It's Showtime

Welcome back, 

It's time to continue our journey of the livestock show industry. So far I have covered the "prep steps" to get your next livestock project started, including animal selection, washing, clipping and showmanship. However, if this is your first rodeo, you may still have MANY questions. Don't worry, I am here to show you what a typical weekend at a livestock show may entail. In previous blog posts, I have utilized both photo and video resources to help visualize these "prep steps" and aid in the learning process. I hope these resources have been effective (I know they helped me tremendously). 

Now, it's time to paint the big picture. To help do so, The Show Times Magazine has compiled a library of YouTube videos from various livestock events around the nation. One video in particular does a good job of demonstrating the different components of a youth livestock show. From clipping and fitting demonstrations, to show day preparations, and even a trade show, the AK-SAR-BEN Livestock Show has it all.

View the AK-SAR-BEN Livestock Show video below:

As the video and it's contents showed, AK-SAR-BEN is currently the largest 4-H Stock Show in the United States. This regional show is open to 4-H members from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. In addition, it is "renowned for providing a level playing field across all species" of livestock.

Besides elevating youth livestock show experiences, the NDSU Center for 4-H Youth Development suggests that AK-SAR-BEN is "not just a livestock show". The show includes:

• Livestock Quiz Bowl
• Livestock Judging Contest
• Showmanship Contest
• Calf Fitting Challenge 
• Robotics Contest
• Scholarship Opportunities

For those interested in showing livestock, AK-SAR-BEN is a national level competition, and it is quite an honor when youth do well at the show. So, it's time to get to work and start establishing and achieving your livestock show project goals! As always, feel free to contact contact me with any additional questions you may have.

Until next time.

Sources:

• http://www.aksarbenrodeo.com/p/getconnected/237
• https://www.ndsu.edu/4h/restricted/detail/16760/

Showmanship Tips & Tricks

Welcome Back, 

        It's been a while since we last met, but don't worry... I have been busy planning my next livestock showing topic. *Drum roll please* this week I will be discussing livestock showmanship tips and tricks. Now that you have selected your animal and prepared it by clipping and washing, it's show time!

         According to the "Guide For Livestock Showmanship Contest", the judging of livestock showmanship is based not only preparation of animals for show, but also their training and appearance and behavior of the showmen. In addition, showmen should present both themselves and their animal in a calm manner. There are two main parts to livestock showmanship I would like to discuss: Handling and Presentation and Questions. First, let's discuss the primary objective of showmanship, which is presenting your animal in the ring.

Handling and Presentation

Although each person has their own showmanship style, there are some basic guidelines that should be followed when handling and presenting their livestock. First and foremost, all species should be clean, groomed, and clipped. In addition, the handler (that's you!) should be clean, groomed and poised. Remember to comb your hair, tuck in your shirt and ...most importantly... smile.

However, there are some differences in how to handle and present certain livestock. From here on out, let's break it down and discuss these differences for each species.

Beef:

•  Led using a halter with a chain
• Showmen carry a show stick (used for scratching) and a comb, placed in their back pocket
• The back, right foot of heifers is always pulled forward. Front feet are set even
• Steers are set up square
• Always stay in front... Don't let the animal lead you!

Swine:

• Directed using a whip, pipe or cane
• Showmen carry a soft brush in their back pocket 
• Keep the animal between you and the judge
• Hogs should always be "on the move"
• Remember to keep their head up!

Sheep & Goats:

• Led by placing hands around the head/neck
• A collar can be used for goats 
• Feet should always be set up square
• Never use your feet to move their feet  
• Taller exhibitors can kneel once the animal is set up

 [Images source: Bailey Hawbaker, Chasing Purple Images]

 

Questions

In addition to how well animals are handled while in the ring, the judge may ask contestants questions about their particular species. Questions may range from the breed or age of the animal, to current industry challenges (for more experienced showmen, of course). The University of Minnesota Extension Service has comprised a list of general livestock questions that may be asked during a show. Here are some sample questions provided by this resource:

• Beef:

Q: At what age should a beef heifer be bred? 

A: 15-18 months
Q: What is a beef animal that naturally lacks horns called? 

A: Polled
Q: Rump roast comes from what beef wholesale cut? 

A: Round

• Swine:

Q: What is a male pig that has been castrated before breeding age called? 

A: A barrow
Q: Name two common diseases in pigs. 

A: Scours, Brucelleosis, T.G.E. (and many more)
Q: At what age should a market hog reach 230 pounds? 

A: 4.5 to 6 months

• Sheep:

Q: What should you wash your sheep with? 

A: Mild soap. Wool breed are not washed
Q: When is it best to shear an ewe? 

