Raising a market steer as a 4-H project can be a very rewarding experience for youth. However, it is important to note up front that raising a market steer requires higher input costs and larger living spaces than all other 4-H livestock projects. A successful market steer project involves a lot of time and effort to train, feed, and clean your animal. If the necessary time and resources are available, raising market steers can be one of the most enjoyable livestock projects that 4-H has to offer. This fact sheet has some tips to get you started with your market steer project

Dallin, Joshua

Hadfield, Jacob

Hadfield, Jessie

English

DigitalCommons@USU

Market Steer ProjectsAnother consideration to make when choosing your steer is to getone that is the proper age and size for your target show. Steerstypically gain about 2.5 lbs. per day and finish at 14-20 monthswhen healthy and on a good diet. In Utah, exhibitors typicallypurchase their market steers in the fall (September-December)and show their steers throughout the next summer. Exhibitorscommonly purchase steers through auction or private treaty. Youwill need to weigh your steer often (weekly if possible) to makesure he is on track for your target fair weight.When selecting a steer, the first area you want to consider ismuscle. Natural width and muscle shape are indicators ofmuscling. Natural width on a steer is evaluated from the frontand rear view focusing at the base of the animal. Muscle shape isoften evaluated at the rump, but can also be evaluated from theloin, forearm, and shoulder. While muscle is the highest priorityin choosing a high quality steer, you should not ignore balanceand structure. A good market steer is well balanced, straightthrough the topline, and level hipped. Good structure can beevaluated by looking at the feet and legs to ensure flexibility,correctness, and functionality.  Combining these characteristicsis how we determine the ideal market steer. The first step in a market steer project, is selecting a quality steer. Market steers are judged on market quality,so it is important to select a beef breed that carries a lot of muscle, has good bone structure, and is nicelybalanced. There isn’t one single beef breed that has an advantage in a market show, and many choose tocrossbreed steers to take advantage of hybrid vigor. Hybrid vigor is when the offspring out-performs itsparents. Oftentimes, steers specifically bred for market shows are referred to as “club calves” or “clubby”.Because club calves are bred for the sole purpose of producing market show steers, they commonly have anadvantage over purebred steers from breeds that have different breeding strategies and purposes. Some cattlebreeds are polled, or born without horns. If this isn't the case, make sure your steer has been dehorned. Getting StartedRaising a market steer as a 4-H project can be a very rewarding experience for youth. However, it is important tonote up front that raising a market steer requires higher input costs and larger living spaces than all other 4-Hlivestock projects. A successful market steer project involves a lot of time and effort to train, feed, and clean youranimal. If the necessary time and resources are available, raising market steers can be one of the most enjoyablelivestock projects that 4-H has to offer. This fact sheet has some tips to get you started with your market steerproject.SelectionNotice the natural width of the steer on the left. This young steer has a nice level topline and asquare hip.Additional selection resources can be found here: https://boxelder4h.usu.edu/Livestock-Selection-Clinic-Resources Use this handy calculator to determine how big your steerneeds to be to reach its target weight at fair:https://extension.usu.edu/4H-Livestock-Calculator/beef-weight-calculatorMarket steers eat a combination of grain, hay, and should have free access to minerals. Steers need grain toadd extra energy and protein . This is essential for proper weight gain. Ideally, high quality feeds for steersshould contain 12-13% protein with grains and corn for energy (Agrilife, 2020). When choosing a specific grainfor steers, the best grains are those that are fresh and consistent bag-to-bag (Agrilife, 2020). A forage (usuallygrass or alfalfa hay) also needs to be included in a steer’s diet to help provide the steer with fiber to keep therumen healthy and happy. The rumen is one of four stomach compartments. When purchasing a steer, find outwhat type of feed he has been on and if you must, make a gradual change to new feed over the course ofseveral weeks.  