Animal Science

Beef


Beef
  • Learn about beef cattle parts
  • Calculate the cost to raise a market beef animal
  • Learn how to select project animals
  • Learn how to care for young beef or dairy animals
  • Learn what kind of records should be kept for animal projects
  • Learn about beef cattle parts
  • Find out how to feed beef animals to achieve a reasonable amount of gain
  • Learn about beef cattle breeds
  • Learn how to care for beef animals
  • Learn to make buying decisions based on performance and visual evaluation

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Beef 1: Bite Into Beef
  • Beef 2: Here's the Beef
  • Beef 3: Leading the Charge
  • Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Beef Helper's Guide

Beef References and Forms:

  • Beef Resource Manual
  • Guide for Evaluating Livestock Showmanship Contests
  • Livestock Judging Guide
  • Guide to Identifying Meat Cuts
  • Animal Care Resources
  • Nebraska 4-H Livestock Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) website
  • Nebraska 4-H Fed Steer Challenge website
  • Nebraska 4-H State Livestock Identification website
  • Nebraska 4-H Animal Exhibitor Resources and Handbook
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Beef

Companion Animal


Other Pet or Small Animal
  • Find out what it costs to have a pet
  • Learn about animal digestion
  • Learn to keep a pet healthy
  • Consider career with animals
Dog
  • Learn basic skills for dog care and training
  • Explore dog health, nutrition, care, showmanship, and training
  • Investigate responsible breeding, diseases, dog roles, and careers
Cat
  • Learn about cat breed, senses, shows, tricks, signs of illness and health, cat sounds, emergency situations, feeding, special diets, and traveling with cats

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Cat 1: Purr-fect Pals
  • Cat 2: Climbing Up!
  • Cat 3: Leaping Forward
  • Pet 1: Pet Pals
  • Pet 2: Scurrying Ahead
  • Pet 3: Scaling the Heights
  • Dog 1: Wiggles and Wags
  • Dog 2: Canine Connection
  • Dog 3: Leading the Pack

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Cat Helper's Guide
  • Pet Helper's Guide
  • Dog Helper's Guide

Companion Animal References and Forms:

  • Animal Care Resources
  • Your Cat And You
  • The Veterinarian's Way of Selecting a Proper Pet
  • ANSC Extension Companion Animals
  • Record Book for Companion Animals
  • Nebraska 4-H Dog Show Rules
  • Dog and Puppy Care
  • Preparing for a Rabbit Show
  • Rabbit Showmanship
  • Selecting a Pet Rabbit
  • Rabbit First Aid Kit
  • Rabbit Breeds
  • Showing Your Pet in 4-H
  • Showing Your Cat in 4-H
  • Feeding Your Rabbit
  • Pet Foods: How to Read Labels
  • American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc.
  • Oxbow Animal Health
  • Society for the Study of Amphibians
  • Nebraska Reptiles & Amphibians
  • Dog Vaccination Certification Form
  • Cat/Ferret Vaccination Certification Form
  • Nebraska 4-H Companion Animal Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Companion Cat Science Online Course
  • Nebraska 4-H Companion Animal Challenge website
  • Nebraska 4-H Video Companion Animal Showmanship Contest website
  • Nebraska 4-H State Dog Skillathon Contest website
  • Nebraska 4-H State Dog Show website
  • Nebraska 4-H Dog Showmanship Video Series
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Dog
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Dog Skillathon

Dairy Cattle


Dairy Cattle
  • Explore dairy cattle breeds, select calves, and identify parts
  • Focus on housing, hay quality, milking, and health
  • Select cattle through records, promote dairy products, and explore careers

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Dairy 1: Cowabunga!
  • Dairy 2: Mooving Ahead!
  • Dairy 3: Rising to the Top!
  • Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Dairy Helper's Guide

Dairy Cattle References and Forms:

  • Animal Care Resources
  • Unified Dairy Judging Scorecard
  • Nebraska 4-H Livestock Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) website
  • National 4-H Dairy Conference
  • Nebraska 4-H State Livestock Identification website
  • Nebraska 4-H Animal Exhibitor Resources and Handbook
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Dairy Cattle
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Dairy Judging Contest

Goat


Goat
  • Learn and practice important life skills, such as decision making, record keeping, marketable skills, planning and organizing, and self responsibility
  • Demonstrate good care taking of the animals, land, and other resources involved
  • Help to spread knowledge about meat goat products and the meat goat industry
  • Learn about breeding meat goats
  • Learn how to care for meat goats
  • Learn to make buying decisions based on performance and visual evaluation
  • Learn about goat parts and breeds
  • Figure the cost to raise goats
  • Find out how to care for goats

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Goat 1: Getting Your Goat
  • Goat 2: Stepping Out
  • Goat 3: Showing the Way
  • Meat Goat 1: Just Browsing
  • Meat Goat 2: Get Growing with Meat Goats
  • Meat Goat 3: Meating the Future
  • Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Goat Helper's Guide
  • Meat Goat Helper's Guide

Goat References and Forms:

  • Animal Care Resources
  • 4-H Meat Goat Guide
  • Meat Goat Selection & Care
  • Market Goat Showmanship
  • Nebraska 4-H Livestock Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) website
  • National 4-H Dairy Conference
  • Nebraska 4-H State Livestock Identification website
  • Nebraska 4-H Animal Exhibitor Resources and Handbook
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Meat Goat