A: Right before lambing
Q: Name two lamb carcass quality grades. 

A: Prime, choice, good, utility, cull

• Goats:

Q: How long is a doe's (female) gestation period? 

A: 5 months, or 145-155 days
Q: What is an intact, male goat called? 

A: Buck
Q: What is the milk producing gland of a doe called? 

A: Udder

Remember, part of being a good showman is knowing as much as possible about your animal. Therefore, brushing up on livestock showmanship questions before entering the ring is always encouraged, regardless of experience. If you are a beginner, don't worry, feel free to ask older showmen or mentors about what types of questions may be asked. In addition, there are many great resources available on the web.

        Finally, let's put all pieces of the puzzle together! In order to see what a livestock showman should look like in action, the NDSU Center for  4-H Youth Development provides some useful showmanship videos. I highly encourage all beginner and even advanced showmen to check these videos out. Also, be sure to check out the sources I mentioned throughout this post. A good livestock showman can never have too many "tools" in their toolbox!

Until next time!

Sources:

• http://www.thejudgingconnection.com/pdfs/Guide_to_Livestock_Showmanship.pdf
• http://www.extension.umn.edu/youth/mn4-H/events/project-bowl/docs/PB-GeneralLivestockSampleQuestions.pdf

 

Livestock Prep 101

Hey All, 

        Last time we met you learned more about selecting an animal, whether it be beef, sheep, swine, or goats, but now what? Yes, it is necessary to care for your animal by providing feed and water, but what about caring for its appearance. Even though your animal may have good structure, length and depth of body, and adequate muscling, there are a couple ways to enhance these attributes. First and foremost, there is cleanliness, which (in my opinion) is the most important.

(Source: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net)

Washing:

To start your livestock project, having a clean animal is important and can really go a long ways when it comes to other appearance aspects. Regardless of the species, your animal should be washed on show day and be kept clean during the days leading up to the show. Also, in order to keep your animal clean, a combination of washing and maintaining it's hair coat should be done.


Here are a few additional tips & tricks for keeping your animal clean:

• Beef, swine, and goats should be washed 3-4 times a week
• Wool breeds of sheep, such as Columbia, are NEVER WASHED
• It is OKAY to wash shorn market sheep 
• Hair or wool should be brushed, combed, or carded daily
• Add or change pen bedding every day
• If you have a white animal, try using purple tinted shampoo to help combat dark stains
• Lotion or oil should be applied to swine after washing.

Clipping: 
After your animal has been washed a couple times, it is time to start clipping them, or in the case of sheep shearing. I will warn you, this process takes time and is by no means easy, but a good clip or shear job will help the animal's appearance tremendously! If you are an inexperienced in this particular area, I would recommend watching a hands-on demonstration first. In addition, having the guidance of someone more experienced the first time you work with clippers will also help.

If you are anything like myself, I find "How To" videos helpful when learning about a new subject. Therefore, I found a few YouTube videos that may help get your project started. I encourage you to take a look at them before you start clipping or shearing.

 

 

I understand these videos cover the very basics when it comes to clipping or shearing, but you have to start somewhere! Here are a few additional tips & tricks when it comes to working on your show livestock:

• Stay calm! Most livestock can sense your frustration, so take a deep breath and relax. 
• For beef, have someone scratch your heifer or steer with a show stick. It will help them relax and stand still.
• Having treats or toys for swine will help them stand still, too!

• Remember, shearing breeding ewes and market lambs are different. Check with an experienced shearer for more tips.
• Finally, have fun!
• Clipping and shearing for the first time can be intimidating. However, diving on in is the best way to learn.

         For additional "getting started" clipping and shearing videos, check out The Purina Network or  ADM Animal Nutrition on YouTube. I hope this post provided you with some useful tips & guidelines to start washing and clipping your livestock project. You'll be ready for show day in no time!

Until next time, folks.

Picking The Grand Champion

Happy Monday, 

        In this week's post, it's time to talk about selecting your first, or next, livestock project. Whether your are a beginner, or an experienced showman (or woman), selecting a new show animal is the first step. There are many factors that go into selecting livestock, and we work through them slowly, but surely! First, let's talk about the different species of livestock that can be shown.

Beef:  

This is the species I am most familiar with. As I previously stated, I have shown cattle for over 10 years now, and enjoy selecting both heifers (females) and steers (males) from our own herd, as well as sales. With beef (and most other animals), structure is KEY and separates the "good" from the "bad". Pictured below are a couple show-worthy calves. As you can see, both have a straight top-line, good depth and spring of rib, as well as attractive in their make-up.