Bloat is gas build up in the rumen. It is uncomfortable and can be fatal if not treated quickly.Bloat is one issue that market steers fed high quality feeds may develop, especially if they are not fed abalanced diet or their feed is switched too quickly.After you have selected your market steer, the next step is feeding your steer. The basic nutrients that marketsteers require are water, energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals (Agrilife, 2020). Water is the first and mostimportant element to any nutrition plan. Clean, fresh water should be available to your steer day and night.They should drink anywhere between eight to twenty gallons of water a day (Rasby, 2016).NutritionSteers should be fed twice daily (morning and night) on a set dailyfeeding schedule. Consistently feeding the same things at the sametime can help improve your steer’s performance (Agrilife, 2020).Monitoring your steer’s weight gains can be a good evaluation tool toensure that your nutrition plan is working. Measuring average dailygains can also help you know if your steer will be ready for your targetshow. This article from Texas A&M is a great resource foradditional nutrition information: http://counties.agrilife.org/parker/files/2011/10/Market-Steer-Essentials.pdfWhen you go to the feed store, there are lots of supplements available.Other than free choice minerals, you shouldn't need to purchaseanything extra. When it comes to nutrition, no magic tricks orsupplements can create a winner or  correct bad genetics. Championsare born from  consistency and hard work. If you provide your marketsteer with clean, fresh water and a well-balanced diet, there is no needfor supplemental products. HandlingAs an exhibitor, showmanship is one of the few areas that you have complete control. If a steer will not set upcorrectly or refuses to stand in a line, it will make it harder for the judge to get a good view. Even with goodgenetics and a high quality nutrition program, poor showmanship can be the deal breaker in the show ring.In the show ring, an exhibitor will have two tools to help set up their steer: the lead and the show stick. It isimportant to start handling your steer early so you can effectively use these tools. The first step is to halterbreak your calf, and then begin using the show stick. Ideally, a first year exhibitor will purchase a calf that isalready halter broke. If that’s not possible, you’ll want to start early when your steer is a calf. Halter breakingbegins by properly placing a rope halter on your calf. Once the halter is properly situated, you will let the steerdrag the lead for a couple days (Brown, 2020).If you are looking for more information regarding handling and showingyour steer, here is a great resource from Mississippi State Extension for you: http://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/publications/p2210_web.pdfTie up to the fence or chuteBrush your steerLead with the halterSet up legs using the show stick and leadRinse your steer with water only (use shampoo once a week)Next, you will begin to tie the calf to a sturdy fence. You will start at aboutan hour and gradually move up to 3 to 5 hours a day (Brown, 2020). Onceyour calf is used to being tied, it will be easier to get him used to beinghandled. While he is tied up, brush and talk to your calf. This will tamehim and help him get accustomed to you (Brown, 2020). While he’s tied,you may want to begin hosing him off. This not only helps him getaccustomed to being touched, but is a great way to start training the hairto be ready for show day. This process requires a lot of patience, but ifyou put the time in at the beginning, it will make for a safer and moresuccessful experience later on.and definitely no jabbing! Try to find the area where your steer likes to be rubbed with the stick and slowlywork to setting the feet from there. When using a show stick to set feet you always want to begin with the rearfeet. If you need a rear foot to go back you will gently press the show stick to the soft tissue between the toesof the rear foot. As you apply gentle pressure, you will also want to slowly and gently push backward on thelead. If you need to move a rear foot forward you will pull on the lead and use the hook of the show stick toapply pressure under the dewclaw and gently pull forward. Teaching your steer to quickly set up feet takes alot of time and patience, but your efforts will pay off on show day.Last but not least, your calf will need to be trained to walk and stop. You will begin this process once you feelthat your steer is halter broke. At first, lead the calf short distances (from feed to water) (Brown, 2020). As yourcalf gets comfortable with short distances start walking longer distances, adding in practiced stops to helpyour steer learn when to set up. Make sure that you are practicing with your steer daily so that you areprepared to show! The goal is to enter the showring and have no surprises. Champions are made at home!Cited SourcesJacob Hadfield, Joshua Dallin, & Jessie Hadfield | December 2020jacob.hadfield@usu.edu | joshua.dallin@usu.edu | jessie.hadfield@usu.eduAnother thing to do when your calf is tied is to begin working with theshow stick. Begin slowly with the stick, no quick or sudden movements, Here are some things you should do with your steer on a daily basis:These tips will help you get started with a market steer project. It's always a good idea to work closely with a club leader or an experienced exhibitor for more tipsand tricks to make your project a success! Explore other opportunities for junior livestock projectsour website: https://extension.usu.edu/utah4h/programs/livestock Agrilife (2020). Market Steer Essentials. Texas A&M. Retrieved 2020Brown, R.K. (2020). Beef Showmanship. Mississippi State University. Retrieved 2020Photo: Lidd Livestock & Design

Market Steer Projects: Getting Started

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Market Steer Projects: Getting Started

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