4-H Youth Beef, Goats, Sheep & Swine
Here you can find information and resources for projects and activities involving beef cattle, goats, sheep and swine.
See our new Livestock Discovery homepage created from the Livestock Discovery CD.
Projects
The 4-H Beef Cattle Project is one of the most exciting and rewarding animal science projects from which to choose. Beef cattle are ruminants, which means they have four compartments to their stomach. This is why they can digest pasture grasses and hay. There are two main types of Beef Cattle Projects that a 4-H member may choose. A beef heifer breeding project is a long-term project in which a 4-H member begins with a heifer calf (female) and cares for her through breeding age (around 1 year of age) and on to calving (giving birth) at around 2 years of age. The other type of project is a market beef project in which the 4-H member begins with a weaned steer or heifer calf and cares for the calf through the growing phase (also known as the backgrounding and finishing phase) until the calf reaches market weight of around 1100-1300 pounds.
Beef cattle projects provide youth with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the beef cattle industry, production and, more importantly, develop the life skills that are needed to be positive contributors to society. Through beef cattle projects, youth will learn about selection and evaluation, nutrition and feeding, health and daily care, reproduction, marketing and more. Youth learn to accept responsibility, to value hard work, think critically, make decisions and communicate.
In addition, there are several beef cattle shows in which youth can participate to exhibit their beef cattle project. Beef cattle shows provide a great avenue to meet and develop friendships with other youth and leaders from across the state. Young people are also able to connect with supportive adults (who serve as mentors), demonstrate a commitment to learning, develop social competencies and gain exposure to career opportunities.
Market Steer and Heifer Validation Guidelines
Resources
These resources for Kentucky 4-H Beef Cattle Projects can be purchased from Ohio State University.
- Beef Resource Handbook for Market and Breeding Projects (4-H 117R)
- Beef Project and Record Book (4-H 117)
- Beef, Sheep and Swine Selection and Evaluation (4-H 103R)
The 4-H Meat Goat Project is the fastest growing animal science project. Meat goats (like sheep and cattle) are ruminants, which means they have four compartments to their stomach. This is why they can digest pasture grasses and hay. However, they really prefer to browse on woody type plants. There are two main types of Meat Goat Projects that a 4-H member may choose. A meat goat breeding project is a long-term project in which a 4-H member begins with a doe kid (female) and cares for her through breeding age (typically 7-10 months) and on to kidding (giving birth) at around 14-16 months of age. The other type of project is a market meat goat project in which the 4-H member begins with a weaned wether or doe and cares for the goat kid through the growing phase (also known as the backgrounding and finishing phase) until the goat reaches market weight of around 60 pounds.
Meat goat projects provide youth with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the meat goat industry, production and, more importantly, develop the life skills that are needed to be positive contributors to society. Through meat goat projects, youth will learn about selection and evaluation, nutrition and feeding, health and daily care, reproduction, marketing and more. Youth learn to accept responsibility, to value hard work, think critically, make decisions and communicate.
In addition, there are several meat goat shows in which youth can participate to exhibit their meat goat project. Meat goat shows provide a great avenue to meet and develop friendships with other youth and leaders from across the state. Young people are also able to connect with supportive adults (who serve as mentors), demonstrate a commitment to learning, develop social competencies and gain exposure to career opportunities.
Market Goat Validation Guidelines
Resources
These resources for Kentucky 4-H Goat Projects can be purchased from Ohio State University.
- Goat Resource Handbook for Market and Breeding Projects (4-H 135R)
- Goat Project and Record Book (4-H 135)
The 4-H Sheep Project is the great project for younger 4-H members that want exposure to animal science projects. Sheep (like goats and cattle) are ruminants, which means they have four compartments to their stomach. This is why they can digest pasture grasses and hay. There are two main types of Sheep Projects that a 4-H member may choose. A sheep breeding project is a long-term project in which a 4-H member begins with an ewe lamb (female) and cares for her through breeding age (typically 7-10 months) and on to lambing (giving birth) at around 14-16 months of age. The other type of project is a market lamb project in which the 4-H member begins with a weaned wether (neutered male) or ewe and cares for the lamb through the growing phase (also known as the backgrounding and finishing phase) until the lamb reaches market weight of around 120 pounds. Both of these projects can be enjoyed by the entire family.
Sheep projects provide youth with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the sheep industry, production and, more importantly, develop the life skills that are needed to be positive contributors to society. Through sheep projects, youth will learn about selection and evaluation, nutrition and feeding, health and daily care, reproduction, marketing and more. Youth learn to accept responsibility, to value hard work, think critically, make decisions and communicate.
In addition, there are several sheep shows in which youth can participate to exhibit their sheep project. Sheep shows provide a great avenue to meet and develop friendships with other youth and leaders from across the state. Young people are also able to connect with supportive adults (who serve as mentors), demonstrate a commitment to learning, develop social competencies and gain exposure to career opportunities.
Market Lamb Validation Guidelines
Resources
These resources for Kentucky 4-H Sheep Projects can be purchased from Ohio State University.
