Beef Cattle Discovery - Judging - Crossbred Market Steers 3
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- Official Placing = 2-4-3-1
- Cuts = 2-4-6
2-4-3-1 is my placing on this class of market steers. I found the class to break into an close top pair a logical third and an easy bottom. Ideally my class winner could have been wider based and longer fronted, nonetheless, in a close placing I preferred 2 over 4 in my initial pair as the black steer was simply the most complete and proportionally balanced in the class. 2 was a nicer balanced, straighter lined steer that was more nearly level over his rump and stood straighter and truer on his rear legs. Additionally he was a leaner made, trimmer designed steer that was more uniform in his cover. These advantages should allow him to rail the carcass with the lower numerical yield grade requiring less trim of excess fat. I fully admit that 4 was thicker through his quarter and should have the highest probability of grading choice. However, this doesn't offset the fact that the Gelbvieh appearing steer was poorly balanced, heavy fronted and was the most labored and awkward in his stance when viewed from the rear.
In reference to my intermediate pair, I easily placed 4 over 3 as 4 was simply a pounds heavier, stouter made, more massive steer. He was thicker down his top, squarer over his rump and more overpowering through his quarter. Additionally, he was a wider based, deeper flanked, bolder sprung steer that was more uniform in his finish. When taken to the rail he should hang a carcass with more total pounds of high priced consumer preferred cuts. I realize that 3 was more correct on his rear legs, however, I criticized him and left him third as he was flat quartered, weak topped and was patchy in his finish.
Nonetheless, I still preferred 3 over 1 in my concluding pair as 3 was simply a heavier finished steer that appeared mellower in the cover down his top and over his ribs. 3 was also a deeper bodied, looser flanked, sounder structured steer that had more angulation to his shoulder and set to his hocks. Additionally he was a more moderate framed, industry acceptable steer that should rail a higher quality carcass with a more acceptable carcass weight. I concede that the red steer ws pounds heavier and freer of patchiness down his top and over his rump and pins. However, I criticized 1 and left him last as he was an underfinished, tight flanked, structurally unsound steer that was straight shouldered and post-legged. When taken to the rail he should hang the least packer acceptable carcass with the heaviest carcass weight and the lowest probability of grazing choice in this class today.
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