what do you think... pics

[farmboy]

i was wondering if he would be any good as a fat state fair steer. he won RC at my fair last week

 

[gocanes719]

Looks to me he has a serious problem behind his shoulders.  He is pinched in his heart pretty severely and his topline looks awefully tight to me.  I think he is better suited for a county fair.  I am not passing judgement on his structure because I can't see him walk, I see some other things that concern me but it could just be the pictures.  I say if you want to take him to a state fair enter him and make a judgement then, I honestly think you could start off with a better prospect though.  Not trying to be rude, I am just being honest.

 

[farmboy]

i appreciate every opinion i get and btw, im talking fat steer state fair  O0

 

[Bawndoh]

Looks to me he has a serious problem behind his shoulders.  He is pinched in his heart pretty severely and his topline looks awefully tight to me.  I think he is better suited for a county fair.  I am not passing judgement on his structure because I can't see him walk, I see some other things that concern me but it could just be the pictures.  I say if you want to take him to a state fair enter him and make a judgement then, I honestly think you could start off with a better prospect though.  Not trying to be rude, I am just being honest.

I absolutely agree about the heart.  He is so tight in his heart that it makes his shoulder look huge...or vice versa.  Besides that, he is quite thick, and has an excellent made quarter.  Sorry, I cannot answer your origional question though.

 

[Bawndoh]

Sorry, forgot to mention that with a tight heart almost always comes a tight flank.  These are very undesirable traits in fed cattle.  Keep looking Zach.

 

[farmboy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZpRBQUzAwY

 

[afhm]

Zach I hate to tell you this but I agree with gocanes on this one.  He might do fine at the county show, but I don't think he would be a competitive as you want to be at the state fair. If i remember correctly you raised this calf didn't you?  If I was in your shoes, i would sell him even if it was at the sale barn, take that money and add some to it and hit a few of the sales over the next month and find another calf.  It is possible to get a competitive steer for a decent price at alot of these sales.  you might have to travel a little bit, but I bet that you wouldn"t be bothered one bit driving around the country looking at show calves.  Not only do you get to find you a fair project but you can get help on breeding decisions by seeing what cows click or don't click with what bulls.  Or  you can still go to the sales and hold onto him until you find a better calf.

 

[linnettejane]

i have issues with his front shoulders, pinches in behind them, and that dip in his topline, dont really like that....but he sure has good hair and a nice butt...

couldnt tell much from the video....i think you needed another set of hands... (thumbsup)

county fair steer...depends on the county....ohio state fair steer....nope....jmho

 

[afhm]

The straighter the shouldernormally the weaker topped a calf is right behind the shoulders.  Sometimes they are just weak backed but alot of the times there is a correlation.  Zach your calf looks extra full in the pics is that the case?  Sometimes that will make them appear weak top and high loined. Good luck on whatever you decide to do and if I was too harsh in any of my critique I appologize I am only trying to help you.

 

[knabe]

i would weld or bolt a plate on the back of that trailer so a calf doesn't stick his foot through that.  i've seen that happen, but it was so rusted, they were lucky and he pulled right out.

there is a dearth of girth.

the reason the straighter the shoulder the "weaker" the top, is because they need cushion somewhere.  the ankle can't do it.  it's kinda down hill from there, as the back is not a good area for so much cushion.  then they start to favor one diagonal cause it's sore, then one foot starts turning out more, they don't set straight easily.  then the get shorter strided cause it's painful to walk out.  then we make them walk out, then we give them stuff.  these are general comments.

 

[farmboy]

i actually bought the steer 1500+

and why does everyone apologize for replying?  

afhm - i could find another calf but im not made of money lol
LJ - i could use some help, basicly its just me and the cows, nobody else has any interest in it  

so is the overall consensus is I ripped my self out of alot of money?

 

[afhm]

What is this calf Zach?

 

[farmboy]

http://acaregistry.org/detail.aspx?reg=334742

 

[knabe]

fatten him up till the fat fills in behind his shoulder.  personally, i would start doing deep body massages on him right now, especially in his shoulder neck area.  his front feet splay a lot.

what i would do with his front feet is get to the point where you can lift his feet by hand, and then start pulling his legs (one at a time) forward.  the other thing i've noticed about draft picks, is they get stiff on one diagonal.  feel for bumps on his loin, and do deep massage on them.  you can also pull on his tail and start rocking him.  when you can do all this, call a large animal massage person.  what ever is his short striding side, search for tightness and push.  eventually, he will start liking being loosened up.  at first, they can get a little startled.

 

[OH Breeder]

Zach it says you are the breeder?

You are shooting for the Ohio State Fair? It is pretty competative as you know. If you are looking for prospects there are a few breeders in your area that would work with you on $$. Baughman's are just down the road from you. They have raised class and division winners at OSF.
I was in your shoes when i was a kid. No one had the time or energy to deal with cattle. Keep working. SLim down the cow herd and invest maybe in some embryos or partener with another breeder which you may be able to exchange work for animals etc. I worked for several farms to keep my going when i was younger. It ain't easy.

 

[justintime]

I agree with OH breeder... Zach, from what I have seen of your interest, from your posts on this site, it appears to me that you have a genuine interest in this business and in working with cattle. I would suggest that you try to find someone you can help in showing cattle at local shows and even possibly working part time with someone who is established. The reason I say this , is simply because I think there are lots of people who could use an enthusiastic helper like you, and if you work hard and show that you want to learn, I am sure there are people who would gladly help you out. I really wish you lived closer, as I could use someone like yourself to help out. I certainly would be willing to help you anyway I could. I am sure there are others close to you who would do the same.

Having your own calf is nice, but do not ever refuse the help of established breeders. Make sure you find someone you like to work for, and with. I bet you will find it amazing where it could take you.

 

[dori36]

i was wondering if he would be any good as a fat state fair steer. he won RC at my fair last week

Hi, Zach.  Lots of focus on the shoulder and girth on the calf from the other good board members, and I agree.  But I 'd also have to add that he seems, from the pics, to stand narrow behind.  Even though you've got a great clip job on him, I look for a wider natural base to show that the calf has natural thickness in the round and carrying down.  I think that for a fat steer he'd need to show more natural thickness in that area.  When picking calves to show, if I like everything else about them but even as little guys they stand consistently narrow behind, I don't take them to show.  I believe that's one real easy way to evaluate that potential thickness behind - wide stance shows they have lots or room to develop that good muscle.

 

[farmboy]

i appreciate the opinions and advice, i never was set on taking him to stae fair. i just thought he looked pretty good and i agree he does have a tight heart but the rest of him is very impressive, and like somebody said hes got tons on hair  (pop) thats always fun. idk why but everybody who talked to me about the calf never mentioned anything about being tight hearted. I should have caught this before i bought him back in april but im still fairly new (is 10 years expreince new?) i think those people were just amzed by the HQ on him.

about working for people - the nearest show cattle breeder lived less than a mile from me but he got divorced and lost it all about 3 years ago. there a few people around i could go to but 1). i dont have a license.  (lol)  there is hope though, both my cousins have 3+ kids and they have already got there feet wet and are getting hooked on it so in years to come were gonna have a full crew 

<cowboy>

 

[inthebarnagain]

Trust me Zach, you are learning the good way.  From now on you will definitely look at heartgirths! ;D  Just like my daughter will be taught about being covered up in the showring, didn't think about teaching it to her until it happened to her. 

You are a smart kid, success is just around the corner for you!!

And you are right, the hair and the hindquarters kinda overshadow everything else!  Did you do the clipping on him?  If so, good job

 

[farmboy]