Wednesday, March 21, 2012
4-H Livestock Skill-A-Thon
Wanting to learn more about the livestock industry? Interested in learning breeds, equipment, feedstuffs and meat cuts? If so, consider joining the 4-H Livestock Skill-A-Thon team. The skill-a-thon team competes in contests across the state of North Carolina in the categories of a written test, team problem, breeds identification, feedstuffs identification, equipment identification, and meat cuts identification. Participating on the skill-a-thon team not only gets you familiar with every aspect of raising livestock, but also gives you life skills as well; these include, but are not limited to teamwork, problem solving skills, and critical thinking skills. Unlike livestock judging, you do not have to give oral reasons to an official, which is appealing to most people. Practices normally consist of taking a written test and then playing a game such as bingo or jeopardy. Skill-A-Thon is open to youth ages 9-18 as of January 1st of the current year. If you are interested in joining the Cumberland County 4-H Livestock Skill-A-Thon team, or would like to learn more, please contact me at 910-321-6862 or mandy_harris@ncsu.edu.
4-H Livestock Judging
Interested in learning more about livestock and the agriculture industry? Consider 4-H livestock judging!
Livestock judging is the evaluation of an animal based on a widely accepted standard or ideal. Standards are based on consumer and industry demands and change from time to time depending on the trends in demand. Ever since humans have domesticated animals and raised them for meat, livestock judging has been an essential tool in livestock production. Producers had to look at their animals and determine which males would pass on the best genetics and which females would produce and care for their offspring the best and meat packers had to determine how much meat a carcass would have by looking at the live animal. Even today livestock producers, breeders, feeders, buyers and packers all use livestock judging when choosing their animals. It is also the foundation of any 4-H livestock project.
Across the country, 4-H’ers compete in livestock exhibitions as well as livestock judging competitions. A livestock judging contest consists of a number of classes that include breeding and market classes for beef cattle, sheep and swine. The demand and popularity of goats has risen, so a few years ago, goats were added to contests across the country. Each class consists of four animals that are numbered one through four. Each animal is compared to the commonly accepted standard and then the animals are ranked one through four based on how well they fit that standard.
After the ranking is established, contestants will take notes on the class to later defend their placings in front of a judge. This process is called oral reasons. The contestant will study his or her notes then put their notes away and stand in front of a judge and defend their placings on a class using the proper terminology to describe the animals and confidence.
There are four techniques to livestock judging. First, knowledge of the parts of the animal, a mental image of the ideal animal, and the breeds and sexes of each species. The second thing is observation; a good livestock judge should look at the class from three different angles (rear, side, front) and not overlook anything while comparing the four animals in front of them to the ideal animal in their head. The third is comparing each animal to the other animals in the class; a good judge should be able to find the good and the bad things about each animal and then make a decision based on those findings. The fourth and final thing is mak-ing the decision. This can be the hardest part of the con-test. It requires the judge to think critically and logically and then be able to defend his or her decision. This is livestock judging in a nutshell.
So, what does livestock judging do for you? Other than give youth the opportunity to meet new people, learn characteristics of an ideal animal, and win all kinds of awards (plaques, ribbons, belt buckles, etc.), it teaches skills used throughout the course of life. These skills include problem solving skills, decision making skills, the ability to defend your decisions, and a good work ethic.
Looking at a situation, determining the bad and the good in the situation, and then deciding what to do about it is the basis of problem solving. A livestock judge will look at a class, determine the good and the bad of each animal, then place them based on those observations helps youth understand the concept of problem solving and be able to apply that to real life situations. This applies to decision making as well; in order to make a decision, the good and the bad aspects have to be weighed.
After making a decision, in most cases, that decision has to be defended. Although parents are able to tell their children "because I said so" or "that’s just the way it is," most of the time its not that easy. In the workplace, an employer wants to know why you make certain decisions. Livestock judging shows kids that they must use the proper terminology, defend themselves, all while communicating effectively and with confidence.
In order to be good at anything in life, you have to work for it. Livestock judging takes practice and dedication, which develops a strong work ethic. Livestock judging teams build our future leaders. Think you have what it takes? If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the livestock judging team, contact me at 910-321-6862 or mandy_harris@ncsu.edu. Practice and contest dates can be found in the calendar!
Livestock judging is the evaluation of an animal based on a widely accepted standard or ideal. Standards are based on consumer and industry demands and change from time to time depending on the trends in demand. Ever since humans have domesticated animals and raised them for meat, livestock judging has been an essential tool in livestock production. Producers had to look at their animals and determine which males would pass on the best genetics and which females would produce and care for their offspring the best and meat packers had to determine how much meat a carcass would have by looking at the live animal. Even today livestock producers, breeders, feeders, buyers and packers all use livestock judging when choosing their animals. It is also the foundation of any 4-H livestock project.
Across the country, 4-H’ers compete in livestock exhibitions as well as livestock judging competitions. A livestock judging contest consists of a number of classes that include breeding and market classes for beef cattle, sheep and swine. The demand and popularity of goats has risen, so a few years ago, goats were added to contests across the country. Each class consists of four animals that are numbered one through four. Each animal is compared to the commonly accepted standard and then the animals are ranked one through four based on how well they fit that standard.
After the ranking is established, contestants will take notes on the class to later defend their placings in front of a judge. This process is called oral reasons. The contestant will study his or her notes then put their notes away and stand in front of a judge and defend their placings on a class using the proper terminology to describe the animals and confidence.
There are four techniques to livestock judging. First, knowledge of the parts of the animal, a mental image of the ideal animal, and the breeds and sexes of each species. The second thing is observation; a good livestock judge should look at the class from three different angles (rear, side, front) and not overlook anything while comparing the four animals in front of them to the ideal animal in their head. The third is comparing each animal to the other animals in the class; a good judge should be able to find the good and the bad things about each animal and then make a decision based on those findings. The fourth and final thing is mak-ing the decision. This can be the hardest part of the con-test. It requires the judge to think critically and logically and then be able to defend his or her decision. This is livestock judging in a nutshell.
So, what does livestock judging do for you? Other than give youth the opportunity to meet new people, learn characteristics of an ideal animal, and win all kinds of awards (plaques, ribbons, belt buckles, etc.), it teaches skills used throughout the course of life. These skills include problem solving skills, decision making skills, the ability to defend your decisions, and a good work ethic.
Looking at a situation, determining the bad and the good in the situation, and then deciding what to do about it is the basis of problem solving. A livestock judge will look at a class, determine the good and the bad of each animal, then place them based on those observations helps youth understand the concept of problem solving and be able to apply that to real life situations. This applies to decision making as well; in order to make a decision, the good and the bad aspects have to be weighed.
After making a decision, in most cases, that decision has to be defended. Although parents are able to tell their children "because I said so" or "that’s just the way it is," most of the time its not that easy. In the workplace, an employer wants to know why you make certain decisions. Livestock judging shows kids that they must use the proper terminology, defend themselves, all while communicating effectively and with confidence.
In order to be good at anything in life, you have to work for it. Livestock judging takes practice and dedication, which develops a strong work ethic. Livestock judging teams build our future leaders. Think you have what it takes? If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the livestock judging team, contact me at 910-321-6862 or mandy_harris@ncsu.edu. Practice and contest dates can be found in the calendar!
Welcome!
Hey everyone! My name is Mandy and I'm the Livestock Extension Agent for Cumberland County. I will be using this blog to keep everyone up to date on livestock events going on in the county and on the district and state levels as well! Please check the blog on a regular basis or subscribe to get the latest updates and news.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)