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Could not retrieve the oEmbed resource.Beef Project
The 4-H beef project, you can select from a breeding animal or a market animal. Breeding animals allow you to start your own herd and market animals produce meat products for people. You can show a live animal or take a project to showcase your knowledge.
- Know your beef breeds
- Identify parts of the animal
- Train your calf to lead
- Feed your animal
- Groom your animal
- Learn about animal selection
- Understand the digestive system
- Understand medication usage and storage
- Learn about meat grading
- Make ethical decisions
- Learn about EPDs
- Balance a beef ration
- Learn about breeding and reproduction
- Identify common diseases
- Evaluate beef carcasses
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE
- Visit a local feed mill and see how feed ingredients are mixed, weighed and blended to make a complete ration.
- Visit a local meat locker or local grocery meat case to observe preparation and packaging.
- Learn how to evaluate meat cuts, quality grade and yield grade and how these affect taste and cost.
- Compare feed tags from different companies.
- Attend a beef show to listen to a judge give oral reasons.
- Exhibit at or attend local, regional, state or national beef shows and conferences.
- Bring a beef animal to livestock camp at North Dakota 4-H Camp.
- Is it fair time? Consider showing in your county fair or the North Dakota State Fair.
- Contact your county 线上赌博app Extension office for other local workshops, activities and events.
- Interested in a college education in animal science or veterinary medicine? Schedule a visit with North Dakota State University to explore those majors.
CAREERS
There are many careers that you can explore in the beef project area! Interested in nutrition? Feed sales, nutritionist, or brand ambassador might be of interest. Want to be hands on with cattle? Look for careers like an A.I. technician or herd manager. Is science your favorite subject? Why not look into a career as a vaccine developer, geneticist, or veterinarian!
Arrange a farm tour, start a livestock judging team, volunteer to present beef promotions during Beef Month in May, provide beef taste testing at a grocery store, or volunteer at the county fair!
Create a poster displaying beef cuts and how to prepare them, give a presentation on the importance of following drug labels, teach someone about the traits of selecting breeding animals.
Build your own business selling meat from farm to table, fit and groom animals for others, use another skill like photography to help producers market their animals.
Learn about gene editing and sequencing, shadow an A.I. technician to see the latest equipment and techniques, or learn the detailed science of carcass grading and meat quality.
4-H Livestock Camp, Livestock Judging Contests, Livestock Quiz Bowl, Meat Evaluation, Livestock A.I. Camp, or Livestock Skill-a-Thon!
Participate in the 4-H beef show:
- Breeding heifer
- Cow-calf pair
- Market beef
- Showmanship
- Rate of gain in your county
- Calf Care
- Nutritional Values of Beef Comparisons
- Make a Rope Halter
- Grooming Techniques
- Beef ByProducts Chart
- Preventative Vaccine Schedules
- Creating Feed Rations
- Daily Routine Schedules
- History of Beef Breeds
- Bite Into Beef- Level 1 (GBB121)
- Here’s the Beef - Level 2 (GBB122)
- Leading the Charge - Level 3 (GBB123)
- Beef Helper’s Guide (GBB221)
Livestock Judging, A Guide to Oral Reasons (GB090)
Live Animal Evaluation Manual (GB091) Publication available at your local Extension office
ND 4-H Livestock Showmanship Manual (GB092)
Trail Mix Feed Ration Recipe
Did you know that when cattle are fed in feedlots, the feed is mixed according to a ration? You may be wondering, “what is a ration?” Well, a ration is like a recipe that provides the exact nutrients an animal needs. Some examples of cattle feed ingredients include corn, alfalfa, hay. Grass, barley, and minerals. Mix the following ingredients:
- 2 cups pretzel sticks
- 2 cups toasted oat cereal
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- ½ cup milk chocolate candies
- ½ cup raisins
Just like each ingredient has different nutritional values, so does each part in a cattle feed ration. It is important that we have a balanced diet. Cattle nutritionists work hard to ensure cattle have a balanced diet as well.