Show steer classification guidelines
- 1. Sam Womble County Extension Agent – Natural Resources Victoria County Show Steer Classification Guidelines
- 2. History In the fall of 2006, various County Extension Agents, Agriculture Science Teachers, Breed Represenatives and Industry Leaders met to develop breed specific classification criteria. The information that follows should be used as a tool (determining potential classification) when purchasing breed steers for Texas Major Livestock Shows.
- 3. Angus
- 4. Angus Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Purebred Angus Solid Black Polled Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Continental breed type structure and head Bumps between the poll and the ear Birth marks or white hair in the switch should be reviewed for the skin color Bos Taurus type ear set (ear size not to be discriminated against)
- 5. Angus Absolute Disqualifications : White skin resulting in white hair above the underline or in front of the navel (white on the navel is acceptable) White skin resulting in white hair on the leg, foot, or tail Horns or scurs Brindle Diluter color pattern Dehorning scars Double muscling
- 6. Hereford
- 7. Hereford Ideal Breed Characteristics : Must exhibit breed characteristics of a purebred Hereford Red body with white face, white underline, and white marked legs Feather neck Horned Herefords must be dehorned Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Dark red color Red neck Solid red or solid white ear, size and shape is questionable
- 8. Hereford Excess white on legs Excess white above the underline Eye pigment Black hair in tail, ear, or on rear end of animal Black on reproductive tract Black spotting /smut, or freckling on the nose Lineback White above switch in tail White across rump above the twist
- 9. Hereford Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Coarse joints, head or ribs Straight line white markings on legs White above the hocks, on the outside and back side of rear legs Excess pigment or color around the eyes Red neck in combination with excess white on legs Absolute Disqualifications : Diluter color pattern Brindles Double muscling Any color pattern other than red and white
- 10. Red Angus
- 11. Red Angus Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Purebred Red Angus English/British characteristics Solid red Polled Black pigmentation (animals may have 2 of 3 areas of black pigmentation on the nose, around the eyes, and anus but not all 3) A blond, light red or mixed switch Black hair on the tail, muzzle, face, neck, and shoulder
- 12. Red Angus Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Double muscling Coarse joints or head (big feet, big dewclaws) Bumps between the poll and ear Solid white switch Absolute Disqualifications : Horns or scurs White above the underline or in front of the navel White on the leg
- 13. Red Angus Absolute Disqualifications : Black pigmentation (having all 3 areas of black pigmentation and that being on the nose, around the eyes, and anus) Diluter color pattern Dehorning scars or evidence of dehorning Solid white tail
- 14. Shorthorn
- 15. Shorthorn Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Purebred Shorthorn Solid red, solid white with red hair or red pigment on ear, muzzle, or tail; or red and white or any combination of red and white, with the red and white color pattern bleeding together Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Motley face or brockle faced Orange or light red color Black nose pigment Straight line white markings across leg Coarse head Double muscling
- 16. Shorthorn Absolute Disqualifications : Diluter color pattern such as yellow or yellow roan Blacks, blue roans or grays Brindle
- 17. Charolais
- 18. Charolais Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Must appear to have at least 50% Charolais White, yellow, gray or silver (moderate dappling allowed) Expression of diluter gene Painting or spotting less than 20% Skunk tail, lineback or baldy Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Excessive painting or spotting (over 20%) Double muscling Brindles Frail bone work and general appearance
- 19. Charolais Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Light red color Short, stubby head Overly refined narrow head Excessive dark pigmentation (eyes, nose, ears, anus) Excessive dappling Absolute Disqualifications : Black, red, dark smuts Showing no diluter gene
- 20. Chianina
- 21. Chianina Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Must exhibit Chianina influence in head (ear, eye and nose) and skeleton Any shade of black, red, gray or yellow Brindles Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Coarse joints or skeleton Excessive spotting above the underline Absolute Disqualifications : Cannot appear to be a purebred of any other breed
- 22. Limousin
- 23. Limousin Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Must appear to have at least 50% Limousin Solid black, red, light red, charcoal black Bald face Smooth joints and skeleton Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Coarse joints, skeleton and head Stocking legs Brindle Spotting above the underline Roans
- 24. Maine Anjou
- 25. Maine Anjou Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Must appear to be at least 50% Maine Anjou Solid black or solid red White stocking legs White underline Spotting above the underline and on face Heavy skeletal structure Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Brindle Roan Diluter Color Pattern Absolute Disqualifications : Cannot appear to be more than 50% of any other breed
- 26. Simmental
- 27. Simmental Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Purebred Simmental characteristics Larger, longer head Larger ear, lower set Solid black, red, light red, gray, smut, red and white, yellow and white, black and white Spotting above the underline Stocking legs Bald, blaze or streak face Diluter color pattern
- 28. Simmental Discriminating Breed Characteristics : Roans Skunk tail Double muscling 30% or more white above the underline Diluter color pattern around the eyes and muzzle Monkey mouth Absolute Disqualification : Brindle
- 30. American Breeds Cross Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Any color or color pattern Progression of importance to include Bos indicus head, eye and ear of moderate length, slightly drooping and opens down and forward Crest or slick neck Sheath score of 2 or more Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Bos taurus head Bos taurus short ear Bos taurus eye Sheath score of 1
- 31. American Breeds Cross Absolute Disqualifications : A combination of a Bos taurus head, eye and ear Without adequate Bos indicus head, eye and ear characteristics, sheath score is irrelevant
- 32. Brahman
- 33. Brahman Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Must appear to be at least 50% Brahman A prominent hump beginning in the middle of the shoulder going forward Any color or color pattern Bos indicus ear, head and sheath Absolute Disqualification : A crest with the absence of a hump
- 34. Brangus
- 35. Brangus Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Purebred Black Brangus Solid black Sheath hangs at a 45 degree angle and is well controlled Influence of a Bos indicus eye, ear and head Slick neck or evidence of a crest Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Scurs or slick spots (scurs must be loose) Excessive pendulous sheath Absence of Bos indicus influenced eye, ear and head
- 36. Brangus Absolute Disqualifications : Hard horns (attached) Dehorning scars White above the underline or in front of the navel White on the legs, feet or tail No brindles
- 37. Simbrah
- 38. Simbrah Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Purebred Simbrah Must have a minimum of ¼ and/or a maximum of ¾ Simmental and/or Brahman A sheath score of 2 or greater A Bos indicus eye, ear and head Stocking legs Bald, blaze or streak face Diluter color pattern Solid black, red, light red, gray, smut or yellow or a combination of white with any of the previous listed colors Brindles
- 39. Simbrah Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : A sheath score of 1 A Bos taurus head A Bos taurus ear A Bos taurus eye Mottled face Diluter color pattern around the eyes and muzzle Absolute Disqualification : A combination of a Bos taurus head, ear, eye and sheath Roans
- 40. Santa Gertrudis
- 41. Santa Gertrudis Acceptable Breed Characteristics : Appears to be at least 50% Santa Gertrudis Any color or color pattern Moderate crest, no definite hump Moderate dewlap development Moderate length of ear, slightly drooping and opens forward Sheath score 1-4 Not necessary to show predominant Bos indicus characteristics
- 42. Santa Gertrudis Discriminatory Breed Characteristics : Sheath score of 5 Excessive sloppiness and/or looseness of hide Absolute Disqualification : Absence of any visible Santa Gertrudis characteristics
- 43. Conclusion Keep in mind the above mentioned guidelines are just that, GUIDELINES. Classification is ultimately determined by the classifiers. Two or more “Discriminatory Breed Characteristics” can be means to classify a steer out of a particular breed.