Angus Heifer (Source: http://gambleangus.net)

Crossbred Show Steer (Source: http://thejeffersoncountyfair.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheep:

As far as sheep are concerned, there are two types that can be shown: breeding sheep, which include ewes (females) and market lambs (either male or female). Similar to cattle, sheep should also have a straight top-line, good depth of rib and length of body, and overall attractive. The biggest difference, however, is breeding sheep are shown with wool and market lambs are slick sheared.

Columbia Breeding Ewe (Source: http://thiesencolumbias.homestead.com)

Market weather(male) (Source: http://www.lashclublambs.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swine:  

Similar to cattle and sheep, you can show either gilts (females) or market swine (female or male). Breeding gilts should once again be structurally correct, with that being long bodied and feminine in their make-up. For market swine, muscle is the top characteristic to select for, along with structural correctness and width of body.

Hampshire Breeding Gilt (Source: http://www.nottshowpigs.com/winners)

Market Swine (Source: http://clubcalves.com/gardnerfarms/gardnerswinewinners)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goats:

Although goats aren't my forte, I would still like to include them in my livestock selection process because they are a great project for younger children. Compared to cattle and even sheep, they are smaller in size and relatively docile. Most commonly shown are either breeding or market goats, but dairy goats can be shown as well. When selecting goats, again structural correctness is important, as well as additional muscle in market goats. Pictured below are an example of each:

Boar Breeding Doe (Source: http://www.reddenbro.com/goats)

Market Goat (Source: http://teamsloanlivestock.com/Goats)

In addition. there are a variety of ways to purchase your show livestock. These include:

1. Production Sales
2. Online Sales
3. Private Treaty 

If you're interested in some of my favorite online sales sites, check out DVAuction

 

OR... Caldwell-Wiloughby Sales.




I would highly recommend viewing the animal in person before purchasing anything online. Although this isn't always possible, most sellers are willing to work with their customers and provide additional pictures and/or video. Also, buying online, as well as private treaty, can be less intimidating for first time buyers.

        I know we just scratched the surface when it comes to selected and purchasing livestock, but I hope I provided some useful information. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any additional questions!


Until next time...

Let's "Read" A Livestock Article

Welcome back, 

As promised, it's time to dive right into the world of showing livestock. First, before we get into the "nitty gritty", it is important to understand what's happening within this world. You may flip though the local newspaper and run into the occasional livestock article, but do you truly understand what it's saying? Is there livestock jargon and terminology sprinkled throughout the entire piece? If so, no worries. Let's walk through this article reading process together!

One of my favorite livestock publications to read is Beef Magazine, and I found the perfect article within it to help us sort through some livestock jargon and terminology. It is entitled, "Helping Hooves" helps Hereford juniors donate school supplies to Grand Island elementary school.

        Service about self is a philosophy that many ranch kids learn at an early age. However, a group of National Junior Hereford Association members took this "idea" to the next step during the Junior National Hereford Expo (NJHE). 
        For those unfamiliar with the  National Junior Hereford Association, it is one of the most active junior programs in the county, with approximately 3,000 members. The association's mission is is "To create and promote enthusiasm for the Hereford cattle breed, while providing opportunities through leadership, education, and teamwork". 
        At the expo, hundreds of Hereford youth from around the nation gathered (along with their cattle) for a week full of showing, friendship, and service learning. Not only did youth gather for a day of service during the expo, but in addition they were joined by National Hereford Queen, Katie Nolles. Her primary duties as Hereford Queen are not only to be a representative for the association, but to also lead and assistant youth in various activities.
         "Helping Hooves" is a philanthropy program at NJHE led each year by the National Hereford Queen. This program gives the National Hereford Queens an opportunity to select a community service program in order to encourage fellow youth to develop a philanthropic attitude. After this year's "Helping Hooves" event, Nolles said, "Each association member has the ability to make a difference and when we listen to what people really need, great things happen." 
         

Also, for those of you who don't know, this is what Hereford cattle look like :)

 You can read the entire "Helping Hooves" article by visiting:

 http://beefmagazine.com/seedstock/helping-hooves-helps-hereford-juniors-donate-school-supplies-grand-island-elementary-schoo

AND

For more information about the NJHA, visit:

www.JrHereford.org

 

Until we meet again!

 

 

Meet Me . . . & My Blog!

         As a born and raised small town, country girl, agriculture has always been a passion of mine. I grew up on a third generation farm in North Dakota, where we raise primarily small grains and Angus cattle. After completing my Animal Science degree, I hope to use my emphasis in Livestock Media to advertise, market, and promote livestock for others throughout the country.

