Updated 12/20/2019: The Fairfield County Agricultural Society Board of Directors has decided to place a hold on the Dairy Steer project for the 2020 fair due to concerns by some of the exhibitors. This next year, we look to investigate and research further the Dairy Steer project for possible future implementation.
Previously Posted: 11/13/2019:
Fairfield County 4-H and FFA youth now have an additional opportunity to raise and market a meat animal project for the 2020 Fair in the form of the Dairy Market Steer project. Finished Dairy Market Steers must be owned and in the possession of the youth by March 1, 2020, and weigh a minimum of 1100 pounds at weigh-in at the Fair on Sunday, October 11. Each youth entering and showing an eligible finished Dairy Market Beef animal will earn a sale slot in the 2020 Junior Fair Livestock Sale.
Highlights of the requirements to participate in the Dairy Market Beef Project include:
- A feeder steer of 100% dairy genetics must be fully owned and in possession of the youth by March 1, 2020.
- Dairy beef steers being enrolled in the “finished” Market Steer project will be tagged, weighed and nose printed on Saturday, March 14 at Fairfield Cattle Company located at 3443 Cincinnati-Zanesville Road (S.R. 22), Lancaster.
- While an ideal weight for finished dairy steers may range from 1250 to 1450 pounds, to be eligible to show and sell, the finished steers must weigh a minimum of 1100 pounds during weigh-in at the Fair on October 11, 2020. There is no maximum weight restriction.
- All Dairy Market Steer projects will be housed in the dairy barn.
- Dairy Market Steer and Dairy Feeder Steer exhibitors will compete in the same Showmanship competition.
- Realizing that well managed dairy steers can gain 3+/- pounds per day, it is recommended that dairy steers weigh from 600 to 850 pounds at weigh-in on March 14, 2020.
- There will be a Rate of Gain contest for all Dairy Market Steers.
- Each youth entering and showing an eligible finished Dairy Market Steer will earn one sale slot in the 2020 Junior Fair Livestock Sale. The only exception is if one youth shows the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Dairy Market Steer, in which case both animals will sell.
- In 2020, no Dairy Beef Feeder Steers will participate in the Jr. Fair Sale unless less than 6 head of sale eligible finished Dairy Market Steers are exhibited. In the event less than 6 head of sale eligible finished Dairy Market Steers are exhibited, dairy feeder calves will earn sale slots to make up the difference so that the Dairy Beef will retain a minimum total of 6 sale slots in the Jr. Livestock Sale.
- 4-H youth participating in the Dairy Market Steer Project will use the Beef Project and Record Book, same as is used for the Dairy Feeder project. FFA youth will complete their SAE record book.
Complete details of the Dairy Market Steer Project will be available prior to March 1 and published in the Jr. Fair Rule Book. In the meantime, interested exhibitors may contact Co-Dairy Superintendent Melissa Michael with questions.
Exhibitors seeking more information about finishing dairy beef steers will find information in the 4-H Beef Resource Handbook, and also might review this article by OSU Professor Emeritus Dr. Francis Fluharty entitled “Introduction to Holstein Feeding” found at http://u.osu.edu/beef/2016/08/17/introduction-to-feeding-holstein-beef/
