|
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
 
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | I showed steers, heifers and breed shows when I was in High School but that has been a while. My boys are showing steers this year and are building a cool room. We have it built and insulated and soon will add the cooler....I have some questions regarding the cattle transitioning from the cold room to outside and prepping the room if anyone has experience in this. |
|
| |
|
 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
 
| I have never dealt with it personally, but my BIL does this. He only turns his cattle out after dark and puts them in the room before the sun comes up. Basically they are outside only when it's cooler. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1304
| I've shown cattle since I was little but I'm not too familiar with this stuff, but I'm glad you posted it so I can learn! |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Go slow with how low you drop the temp initially. If the calves have been living outside before this ... they'll need a slower transition period to "super - cooled" to avoid pneumonia and respiratory distress issues that can come up. What kind of floor do you have under them? We used sweet pdz to help keep urine smells down in our cooler room with a dirt floor - on top of the dirt was layered chips and mats, etc I'm sure you get the idea.
Also, as someone else posted, only turn your calves/steers/heifers out after the sun goes down. We never left them in there 24 hours a day. In my experience, fans are your friend when you travel.
Good Luck! I'll ask some pals tonight to see if they have any other thoughts to share!
Edited for my horrid spelling
Edited by lindseylou2290 2014-05-08 12:34 PM
|
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| When you travel you'll need misters to use along with fans. I know a lot of people tie their heads up at shows, but like horses, they need to be able to lower their heads to prevent respiratory illnesses. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | lindseylou2290 - 2014-05-08 11:33 AM Go slow with how low you drop the temp initially. If the calves have been living outside before this ... they'll need a slower transition period to "super - cooled" to avoid pneumonia and respiratory distress issues that can come up. What kind of floor do you have under them? We used sweet pdz to help keep urine smells down in our cooler room with a dirt floor - on top of the dirt was layered chips and mats, etc I'm sure you get the idea. Also, as someone else posted, only turn your calves/steers/heifers out after the sun goes down. We never left them in there 24 hours a day. In my experience, fans are your friend when you travel. Good Luck! I'll ask some pals tonight to see if they have any other thoughts to share! Edited for my horrid spelling
We do have a dirt floor but what we will be doing is (from the bottom up): maybe gravel, sand, 6" cedar fiber and then I was thinking the pelleted pine bedding....the pelleted bedding seems like it would be easier to clean up after the steers. We are fortunate that there will be a 2 day clinic (free of charge) by Sullivans. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | GLP - 2014-05-08 11:42 AM When you travel you'll need misters to use along with fans. I know a lot of people tie their heads up at shows, but like horses, they need to be able to lower their heads to prevent respiratory illnesses.
On the misters, do you just buy them complete or make them? And which one would be the most economical....we are showing steers on a beer budget |
|
| |
|
 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | Ok your gonna have to tell me what the point of keeping show cattle in a cold room is. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1097
Location: Oklahoma | equussynergy - 2014-05-08 3:48 PM Ok your gonna have to tell me what the point of keeping show cattle in a cold room is.
To keep the hair on them. |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| nmeastplains - 2014-05-08 3:10 PM
GLP - 2014-05-08 11:42 AM When you travel you'll need misters to use along with fans. I know a lot of people tie their heads up at shows, but like horses, they need to be able to lower their heads to prevent respiratory illnesses.
On the misters, do you just buy them complete or make them? And which one would be the most economical....we are showing steers on a beer budget
You can get them at TSC. Attach them to your standing fans. At the shows there will be supply trailers and they should have them, too. We showed heifers, but we had friends who showed steers. We did it on a beer budget, too. The kids showed Santa Gertrudis. We had so much fun! We still go to see our friends when we can. Keep us updated on your boys! I still miss it 8 years later. |
|
| |
|
Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | Oh for the fluffy cow look. Does it serve any real purpose like making them retain fat or something or is just vanity. |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Nope |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | GLP - 2014-05-08 3:42 PM nmeastplains - 2014-05-08 3:10 PM GLP - 2014-05-08 11:42 AM When you travel you'll need misters to use along with fans. I know a lot of people tie their heads up at shows, but like horses, they need to be able to lower their heads to prevent respiratory illnesses. On the misters, do you just buy them complete or make them? And which one would be the most economical....we are showing steers on a beer budget You can get them at TSC. Attach them to your standing fans. At the shows there will be supply trailers and they should have them, too. We showed heifers, but we had friends who showed steers. We did it on a beer budget, too. The kids showed Santa Gertrudis. We had so much fun! We still go to see our friends when we can. Keep us updated on your boys! I still miss it 8 years later.
