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Showing questions

M

MN Farm Girl

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 30, 2006
Messages
538
Location
Southwest MN
As most of you know I have white shorthorn show heifers. I can't think of a way to get their knees completely white. Does anyone know of a way to get them perfectly clean???

I also have some trouble with one of them throwing their head and catching me in the stomach with horn nubs. Does anyone know how to cure this habit?? I have tried to get them to stop but I haven't been effective.

When I set them up and scratching them with the show stick they will only stand for a little while. When they move I put tension on the lead rope and tell them to stand. It worked good for a while, but now it doesn't. Can anyone help??

Thanks,
MN Farm Girl
 
For the knees, you can get blue shampoo for cattle and horses, and it makes them very white, or my friend uses regualr liquid tide clothsoap stuff or sunlight dish detergint for his chars, and they are sparkling clean!


Katy
 
Ya know I tried White 'N Brite this mornin' when I warshed them, but I couldn't get the knees clean. I'll try the others you mentioned.

Thanks,
MN Farm Girl
 
I always used "Grandma's Blueing" when I had to deal with white knees for the show ring. For the day of the show using baby powder also works. Some people use white spray paint, but I never did that... didn't quite seem right! Good luck with your project and heifers. I miss it.
 
we had a neighbor that shows horses and he hooked me up with a product sold to horse people for organic stains. it works great on manure stains on cattle and yellow knees. spray it on masage it in thenwash it out. cant remember the name and the show box is on the road so i cant get it but our local tack supplier has it. we also use a shampoo that has blueing in it. we buy it from the local beauty supply the generic brand works just fine
 
Been a while since I showed, prob some new stuff on the market like the Sullivans stuff. I think the Grandma's Blueing is what I used to use for the stains. Get it clipped on and let new growth get in there while keeping it clean. Here's a crazy idea I've never tried, if you get the knees clean, keep them that wasy with some Vet Wrap.

For show day I liked the spray chalk. Also you can spray some light adhesive like clear magic and brush in some baby powder.

The butting is probably from scratching their face when they're young. Always scratch calves under the jaw/throat, never the face, it teaches them to butt.

Do you leave your animals with their heads tied up for a fair amount of time? It may help, and also develop sone kneck muscles.
 
Once you do get them clean, if you get a horse product called Show Sheen, and put if on their knees it will help stop new stains. You just apply it, and it coats the hair, and makes it more resistant to staining.

The head tossing may just be a sign of lack of respect. She does it because she can. :? Is she pushy in other ways? Does she do it to other people too? Maybe get someone who's really strong to work with her a while and have them make her listen.

We always found that if we were going to have an attitude problem with a 4H calf it was always a heifer. 8)
 
Kato it's just a female thing :wink:

Thanks guys for all the imput. I will try some of them. Fair is the 3rd week in August so I have some time but not a lot.

Thx again,
MN Farm Girl
 
Well you've gotten all the White tricks I know - they do make soft Choke Bar that you rub in.

Head tossing and not willing to stand is habit and because they can get away with it. No respect

V_Key @ 98lbs had troubles with her 1000 lbs+ steers

We chained them on the Equipment Mover so they had some freedom of head movement and she would lead/walk beside them - they learned to respect her there or not get the habit in the first place.

Good luck :wink:
 
One time I tied 5-6 calves to the back of my hay wagon with their heads up about to where you would want them when you show. Then I slowly started making laps around the field. Worked pretty well. Much better then when I tried halter breaking one behind an old Ford 501 Workmaster. He braced himself for about 500-600 feet then had enough and flopped over, passed out. Probably didn't help that the exhaust on that type of tractor was blowing into his face. He laid down for probably half an hour then he was fine. That was an unbroke steer from a calf scramble.
 

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