NLE Spring 2016 layout PROOF

Good

as

Gold

IRY BEAR / FULL A H X D L O G F LUS SOLID H

This is a MUST use sire for 2016

THF PHAF

Korky Wise says he didn’t use enough of this bull in 2015 but he will be in 2016!

Lautner Farms Phil & Chance Lautner

800. 515. 3284

Harlan Yocham

918. 691.6809

NEW for 2016 - A “Slick-Shorn” Market Steer Division has been added to the Minnesota State Fair 4-H Beef Show Rules for the “slick-shorn” Market Steer Division: Hair must be “slick shorn”, which includes the entire body and legs, with the exception of the switch. For Steers to quality, they must be shorn to no more than ¼ inch on any location of the body, (excluding the tail switch.) The tail switch can be no more than 6 inches above the end of the cartilage of the tail. The tail switch may be ratted and balled, or bobbed off.

Steers will be checked at time of Weigh-In for compliance with the hair length requirement. The hair may be no longer than 1/4 inch uniform length at any location on the body, other than the tail switch.

Steers may be clipped after they arrive at the State Fair to meet the requirememts, up until the time of Weigh-In. Any steer found not to be in compliance with the hair length rule at the time of the Market Beef Weigh-In will not be allowed to show in the “Slick-Shorn” Division, and will be placed in its original Division. All steers must meet ¼ inch hair requirement prior to Weigh-In on Wednesday.

Decisions on eligibility for the “Slick-Shorn” Division that are made by the 4-H Beef Show Management will be final, and those decisions will not be subject to protest.

•These steers will show in their own division (by Weight classes, not Breed classification) •The Champion and Reserve “Slick steers” will be part of the Championship selection with the other 12 Champion and Reserve Breed steers, Crossbred Steers and Market Heifers •They will also be eligible for a spot in the Purple Ribbon auction.

Establishment of a slick shorn division was recommended by the state 4-H committee and approved unanimously by members of the committee.

The purpose of establishing a slick shorn division is to expand participation in the 4-H beef program.

Looking Back...

Index

Wisconsin State Fair Junior Show Schedule Changes for 2016 Youth exhibiting beef, sheep and swine at the 2016 Wisconsin State Fair will have a new schedule for showing their entries and taking part in showmanship as well as the other forms of competition offered during their four day stay, according to Brian Bolan.

The schedule for Wednesday had outgrown the time slot available, Bolan confirms. The challenge was to accomplish recognizing all winning exhibitors in a setting less stressful than what was had on Wednesday afternoon and evening.

The ideal solution was to add another day, but that was not possible. Thus, the schedule was cleared for Thursday, and a special recognitions breakfast and program is being planned. This way more youth, including those in quality meats and premier competition, can be recognized. Bolan assures.

Governor’s Blue Ribbon Auction: The auction will again be on Wednesday evening in the Coliseum. The auction committee is organizing activities prior to the auction, but it is felt with the new schedule youth selling in the auction will have more time to call family members and potential buyers. Plus the additional time prior to the auction allows time for the exhibitors to champions to meet and visit with potential buyers.

Managerial/Ownership of Breeding Stock: According to Brian Bolan, managerial paper work had been eliminated. Breeding animals must have a registration paper but it does not need to be in the exhibitor’s name. Youth should have the animal their posession at entry time (June 1) to show day.

Written by: Sue Finley Editor of Midwest Herdsman Editors note Time will tell what effect this will have on breeding heifer sales to junior exhibitors

It’s the Pitts

By Lee Pitts

BUTTS AND BAGS How can anyone on earth say something derogatory about an animal that produces milk, filet mignon, cheese, ice cream, hamburger and leather while at the same time they are mowing weeds, producing fertilizer and reducing danger.

I’d imagine when you mention the word “cow” to city folks the animal they think of is a dairy animal. They may even have a coffee mug with the familiar Holstein color pattern on it. Although they are of the same family, beef and dairy cattle are as different as night and day. Black and White. Here are just some of the ways they differ.

• Dairy cows get milked two or three times a day; a beef cow gets milked any time her hungry brat tugs at her flanks.

• Beef cows know their own calf 10 days after is has been weaned off. Dairy cows don’t know their own calf ten seconds after it’s born.

•The worst enemies of beef cows are cowboys, flies barb wire, squeeze chutes, sheep, hot shots, auctioneers, lassos, gomer bulls, cutting horses and heavy handed veterinarians. Dairy cows don’t care for semen salesmen, tallow trucks and big-fisted AI technicians.

•A beef cow will try to kill you if you attempt to kidnap it’s calf, whereas a dairy cow will thank you.

•Dairy cows get regular pedicures while beef cows get their horns sawed off.

•Urban and urbane cartoons like The Far Side and Rubes feature well-fed Holsteins while the cows drawn by Ace Reid, Mad Jack, Jerry Palen and Earl more often look like they’ve been surviving on Pricly pear, brush and mesquite.

•Dairy cows are responsible for more fertilizer, bankruptcies and suicides, while beef cows produce more heart attacks, rustlers and team ropers.

•A beef cow has to graze 20 miles per hour to meet her daily nutritional requirements while dairy cows have their food delivered. Dairy cows get more than their fill of corn and the best leafy alfalfa at an all day free buffet, while beef cows must survive on rained-on moldy oat hay that their calves have tinkled on.

•When a dairy cow’s calf dies before a cattle feeder can pay WAY too much for it you could call that a “Godsend”. A beef cow that doesn’t produce a calf is called a “hamburger”.

•When dairymen ogle their cows the first thing they look at is their bags; cowboys are far more interested in big butts on their bovines.