Tips on Selecting Cattle

Set your goals
Know the purpose of your cattle,
i.e breeding, show
Determine the age range of your herd
Determine the quality of your herd
Set the price that you can afford
Structure is a necessity
Evaluate the genetics

Many successful livestock breeders started with a youth project, and just like them, you have the opportunity to build a life in the livestock industry. A plan for success may require help and advice from your family,valuable advise from local cattle breeders, a beef extension educator or an agriculture teacher.

Learn as much as you can about the breed you want to purchase. Buying your first calf is an important step to building your herd. It brings new responsibility, new experiences and new decisions. The most important people you will work with are your parents. Define your goals. Consider the future. Meet young people who share your passion, 4H, FFA, Junior Angus Association members. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Making fewer mistakes is valuable to a successful career.

The associations out there for cattle are all valuable tools in educating yourself on the breed you are intending to raise. Get to know the successful cattle producers in your area, and use their experience and advise.

Plan on attending cattle clinics. Check with your local associations, the internet, 4H extension offices for upcoming fitting clinics, nutritional clinics, jack pots, showmanship classes. This is a great way to see other breeds of cattle and meet many new friends. You will learn how to select productive cattle to build your herd.

The path to becoming a successful cattle producer requires one well laid out plan followed step by step. Put careful thought and planning into buying your first calf and building a valuable herd.
from "Forming A Future" presented by the National Junior Angus Association


Training your steer or heifer for the show ring

1. Get a rope halter on them as soon as you can.
2. We only leave the halter on while we are with the calf. Never leave the halter on without supervision. If you have a smaller pen you can run them into it and it makes it easy to take it on and off.
3. Once the calf gets use to you and the halter tie them up. We tie our calves up together. If you only have one calf stay with him the whole time. Tie them close to the post. Never tie them with their heads way up, allow him to hold it in a natural position. Be sure where you tie them it is strong and won't pull out or break. They will fight it at first. Now you can scratch and pet them, but watch out for the back legs. They usually kick at first. If you can do this everyday, cool. We do it when we clean their pens and that is twice a day. They love being scratched with the plastic pitchforks. They only need to be tied for 10-20 minutes. Once, they stand than you can start tying them up with their heads up, but only for a little while this is hard until their muscles develope. It teaches them how to set up. Very important in the show ring.
4. Some cattle will just walk with you, but others will drag you all over the place. Don't let go! As soon as they learn they can break loose they will.
5. Once they like being tied you can start to brush them. Always, brush their hair forward. Steers like music. My steer, Champ, loves George Strait. It helps them to get use to other noises.
6. First bath, get ready to get wet. We use a blocking shoot. It makes it so much easier. If you don't have one tie them up so they can't wiggle around too much. You can use a gate as a squeeze shoot if you have a wild one. Make it a nice experience. Once you can wash them get them use to the blowers and clippers.
7. When you start to lead your calf use a show stick so they get use to having their feet moved and their bellies rubbed. Always,set them up when you stop. Practice perfect. It makes show day a winner.
8. Work hard, be patient and you will be a winner. Good Luck!

Secrets of Fitting

1. Do your homework. The judges know who has been working with their animals and who have not. There is nothing more rewarding than a beautiful fit steer or heifer and knowing you have done it yourself. It takes a ton of work to get a steer looking his best.
2. Learn to clip from someone who knows what they are doing. There are many professional fitters who give clinics go and video it. A senior 4H member can be helpful. You will be happy you did.
3. Nutrition is key to a healthy coat. If you feed your steer and heifer correctly they will shine. Valuable ingredients to a healthy coat...protein, minerals and salt block, Vitamin A, routine worming, Beet pulp it acts as fillers, and I like soybean oil a month from show time on their grain.
4. Brushing, brushing, brushing. And lots of baths. You don't need soap all the time and if you do use soap wash it all out. Conditioners are good too. I like Mane Tail and Groom.
5. During the summer make sure they can get out of the sun and be cool. The heat can make them go off feed. We use bedding so we don't have to clean manure off of them so much.
6. We like to do a rough clipping job at home 4 or 5 days before show time. When you get to your show it is hard to always get into the wash rack or find a place to set up. I also like to teach my guys to stand in case I can't use my blocking shoot for some reason.
7. Hoof trimming is very important. Don't do it the day before or the day of your steer or heifer might be sore footed and then they will walk with a limp. Do it a month before. Get your vet or an experienced cattlemen to help you. You can do serious damage if you don't know what you are doing.
8. Use good sharp clipper blades. There are a ton of products out there. A trick that I learned from a fellow 4H er was to use shaving cream blown on with my blower as a mouse. It works great! and way cheaper than some of the adhesives out there.
9. I like to watch the people who really know what they are doing and than I go and copy them. In the show ring when I can I like to stand next to them and do what they do. It is a great way to learn from the best.