REGINA – Grant Daines was 17 years old when he showed steers at Canadian Western Agribition for the first time.
That first prospect steer show was a learning experience.
“We didn’t do very good when we started but we got better,” he said at the end of this year’s show.
Ultimately he won the grand champion banner for best steer in the mid-1980s.
This year he was there to sort and judge.
Daines is part of the family-owned livestock auction at Innisfail, Alta., and knows a good steer when he sees one. He sorts these animals much the same way as he does at the auction.
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He wants to see good muscling and proper conformation in animals that appear to be easy fleshing types.
“It’s good if they are stout, with eye appeal and length of body,” he said.
This year the grand and reserve champions came from Lyle McLaren, of Kisbey, Sask. The grand champion was a solid colored Chianina, Maine Anjou and Angus cross.
The reserve was a solid black Maine-Angus cross. Most of the steers on display were solid red or black.
“In commercial cattle it helps with uniformity,” he said.
He is also pleased that the gap between commercial and show cattle is closing.
“Show cattle and feedlot steers are practically dead on,” he said.
The steers in this program are sold as show animals for 4-H projects that are finished for late spring and summer projects.
He encourages buyers at the prospect sale to pay extra so young exhibitors get a good one.
“They should spend some money and let the kid enjoy it.”
Next year Agribition plans to add a prospect heifer show.