We are enjoying the steers...it will be very hard to see them go when the season is done. The steers load and unload like saddle horses....they LOVE to get in the trailer. When we are short on time I just put them in the round pen to exercise them, they listen better than our horses. And at night we turn them loose in the arena for exercise and wait patiently for their halters....they are the best tempered steers.
What did you do for show equipment? We have a few items already such as show halters, show sticks, a comb, small clippers and a blower....we are searching people that are getting out of it and selling their equipment at a more affordable price. |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| nmeastplains - 2014-05-08 5:29 PM
GLP - 2014-05-08 3:42 PM nmeastplains - 2014-05-08 3:10 PM GLP - 2014-05-08 11:42 AM When you travel you'll need misters to use along with fans. I know a lot of people tie their heads up at shows, but like horses, they need to be able to lower their heads to prevent respiratory illnesses. On the misters, do you just buy them complete or make them? And which one would be the most economical....we are showing steers on a beer budget You can get them at TSC. Attach them to your standing fans. At the shows there will be supply trailers and they should have them, too. We showed heifers, but we had friends who showed steers. We did it on a beer budget, too. The kids showed Santa Gertrudis. We had so much fun! We still go to see our friends when we can. Keep us updated on your boys! I still miss it 8 years later.
What did you do for show equipment? We have a few items already such as show halters, show sticks, a comb, small clippers and a blower....we are searching people that are getting out of it and selling their equipment at a more affordable price.
Because you're working hair, you'll need a trim chute. NEVER let your steers drink out of someone's big water tub. Drove me crazy to see that. My kids were not allowed to do that. We only used regular water buckets and didn't let anyone use them. We usually had an extra bucket someone could use for that. Neck ropes are good. Showbox with a padded top is great to sit on. Lots of water hoses to wet their beds down. If tie-outs are offered use them even of you have to pay. Ice chests and chairs. Tie them low in the trailer so they can lay down if they want on long hauls. Make sure you read the rules. In Texas at some shows you can't even use show sheen- just blow and go. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2457
| GLP - 2014-05-08 6:01 PM nmeastplains - 2014-05-08 5:29 PM GLP - 2014-05-08 3:42 PM nmeastplains - 2014-05-08 3:10 PM GLP - 2014-05-08 11:42 AM When you travel you'll need misters to use along with fans. I know a lot of people tie their heads up at shows, but like horses, they need to be able to lower their heads to prevent respiratory illnesses. On the misters, do you just buy them complete or make them? And which one would be the most economical....we are showing steers on a beer budget You can get them at TSC. Attach them to your standing fans. At the shows there will be supply trailers and they should have them, too. We showed heifers, but we had friends who showed steers. We did it on a beer budget, too. The kids showed Santa Gertrudis. We had so much fun! We still go to see our friends when we can. Keep us updated on your boys! I still miss it 8 years later.
What did you do for show equipment? We have a few items already such as show halters, show sticks, a comb, small clippers and a blower....we are searching people that are getting out of it and selling their equipment at a more affordable price. Because you're working hair, you'll need a trim chute. NEVER let your steers drink out of someone's big water tub. Drove me crazy to see that. My kids were not allowed to do that. We only used regular water buckets and didn't let anyone use them. We usually had an extra bucket someone could use for that. Neck ropes are good. Showbox with a padded top is great to sit on. Lots of water hoses to wet their beds down. If tie-outs are offered use them even of you have to pay. Ice chests and chairs. Tie them low in the trailer so they can lay down if they want on long hauls. Make sure you read the rules. In Texas at some shows you can't even use show sheen- just blow and go.
