What you need to know to be successful
Gelbvieh cattle came to the United States in the early 1970s from Germany.
Getting Started Make sure you have the right facilities to handle your project. You’ll need a barn or shed to provide a clean, dry area during the summer and winter. This barn or shed will be where you’ll groom your calf daily, feed, and care for him. A shelter can be as small as 75 square feet of area per calf along with a quarter acre lot with shade. Smaller pastures will mean that you’ll need to lead your calf to ensure it is properly exercised. As you get started, think about the age of your calf when you plan to show it. Steers should be around 15 to 18 months of age at show time to ensure they reach a finished end point. Heifers are usually purchased between weaning and a year of age. In many shows, heifers can be shown until they calve. After calving they can compete as a cow-calf pair.
Gelbvieh Steers
Gelbvieh Traits •
Milk Production Decreased Birth Weight • Reduced Mature Cow Size • High Percent Retail Product • Feed Efficiency • Good Disposition •
What to Look For in a Steer
Selection
Long neck Smooth shoulders Thick, strong, square top Deep fore rib Wide, level rump Deep, thick muscle Adequate bone Square feet and legs Width of base
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Fertility
Market Steers A market steer project is a great start for someone not wanting a long-term commitment to owning an animal. A market steer is usually a cross between two or more breeds. Those breeds give the animal the traits it needs to succeed. For example, a Balancer steer (Gelbvieh X Angus) combines the abilities to Quality Grade Choice and Yield Grade 1 or 2. Gelbvieh-cross animals also convert feed into pounds easily. That’s important when pounds count! Market steers are purchased around weaning age and are usually fed for 270 days and gain between 2 to 3.5 pounds per day.
Gelbvieh Females What to Look For in Females Femininity Long, lean neck Smooth shoulders Strong, level top Deep fore rib Spring of rib Level, square rump Smooth muscle Adequate bone Square feet and legs
Breeding Heifers A breeding heifer project can be very rewarding and is a great way to start your own herd of animals or make a profit. When choosing a breeding heifer, don’t just judge how phenotypically good she is. Think about down the road, when she’s not a show heifer anymore, will she make a good cow? For instance, a Gelbvieh heifer will grow into a fertile cow that will provide milk and pounds to her progeny. Her daughters can be kept as show heifers or sold as replacement females for seedstock, Balancer®, or commercial producers. Her sons can be sold as highly sought after bulls for Angus-based cows or be fed for high yielding steers.
Every animal is different. Every animal gains pounds at a different rate. To give your animal the diet it needs, it’s important to understand feed ingredients. There are several pre-mixed feed rations available specifically for show cattle and can be divided into two basic groups: Growers and Finishers. A grower feed is high in protein and promotes skeletal and muscle development and growth in the animal without getting the animal too fat. A finisher is slightly less in protein and is slightly higher in energy to allow the animal to reach optimal condition. As a general rule, show cattle should eat between 2.5 to 3 percent of their body weight each day. They’ll also need hay in their diet to help with digestion. Make sure the facility has easy access to water. Water is the most important nutrient in a beef animal’s diet. Generally, you can count on an animal drinking 1gallon to 1.5 gallons of water per 100 pounds of body weight, but it’s not unreasonable that during hot summer months an animal may drink as many as 30 gallons during a day. Always have plenty of clean, fresh water available. Feeds 101: Even if you’re feeding the most optimal ration for your Corn: High energy feed used for adding animal, good management condition practices are essential. Barley: High energy feed that can be a These practices include: substitute for corn
Oats: Balanced protein, energy, and fiber feed used for maintenance Cotton Seed Hull: High fiber ingredient important for digestion Cotton Seed Meal: High protein ingredient that promotes growth and development Soybean Meal: Also used for growth and development
• Providing a fresh, clean source of water at all times. • Keep feeders clean from debris, dirt, and uneaten feed. • Don’t allow feed to become wet or moldy. • Feed at a regular time two to three times daily, preferably early in the morning and then again in the evening.
Feeding & Care
A good daily routine is essential. Well trained hair and a well trained animal will give you a competitive edge. First, know your animal’s strengths and faults. Determine how to showcase the positive while correcting the negative. For instance, to correct a weak top, train hair to fill in low-lying areas and clip down the high spots. Training Hair By brushing the hair repeatedly, you can train hair to cover up the animal’s faults. Hair should always be brushed as depicted in the diagram below. Brush at least twice daily to promote hair growth. A good time to work hair is during the morning and evening when it is coolest. During warm days, rinsing the animal will cool them and encourage hair growth. Don’t let the animal dry on its own! Brush the hair in the correct direction. This helps train the hair and Rice Root Brush speeds up drying.
