Fair Calf photos

Karen Cole · 07-03-2009, 12:38 PM

This project while fun for our family has been really frustrating starting with the death of Calebs first calf. He was replaced but they are really young and may not make weight. Our only savings grace is seems everybody who guesses weight has been low when it comes time for weigh in. Cross your fingers please at least one of his calves makes it he's worked really hard.

Last weekend we had a calf clinic that Caleb and I went to to learn how to clip and get ready for the show. Of course we got conflicing reports from everybody at the clinic, on line and well anybody we talked to. So we did what I know to do which is to slick sheer them. The fair is not until July 19th so any clipper marks will be gone but cowlicks will not have grown out either it was the only comprimise I could come up with. Nobody wants to help it's sad, I had a goat person from another club ask how we trim up goats because thier leader will not tell them how...why they want the ribbon. Nice huh?! I suspect the calf issues we are having are the same way sad that 4H has become just as big of a political joke as the breed shows.

Anyway, here are the calves tell us what you think.
Karen

First one is Billy Beef he's Levis and we know he will make weight. His feet/legs below the hocks did not get clipped we don't have stocks and could not hold him.

These are Calebs I know they weigh more than I do but do they weigh 250#s? I don't know both are over waist high to me, I think we are going to get a weight tape to better guestimate.

Karen

Karen Cole · 07-03-2009, 12:41 PM

I forgot we think the two dark calves are Brown Swiss cross and the red calf a Jersey cross.

Karen

**QuarterCowGirl** · 07-03-2009, 01:11 PM

They look good to me! I know what you mean about the whole 'political aspect of showing' that's why I quit showing years ago...

couggirl · 07-03-2009, 01:32 PM

I can't help with the weight issue but I think they look really good! You have done a wonderful job with them! Keep up the good work. As for the "political" crap that goes on with 4H.. it is just sad.

I've seen my fair share of other groups struggling with horrible leaders and no one to help. I hate that it has become more about "winning" than it is about the experience and life lessons the kids could learn. Luckily for me my father was the 4H leader and FFA director from the time I started until I was 18 yrs old. He taught me and so many other kids how to do things properly and to just have some fun! He always took time out of his summer to hold clinics/get-togethers to have the newbies introduced to the specific animal they wanted to show or just to have them learn a bit. He would always have a goat, pig, lamb and steer out in the yard ready for the kids. I SOOOO wish that's the way things were today.

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this! Just keep working hard! And tell Caleb he is doing a wonderful job!

Karen Cole · 07-03-2009, 02:25 PM

Thanks our fingers and toes are crossed they will make weight!! We are pushng the milk to them as hard as we can and just weaned them from the night bottle. They looked really good up until that point but we were told they had to be off the bottle for the fair. Still though with the am bottles they are not getting that much less milk because not only are they getting the cows milk they are getting any left over goat milk as well. Hopefully we can get them on a bucket but so far it's been a no go except for Billy heck I think he'd drink milk from a burning car!!! Talk about a pig!!!!

As for helping people you know I don't expect somebody to tell me thier smallest secrets but general information like clipping should be shared. We'll see how it goes I'll keep you guys posted.

Karen

farmergal · 07-04-2009, 10:48 PM

This makes me wish I paid more attention to the show calves at our local fair. You can bet that I will this year.

To my untrained eye I think they look great.

I wish the boys luck at the show. If nothing else they will learn what they need to do next year. They don't need ribbons for me to be proud of them. I can already see they have done a great job.

Sorry I couldn't help with the clipping question. I tried looking it up online and like you I got nowhere.

Above all else have fun Levi and Caleb!!!!

libbytn · 07-06-2009, 03:41 PM

Tell the boys good luck. I don't know anything about cows but they sure look good to me.

Karen Cole · 07-06-2009, 05:19 PM

Thanks everybody we got a weigh tape and Levis calf goes about 350#s Calebs are about 225# and 235#s all depending on what finish you think they are we listed them I think at Fleshy but they might not be that well finished then the weigh tape puts them closer to the 250#s they need to be at. You can see some hip and ribs but they clearly have fat rolls at the tail dock. It's all so confusing it's gonna be close for Caleb thats for sure.

I just don't see how we can feed them anymore poor things about float away after am bottles and we had to take away nite bottles because they are supposed to be weaned or mostly so by fair.

