| 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). | ||||||||
| Horse Option | ||||||||
| (a) Make a sketch of a useful saddle horse barn and exercise yard. | ||||||||
| (b) 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. | ||||||||
| (c) Define the following terms: mare, stallion, gelding, foal, colt, filly; mustang, quarter horse, draft horse, pacer, trotter; pinto, calico, palomino, roan, overo, tobiano. | ||||||||
| (d) Visit a horse farm. Describe 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 or guardian’s permission) for information on horses. Tell about your findings. | ||||||||
| (e) 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 what colic is, what can cause it, and its symptoms. | ||||||||
| 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/