For those of you that actively show or are thinking about exhibiting your 4-H beef animals during the winter months and have your animals properly broke to lead at this point, here are some winter show cattle tips that can help you to achieve the performance and fresh hair look during adverse weather conditions.

During South Dakota’s winter months, we can experience some “nice” and “extremely harsh” weather; impacting the time and effort put forth by youth working with their 4-H beef projects.

I do not recommend rinsing you’re animal during the winter months unless you have a temperature controlled facility that you can completely dry the animal before you turn them outside.  What  you can do to keep your animal’s hair clean and fresh is to provide adequate bedding, remove the dirt from their hair with a show cattle blower twice a week or as needed and apply a hair conditioner, show oil or sheen to your grooming practices.  A blower-fogger works very well in the winter to just get enough water on them to clean and freshen up their hair on days that allow you to do so.

Nutrition plays an important role not only in the performance of your animal but the general health and hair coat of your animal.  Make sure they receive a balanced ration along with excellent quality hay and water.  External and internal pests can also have an impact on the animal’s performance and hair quality.   Insure your animal has been properly poured and wormed for the best results during the winter.

I always inform youth that if they are seriously thinking about showing or exhibiting beef cattle, the care for the animals doesn't start one week before the show.  Feed management, nutrition, animal health, hair care and practicing showmanship should start several months prior to the show to obtain the best results in the appearance of your animal.  “Champions are not made overnight.”  Hard work and persistence is the key.  It’s the little things you do along the way that pay dividends in the end.

For more information, contact 4-H Livestock Show Management Coordinator, Rod Geppert at (605) 773-8120 or email rodney.geppert@sdstate.edu