| 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). | ||||||||
| Hog Option | ||||||||
| (a) 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. | ||||||||
| (b) Outline in writing the proper feeding programs used from the breeding of a gilt or sow through the weaning of the litter. Discuss the feeding programs for the growth and finishing periods. | ||||||||
| (c) 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 to your counselor for review. | ||||||||
| (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 or guardian’s permission) for information on hogs. Tell about your findings. | ||||||||
| (d) Define the following terms: gilt, sow, barrow, boar. | ||||||||
| 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/