As part of our Ethical Livestock Marketing Foundations for 2020, today we are addressing accuracy in birthdays for show ring purposes.
Earlier this week, I got a text from a friend who is a new breeder. They come from a non-ranching, non-show background and are learning everything from scratch.
They sent me a very basic text the other day, asking if show cattle had to be born in a certain time frame to show, or how did people get classified into the classes they are assigned.
It was such a basic question, and to me, the answer was second nature. You show in the class your calf was born in. It’s easy.
But, sadly, we all know, it’s not that easy. And it’s not that simple.
I saw another very good friend of mine, Sondra Brancel of Next Generation Herefords, posting on Facebook a question that someone asked her why her Denver sale heifer had a birthday of December 27. Her answer was: BECAUSE THAT IS THE DAY SHE WAS BORN.
Sure, it would have been a lot better for show purposes if that calf hd been born January 1. And some might say – oh, what is 5 more days going to matter.
It matters because what’s right is right. And what’s wrong is wrong.
It’s that simple.
Be accurate in your birthdays. Be honest in your dealings.