red.hot.cowgirl.boots: The Gist of Livestock Judging

Judging of livestock is based on a number of characteristics of the animal’s ideal breed standards and a comparison between the competing livestock. Animals that are haltered are numbered left to right, when viewing from behind, and ones that are loose will have numbers on them. After each animal is evaluated individually, they are ranked in the class. Judging enhances decision making skills, public speaking and it builds character, integrity, and self confidence.

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The cattle are numbered left to right from behind

You can judge almost any type of animal (ex. Dogs, rabbits, cats, ducks, ect.) however, most judging competitions consist of breeding and market cattle, breeding and market sheep, and breeding and market hogs. It is important that you have an understanding about the anatomy of the different types of livestock to have an idea about the structural soundness and proper angles of the animal. Here are some helpful tips for students when competing in a livestock judging contest:

It is important to use your time wisely and make every second count.
Analyze each class by trying to break it down into pairs; or an easy top or bottom. Once you find what is obvious in the class you can spend more time focusing on the less obvious.
In order to get an accurate observation of one animal compared to the others you need to try and stand 20 feet or more away, this will enable you to see the entire class.

When reciting your oral reasons make sure you have organized your thoughts. One way of organizing your thoughts is similar to a newspaper story which may include an opening statement. Ex. I place this class of market steers 1 4 2 3 for the following reasons. Next you should have a more detailed explanation as to why one animal was placed over another. Ex. 1 was over 4 because the black steer was a heavier muscled, well balanced steer who was more structurally correct than 4.

Structural correctness is important to market and breeding animal alike. Market animals who are structurally incorrect will have decreased performance and require more days of feed. Proper foot and hoof development is necessary and serves a foundation to the skeleton.

A normal, sound hoof should be dense and hard. You don’t want soft hooves because the animal tends to move fragile like, creating a greater chance of cracking - resulting in lameness. Excessive hoof growth (beak claw) can be caused by nutritional factors and structural incorrectness.
A normal, sound foot should be large in size with an even toe size. The toes of cattle and sheep should be together not spread apart and the heel of the foot should be relatively deep. In swine judging it is acceptable for the toes to be slightly spread apart. The toes should be equal in size otherwise it can result in bruising to the pad of the foot and lameness. Animals with small feet may travel with a short, choppy stride.
Calf-kneed is a defect where the knees are pitched creating a backwards C or curved sickle blade appearance.
Bow-Legged is usually considered a serious defect and is often associated with animals that are pigeon toed. Generally they will be bow-legged on their hind legs which demonstrates a rolling out appearance for the limbs when mobile.
The post-legged condition is considered to be the most serious structural defect, especially when it comes to breeding animals. This is caused by a hack that is too straight and is sometimes associated with short, steep pasterns and small feet. The defect is easily identifiable because when the animal travels it will have much shorter strides and stiffened movement.
Sickle-hocked is a defect that is used to describe an animal that has too much set to its hind leg. When the animal becomes mobile it tends to over extend its length of step off its hind leg and drop its pin bones.
Generally animals that are splayfooted will tend to be knock-kneed when viewed from the front. This simply means that an animal’s knees are too close together.

Splayfooted, or toeing out, is used to describe front feet that turn outward.

Pigeon-toed, or toeing in, is used to describe front feet that turn inward which makes their front feet have a wide stance.

Cow-hocked is not a desirable trait but is relatively common in meat animals. With this defect an animal will have hocks that bow inward and are closer together than feet viewed from the rear.