So what exactly is the difference between showing dairy cattle and beef cattle? To start off, the two bovines are bred for different purposes, dairy for milk and beef for meat, so they are judged differently.
Amy Rugenstein a 4-H educator shared, “About a week before the show we tie them in a stall to get them used to standing still and heads being held up.”
She mentioned they feed their cows a different ration of “Show Cow” that has some extra proteins in it that shine their coat. In contrast, a professional dairy showman of 20 years expressed, “We wash them everyday to get them extra clean and feed them a calf remedy that the farm makes.”
Dairy cattle are full body clipped before they go to a show to make them look smaller but thy leave their line left longer to make their backs look straighter. Drew and Kyle Wisely ages 13 and 10 and Greg Rechberger, age 11 from Wyoming county shared that with beef cattle, “You have to fluff the hair to make them look as big and bulky as possible.”
Once at the show, both bovines are sprayed to keep their hair glossy and in place. The beef competitors have a scotch comb and stick that they use to set their cow and keep them calm, yet the dairy exhibitors only have a show halter. So if you ever choose to show cows just remember, clip your dairy, fluff up your beef and always have fun!
Read more blogs and view more photos from 4-Hers at the fair at http://4hnysfair.wordpress.com/
