Your NWSS Catch-a-Calf Project Erin Post, CSU Extension Associate

Overview Raising Your Catch-a-Calf The Catch-a-Calf Program What’s Ahead

Teamwork for a Common Goal The purpose of all project work is to enhance the education, experience and development of young people; a purpose that is not realized without the involvement of several people working as a team. The successful completion of the Catch-a-Calf program and project depends upon the combined efforts of parents, experts, 4-H Leaders, Catch-a-calf superintendents, National Western Stock Show Staff and YOU the participant.

Raising Your Catch-a-Calf Breed Introduction Anatomy and Wholesale Cuts Feeding Your Steer Keeping Your Cattle Healthy Halter Breaking Showing

Breed Introduction Hereford – Developed in England and brought to the US in Their coat is characterized by a red body and white face, with additional white markings. They are known for their foraging ability, vigor, hardiness and quiet dispositions.

Cattle Anatomy

Wholesale Meat Cuts

Feeding Your Steer Goal 1: Have a finished steer weighing between 1150 – 1350 lbs. at NWSS in January – Will all of your steers finish here? Goal 2: Raise a quality meat product for the consumer.

Goal 1: Have a finished steer weighing between 1150 – 1350 lbs. at NWSS in January Use a Complete Beef Feed – Should feed 3.5% of Steers Weight (600 lb Steer = 20 lbs of feed) Two important terms: – Average Daily Gain (ADG): The Amount of weight made (gained) each day. – Feed Efficiency: The efficiency at which an animal converts the feed it eats to gain. The average for steers is about 6-9 lbs.

An Example On May 4 th, your steer weighs 600 lbs. your goal is to have a 1250 lb. steer for NWSS on January 10 th, What does your ADG need to be? And How many lbs. of feed will it take (at an Efficiency of 7lbs feed : 1lb gain)? What does your ADG need to be? How many lbs. of feed will it take?

Step 1: How many days are there between May 4 th and January 10 th ? Step 2: What is the difference between what your steer weighs now and your January goal? Step 3: Calculate ADG Step 4: Calculate #’s of feed needed to reach goal weight Now can you calculate cost of gain?

Goal 2: Raise a quality meat product for the consumer. Cattle are ruminants – They have one stomach with 4 Compartments, this allows them to digest fibrous foods. This also means they MUST have roughage in their diet each and every day.

Nutrients Nutrients are elements in feeds that are used by an animals to grow, build muscle, bone organs, produce milk etc. The amount of nutrients necessary to accomplish these functions, varies.

5 Types of Nutrients Carbohydrates – Carbohydrates furnish the energy needed by the Animal Proteins – This is the ‘building block’ of the body. Muscle, blood, internal organs, skin among other things Vitamins – Needed in Small amounts Minerals – Needed in Small Amounts Water – Essential to the health and well being of your animal Makes up ¾’s of the animals weight

General Rules for Feeding Cattle 1.Provide Fresh clean Water at ALL times. 2.Feed at the same time everyday, (AM/PM) 3.Change feeds or increase grains slowly over a few days. 4.When feeding grain, do no grind too fine. 5.Keep feed fresh, remove all old feed that is moldy or stale. 6.Do not overfeed. This puts excess fat on steers and wastes money. 7.Provide salt & minerals at all times (salt/mineral block). 8.Be sure your animal is in an area large enough to exercise. 9.Your steers should finish eating in about 45 minutes, if they are done before this (30 Minutes or less), increase feed ½ lb. the following day.

Keeping Your Steer Healthy It is easier to prevent disease than it is to cure it. Disease Protection – Vaccination Parasite Control – De-worming Fly & Lice control If your steer’s ears droop, his head hangs low, and he doesn’t eat, he may be ill. Call a veterinarian.

For Your Calf - Preparation Pen(s) Ideally, you will have a large pen for your steer and one smaller pen to halter and tie your steer Supplies – Rope Halter, Scotch Comb, Rice Root Brush, Showstick Feed – A Complete Beef Feed and Grass Hay

Halter Breaking Breaking a calf to lead and perform in the show ring environment, can be challenging task. A few Steps to get started: 1.Halter your steer using a head-gate or squeeze chute. 2.Let your steer drag the halter for a week or so. 3.Tie your steer to a solid post, in their pen. Supervise your steer during this time to be sure it doesn’t injure itself. Always tie using a quick-release knot. 4.Continue to tie your steer up until it no longer fights being tied. At this time your should begin to introduce yourself, bushes and combs to your steer. Talk to your steer at this time as well.

5. Once your steer is used to you, you can begin training it to lead. Your steer is controlled by its head, if you successfully control the head, the body of the steer will follow. 6. Begin by taking a few simple tugs at your steer, when they take a step, release the tension, this shows them that the halter will loosen when they do something correct. Continue this process, begin to incorporate stopping when your steer begins to walk. 7. Always turn your steer away from you, this shows them that YOU are in charge. 8. At the conclusion of training sessions, lead your steer to grain, water or to a comfortable environment.

Cattle Flight Zones

Showing When showing you will use the show stick to properly set-up your steer to best present it to the judge for evaluation. In the show ring, the Judge or a ring steward may show you where to line-up, move, stop and go.

The Catch-a-Calf Program Program Summary Program Requirements Timeline Your Calf

Program Requirements Sponsor Relations – Monthly letter sent to your sponsor (s) Record Book – Completely filled out, turned in at NWSS Industry Performance – Final Weight – Feed Conversion – Cost of Gain Interview – Held at NWSS – 5 minutes Live Evaluation & Showmanship – Held at NWSS

Program Summary This program has many components. You will be asked to complete many different types of projects, not only raising your steer. The program is scored as shown below: Sponsor Relations – 40 Points Record Book – 50 Points Industry Performance – 10 Points Interview – 25 Points Live Animal Evaluation Showmanship Placing Carcass Evaluation – Results follow Harvest of CAC Steers

Timeline Receive your Steer - May 3 rd, 2014 Adams County CAC Show – August 1 st, 2014 Project Visits(Throughout Year) – NWSS – Extension Agent – 4-H Leader – Sponsor Hoof Trimming/Health Paper Day – December or January NWSS – January 2015 – Thursday/Friday CAC Arrival – January 8 th & 9 th – Friday CAC Processing & Record Book Collection – January 9 th – Saturday Interviews – January 10 th – Sunday CAC Show/Ship - January 11 th * This is a tentative schedule to give you an idea of what to expect over the next 9 months.

What's Ahead Organization Saturday Breakfast ASK QUESTIONS!

Organization Binder or Folder Clipboard for Feed documentation Keep Copies of everything, digital or other Take photos!

Saturday Breakfast – May 2 nd Arrive at the NWSS Cafeteria 7:00-7:30 AM Pick up your packets and meet your sponsor Introduce yourself and family Breakfast Program Load Steers Go Home and GET TO WORK!

What questions can I answer? “This program helped me SO much…” “[Through this program] I gained correspondence skills as well as responsibility.” “I have learned to have more confidence…..” “I absolutely loved the show and everything in general!” “I LOVED my sponsors!”