When evaluating a show calf, a key feature to evaluate is the front end. In showmanship this can be particularly important to consider. But how exactly do you tell if a calf has a good front? Let’s break it down.
Up fronted
Cattle that are clean and tall fronted are the eye-catchers of the show world. When judges talk about showiness, this is the primary attribute the steers will possess. Just as with the topline, you will step back when you view the animal. The steer should be free-standing with its head up or with legs set. You will be looking at the front one-third of your steer’s body.
From the profile, you want a high shoulder on your calf so from the tail to the shoulder the animal is driven slightly uphill. You never want your steer to drive downhill where the hip bones are higher than the top of the shoulder. Notice in the pictures below how the black steer on the left is taller and more attractive in the front and the tailhead is level or lower than his shoulder. Then notice that the red colored steer on the right is higher in the hip and lower in the shoulder.
A few more pieces
Now let’s talk about how far the calf’s brisket sticks out past the forearm. The less brisket your steer has, and cleaner fronted he is, the better. You want the point of shoulder to blend smoothly into the body without jutting out too much. The neck should be set back, high on top of the shoulder like you can see in the steer on the right instead of forward in front of the steer. The neck should be long and come straight out on the top of the shoulder comfortably.
There you have it, a few basics to picking a clean fronted, up fronted calf for your next show steer. Once you have your animals, you can take it to the next level, training and mastering showmanship. If you want some help mastering cattle showmanship and impressing the judges, you might want to check out my book Show Your Way To The Top at mastershowmanship.com/shop
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