THE 4-H LIVESTOCK SKILLATHON (AN OVERVIEW) Stephen R Schafer, EdD 2008 University of Nevada-Reno

THE 4-HLIVESTOCK

SKILLATHON(AN OVERVIEW)

Stephen R Schafer, EdD 2008 University of Nevada-RenoStephen R Schafer, EdD 2008 University of Nevada-Reno

Partially Funded By

Ag Council of Nevada4 Hall LaneYerington, NV 89447

This presentation was developed for use as an educational resource and is provided as an educational service. User/purchase fees are not associated with this presentation.

Information Development

Much effort and time was devoted to:developing accurate/current information

incorporating appropriate pictures/graphics

providing proper credit of pictures/graphics

obtaining copyright/educational permission

Any and/or all errors, omissions, etc.

are purely unintentional/accidental.

Information Sources

Breed Associations (Respective Breed Assn)

Hoard’s Dairyman (Dairy Cattle Publications)

National 4-H/4HCCS (4-H Livestock Manuals)

North Carolina State University (4-H Skillathon)

Kansas State University (Livestock Skillathon)

Wikipedia {internet site} (Internet Encyclopedia)

(This Segment / Presentation)

Information Sources

American Meat Science Association (Meat Judging)

Auburn University (Sheep & Swine Identification)

Breed Associations (Respective Breed Associations)

Cattle-Today.com {internet site} (Beef Cattle Breeds)

Clemson University (Meat Goat Breeds)

Colorado State University (4-H Livestock Manuals)

Cornell University (Meat Goat Breeds)

Cyberspaceag {internet site} (Types of Swine)

Earthlink.net/~lureynolds/breeds (Breeds of Goats)

Fias Co Farm {internet} (Breed of Goats)

Goats4h.com/Dairy Goats (Info on Dairy Goats)

(Other Segments / Presentations)

Information Sources

Hoard’s Dairyman (Dairy Cattle Publications)

Kansas State University (Skillathon & Forage)

Louisiana State University (4-H Beef Manuals)

Minnesota Pork Board (Swine Breeds)

National 4-H/4HCCS (4-H Livestock Manuals)

National Livestock & Meat Board (Meat Identification)

National Swine Registry (Breed Identification)

North Carolina State University (4-H Skillathon)

Ohio State University (Resource Handbooks)

Oklahoma State University (Breed ID & Hay Judging)


Information Sources

Purdue University (Retail Meat Cut Identification)

Texas A&M University (Beef Pubs & Meat Identification)

Thepigsite {internet site} (Breeds of Swine)

United States Dept of Agriculture (Nutrition & Meat)

University of Maryland (Sheep & Goat Breeds)

University of Nevada-Reno (4-H Livestock)

University of Kentucky (Agripedia)

University of Wisconsin-Madison (Dairy Cattle & Meat)University of Wyoming (4-H Livestock & Meat Manuals)Wikipedia {internet site} (Internet Encyclopedia)


THE 4-HLIVESTOCK SKILLATHON

(AN OVERVIEW)

AuthorDr. Steve Schafer, University of Nevada-Reno

Reviewers(This Segment / Presentation)

Ms. Deb Cobb, University of Nevada-RenoMs. Lynn Conley, University of Nevada-RenoMs. Myrna Fisher, University of Nevada-Reno

Project Reviewers

Ms. Deb Cobb……………….University of Nevada-RenoMs. Lynn Conley…………….University of Nevada-RenoDr. Barney Cosner…………………..Nebraska State FairMr. Ron Cunningham,……………University of WyomingDr. Terry Dumas……………...Louisiana State

UniversityMs. Myrna Fisher……………University of Nevada-RenoMr. Keith Fontenot……………Louisiana State

UniversityMr. Milt Green…………………….University of WyomingMr. Alan Hogan………………Louisiana State UniversityMs. Tammie Jensen……………..University of WyomingDr. Susan Kerr……………..Washington State UniversityDr. Warrie Means…………………University of

WyomingDr. Rosie Nold……….…..South Dakota State UniversityDr. Steve Paisley…………………University of WyomingDr. Tim Page………………….Louisiana State UniversityMr. Wayne Tatman……………….University of Wyoming

(Various Segments / Presentations)

Skillathon Objectives

• To provide youth with the opportunity to blend knowledge and skills acquired in livestock judging, demonstrations, care and exhibition of animals into one activity.

• To provide youth with the opportunity to learn about the importance of livestock & their products to the environment and economy.(Especially youth without the capabilities for livestock projects.)

