Below you will find a list of resources for your beef cattle project:
MARKET STEER:
Junior Market Beef Record Book
Senior Market Beef Record Book
BEEF HEIFER:
Virginia 4-H Beef Heifer Project Junior Record Book
Virginia 4-H Beef Heifer Project Senior Record Book
BASIC NEEDS
- SPACE
- 1-2 acres of pasture area/animal (500 lbs/acre)
- Open front 3-sided barn setback 50 ft.
- Barbed, electric, or woven wire fencing
- NUTRITION
- Pasture
- Stored Forages: hay, silage, haylage
- Concentrates: Grain
- Salt and other minerals
- HEALTH
- Parasite Control
- Vaccinations and Disease Prevention
- Dehorning if necessary
- Be sure to check withdrawal dates before sales
- Hoof trimming before shows
- Maintenance of a clean living environment to prevent external parasites
- Monitor animals for common bovine ailments:
- Ringworm
- Pink eye
- Warts
See for more information:
Housing and Space Guidelines
4-H Market Beef Planning Guide
Guide to Raising Healthy Beef Cattle
Beef Cow/Calf Herd Health Program and Calendar
Basic Beef Production Guidelines: Penn State Extension
SELECTING A PROJECT ANIMAL
- There are 2 fundamental beef cattle operations: commercial or purebred
- Commercial Operation Cattle
- The goal of selling commercial cattle is for uniformity, and commercial ventures are generally lower input and lower risk than purebred ventures
- Commercial operations allow unregistered purebred cattle or cross bred cattle
- Cross breeding can allow the best individual traits of different breeds to be combined to yield hybrid breeds that may grow faster and weigh more at a younger age to increase production
- Purebred Operations
- Involves raising cattle of one registered breed
- These cattle can be sold at breed shows
- Purebred operations require more initial input, record keeping, and time
- Production and profitability are important factors to keep in mind
- There are 2 main types of breeds: maternal or terminal
- Maternal Breeds
- Known for milk production and mothering abilities
- Terminal Breeds
- Known for growth and meat-producing capabilities
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| Some Common Beef Cattle Breeds in the U.S. |
4-H Market Beef Planning Guide
Animal Selection: Angus TV
Selecting Market Beef: University of Wyoming Extension
Selecting a Beef Breed: University of Georgia Extension
Breeds of Livestock: Oklahoma State
KEEPING RECORDS
- Registration with the breed association (if applicable)
- Registration may need to be transferred to the exhibitor's name
- Eligible animals may need initial registration
- If you don't own the animal:
- You may need to complete a lease application through 4-H or the breed association
- It may be a good idea to join the respective breed's junior association
- Accurate Health Records
- Vaccination dates, date of dehorning, application of parasite control
- Keep a record of growth and feed intake
- Ensure the animal meets benchmarks for growth
- Make a budget and document expenses
DAILY CARE
- Feeding recommended and adjusted amount for animal
- Keep access to clean water at all times
- Halter breaking
- Training and conditioning the hair
- Stimulating hair growth
- Rinsing and blow drying the calf twice a day can help to stimulate hair growth
- Cold water can stimulate circulation to increase hair growth
- Wash 1-2 times weekly with shampoo and conditioner
- Around March or April, you will want to begin a shedding regimen to remove excess hair and promote growth of new hair
PRE-SHOW PREPARATION
- Halter breaking the steer/heifer
- Leading your heifer to and from the feed trough may be helpful
- Practice setting the steer/heifer's feet using a show stick
- Clipping
- Hauling arrangements
- Preparations for show should begin several months in advance
HALTER BREAKING
- Training ideally begins when the animal is young
- Make training a positive experience
- The animal should not feel like it is being chased
- Use an appropriately sized nylon halter for training
- The adjustable side of the halter always goes on the left side of the animal's body
- The nose piece of the halter should be appropriately positioned between the top of the nostrils and the eyes
- Tie your animal for up to an hour the first few days with about five inches of slack in the rope so that the calf can comfortably hold its head (tie the animal in a quiet, safe environment)
- Tie using a quick release slip knot
- While the animal is tied, spend time brushing and petting it, working up toward the head
See for more information and videos:
Slip Knot Video
TRAINING YOUR ANIMAL
- Begin training your animal to lead once they can stand quietly tied
- Always lead the animal from the left side
- Pull the lead rope to get the animal to walk forward and release the tension as soon as the animal begins walking
- It may be helpful to have someone walk behind the animal (at a safe distance) to teach the animal to walk on
- Place your left hand in front of the heifer's muzzle or use your right hand to apply pressure to the shoulder to tell the animal to slow down
- Never hit your animal, a tap on the nose or a tug on the halter is enough
- Once the animal is can be lead consistently on a halter, begin teaching her to carry hold her head at an appropriate level so she looks her best
- Practice leading for about 20 minutes daily
- Once the animal can be led without too much tugging, introduce it to the show halter
Guide to Fitting and Showing Dairy Cattle-University of Georgia
CLIPPING
- Beginning 2 weeks before the show, it is important to clip your animal in order to highlight its conformation strengths and correct weaknesses
- The majority of clipping takes place at home and should be taken care of early enough to allow the hair to look smooth and natural
- Expect the clipping process to accumulate to 1-2 days work in total to be show ready
- Clipping is a skill that takes lots of practice
- It is helpful to find a person experienced in clipping to help get you started initially
FITTING YOUR ANIMAL FOR SHOW
- Review fitting guidelines for the particular because rules may vary with state, year, breed, or show
- It is important to recognize if adhesives and/or touch-up oils and paints are allowed for the show, or if the show is blow-and-go/dry
- Prepping body hair
- Use a light product that adds shine and repels dust and dirt
- Apply only to the body portions, not to the legs, tail head, or flank
- Can follow-up with a light, non-greasy finishing oil
- Prepping legs, tail, etc
- Optional: use adhesive, paints, etc to fit and build legs, tail, flank, etc.
