Influence of shows on productive values in beef cattle.

I think we need to keep in mind a few things that shows and judging of livestock do not do. All judging is a series of compromises. In judging livestock at a show, the judge tries to get what he considers the most of the best in his top animal. Anyone who knows anything at all about livestock will realize that, in a good show, the champion is not better in every respect than the reserve champion. Another thing we need to keep in mind is that judging is not an exact science. Rather, it is a combination of an art and a science. It depends upon ability to see and evaluate properly the various characteristics that comprise type. Shows do not, of necessity, sort out the best breeding animal. We have all heard some critics of shows point out that the winning animal does not always prove to be the best breeder. We need, however, to keep in mind the fact that the show is not only the final testing ground of the art and science of breeding but also of the feeding, grooming and showing of livestock. Those who breed, produce, and show livestock do not expect, necessarily, that the champion bull is the best breeding bull in the ring; the fact that the champion bull in a big show does not prove to be the best breeding bull is not a valid criticism of livestock shows. People who use that argument against shows argue by inference that the wrong kind begets winners just as often as does the right kind. In this they are absolutely wrong.