Show Box Checklist Wash Brush Soap
Washing Rinsing your animal every
day will not only stimulate hair growth, but it can also help gentle them. Washing with soap is important to remove dirt and buildup. However, use a mild soap to prevent drying out the animal’s skin and always make sure to thoroughly rinse all the soap. Scrubbing with a brush helps remove dirt and will promote hair growth. Start rinsing at the top and work down, keeping the water nozzle in a downward direction. Blow-Drying A blow dryer can be a great tool for speeding the drying process and working hair. When using a dryer, always blow hair in the correct direction. A blower can be used on an already dry animal to set hair products, remove dirt, or just to help train hair.
Scotch Comb Blow Dryer Clippers Adhesives Adhesive Remover Exhibitor Card Holder Foam Oils and Sprays Water Hose Medications Show Halter Show Stick Towels or Wipes Fitting
Training Guide: What Direction Should I Work Hair?
Clipping takes time, patience, and practice. It requires truly knowing your animal.
Clipping the Body This can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It does take time and doesn’t have to take place all at once. Always remember that you can take it off, but you can’t put it back on. Use small, slow strokes with the clippers. Work in sections when clipping. Look at each section when you’re finished. When you like how it looks, move to another section. Clipping the Head Use caution when clipping the animal’s head. Remove the animal’s halter and begin towards the poll and work down. You may want to use a smaller set of clippers to shape hair on the poll if you wish to leave a little hair. Clip from the face down to the dewlap and brisket to create a longer looking neck. Carefully blend hair into the neck area.
Fitting for Show Day The Body The body requires less work than the legs and hindquarters. Apply a hair product to give the hair set and blow it in
Clipping Tips • When clipping the animal’s back, remember that the goal is to make the top look square, not round. The same rule applies to the hindquarters. • The hip hair should be clipped to give the animal the appearance of a level hip. • Clip the hair on each side of the tail on the rump short. This will create the illusion of thickness. • The goal of clipping the legs is to make them look square; Remember, however, that hair will need to be reshaped after adhesive is applied so don’t cut it too short.
at a 45 degree angle with the blow dryer. There are several products available and everyone has their personal preference. Practice at home ahead of time to see what works best.
Clipping Guide: How Short and How Long Should it Be?
The Legs The goal is to make the legs look as natural as possible. To achieve this natural look, use small quick squirts of adhesive in a small area. Comb the hair up and repeat the process until the desired look is achieved. Move to the next area and repeat until all the hair is pulled up. Don’t forget to pull the hair up on the insides of the legs too! When you’re finished, use a small pair of clippers to touch up those stray hairs and give shape where it’s needed. Blend the adhesive from the legs into the hindquarters. Don’t go overboard with using adhesive on the hindquarters, you want it to look natural. You’ll also want to use adhesive on the tailhead. This helps create the look of a level hip.
Clipping
Our Vision: Unify, Educate, and Develop Leaders of the Beef Industry The American Gelbvieh Junior Association holds its national show each July. The event is rotated to different regions of the country each year. The Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle shows aren’t the only part of the Junior Classic. With a mission to develop leadership skills and cultivate many talents of AGJA members, the following contests are offered during the week long event:
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Showmanship Poster Cattle Judging Speaking Team Fitting Photo Carcass Evaluation
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Sales Talk Gelbvieh Quiz Bowl Creative Writing State Scrapbook Ambassador Contest Herdsmanship
With 500 plus members, the AGJA is a growing, thriving organization that is large enough to offer leadership opportunities but small enough to make each member feel he or she has a voice in the direction of the association. • The AGJA is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. Policies are discussed and made during the AGJA Annual Meeting held each July in conjunction with the National Junior Classic. • The AGJA also encourages fun and socializing with an organized Fun Day and dances throughout the week. Many AGJA members make friends for a lifetime at the Gelbvieh Junior Classic. Older active AGJA members can apply for college scholarships and an internship with the American Gelbvieh Association. The key is to take an active part in the AGJA and its events. • The AGJA teaches lifetime skills through its programs. The goal is to provide an AGJA member with a foundation of skills to meet his or her career goals - whether in the agricultural field or another career path. If you want to develop leadership skills, travel to new places, meet other youth in the cattle industry and challenge yourself, then join the American Gelbvieh Junior Association. Don’t wait another year - Call the AGA office today to join the American Gelbvieh Junior Association.
