Livestock Judging, What is it?

For the next few weeks I will be looking for different sites of interest for all 4-H projects and posting their links. This is a new Blog be the first to follow.


Livestock Judging, What is it?
 Judging activities provide youth with an opportunity to develop communication, decision making and organizational skills, and enhance their confidence and self esteem.
Judging is usually a team effort, but individuals can also participate. Three to four youth on a team will judge various classes of livestock. Typically market and breeding beef, sheep, and swine species are used in a contest. Youth will judge each class (consisting of 4 animals) and an official judge will give his placing. Youth are then scored compared to the official judge. Oral reasons may or may not be included in a contest. If a contest does have a reasons class, youth will judge the class and take notes as to why they placed the class the way they did. Youth will then get an opportunity to work and rewrite their notes into reasons. Once they are finished, then youth will present their reasons to one person and they will receive a score to be added to their overall score. New this year is the Southern III District Livestock Judging Program. There are multiple scheduled days around the district this spring and summer. The goal of the Livestock Judging Program is to help youth and adults learn; 1. What to look for when judging animals 2. How to take notes 3. Understanding terms and animal parts 4. How to format and give oral reasons.


Cindy A. Kinder Extension Educator Gooding County Idaho

My 2010 4-H Steers

This is Munch he weighed in at 913 pounds. Red Angus

This is Pepper he weighed in at 878 pounds.
Black Angus

And this is George he weighed in at 868 pounds. Red Angus

All my steers lead and behaved very well the weigh-in process went very smooth; but they were glad to get home.

Now it is time to set the feeding, exercise, and training schedules.

 Let the fun begin!!

 

Selecting 4-H Market Livestock Project Animals

INTRODUCTION — SELECTING ANIMALS FOR A "SYSTEMS APPROACH" MARKET LIVESTOCK PROGRAM
The first concept that needs to be understood is that selecting animals for a Systems Approach program is not the same as selecting a "show" animal to be groomed, molded and manipulated to fit the current fad of the show ring. With the "Systems Approach", animals are selected which, with proper management, will meet the typical standards for efficiency, profitability, and usefulness to the production, feedlot and packing industry and at the same time exhibit a high degree of acceptance by the consumer.
The Systems Approach project evaluation is based on achievement of standards for selection, management and efficient production of meat that is desirable to packer and consumer. The project evaluation card uses four categories to evaluate member achievement and success. The Lean Yield section of the card indicates the degree of success in selecting and producing a lean product profitable to the packer and desired by consumers. The Conformation/Usefulness evaluation looks individually at muscling, trimness, growth and frame and structure and balance. These factors are representative of potential for achieving a desirable yield grade, a high degree of production efficiency, a high level of consumer satisfaction and a desirable degree of longevity. The gain and quality grade section evaluates both profitability and consumer desirability. The rate of gain section recognizes successful animal management in achieving a high level of efficiency and profitability. Gain is rated higher for higher quality animals where each pound of gain is more valuable.
The primary purpose for selecting animals is to obtain an animal that when properly fed and managed will represent the best in the industry. This means that industry standards must be identified prior to selection. The following standards represent industry goals achievable by most youth livestock program participants. Judges use the "Systems Approach" evaluation card to provide an evaluation of these standards. Animal selection is guided by the same standards that are used to evaluate accomplishment.

TABLE 1. Typical minimum standards for performance and quality.

BEEF                                               
USDA yield grade 3.0 or less.
Live weight 1150 to 1300 lb.
Minimum 2.8 lb. ADG.   
Conformation Score of 22 or >.

PIGS
USDA grade of No. 1.
Muscle score of 7 or higher.
 Live weight 240 to 270 lb.
Minimum 1.85 lb. ADG.
Conformation Score of 22 or >.

LAMBS
USDA Choice Y.G. 2 or >.
Muscle score of 7 or higher.
Live weight 115 to 145 lb.
Minimum 0.75 lb. ADG.
Conformation Score of 22 or >.

 just click the link below to read it all.
this is a place to learn about selecting 4-H market livestock animals
written by: Chad C. Gibson, Gene W. Gibson, Jeff Goodwin

Weigh In is almost here

Weigh In of my market steers is this weekend; I can't wait to see what my steers are weighing.
After weigh in I will take my before pictures and post them so that you can see my steers.
Check back this weekend and check it out.

Just a reminder to please sign my guest book.

Breaking to Lead

We had snow and a very cold weather this year. I hope you all did your own feeding this Winter?
I did all the feeding and watering of my Steers, each time I did my chores I talked and rubbed on my steers so not to loose the work I did last Fall on breaking them to touch.

Now it is time to break them to lead. Everyone has a different way to do this. First I touched, rubbed and fed my steers all winter, doing this made it easier for me to break my steers to lead.

First I did the pull and release; this is done by pulling on the lead rope for a few minutes. This puts pressure on the steers head, and nose, then release the pressure. Do this until the steer takes a step or two. Repeat this step until the steer gives to you.

Next Place your hand on the lead rope closer to the steers head, and take a few steps. You are still using the pull and release and trying to get you steer to give to you.

This all takes time, I do this every morning and night at feeding time. I lead them to where I feed and tie them up while they eat. After they eat I lead them around for a while.

I have found that when breaking to lead a few steps at a time is a good start.

Before you know it your steers are leading all around the pen for you. Try to remember to stay calm and just keep working with them. I try to have my steers broke to lead by Spring so that it gives me time to do the ground work for the show ring..                                                                                                                  Something to always remember; Your steers are not pets, I never let my guard down when working with my steers. I work on the leading and show ring skills to the day I show and sale my steers. Then and only then do I think that my steers are broke to lead, touch, and show. 

Set you goals and work to meet them.

Stay Calm and just keep working. 

If you give it your best; that is the best you can do. 

Selection and Management of 4-H Market Lambs

I found this for Jessica and Hunter they are member of my 4-H club that raise Market Lambs.
this article just for you. Check It out It is good stuff.


This is a great must Read for the first year, or like me someone who know nothing about raising market lambs.



By Mike Neary Extension Sheep Specialist Purdue University      To read the full article click this link 


Choosing what breed or breeds you want to raise is an important decision. You need to keep in mind that every breed has strong points, as well as weak points. Therefore, match up breeds with your particular situation. commercial white-faced and black-faced can also be used for market lambs. Make sure you know something about the breed character and traits of whatever breed you are choosing. Contact your state or national breed association for information about breeds you are interested in.
When choosing a producer to buy lambs from some important points need to be considered. Primarily, is the breeder an honest, respected person that will truthfully answer questions and assist you should a problem arise? Good producers back their product and help 4-H participants with their questions and offer advice.
When selecting lambs, keep in mind the final objective; production of a lamb with a high quality, lean, muscular carcass that is practically and economically produced. Most lambs should be slaughtered in a weight range of 105 to 130 pounds. Ideally, lambs should be slaughtered when they have from .1 to .2 inches of external body fat. This fat thickness range ensures that carcass quality is adequate, with minimal amounts of excess fat trim. Therefore, the final weight achieved when lambs are finished will vary depending on breed, frame size and nutrition.
A common fault in selecting market lambs is to select lambs that are of an extreme in a particular trait. Single trait selection for any type of livestock can quickly lead to decreased usefulness when other traits are measured. Therefore, lambs should be selected that are "well rounded" or complete. these lambs would be above average in all respects, rather than exceptional in one trait and below average in all others.
What is a complete lamb? A complete lamb is one that is above average in muscling, of adequate frame size to have economical gains and finish at a market acceptable weight and is structurally correct.
When evaluating a young lamb to predict future muscle thickness, you need to keep in mind carcass economics. The highest priced cuts from a lamb come from the hindsaddle, or from the last rib back. Your lamb should show evidence of depth and width through the loin, fullness and length through the rump, with a full, muscular leg and stifle. Also, the forearm area of lambs and fullness behind the shoulders are good indicators of future muscle development. A lamb is born with all the muscle fibers it will ever have, feeding or exercising will not make a lamb into something it is not genetically capable of being.
Frame size in lambs is used to predict growth potential and to predict size (weight) when properly finished. Usually, lambs should be from average to large in frame size, for their breed, for economical gains. Very small and very large frame size lambs should be avoided, as they often finish at weights that are not market acceptable. Frame size is often thought of as just height, when actually it includes body length and body capacity. Frame size can be compared to a rectangular box, with height, length and total volume all making an equal contribution. Ideally, lambs should be long in the hindsaddle (loin and rump) region.
Structural correctness refers to several traits. Certainly, your lambs should have sound mouths, normal eyes, and be free of any abnormalities. Feet and leg placement should be square with normal width and straightness. Furthermore, lambs should have strong pasterns and no feet problems. Do not buy lambs that limp and if a producer has footrot problems in his flock, consider buying from someone else.
Balance or eye appeal is also desirable in your lambs. Eye appeal is a subjective measurement, but generally, lambs should be level in the top line, straight and square over the rump, and not have extreme coarseness through the shoulder, neck and brisket area.
When buying your lambs, make sure they are within a manageable weight range. They need to be at least two months old and heavy enough to attain their finished weight by fair time. Most lambs will gain from 0.5 to 0.75 pounds per day. However, do not make the mistake of buying lambs that are too heavy. Lambs that are held at maintenance too long get stale appearing. Ideally, your lambs should be within a weight range that will allow for normal growth to reach market weight by fair time.

What A Fun Project

Today I went to what I thought was a one day camp. It is not a one day camp it is a project. My family drive's teams of horses and I thought I would go and learn about the equipment and tack and how to hook up the horse's. I had so much fun I signed up for the Project. I think everyone else had fun too.

It is not to late if you would like to learn how to drive a team of horses call the Gooding County Ext. office at 934 - 4417or the Lincoln County Ext. office at 886 -2406 for more information and the time and date of the next meeting.

  This Project was cool the ages of the different 4-H members was from 8 to 17

there were members from Gooding County, Jerome County and Lincoln County

So if you would like to have fun and learn to drive a team of horses.

The next meeting is on the 19th of January in Shoshone

Stay cool keep it natural and I will see you at the next meeting.