Show Ring Versus the Real World

Historically, the Beef Cattle Show Ring Proponents and the Commercial Beef Cattle Industry have been at odds because of the radical changes made in the Purebred Industry simply to satisfy the beef cattle show judges. The changes have had little, if any, scientific or monetary reason for being made. From the 1930s to the 1950s, cattle size was reduced more than a foot in height and by several hundred pounds for the same age of animals. The pendulum then started to swing in the other direction until in the 1980s cattle height became the determining factor for dividing market steer classes. During the last few years, it seems that the largest heifer in a class was always Grand Champion.

Visual appraisal by the producer is the most common way of picking replacement heifers. It's nearly impossible to look at a group of heifer calves and predict their reproductive potential. This system can be costly because infertile and subfertile heifers can't be identified until after breeding season.

Needing to respond to the request from several ranchers to develop an Open Beef Replacement Heifer Class for the San Miguel Basin Fair and not wanting just another usual beauty contest, I developed a contest that would use the most current research- based information as the selection criteria.

The contest's purpose was twofold: to solve the request for an Open Heifer Class for the fair and to educate ranchers using current research-based management practices, which would increase net return by improved heifer reproductive performance.

The Colorado State University Integrated Resource Management (IRM) Team helped develop criteria. This team, made up of a number of specialists from several campus departments, came up with a 100-point scoring system for each heifer. We decided to enter heifers in lots of five to make results more valid.

Now it was time to take this concept to the interested cattle people. After several workshops, the San Miguel Basin Heifer Test Association was formed with 10 ranchers as members. I felt that if ownership of the program was given to the ranchers from the beginning, there would be a much stronger commitment to see that the program conducted properly.

In the Fall of 1988, a ranch feedlot site was selected for the test. Refinements in the test procedure were developed, cost of the test determined, and a nonprofit corporation established with a board of directors and officers. A total of 90 head of preconditioned, weaned heifers representing seven breeds were consigned and delivered.

The test consisted of wintering the heifers to gain up to 1.5 pounds a day for 120 days. One month before breeding, the heifers were re-vaccinated, pelvic area measured, reproductive tracts scored, body condition scored, and structural soundness evaluated. This accounted for 40% of the heifers' total score. The remaining 60% was determined after pregnancy diagnosis. A three-day artificial insemination period followed an estrus synchronization program using MGA and prostaglandin. A 45-day breeding period followed using a health-certified, clean-up bull. Heifers were pregnancy- checked a week before the fair and the two top winning pens were on exhibit at the fair, thus satisfying the initial request for a heifer class at the fair.

Since that time, additional refinements to the test procedures have been developed by the agent and producers with input from the IRM Campus Team, and the second test had 15 consignors from three states with 263 head of heifers being tested for 1989-90 season.

The second year growth in both heifer numbers and consignors indicated that the educational goal has been reached and ranchers can see the economic benefits of heifer testing.

This is an example of an integrated program with the industry, local veterinarian, campus staff, producers, and local agent all buying in and supporting a new concept that may produce major changes in heifer development and marketing in the future.