By: Tess Mittag, Manager of Stock Show University®
When you show livestock, you have to start somewhere. That somewhere is selecting the animal that you will be showing throughout the year or even keeping to create or expand your herd. During this “Tips from Stock Show University®” article, Tess Mittag, Stock Show University® Manager discusses the importance of knowing your animal’s pedigree before entering the show ring.
Like always — let’s start with the basics, the sire and dam. The “sire” refers to the animal’s male parent, while the “dam” refers to the female parent of the animal. I strongly encourage all exhibitors to know the pedigree of their animal. To build the industry as a whole, it is essential to know the bloodline of your animal to promote that particulate mating that your animal originated from. Personally, this is why I believe the Pulse is so fascinating and popular throughout the show industry because you get to have those live results of a show with a picture of the animal — plus presented with the pedigree of that animal. Participating in livestock shows is exciting as you get to exhibit your animals that you are proud of. Meanwhile, some livestock breeders are using those same shows to make critical breeding decisions throughout their herd by looking to see what sires are producing offsprings that are excelling in the show ring — whether we are talking about bulls, boars, rams, or bucks!
Before purchasing an animal from a breeder or trader, don’t hesitate to ask questions about the animal’s bloodline. Most sale information sheets do list the entire pedigree, but if it just lists the sire, I encourage you to know the information about the dam as well. By doing this, you can get a better grasp on the “family tree” of your animal along with having a better understanding of what the future might look like for your animal.
Want to read more Stock Show University® articles? Visit https://www.sullivansupply.com/category/stock-show-university/ and click on the Education tab!
