Animal Science

1. Name four breeds of livestock in each of the following classifications: horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, hogs. Tell their principal uses and merits. Tell where the breeds originated.
2. List the principal five diseases in your area that afflict the animals in each classification each of the classifications in requirement 1. Also list five diseases of poultry. . Describe the symptoms of each disease and explain the proper treatment for the diseases you list how each is contracted and how it could be prevented.
3. Explain the major differences in the digestive systems of ruminant and nonruminant animals ruminants, horses, pigs, and poultry. Explain how the differences in feeds typically used for beef cattle and for dairy cows structure and function among these four types of digestive tracts affect the nutritional management of these species.
4. Tell how you would properly manage a Select one type of animal - beef cow, dairy cow, horse, sheep, goat, or hog, or a poultry flock , including adequate feeding - and tell how you would properly manage it. Include in your discussion nutritional (feeding) concerns, housing, disease prevention, waste control/removal, and breeding programs if appropriate. Tell what must be done to prevent illness, blemishes, defects, and disease arising from improper and unsanitary conditions.
5. Tell about three career opportunities in animal science. Explain the importance of setting clear goals for any animal breeding program. Tell how purebred lines of animals are produced. Explain the practice of crossbreeding and the value of this practice.
6. Complete ONE of the following options:
   • BEEF CATTLE OPTION
     1. Visit a farm or ranch where beef cattle are produced under any of these systems:
        1. Feeding market cattle for slaughter harvest;
        2. Cow/calf operation, producing feeder cattle for sale to commercial cattle feeders;
        3. Producing purebred cattle for sale as breeding stock to other breeders others.
        Talk with the operator . Tell to learn how the cattle were handled, fed, weighed, and shipped. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a cattle ranch or farm, view a video from a breed association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on beef cattle production. Tell about your findings.
     2. Sketch a plan of a feedlot , to include its forage and grain storage facilities, and loading chute for 30 or more fattening steers, or sketch a corral plan with cutting and loading chutes for handling 50 or more beef cows and their calves at one time.
     3. Submit Make a sketch showing the principal wholesale and retail cuts of beef. Tell about the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) dual grading system of beef. Tell about the grades the basis of each grade in each system.
     4. Define the following terms: bull, steer, bullock, cow, heifer, freemartin, heiferette, calf.
   • DAIRYING OPTION
     1. Tell how a cow or a goat converts forage and grain into milk. Explain the differences in feeds typically used for dairy cows versus those fed to beef cows.
     2. Make a chart showing the ingredients components in cows' milk or goat's milk. Chart the amount of each ingredient component.
     3. Explain the requirements for producing grade A milk. Tell how and why milk is pasteurized.
     4. Tell about the kinds of equipment used for milking and the sanitation standards that must be met for dairy farms.
     5. Define the following terms: bull, cow, steer, heifer, springer, buck, doe, kid.
     6. Visit a dairy farm or a milk processing plant. Tell about your visit. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a dairy farm or processing plant, view a video from a breed or dairy association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on dairying. Tell about your findings.
   • HORSE OPTION
     1. Make a sketch of a useful saddle horse barn and exercise yard.
     2. Tell about the history of the horse and the benefits it has brought to people. Using the four breeds of horses you chose in requirement 1, discuss the different special uses of each breed.
     3. Tell about Define the following terms: mare, stallion, gelding, foal, colt, filly; mustang, quarter horse, draft horse, pacer, trotter; pinto, calico, palomino, roan, overo, tobiano.
     4. Visit a horse farm. Describe your visit what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a horse farm, view a video from a breed association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on horses. Tell about your findings.
     5. Outline the proper feeding of a horse doing light work. Explain why the amount and kind of feed will change according to the kind of horse and the work it does. Describe the symptoms of what colic is, what can cause it, and its symptoms.
   • SHEEP OPTION
     1. Make a sketch of a live lamb. Show the location of the various wholesale and retail cuts.
     2. Select two breeds that would be appropriate for the production of crossbred market lambs in your region. Identify which breed the rams should be. Discuss how wools are sorted and graded.
        c. Choose three breeds and offer a crossbreeding plan that would use the best characteristics of each breed for maximum sheep production efficiency.
     3. c) Do ONE of the following:
        1. Raise a lamb from weaning to market weight. Keep records of feed intake, weight gains, medication, vaccination,and mortality. Present your records for review by your counselor.
        2. d. Visit a farm or ranch where sheep are raised. Tell about your visit, including the feeding program used. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a sheep farm or ranch, view a video from a breed association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on sheep production. Tell about your findings.
     4. e. Describe some differences between the production of purebred and commercial lambs. Then select two breeds that would be appropriate for the production of crossbred market lambs in your region. Identify which breed the ram should be.
     5. f. Define the following terms: wether, ewe, ram, lamb.
   • HOG OPTION
     1. Visit a farm where hogs are produced, or visit a packing plant handling hogs. Describe your visit. If you cannot visit a hog production unit or packing plant, view a video from a packer or processor. Tell about the video.
        Make a sketch showing the principal wholesale and retail cuts of pork. Tell about the recommended USDA grades of pork. Tell the basis for each grade.
     2. Outline in writing the proper feeding programs used from the breeding of a gilt or sow through the weaning of the litter. Discuss the growth and finishing periods from the breeding of a gilt or sow through the weaning of the litter. Discuss the feeding programs for the growth and finishing periods.
     3. Make a sketch showing the principal wholesale and retail cuts of pork. Tell about the recommended USDA grades of pork. Tell the basis for each grade. Do ONE of the following:
        1. Raise a feeder pig from weaning to market weight. Keep records of feed intake, weight gains, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present your records for review by your counselor.
        2. Visit a farm where hogs are produced, or visit a packing plant handling hogs. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a hog production unit or packing plant, view a video from a packer or processor, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on hogs. Tell about your findings.
     4. Define the following terms: gilt, sow, barrow, boar.
   • POULTRY AVIAN OPTION
     1. Do ONE of the following:
        1. Manage an egg-production flock for five months. Keep records of feed purchased, eggs sold, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present records for review.
        2. Raise 20 chicks, poults, or ducklings. Keep records of feed intake, weight gains, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present records for review. Kill and dress two birds.
        3. Visit a commercial layer or broiler chicken producer, or a turkey production unit. Tell about your visit. If you cannot visit a commercial poultry or egg farm, view a video from a poultry association or research the Internet for information on poultry production. Tell about your findings.
        b. Make a sketch of a layer house or broiler house showing nests, roosts, feeders, waterers, and means of ventilation. Explain how insulation, ventilation, temperature controls, automatic lights, and other environmental controls are used to protect birds from heat, cold, and bad weather.
     2. Explain why overcrowding is dangerous for poultry flocks.
     3. Tell about the grading of eggs. Tell how broilers (fryers) are graded. Describe the classes of chicken meat.
     4. Do ONE of the following:
        1. Manage an egg-producing flock for five months. Keep records of feed purchased, eggs sold, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present your records for review by your counselor.
        2. Raise 20 chicks from hatching. Keep records of feed intake, weight gains, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present your records for review by your counselor.
        3. Visit a commercial avian production facility. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a commercial facility, view a video from a poultry association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on poultry production. Tell about your findings.
     5. d. Define the following terms: hen, rooster, chick, capon, tom, poult.
7. Find out about three career opportunities in animal science. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

BSA Advancement ID#: 18
Requirements last updated in: 2007
Pamphlet Publication Number: 33395B
Pamphlet Revision Date: 2006

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