Thursday, November 1, 2012

Pointers When Picking Winning Show Steers

By Tameka Ware


There are several factors that need to be considered when picking your texas show steers. Your chosen calves need to be robust, well-muscled and properly conditioned. Only then would you have a chance to bring home the blue ribbon. It is indeed imperative to provide the animals proper housing, exercise and diet. However, that is only the first half of the deal. The other half is, of course, selecting the winning steer.

The breeds matter a lot. Before you pick a steer, you must decide what breed is the best for you. The Angus, Hereford, Simmental, Maine Anjou, Shorthorn, and Charolais are just some of the most common breeds. It is allowed to bring a combination of two superior breeds mentioned as well.

After you have decided which type of breed you will be raising, you must study the standard criterion that applies to it. Normally, there are characteristics that every judge look for in every breed. There are standards used in individually determining the condition of each steer. The key to winning is knowing how to make the right preparation.

A mentor can be a big help for your preparations. They can help you get a better grip on the policies and principles in the show. They can also set guidelines to make the right decision in choosing your prospects. More important, they can give clear answers to important questions. An established breeder can be a good mentor.

Check the steers. Examine their body structure and conformation in particular. It is a common gauge used by the judges in most breeds. The chest must be broad, the lugs need to be straight and hocks flexible and broad. Mentors can be a great help in determining the specific conformation and detailed evaluation of the calves.

Make sure that it is well-balanced, too. It is important that animals have symmetry in their size and broadness. Pay close attention to its bone density. It must be distinctly displayed in its body. It would be difficult to win a show with steers that extremely unbalance. Their physical conditions are among the things that every judge look for first.

The frame is another important factor to consider. Choose a show steer with even build. The body has to be a bit longer compared to its height. This is more likely to win since long lanky animals may not have enough time to get filled. Meanwhile, short chubby ones gain weight easily.

Evaluate its overall muscle. Not only the frame of the animal is important. Its muscle must also be lean and firm in the shoulders. Long slabs of tissues in the ribs and back, and rounded thick hindquarters are also essential. Muscles must be solid even when pressed on. It must not yield under the fingers to earn a prize.

As you consider the physical appearance of your selected texas show steers, it is equally important to choose one with calm disposition. The nervous and fidgeting animals burn more calories than necessary. Also, it is easier to present, exercise or halter break calmer animals. Pick a steer that you can easily nurture.




About the Author:



No comments: