4-H Livestock Projects!

Texas is unmatched in youth livestock project ownership and participation. Students engaging in this project gain invaluable life skills such as work ethic, responsibility and accountability. Supporters of these exceptional youth invest nearly $100 million annually in the futures of these young agriculturalists. What can become lost in a barn full of livestock, exhibitors, trophies, banners, buckles, premiums and scholarships, is that the barn is actually a classroom. The County Extension Agents and Agricultural Science Teachers leading youth through this experience are professional educators affiliated with a public or private school. The exhibitors qualify for excused absences as an extracurricular activity. Livestock show barns are the classrooms for livestock exhibitors. Because the barn is a classroom, the livestock community must take notice that we are constantly projecting an image to the public regarding the value of our classroom. We must proclaim the values we stand for and also condemn certain behaviors that are unwelcome and unhelpful in preserving the sanctity of our unique classroom settings.

Livestock Project Information Sheet

Beef Cattle 

Steer Project

Beef Cattle Explore Project Book (pdf)

Managing Beef Cattle for Show(pdf)

Texas Show Steer Breed Classification(pdf)

• Purchase steer in March or April
• Order validation tags in April
• Validate steers in June
• Have hooves trimmed throughout feeding period
• Treat for external parasites
• Steer must be dehorned
• Stock Show entry forms and fees for all stock shows are due in mid November
• Steer must be shorn to no more than ¼” on any location of the body except tail (exception of County, District and Fort Worth)
• Age for County and for other stock shows:  9 (or 8 & in the 3^rd grade) – 18 years old

Goat 

• 4-H Meat Goat Guide
• https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/goats/

Rabbit 

• Rabbit Project Reference Manual
• Guidelines for Rabbit Showmanship
• https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/rabbits/
• Rabbit Explore Guide
• Age for County and for other stock shows:  9 (or 8 & in the 3^rd grade) – 18 years old

Sheep 

• Reasons Terminology for Market Lambs
• What Goes in the Lamb Showbox?
• Selection of Prospect Market Lambs
• Keeping Your Lamb Healthy
• 4-H Show Lamb Guide
• https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/sheep/
• Market Lamb Classification Guidelines
  • The guidelines will be implemented on the state-level at the 2020 State Fair of Texas and Heart of Texas Fair.  Please know, there will also be an educational resource to be paired with the guidelines to increase accuracy and understanding of lamb classification. The resource, with actual pictures of lambs, will be released in the coming weeks, but we wanted to get the current guidelines to you for your reference and use. See the link. Lamb Breed Classification Guidelines 4.1.2020

Swine 

Swine Classification – updated summer of 2019

NOTE:  not all major shows have accepted these classifications.  You will want to check the show Premium Books whenever they are released later in the fall to see if a show has adopted these guidelines.

Swine Project Guide(pdf)

Keeping Show Pigs Healthy (pdf)

• Order validation tags in September
• Purchase swine in October
• Validate swine in November
• Entry forms and fees for all stock shows are due in late October
• Age for County and for other stock shows:  9 (or 8 & in the 3^rd grade) – 18 years old

Main Resource for Swine Projects!!! This Page contains videos for creating a successful Steer and Heifer Project Webinar Series.  New Project Member should enroll and participate!!

• Evaluating Market Swine
• AWESOME Swine Showmanship Video!! Click Here
• Breeding Swine Selection
• Youth Pork Quality Assurance Program Slides and Script
• The Frequency of the Porcine Stress Gene in Texas Show Pigs
• The Facts about Paylean Ractopamine for Swine
• Texas 4-H Swine Project Guide
• Starting Them Off Right: Getting Your Newly Purchased Pigs on the Right Track
• Administration of Medications to Ensure Pork Quality/Safety
• Preventing Lameness in Show Pigs
• Keeping Show Gilts as Replacements
• From Pen to Plate: Carcass Composition of Market Hogs
• Elimination of the Porcine Stress Gene: What the Show Pig Industry Needs to Know
• Diarrheal Disease in Show Swine
• 4-H Swine Project Guide
• Swine Explore Guide – A great resource for new members
• https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/swine-2/

Poultry 

• Poultry Resource Page
  For more information regarding poultry care and management.
• Poultry Breeds
  For information on all Poultry Breeds.
• Showing Poultry Projects
  Ohio State University works to provide a central site 4-H’ers and their families can visit to get information on poultry related projects and events, so interested students can find activities to enhance their understanding and enjoyment of poultry.
• Should I take BROILERS as a 4H Project?
  Choosing to take a livestock project in 4-H should involve sound decision-making. This fact sheet provides basic information to help you make a good decision.
• Should I take TURKEYS as a 4H Project?
  Choosing to take a livestock project in 4-H should involve sound decision-making. This fact sheet provides basic information to help you make a good decision.

Poultry Q & A
Nutrition and Feeding of Show Poultry
Producing Turkeys for Show
How to Produce Broilers and Roasters for Show

Turkey Project

Producing Turkeys for Show (pdf)

• Order poults in April from the Extension Office
• Pick up poults in October
• Entry forms and fees for all stock show are due in late October
• Age for major stock shows:  9 (or 8 & in the 3^rd grade) – 18 years old

Broilers

Getting Started with Show Broilers (pdf)

How to Produce Broilers and Roasters for Show (pdf)

Nutrition and Feeding of Show Poultry (pdf)

• Order chicks in September from the Extension Office for major stock shows
• Order chicks in December from the Extension Office for County
• Pick up chicks in January for County Stock Show
• Pick up chicks in early January for San Antonio Stock Show
• Pick up chicks in late January for Houston and Austin Stock Shows
• Entry forms and fees for all stock shows are due in late October
• Weight requirements for County Show is 15 lbs. per pen
• Each exhibitor must order a minimum of 25 broilers
• Age for County and for other stock shows:  9 (or 8 & in the 3^rd grade) – 18 years old

Dairy Cattle

• https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/dairy-cattle/

Other Resources: 

Welcome to Texas Youth Livestock & Agriculture

https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/project-category/animals/

Recycle your feed bags into something FUN!!!  Click to learn how!!