8 Essential Show Cattle Tips

1. Know Your Animal

Not all cattle are the same. Animals have personalities, and some may need more work in some areas than others. If you have the same training regimen for all of your cattle, you would be doing them a disservice. Look at each calf from a judge’s point of view to determine which flaws need correcting.

2. Earn the Animal’s Trust

When you show a calf, the animal needs to follow your directions in front of a judge. This means that you need to establish a level of trust with your calf. Trust takes time and patience and will only come with consistent effort.

3. Have a Consistent Feeding Routine

Your calf should be fed at the same time every day. Cattle thrive on consistency, and without it there’s a good chance that they will fail to develop. Young calves also tend to eat better in a group setting, so putting several calves nose-to-nose at mealtime could have positive results.

4.

Consult a Veterinarian

Before your animal even arrives at your farm, it’s a good idea to speak to a veterinarian about its care. You’re going to need all the necessary vaccinations and health checkups. Also, get a health history of the animal for your file from the previous owner.