• To encourage youth to continue to expand their livestock knowledge and participation.

Contest Topics

Species Covered» Cattle (Beef & Dairy)» Goats (Meat & Dairy)» Sheep» Swine

Topics Covered» Meat (Judging & Identification)» Forage (Judging & Identification)» Feeds & Feeding» Quality Assurance» Livestock Equipment» Production & Management

Contest Organization

The Livestock Skillathon Contest is a TeamContest (3 or 4 team members).

Total Team Score is determined by adding the three (3) highest team member’s individual competition class totals with the total points accumulation from the team competition classes.

Possible Team Score of 1500 Points


The Livestock Skillathon Contest is a TeamContest (3 or 4 team members).

Within the contest, certain activities areparticipated in on an individual basis andcertain are participated in as a whole team,giving rise to two parts of the contest:

Team/Group ComponentsIndividual Components


Whole Team/Group Component:

300 Points Possible

Evaluation of livestock feeding/performance info– 100 Points Possible

Feed tag knowledge and feed identification – 100 Points Possible

Animal Breeding Scenario– 100 Points Possible


Individual Component:

400 Points Possible

• Retail Meat Cut Identification, 50 Points• Livestock Equipment Identification, 50 Points• Livestock Breed Identification, 50 Points• Meat Judging Class, 50 points• Meat Judging Questions, 5 @ 5 points = 25 Points• Hay Judging Class, 50 points• Hay Judging Questions, 5 @ 5 points = 25 Points• Quality Assurance Exercise, 50 Points• Livestock Industry Quiz, 50 Points

Contest PreparationMuch time, effort, study, & review is needed

Awareness of many topics & skills is needed(discussed herein & in other presentations)

Basic livestock knowledge is a must(started herein, on the following slides)

Given the broad range of topics/skills & thein-depth understanding needed in order tobe successful, use of other materials (alongwith this presentation & its accompanyingpresentations) is highly recommended.

Livestock Dictionary

AnimalAnimalFather or Father or

SireSireMother or Mother or

DamDam

Female who Female who has not has not

produced produced offspringoffspring

Castrated Castrated MaleMale NewbornNewborn

Cattle Bull Cow Heifer Steer Calf

GoatBillyor

BuckDoe Doe Wether Kid

Swine Boar Sow Gilt Barrow Pig

Sheep Ram Ewe Ewe Wether Lamb

Evaluation of Livestock Feeding/Performance Info

Use basic feeding information to calculate important efficiency measures such as: average daily gain, feed conversion, cost per pound of gain and break-even costs and then use the information to make management and/or marketing decisions.

Evaluation of Livestock Feeding/Performance Info

A knowledge of math, feeding, feeding purposes (such as growth or finishing), feeds/feedstuffs (such roughages & concentrates), feed nutrients (such as protein, energy, minerals, & vitamins) is a virtual must for success in this section of the livestock skillathon contest.

Performance Info (Average Daily Gain)

• Pounds of liveweight gained per day.• How to figure Average Daily Gain (ADG):

Feedlot Steers• New weight: 800 lbs.• Old weight: 400 lbs.• Days on feed: 132 days

800 lbs. – 400 lbs. = 400 lbs. of weight gain

400lbs. of weight gain / 132 days on feed = 3.03 lbs. per day of gain

Taken from Taylor, R.E. and Field, T.G.

Performance Info (Average Daily Gain)

Feeder Lambs– March 1st: 40 lbs. – May 29th: 120 lbs.– Average Daily Gain is???

120lbs. – 40lbs. = 80 lbs. of weight gain

March 1st to May 29th = 90 days on feed

80 lbs. of weigh gain / 90 days on feed = 0.88 lb. per day of gain

Performance Info (Cost Per Pound of Gain)

Total of all costs divided by the total pounds

gained; usually expressed on a per-pound basis


Breakeven Cost = (Price per lb. of gain)

(Value ($) of fed cattle) –

(Cost ($) of feeder cattle)

Total pounds of gain

Performance Info (Cost Per Pound of Gain)



(Value ($) of fed cattle) –

(Cost ($) of feeder cattle)Total pounds of gain


(1250 lbs. x $.85) – (750 lbs. x $.90)500 lbs.

($1062.50) – ($675.00)

500 lbs.

$387.50

500 lbs.= $.7750 lb.



Evaluation Info (Animal Breeding Scenario)

Team members will evaluate a breeding animal scenario and make animal selection decisions based upon performance data to rank breeding animals for use within the situation.


