Preparing Cattle for a Show

intershoot

I have a couple of nice little pedigree Blue Bulls and I would like to start to prepare them for a show or two this year, if nothing else just to see how they compare to other stock of the same age.

They are about 8 months old, have been weaned about 2 months ago and are doing very well in a pen wit chopped straw. They do tend to be fairly dirty round the arse, but I'm not surprised given the size of the arse. They are fed on round baled wheat and a little silage, and they get about 4kg's of 16% meal each day between them. They will allow me to handle them, and like nothing better than getting their backs scratched!

What should I be doing with them now?

Do I need to get them used to walking on a halter?
Should I clip them to get new hair for the spring?
Is chopped straw ok as bedding?

These are the first pedigree calfs I have reared as I recently decided as we only had 12 cows I'd rather get into more value as opposed to more heads. It's a beef suckler herd at the moment and we finish all our own animals.

All advice greatly received!!

pajero12

intershoot wrote: »

They are about 8 months old, have been weaned about 2 months ago and are doing very well in a pen wit chopped straw. They do tend to be fairly dirty round the arse, but I'm not surprised given the size of the arse. They are fed on round baled wheat and a little silage, and they get about 4kg's of 16% meal each day between them. They will allow me to handle them, and like nothing better than getting their backs scratched!

What should I be doing with them now?

Do I need to get them used to walking on a halter?
Should I clip them to get new hair for the spring?
Is chopped straw ok as bedding?

You should try and get them used to leading on a halter,now is a good age to start! We use steel halters and find them a great job.The way we do it is to halter them and tie them to a barrier.Leave them there for say an hour twice a week! (Don't go to far away from the yard just in case of the worst of the worst) This will quieten them fairly quick!

Yes you should clip them,Especially the fluffy hair.This will bring a nice thick coat on for the spring as well as giving you a bit of practice at it, You don't want to make a mess of it a week before the show

Yeah chopped straw is grand,Although We find a paddock is the the best job.We leave 5 or 6 bulls together on it and they keep it well ploughed up.The Clay Is easily washed off and you wont be pulling off lumps of hair with the ****e. I realise this set up may not be feasible for everyone

Also keep them washed regularly,This keeps the coat nice and thick!

And good luck with the shows

intershoot

Thanks Pajero12!

Any idea where to look about one of those training/steel halters?? I've never seen them used before.

Ive had them housed and I'd be worried about letting them out now in case the recent changes in temperature would bring on pneumonia or summat. They would be better out in the field but I'm not sure whether they are ready for that! should I be letting them out during the day and bringing them in at night?

Is it ok to clip them at this time of year?

When you talk about washing them do you mean through the winter? (I assume you're in the same country!) do you have to dry them off afterwards to avoidgiving them a foundering??

again, excuse my ignorance, this is all completely new to me, I usually just try to keep them healthy :P

pajero12

intershoot wrote: »

Thanks Pajero12!

Any idea where to look about one of those training/steel halters?? I've never seen them used before.

Ive had them housed and I'd be worried about letting them out now in case the recent changes in temperature would bring on pneumonia or summat. They would be better out in the field but I'm not sure whether they are ready for that! should I be letting them out during the day and bringing them in at night?

Is it ok to clip them at this time of year?

When you talk about washing them do you mean through the winter? (I assume you're in the same country!) do you have to dry them off afterwards to avoidgiving them a foundering??

again, excuse my ignorance, this is all completely new to me, I usually just try to keep them healthy :P

We actually made them ourselves but they can be bought from some co-ops too!
This is them http://www.pedigreecattle.ie/store/search.php
They're a great job!

We have ours out all year but seeing as there in all winter you may be better to wait till it gets a bit warmer!

Yeah no problem clipping them this time a year, We actually clipped a 3 week old the other day as a little experiment :P

Yes washing them through the winter,but we have a hot water washer,and leave them in until they dry off,wouldnt like to wash them with cold water!

intershoot

well I think the best bet would be to clip them now and keep them in for another month or so, that way it would allow them to adjust to the temperature change gradually :rolleyes:.

To be honest we're pushed for space (thats not slats) and the wee house I have them in I will need as I have another two pedigree calfs due in March. I may well put them out then and let them clean up a bit before starting to wash them.

I will start the halter work, and see how I get on. Can you recommend any of the shampoos etc?? That looks a cracking site.........I had struggled to find anything with that sort of gear.

Thanks again for all the help!

pajero12

intershoot wrote: »

well I think the best bet would be to clip them now and keep them in for another month or so, that way it would allow them to adjust to the temperature change gradually :rolleyes:.

To be honest we're pushed for space (thats not slats) and the wee house I have them in I will need as I have another two pedigree calfs due in March. I may well put them out then and let them clean up a bit before starting to wash them.

I will start the halter work, and see how I get on. Can you recommend any of the shampoos etc?? That looks a cracking site.........I had struggled to find anything with that sort of gear.

Thanks again for all the help!

Think that may be the best bet alright,

http://christiesdirect.com/ This one is even better actually,there very good to deal with!
What colour are they?

intershoot

pajero12 wrote: »

What colour are they?

I have one pure white one and the other is black and white. I think they're a cracking breed as hey have always been very modest in my experience, and are generally early to finish to the factory. We killed two BBX prior to 20 mnths last year and got over £800 each for them.

I had a lovely roan and white heifer which I had hoped to keep, and she died at about 6 months, beautiful animal. Suddenly lost energy, started to scour, and dehydrated very quickly. I had the vets out with her three times and they couldnt figure what was wrong, but rehydrated her and tried all they could - I subsequently found out as a result of the lab report she was a PI BVD. This apparently is in the calf from birth, and it will die, and possibly infect others in the herd!! We're pretty much a closed herd as we only breed our own animals using AI, but given the level of disease accross the country it could have come from anywhere.

The herd has all be vaccinated for BVD and LEPTO and we are hopefully all clear. Apparently 80% of the cattle in this country have BVD & LEPTO! I didnt think it was as bad as that.

_walsh_

use fairy liquid when washing them and the power washer no need at all for all the high priced shampoos, shave the head, belly and a small part of the tail, leave the top of te tail until it turns down then shave to a point downwards, shave all the tail until the point where it stops touching the hindquaters and hangs freely, if that makes any sence at all!! if your goin to start showing u'll need a clippers and dryer and a couple of combs!! and hair soap which is like hair gel for cattle!

pajero12

http://christiesdirect.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1050
This Shampoo is very good,We use it on the purebred charolais and it puts a lovely shine on them!

http://christiesdirect.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1044
This one is good too,but found it harder to get rid of piss stains and the likes!

Your better off just buying a proper shampoo instead of the fairy liquid idea,the amount of time saved instead of scrubbing like a hoor with the fairy liquid is worth the 15 or 20 euro.Use it sparingly and itll last you a good while!
JJ

ceannfort

Check out the peasridge website aswell. They a lot of stuff and tips. I bought a dryer in the states. Had it posted over for half the price they are here.