| 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). | ||||||||
| Beef Cattle Option | ||||||||
| (a) Visit a farm or ranch where beef cattle are produced under any of these systems: | ||||||||
| 1. Feeding market cattle for harvest | ||||||||
| 2. Cow/calf operation, producing cattle for sale to commercial feeders | ||||||||
| 3. Producing purebred cattle for sale as breeding stock to others | ||||||||
| Talk with the operator 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 or guardian’s permission) for information on beef cattle production. Tell about your findings. | ||||||||
| (b) 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. | ||||||||
| (c) 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 the basis of each grade in each system. | ||||||||
| (d) Define the following terms: bull, steer, bullock, cow, heifer, freemartin, heiferette, calf. | ||||||||
| 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/