Beef

(State Fair Entry)

For judging / check-in information, see schedule in the Fair Book.

Manuals available:

Level 1 – Grades 3 - 5

Level 2 – Grades 6 – 8

Level 3 – Grades 9 – 12

** Fair Entry – You MUST register your 4-H project in Fair Entry if you plan to exhibit at the 4-H Fair. See page 21 in the fair book! **

Animal Health Requirements for Exhibition of Domestic Animals in Indiana can be found on page 33 of Fair book.

COUNTY REQUIREMENTS

Show order: Heifers, Steers, Feeder Calf, Cow/Calf, Champion Shows, and Showmanship. Show order is subject to change and will be established when the show order is created.

All livestock exhibitors MUST complete the animal I.D. portion of 4HOnline. This takes the place of the carbon enrollment forms. Registered heifers must be done no later than May 15, steers and heifers by April 1. This DOES NOT enter you for the Indiana State Fair. See #3 below!

1. All beef cattle (beef steers, commercial (non-registered) beef heifers, and dairy steers) must be identified on date set for beef weigh-in (usually in February). Any beef member wishing to participate in the Rate-of-Gain competition must have animal weighed on beef weigh-in.
2. No steers or commercial beef heifers may be enrolled after the beef weigh-in.
3. The state deadline to enroll all beef and dairy steers, commercial (non-registered) beef heifers in the Indiana 4-H Online Animal ID System (4HOnline) is April 1. Registered heifers may be enrolled any time between April 1 and May 15 if the registration number of the dam or heifer is available. Commercial heifers and register heifers enrollment deadline is May 15.
4. See State Fair Animal Entry Registration page 40.
5. Registered Beef Heifers and Dairy Feeder Steers, must be enrolled by May 15 in 4HOnline.
6. REQUIRED 840-RFID TAG in 4HONLINE– This field is now a required field for beef cattle and dairy cattle! All beef cattle are required to have an RFID tag for the county fair, so enter the RFID tag for your calf in this field. Must enter 840-RFID tag for state fair eligibility.
7. A 4-H member may enroll and show a maximum of 6 beef steers, 6 dairy steers, and 10 heifers.
8. The animal identification portion of the worksheet will be completed at the weigh-in. Heifers and steers may be put on the same worksheet. The 4-H member will be enrolling their livestock information online at the county level. A copy of the worksheet will be completed during weigh-in. This worksheet will be used to enroll your animal in 4HOnline. A 4HOnline step-by-step guide and worksheet are mailed to all youth enrolled in this project.
9. The table of correct Animal ID’s and respective deadlines can be found in this book under Required Animal ID Per Species. The online animal ID website is located at http://in.4honline.com. Any of the IDs that are missing, incomplete or incorrect will result in state fair ineligibility.
10. All beef entries; Beef Steers, Dairy Steers, Registered heifers, Commercial heifers, Dairy Feeder Steers, Beef Feeder Calves, and both members of the cow/calf pair are required to have 840-RFID tags to be eligible for exhibition at the County 4-H Fair.
11. All pen assignment forms will be mailed in June!
12. You MUST register your 4-H project in Fair Entry if you plan to exhibit at the 4-H Fair. See page 21.
13. For Indiana State Fair eligibility: All beef and dairy steers – must have an 840-RFID tag and county tag and DNA hair sample turned in by April 1. Commercial heifers – must have an 840-RFID tag and 5-digit county tag and DNA hair sample turned in by May 15. Registered heifers must have an 840-RFID tag and tattoo and DNA hair sample turned in by May 15. Dairy feeder steers DNA hair samples by May 15. DNA hair samples will be collected by the 4-H member and turned into the Extension Office.
14. As of 2017, there will be no tags put in animals at the State Fair! Beef must have an 840-RFID in their ear when they arrive at the state fairgrounds.
15. Steers and commercial heifers must have an official county ear tag and RFID Tag.
16. Only breeds recognized in the State 4-H Fair will be recognized at the County Fair. All others will be shown commercial.
17. Beef Steers must have a minimum weight of 800 pounds and no maximum weight limit to compete for Grand Champion and sell in the Auction.
18. Registered steer breeds will need registration certificates for the Delaware County Fair or show crossbred.
19. Please Note: Heifers enrolled as registered heifers must have valid registration papers to show in the registered heifer classes. If the registration papers are not correct, the heifer will show in an exhibition class. Registered heifers will be allowed to show in the commercial class if the registration paper is correct or if the heifer has an RFID tag and it is listed on the enrollment form. Check the ear tattoo with the registration papers to make sure they are correct. Check ownership and registration requirements for acceptable registrations.
20. Dairy steers will be a separate class in the beef show, and the champion dairy steer may show for Grand Champion Steer.
21. All registered steers in a state-recognized breed shown at the county fair will be required to have registration certificates.
22. Dairy steers must be 100% dairy blood.
23. No false hair or false tail switches will be allowed. Animals are subject to check by the adult 4-H leaders.
24. All animals must be substantially tied in stalls with neck rope and halter.
25. Black mortar, black graphite, or other similar coloring agent may not be used on beef animals. Animals are subject to check by the adult 4-H leaders.
26. Generators must be outside and on the south end of the building due to their noise.
27. No cart fans, 2 overhead fans/3 head per family.
28. There will be no tie-outs for beef animals.
29. Any scurs longer than 2” must be removed prior to coming to the fair.
30. Any items not specifically outlined in this book will default to state fair 4-H rules.
31. Heifers will be released on Sunday evening between 7 and 10 p.m. Heifers MUST be loaded out on the South end of the barn. Any heifers not removed by 10 p.m. must remain for the duration of the fair.
32. A “Top 5” will be picked in both the heifer and steer show. Reserve breed champions will be eligible to pull into the ring and compete for top 5 once the champion from their breed has been selected as one of the top 5 in the show.

