Reason and Scores

Scoring   

Calculating placing scores is often difficult for the beginning livestock judgers. However, with a little practice and experience, it can become like tying your shoes. The first step in scoring a class or verifying your placing card is knowing the “official” placing. In practice, it is usually your coach. There are 50 points available on each class, thus a perfect score. In addition to deciding the correct order, the officials also determine the “cuts” or the degree of difficulty within the class. A cut is placed between both animals within a pair. A low numerical cut (1 or 2) indicates that the officials thought that was a tough pair with not a lot of differences between them. A moderate numerical cut (3 or 4) indicates that the officials thought this was a logical decision with some recognizable faults or differences. And finally, a large numerical cut (5 or higher) reflects what the officials viewed as a very easy decision, the animals have very clear or obvious faults or deficiencies. The total of the three cuts cannot exceed 15 points.

• Example: Official Placing 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 with cuts of 2,5,3
• Sample Placing 4–2–3–1
• To calculate the score on the Sample Placing you need to use an organized method such as the following:
• The sample placed 4 over 2. The sample placed 4 over 3. The sample placed 4 over 1. The sample placed 2 over 3. The sample placed 2 over 1. The sample placed 3 over 1. This agrees with the official. Deduct 0. Deduct 0. Deduct 0. Deduct 5. Deduct 0. Deduct 0.
• The total deduct for this sample placing is 5 points (out of 50), so the placing receives 45 points as a score. The previous situation reflects a pair switch (the middle pair in this case), which is easy to calculate. However, if the placing differs greatly from the official placing it can get more complicated.

Next is an example that is often referred to as a “simple bust”. This is an instance where the participant placed either the first or last animal in a class correctly, but rearranged the other three animals relative to the official placing.

• Example: Official Placing 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 with cuts of 4,2,3
• Sample Placing 1–4–3–2
• To calculate the score use the same method as before.
• The sample placed 1 over 4. The sample placed 1 over 3. The sample placed 1 over 2. The sample placed 4 over 3. The sample placed 4 over 2. The sample placed 3 over 2. This agrees with the official. This disagrees with the official. Deduct 0. Deduct 0. Deduct 0. Deduct 3. Deduct 5. Deduct 2.
• The total deduct for this sample placing is 10 points (out of 50), so the placing receives 40 points as a score.

The following is an example of a situation that is often referred to as a “bust”. This is when the participant’s placing and the official’s placing are in substantial disagreement.

• Example: Official Placing 2–3–1–4 with cuts of 4,2,3
• Sample Placing 4–1–3–2
• The sample placed 4 over 1. The sample placed 4 over 3. The sample placed 4 over 2. The sample placed 1 over 3. The sample placed 1 over 2. The sample placed 3 over 2. This disagrees with the official. Deduct 3. Deduct 5. Deduct 9. Deduct 2. Deduct 6. Deduct 4.
• The total deduct for this sample placing is 29 points (out of 50), so the placing receives 21 points as a score.

                               
Below is an example of what your notes should look like once your are done and when getting ready to present your reasons.
   

Top Pair – yellow highlighted sections are to be said for the top pair.

Middle Pair – grey highlighted sections are to be said for the middle pair.

Bottom Pair – blue highlighted sections are to be said for the bottom pair.

# of Animal Grant (Good) Criticize (Bad) Compare (Good)

and ID Opening statement say why 1st place animal wins the class.	Say any bad qualities of the 1st place animal. (optional)		Say why 1st place animal beats 2nd place animal by stating the good qualities of 1st place animal.
Say the good qualities of the 2nd place animal over the 1st place animal.	List why the 2nd place animal does not win the class. (bad qualities)		Say why 2nd place animal beats 3rd place animal by stating only the good qualities of the 2nd place animal.
Say the good qualities of the 3rd place animal over the 2nd place animal.	Say why the 3rd place animal is 3rd. (bad qualities)		List why 3rd place animal beats 4th place animal by stating only the good qualities of the 3rd place animal.
Say the good qualities of the 4th place animal over the 3rd place animal.		Say why the 4th place animal is last.

This is what the final product should be for the reasons