Horse


Horse
  • Discover the basics of horse behavior, breeds, and safety
  • Learn about acquiring, selecting, and raising a horse
  • Build a Financial Plan
  • Learn basic riding and horsemanship skills
  • Explore leadership and ethics

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Horse Project Member Manual
  • Horse Project Advancement Level
  • Horse 1: Giddy Up & Go
  • Horse 2: Head, Heart & Hooves
  • Horse 3: Stable Relationship
  • Horse 4: Riding the Range
  • Horse 5: Jumping to New Heights

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Horse Helper's Guide

Horse References and Forms:

  • Animal Care Resources
  • Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide
  • Nebraska 4-H Horse Program Opportunity Brochure
  • AYHC Youth Leader Manual by the American Youth Horse Council
  • 4-H Horse Identification Certificate
  • Nebraska 4-H Horse Show Dress Code & Legal Bits
  • Junior Master Horseman
  • American Youth Horse Council
  • Horse Industry Handbook
  • Horse Science
  • Nebraska 4-H Horse Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Horsemanship Advancement Levels website
  • Nebraska 4-H Equine Webinar Series website
  • Nebraska 4-H Horse Stampede website
  • Nebraska 4-H District Horse Shows
  • Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo website
  • AQHA 4-H Horse Trail Challenge website

Poultry


Poultry
  • Find out how to care for poultry
  • Select breeding pens
  • Learn to process a chicken
  • Learn about poultry breeds

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Poultry 1: Scratching the Surface
  • Poultry 2: Testing Your Wings
  • Poultry 3: Flocking Together
  • Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Poultry Helper's Guide

Poultry References and Forms:

  • Animal Care Resources
  • National Poultry Judging
  • Market Broilers
  • Embryology Poster
  • Nebraska 4-H Livestock Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) website
  • Nebraska 4-H State Livestock Identification website
  • Nebraska 4-H Animal Exhibitor Resources and Handbook
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Poultry

Rabbit


Rabbit
  • Learn about rabbit breeds
  • Learn how to care for a rabbit
  • Learn to tattoo a rabbit
  • Learn about genetics and rabbit breeding

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Rabbit 1: What's Hoppening?
  • Rabbit 2: Making Tracks
  • Rabbit 3: All Ears
  • Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Rabbit Helper's Guide

Rabbit References and Forms:

  • Judging 4-H Rabbit Shows
  • Preparing for a Rabbit Show
  • Rabbit Showmanship
  • Selecting a Pet Rabbit
  • Rabbit First Aid Kit
  • Rabbit Breeds
  • Showing Your Pet in 4-H
  • Feeding Your Rabbit
  • Pet Foods: How to Read Labels
  • American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc.
  • Oxbow Animal Health
  • Nebraska 4-H Livestock Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) website
  • Nebraska 4-H State Livestock Identification website
  • Nebraska 4-H Animal Exhibitor Resources and Handbook
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Rabbit

Sheep


Sheep
  • Learn about sheep parts and products
  • Calculate the cost of raising sheep
  • Find out how to care for sheep
  • Learn about sheep breeds
  • Find out how to prevent, diagnose and cure sheep health problems
  • Set production goals for your flock

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Sheep 1: Rams, Lambs & You
  • Sheep 2: Shear Delight
  • Sheep 3: Leading the Flock
  • Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Sheep Helper's Guide

Sheep References and Forms:

  • Animal Care Resources
  • Sheep Resource Manual (Ohio State)
  • Guide to Identifying Meat Cuts (National Cattlemen's Beef Association)
  • Nebraska 4-H Livestock Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) website
  • Nebraska 4-H State Livestock Identification website
  • Nebraska 4-H Animal Exhibitor Resources and Handbook
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Sheep

Swine


Swine
  • Learn about hog body parts
  • Calculate the cost to raise pigs
  • Find out how to care for pigs
  • Learn about pig breeds
  • Discover how to market products
  • Find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat swine health problems

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Swine 1: The Incredible Pig
  • Swine 2: Putting the Oink in Pig
  • Swine 3: Going Whole Hog
  • Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Swine Helper's Guide

Swine References and Forms:

  • Animal Care Resources
  • Swine Resource Manual (Ohio State)
  • Nebraska 4-H Livestock Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) website
  • Nebraska 4-H State Livestock Identification website
  • Nebraska 4-H Animal Exhibitor Resources and Handbook
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Swine

Veterinary Science


Veterinary Science
  • Understand animals basic needs
  • Keep health records
  • Learn about future veterinary science technology
  • Take an animal's temperature and pulse
  • Recognize healthy skin and membranes
  • Clean and disinfect animals quarters
  • Study bacteria, viruses and parasites
  • Learn about diseases relationship to nutrition, stress, heredity and poison
  • Learn basic disease prevention techniques
  • Study environmental influences on animal health
  • Learn about maintaining animal health
  • Explore veterinary medicine as a career

Printed Youth Materials:

  • Veterinary Science Unit 1: The Normal Animal
  • Veterinary Science 1: From Airedales to Zebras
  • Veterinary Science Unit 2: Animal Disease
  • Veterinary Science 2: All Systems Go!
  • Veterinary Science Unit 3: Animal Health and Its Relationship to Our World
  • Veterinary Science 3: On the Cutting Edge

Printed Leader Materials:

  • Veterinary Science Leader's Guide
  • Veterinary Science Helper's Guide

Veterinary Science References and Forms:

  • Animal Care Resources
  • Nebraska 4-H Livestock Program website
  • Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) website
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Premier Science Award
  • State Fair 4-H Fairbook: Veterinary Science