Every March in Putnam County, Florida, youth show steers finish their project season, take their proud walk around the arena and get auctioned off to the highest bidder.  The steer is immediately shipped to the processor and uniquely butchered into a diverse selection of steaks, brisket, roasts, ribs, loins and burger.  However, for one Putnam County FFA student, his steer took a different route.  Bryson Martin spent hours after school and on the weekends raising a calm, well-behaved charolais and angus cross named Chase.  He was 65 pounds light at the initial weigh-in on November 4th, 2025, and therefore disqualified as a show steer for the County Fair.  That’s when Chase’s destiny changed.  He became a “prime” candidate to be used as a demonstration at the carcass evaluation workshop and eventually incorporated into a local commercial herd owned by Cartwright Land & Cattle in Crescent City, Florida, emphasizing high carcass quality.

Feed Transition: Managing the Shift From Hot Rations to Forage

County Fair steers spend their final months on high-energy, high-protein, palatable show feeds—often 3× the calorie density of a pasture-based ration. Moving too quickly to hay and pasture can shock the rumen and tank performance.

Week 1: Introduce Forage Slowly

• Start with free-choice good-quality coastal bermudagrass hay
• Keep the show feed at 75% of previous quantity
• Add a cup of a rumen buffer (sodium bicarb) if acidosis has been a concern

Week 2–3: Start the Step-Down

• Reduce show feed by 10–15% every 4–5 days
• Replace calories with a starter grower or developer ration (12–14% CP)
• Begin limited turnout on bahiagrass or winter annuals such as triticale as shown in the picture.

Week 4–6: Adapt to the New Diet

• Phase out show feed completely
• Maintain a grower ration at 0.5–1.0% of bodyweight, depending on your goals
• Keep mineral consistent with your region—our local UF/IFAS recommendation is a high-mag mineral in early spring

A smooth transition was evidenced by consistent eating, energetic behaviour, and a steady manure texture (not too loose).  Red flags might include rapid weight loss, diarrhea with undigested grain, or a sway-back posture indicating possible rumen discomfort.  If these signs are evident, slow the transition and evaluate forage quality and mineral intake.

Carcass Evaluation Results

After this four to six-week transition, we stepped up his diet to a complete finishing ration that resulted in a weight gain of 2.8 lbs per day over a 3-month period.  Chase, led by Bryson, was steady and calm in front of 54 energetic Fair showmen and a host of volunteers at the Beef Field Day on March 7, 2026 weighing in at a whooping 900 lbs.  Amy Perryman, local ultrasound technician, evaluated the live steer using her ultrasound equipment and he was graded at a 3.72 marbling score with a 0.35″ fat layer at the 12th rib.  Chase certainly has more finishing to reach his ultimate target of 1300 lbs, but he is well on his way to become a tasty, juicy cut of beef.

Final Thoughts

Transitioning a Florida fair steer into the commercial herd—or preparing him for a finishing program—takes a thoughtful approach, especially regarding feed transition, weight expectations, and carcass goals. With patience and a structured plan, these steers can become productive assets in a cow-calf or beef finishing operation.  The best moment of the entire four-month transition was watching Chase kick up his heels to rejoin the familiar warmth and rhythm of his new herd buddies and choosing the comfort of his own kind rather than standing alone in a polished stall under a human’s careful hand.

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