Beef

DEPARTMENT G - DIVISIONS 10-28, 49 & 50 - BEEF CATTLE DIVISION

 

A. GENERAL BEEF SHOW RULES - See General Rules and General Livestock Rules and Regulations.

B. NUMBER OF ENTRIES PER INDIVIDUAL - An exhibitor may show a maximum of 4 market beef animals, 4 breeding beef, 2 feeder calves, 1 bucket calf plus one, and 1 bucket calf. The cow-calf entry will count as one event in the breeding beef class. The calf will be counted as a separate entry only if it is entered as a feeder calf. Showmanship and Group of Three classes do not count as an entry.

C. All Purebred (registered) animals must have a copy of their breed Registration Paper submitted to the Extension Office by June 15th in order to exhibit in a purebred class.

D. GROOMING OF ANIMALS: The entire Nemaha County 4-H Beef Show will be Blow and Go; animals are clipped, blown, and brushed or combed to enhance their appearance. All animals will be shown free of any adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products. All beef will be subject to visual inspection and/or toweling for the presence of these products.

E. IDENTIFICATION - 

  • Market Beef - Market beef competing in rate of gain must be weighed on weigh-in day and tagged with the official 4-H ear tag for county fair or EID tag for state fair. Weigh-In is not required unless you want to participate in the rate of gain contest. (Registered steers must be owned by the exhibitor, be identified by a legible ear tattoo, recorded on ownership affidavit by June 15. See State Fair Book for more breed specific ID rules for SF.) All identification of market beef must be documented on an Identification/Ownership Affidavit and submitted to the Extension Office. (4-Hers and parents must sign the DNA envelopes before they are sent to Aksarben.) Heifers may be nominated as both market and breeding but must pick one or the other during entry.
  • Breeding Beef – All registered breeding heifers must have a tattoo. Commercial heifers must have a tattoo or official 4-H ear tag for county fair or EID tag for state fair. (Any heifer not having a legible tattoo or that shows evidence of a fresh or recent tattoo, will be moved to the commercial breeding class if they have an eartag. A calf-hood vaccination tattoo is not considered an official identification tattoo. The registration paper must show the exhibitor’s name or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor’s family and is listed with the online nomination in the official online database. Family farm or ranch names will not be accepted. Only breeding heifers recognized as registered and eligible to show by their respective state Breed Associations will be allowed to compete in the breed classes.
  • Commercial breeding heifers must have a known birth date.) All heifers must be identified on an Identification/Ownership Affidavit submitted to the Extension Office by June 15th. At county level heifers can be entered in both market or breeding beef, but at check in they must pick which class; they cannot show in both classes.

STATE FAIR & AKSARBEN REQUIREMENTS - Any market beef, breeding beef and feeder calves eligible to be exhibited at State Fair and/or Aksarben must have DNA collected and tagged with an official USDA EID tag. Animal nomination and payment must be submitted online via Show Stock Manager livestock database by June 15th. Contact the Extension office for instructions.

  • Bucket Calf/Bucket Calf Plus One/Feeder Calf - All bucket, bucket plus one, and feeder calves must be tagged with an official 4-H ear tag and identification documented on an Identification/Ownership Affidavit submitted to the Extension Office on June 15.

F. PRE-ENTRY - All beef exhibits, including showmanship, to be eligible to show at the county fair must be pre-entered on a GREEN Entry Sheet (available at the Extension Office or online) OR entered online at https://nemaha.fairwire.com. Entries are due by June 15th.

G. BUCKET CALF/BUCKET CALF PLUS ONE RULES

  1. See General Rules and General Livestock Rules and Regulations.
  2. A bucket calf is an orphan beef calf (male or female), bottle-fed or bucket-fed, born between January 1st and May 31st of the current year.
  3. A bucket calf plus one animal is an animal that was shown as a 4-H bucket calf by the exhibitor the previous year at the Nemaha County Fair.
  4. Bucket calf plus one animals need to be weighed at pre-fair weigh-in if they are participating in the rate of gain competition.
  5. A Division Champion and Reserve Champion bucket calf will be selected. A Division Champion for bucket calf plus one calf will be selected.
  6. A copy of the breed registration papers must be on file at the Extension Office by June 15 for registered animals.

H. FEEDER CALF RULES

  1. See General Rules and General Livestock Rules and Regulations.
  2. Feeder calves are any calf currently nursing on the mother or weaned and on feed to fatten. Unweaned calves may be brought to the fairgrounds and taken home on the day of the show if not accompanied by its mother. Calves are born between August 1 of the previous year and May 31 of the current year.
  3. A Division Champion and Reserve Champion calf will be selected.
  4. A copy of the official breed registration papers must be on file at the Extension Office by June 15 for registered animals.

