T he S how R ing : A T ool for
The show ring has been a part of the agricultural
industry for over a century. Some of the oldest
stock shows date back to the 1890’s. With the
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo beginning
in 1896, the American Royal in 1899, and the
National Western Stock Show in 1906. The cattle
have changed over the years but the basic
principle behind stock shows and the impact
of the show ring has remained the same.
“If we go back years and years ago to the
beginning of the stock yards, we had Chicago and
Kansas City,” says Nebraska College of Technical
Agriculture in Curtis Associate Professor and
Livestock Judging Coach Doug Smith, Ph.D.
“People would bring their stock not only to
display it and compete against each other, but
breeders across the country would come to
also market their animals during that time.”
As a judge, who has judged shows around
the country, Smith believes the prestige of a
grand champion title during those early days
means just as much then as it does now. It
was and still is rewarding to have the grand
champion bull or female, but those show
ring titles gave more than bragging rights. It
impacted the marketability of the cattle.
“I don’t think the prestige has left the show ring
in what we are doing today,” says Smith, “but it
has led, even more so, into the marketing of those
cattle, where you are proud of your genetics. I
think that is where we are turning to more so
today. Not only a more competitive event, but
also marketing those cattle on another level.”
Today, producers purchase semen, flushes and
embryos from show ring champion genetics to
implement into their herd and operation. Back
then, producers could only either purchase
the actual champion animal or an offspring
to implement into their breeding program.
74 | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2019
“I think that is where we have gone to,” Smith
says, “really that competition [in the show ring]
has led to a way of marketing those genetics.
We are getting to the point where we are
marketing semen, flushes and embryos to
utilize those genetics in breeding programs.”
The show ring is similar to a trade show for
genetics for the commercial cattlemen. Breeders
from across the country are putting together
what they believe to be the best animal, and the
show ring is where producers can see firsthand
how well those genetics actually preform.
Kevin Counsil, owner of Counsil Family Limousin
(CFLX Ranches), says he normally doesn’t chase
‘the fads’ of the show ring. However, when
he goes to the national stock shows he is
walking through the barn and observing cattle
in the show ring to see what is performing
well, and where those genetics are from.
“There has been one time that I bought one of the
top bulls that won Kansas, Denver and Louisville,”
says Counsil. “A couple of years ago, I went on a
limb and gave a good amount of money for him.
I bought him before he was proven, but since
then he has been one of the hottest bulls in the
breed. And I liked the way it paid off for me.”
While making buying decisions based off the
show ring isn’t a regular occurrence for Counsil,
it does influence his breeding decisions. For his
operation in Madisonville, Texas, Counsil says
his market of buyers are mainly focused on
phenotype. Secondary, concerns are milking
ability, calving ease and disposition. The majority
of his buyers are small producers who are
purchasing cattle for their weekend properties.
“My geography – being close to the metropolitan
areas of Houston and Dallas - has a lot to do
with that,” says Counsil. “Other commercial guys
across the country, probably look at carcass