| Requirement | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Name two breeds of livestock in each of the following classifications: horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, and goats. Tell their principal uses and merits. Tell where the breeds originated. | ||||||||
| 2. List two diseases that afflict the animals in each of the classifications in requirement 1. Describe the symptoms of each disease and explain how each is contracted and how it could be prevented. | ||||||||
| 3. Draw models of the digestive tracts of ruminants, horses, pigs, and poultry. Explain how the differences in structure and function among these types of digestive tracts affect the nutritional management of these species. | ||||||||
| 4. Select one type of animal-beef cow, dairy cow, horse, sheep, goat, or hog, or a poultry flock-and tell how you would properly manage it. Include in your discussion nutritional (feeding) concerns, housing, disease prevention, waste control/removal, breeding programs, and biosecurity as appropriate. | ||||||||
| 5. Do the following: | ||||||||
| a. Explain how agricultural producers make desired improvements to their stock through breeding practices and programs. | ||||||||
| b. Explain the terms pure breeding and cross breeding. | ||||||||
| c. List two modern technologies used in the production of horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, or goats. and tell what the advantages are of using the technology. | ||||||||
| 6. For requirement 6, Scouts must complete ONE of the options (beef cattle, dairying, horse, sheep or goat, hog, or avian). | ||||||||
| Avian Option | ||||||||
| (a) 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. Explain the importance of light for egg production. | ||||||||
| (b) Explain why overcrowding is dangerous for poultry flocks. | ||||||||
| (c) Tell about the grading of eggs. Describe the classes of chicken meat. | ||||||||
| (1) Manage an egg-producing flock for five months. Keep records of feed purchased, eggs sold, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present your records to your counselor for review. | ||||||||
| (2) Raise five chickens from hatching. Keep records of feed intake, weight gains, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present your records to your counselor for review.v | ||||||||
| (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. | ||||||||
| (d) Do ONE of the following: | ||||||||
| (e) Define the following terms: chick, pullet, hen, cockerel, co.ck, capon. | ||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||
| Animal Science merit badge completed | ||||||||
| Animal Science merit badge presented |
For answers and free resources, see https://scoutermom.com/24930/animal-science-merit-badge/