I. BREEDING BEEF RULES

  1. See General Rules and General Livestock Rules and Regulations.
  2. Any heifer required to have a legible tattoo that does not, or that shows evidence of a fresh or recent tattoo will be disqualified from the show.
  3. COMMERCIAL LIVESTOCK - Commercial breeding heifers must be identified with a legible ear tattoo OR an EID tag and be recorded on an Identification/Ownership Affidavit form by June 15 of the current year.
  4. COW-CALF – Cow-calf pairs, calves may be brought to the fairgrounds and taken home on the day of the show.
  5. REGISTRATION OF LIVESTOCK –To be eligible to show in a registered class a breeding animal must be owned by the exhibitor and be recorded on an Identification/Owernship Affidavit by June 15 of the current year and be identified with a legible ear tattoo that corresponds with the registration papers. A copy of the official breed registration papers must be on file at the Extension Office by June 15. Breeding heifers must be recognized as registered and eligible to show by their respective breed associations to show in the registered classes.
  • Angus Heifers- Must be registered in the American Angus Association.
  • Charolais Heifers- Must have an American-International Charolais Association (AICA) registration certificate and must be 100%   purebred Charolais.
  • Composite Charolais Heifers- These heifers must have an AICA Charolais-Cross Record and must be at least ½ blood or more     Charolais influence, i.e. be sired by a registered purebred Charolais bull or be out of a registered purebred Charolais female.
  • Chianina Heifers- Must be registered in the American Chianina Association. Includes Chiangus, Chianina, Chiford, or Chimaine.
  • Gelbvieh Heifers- Must be registered in the American Gelbvieh Association.
  • Balancer Heifers- Must be registered with the American Gelbvieh Association and be 25-70% Gelbvieh and 30-75% Red Angus or Angus.
  • Hereford and Polled Hereford Heifers- Must be registered with the American Hereford Association. Miniature Hereford heifers are not acceptable and should enter in the AOB division.
  • Limousin Heifers- Must be registered with the North American Limousin Foundation.
  • LimFlex Heifers- Must be registered with the North American Limousin Foundation and must be 25-75% Limousin and 25-75% Red Angus or Angus.
  • Maine Anjou Heifers- Must be registered with the American Maine-Anjou Association and must be ¾ blood and above. Chimaine are not accepted.
  • Mainetainer Heifers- Must be registered with the American Maine-Anjou Association and be 1/4 to 5/8 blood Maine-Anjou.
  • Red Angus Heifers- Must be registered with the Red Angus Association of America.
  • Shorthorn Heifers – Must be registered with the American Shorthorn Association and must be 15/16 registered purebreds.
  • Shorthorn Plus Heifers- Must be registered with the American Shorthorn Association and must be 1/4 blood and up to and including 7/8 blood Shorthorn.
  • Simmental Heifers- Must be registered with the American Simmental Association and must be 75.1% or higher.
  • Foundation Simmental Heifers- Must be registered with the American Simmental Association and must be 50-75% Simmental.
  • All Other Breeds (AOB) Heifers- The AOB division may include registered heifers for which a separate division is not listed, but which meet their state breed associations’ criteria for exhibition, or registered heifers with registration papers not meeting the state’s breed association requirements listed above. Heifers entered in the AOB class must have appropriate registration papers.
  1. Crossbred and grade breeding heifers will be shown in the commercial heifer class and registered heifers will be shown in the registered heifer classes.
  2. A champion and reserve champion of each registered breed and a champion and reserve champion commercial breeding heifer will be selected. A Supreme Champion will be selected from these division champions. First and second purple places from each division will be eligible to compete. Aged cows, cow/calf pairs and the stocker feeder female champions are not eligible in this selection.
  3. Each breed of purebred heifers will show separately regardless of number of entries within their breed. Classes will be established for any breed when those heifers meet the registration requirements of their respective breed associations.
  4. Classes of the same breed with less than 5 entries may be combined into groups of at least 5 head at the
    discretion of the superintendent.
  5. Breeding females will be shown from youngest to oldest for the complete breed. Breeds will be shown in alphabetical order beginning with Angus.

