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02-08
Texas Show Steer
Breed Classification Jason Cleere, Extension Beef
Cattle Specialist
Jim Mazurkiewicz, Professor
and Extension Specialist –
Leadership Programs, TALL
Director
Stephen Hammack, Extension
Classifying the breed of a show steer in • Excess white on legs
Beef Cattle Specialist Emeritus
Texas used to be easy. Only three British • Excess white above the underline
breeds were shown. Crossbreeding among The authors would like
• Eye pigment to recognize the Texas
them was rare and easily recognized, and
only Brahman crosses were shown in Texas. • Black hair in tail, ear, or on rear County Agricultural
end of animal Agents Association,
Today, there are as many as 16 breeds and the Texas Association
breed-cross classes in Texas shows, among • Black spotting/smut, or freckling of Extension 4-H
about 75 breeds of cattle in the United States on the nose Agents, the Vocational
Agricultural Teachers
that could contribute to the genetic makeup of • Line back Association of Texas,
a steer. and Texas and national
• White above switch in tail purebred cattle
To an outsider or novice, placing a steer in a associations for their
• White across rump above the twist
breed class might appear to be relatively sim- input in preparing
ple. Just read the specifications for a class and Absolute disqualifying factors: this document. The
then find an animal that meets the criteria— • Diluter color pattern following guidelines
were developed by
right? But it’s a little more complicated than • Brindles representatives of
that. Consider, for example, the characteristics these organizations
for a Hereford steer: • Double muscling during the Texas Steer
• Any color pattern other than red Classification Workshop
• Must physically exhibit breed held September 12–13,
characteristics of a purebred or white (birthmarks excluded)
2006, in Waco, Texas.
Hereford These are all visual factors. So, eligibility
• Red body with white face, white for the class is determined only by visual ap-
underline, and white-marked legs praisal, as evaluated by classifiers appointed
by show management. Registration papers,
• Feather neck breeder affidavits, or other paperwork are not
• Horned Herefords must be considered.
dehorned Keep this in mind when selecting pros-
Factors that alone are not disqualifying but pects. The word or opinion of a breeder, seller,
may in combination indicate non-Hereford adviser, or friend may be useful as a guide-
genetics: line. Even knowing the exact breeding of an
• Dark red color animal is no guarantee, because genetics and
visual appearance do not always match. The
• Red neck
example shows that the class is not simply
• Solid red or solid white ear; ear for Hereford steers but rather for steers that
size and shape are questionable appear to be Hereford, in the classifiers’ judg-
ment. With this background, let’s look at the
descriptions for the various types and breeds.
British Type Hereford
This group includes cattle that appear to be Ideal Breed Characteristics
purebred Angus, Hereford, Polled Hereford, • Must physically exhibit breed
Red Angus, and Shorthorn. characteristics of a purebred
Hereford
Angus
• Red body with white face, white
Acceptable Breed Characteristics
underline, and white-marked legs
• Must physically exhibit breed
characteristics of a purebred • Feather neck
Angus • Horned Herefords must be
• Solid black dehorned
• Polled Acceptable Breed Characteristics (but not
necessarily desirable; in combination may be
Discriminatory Breed Characteristics discriminating)
• Continental breed type structure • Dark red color
and head
• Red neck
• Bumps where horns would be on a
horned animal • Solid red or solid white ear; ear
size and shape are questionable
• Birthmarks or white hair in the
switch should be reviewed for • Excess white on legs
the skin color (black skin color is • Excess white above the underline
acceptable; white or pink skin is a • Eye pigment
disqualification)
• Black hair in tail, ear, or on rear
• Bos taurus–type ear set (ear size is end of animal
not to be discriminated against)
• Black spotting/smut or freckling
Absolute Disqualifications on the nose
• White skin resulting in white hair • Line back
above the underline or in the front
• White above switch in tail
of the navel (white on the navel is
acceptable) • White across rump above the