Karen

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07-03-2009, 12:38 PM
Karen Cole Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,506	Fair Calf photos This project while fun for our family has been really frustrating starting with the death of Calebs first calf. He was replaced but they are really young and may not make weight. Our only savings grace is seems everybody who guesses weight has been low when it comes time for weigh in. Cross your fingers please at least one of his calves makes it he's worked really hard. Last weekend we had a calf clinic that Caleb and I went to to learn how to clip and get ready for the show. Of course we got conflicing reports from everybody at the clinic, on line and well anybody we talked to. So we did what I know to do which is to slick sheer them. The fair is not until July 19th so any clipper marks will be gone but cowlicks will not have grown out either it was the only comprimise I could come up with. Nobody wants to help it's sad, I had a goat person from another club ask how we trim up goats because thier leader will not tell them how...why they want the ribbon. Nice huh?! I suspect the calf issues we are having are the same way sad that 4H has become just as big of a political joke as the breed shows. Anyway, here are the calves tell us what you think. Karen First one is Billy Beef he's Levis and we know he will make weight. His feet/legs below the hocks did not get clipped we don't have stocks and could not hold him. These are Calebs I know they weigh more than I do but do they weigh 250#s? I don't know both are over waist high to me, I think we are going to get a weight tape to better guestimate. Karen

07-03-2009, 12:41 PM
Karen Cole Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,506	I forgot we think the two dark calves are Brown Swiss cross and the red calf a Jersey cross. Karen

07-03-2009, 01:11 PM
QuarterCowGirl Welcome and Introductions Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, CANADA Posts: 7,379	They look good to me! I know what you mean about the whole 'political aspect of showing' that's why I quit showing years ago... __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.

07-03-2009, 01:32 PM
couggirl Yearling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Touchet, WA Posts: 573	I can't help with the weight issue but I think they look really good! You have done a wonderful job with them! Keep up the good work. As for the "political" crap that goes on with 4H.. it is just sad. I've seen my fair share of other groups struggling with horrible leaders and no one to help. I hate that it has become more about "winning" than it is about the experience and life lessons the kids could learn. Luckily for me my father was the 4H leader and FFA director from the time I started until I was 18 yrs old. He taught me and so many other kids how to do things properly and to just have some fun! He always took time out of his summer to hold clinics/get-togethers to have the newbies introduced to the specific animal they wanted to show or just to have them learn a bit. He would always have a goat, pig, lamb and steer out in the yard ready for the kids. I SOOOO wish that's the way things were today. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this! Just keep working hard! And tell Caleb he is doing a wonderful job! __________________ Don\'t let today\'s disappointments cast a shadow on tomorrow\'s dreams

07-03-2009, 02:25 PM
Karen Cole Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,506	Thanks our fingers and toes are crossed they will make weight!! We are pushng the milk to them as hard as we can and just weaned them from the night bottle. They looked really good up until that point but we were told they had to be off the bottle for the fair. Still though with the am bottles they are not getting that much less milk because not only are they getting the cows milk they are getting any left over goat milk as well. Hopefully we can get them on a bucket but so far it's been a no go except for Billy heck I think he'd drink milk from a burning car!!! Talk about a pig!!!! As for helping people you know I don't expect somebody to tell me thier smallest secrets but general information like clipping should be shared. We'll see how it goes I'll keep you guys posted. Karen

07-04-2009, 10:48 PM
farmergal Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 6,021	This makes me wish I paid more attention to the show calves at our local fair. You can bet that I will this year. To my untrained eye I think they look great. I wish the boys luck at the show. If nothing else they will learn what they need to do next year. They don't need ribbons for me to be proud of them. I can already see they have done a great job. Sorry I couldn't help with the clipping question. I tried looking it up online and like you I got nowhere. Above all else have fun Levi and Caleb!!!! __________________ Knowlege is out there, you just need to know where to look.

07-06-2009, 03:41 PM
libbytn Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Atoka, Tn Posts: 542	Tell the boys good luck. I don't know anything about cows but they sure look good to me. __________________

07-06-2009, 05:19 PM
Karen Cole Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,506	Thanks everybody we got a weigh tape and Levis calf goes about 350#s Calebs are about 225# and 235#s all depending on what finish you think they are we listed them I think at Fleshy but they might not be that well finished then the weigh tape puts them closer to the 250#s they need to be at. You can see some hip and ribs but they clearly have fat rolls at the tail dock. It's all so confusing it's gonna be close for Caleb thats for sure. I just don't see how we can feed them anymore poor things about float away after am bottles and we had to take away nite bottles because they are supposed to be weaned or mostly so by fair. Karen