up and clip the back of the leg from the hock to foot down some, but dont take a lot off the back of his hip, just square him up some.  Generally we see the legs get a little straighter as they grow up and get older and the joints mature. So I have a feeling as he gets older the set in his leg wont be as noticeable.

 

[JTM]

Well if he is high tail headed you are gonna want to clip his tail head pretty tight...i.e. if he is high tail headed you dont want to put a fin on him.  When you clip him just pull the hair up and clip his top line level...remember always find the highest points and clip there first(generally the shoulders and tail head)  I generally start with the shoulders. Clip them down as close as you can but leave enough to make sure they look smooth...then clip the tail head down, then clip the rest of the top line to be level with that.  You dont want to pull his legs under him as that just wont look natural.  If you can get really good hair on him...pull the hair up and clip the back of the leg from the hock to foot down some, but dont take a lot off the back of his hip, just square him up some.  Generally we see the legs get a little straighter as they grow up and get older and the joints mature. So I have a feeling as he gets older the set in his leg wont be as noticeable.

Very good advice. I think a lot can be done with the hair. Twisted definitely put words to what I was think I would try.

 

[ChristaCheatham]

Ok thanks! The area of clipping is my worst area... we practiced on him early so that his hair will grow back! Right now I think he has really good hair and all I've been doing is brushing, rinsing and blow drying him. I'm hoping that by winter he will have twice as much as now so that his legs will have a lot more hair. His breeder is also coming before the show to clip him as well as help me fit him. Hopefully I will learn some tips in how to clip him. Thanks for the help!!!

 

[ChristaCheatham]

So do any of you have recomendations of trying to keep the hair or grow it? Right now I am rinsing and blow drying as well as putting conditioner in. I'm not worried about growing it right now, for winter is approaching which will hopefully make him grow more. In the spring when it gets about 70 degrees constantly I will bring him into the barn and put a couple fans on him as well as a mister. Will this work? Genetically he seems like he will have a lot of hair...

 

[feeder duck]

Looks like you have done a fine job. Pictures are a little tough to see, but ok. Looks like he has some muscle. He is big enough. Feed him well and you will have a great year. GOOD LUCK!!!

Jeff

 

[ChristaCheatham]

Thanks! Sorry about the pics I will keep woring on setting up his feet a little better, maybe not have them as stretched out.