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Livestock

Find out about deadlines, requirements and  resources for beef, goat, sheep and swine projects!

Important Deadlines: Beef Cattle

  • June 1st: All beef cattle need to be registered into 4-H Online -  Both leased & owned 

    • DNA samples must be submitted on ALL cattle registered as Market 

    • Animal Projects Lease Form need to be uploaded into 4-H Online with animal 

  • July 1st: Youth Livestock Literacy (YLL) must be completed to exhibit livestock

  • Aug 8th: Registration papers need to be uploaded into FairEntry

    • If animal was purchased, ownership date must be by June 1st​

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Members can register as many head as they wish.

Only 4 head can be exhibited (Breeding & Market Beef combined)

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Heifers will be entered into 4-H Online under all the heifer lots (Market and Breeding Heifer), but can only be shown in ONE lot (Market or Breeding Heifer).

Requirements for Entering Breeding Beef Cattle in 4-H

Registered breeding cattle must have:

  • Ear tattoo

  • Registration paper

Plus, a secondary identifier: ​

  • Bangs tag, USDA Silver Tag, NUES tag OR herd tag​​

 

Commercial cattle must have one of the following:​

  • Ear tattoo

  • Bangs Tag

  • NUES Tag

Plus. a secondary identifier:​

  • ​​Tattoo, herd tag OR freeze brand​

 

Tags featuring breeder name or logos must be removed before showing

Requirements for Entering Market Beef Cattle in 4-H

Registered cattle must have:

  • Registration paper

  • Federal, NUES, OR 4-H green NUES tag​​

Plus, a secondary identifier:​

  • Tattoo OR herd tag

 

Crossbred steers/market heifers must have one of the following:​

  • Federal tag

  • NUES tag

  •  4-H green NUES tag

Plus, a secondary identifier:​

  • Tattoo OR herd tag

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Steers must weigh a minimum of 1,000 lbs to be shown.

Market Heifers must weigh a minimum of 900 lbs to be shown.

Miniature steers can weigh between 500 lbs and 1,000 lbs, and not taller than 47" at the hip.

 

​Tags featuring breeder name or logos must be removed before showing.​

Important Deadlines: Meat Goats

  • June 1st: All meat goats need to be registered into 4-H Online -  Both leased & owned 

  • July 1st: Youth Livestock Literacy (YLL) must be completed to exhibit livestock

  • Aug 8th: Registration papers need to be uploaded into FairEntry

    • If animal is purchased, ownership date must be by June 1st​

 

Members can register as many goats as they wish.​

Only 4 head of goats can be entered. (Breeding & Market goats combined.)

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Does will be entered into 4-H Online under all the doe lots (Market and Breeding Doe lots), but can only be shown in ONE lot (Market Doe, Wether Doe, Commercial Breeding Doe or Registered Breeding Doe).

Requirements for Entering Market Goats in 4-H

Market goats must have:

  • USDA Official Scrapie ID​

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Market goats must weigh a minimum of 45 lbs.

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Market goats must be shown with 3/8 inch of hair or less.

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Market Goats can be braced.

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Market wethers and market does will be seperated.

 

There will be a Market Goat/Wether Doe Showmanship

  • If a member choses market/wether doe, they cannot compete in the Breeding Goat Showmanship

Requirements for Entering Wether Doe in 4-H

Wether Does classify as does being used in the show industry to produce show wethers, and usually more muscular and stout compared to Commercial Does. They can be trimmed to enhance their individual qualities.

 

Wether does must have:​​

  • USDA Official Scrapie ID

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Wether does will be shown by weight

  • They must be a minimum of 45 lbs to show

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Wether does shall not have kidded and must be under 2 years of age to show

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Wether Does may be braced.

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There will be a Market Goat and Wether Doe Showmanship

  • If a member choses market, they cannot compete in the Breeding Goat Showmanship​

Requirements for Entering Registered Breeding Does in 4-H

Registered goats classify as a goats registered with the American Boer Goat Association (ABGA). They can be trimmed to enhance their individual qualities

 

Registered goats must have:

  • Ear tattoo and registration paper

    • If registration papers are not provided the animal  must be entered in Commercial Does

    • Tattoos must be legible, if not legible they will be entered in Commercial Does

    • Microchips are acceptable, but exhibitor must provide microchip reader

 

Registered breeding does should not be brace while being shown.