- Sheep Resource Handbook for Market and Breeding Projects (4-H 194R)
- Market Lamb Project and Record Book (4-H 198)
- Pilot Sheep Breeding Project and Record Book (4-H 199)
- Beef, Sheep and Swine Selection and Evaluation (4-H 103R)
Would you like work with a 4-H animal project that has a digestive system that is very similar to what you have? If so, a swine project might be just what you are looking for. Although we don’t typically feed pigs the kinds of foods that we as humans would eat (steaks, sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, etc.), pigs do have a digestive system that is much like yours and mine. It is lots of fun to take a 30-70 pound feeder pig and feed and care for it for 4-5 months until it reaches market weight at about 270 pounds. This type of project is called a market pig project. A breeding pig project is also extremely rewarding and educational. With this project, you start with a gilt (a young female pig) that is raised from a feeder pig and later mated and cared for through gestation and farrowing for the next year's programs. Both of these swine projects are activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
Swine projects provide youth with opportunities to expand their knowledge of swine production and, more importantly, develop the life skills that are needed to be positive contributors to society. Through swine projects, youth will learn about selection and evaluation, nutrition and feeding, health and daily care, reproduction, marketing and more. Youth learn to accept responsibility, to value hard work, think critically, make decisions and communicate.
In addition, there are several swine shows in which youth can participate to exhibit their swine project. Swine shows provide a great avenue to meet and develop friendships with other youth and leaders from across the state. Young people are also able to connect with supportive adults (who serve as mentors), demonstrate a commitment to learning, develop social competencies and gain exposure to career opportunities.
Market Swine Validation Guidelines
Resources
These resources for Kentucky 4-H Swine Projects can be purchased from Ohio State University.
- Swine Resource Handbook for Market and Breeding Projects (4-H 134R)
- Market Hog Project and Record Book (4-H 139)
- Swine Breeding Project and Record Book (4-H 140)
- Beef, Sheep and Swine Selection and Evaluation (4-H 103R)
Become a Financial Supporter
Two of our premier programs are Livestock Judging and Livestock Skillathon. Each year over 700 youth participate in these programs at the Kentucky 4-H Livestock Judging Contest and Awards Ceremony and the Kentucky 4-H Livestock Skillathon Contest. And select individuals represent Kentucky at the National Livestock Judging and National Livestock Skillathon Contests. Please consider supporting these programs. Your gift will reap many returns in the lives of young people.
Support UsKentucky Proud Livestock Tag Program
The Kentucky Proud Livestock Tag Program is offered through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Division of Show and Fair Promotion. Whether you are a livestock producer, exhibitor or both, the Kentucky Proud Livestock Tag Program can be utilized to promote and recognize quality animals that are sold, bought and/or exhibited throughout the commonwealth. KY Proud animals exhibited through state-sponsored livestock shows are eligible for additional premiums.
Learn MoreYouth Livestock Programs/Projects Advisory Committee
The Youth Livestock Programs/Projects Advisory Committee was established in 2009. This committee provides assistance to Steve Austin (Extension Associate for Youth Livestock Programs) by:
- Helping in planning and determination of future directions for livestock programs and projects.
- Helping in determining policies and guidelines for livestock programs and projects.
- Serving as an advisory group for addressing rules violations.
- Serving as a conduit for receiving feedback from the county and district level.
The Advisory Committee consists of County Extension Agents and Vocational Agriculture Teachers that are appointed for two-year terms, as well as various program or organization leaders that serve continuous terms. Below is a list of the committee members that are presently serving. Any of the committee members are available for you to contact with ideas, suggestions or issues of concern related to youth livestock programs and projects.
Livestock Advisory Team will be called upon, as needed, to provide positive suggestions on how to make changes or deal with concerns from the seven districts. Extension Associate for Youth Livestock Programs will have the final decision in all matters discussed, with the intent to keep the 4-H members best interest as the focus.
Members will serve either a one- or two-year term. Those serving a one-year term may be considered when we select the 2019-20 group. Each district will try to be represented each year.
Extension Associate for Youth Livestock Programs
859-257-7544
Ashley Osborne, 4-H Youth Development Extension Specialist
ashley.osborne@uky.edu
859-218-0986
Matt Chaliff, Kentucky FFA Executive Director
matt.chaliff@education.ky.gov
502-564-3472
Larissa Tucker, Extension Associate for Youth Dairy Programs
larissa.tucker@uky.edu
859-257-5986
Dr. Gregg Rentfrow, UK Meats Specialist
gregg.rentfrow@uky.edu
859-257-7550
2019: 1-year term
- Aaron Boyd, District 1: christopher.boyd@uky.edu
- Patrick Allen, District 4: patrick.allen@uky.edu
- Mike Meyer, District 4: mike.meyer@uky.edu
- TJ Adkins, District 5: t.j.adkins@uky.edu
- Carrie Derossett, District 6: carrie.tilghman@uky.edu
2019-20: 2-year term
- Tad Campbell, District 1: mcampbel@uky.edu
- Janet Gibson, District 2: jlgibson@uky.edu
- Regina Browning, District 3: rbrownin@uky.edu
- Gary Druin, District 6: gdruin@uky.edu
- Matthew Futrell, District 7: matthew.futrell@uky.edu