Animal selection criteria, math, understanding performance data meaning for each type of data, understanding the relationships of each type of performance data to the other types, and skill in the technology of reading/giving ultrasounds are very important components for success in this portion of the skillathon contest.


You are a cattleman in central South Dakota. Select four of these eight Hereford Heifers that could be used in a beef breeding program to produce black baldy females as replacements by breeding them to Angus Bulls. These black baldy calves will create a niche market for you and would be sold to other cattlemen at a sizeable premium.

Your customers are primarily West River ranchers who have limited facilities and labor. Most of the heifers are calved on open range and the majority of those calves are marketed at weaning time.

Number

BW

WW

YW

Milk Maternal

1 +8.2 +34 +60 +9 +26

2 +1.8 +44 +59 +13 +35

3 +3.2 +52 +64 +10 +36

4 +6.2 +28 +42 +6 +20

5 +2.2 +56 +62 +19 +47

6 +9.7 +48 +72 +7 +31

7 +4.1 +35 +58 +9 +26.5

8 +4.0 +33 +56 +6 +22.5

HEREFORD BREED AVERAGES:

+4.1 +33 +56 +9 +25.5


Ranking Points

5 40

3 30

2 20

7 10

8 8

1 6

6 6

4 2

Number

BW

WW

YW

Milk Maternal

1 +8.2 +34 +60 +9 +26

2 +1.8 +44 +59 +13 +35

3 +3.2 +52 +64 +10 +36

4 +6.2 +28 +42 +6 +20

5 +2.2 +56 +62 +19 +47

6 +9.7 +48 +72 +7 +31

7 +4.1 +35 +58 +9 +26.5

8 +4.0 +33 +56 +6 +22.5

HEREFORD BREED AVERAGES:

+4.1 +33 +56 +9 +25.5

Evaluation Info (Animal Selection/Judging)

Team members will evaluate a breeding animal scenario and make animal selection decisions based upon performance data to rank breeding animals for use within the situation.


Team members will evaluate a set animals (bulls, heifers, rams, does, market, or whatever) and make animal selection decisions based upon performance data and or visual appraisal to rank breeding animals for use within a situation, conduct a cull/keep of the animals, assess the feeding needs of the market animals, or something similar.


A knowledge of the conformation for each livestock species, awareness of the types of digestive systems (ruminant & non-ruminant), an understanding of feeding (for growth or for finish), a knowledge of feed nutrients (protein, energy, etc), and skill in technology (such as reading ultrasounds) are very important for successful completion of this part of the livestock skillathon contest.

Management Info (Quality Assurance)

Team members will need to have an understanding of the history, purpose, and use of the various (beef, pork, sheep, etc) quality assurance programs if they wish to perform well in this section of the livestock skillathon contest.


Demonstrate how to read a medicine label, calculate withdrawal times, complete a treatment record, and make responsible management decisions regarding quality assurance are aspects of this portion of the contest.


Three Different Quality Assurance Programs

– Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)• http://www.sdcattlemen.org/BQA-CMP.html

– Pork Quality Assurance (PQA)• http://www.porkboard.org/PQA/default.asp

– Sheep Safety and Quality Assurance (SSQA) • http://www.colostate.edu/programs/SSQA

Management Info (Quality Assurance…HACCP)

• What is HACCP?– Developed by Pillsbury– Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points– Used in all Quality Assurance Programs

• Seven Basic Principles1. Identify hazards2. Determine critical control points3. Establish critical limits for each critical point4. Establish monitoring procedures5. Establish corrective actions6. Establish verification activities7. Establish records and documentation

Management Info (Quality Assurance…NBQA)

National Beef Quality Audit

• 1989 – Monfort determined a loss of $107.32 per head due to management.

• 1990 – NCA, excess fat & management problems costing industry $5 billion.

• 1991– First National Beef Quality Audit– Determined the beef industry left $277.81 per head on the table for

every slaughtered steer/heifer due to correctable quality defects.• 1995

– Revealed live cattle lacked uniformity & predictability, and external carcass fat was the industry’s leading quality challenge.

• 2000– Determined the beef industry left $100.10 per head on the table for

every slaughtered steer/heifer due to correctable quality defects.

Taken from 2000 National Beef Quality Audit

Management Info (Quality Assurance…BQA)

Beef Quality Assurance

• Areas studied– Feedstuffs, Feed Additives, and Medications– Processing Cattle– Animal Well Being– Livestock Insecticides

Taken from 2000 National Beef Quality Audit

Management Info (Quality Assurance…PQA)

Pork Quality Assurance

• The National Pork Producers Council introduced PQA in 1989 as a three-level management education program. PQA emphasizes good management practices in the handling and use of health products and encourages producers to review their practices.