twist
• White skin resulting in white hair
on the leg, foot, or tail Discriminatory Breed Characteristics
• Horns or scurs • Coarse joints, head, or ribs
• Brindle • Straight-line white markings on
legs
• Diluter color pattern
• White above the hocks, on the
• Dehorning scars
outside and back side of rear legs
• Double muscling
• Excess pigment or color around
the eyes
• Red neck in combination with
excess white on legs
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Absolute Disqualifications • Excess pigment or color around
• Diluter color pattern the eyes
• Brindles • Red neck in combination with
excess white on legs
• Double muscling
Absolute Disqualifications
• Any color pattern other than red
or white (birthmarks excluded) • Diluter color pattern
• Brindles
Polled Hereford
• Double muscling
Ideal Breed Characteristics
• Any color pattern other than red
• Must physically exhibit breed
or white (birthmarks excluded)
characteristics of a purebred
Polled Hereford Red Angus
• Red body with white face, white Acceptable Breed Characteristics
underline, and white-marked legs • Must physically exhibit breed
• Feather neck characteristics of a purebred Red
• Must be polled or have loose scurs Angus
Acceptable Breed Characteristics (but not • English/British characteristics
necessarily desirable; in combination may be • Solid red
discriminating) • Polled
• Dark red color • Black pigmentation (animals may
• Red neck have two of three areas of black
• Solid red or solid white ear; ear pigmentation on the nose, around
size and shape are questionable the eyes, and on the anus, but not
all three)
• Excess white on legs
• A blond, light red, or mixed switch
• Excess white above the underline
• Black hair on the tail, muzzle, face,
• Eye pigment
neck, and shoulder
• Black hair in tail, ears, or on rear
Discriminatory Breed Characteristics
end of animal
• Coarse joints or head (big feet, big
• Black spotting/smut or freckling
dewclaws)
on the nose
• Bumps where horns would be on a
• Line back
horned animal
• White above switch in tail
• Solid white switch
• White across rump above the twist
Absolute Disqualifications
Discriminatory Breed Characteristics
• Horns or scurs
• Coarse joints, head, or ribs
• White above the underline or in
• Straight-line white markings on front of the navel
legs
• White on the leg
• White above the hocks, on the
• Black pigmentation (having all
outside and back side of rear legs
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three areas of black pigmentation: American Breeds Cross
on the nose, around the eyes, and Acceptable Breed Characteristics
on the anus)
• Any color or color pattern
• Diluter color pattern
• Progression of importance to
• Dehorning scars or evidence of include Bos indicus head; eye; and
dehorning ear of moderate length, slightly
• Solid white tail drooping and opening down and
• Double muscling forward
• Crest or slick neck
Shorthorn
• Sheath score of 2 or more
Acceptable Breed Characteristics
Discriminatory Breed Characteristics
• Must physically exhibit breed
characteristics of a purebred • Bos taurus head
Shorthorn • Bos taurus short ear
• Solid red; solid white with red hair • Bos taurus eye
or red pigment on ear, muzzle, • Sheath score of 1
or tail; or any combination of red
and white, with the red and white Absolute Disqualifications
color pattern bleeding together • A combination of a Bos taurus
Discriminatory Breed Characteristics head, eye, and ear
• Motley face or brockle face • Without adequate Bos indicus
head, eye, and ear characteristics,
• Orange or light red color sheath score is irrelevant
• Black nose pigment
Brahman
• Straight-line white markings
across leg Acceptable Breed Characteristics
• Must physically exhibit breed
• Coarse head
characteristics of a 50% purebred
• Double muscling Brahman
Absolute Disqualifications • A prominent hump beginning in
• Diluter color pattern, such as the middle of the shoulder and
yellow or yellow roan going forward
• Blacks, blue roans, or grays • Any color or color pattern
• Brindle • Bos indicus ear, head, eye, and
sheath
Brahman Type Discriminatory Breed Characteristics
This group is sometimes called American • None
Breeds. Physical evidence of Brahman back- Absolute Disqualification
ground is important (ear length and shape, • A crest with the absence of a
amount of hide, and, most important, hump hump
placement).
