The cattle competitions at the Canadian Western Agribition Cattle in Regina during the week of November 21 featured hundreds of fluffy, beautifully groomed cattle of every breed. They were not just there to look good. It was all pretty high stakes for the producers.
The cattle were entered into show categories to compete for best of class. This would add to their value for sale and breeding. The animals had to look their best at all times, not just in the show ring, as potential buyers toured the Agribition halls. Thousands of dollars were on the line and an animal’s expert appearance contributed to its show success. Before coming in to Regina for the shows, the cattle usually get a preliminary beauty treatment. They are washed with shampoos, blown dry and combed to make sure the hair is lying in the proper direction. During the hurly-burly of the Agribition, there is limited time to prepare animals for show.
The new CWA facilities provided an updated cattle washing station that resembled a car wash. After a thorough wash with shampoo, the animals get blown dry, then a team of groomers go to work. For safety, the bull, heifer or steer were loaded into a chute, preventing the animal from squirming around, getting dirty or hurting passers by. The animal would be brushed and have their coat “styled” with spray and styling products to make the coat stand up to create that velvety look. Mostly, the cattle appear to enjoy the combing and brushing which is like a massage for them. Show animals are accustomed to the grooming and the crowds, and are quite docile. The coat is trimmed, the tail is lacquered and the feet and face are prepped. The whole process can take hours, but its worth it to be named Grand Champion at the Canadian Western Agribition.
