Feed for show cattle

[Judith]

Are show cows fed something extra that makes them super dooper shiny? I was at a fair the other day and was stunned at how they glimmered! I know they bath them and use show sheen but wow!!!

[houndlover]

Show livestock are pampered, and it starts with show feed. Showmaster is the preferred brand in these parts, they make a show feed for all species.

[Judith]

Thanks houndlover!

[CCCC]

They also get washed, shampoo, blow dried, brushed, combed and sprayed down with hair spray called show sheen. Which will make them shiny not to mention extra goodies in the diet.

[opportunity]

They also paint them sometimes to make them perfect. My husband used to work with some very highend angus show cows and they painted the white spots black they looked great but are not really great cows.....

[pancho]

Many people will let their show cattle nurse a milk cow.
Looks sort of strange when they are so much larger than the cow they are nursing.
It works.

[CIW]

Feed some sprouted cotton seed. It has alot of oil. That along with a stiff brush and alot of elbow grease will bring on a good sheen.

[francismilker]

When it comes to "show" animals, all bets are off when it comes to what they've been fed. My daughter showed beef steers and dairy heifers for years. I've seen folks go through an awful lot of trouble for a blue ribbon!

(some things were quite un-ethical and on the verge of animal cruelty by the way!)

[oregon woodsmok]

They are kept in barns so that the sun doesn't burn the coat. The same as show horses.

[Judith]

I'm mostly interested in what makes them so shiny! It was amazing. Our show horses ( halter) were never kept in the barn and their sheen was mostly due to a variety of oils they were fed. Kelp also really helped with coat and general condition

[francismilker]

Lots of people use beet pulp which helps to give them a "filled out" look and is supposed to help with hair shine. Depending on the show rules though, most of the sheen comes from an aerosol can with products such as "final mist", "show sheen", and "popper" used to give their hair that lively look.

[sammyd]

beet pulp is the feed of choice around here. Can't find a bag of it in the stores or mills around fair time...