Sam WombleCounty Extension Agent – Natural

ResourcesVictoria County

Show Steer Classification Guidelines

HistoryIn the fall of 2006, various County

Extension Agents, Agriculture Science Teachers, Breed Represenatives and Industry Leaders met to develop breed specific classification criteria.

The information that follows should be used as a tool (determining potential classification) when purchasing breed steers for Texas Major Livestock Shows.

Angus

Angus Acceptable Breed Characteristics:Purebred AngusSolid BlackPolledDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:Continental breed type structure and head Bumps between the poll and the earBirth marks or white hair in the switch should

be reviewed for the skin colorBos Taurus type ear set (ear size not to be

discriminated against)

Angus Absolute Disqualifications:White skin resulting in white hair above the

underline or in front of the navel (white on the navel is acceptable)

White skin resulting in white hair on the leg, foot, or tail

Horns or scursBrindleDiluter color patternDehorning scarsDouble muscling

Hereford

HerefordIdeal Breed Characteristics:Must exhibit breed characteristics of a purebred

HerefordRed body with white face, white underline, and

white marked legsFeather neckHorned Herefords must be dehornedAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Dark red colorRed neckSolid red or solid white ear, size and shape is

questionable

HerefordExcess white on legsExcess white above the underlineEye pigmentBlack hair in tail, ear, or on rear end of

animalBlack on reproductive tractBlack spotting /smut, or freckling on the noseLinebackWhite above switch in tailWhite across rump above the twist

HerefordDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:Coarse joints, head or ribsStraight line white markings on legsWhite above the hocks, on the outside and back

side of rear legsExcess pigment or color around the eyesRed neck in combination with excess white on legsAbsolute Disqualifications:Diluter color patternBrindlesDouble musclingAny color pattern other than red and white

Red Angus

Red AngusAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Purebred Red AngusEnglish/British characteristicsSolid redPolledBlack pigmentation (animals may have 2 of 3

areas of black pigmentation on the nose, around the eyes, and anus but not all 3)

A blond, light red or mixed switchBlack hair on the tail, muzzle, face, neck, and

shoulder

Red AngusDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:Double musclingCoarse joints or head (big feet, big dewclaws)Bumps between the poll and earSolid white switchAbsolute Disqualifications:Horns or scursWhite above the underline or in front of the

navelWhite on the leg

Red AngusAbsolute Disqualifications:Black pigmentation (having all 3 areas of

black pigmentation and that being on the nose, around the eyes, and anus)

Diluter color patternDehorning scars or evidence of dehorning Solid white tail

Shorthorn

ShorthornAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Purebred ShorthornSolid red, solid white with red hair or red pigment

on ear, muzzle, or tail; or red and white or any combination of red and white, with the red and white color pattern bleeding together

Discriminatory Breed Characteristics:Motley face or brockle facedOrange or light red colorBlack nose pigmentStraight line white markings across legCoarse head Double muscling

ShorthornAbsolute Disqualifications:Diluter color pattern such as yellow or yellow

roanBlacks, blue roans or graysBrindle

Charolais

CharolaisAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Must appear to have at least 50% CharolaisWhite, yellow, gray or silver (moderate dappling

allowed)Expression of diluter genePainting or spotting less than 20%Skunk tail, lineback or baldy Discriminatory Breed Characteristics:Excessive painting or spotting (over 20%)Double musclingBrindlesFrail bone work and general appearance

CharolaisDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:Light red colorShort, stubby headOverly refined narrow headExcessive dark pigmentation (eyes, nose,

ears, anus)Excessive dappling Absolute Disqualifications:Black, red, dark smutsShowing no diluter gene

Chianina

ChianinaAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Must exhibit Chianina influence in head (ear,

eye and nose) and skeletonAny shade of black, red, gray or yellowBrindlesDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:Coarse joints or skeletonExcessive spotting above the underline Absolute Disqualifications:Cannot appear to be a purebred of any other

breed

Limousin

LimousinAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Must appear to have at least 50% LimousinSolid black, red, light red, charcoal blackBald faceSmooth joints and skeletonDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:Coarse joints, skeleton and headStocking legsBrindleSpotting above the underlineRoans

Maine Anjou

Maine AnjouAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Must appear to be at least 50% Maine AnjouSolid black or solid redWhite stocking legsWhite underlineSpotting above the underline and on face Heavy skeletal structureDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:BrindleRoanDiluter Color PatternAbsolute Disqualifications:Cannot appear to be more than 50% of any other

breed

Simmental

SimmentalAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Purebred Simmental characteristicsLarger, longer headLarger ear, lower setSolid black, red, light red, gray, smut, red

and white, yellow and white, black and white

Spotting above the underlineStocking legsBald, blaze or streak faceDiluter color pattern

SimmentalDiscriminating Breed Characteristics:RoansSkunk tailDouble muscling30% or more white above the underlineDiluter color pattern around the eyes and

muzzleMonkey mouth Absolute Disqualification:Brindle

American Breeds Cross

American Breeds CrossAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Any color or color patternProgression of importance to include Bos indicus

head, eye and ear of moderate length, slightly drooping and opens down and forward

Crest or slick neckSheath score of 2 or moreDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:Bos taurus headBos taurus short earBos taurus eyeSheath score of 1

American Breeds CrossAbsolute Disqualifications:A combination of a Bos taurus head, eye and

earWithout adequate Bos indicus head, eye and

ear characteristics, sheath score is irrelevant

Brahman

BrahmanAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Must appear to be at least 50% BrahmanA prominent hump beginning in the middle of

the shoulder going forwardAny color or color patternBos indicus ear, head and sheath Absolute Disqualification:A crest with the absence of a hump

Brangus

BrangusAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Purebred Black BrangusSolid blackSheath hangs at a 45 degree angle and is well

controlledInfluence of a Bos indicus eye, ear and head Slick neck or evidence of a crestDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:Scurs or slick spots (scurs must be loose)Excessive pendulous sheath Absence of Bos indicus influenced eye, ear and

head

BrangusAbsolute Disqualifications:Hard horns (attached)Dehorning scarsWhite above the underline or in front of the

navelWhite on the legs, feet or tailNo brindles

Simbrah

SimbrahAcceptable Breed Characteristics:Purebred SimbrahMust have a minimum of ¼ and/or a maximum of

¾ Simmental and/or BrahmanA sheath score of 2 or greaterA Bos indicus eye, ear and headStocking legsBald, blaze or streak faceDiluter color patternSolid black, red, light red, gray, smut or yellow or

a combination of white with any of the previous listed colors

Brindles

SimbrahDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:A sheath score of 1A Bos taurus headA Bos taurus earA Bos taurus eyeMottled faceDiluter color pattern around the eyes and

muzzleAbsolute Disqualification:A combination of a Bos taurus head, ear, eye

and sheathRoans

Santa Gertrudis

Santa Gertrudis Acceptable Breed Characteristics:Appears to be at least 50% Santa GertrudisAny color or color patternModerate crest, no definite humpModerate dewlap developmentModerate length of ear, slightly drooping and

opens forwardSheath score 1-4Not necessary to show predominant Bos

indicus characteristics

Santa GertrudisDiscriminatory Breed Characteristics:Sheath score of 5Excessive sloppiness and/or looseness of

hideAbsolute Disqualification:Absence of any visible Santa Gertrudis

characteristics

ConclusionKeep in mind the above mentioned

guidelines are just that, GUIDELINES. Classification is ultimately determined by

the classifiers.Two or more “Discriminatory Breed

Characteristics” can be means to classify a steer out of a particular breed.