1. Dairy feeder steer calves (no heifers) must be born and tagged between December 1st and March 1st of the current project year. Members can tag and show two animals. Animals cannot be replaced after tagging deadline.
2. Project animal must be tagged by the 4H Leader or FFA Advisor. Animal must have official Bedford County Fair RFID tag. Fair Tags and project enrollment form will be available at the Extension Office. Project enrollment form must be returned to the Extension Office by March 15th. No late submissions will be accepted. $5 will be collected per tagged animal and returned with the project enrollment form. Checks made payable to “Bedford County Dairy Committee.”
3. Project animal can be any breed of dairy, (Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, or Red & White) but MUST be pure bred dairy blood. No crossbreeding of dairy breeds or beef parentage.
4. All calves should be dehorned in time to be healed by the show. Calves should be castrated by May 1. Calves must be either cut or banded – Crimping will not be allowed. Dairy beef must be completely free of testicular development and healed at the show.
5. Calves should weigh a minimum of 350 lbs. and on a grain fed diet by the Fair in order to show – Calves will be divided in three classes by weight following weigh-in: Light, Medium, and Heavy.
6. Dairy Feeders will be weighed after the Market Steers on Sunday after the Beef weigh-in, at approximately 2:30 pm. Feeders will be shown on Tuesday afternoon, following the Breeding Beef Show. Showmanship will occur following the Dairy steer show.
7. Members must declare at the scale whether to sell or take their project animal home (Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion will be sold at the sale). All others will not be sold through the livestock sale. The dairy beef committee will seek a predetermined bid for all feeders to be sold. Rope halters must be left with your steers for loading after the fair.
8. Members are responsible for their 4H Project Books or proof that the steer is entered in the FFA AET system. Members must bring documentation with them at the time of weigh-in or you will not be permitted to show.
9. All members are responsible for health requirements. To add value of animals for the buyer:
A. Calves are required to be vaccinated against IBR, PI3 and BRSV using one dose of modified live vaccine or two doses of killed vaccine. Examples: Bovishield, Pyramid and Inforce (intra-nasal).
B. It is recommended that calves be given a rabies vaccination.
C. If your steer has symptoms of ringworm within 4 weeks of Fair, you should have your animal treated by a veterinarian and a statement of date/treatment.
D. A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is required within 30 days prior to show.
10. All Dairy Beef calves will be housed together in the Open Show Dairy Barn. You will be responsible for your own bedding, water and feed.
This information shall be modified annually by Fair Committee