American Gelbvieh Junior Association
Showmanship
Winning showmanship is a great honor. It proves one’s skills at the halter. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that showmanship starts at home long before the actual show. A well-trained animal makes showing easy and fun. A very basic, but important skill is handling the show halter. When used correctly, the halter can be a very useful tool for controlling your animal. Push back slightly on the halter as you use your show stick to move a foot backwards. Pull forward on the halter as you use your show stick to move a foot forward. The most natural and easiest way to set up your animal is simply by walking the animal into position. As you prepare to stop your animal in line, position your body as if you are going to use your show stick; then pull the animal forward a step or two so that as they stop, they are in the correct position.
A few basic things to remember: • Showmanship contest judges your ability to present your animal at its best. • Dress appropriately with a nice pressed shirt and jeans. Boots or hard-soled shoes, not soft or tennis shoes, are required. • Eye contact is critical. Watch the judge for his signals and cues. Make sure your eye contact shows that you want to win. • Have the correct size show stick for the size of your animal: shorter sticks for smaller animals, longer sticks for larger animals. • Always turn your animal to the right. Remember this for pulling in and out of line if you need to re-align the animal in the lineup.
When setting up the animal, hold the halter in your left hand, and show stick in the right hand.
In your left hand, hold your show stick perpendicular to the ground. When leading the animal, hold the halter in your right hand and few inches away from the animal’s head. If you hold the halter too far away, you will have less control. Right: Use the halter to keep the animal’s head high, but not too high. Keeping the head up will make the animal look appropriately balanced. Notice the different hand grip on the halter when standing in line, as compared to when you are leading the animal.
Correct feet placement Side profile
Notice that the front legs are slightly offset, but still square under the animal’s front end. The rear legs are slightly offset as well with the rear foot on the judge’s side back slightly and the rear leg on the showman’s side forward slightly.
Side by side in line
Notice how all animals are in a straight line and have adequate space between each other.
• Be courteous to other exhibitors. • Know your animal’s strengths, faults, breeding, feeding, as well as other important information such as current beef industry topics. • Be confident.
Showmanship
Basic Parliamentary Procedure According to Robert’s Rules of Order, the purpose of Parliamentary Procedure is to assist an assembly in accomplishing the work for which it was designed, in the best possible manner. 1. Be prompt to meetings. 2. Address the chair as Mister/Madame President or Mister/Madame Chairman. 3. Await the recognition from the chair before speaking. 4. When you make a motion, stand so that you may seen, speak so that you may be heard, sit down so that you may be appreciated. 5. Use these words when making a motion: I move... I move that ... I move the... NOT: I make a motion... 6. Address all remarks to the Chair. 7. Speak in favor of your own motion. If you do not favor your own motion, you may vote against it. You may not speak against it. In debate a member may only speak to a question twice and not a second time until all who wish to speak have been given the opportunity. 8. To make an amendment to a main motion say: a) I move to amend by adding or inserting the word or words... b) I move to amend by striking out the word or words... c) I move to amend by striking out the word or words and inserting in their place the word or words... d) I move to amend by substituting paragraph ___ for paragraph ___. 9. Ask questions if you do not understand the question on the floor. This is one of your rights. 10. Call out “Division” if you doubt the result of the vote as announced by the Chair. 11. You may call for the previous question. Its purpose is to close debate and bring the question to vote. There must be a second. It requires a 2/3 vote to carry. If previous question carries, a vote will be taken on the motion. 12. Respect the right of the majority to decide.
www.gelbvieh.org I am interested in joining the American Gelbvieh Junior Association. Please send me more information along with a membership application. Name:______________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________ City:_ _____________State:________________________ Zip:__________________ Phone:_ __________________________ Email:_____________________________
Leadership
For more information about Gelbvieh or the American Gelbvieh Junior Association please call 303-465-2333 or email info@gelbvieh.org American Gelbvieh Junior Association 10900 Dover St. Westminster, CO 80021