• Benefits– To improve management practices.– To avoid volatile drug residues.– To decrease production costs.– To increase awareness of food safety concerns.

Taken from http://www.porkboard.org/PQA/default.asp and The National Pork Producers Board

http://www.porkboard.org/PQA/default.asp


Pork Quality Assurance…Good Production Practices (GPP)

1. Identify and track all treated animals.2. Maintain medication and treatment records.3. Properly store, label, and track all drug products & medicated feeds.4. Use vet/client/patient relationship as basis for medication decisions.5. Train employees & family on proper administration techniques.6. Use drug residue tests when appropriate.7. Establish an efficient and effective herd health management plan.8. Provide proper swine care.9. Follow appropriate on-farm feed processing and commercial feed

processor practices and procedures.10. Complete the Quality Assurance Checklist every year and the

Education Card every three years.

Taken from Pork Quality Assurance, A Program of America’s Pork Producers, Level III


Pork Quality Assurance…Quality Levels

• Level I– Provides information on recommended management

practices in the handling and use of animal health products, and encourages producers to review their approach to their herds’ health programs.

• Level II– Self-review of information from the Level I section.

• Level III– Helps producers design a herd health program that

improves management, while preventing drug residues.

Taken from The National Pork Producers Board

Management Info (Quality Assurance…SSQA)

Sheep Safety & Quality Assurance

• The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) began development of an industry-wide quality assurance program in 1991.

• Mission of SSQA– Maximize consumer confidence in, and

acceptance of, sheep products by using research and education to improve management during the production of safe, and high quality sheep products.

Taken from Roeber, D.L., et. al

Management Info (Quality Assurance…SSQA)

SSQA…Quality Levels

Level 1 – SSQA Participant – Education• Educate producers regarding the basis of assuring sheep safety and quality, to

describe and define the safety and quality guidelines and to assure that producers understand the concepts and reasoning behind the development of the guidelines and the importance of their implementation.

Level 2 – SSQA Certified – Development of Site Specific Plans• Designed for education of small groups of producers, assisting them in the

development of mission statements, production flow diagrams, objectives and procedures that will be needed to implement the SSQA Program. Certification implies that producers understand the concepts needed to develop a site specific plan, complete with objectives and procedures.

Level 3 – SSQA Verified – Verification• Designed to verify that producers have implemented the SSQA Program and

that they are following the guidelines as outlined in the manual. It implies that the SSQA is in place and operating successfully in a production unit.

Taken from Roeber, D.L., et. al

Management/Production Info

A quiz concerning the livestock industry is part of the Livestock Skillathon Contest. The information in this presentation and the other presentations contain information, data, knowledge, and skills to be successful in this part of the contest. However, other information (such as the annual species population data from the USDA, “hot topics of the day”, and technological advances) should always be explored, monitored, and reviewed.

Contest Subject Matter Info Information contained in this presentation included many aspects about the skillathon contest, but it also included the subject areas of:

Basic Livestock/Animal TermsAverage Daily GainBreakeven CostsAnimal Breeding ScenariosAnimal Selection/Judging ScenariosQuality Assurance

Review of this information and the acquisition of additional/related is recommended in order to be successful in the livestock skillathon contest.

Contest Subject Matter Info

Livestock Skillathon Contest Subjects discussed in the accompanying nine presentations are:

Beef Cattle BreedsDairy Cattle BreedsGoat Breeds (dairy & meat)

Sheep BreedsSwine BreedsFeeds (nutrients, use, quality, judging)

Livestock Equipment (use & identification)

Meat IdentificationMeat Judging

Contest Subject Matter Info

Three other presentations are also being included on this CD as resource material for skillathon training/education.

Beef Cattle Quality AssurancePoultry & Rabbit Quality AssuranceProper Tail Docking of Lambs

Of course all of the presentations are not limited to livestock skillathon training and education. They are to be utilized for any purpose deemed suitable and appropriate.

Livestock Skillathon

As stated throughout this presentation, thorough preparation will involve the use of all of these presentations as well as information from other sources.

THANK YOU & GOOD LUCK

QUESTIONS

Documents

THE 4-H LIVESTOCK SKILLATHON (AN OVERVIEW) Stephen R Schafer, EdD 2008 University of Nevada-Reno