Feeder calf

1. You MUST be enrolled in the Beef Project and your Dairy Feeder Steers must have RFID tag, county tag (State Fair animals only), and be enrolled in 4HOnline by May 15 if going to State Fair. All other Dairy Feeder Steers and Beef Feeder Calves must be ear-tagged and identified and entered in Fair Entry by June 15. See page 21 of Fair book. Contact your Beef Project Leaders to arrange for tagging by June 8.
2. County only beef and dairy feeders will only need an RFID tag.
3. Male calves must be steers by fair time.
4. Calves may be dairy steers, beef steers or beef heifers.
5. Calves may be bucket calves or be nursing the cow.
6. Calves may be brought to the fair on the day of the exhibit and taken home after exhibiting.
7. The calf must be born on or after January 1 of the current year.

Cow-calf

1. You MUST be entered in the Beef Project by May 15 and cow and calf must be ear-tagged and identified in Fair Entry by June 15. See page 21 of Fair book. Contact your Beef Project Leaders to schedule tagging by June 8.
2. The cow and calf will both be shown on lead.
3. The calf is eligible to show in the feeder calf class.
4. The calf must be the genetic offspring (not embryo transfer) of the dam. The calf must be at least 50% beef breeding.

CLASSES:

Use the following class breakdowns when entering animals into 4HOnline to ensure they are entered properly for the State Fair. Some classes may be combined at the County Fair but Divisions will remain intact.

4-H FEEDER CALF CLASS SECTIONS

Dairy Feeder Calf

Beef Feeder Heifer

Beef Feeder Steer

4-H BEEF HEIFER CLASS SECTIONS

ALL BREEDS (except Crossbred) will be shown by breed divided at Fair time.

Junior Calf Division

   Heifers, Junior Calf, January 1-April 1, current year.

Senior Calf Division

   Heifers, Senior Calf, September 1 – December 31, previous year

Summer Yearling Heifer Division

   Heifers, Summer Yearling Heifer II, July 1-August 31, previous year

   Heifers, Summer Yearling Heifer I, May 1 – June 30, previous year

Junior Yearling Heifer Division

   Heifers, Junior Yearling Heifer II, March 1 – April 30, previous year

   Heifers, Junior Yearling Heifer I, January 1 – February 28, previous year

Senior Yearling Division

   Heifers, Senior Yearling, September 1 –December 31, two years previous

Commercial Crossbred Heifers (shown by weight)

Champion and Reserve Champion Female, (Section 2-9)

Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Female overall breeds

4-H BEEF MARKET STEER SECTIONS

All Steers must have been born on or after January 1 of previous year. ALL BREEDS will be shown by weight and by breed divided at Fair time.

4-H BEEF RATE-OF-GAIN

Steers will be recognized by calculating rate-of-gain to determine official winner.

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