Livestock Judging

Although it has always been associated with agriculture and farming, animal husbandry has since emerged as an independent profession. Cattle breeding has long since been a common profession in what used to be known as the Wild West. The richest and the most powerful people often used to be cattle breeders. Though the times have changed considerably, this aspect of the west remains. The cattle industry is a lot like the stock market in that respect. You must have a thorough knowledge of your subject, ability to make the right decisions at the right time and patience to see things through.

Livestock judging tests your decision making skills and knowledge. This implies a careful analysis of animals and/or carcasses, being able to differentiate among the different types of cattle, judge the ones which suit the intended purpose depending upon their strengths and weaknesses, and measuring them against the standard commonly accepted as ideal. After the selection, the cattle/carcasses selected must be categorized or classed appropriately, with the discussion on the classes organized logically, beginning with the first animal/class and ending with the last. The opinions and the reasons for classing, selecting and rejecting the individual animals or carcasses, should be expressed and justified logically in clear, concise and easily understandable terms. Also, the reasoning should be comparative instead of being descriptive; to give the owners/buyer's a clear idea of the situation. Efforts are made to keep the reasoning and justification as simple and clear as possible, so that the common man can also understand the mode of business. Inability to understand long, descriptive and incoherent statements lead to confusion. This must be avoided at all costs in the cattle business as the transactions are based on the quality and quantity of cattle, some of which are set aside to breed hybrid varieties. Though it's essential to express one's ideas clearly in every profession or undertaking, it's crucial for the livestock judges to explain this categorization clearly, as the improvement of the livestock and the future of the business depend on that. The judges should strictly adhere to whatever they have observed and maintain honesty at all times. Emphasis is laid on the formal procedure in the training of the livestock judges.

There are actually competitions based on livestock judging several times a year throughout the United States , where students interested in the livestock industry participate at the university level. Not only does this give one an idea about the cattle business and develop a good eye for cattle, it is also an opportunity to meet and associate with some of the most successful cattle breeders in America . The students themselves might not be interested in the business of cattle breeding per say, but might be interested in other areas like- veterinary medicine, nutrition, genetics and reproductive physiology even! As in any other undertaking, an individual must have some talent in this direction following which; sound judgment can be acquired with practice and developed into a fine skill.