4-H Youth Development

Livestock Projects
The livestock projects where members raise an animal and sell it for meat are very important youth development activities. 4-H'ers learn to make decisions, keep records, manage money, take responsibility for another living thing, budget time, and many other important characteristics.

The "Grand Finale" for most of these projects is exhibiting and selling their animals at the county fair, area livestock show, or State Fair. At these events members participate in friendly competition and are evaluated by an authority in the livestock industry. The market animals are sold at the conclusion of the event, providing an opportunity for the community to participate in the activity.

Livestock exhibitors do not get rich with their market animal projects. They invest lots in the animals bought at the beginning of the project, and spend money weekly for feed and other items needed to keep the animal comfortable and well cared for. In addition, they invest many hours of their time in providing care for their project animals.

The livestock projects are very popular. They provide a great opportunity for learning many life skills.Also check out some of this years' show dates.

Beef
Explores beef cattle breeding, feeding, reproduction, health, meats, marketing and economics.
Managing Beef Cattle for Shows
Texas 4-H Beef Project
Texas 4-H Beef Quiz Bowl

Swine
Participants learn proper methods of selecting, feeding, raising, breeding and marketing swine. Either market or breeding animals can be raised.
Keeping Show Pigs Healthy
Texas 4-H Swine Project
4-H Swine Study Guide
Feeding Show Pigs
Swine Project: Planning for Success
TAMU Swine Publications

Horse
The horse project offers activities in horsemanship, horse development, management and training.
4-H Horse Project Teaching Outlines
Texas State Horse Show Rules
Texas 4-H HorseQuiz Bowl
Big 5 Rules and Information - to come
If you are interested in Horse Judging contact Jenny Pluhar at 806-488-2373.

Poultry
Members learn poultry production and marketing by managing their poultry projects. Project topics include broilers, capons, turkeys, egg production, and development from egg to chick.
How to Produce Broilers for Shows
Producing Turkeys for Show
The Small Laying Flock

Rabbits
Participants learn proper methods of caring for raising, breeding and marketing rabbits. There are three project options: Market Rabbit Project (breeding and raising rabbits for meat); Rabbit Breeding Project (breeding and raising rabbits for desired or unique characteristics); and Pet Project (maintaining rabbits for companionship)
Rabbit Project Reference Materials

Sheep/Goats
Youth care for live animals while learning about animal health and nutrition, breeding, selection and marketing. In either the 4-H Sheep or Goat projects individuals learn decision making, record keeping, responsibility, sportsmanship and leadership. They may participate in market projects, breeding projects and non-competitive projects.
Texas 4-H Lamb Show Guide
Texas 4-H Meat Goat Guide

Livestock Judging
Livestock judging is a process of evaluating, selecting, placing, and learning the various livestock
species–beef cattle, sheep, and swine. Judging is the foundation of any 4-H livestock project.
Feeding, exercising, grooming, and showing the animal are all important aspects of your 4-H project; however, none may be as exciting as selecting your project animal. Selection of project animals is actually judging livestock, comparing the merits of one animal against the merits of other potential project animals.

This selection process is just one of many applications of livestock evaluation and judging.
Livestock producers, breeders, feeders, buyers, and packers evaluate livestock for their potential as
either breeding or market animals. These people try to relate the “form” of an animal with the “function” for which it is intended to serve. That is why livestock judging is often called the application of “form and function” to livestock.
Using EPD's & Scenarios in Livestock Judging Contests
4-H Livestock Judging Reason Card
4-H Judging Card

If you are interested in Dairy Judging contact David Hinders at 806-488-2261.

For more Livestock publications visit the Texas Cooperative Extension Bookstore.

For more information contact:
Kristy Synatschk
200 N. Brown Rd. - Canyon, TX 79015
806-468-5543 (office) - 806-468-5547 (fax)