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There will be a Breeding Doe Showmanship

  • If a member choses market, they cannot compete in the Market/Wether Doe Showmanship

Requirements for Entering Commercial Breeding Does in 4-H

Commercial does classify as does that are registered does that don't meet the ABGA breeding standards or does bred to produce commercial goats. They are more maternal and feminine looking than Wether Does. They can be trimmed to enhance their individual qualities

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Commercial Breeding Does must have:​

  • USDA Official Scrapie ID

 

Commercial breeding does should be braced while being shown.

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There will be a Breeding Doe Showmanship

  • If a member choses market, they cannot compete in the Market/Wether Doe Showmanship

Important Deadlines: Sheep

  • June 1st: All dairy goats need to be registered into 4-H Online -  Both leased & owned 

    • DNA samples must be submitted on ALL sheep registered as Market 

    • Animal Projects Lease form need to be uploaded into 4-H Online with animal 

  • July 1st: Youth Livestock Literacy (YLL) must be completed to exhibit livestock

  • Aug 8th: Registration papers need to be uploaded into FairEntry

    • If animal is purchased, ownership date must be by June 1st​

​​

Members can register as many head as they wish.

Only 4 head can be exhibited (Breeding & Market Sheep combined)​

​

Ewes will be entered into 4-H Online under all the ewe lots (Market and Breeding Ewe), but can only be shown in ONE lot (Market or Breeding Ewe).

Requirements for Entering Market Sheep in 4-H

Market sheep must have:

  • USDA Official Scrapie ID​

 

Market ewes and market wethers will shown separately

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Market lambs must have characteristics of their breed type

  • If they do not classify with a breed type, they will be entered in the crossbred division

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There will be a Market Sheep Showmanship

  • If a member choses market, they cannot compete in the Breeding Sheep Showmanship

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Requirements for Entering Breeding Sheep in 4-H

Registered sheep must have:

  • Registration paper

  • USDA Official Scrapie ID​

Commercial meat/wool type ewes must have:

  • USDA Official Scrapie ID​

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All males must possess two full and intact testicles.​

  • Rams must be registered with a breed association, no commercial rams are allowed to show.

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There will be a Breeding Sheep Showmanship

  • If a member choses breeding, they cannot compete in the Market Sheep Showmanship

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Important Deadlines: Swine

  • June 1st: All swine need to be registered into 4-H Online -  Both leased & owned 

    • DNA samples must be submitted on ALL swine registered as Market 

    • Animal Projects Lease From need to be uploaded into 4-H Online with animal 

  • July 1st: Youth Livestock Literacy (YLL) must be completed to exhibit livestock

  • Aug 8th: Registration papers need to be uploaded into FairEntry

    • If animal is purchased, ownership date must be by June 1st​​​

​​

Members can register as many head as they wish.

Only 4 head can be exhibited (Breeding & Market Swine combined)

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Gilts will be entered into 4-H Online under all the gilt lots (Market and Breeding Gilt), but can only be shown in ONE lot (Market or Breeding Gilt).

Requirements for Entering Market Swine in 4-H

Registered market swine must have:

  • Ear notches

  • Registration paper​​

  • Official 4-H NUES Tag, Premise ID Tag OR 840 RFID Tag

Crossbred market swine must have:​

  • Ear notch

  • Official 4-H Green NUES Tag, Premise ID Tag OR 840 RFID Tag

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Market swine must weigh between 230 lbs and 300 lbs to exhibit.

Requirements for Entering Breeding Gilts in 4-H

Registered breeding gilts must have:

  • Ear notches

  • Registration paper

  • Official 4-H NUES Tag, Premise ID Tag OR 840 RFID Tag

Crossbred breeding gilts must have:​

  • Ear notches

  • Official 4-H NUES Tag, Premise ID Tag OR 840 RFID Tag

 

Breeding gilts must be born on or after November 1st.

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There is no minium or maximum weight for crossbred breeding gilts.

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