Here’s what four judges are looking for in the cattle show ring.
Phillip Topp
Botkins, Ohio
2023 TD Dairy Classic 4-H youth conformation judge
Background: Raised on a dairy farm and credits his mother for keeping the family farm going after his father died when Topp was 8 years old. He’s been running his own farm since 2017 and milks 30 to 35 cows. Five of his animals competed at World Dairy Expo this year — with two first-place juniors and a reserve grand champion.
Years judging: 25
Top show previously judged: Red & White Show at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, this year.
Previous years judging at Royal: None
What do you look for in a winning cow?
“Good udder. Dairyness. Strength. Good feet and legs.”
If two cows are evenly matched, what would be the deciding factor?
“I go with mammary systems and kind of everything else combined. Put all of that in your head, like a computer, and it’ll spit out an answer — if you don’t second guess yourself.”
Adam Liddle
Argyle, New York
2023 National Holstein Show judge
Background: Grew up on a dairy farm and later worked on a dairy farm that was premier exhibitor twice at World Dairy Expo. Started farming on his own at age 25 and established Liddleholme Holsteins.
Years judging: 20 years
Top show previously judged: World Dairy Expo in 2017
Previous years judging at Royal: None
What do you look for in a winning cow?
“Just a nice balanced cow. A super udder. Walks on good feet and legs, and a nice wide chest.”
If two cows are evenly matched, what would be the deciding factor?
“Sometimes it can be the number of lactations. If they’re even and one’s had five calves and one’s had four calves, that can make a difference sometimes (with more lactations being favoured.) There’s a lot of factors that go into it.”
Emily Griffiths
Kendallville, Indiana
2023 Hereford Show Judge
Background: Grew up on a beef farm. Runs a 250-head Limousin, Angus and Gelbvieh beef herd.
Years judging: 20
Top show previously judged: Several beef breeds at the 2023 Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City
Previous years judging at the Royal: 2
What do you look for in a winning animal?
“I look for the complete package. In some ways it really is very much like a beauty competition in people. It’s about esthetics, but also just about function as well. Structure is very important to me. Obviously, ones that are proportional in terms of body depth, muscle, and then we’re also thinking about a nice balanced, stylish look.
If two animals are evenly matched, what would be the deciding factor for you?
“It may be that one is just more “my kind” of cow, I would say.
“That’s the really fun and interesting and competitive thing about beef cattle. It’s a lot different from any of the other judged protein species. A Holstein cow in Texas looks a lot like she does in Ontario, but that’s not necessarily true of beef cattle. You may have cattle with traits to be more heat tolerant whereas they don’t have the same survivability in our part of the world. Everybody can have their own “kind” because different kinds of cattle serve different purposes.”
Ryan Nesbitt
Nestleton, Ontario
2023 Limousin show (co-judge with wife Allison)
Background: The Nesbitts run a purebred Angus cow-calf farm with 180 cows. They sell yearling bulls and breeding stock replacement heifers. They also cash crop 1,500 to 1,800 acres of commodity crops.
Years judging: 15
Top show previously judged: The national junior (4-H) beef heifer show at the Royal in 2018.
Previous years judging at Royal: 1
What do you look for in a winning animal?
“We look for the most balanced package. We are looking to select something that, on the female side, is going to raise calves and promote the breed as best possible with solid feet and legs, a strong udder, good dimension in rib. On the bull side, we’re looking for some extra muscling, masculinity, sound structure.”
If two animals are evenly matched, what would be the deciding factor for you?
“It would come down to overall thickness, muscling, length of body.”