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Brangus Discriminatory Breed Characteristic
Acceptable Breed Characteristics • Straight, pendulous sheath
• Must physically exhibit breed Absolute Disqualification
characteristics of a purebred black • Absence of any visible Santa
Brangus Gertrudis characteristics
• Solid black Simbrah
• Sheath hangs at a 45-degree angle Acceptable Breed Characteristics
and is well controlled
• Must physically exhibit breed
• Influence of a Bos indicus eye, ear, characteristics of a Simbrah
and head
• Must appear to have a minimum
• Slick neck or evidence of a crest of ¼ both Simmental and
Discriminatory Breed Characteristics Brahman and a maximum of ¾
• Scurs or slick spots (scurs must be both Simmental and Brahman
loose) • A sheath score of 2 or greater
• Straight, pendulous sheath • A Bos indicus eye, ear, and head
• Absence of Bos indicus–influenced • Stocking legs
eye, ear, and head • Bald, blaze, or streak face
Absolute Disqualifications • Diluter color pattern
• Hard horns (attached)
• Solid black, red, light red, gray,
• Dehorning scars smut, or yellow, or a combination
• White above the underline or in of white with any of the previously
front of the navel listed colors
• White on the legs, feet, or tail • Brindles
• Any brindle (red or light-colored) Discriminatory Breed Characteristics
• A sheath score of 1
Santa Gertrudis
• A Bos taurus head
Acceptable Breed Characteristics
• Must physically exhibit breed • A Bos taurus ear
characteristics of a 50% purebred • A Bos taurus eye
Santa Gertrudis • Mottled face
• Any color or color pattern Absolute Disqualifications
• Moderate crest, no definite hump • A combination of a Bos taurus
• Moderate dewlap development head, ear, eye, and sheath
• Moderate length of ear, slightly • Roans
drooping and opening forward
• Sheath score 2–5
• Not necessary to show
predominant Bos indicus
characteristics
5
Continental or Exotic Type • Light red color
Included here are Charolais (half-blood and • Short, stubby head
higher), Chianina (predominant), Limousin • Overly refined, narrow head
(half or higher), Maine-Anjou (half or higher), • Excessive dark pigmentation (eyes,
and Simmental (purebred). At the San Anto- nose, ears, and anus)
nio Stock Show and Rodeo and the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo there are separate • Excessive dappling
classes for these five Continentals, as well as a Absolute Disqualifications
class for Other Breeds and Crosses, which in- • Black, red, dark smuts
cludes all breeds not already discussed as well
• Showing no diluter gene, unless
as steers classified out of any of the above. At
solid white
Fort Worth, Dallas, and many smaller shows,
all Continentals—and any other steer that is Chianina
not purebred British or American breed or Acceptable Breed Characteristics
cross—are shown together.
• Must exhibit Chianina influence
There are no specific physical requirements in head (ear, eye, and nose) and
for any of these Continental classes except that skeleton
they show evidence of the breed in which they
• Any shade of black, red, gray, or
are entered. Depending on the breed, it can be
yellow
difficult to classify these classes, because most
may contain at least one-half of any other • Brindles, baldies, blaze faces, and
breed or combination breed. motleys
Discriminatory Breed Characteristics
Charolais • Coarse joints or skeleton
Acceptable Breed Characteristics • Excessive spotting above the
underline
• Must physically exhibit breed
characteristics of a 50% purebred Absolute Disqualification
Charolais • Appears to be a purebred of any
• White, yellow gray, or silver other breed
(moderate dappling allowed) Limousin
• Expression of diluter gene General Breed Characteristics
• Painting or spotting less than 20% • Head
• Skunk tail, line back, baldy — Should be wide between the
Discriminatory Breed Characteristics eyes, with a prominent brow
• Excessive painting or spotting (eye socket)
(over 20%) — Should have a wide poll
• Double muscling — Tendency to be smaller-eared;
• Brindles should have a moderate
location (neither too high nor
• Frail bone work and frail general too low)
appearance
— Tendency to be shorter-
muzzled
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• Muscle conformation Discriminatory Breed Characteristics
— Tend to be expressive in • Brindle
muscle pattern • Roan
• Sheath • Diluter color pattern
— Tend to not exceed a score of 2 Absolute Disqualification
— Tend to have a forward angle, • Appears to be more than 50% any
with navel in front other breed
• Legs/foot
Simmental
— Tend to be not heavy-boned
Acceptable Breed Characteristics
— Tend to be flat boned • Must physically exhibit breed
— Tend to be not big-footed characteristics of a purebred
• Tail set Simmental
— Can have a forward tail set • Larger, longer head
— Can drop from hooks to pins • Larger ear, lower set
Acceptable Breed Characteristics • Solid black, red, light red, gray,
• Must physically exhibit breed smut, red and white, yellow and
characteristics of a 50% purebred white, black and white
Limousin • Painting or spotting above the
• Solid black, red, light red, charcoal underline
black, yellow, blond • Stocking legs
• Bald face • Bald, blaze, or streak face
• Smooth joints and skeleton • Diluter color pattern
Discriminatory Breed Characteristics Discriminatory Breed Characteristics
• Coarse joints, skeleton, and head • Roans
• Stocking legs • Skunk tail
• Brindle • Double muscling
• Spotting above the underline • 40% or more white above the
• Roans underline
• Diluter color pattern around the
Maine Anjou eyes and muzzle
Acceptable Breed Characteristics • Monkey mouth
• Must physically exhibit breed Absolute Disqualification
characteristics of a 50% purebred
Maine Anjou • Brindle
• Spotted, solid black, or red
• White stocking legs, white
underline, and spotting above the
underline and on the face
• Heavy skeletal structure
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Classification Glossary Discriminatory Breed Characteristics.