J. MARKET BEEF RULES

  1. See General Rules and General Livestock Rules and Regulations.
  2. Market Heifers are not to be bred. Market Heifers may be subject to pregnancy checks at an announced time prior to the Beef Show. Any heifer found to be bred will not be eligible to show in market classes.
  3. All market beef are required to be born on or after September 30, 2022.
  4. WEIGHT REQUIREMENT
    a. Market Steers weighing under 1000 lbs. will show in an underweight class and are not eligible for premium sale.
    b. Market Heifers weighing under 900 lbs. will show in an underweight class and are not eligible for premium sale.
    (State Fair Weight Requirements are the same as above.)
  5. SELECTION OF GRAND AND RESERVE CHAMPIONS - A grand and reserve champion will be selected from the market heifer division, British breed steer division and crossbred steer division. The British breed division will be subdivided into Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn steer classes. First and second purple / blue places from each class will compete for champion and reserve champion of the division. An over-all grand champion and reserve champion market animal will be selected from the division champions.
  6. REGISTRATION OF MARKET LIVESTOCK - To be eligible to show in the registered steer or heifer class the market animal must be owned by the exhibitor, be identified by a legible ear tattoo, recorded on ownership affidavit/Identification form by June 15 of the current year and be registered by the official breed association. A copy of the official breed registration papers must be on file at the Extension Office by June 15. Any breed steer or heifer not having a legible tattoo, or shows evidence of a fresh or recent tattoo, will not be allowed to show in the registered classes, but may be allowed to show in the crossbred classes.
  7. BORN & RAISED CLASS - A class for market animals where the animals must have been born, raised, and fed with-in the operation of a 4-H’ers immediate family (family, grandparent, sibling, uncle, or aunt) in Nemaha County or in the county which the 4-H’er lives. Champion & Reserve Champ Born & Raised will be awarded and be able to come back for Grand Market Champion. The animals must be ID’ d by the deadline day for the Born & Raised class.
  8. Classes with less than 5 entries may be combined into groups of at least 5 head at the discretion of the superintendent.

K. RATE OF GAIN CONTEST RULES

  1. Premiums will be paid on only the first five places in each class.
  2. Only market beef animals that went through Weigh-in day are eligible. Bucket Calf Plus Ones are eligible if they went through weigh in day.
  3. The average daily gain will be determined by calculating weight gained between weigh-in and county fair weigh-in divided by number of days between the two.
  4. Final Rate of Gain results will be given out at the end of the Beef Show.

 

DEPARTMENT G - DIVISION 49 - BUCKET CALF PROJECT
Division 49           Classes 910 - 930               Pay Category F

GENERAL BUCKET CALF RULES
A. See General Rules and General Livestock Rules and Regulations.

B. NUMBER OF ENTRIES PER EXHIBITOR - An exhibitor may show only one bucket calf. Calves shown in the bucket calf class will not be allowed to show in any other classes during the current fair. The show will be divided based on the 4-Hers age on January 1st of the current year.

C. RECORD BOOKS - Bucket Calf Record Books must be given to the Bucket Calf superintendent or an Extension staff member at check-in. The judge will evaluate completed records before the show begins.

D. SCORECARD - (Dairy and beef quality of the calf will not be considered.)
Evaluation of the completed record................................................ 35%
Evaluation of members’ knowledge by interview........................35%
General health & well-being ...............................................................15%
Showmanship & fitting……………..........................................................15%

E. A show stick is not to be used in the bucket calf show.

 

 

DEPARTMENT G - DIVISION 49 - BUCKET CALF SHOW
Division 49            Classes 910-930            Pay Category F

CLASS 910 Bucket Calf - Senior Division (14 -18 years of age)
CLASS 920 Bucket Calf - Intermediate Division (11 - 13 years of age)
CLASS 930 Bucket Calf - Junior Division (8 - 10 years of age)

 

 

DEPARTMENT G - DIVISION 10 - BEEF SHOWMANSHIP
Division 10            Classes 910 - 930            Pay Category J

CLASS 910 Senior Division - 14-18 years of age
CLASS 920 Intermediate Division - 11-13 years of age
CLASS 930 Junior Division - 8-10 years of age

 

 

DEPARTMENT G - DIVISION 50 – FEEDER CALVES
Division 50           Classes 901-927      Pay Category F

BRITISH BREEDS
CLASS 901 Bull Calf (Aug-Dec 31 previous year)
CLASS 902 Steer Calf (Aug-Dec 31 previous year)
CLASS 903 Heifer Calf (Aug-Dec 31 previous year)
CLASS 904 Bull Calf (Jan-Mar 15 current year)
CLASS 905 Steer Calf (Jan-Mar 15 current year)
CLASS 906 Heifer Calf (Jan-Mar 15 current year)
CLASS 907 Bull Calf (Mar 16-May 31 current year)
CLASS 908 Steer Calf (Mar 16-May 31 current year)
CLASS 909 Heifer Calf (Mar 16-May 31 current year)

 

