Judging Requirements:
Any reputable person who is in good standing with IAMCC may apply for approval to judge the Show. If a judge is not familiar with these breeds and activities, it is expected that he or she will have available printed or electronic reference material at hand for reference. Judges are expected to be impartial, and to have a genuine interest in real and model cattle.
Judging Criteria for Cattle Conformation Classes
in order the of importance:
1) Correct structural anatomy / conformation – The model should depict a viable bovine, with appropriate skeletal structure, a properly muscled body, and sound legs and feet.
2) Breed type – The model should conform to the breed standard in coat color, expression, eye, ear, head and body shape, etc.
3) Realism – The model should look as much like a real bovine as possible.
4) Presentation – The lighting, cropping, and angle of the photo should compliment the model. Props such as a show lead, grass, and ring ropes may enhance presentation if properly done and in scale.
5) Photographic quality – Pictures should be clear and sharp, with good color.
Judging criteria for Performance Classes
in order of importance:
1) Correct, qualifying performance - according to the rules and regulations of the stated event
2) Realistic footing, background, and in-scale equipment
3) Realistic bovine – in believable position for the performance
4) Presentation - Bovine and props in the proper position for the class
5) Photo quality
Breed Source Refernce:
Diary Breeds:
Abigar
Agerolese
Alderney
Angeln
Aulie-Ata
Australian Friesian Sahiwal
Australian Milking Zebu
Ayrshire
Belgian Red Cattle
Blaarkop
Black Pied Dairy Cattle
Brown Swiss
Butana (or Kenana)
Chinese black pied
Danish Red Cattle
Dutch Belted (Lakenvelder)
Évolène Cattle
Friesian (Holstein)
German Black Pied Cattle
Guernsey
Jersey
Kerry cattle
Lineback
Milking Shorthorn
Murnau-Werdenfels Cattle
Red Sindhi cattle
Sahiwal
Swedish Red Cattle
Beef Cattle:
Aberdeen Angus
Africangus
Afrikaner
Amerifax
Angus
Aubrac Cattle
Australian Braford
Australian Brangus
Australian Charbray
Australian Lowline
Beef Shorthorn
Beefalo
Beefmaster
Belgian Blue
Belted Galloway
Blonde d'Aquitaine
Boran
Braford
Brahman
Brangus
BueLingo
Canchim
Charolais
Chianina
Devon ruby red cattle
Galloway
German Angus Cattle
Glan Cattle
Hereford
Highland Cattle
Hungarian Grey Cattle
Indo-Brazilian
Limousin
Longhorn
Luing
Maine-Anjou cattle
Mini Herdford
Murray Grey
Nelore
Original Braunvieh
Polled Hereford
Pustertal Pied Cattle
Red Angus
Santa Gertrudis
Senepol
South Devon
Symons Type
Texas Longhorn
Tswana
Tuli
Tulim
Wagyu
Wangus
White Park
Draught and or Wild Cattle:
Aosta
Sayaguesa
Zebus
Abyssinian Highland Zebu
Abyssinian Shorthorned Zebu
Aleutian wild cattle
Chillingham Cattle
Enderby Island Cattle
Hybrids - Batangas: cattle/zebu hybrid
Judging and Detailed Traits
Bulls, Cows and Calves are judged for Breeding Classes Prospect. Steers are judged for Market Class.
Topline
The topline trait refers to the back of your cattle. It is a measure of how wide, and expressive the topline is which is where most of the high priced cuts of meat are. For topline, higher is better and it is highly important in the judging of your market steers and somewhat less important for breeding cattle.
Hindquarter
The hindquarter rating applies to the amount of muscle in the hindquarter (rear end) of your cattle. It includes how low the muscle carries down the leg and how long the rump is. For this trait, higher is better and it is highly important to the judging of your market steers and somewhat less important for breeding cattle.
Stifle
The stifle trait refers to the stifle muscle between the hindquarter and middle of your cattle. Higher is better and relative to the other traits is slightly less important.
Frame Size
Frame size refers to the height and overall frame size of your cattle. Depending on the judge anywhere from 7 to 8 is ideal and both higher and lower frame sizes are less desirable. This trait is very important in breeding stock and slightly less important in your market steers.
Bone Size
This refers to the size of your animals bones. Higher is better and it has a relatively low impact on the judging compared to other traits. The more bone the better for cattle. This is more important in breeding stock than market classes
Capacity
Capacity is the depth of rib and size of the barrel of your cattle. It is of medium importance but much more important in your breeding cattle than your market steers.
Shoulders and Front Legs
The slope of the shoulders and overall structure of the front end. This trait is more important in females than your steers or bulls.
Hind Legs
The structure of the hind legs. This trait is more important in females than your steers or bulls.
Neck Extension
The extension of the neck. A moderately important trait. Neck extension is a trait where higher is better.
Over Ribs
Fat over the ribs. This trait should be around 7.0 for your finished market steers. This trait is extremely important in market steer classes. Steers that aren't finished should not do well in classes with finished steers.
Tail Head
Fat around the tail head. A little fat around the tail head will occur but you should try to keep it low. You can tell your cattle are getting too fat when this starts to rise.
Brisket
Fat in the brisket area (between the shoulder blades). This should be as low as possible and will rise as you start putting fat on a steer.
Eye Appeal
A combination of all structure traits other than frame size.
Condition
This is a combination of the fat traits of your cattle.
Muscling
Both the topline and hindquarter muscling are extremely important in your cattle. This is much more important in the steer classes than the breeding classes.
Color
Color does have a small impact. Black cattle are typically given a very small preference to other colors. Spotted cattle also tend to be at a small disadvantage. Spots on breeds like Simmental and Maine Anjou also have a larger impact on the breeding classes for those breeds.
Links to Breeds and Photos
Wikipedia Cattle Breeds and Photos
Oklahoma University Cattle Breeds and Photos
Cattle.Com Cattle Breeds and Photos
Texas Longhorn Riders Information and Photos
Gender Classes Limitations:
Bull - complete male over 10 mos
Steer - castrated male over 10 mos
Cow - female over age of two having freshen
Heifer - female over 10 months old that has not been bred
For IAMCC until classes get larger Cows and Heifers over the age of 10 months will show together.
Calf - male or female under 9 mos old
Performance classes:
Photos may contain horses, props, people, but the camera lens should have the main emphasics on the bovine.
Other Performance can be Team Penning, Camp Drafting, Steer Wrestling, etc.
Bucking Class the Bull or Steer should have a least two feet off the ground in a rearing or kicking postion. Judge should look for the degree of difficulty to ride as bull or steer should appear to be kicking or rearing in a twisting, spinning position. Bull or Steer will not have all four feet on the ground. Look for strong, vigorous motion.
Bull Riding - Tack required, rider optional. Tack consists of a bull flank rope and a rider girth rope. Bell or Tassle is optional.
Breeder's Classes
Herd: One group in one photo.
Family: one bull, one cow, and calf or calves
Sire and Offspring- with unlimited offspring in one photo.
Cow and Offspring - with unlimited offspring in one photo.
Champion Titles:
Champion. 250 points CH placed in front of bovine's name.
Superior Champion. 500 points SP CH placed in front of bovine's name.
Premier Champion. 1000 points PR CH placed in front of bovine's name.
Supreme Champion. 2000 points SUP CH placed in front of bovine's name.
Since this program does not automatically add the title to the bovine's name
the entrant will have to add the Prefix title to the bovine's name themselves.
