Tips on Judging Cattle?

Question

I need some tips/links to helpful websites on how to judge steers/ and cattle in general. I am only new at this!

Please help! Any answers will be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

If you think this is too long to read...and I'm sorry if it is. Please go to this link: http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/aggu...

Steps to successful livestock judging

Techniques for livestock judging can be broken into four steps:

Information:

You must develop a mental image of the ideal for the species, breed and s*x involved.

Observation:

Successful livestock judging requires a sharp eye and a keen mind. As a livestock judge you must learn to develop a greater perception for the animals that are being judged. Furthermore, these observations must be accurate and complete in every way.

Comparison:

A successful judge must make comparisons of each animal against each of the other animals in the class. Judges must be able to weigh the good and bad characteristics of each animal and make their decisions based upon their findings. The animal that will eventually be selected to top the class will be the one with the "most of the best."

Decision:

The final, and perhaps most difficult, step involves ranking, or placing, the animals in the class. Many people have the necessary information and the ability to observe and compare but they may lack the skill and courage required to make the right decision. Judges' decision must be accurate and logical, and they must stand by them.

Tips for competitive livestock judging

Do not waste valuable time. Begin judging as soon as the class is in the ring.

See the animals exactly as they are, not as you would like to see them.

Every class is different. Do not "read" anything into the class!

Do not play hunches! Do not try to out-guess the official judges.

Place the livestock exactly as you have been taught.

Break each class down into sections: Top pair, easy bottom, close middle, etc.

When the contest starts, do your own work. Depend entirely upon your own judgment.

Pay attention to the class and not to anyone else. When the contest is over, discuss the classes with your instructor and the officials.

Try to have a tentative placing before too much time has elapsed. Otherwise you may find yourself out of time with no decision made.

When evaluating a class, your first impression is usually your most unbiased and most accurate if it is the result of careful analysis.

For general observation of a class, maintain a minimum distance of 25 feet. This will allow you a full unobstructed view of the class. If other students move in too close, just ask your group leader to please move everybody back.

When finishing a placing on a class, make sure to mark your card. Double check to make sure the placing on your notes matches the one on the card you turn in.

If there is a break in the contest do not let the time go to waste. Make use of this by looking over your notes from previous classes.

Nearly all students go into a slump at some time during their judging careers. When this happens, do not get discouraged with yourself or upset with your instructor. Just keep your wits, maintain a positive attitude and work hard -- you will pull out of it.

Benefits of giving reasons

There are two parts to the format when judging livestock:

Placing the livestock and giving oral reasons on your placing.

The second part can be the most difficult because you have to convince an official, who has already reached a decision, that your placing is logical whether the official agrees or not. This can be difficult and stressful, so what do you get in return from learning proper reason-giving?

You learn how to become organized; you get your thoughts in line with what you have on paper.

You learn to recall a situation clearly in your mind that happened several hours ago or longer.

You learn to express yourself in a convincing manner.

You become able to clearly enunciate words.

You learn to defend your decisions. This not only benefits you in judging livestock, it is also an asset for everyday life.

You learn how to sell yourself and your ideas.

Evaluating a set of reasons

There are several schools of thought concerning oral reasons. The style you choose to express yourself is of little importance. The truly important factors involved in giving an effective set of oral reasons include:

Accuracy of statements.

Completeness of all the important points.

Ability to bring out the important points between pairs of

animals.

Complete vocabulary of livestock terminology.

Term variation.

Correct grammar.

A sincere, emphatic and precise presentation.

An appropriate voice level, which depends on the size of the room.

Clear enunciation.

Voice inflection.

A logical order to your reasons.

Proper presence, e.g., eye contact, correct posture, no distracting mannerisms.

Use of animal identification, e.g., red barrow.

Do not overuse industry terms, e.g., "more useful to the cattle industry."

Use carcass terms in market classes.

Ability to communicate from a visual image of the animals.

Preparing notes for a contest

Unless you are gifted with an unusual memory, good note taking is a must on reason classes. A stenographer spiral notebook (6 by 8 inch) is a good size to use. Remember that notes are used to help you visualize the animals in the class. Use your notes to refresh your memory of the animals. Avoid memorizing your notes; you should give reasons from a mental image of the animals rather than memorizing the notes.

Helpful hints on note taking

Before the contest, take your note pad and divide a page into the sections.

When you approach a class, stand far enough away from the animals for a general look.

Write down the big things that appear to you first: Size, thickness, volume, etc.

Write down IDs of the animals -- if not color, then shape.

Write down a tentative placing.

Start with your first pair and write down the assets for the top animal. Then write the grants for the animal you placed second. Proceed to your middle and bottom pairs.

Do not spend the entire class time writing. If you do, you will memorize your notes and be unable to recall the animals in the class when you get ready to give your reasons.

Your notes should be brief. Develop a method of shorthand to quicken the note-taking process. Above all, make sure your notes are readable.

Do not waste time. If you finish a class early, relax, look at the animals and try to remember them. This will enable you to more easily visualize the class for reasons.

Proper etiquette of oral reasons

Once you have developed a proper reason style, it is important to present them properly to the official. When you walk into the reasons room, the way you present yourself may be almost as important as what you have to tell the official.

This is why proper etiquette is of utmost importance when delivering a set of reasons. Important things to keep in mind when you get ready to give a set of reasons include:

Be prompt.

When it is your turn to give a set of reasons, do not keep the official waiting. If you find yourself being rushed, just ask the official to extend your time. He or she may or may not.

Always leave notes outside the reason room.

Enter the reason room with an air of confidence but not *********.

Some officials will offer you your card. If so, take the card, thank the official, place the card behind your back and continue your reasons. Do not depend on this card as not all officials will offer it to you.

Do not stand too close to the official; 6 to 9 feet is about right depending on your size and your voice strength.

Stand with your feet spread to about the width of your shoulders. Keep both hands behind your back.

Stand erect. Avoid leaning over too far.

Look the official squarely in the eye, or at least give that

impression. Above all, do not let your eyes wander.

Talk in a strong voice, slightly louder than a conversational voice, but do not shout.

Speak with the utmost conviction and sincerity.

Do not let yourself talk too rapidly as the official may not catch everything you say.

Vary your delivery -- make your main points impressive and emphatic.

You may gesture slightly with your head; any other body

gestures are too distracting to the listener.

Avoid mixing numbers.

Never exceed two minutes on a set of reasons. This is a rule for most collegiate judging contests.

Reason format

The ability to give effective reasons is an important quality for

a good livestock judge. Many factors influence the effectiveness of your reasons. However, unless reasons are presented in a manner that is pleasant to hear and clear and easy to follow, the value of accuracy is largely lost because much that is said does not "get through" to the listener.

By following the traditional format used at the University of Missouri, you can organize your reasons to cover all the points that were found in the class as well as keep the reasons short enough to remain in the two-minute time limit.

In the following format, we discuss the placing of crossbred market steers. As you can see, each pair is broken into three subsets:

General statements

Reinforcements

Grants.

This format allows you to talk about the pairs in a logical order, which makes giving the reasons easier as well as making listening to them easier.

Hope this helps =) You'll do fine....don't worry!!

Answer 2

http://pangea.tec.selu.edu/~ttoney/mini1...

http://www.angus.org/pubs/Judging.pdf.

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/4H_Y2/S...

http://www.ansci.umn.edu/dairy/documents...