By SUSAN MYKRANTZ
Ohio Correspondent

BELOIT, Ohio — Dairy show veterans have all heard it or said it; Watch the judge! Watch your animal! For a beginning showman, that is a lot to remember, in addition to controlling an animal that weighs four or five times as much as they do.

“In showmanship, there is a misconception that you need to know where the judge is at all times,” said Chris Lang.  “But you also need to know what your animal is doing; it is really a balance of both.”

Lang, himself a veteran of the show ring, was one of the presenters during the recent 2011 Ohio Dairy Palooza, hosted by Grammer Jersey Farm in Beloit. He reviewed the scorecard developed by the Purebred Dairy Cattle Assoc. for fitting and showmanship contests.

“Showmanship gives everyone the opportunity to excel,” he said. “But remember, the focus is on the animal, not the showman.”

Dairy showmen are required to wear white pants and a white shirt in the show ring, a belt and sturdy shoes. Lang said success in the ring starts in the spring.
“A lot happens before the show in training and fitting the animal for the show,” he said. “Start working with your animal as soon as possible. You need to know your animal’s strengths and weak points so you can show their strengths or correct their faults.”

Lang added the exhibitor should know other information about the animal, such as its sire and dam, date of birth, or when the animal calved, and what breed it is. He suggested exhibitors select an animal for showmanship they are comfortable handling.

“It should look as balanced as possible between the animal and the showman,” he said.

Lang said showing the animal in the ring accounts for more than half the points on the scorecard, so it is important to work with the animal prior to the show.
“You need to be courteous to other people in the ring,” he said. “Leave some space between you and the animal in front of you so the judge can get a clear view of your animal. Practice setting up the animal in front of a friend or relative.”

He said when the exhibitor stops their animal, they should make sure they don’t stretch the creature. The front feet should be set square, but not too close together. The rear feet are set differently depending on whether the exhibitor is showing a cow or a calf. When showing a calf, the rear leg away from the judge is up a step from the other leg, while on a cow, the rear leg closest to the judge is up a step covering the rear udder.

“Your animal needs to be broke to lead,” Lang said. “You need to work with your animal in different environments, so the animal is aware of other people and sounds.”

He added that exhibitors should use a leather show halter instead of a rope halter in the show ring. The leather halter gives the showman more control over the animal’s movements. The halter should be properly adjusted so the nosepiece is across the middle bridge on the nose.

“Have a halter that fits the animal,” he said. “If you don’t, they are going to fight it. You want to be able to move the animal with the halter. I don’t like to see showmen use their feet to move the feet on their animal.”

Exhibitors should lead their animals at a slow, steady pace in the ring, with the animal’s head carriage as natural as possible, but it also needs to be comfortable. If the cow is in heat on show day, exhibitors have two options; either use a backup animal or use caution and remain calm in the show ring.
“Safety is an issue,” he said. “If your animal is in heat, you need to keep an adequate distance between you and the animal in front of you.”

Lang suggested showmen have a strategy when they are in the ring. “Maintain an adequate distance between you and the animal in front of you when you are lined up head to tail,” he said. “When the judge motions you to pull into line, pull in as quickly as possible so another showman doesn’t sneak in ahead of you. When you are in line, leave some room between you and the animal next to you.”