        Now that you know a little more about me, it's time to share what this blog is all about. As I previously stated, agriculture has always been a passion of mine, but showing livestock (specifically) has always held a special place in my heart.  From a young age, I begged and begged my dad to show cattle at our 4H county fair. However, he thought a rabbit was more appropriate for an 8-year-old. Finally, a couple years later, I got my "big break" and halter broke my first 4H heifer whose name was Lady. Boy, was I grinning from ear to ear walking into the show ring for the first time!

        Since then, I've been hooked on showing livestock. Throughout the years, I have showed not only cattle, but also sheep, swine, and even the occasional goat (to help out a friend, of course). Although my days in the ring are becoming few and far between now, I still enjoy helping youth from back home get their livestock projects show ring ready. Not only do I get to continue to work with livestock, but I also get to see the progress and success youth have with their project(s).

        As my blog progresses throughout the next couple months, stay tuned for tips and tricks to help jump start your next livestock project. I have a few exciting topics planned already, including:

• Selecting your "Grand Champion" beef, sheep, pig, or goat
• Washing, clipping, and presenting your animal 
• Last minute show day preparations
• Showmanship tips 
• Livestock sportsmanship 101

 ... and much, MUCH more! In the meantime, however, feel free to learn more about showing livestock. This PowerPoint presentation put together by Iowa State University provides some helpful "getting started" tips:

 http://www.thejudgingconnection.com/pdfs/Guide_to_Livestock_Showmanship.pdf

In addition, point show association websites are also a great resource for finding livestock shows in your area. For information about the ND Jr. Point Show Assoication, feel free to visit:

http://www.ndjpsa.com/

                         
Until next time, folks! 

EID Tags: The Who, What, When, Where & Whys

For decades, ear tags have been used for identification of livestock and other animals.  It commonly carries an animal identification number (AIN) or code for the animal, therefore forming an unique identity.  They also ensure traceability in order to help prevent theft and to control disease outbreaks. The first ear tags were primarily steel with nickel plating, but have come along ways since the 1900s.  Today they come in a variety of designs, including flag-shaped, button-shaped, plastic clip ear tags, and metal ear tags.  However, the newest design involves the use radio frequency identification technology and are commonly known as Electronic Identification ear tags. 

What are EID Tags?

Electronic identification ear tags and tag reader

Electronic Identification ear tags (EIDs) are small, button-like tags that are placed in the animal's ear.  Each EID tag has a unique 15-digit number printed on it, which is a specific identification for that particular animal (Roberts, Wallace, Harba & Paterson, p. 2).  The number can be read not only by sight, but also with an electronic tag reader.  Leading EID tag readers include a memory capability that allows for storing of scanned electronic ID values.  After working the livestock, a list of EID tags that were scanned can be downloaded onto a computer.  Events can then be applied, such as medical treatments or update pasture locations for the animals that were worked. 

 

Where are they placed? 

Depending on user preference, EID tags can be placed in either the right or left ear of the animal.  The tags are put into the ear using a tagger, which is simply a handheld device with a blunt pin attached.  It does not harm the animal or cause pain, and is no different than piercing human ears.  Before tagging, both the tags and applicator should be dipped in disinfectant to ensure proper healing. The EID tag should be placed close to the head, approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the ear length out from the base, in the middle of the ear vertically (Roberts, Wallace, Harba & Paterson, p. 4).  Below is an example of the correct position to place the tag in an ear:

Correct EID tag placement in the ear of livestock.

 

Who Uses Them?

A ranch worker scanning the EID tag of a bull being processed

Traceability is becoming a more common practice in the livestock industry now-a-days. 

When and Why should they be used? 

Livestock identification has both visual and management benefits.  EID tags offer another form of identification for each animal.  Sometimes visual tags get lost get snagged on a fence, etc, whereas EID tags are small and are desgined for high retention rates.  In addition, being able to track an animal's history and performance helps determine which ones are performing well.  While using blank tags and marking pens offer maximum flexibility in numbering cattle, ink fades over time and makes it hard to read tags in the pasture.  

Also, the continuous need for improvement in management and production practice is contributing to the increasingly popular use of EID tags,  especially the cattle industry. By scanning the tag with a reader, the animal doesn't need to be completely still in order to read the tag or a tattoo number.  Scanning them, instead of writing tag numbers down, is a tremendous benefit in saving time and minimizing errors.  Overall, electronic identification tags are simple, reliable, and extremely accurate!

References: 
A. J. Roberts, L. E. Wallace, M. Harba, and J. A. Paterson. Case Study: Retention and readability of radio frequency identification transponders in beef cows over a 5-year period. Professional Animal Scientist 2012 28:221-226.

Pictures taken from: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/agriculture-and-food/farm-management/national-livestock-identification-system/nlis-cattle/your-guide-to-victorias-cattle-identification-legislation