Livestock Judging 101

• Livestock judging is the evaluation of an

animal’s characteristics and making a

comparison to other animals and the ideal

standard of that particular class

• After evaluating each animal individually,

a ranking is assigned to that class

Livestock Judging 101

• A typical contest class consists of four

animals, these animals shall be numbered

1 through 4

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• Animals that are loose in a pen will have

numbers on the animal

Why Livestock Judging???

• Enhances decision making capabilities and provides the opportunity to defend those decisions through oral reasons
• Oral reasons provide the framework for public speaking skills
• Builds character, integrity, and honesty
• Network with other individuals and producers who share similar interests

Livestock Judging 101

• Contest Components:
• 8 classes (50 pts. each) 400 pts.
• 3 sets of reasons (50 pts. each) 150 pts.
• Usually only 2 for B-Team

Total 550 pts.

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A great score is over 500 points.

Goal should be to “drop” 20 points or less.

Livestock Judging 101

• Filling out a Card
• Write Name, Contestant # and School on Every Card.
• Circle your placing.
• Write placing in notebook.

Livestock Judging 101

• Figuring Drop Scores
• Done to determine score for each class.
• Use intro worksheet.
• Continue to practice worksheets.

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Beef Anatomy

Swine Anatomy

Lamb Anatomy

Livestock Judging 101

• Livestock Evaluation Classes:
• 1.Cattle
• 2.Swine
• 3.Sheep

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• YOU WILL NEVER JUDGE: cows, sows, boars or rams in high school.

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Livestock Judging 101

I.Terminology:

Heifer- Female beef animal that has not calved.

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Livestock Judging 101

I.Terminology:

Steer- Castrated Male Beef Animal

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Livestock Judging 101

I.Terminology:

Bull- Intact Male Beef Animal

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Livestock Judging 101

I.Terminology:

Barrow- Castrated Male Hog

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Livestock Judging 101

I.Terminology:

Gilt- Female hog that has not given birth yet.

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Livestock Judging 101

I.Terminology:

Ewe- Female sheep that has given birth.

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Livestock Judging 101

I.Terminology:

Ewe Lamb- Female sheep that has not given birth.

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Livestock Judging 101

I.Terminology:

Wether- Castrated male lamb.

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Livestock Judging 101�Beef Breeds:

Black Angus

-Solid Black

-Polled

-Know for Mothering ability

-Most registered breed

Charolais

-White

-Large frame

-Thick Muscled

Livestock Judging 101�Beef Breeds:

Limousin

-Red

-Most docile

-Large framed

Hereford

-Red w/ white face

-Hardy, fertile

-Poor milkers

Livestock Judging 101�Swine Breeds:

Duroc

-Red-Brown

-Droopy Ears

-Excellent growth

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Hampshire

-Black w/ White Belt

-Erect Ears

-Lean

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Livestock Judging 101�Swine Breeds:

Yorkshire

-Erect Ears

-White

-Long Body

American Landrace

-Droopy Ears

-Solid White

-Excellent Mothering

Ability

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Livestock Judging 101�Sheep Breeds:

Hampshire

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Rambouillet

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Livestock Judging 101�Sheep Breeds:

Suffolk

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Livestock Judging 101

Cattle

• Market
• Breeding

-Bulls

-Heifers

Market Cattle

Priorities

• Muscle (Priority)
• Correctness of Finish (Priority)
• Structure and Movement
• Rib and Feeding Ability
• Balance and Eye Appeal

Steer Selection- Point of View

Side View

Rear View

Muscle Indicators

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• Forearm
• Rib
• Loin
• Quarter
• Stifle
• Hip
• Base Width

Finish Indicators

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• Brisket
• Down Top
• Over Ribs
• Around Tailhead
• Drop to flank

Structure, Balance & Eye Appeal

• Front foot alignment
• Strong/Straight Topline
• Proportional
• Set to Hock
• Set to Pastern
• Gen. Attractiveness

Steer Selection- Muscling

Steer Selection - Muscling

Finish (Fat)

Finish (Fat)

Market Steers I

Market Steers II

Market Hogs

Priorities

• Muscle Content
• Lean Growth
• Skeletal Width and Dimension
• Structural Correctness
• Balance and Eye Appeal

Indicators of Muscle

Muscle Content

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• Forearm
• Blades
• Loin
• Ham-Loin Junction
• Hip
• Stifle
• Ham

The groove!

Leanness- absence of fat deposition

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• Jowl
• Over blades
• Elbow pocket
• Loin Edge
• Seam of Ham
• Lower one-third of body

Market Hogs- Leanness

Structural Correctness

Good

Poor

Movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MdW9q1ej84&list=LLzEtnBHvFMJ6ox0WPS2--0w&feature=mh_lolz

Capacity

Market Hogs I

Market Hogs II

Market Lamb Selection

Priorities

• Muscle
• Correctness of finish
• Growth/Weight
• Skeletal Correctness
• Balance and Eye Appeal

Muscle Indicators�

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• Forearm
• Rack
• Loin
• Hip
• Leg
• Base Width

From the top

• Wide across top
• Long loin
• Thick meaty loin
• Butterfly feel along spine

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From the side

• Level top
• The hindsaddle should be longer that the front part of the back
• Long loin

You want a long topped lamb but it must be strong

topped as well

Bone

• A large bone is an indicator of muscle.

Finish Indicators

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• Breast/Chest Plate
• Forerib
• Over Ribs
• Flank

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Structure

• Neck extend out of top of shoulders
• Top line should be long, level and straight
• Pasterns should be strong

Feeling the top

• Put fingers together and feel across spine
• Check the width of loin
• Check the length of loin

Market Lambs I

Market Lambs II

Livestock Judging 101

Breeding Classes

Key Points:

Animals must be deep bodied and functional.

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Livestock Judging 101: Depth

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Livestock Judging 101: Depth

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Livestock Judging 101: Structure

Breeding Classes

Key Points:

Animals must be structurally sound.

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Livestock Judging 101: Eye Appeal

Breeding Classes

Key Points:

Stylish and Eye Appealing.

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Livestock Judging 101: Eye Appeal

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Livestock Judging 101: Eye Appeal

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Livestock Judging 101:Balanced

Key Terms:

Balance: Each part of the body is in proportion to the rest of the animal.

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Beef

Bull Selection

1.Moderate Framed

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Beef

Bull Selection

2.Moderate Muscling

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Beef

Bull Selection

3.Structurally Sound

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Livestock Judging 101: Bulls Class

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Livestock Judging 101: Bulls Class 2

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Beef

• Heifer Selection
• Deep Bodied

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Beef

• Heifer Selection
• Feminine Appearance

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Beef

• Heifer Selection
• Nicely Balanced

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Livestock Judging 101:Heifers #1

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Livestock Judging 101:Heifers #2

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Swine

• Gilt Selection
• Lean

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Swine

• Gilt Selection
• Adequate Muscling

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Swine

• Gilt Selection
• Structure

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Depth of Body

Breeding Gilts I

Breeding Gilts II

Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Sheep

• Ewe Selection
• Structure

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Sheep

• Ewe Selection
• Width of Base

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Sheep

• Ewe Selection
• Square Dock

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Livestock Judging 101:Brdg. Sheep

• Ewe Selection
• Size- Bigger is Better

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Ewes I

Ewes II