Characteristics that are not reason for abso-
American breeds. Breeds created in the
lute disqualification but in combination with
United States by interbreeding existing breeds,
other discriminatory visual characteristics
including at least one tropically adapted breed
could lead to disqualification.
(most often American Brahman).
Horned. Horns are solidly attached to the
Bald face. Appearance when white covers
skull, or there is evidence of dehorning.
most of the face.
Painting. Large white markings covering a
Blaze or streak face. A wide strip of white
major portion of the steer.
down the face to the muzzle.
Pigmentation. Dark skin coloring on the
Bos indicus (zebu). Subspecies of cattle
points of the steer (eyes, nose, ears, anus, tail).
originating in south Asia; has a prominent
hump on top or in front of shoulder. Polled. Naturally hornless.
Bos taurus. Subspecies of cattle; originated Purebred. Showing visual characteristics
in west Asia but is usually called European. of a particular breed and none of any other
breed.
Brindle. A streaking of black, brown, or
white on the body of the steer (tiger stripe). Scurs. Horny tissue or rudimentary horn
attached to skin but not the skull.
British/English. Cattle originating in the
British Isles; Angus, Hereford, and Shorthorn Sheath score. Scoring system from 1 to 5
are most numerous in the United States. based on the length of the sheath (1 = little
sheath; 5 = excess sheath).
Brockle or motley face. Red or black spot-
ting on a white or bald face. Smut. Dark gray color pattern.
Continental. Breeds originating in Conti- Spotting. White spots on the steer.
nental Europe; sometimes called European or
Exotic.
Diluter gene. A gene that determines color.
Cattle that carry both copies of the gene will
appear white. Non-diluter cattle will appear
black or dark red, whereas those carrying a
single diluter gene will appear gray or yellow.
8
Summary Steers should be selected and shown based
only on their visual appearance because that
In the commercial beef industry, most
is how they will be evaluated for classifica-
cattle are sorted by visual characteristics into
tion. Remember that classifiers are asked to
numerous groups for marketing purposes.
exercise their judgment. If your steer is classi-
Similarly, during livestock shows, participat-
fied out, it doesn’t mean that the classifier or
ing steers are sorted into breed classes based
anyone else is accusing you of lying, cheating,
on visual characteristics. As you can see, in
or being unethical. Nor does it mean that the
most classes there are generally few factors
steer cannot be the breed you say it is. Look at
that will absolutely disqualify an animal, and
breed classification as the first stage of judg-
those are usually easily identified. Instead,
ing. Don’t be too upset if the classifier makes
most disqualified animals have more than one
(or you think he or she has made) a mistake.
subjectively evaluated discriminatory charac-
It’s all a matter of judgment.
teristic.
Produced by AgriLife Communications and Marketing, The Texas A&M University System
Extension publications can be found on the Web at: http://AgriLifebookstore.org.
Visit Texas AgriLife Extension Service at http://AgriLifeExtension.tamu.edu.
Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race,
color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress
of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture.
Edward G. Smith, Director, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, The Texas A&M University System.
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