CROSSBREDS
CLASS 910 Bull Calf (Aug-Dec 31 previous year)
CLASS 911 Steer Calf (Aug-Dec 31 previous year)
CLASS 912 Heifer Calf (Aug-Dec 31 previous year)
CLASS 913 Bull Calf (Jan-Mar 15 current year)
CLASS 914 Steer Calf (Jan-Mar 15 current year)
CLASS 915 Heifer Calf (Jan-Mar 15 current year)
CLASS 916 Bull Calf (Mar 16-May 31 current year)
CLASS 917 Steer Calf (Mar 16-May 31 current year)
CLASS 918 Heifer Calf (Mar 16-May 31 current year)

 

NON-BRITISH PUREBREDS
CLASS 919 Bull Calf (Aug-Dec 31 previous year)
CLASS 920 Steer Calf (Aug-Dec 31 previous year)
CLASS 921 Heifer Calf (Aug-Dec 31 previous year)
CLASS 922 Bull Calf (Jan-Mar 15 current year)
CLASS 923 Steer Calf (Jan-Mar 15 current year)
CLASS 924 Heifer Calf (Jan-Mar 15 current year)
CLASS 925 Bull Calf (Mar 16-May 31 current year)
CLASS 926 Steer Calf (Mar 16-May 31 current year)
CLASS 927 Heifer Calf (Mar 16-May 31 current year)

 

DEPARTMENT G - DIVISIONS 12-14, 16-23, 26-27 - BEEF BREEDING HEIFERS
Divisions 12-14, 16-23, 26-27           Classes 904 - 990                    Pay Category E

DIVISION 12 Angus Heifers
DIVISION 13 Charolais Heifers
DIVISION 14 Chianina Heifers
DIVISION 16 Gelbvieh Heifers
DIVISION 17 Hereford & Polled Hereford Heifers
DIVISION 18 Limousin Heifers
DIVISION 19 Maine Anjou Heifers
DIVISION 20 Red Angus Heifers
DIVISION 21 Shorthorn Heifers
DIVISION 22 Simmental Heifers
DIVISION 23 All Other Breeds (AOB)
DIVISION 26 Commercial Heifers
DIVISION 27 Bucket Calf Plus One Heifers

 

BREEDING HEIFER CLASSES

CLASS 904 Senior Yearling Heifers - Calved August through December 2022 (should be bred but not calved prior to show)
CLASS 909 Bucket Calf Plus One Breeding Heifers
CLASS 910 Junior Yearling Heifers - Calved January and February 2023
CLASS 920 Spring Yearling Heifers - Calved March and April 2023
CLASS 930 Summer or Intermediate Summer or Intermediate Yearling Heifers - Calved May and June 2023
CLASS 940 Summer or Intermediate Summer or Intermediate Yearling Heifers - Calved July and August 2023
CLASS 950 Fall Heifer Calves - Calved September and October 2023
CLASS 960 Fall Heifer Calves - Calved November and December 2023
CLASS 970 Junior Breeding Heifer – Calved January-April 2024

 

COW-CALF & AGED COW CLASSES
CLASS 980 Cow-Calf
CLASS 990 Aged Cow, Born on or before July 1, two years ago

 

DEPARTMENT G - DIVISION 11 - MARKET BEEF
Division 11    Classes 910 – 1120 (1130 Club Premium)        Pay Category E

CLASS 910 Market Heifers
CLASS 920 Bucket Calf Plus One Market Heifers
CLASS 930 Born & Raised Market Heifers
CLASS 940 Angus Market Steer
CLASS 950 Charolais Market Steer
CLASS 960 Chianina Market Steer
CLASS 970 Gelbvieh Market Steer
CLASS 980 Hereford & Polled Hereford Market Steer
CLASS 990 Limousin Market Steer
CLASS 1010 LimFlex Market Steer
CLASS 1020 Maine-Anjou market Steer
CLASS 1030 Maintainer Market Steer
CLASS 1040 Piedmontese Market Steer
CLASS 1050 Red Angus Market Steer
CLASS 1060 Shorthorn Market Steer
CLASS 1070 Simmental Market Steer
CLASS 1080 All Other Breeds (AOB)
CLASS 1090 Crossbred Market Steers
CLASS 1110 Bucket Calf Plus One Market Steers
CLASS 1120 Born & Raised Market Steers
CLASS 1130 Club Group of Market Beef - (Group of 3 steers or/and 3 market heifers with ownership by more than 1
exhibitor)

 

DEPARTMENT G - DIVISION 28 - RATE OF GAIN
Division 28        Classes 901 - 902        Pay Category E

CLASS 901 Steers
CLASS 902 Heifers

2026-2027 Nemaha County Fair Book