Top shape: Definition of muscle along the loin. Base width: Width at the ground between the rear legs. Your ideal calf will feature these attributes. Selection begins with three fundamentals: muscle, structure and balance. To learn more about budgeting, review the “ Estimating Costs” article. Some animals you select will not fall within your budget and therefore will not be a good choice for you. Selecting your beef project animal will be one of the most exciting and possibly challenging decisions you make. Although these divisions are determined at the fair, it is a good idea to target a specific division in which you would like to compete. versus crossbred) and weight (lightweight, middleweight, heavyweight). These divisions include gender (steer versus market heifer), breed (Angus, Hereford, Maine Anjou, etc. There are usually many divisions within cattle shows. Genetics have come a long way in allowing cattle to gain more rapidly, but one rule of thumb to consider is that most cattle are ready for market between 14 and 18 months of age. If you keep these three factors in mind, you will be better able to select an animal that will make the weight requirements of the exhibition.Īlso remember that cattle gain two to three pounds of weight per day if fed properly in ideal conditions. When selecting a calf, keep in mind three main things: the birthdate of the calf, weight at which you purchase it and your fair or exhibition date. For example, a person exhibiting at a June fair is looking for a heavier weight calf than a person planning to exhibit at an August fair. The dates of the fair are one of the most important factors in animal selection. Here are a few items to keep in mind when selecting your calf project. 
Calves are usually selected in one of two ways: purchased or chosen from the individuals or families herd.
The final article in this series focusses on calf selection. These tips and tricks will help you be more prepared for your 4-H beef project experience. This three-part series will review important beef project content and address three main topics: preparations for the beef animal, estimating costs of care and calf selection. In addition to the requirement of selecting the animal, there is also a financial burden of caring for an animal through the duration of your project. Caring for a beef animal requires forward thinking and creating a plan of how to see your project through to the end.
As the fall weather approaches, many youth across Michigan begin looking for their 4-H beef project animal.
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