How to Groom Show Calves

Showing calves may not seem like a difficult task, but it's actually an extensive, involved process that often takes months of time and dedication. Calves are most often shown as market animals, although a few breeds, such as longhorns, are exhibited and evaluated on how closely they match the ideal standard. While proper feeding and handling are both important factors in show calves, proper grooming is essential to catching the judge's eye and taking home the ribbons.

Things You'll Need

  • Halter and lead rope
  • Feed pan
  • Sweet feed
  • Curry comb
  • Stiff brush
  • Clippers
  • Tail comb
  • Sharp scissors
  • Cattle shampoo
  • Coat conditioner
  • Soft finishing brush
  • Finishing spray
  • Show halter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Catch your calf and slip a halter over its head. Lead the calf to the wash rack and tie it to a secure post. To keep the calf occupied while you groom, set a feed pan full of grain on the ground and leave enough slack in the rope so the calf can eat.

    • 2

      Use a curry comb to brush mud and manure from the hair, working the brush in small, tight circles. Follow the currying with a stiff brush, working from the poll back to the tail, and from the back down the sides to the legs to remove as much grime as possible.

    • 3

      Trim away long hairs along the calf's face, neck and tail. Hold the clippers in your hand and turn them on, holding the body of the clippers near the calf to acclimate it to the sound and vibration. Clip the hair on the face and head close to the skin, shaving in the direction of the hair growth. Leave the hair on the poll long and leave the hair inside the ears, but shave behind the ears and down the neck, stopping at the top of the shoulder blade. Shave under the calf's chin and down along the chest to the point of the shoulders to remove excess bulk and give the calf a sleek, smooth appearance. Comb the tail straight, trimming the ends squarely just above the hock.

    • 4

      Bathe the calf with cattle shampoo, scrubbing from head to tail to get the coat completely clean. If the calf has a lot of white in its coat, substitute the cattle shampoo for a whitening shampoo to leave the coat snow white. Apply a coat conditioner after bathing to smooth the hair and bring out the shine. Leave the calf tied until its coat is completely dry.

    • 5

      Brush the dried calf with a soft finishing brush, combing the hair along the legs and tail away from the body to make the calf look bulkier. Backcomb the hair at the end of the tail slightly to give it a puffy appearance, and spray the calf from head to toe with a finishing spray. Slip off the grooming halter, slide on a show halter and head to the show ring with your freshly groomed show calf.