- See information below
- Breaking down your calf after showing
- It is important to remove adhesives, paints, and products applied to the animal's skin to avoid topical irritation
- A gentle oil or commercially prepared product can be used to remove adhesives and paints, following the removal products washing the animal would be best to prevent irritation
SHOWMANSHIP
- Showmanship involves how well you and your animal work together and how well you are able to present your animal
- Walk into the ring and make immediate eye contact with the judge (keep a confident/happy look)
- Follow the pattern explained by the judge-this can be slightly different depending on the judge or the ring-there is a general pattern recognized in the resources below
- Always keep your steer or heifer between you and the judge
- Always leave space for judge to walk between you animal and the animal in front of or beside you
- Use as much as the ring as possible when walking the appropriate pattern
- Use the show stick to set the cow's feet
- Check for width, length, and stagger of the back feet
- see diagram and resources below
- Walk at a calm and steady speed
- You can scratch the calf calmly to encourage them to stay in position while keeping your eyes on the judge
- Always comb your animal when the judge walks away (place the scotch comb in your pocket teeth pointing in toward you)
- General knowledge to know:
- Sire and dam of your animal
- Birth date, weight, and nutritional information about your animal
- Good and bad physical attributes of your animal
- Parts of the animal
- General information about the beef cattle industry
- Current issues in the beef industry
- How to show to minimize the flaws of your animal when showing
- Do not give up even after you have been placed because the judge may re-place the class
Beef Showmanship Guide
Sure Champ Showmanship Tips
ND Extension
Showing Video: Angus Association
CORRECT FEET PLACEMENT IN THE SHOW RING
- Profile View:
- Front feet should be directly below the shoulder (shoulder width apart), as the animal would naturally stand
- The back feet should be staggered standing naturally (hip width apart), with the leg farthest from the judge moved slightly forward
- In-Line View:
- Set legs square under the animal, natural look
- The top line should be as level as possible from the top to the rump
FINAL SHOW DAY PREPARATIONS
- Wash animal at least 2-3 hours prior to show time to ensure the animal has time to dry, eat, and make final grooming preparations
- Offer your animal plenty of fresh hay, feed, and water the day of the show so they look their best with the proper fill in their stomach
- Clean the inside of the animal's ears with a baby wipe or cloth
- Shine hooves and remove any debris or manure
- Brush off any dust or straw
- Apply fly spray
- Wipe the animal's muzzle
- Fit the show halter properly
- Ensure the halter is neat and clean
- Do not tie the animal in the show halter, and put it on just before heading to the ring
- Daily Needs
- Buckets for drinking water and washing
- Feed pan, scoops, and feed (hay and grain)
- Pitch fork and/or shovel, broom, wheel barrow
- Bedding supplies: straw or shavings
- Fan (if needed)
- Rope Halter, Neck Tie
- Show Needs
- Show boxes and a large container for storage
- Neck tie, rope halter, lead ropes
- Water hose
- Mild soap or detergent
- Curry comb and brush
- Clean rags or baby wipes
- Fly spray
- Oils, paints, adhesives, and any other hair products
- Show halter, show stick, scotch comb
- Optional items:
- Blocking chute
- Clippers, blades, and blade lubricants
- Blowers
- People Needs
- Thermometer and emergency medical supplies
- Prep clothes and show clothes-clothes to get dirty when prepping the animal for the show
- General
- Health and registration papers
- Extension cords
- Various tools that may come in handy:
- Duct tape, scissors, zip ties
- Making a checklist can be a good idea
APPROPRIATE ATTIRE
- Wear a button-down or polo shirt, collared
- Wear clean jeans, boots, and a belt
- Tuck your shirt in
- Shower, brush your teeth, and do your hair
- Do not wear a hat, t-shirt, hoodie, tennis shoes, flip-flops
- Do not come in with manure stains on clothing
TIPS FOR CREATING BUYER'S LETTERS WHEN SELLING PROJECT ANIMALS
- A buyer's letter is prepared by a 4-H member to send out to potential buyers before a fair and livestock auction
- A buyer's letter is written to introduce the 4-H member as well as the animal and to invite potential buyers
- It is the responsibility of the 4-H members to get new and returning buyers to attend sales
- In addition to previous buyers, letters can be sent to anyone who would potentially be willing to buy an animal
- Potential buyer's could include: family friends, relatives, or local members of the community; places your family does business such as local feed stores, restaurants, etc.
- Elements to include in the letter:
- Address the letter to the buyer's name
- Name, age, and introductory information about the seller
- Thank the buyer if they have made previous purchases
- History/Story/Facts of the animal
- A picture of the animal (the child may include themselves in the picture)
- Sale date, time, and location
- How the buyer can participate
- Contact information for 4-Her, and fair
- The buyer should be written personable and relative to the age of the 4-H member, with junior members telling the story of the animal and senior members continuing but adding more of a business edge
See for more information and videos:
Guide to Writing Better Buyer's Letters
AFTER THE SHOW
Guide to Writing Better Buyer's Letters
AFTER THE SHOW
- Thank the judge, superintendent, and show volunteers
- Rinse your animal within 24 hours to remove products used for the show from the animal's skin
- Clean equipment and put it away to stay organized between shows
- Record your showing placing for your own records
Good luck showing!
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