GLP has got it! You'll need misters. Also, a clipping chute ... but seriously until you can afford one, we borrowed. Also - neck ropes, the plastic tined hair combs are better than the metal ones, start training your hair NOW - so wash it, blow it out, and comb it the direction you want ... seriously, everynight - even if it is just wetting it and training the hair.
Sullivan's puts on a nice lil clinic to get you started. While at the clinic, try to make contact with someone local to you who can come over and either clip them or work one on one teaching you all how to clip correctly - it is an art form and takes patience.
It sounds like your cooler room will be nicely put together! I like your flooring ideas :)
We showed steers and Shorthorns growing up on the west coast. During college I was a "blower girl" at Denver and Louisville for several large outfits. I can't tell you how many fabulous friends I have from showing livestock - cattle and sheep.
Good Luck and keep us updated!!! |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Also get hooked up with someone who can really show a steer. It is sooo competitive out there that you really need to understand showmanship to win. Even top steers can look bad if not shown well. We worked the girls every day until the kids could set them up quickly and then we just worked th 2 or 3 times a week. Like barrel horses, they can be over worked. Well at least our diva girls could be.  |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | I recommend attending a camp called "be a champ steer camp" in warner ok. You will get lots of valueable info from them!
http://www.beachamp.com/
Edited by firewaterfuelsme 2014-05-08 7:58 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Lots of great pointers, best of luck to your kiddos! Exciting experience!
I agree on decreasing the temp gradually, even a temperature around or above freezing mark does wonders for growing and maintaining the hair (so does brushing and conditioning the hair & keeping them clipped) The last steer I showed, I never had a cooler room
it spent daylight hours in a barn under a fan and when I let him out at night I hosed him down. (Not drenched but a light mist) I had a good 2 inches or more on him in middle of summer. Another thing to remember is exercise is important for them not only physically but overall appearance wise, you want them to finish out but not be too soggy from just standing around and eating and not moving much. One thing we used is pre/probiotic to keep the show cattle eating, never had issues all season even at shows, with them staying on feed......I'm sure Sullivan's sells something! Keeping their guts moving is just as important as growing hair....
ETA - keep their heads shaved, definitely helps hair grow!
Edited by dream_chaser 2014-05-09 11:04 AM
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | Thanks everyone! I did forget that we do have an old metal chute (from when I showed) that we will use. We are signed up for the Sullivan's clinic at the end of the month. I like the comb idea will get those. The boys are leading the steers for exercise and management, they do handle well. The place we bought our steers from will trim them the week prior to the show and will do hooves first of next month. We are weighing them once a month to monitor growth and the weighing intervals will increase this summer. We also were advised to add a feed supplement to increase appetite so they have gotten that plus a specialized mineral supplement from the very start. I do believe we have a very good start but summer is around the corner and that is where the real work will begin.
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | dream_chaser - 2014-05-09 10:01 AM Lots of great pointers, best of luck to your kiddos! Exciting experience!
I agree on decreasing the temp gradually, even a temperature around or above freezing mark does wonders for growing and maintaining the hair (so does brushing and conditioning the hair & keeping them clipped) The last steer I showed, I never had a cooler room
it spent daylight hours in a barn under a fan and when I let him out at night I hosed him down. (Not drenched but a light mist) I had a good 2 inches or more on him in middle of summer. Another thing to remember is exercise is important for them not only physically but overall appearance wise, you want them to finish out but not be too soggy from just standing around and eating and not moving much. One thing we used is pre/probiotic to keep the show cattle eating, never had issues all season even at shows, with them staying on feed......I'm sure Sullivan's sells something! Keeping their guts moving is just as important as growing hair.... ETA - keep their heads shaved, definitely helps hair grow!
This is interesting to me....could you please explain this to me? |
|
| |
Folks on-line